Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Taking my vacation time to catch up on my giant to read list and I am glad I started with this book. As with all of Cathy Lamb's books, the story is filled with quirky unique characters, who while flawed and not perfect are endearing. The story of Olivia and her family full of big hearted women is one that was a page turner. You can help but find yourself rooting for Olivia in her quest to finally find her true home and family.
This was a heart warming story about what it means to be a family and to find a place to call home. I loved it from start to finish.

I have read every single one of Cathy Lambs books, and this one pulled me in just like the others. She never disappoints, and this book was no exception! Highly recommend!

It's no secret Cathy Lamb is one of my most favorite authors. Don't ask me why unless you plan on staying awhile. I will,however, give you the short version.

You can expect the following from any Lamb novel you read: Expect the main character to be a flawed, quirky, and hilarious women who is surrounded by an equally cast of strong, quirky, and hilarious characters. No Place I'd Rather Be is no exception. In Lamb's latest we are taken home to Montana with Olivia Martindale and the two girls she is on the verge of adopting. We quickly learn that Olivia once had a whole other life in Montana including a husband. Enter Jace. (Another Lamb strength is creating hunky sexy men).

While getting back on her feet and staying at the family cabin that was once her Grandmothers home, she comes across a cookbook/scrapbook that reveals so much more than recipes. Like her previous novel, The Language of Sisters, there is a historical element to the book. We learn of the horrors that make up the past that Olivia's grandmother as kept secret for years.

I laughed out loud and I cried. This is NOT something I do often while reading. I can be moved but rarely moved to actually tears or bursts of laughter. The pacing was perfect, nothing was rushed and nothing was drug out.

Another reason Cathy Lamb is one my favorites is after I have read each book I feel a little more empowered. I have the sense that maybe if I just got up and decided that while life may suck right now, the only way is through it. That pride can't stand in the way. I can bitch about it but only while I'm doing something about it. I feel like taking an extra moment to truly listen to my loved ones and learn more of who they are and not just who they are to me.

So yes, that is the SHORT version of why Cathy Lamb is a favorite author.

I received an advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. (Is there any other kind?)

There are few books that I have been saving for December which I know to be good reads, books which would touch my heart and fill me with warmth. Well, isn't December a month of goodwill and happiness??
My first book by Cathy Lamb, and she was fabulous. Her writing, her words, her recipes, all were covered with heart warming, soul nourishing love. And of course the cakes... Oh yumm... I am not a cake person, but she made me want to eat one. It is not the recipes which made me long for one, but the warmth and genuine love between the 3 women which made me long for it.
Cathy has given us 3 strong women, the grandmother Gisele, the mother Mary Beth, and the daughter Olivia. And each of them had their own story, their struggles, and their own strengths. I was left amazed by them, at the end of the book.
I breathed in their story and held each of them close to my heart and I think I would be carrying a part of them as courage when the going gets tough. There are very few books who can do that...
Olivia rushes to her grandmother and her mother when the future of her adopted girls is threatened. She finds an old recipe book in the attic, and it contains the secrets, the tears and the blood of her ancestors, all waiting to be revealed by the grandmother. Her mother the doctor, has brought up her daughters when her husband deserted her. And Olivia has her own secret reason of leaving her husband Jace 2 years ago.
All this combined together make a beautiful story weaved by ancestry, pain struggle, and the ever binding love....
Not many authors can make their main character strong and decisive, with their own opinions and self-respect, and the author Cathy Lamb has not only given us one, she has given us 3 of them. Let me not forget all the supporting characters who deserve to have a mention as they brought smiles, laughter and feelings in this story.
There is a quote which I absolutely adored, when the Deserter father tells Olivia that blood is blood —
We cannot choose our family members, and when one of them is only going to bring a wrecking ball of destruction and hurt, I feel no obligation to have a relationship with them. Blood is blood, they say. And usually the person who’s saying it is the toxic one and using emotional manipulation to sneak their poisonous self back into your life...
I found these lines extremely poignant and direct to the point.
My first book by Cathy Lamb and definitely not my last, was everything what I want from a family saga.
I thank Ms. Lamb for giving me so much warmth on this cold winter evening.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Kensington and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Place: Kalulell, Montana

People: Gisela Martindale, married to Oliver Martindale. Mother of Mary Beth, grandmother to Olivia and Chloe Martindale. Chloe's son, Kyle, Olivia's daughters, Lucy and Stephi, and Olivia's husband, Jace Rivera.

Plot: Oliva Martindale drives her girls, Lucy and Stephi, through a blizzard to her grandparents' home in Kalulell, Montanta. She and the girls are fleeing towards the safety and security of her family - something the girls have had precious little of in their young lives. As their story unfolds, so does the long-buried history of Olivia's grandmother and the entire Martindale family.

Pacing: Steady

Predictability: Minimal

Perspective: It's been a little while since I've read Cathy Lamb. To be honest, I'd forgotten just how much I like her writing. She creates characters that are very accessible and memorable, and families that I long to be a part of. In No Place I'd Rather Be, I especially liked the pieces of long-lost family history that were revealed little by little. The whole story is moving and emotional, filled with richly detailed scenes that bring to life the strength of the human spirit and the power of family.

