This was listed as a mystery. It contains all 3 books in the Forever family trilogy. I love a good series and this is set in the 90s, a very nostalgic period for me. I was excited to read this.

Unfortunately, this book embodies everything I hate about romance novels....and this IS a romance novel. There is very little mystery involved. I've read Lisa Jackson before and her books, at least the ones I've read, are usually mystery thrillers. Maybe this is her earlier work....or maybe it's just a one off.

This is about 3 half sisters, each book primarily focuses on one sister, while keeping the others in the story, and the general storyline moving along. They have just discovered they are half sisters, they all have the same Dad. I'll forego the 20+yr affair and all of the other drama that surrounds this family. Let's just suffice to say.....its a typical romance novel. All 3 sisters end up falling in love and getting married.....in the course of a few months. All to strong upper handed cowboy types, that they tried to resist, of course.

The characters were ok, about what you would expect from this type story. Surprisingly, I found 2 of the sisters, Bliss and Katie very likable. Tiffany was annoying and juvenile. The main problem I had, character wise, was the same that I have with most books in this genre.....the women are weak minded pushovers. Why are women always portrayed this way in romance novels????

The plot was typical. The mystery, and I use that word lightly, played a very insignificant background to the central storyline.

Jackson recycled material throughout this story, the characters would say the same things, find themselves in similar situations....and who the hell told this woman that Mothers only fix pasta salad for dinner???

This was a tough read, the only reason I persevered and finished this, was because of my no quit rule, and a curiosity about the " "mystery" taking place.

I will be much more selective when choosing any Lisa Jackson novels in the future, I can assure you. ( )

Envious by Lisa Jackson

This collection of three vintage romances from around 1990 tell the story of three half sisters unaware of one another until their biological father suffers a health crisis that makes him realize he needs to make some changes and make things right with his daughters who do not know they have sisters. Throw into this a missing many mystery that appears in all three books and is resolved in the finale and you have an interesting tale that reminded me of similar books I read in that era. I had no idea that Lisa Jackson had written simpler romances as I met her work later when romantic suspense filled with thrills and chills were more her style so it was interesting to see what she was writing earlier in her career.

A FAMILY KIND OF GUY
Second Chance Romance – Bliss and Mason were falling hard for one another when their young love was thwarted by more than one occurrence and though their lives continued for ten years...neither was really happy. Seeing one another again after ten years apart the chemistry was still there but so were the hurts that lingered from the past. This book introduces the main characters and provides the first romance as well as introducing the mystery man who disappeared without a trace.

A FAMILY KIND OF GAL
Widow and her Brother-in-Law – J.D. Santini and his sister-in-law, Tiffany, met years before when Tiffany was engaged to J.D.’s older brother. Years have passed, much has taken place and now that both are free there is potential for them to be together...maybe. Tiffany is dealing with issues related to the feeling that father abandoned her while working, running an apartment building and raising her two children. This was an interesting relationship to watch unfold and there was a bit more about the missing man.

A FAMILY KIND OF WEDDING
Single Mother meets Hot Cowboy – Katie is a reporter looking for a story. She has never divulged the name of her child’s father and this is an issue in this story. She meets Luke while looking for a story and there is definitely chemistry. Luke is a quiet man but sometimes still waters run deep. I enjoyed watching how the two managed to get together, eventually, and also how all three stories and the mystery were tied up by the end of the trilogy.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington – Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars ( )