It took me a while to get into this book, because I kept getting lost in all the extra detail. While I loved the story, the adjectives sometimes threw me off. This is a wonderful story about the lengths a woman will go to to protect who she loves, from herself and from other people. It is a story about a family that anyone would want to be apart of. I love how the history of the family was woven into the story so seamlessly. The ending had me in tears.


I was given the privilege to read this book via the Great Thoughts Ninja Review team. All ideas are my own.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own. Very good book. If you are looking for an emotional story with great characters this is the story for you. It's the perfect book to curl up in your favorite chair with a throw over your knees and your favored drink by your side.

I absolutely loved this book so much I want to give it more than 5 stars! I want to move to Olivia's log cabin in Montana with all the large windows overlooking the beautiful scenery on their 100 acres of land, sit on the porch in the one of the red Adirondack chairs and potter around looking after the red geraniums - also my favourite flower.

The main story is about Olivia and Jace, and the two children Olivia is trying to adopt. She wasn't planning on adopting children, but after she left her husband Jace and moved to another town one of her neighbours was looking after her two grandchildren after their horrible thieving, drug-taking, neglectful parents were put in jail. Olivia got close to them all and then the neighbour unfortunately died so Olivia took on the responsibility for the two beautiful little girls as she had fallen in love with them. But there is a battle going on as the Mother is due out of jail shortly and wants them back.

But it's also about family and where Olivia's family originated from, with a little mystery running through it about her Grandmother's story, which she kept closely guarded for many years as it made her so sad. Olivia found an old cookbook in the attic after there was a leak in the roof and, after fixing it herself, went in the attic to check everything was dry and found the cookbook. Then the story of how the family had ended up on Montana slowly came out throughout the rest of the story, with flashbacks to the older generations of the family. Really interesting, but also very sad as it involved Jews and Hitler.

I loved all the family relationships and little nicknames everyone had, The Fire Breather, Rebel Child, etc., very amusing banter between the three generations of women - Olivia, her Mother and her Grandmother. Olivia's mother was a doctor and a real take charge woman who treated patients in her farmhouse on a regular basis if they turned up at her door needing help, and thought nothing of jumping in her car in a snowstorm to go of to help someone. Olivia also had a sister, Chloe, who had an extremely clever child called Karl who had Aspergers. Chloe and Karl made me laugh so much, I absolutely adored Karl. Chloe was so forthright and Karl was so, so clever it was scary, but because of the Aspergers didn't know how to relate to people.

We eventually found out why Olivia left Jace. He came across as such a wonderful. kind, caring guy it was going to have to be something quite life-changing, especially as they both obviously still loved one another, and it was. Olivia just needed time away to get back to being herself again.

This was such a fabulous book, sort of laid back but with so much going on, it's hard to explain but it just worked. There was lots and lots of baking throughout the whole book, whenever anything happened, or sometimes nothing at all, they all baked, they didn't need any excuse for the women to get together and have some 'Martindale Cake Therapy'. Some of the little videos Olivia did to upload to Jace's website were absolutely hilarious.

I found myself trying to put my Kindle down and not read it all at once because once I'd finished it that would be it, and I didn't want it to end. The women were the main backbone of the story and were such amazing, strong women, all through the generations. I cried so much during this book, some sad tears but also so many tears of laughter, the interactions between the characters were just so, so funny at times.

This one has gone straight onto my favourite books list. Highly, highly recommended. Rush out and buy it now, you won't regret it.

Very powerful book. From different perspectives. Enjoyed reading it.

MY REVIEW OF " NO PLACE I'D  RATHER BE" by Cathy Lamb

Kudos to Cathy Lamb, author of "No Place I'd Rather Be" for writing such a descriptive and intriguing story of  family, life, and love. The recipe of  family and love, is based on an old family cookbook, where the ingredients include, history, secrets, tears, blood, sweat, tradition, faith, despair and hope. Symbolically this recently found cookbook registers several generations of family that have  recorded struggles to survive under adverse circumstance. Family pictures and drawings and special recipes for favorite family foods are written in this book.

The genres for this book are fiction, historical fiction and a dash of romance. The timeline for this story is mostly in the present with visits to the past to explain the times and characters.

Cathy Lamb describes the characters as complex and complicated. Olivia Martindale, famous chef returns home to her family in Montana.  Olivia is accompanied by two young girls, sisters, that she hopes to adopt. The girls come from an abusive mother and father, and Olivia wants them to provide them with a safe home full of love and safety. I really like Olivia's family. Olivia's grandmother holds many secrets, but is the voice of reason. Olivia's mother is a physician, who tells it like it is. She "shoots" from the hip. Olivia's sisteris courageous, quirky and fun.  I especially like Kyle, Olivia's nephew, that has a big heart. When the family is upset, they bake and cook, and whip up  intriguing creations. Cooking and the newly discovered cookbook helps to bring the family together.

It is difficult for Olivia to come home to Montana.  She has been separated from her husband Jake. Olivia has secrets of her own.

I appreciate that Cathy Lamb brings up historical references to the persecution of minorities. The author also discusses issues such as bullying, drug abuse, mental illness, autism and children on the spectrum.  I love that Cathy Lamb describes family, love, hope and faith.   I would highly recommend this novel as a captivating and enjoyable layered  story. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and the Great Thoughts Ninja Review team for my honest review.

A truly powerful story dealing with many themes to reflect on.
Four generations of women and their struggles are skillfully interwoven into a tale of epic proportions. The women of each generation are remarkable as they live with hatred, poverty, bigotry and danger. They never lose their dignity and thei deep loyalty to family and tradition.
This is a delightful novel!

WOW! Where to begin, I was intrigued by a new book from Cathy Lamb as I have all of her books, but "The Apple Orchard" and I was thrilled to receive an ARC. I read the intro and was enveloped into another world that I did not want to return from. I want to return to Kalulell, Montana. I fell in love with this family. I traveled to 1945, then to 1904, and back to 2010. The descriptions made me feel like I was there. I love the idea of cake therapy.

A woman who has made a fresh start receives a phone call that sends her running back to a family cabin.
A box of mementos that is hidden stays hidden until 1 rainy day and a leak in the roof.
A man puts pages together in a leather cover and wraps it in a pink ribbon.
A log cabin is built with windows all around for the view and the door is painted red with red geraniums.
A couple need to helps two needy children to help themselves heal from the past.

Are you curious what all of these mean? ...READ this Book!!

I highly recommend

I did not want this one to end. Great story, funny, sad, and everything in between. Loved the characters, the story, the sub stories, the kids,and the adults. Wanted to punch Larry and Gary myself.