4.5 stars. This is an awesome story, not to be missed. Full of love, heartbreak, history and forgiveness, it is a lesson in the value of family. Cathy Lamb is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. You need to read this book!

Cathy Lambs novel revolves around Olivia Martindale Rivera, her sister Chloe, her Mother Mary Beth and Grandmother Gisela.  It connects all these ladies with their long time gone Great Grandmother and Great-Great Grandmother via a Cookbook journal handed down through the years.  There are many additional  interesting characters. I loved Kyle, who has Aspergers Syndrome, his thought process and how he handles relationships was most interesting.  When switching between then and now sections there was a lot of repetition of names and relationship that was annoying.  Overall a good summer read.

Olivia Martindale is returning to her home state of Montana. She left two years ago a broken woman. She is returning in the middle of a blizzard and with two little girls who are counting on Olivia to keep them safe. She is currently the guardian for the two little girls who recently lost their grandmother and have both parents in jail. After losing her job as a chef, Olivia decided that home would be the best place to raise the girls. Montana is where her mother, her grandmother, and her sister lives. Montana is also where her husband Jace, lives. She moves her little family into the log cabin that her grandparents had lived in before Olivia's grandfather passed away and her grandmother moved in with her mother. The cabin holds many fond memories for her and she hopes that it will help her new daughters start to heal from their traumatic childhood. When Olivia discovers an old cookbook in the attic she discovers things about her grandmother's history that have been long buried. As Olivia gets reacquainted with life among her family she is facing a really tough decision - does he try to start over with Jace or is it too late for their love to succeed?

Cathy Lamb is an author that knows how to write strong female characters. They face adversity in a memorable fashion and come through it stronger than ever. I think my favorite part of this book was Olivia's Grandmother's story. Gisela's cookbook held so many important memories and the book flashes back to the times when it was written and entries were added. It helped Olivia understand her grandmother so much better. I also loved Olivia's tough-talking doctor of a mother. She was a true cowgirl in every sense of the word. The author keeps the troubles between Jace and Olivia secret for a good chunk of the book, but when revealed it isn't anything that would cause you to not root for their happy-ever-after. In the end, I was pleased with the way the book ended and was a little sad to say goodbye to my new friends.

Bottom line - Cathy Lamb has created another magical story around another family of strong women. No Place I'd Rather Be is a charming novel about the mighty bond between these strong women and the people that they love.

Details:
No Place I'd Rather Be by Cathy Lamb
On Facebook
Pages: 480
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: 8/29/2017
Buy it Here!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful multigenerational story told through recipes. What could be better? This was my first Cathy Lamb book, but it definitely won't be my last.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of No Place I'd Rather Be by Cathy Lamb.

Olivia Martindale fears the safety for herself and her two foster daughters. So, she quits her job and moves everyone back to Montana and lives in her grandmother's log cabin. She discovers a trunk in the attic kept hidden by her grandmother since WWII filled with keepsakes including a cookbook containing not only family recipes, but also family history that she never knew. Olivia has to decide to keep it a secret or confront her grandmother about the trunk of keepsakes. Olivia must face her past relationship with Jace River is and decide where life will take her and her foster daughters.

Author Cathy Lamb an interesting mix of characters in Montana, which includes three generations of strong women. This book held my interest from the first to the last page and I read it in less than a day because I could not put it down!

Measure. Mix. Stir. Whip. Bake. Sometimes all you need is a little Martindale Cake Therapy.

Or maybe I just heard that from Ruthie. She tends to stay up late, cleaning her gun. Did you hear she has a boyfriend? Younger than her too!

Cathy Lamb has hit it out of the park with this one. No Place I’d Rather Be is a fantastically wonderful story of love lost, love found, and coming home. Olivia returning from Portland with her two girls in tow, I have not connected with a mother in a long time as I have with Olivia in this book. The way your heart can ache for a child because you only want what is best for them, you want them to have a good life. You want to protect them at all costs. This theme runs rampant through the entire book though, not just with Olivia. It is clear that her sister Chloe, mother Mary Beth and grandmother Gisela, and even Jace, have a love and devotion so strong, they would do anything for family. They are a strong group of Montana women, those Martindale girls. They heal the sick, fix the bones, bake the cakes and love with all they have. From Russia, to Germany, to England, Portland and Montana, this book will fill your heart. But not your stomach, actually, it will just remind you of how hungry you are. You probably will need a Carefree Coconut Chocolate Cake. Or perhaps a Feminist Fun Caramel and Chocolate with pecans? I think I might prefer a Kick Ass Carrot Cake. It fits the theme of the book, after all.

This just might be my favorite Cathy Lamb book yet. Well, done Cathy. You kicked some ass. (Chloe would be proud).

