Romance

Wow, what a beautiful family story! Didn't liked it at first but loved at the end! 5/5 ( )

4.5 stars.

When We Found Home by Susan Mallery is a thoughtful and heartwarming novel about three half-siblings who are trying to make the most of their unexpected family connection.

Thirty-four year old Malcolm Carlesso lives with his beloved grandfather, Alberto, and he also runs the family business. Although he did not meet Alberto until he was twelve years old, they are quite close but he never really had much of a relationship with his now deceased father. Malcolm has not had a serious relationship since his engagement ended, so he is surprised when barista, Delaney Holbrook, catches his eye. At the same time he is trying to navigate his unexpected attraction to Delaney, Malcolm is trying to come to terms with the stunning discovery he has two half-sisters whom he has never met.

Malcolm's youngest sister is twelve year old Keira who, before moving in with them, was in the foster care system. She is spirited, perceptive and due to her life circumstances, mature beyond her years. Since Malcolm is really not a people person, he has no idea how to relate to a twelve year old, so Keira does not exactly have a close relationship with him. She has, however, formed an endearing friendship with Delaney, since she sees her most mornings before school.

Malcolm's other half-sister, twenty-six year old Callie Smith, lives a low-key life and works two jobs to make ends meet. She is leery of accepting the her newfound family's offer to move to Seattle, but she decides to give them a chance. Overwhelmed by their generosity, Callie insists on making her own way once she begins living with them. She and Keira immediately hit it off but Callie and Malcolm are rather wary of one another. Callie wants to make the most of this opportunity that has been offered to her, but will her reluctance to reveal the truth about her past ruin the new life she is building?

Malcolm's love interest, Delaney, has experienced a lot of upheaval during the past eighteen months. She has recently decided to switch careers and she is struggling with whether or not she made the right choice. Delaney is also still trying to come to terms with a tragic loss and she is having difficulty moving forward. She is quite happy with her budding romance with Malcolm and her advice to him about Keira has helped smooth over the rough edges of their relationship. However, Delaney's inability to amke peace with her past could ruin her chance at happiness.

When We Found Home is a heartfelt and uplifting novel of new beginnings. The siblings' attempts to navigate their new relationships are realistic and the problems they encounter ring true. The romantic relationships are beautifully incorporated into the storyline and add to the various characters' growth. Old and new fans of Susan Mallery will greatly enjoy this charming story of healing.
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I have not read many books by this author but will read more. Her writing is interesting to me. ( )

I totally and absolutely without a doubt got lost in this book...in the BEST way possible! All the characters, all the stories, all the feels...I couldn't separate one out without touching another and couldn't be any more happy about having such a conundrum in the first place. This is a story best told by looking at the characters because it is each of them that move things along, change the paths previously set, and otherwise open both our eyes and theirs to the endless possibilities in life.

All the characters brought something memorable to the table (check my site for the review with more on each) and I found myself hanging on to every word, every sentence, every feeling, so much so that it actually slowed my reading time down, but there was no way I was going to miss a second! If I had to choose a favorite...I couldn't, not really anyway. As you can see, they all had positive points and left a grand impression...though if pressed for the "steamiest guy" of the bunch, I'm going with Malcolm... *swoon*. *ahem* Anywho...

All in all, another FABULOUS work by this talented writer and one fans won't soon forget! Not a fan at the moment? What rock have you been under? Just kidding...but seriously, if you love Contemporary Romance or Women's Fiction, this baby combines the two most eloquently, so give it a go!


**copy received for review ( )