Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery

Secrets of the Tulip Sisters 
by Susan Mallery (Goodreads Author)

Reviewed by

Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* Jones

Feb 04, 2018  

really liked it

bookshelves: 2018, audio, 4-star, contemporary-fiction, family-drama, romance

EXCERPT: Kelly Murphy was willing to accept certain injustices in the world. That brownies had more calories than celery. That wearing white pants meant getting her period – regardless of where she was in her cycle. That her car would be low on gas only on days when she was running late. What she did not appreciate or accept was the total unfairness of Griffith Burnett not only returning to Tulpen Crossing, Washington, nearly a year ago, but apparently waking up last month and deciding that stalking her was how he was going to spend his days.

The man was everywhere. Every. Where. He was the aphid swarm in the garden of her life. He was kudzu, he was rain at an outdoor wedding, someone spoiling the end of the movie just as you were getting to the good part, all rolled into one.

THE BLURB: Kelly Murphy’s life as a tulip farmer is pretty routine—up at dawn, off to work, lather, rinse, repeat. But everything changes one sun-washed summer with two dramatic homecomings: Griffith Burnett—Tulpen Crossing’s prodigal son, who’s set his sights on Kelly—and Olivia, her beautiful, wayward and, as far as Kelly is concerned, unwelcome sister. Tempted by Griffith, annoyed by Olivia, Kelly is overwhelmed by the secrets that were so easy to keep when she was alone.

But Olivia’s return isn’t as triumphant as she pretends. Her job has no future, and ever since her dad sent her away from the bad boy she loved, she has felt cut off from her past. She’s determined to reclaim her man and her place in the family…whether her sister likes it or not. For ten years, she and Kelly have been strangers. Olivia will get by without her approval now.

While Kelly and Olivia butt heads, their secrets tumble out in a big hot mess, revealing some truths that will change everything they thought they knew. Can they forgive each other—and themselves—and redefine what it means to be sisters?

Told with Mallery’s trademark heart and humor, the Tulip Sisters are in for the most colorful summer of their lives…

MY THOUGHTS: 4.5 ☆ for this heart-warming story from my ‘comfort food author’ Susan Mallery. I can always relate to her characters, they are unreservedly human, flawed, but lovable anyway. And I always want to belong to the families she writes about, warts and all. Mallery is the master of family dynamics. And she always has me wondering, if this were happening to me, how would I react?

While you might know that everything is going to work out in the end, and you are going to get a ‘happy ever after’, the journey itself is a maelstrom of emotions. Parental upheaval, sibling rivalry, old flames, jealousy and an unforseen love affair all contribute to this wonderful read.

I listened to the audiobook of The Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery, narrated by Tanya Eby, published by Harlequin Audio, via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the ‘about’ page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my Goodreads.com page https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2273414407