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Cathy Lambs's latest book is a beautifully written and powerful story with strong kick-ass women and lots of food and laughter and tears. We start with Olivia who is on the run with two small girls. We learn her backstory slowly as she escapes to Montana, where her family is. This author is masterful at creating characters who are so real and full of flaws, you can't help but relate. There's mystery and suspense and drama and lots of sweet sisterly scenes, mostly all involving recipes and food. Olivia's grandma Gisela and her mother Mary Beth are endearing and fierce main characters, along with Chloe and her son Isaac and there's also a sexy cowboy named Jace. The two little girls went through hell with their psychotic mother and Olivia steps in. Everyone begins to heal through the magic of love and family. Truly a wonderful story that will stay with me!
Favorite part: When Grenadine Scotch Wild makes an appearance!
Thanks to Netgalley and the Great Thoughts Ninja Review team for this arc.

Cathy Lamb is a exquisite writer. I have read all of her body of work and enjoyed this book as well which I highly recommend.
In this novel we experience generations of a family of strong women . Their lives are all changed and affected by a family cookbook. This cookbook holds all the recipes and secrets of their family.. Their journey begins in Odessa to Munich to London and, finally, to Montana. You will love each women's story as the author's captivating prose captures the time and moments of time gone by. The locations are perfectly described to sweep you into the background . You will cry, laugh and never want it to end. I highly recommend this new release by Cathy Lamb for all women who enjoy stories of families, history and strong women characters. it was a delight to read this book and spend time with each character.
Thank you Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC which did not influence my review.

Cathy Lamb gives us a gift of a book that combines historical fiction, with romance, with women's fiction. The characters in the Martindale family are all strong women, from Gisela, who reveals the story of her family from the pogroms of Odessa, to Kristallnacht in Munich, to the Blitz on London, to Montana; Mary Beth, a doctor who's bedside manner is untraditional but full of love; to Olivia, coming back to Montana after running away from her husband, Jace, after a series of tragedies. Add in humor and cake, and you have a gem of a book.

Author Cathy Lamb has written an impressive number of books. This time she takes us to the lovely setting of Montana and introduces an interesting mix of characters, including three generations of strong women. A few storylines parallel but I thought the most compelling begins when Olivia discovers a chest full of memorabilia in a dusty corner of the attic, her curiosity will ignite conversation and the unveiling of generations past, weaving history into the current story. Well done.

Wow! This is my second Cathy Lamb book. I loved my first one. I was excited to read another one, but wasn't sure that another book could possibly be as good as the first. I think this one was equally as good. I found the story to be well rounded and beautifully delivered. I truly enjoyed all of the characters. I felt like I was in the story with the characters. It was as if I knew them and was part of their lives. I felt their emotions right along with them. That is a talented author! The flashbacks to the past added to the storyline. There was not anything about this book that I didn't like.

I adored every word of this beautiful book. Honestly there has never been a Cathy Lamb book that I haven't loved but I think this is my favorite so far. Although I think I write that every time I read one of her books.

What's her magic? She writes the most real, honest and true characters of just about any other author I've ever read. Yep, they are quirky. Yep, they make me laugh out loud. By they also make me cry and feel so deeply.

I fell so in love with Olivia and her family. With Jace, who was such a gorgeous hero, so kind and patient and devoted. And of course the women in her life, including those precious little girls, were absolute perfection. I loved the extended family and the way we come to know them through the Book and through Cooking, especially the cakes. Yum! But my favorite character was Kyle. I swear I shed more tears every time he uttered a word. He broke my heart and put it back together with such love and goodness. He is a special, special character and will live in my heart and mind forever.

I absolutely and very highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fabulously written, character driven, and Emotional Read with characters who leap off the pages and grab you by the heart and keep a piece of it forever. I adored this book and adore this writer!

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Cathy Lamb has done it again. She's written yet another book that has left me laughing, crying, and wanting to story to go on and on. I truly did not want this story to end. This story with strong and wonderful female characters, and some very lovable male characters as well, that deals with family, loss, healing, cooking and baking family recipes, love, and new beginnings. I loved the characters, the setting, the story, especially the historical fiction part of the book that takes us back to WWII where we learn some family history of main character Olivia Martindale. The family cookbook that Olivia finds in her attic made me wish that I had such a wonderful treasure like that of my own. I'm one that likes to cook and bake but did not grow up in a family that cooked together or that had family recipes passed down. The parts in the books where Olivia and her family made those family recipes was very enjoyable to me. I absolutely loved everything about this book. I highly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

I was absolutely thrilled to be able to read and review this book because Cathy Lamb is one of my favorite authors. As always, this book did not disappoint! I love that when you read Ms. Lamb's books you care so much about the characters that you feel all the emotional upheaval they feel. You'll cry and you will definitely laugh...the scenes where Olivia is filming the cooking segments with her family are priceless!

I enjoy reading about strong female characters who emerge triumphant no matter what life has thrown at them. In this story, Olivia has had more than her share of difficulties and yet she still keeps on hanging in there. I especially liked that this story told two stories...Olivia's in the present day and her grandmother Gisela's story of family from the past. Both stories very well done.

The cast of supporting characters enhanced the story too especially Olivia's nephew Kyle who has Asperger's. I thought her portrayal of this character was written beautifully and told in a very heartwarming and funny manner. Really opened my eyes to someone with this condition.

A memorable, warm, loving story of family...another winner for Cathy Lamb and her readers!