I was disappointed in the story. It was more violent and not as focused on relationships. It seemed disjointed going back and forth between Gus and Lucy.

4 Women’s Fiction Best Bets for September 2017
Scarlettleigh
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
-Ben Franklin
A little play on words this month with this quote since we have two books with the word “Something” in the title. Of course, not everyone can write something worth reading –but the books this month are definitely worth reading.
All the books have an amazing sense of family— whether it be the family by blood, or the family by heart. And when you break it down –family is what gives meaning to our lives and these books celebrate that.

Something Like Happy by Eva Wood
Something Like Happy by Eva Wood
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Annie Hebden is stuck. Stuck in her boring job, with her irritating roommate, in a life no thirty-five-year-old would want. But deep down, Annie is still mourning the terrible loss that tore a hole through the perfect existence she'd once taken for granted—and hiding away is safer than remembering what used to be. Until she meets the eccentric Polly Leonard.

Bright, bubbly, intrusive Polly is everything Annie doesn't want in a friend. But Polly is determined to finally wake Annie up to life. Because if recent events have taught Polly anything, it's that your time is too short to waste a single day—which is why she wants Annie to join her on a mission…

One hundred days. One hundred new ways to be happy. Annie's convinced it's impossible, but so is saying no to Polly. And on an unforgettable journey that will force her to open herself to new experiences—and perhaps even new love with the unlikeliest of men—Annie will slowly begin to realize that maybe, just maybe, there's still joy to be found in the world. But then it becomes clear that Polly's about to need her new friend more than ever…and Annie will have to decide once and for all whether letting others in is a risk worth taking.
Strengths:Wonderful balance of humor and poignancy; Engaging characters; Exceptional plot; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant and Humorous
Why You Should Read this: What a fabulous book. It will make you laugh, and you probably will cry, but the storytelling is wonderful. Eva Wood takes a heartbreaking scenario and spins magic within the pages of the book.
Something Like Family by Heather Burch
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Abandoned by his mother when he was young, twenty-two-year-old Rave Wayne knows all about loss. That doesn’t mean he’s used to it. After he’s dumped by the girlfriend he assumed he’d spend his life with, Rave is longing more than ever to connect.
Then, as if by miracle, he receives an invitation from his grandfather, a man he thought was long gone, to come for a visit in rural Tennessee. Loyal, honest, and loving, dear old Tuck is everything Rave could have hoped for. He’s family. Soon, Rave finds himself falling for a down-to-earth local girl, and he thinks his life is finally coming together.
But the past isn’t through with Rave. When his mother returns after many long years, looking to reconcile the terrible mistakes that once defined her, Rave struggles to put together the unsettled pieces of his heart. Will this once-estranged family be able to come together to understand the meaning of unconditional love, the fragile bonds of family, and the healing power of letting go?
Strengths: Family redemption; Engaging characters; touching patriotism;  Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read: This book sounded interesting with the description of the family struggles but it was so much more than that. Your eyes will be glistening more than once because of the wonderful way Heather Burch incorporates such genuine emotion into the book. One of the main voices of the book is a young man—which gives this book an exceptional uniqueness.

The Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr
Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr
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That was then…
For the Hempsteads, summers were idyllic. The lake was a magical place, a haven where they were happy and carefree. All of their problems drifted away as the days passed in sun-dappled contentment. Until the summer that changed everything.
This is now…
After an accident turned the lake house into a site of tragedy and grief, it was closed up. None of the Hempstead women speak of what happened, and relationships between them are uneasy at best to hurtful at worst. But in the face of new challenges, one woman is determined to draw her family together again, and the only way that can happen is to return to the lake and face the truth.
Strengths: Family bonds;  Challenging scenarios; Engaging characters; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read: Robyn Carr’s books are always filled with characters stepping up to the plate to face difficult situations and succeeding to weather them successfully. Unique story of a family coming together after heartbreak.
Kitchen Charmer by Deborah Smith
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These old mountains are smart, Lucy. They're alive. They can be gentle like mamas; oh, sure, they'll croon and they'll kiss you and they'll whisper while you sleep, and you'll learn what all the old rocks are saying, all these ancient ghosts, all their starshine wisdom. But these old mountains, sometimes they know you can't hear them any other way but to get smacked up along the head. You watch out, Lucy P, for you got the Charm, like us Netties do. You're a guardian of these mountains, and they're a guardian of you. They will warn you any how they have to.
They will slap the near life out of a Charmer.
They're doing it to make you and Gus listen. To make you ready.
Delta Whittlespoon, the legendary biscuit maker and owner of The Crossroads CafE, tried to warn Lucy Parmenter and Gus MacBride. Even their mystical North Carolina mountains can't block the turmoil of the outside world. As fear and ignorance threaten their community and everyone they love, the star-crossed couple must overcome brutal challenges and personal demons to forge an alliance that may be the only hope of Good triumphing over Evil.
Strengths: Appealing Mysticism; Larger-than-life characters; wonderful kinship relationships;
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read: Deborah Smith’s fans you know why you should read it –we’re been waiting for this book for a long time. Even though there is a cliff-hanger involved, this is a wonderful addition to the MacBrides series. Filled with wonderful analogies and metaphors of life.  

H&H Editor Picks:
Robyn Carr Excerpt: The Summer That Made Us
26 Romances You Won’t Want to Miss!
September 2017 Romance Novels New Releases Shopping List

2.5 Stars. I admit to being confused through much of this story. Perhaps reading the earlier titles in the series would have helped. This story was a bumpy road....disjointed and just....too much. What started out feeling like some homey magic turned into a tale of rape, war, ptsd, telepathy between lovers (who have never met) and with animals, small-town politics and prejudice, abuse of power/corruption....and the list goes on. While generally a disappointment, I have to say it had an attractive cover and there were some lovely descriptive passages.

I didn't know what to expect after the short stories leading up to this. I found it difficult and trying and not what I normally read. It leaves the door open to more which I hope to follow.