Secrets of the Tulip Sisters: A Novel

First, I should preface this review by admitting that I’m a Susan Mallery Super-Fan. I follow her on Facebook, subscribe to her newsletter, and preorder all of her books automatically. Having said that, I often don’t read her books right away. I know that sounds horrible, and since I have been longing to make her Review Crew for years now, it isn’t self-serving. However, the reason why is simple - I know I will stay up all night long.Worse than knowing that I preordered this book a long time ago is also knowing that I own a digital and a print copy, several bookmarks that were released to coincide with the book launch, and read the first chapter and checked out the Sven website long before the book was launched. In a nutshell, I’ve been hoarding this book, along with several other Susan Mallery titles in my To Read pile. I know myself too well, as a bout of insomnia led to diving into this book last night and I happily finished it at 3:30 AM. Yikes.The novel was, predictably, wonderful. Susan’s characters are complex and there stories are so intertwined that it’s easy to get sucked into the story. There is a sister story between girls that are biologically sisters but not close. There is a best friend story that gets complicated by who she is in love with. (No spoilers here!) The characters have jobs and backstories and strong personalities and are so alive on the page that I almost think I can book a trip and visit them. The conflict is reasonable and not cheesy. The language is realistic and not annoying. The sex scenes were swoon worthy, and not too much. I’ll be honest, I would cringe at a teenager reading this book, but it is fantastic for an adult. It is certainly not crossing any lines that make me uncomfortable, although I’ve been happily married for twenty years.The bottom line is this: be prepared to set aside a large chunk of time to read this book, because it is hard to put down. This is a stand-alone novel, so you don’t need to read anything else to prepare for it. You could call it a small town romance, a beach read, women’s fiction, or maybe even a drama/comedy. Susan Mallery is famous for making her characters multi-dimensional, so even the men have a distinct personality and aren’t cookie cutter “prince” types. There is one character who is so crazy evil that it is hard to find any redeeming qualities about her, and I’d love to know more of her backstory. It really isn’t important to this book, though, because she is meant to be that way. The only downside to the book is that I was sad when I finished it and wished it was part of a series. Once in a while, though, it’s nice to have a stand alone novel to read where you don’t feel like you missed part of a story in a previous book or have to reread something to get the most out of it. I’m grateful to have two copies of this book, because it’s going to be in my permanent library for years to come. I’m willing to bet that I’m not the only one!

A heartwarming story about love, loss, and picking up the pieces afterwards. Susan Mallery brings family dynamics to the forefront in her latest release. We meet two sisters who have been estranged for years and are all of a sudden thrust together again ... and have to learn how to co-exist without pulling each other's hair out! The characters are well developed, there's love, loss, humor and sex all rolled up into an entertaining read. It didn't take my breath away, but it was a really fun read.Kelly Murphy's life in small town Tulpen Crossing, Washington was just getting interesting when she's blindsided by her estranged sister returning to town! Sexy Griffith Burnett had recently returned to town and was making his interest in her more than obvious, but how can she concentrate on starting something up with him when her life all of a sudden feels like Public Enemy Number One has invaded?Olivia Murphy sashays back into town looking for trouble and planning to wrangle in the man that got away, but when she gets met with disappointment as soon as she arrives, she decides to sit back and see what other damage she can do. She's not expecting the friendliness and hospitality that is showered on her in town. She never felt like she belonged here in the past ... but could she have been jinxing herself with her attitude?Secrets are the norm around this town, and as they come out little by little, lives will be unraveled and they'll be left picking up the pieces of the after math!

Secrets of the Tulip Sisters is definitely one of my top reads of the year. I love to read and I like to be taken away from my life when I read ....I call it my "Calgon take me away" moment. Reading helps me fell better and balanced in my life and Secrets of the Tulip Sisters has certainly been my Calgon take me away book to continue this summer season. I love visiting new places in books and I've enjoyed my stay in Washington state courteously of Susan Mallery and the Murphy sisters and learning a bit about how tulips are grown and about small houses.I love the characters I have met in Secrets of the Tulips Sisters. There is such a cast of characters that are so real and varied that I feel right at home reading this book. I think I relate the most with Kelly, afraid a bit to give her heart and trust but still willing to try. I also like her sister Olivia who I started out not liking but as we get inside her head we find a very nice person we would love to have as a best friend. I don't know how Susan Mallery does it but she is able to create settings and characters and then spin a story that captivates the readers and pulls you right into the storyline. So in this book we have two sisters reunited after about 10 years apart and they each have secrets with the potential to hurt the other and perhaps destroy any chance of truly becoming a family again after their mother deserted them and they were torn apart by bad choices and decisions that had such huge impacts on their lives.Then throw in some seriously hot men, Griffith and Sven. Griffith is a self made man who builds small houses and the other Sven is a Viking God come to life but who also happens to be one sisters long term relationship ex, but opps the other sister didn't get the EX memo. Then we have the best friend Helen, one cool dad and one despised mother who abandoned her family but shows back up like the bad penny she is and takes everyone for a not so fun tailspin. Shake it all up, stir and pour and you have one great summer and beach read. Well done Susan Mallery, well done. All I can say is I hope we get a chance to visit Tulpen Crossing again, hint - hint Susan, hint - hint!

It was hard at first to get into this book but once I did could not let it down excellent

Ahh, a nice rainey day book, sat and read it in one go, well worth a read.

Txs for great product

Good

This book had too much explicit sex, I am bored with bored with that type of book, I did not realize it was like that I would have never bought it. I obviously did not finish it.