I love this series of books. There are a lot of characters, but once I got into the book, I remembered who everyone was.

The story flows so well, and there is so much humour.

Light and enjoyable with such realistic characters and some very funny situations.

Not bad! Not stellar but I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could!

**OMG! I cannot believe that these reviews haven't been done! I am so sorry they are so late!!!**

Goodness, Grace, and Me

by Julie Houston

Complicated relationships are at the center of Julie Houston’s Goodness, Grace, and Me. Harriet (Hat) has been best friends with Grace since they were eleven, and they both idolized Amanda who along the way picked up the title “Little Miss Goodness.” Twenty years later, Grace and Harriet assume they are rid of her influence when she suddenly re-enters their lives. Despite all warnings, Harriet’s husband Nick becomes involved in business with Amanda’s husband and thus Amanda. Grace’s brother continues to be under Amanda’s spell.

Life is not easy for Harriet, mother of three, who had to return to teaching because of economic problems. Also Nick’s mother has come to live with them. Although her situation is complicated, Harriet pushes hard for stability for her family.

This is my second Julie Houston book to read and I like it much better than the first. The main character is strong, likable, and has moral character. There is a subplot involving Harriet’s mother, possible dementia, and a secret. I wasn’t sure how the plot would sort itself out, but it did and I enjoyed watching it happen.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Aria for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction

Notes: Includes some British vulgarisms but they are not terribly offensive compared to those found in Julie Houston’s Coming Home to Holly Close Farm.

Publication: February 19, 2019—Aria

Memorable Lines:

I can only ever sulk for a maximum of five minutes, by which time I’ve usually had enough of giving the cold shoulder treatment and need to start talking again. Life is just too short to spend it in silence.

Admittedly, I did most of the hard graft but I lightened the proceedings by blasting out T.Rex’s “I Love to Boogie”, so that even Kit forgot he was a fully paid up member of the moody brigade and jitterbugged round the furniture with the Hoover.

…wrapping a duvet around her against the almost damp cold which had settled in the sitting room like a melancholic maiden aunt who has outstayed her welcome, I went back through the hall to ring the doctor’s surgery.

Harriet is always having to juggle life being a busy mother, teacher and wife to Nick, and things are not helped when Nick gives up his solid job to set up business.......... especially when she finds out that the wife of one of his new associates is Amanda, her enemy from school. Convinced that Amanda is out to seduce her husband she feels that on top of everything else in her life she needs to up her game to keep Nick from Amanda's clutches!

A great book with loads of laugh out loud moments and I think I had a permanent smile on my face while reading it!

What a fun witty read! I was laughing so hard reading this. I will definitely be looking for more books from the author.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the book!! I kept wondering what would happen next. Between the cling wrap incident, Nick running out to the burning garden shed naked and the cops showing up at son's party (just to name a few), Harriet lived quite the life and kept me giggling throughout the book. I absolutely loved Harriet and was definitely my favorite character in the book. Harriet and Grace have such a wonderful friendship. The reunion and the after party at the "Eighties Night" club was quite the night.

I loved the story, characters and writing style. The prologue had me confused if I was going to like the book, but as soon as I read the first chapter I knew I would love the book. Harriet's family is something else. There could be a book just about her parents, sister and brother. I definitely needed to find out about Patricia. Was she real or a figment of imagination for Harriet's mom? I mean the woman did hold conversations with her long dead mother. Then there was Amanda, or Mandy as she likes to go by now. She was a constant flirt and the continuous use of Nicky was annoying. Her husband is a saint and must really love her. By the end of the book, I didn't hate her

I fell in love with Julie Houston's books after reading A Village Affair and now I get so happy when there's a new one to read. The books make me smile (not in a creepy way). This book was just a fun read with wonderful characters and very entertaining. I definitely recommend the book and will immediately start reading One Saving Grace.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Aria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I decided to read and review 'Goodness Grace and Me' and 'The One Saving Grace' together as they are a series and feature the same main characters. If you are a fan of laughter when you read, you will enjoy these stories, which have great characters, and even greater insight into family life and relationships.

The plot is varied and peppered with funny, poignant and romantic moments. It’s written in a visual style, so it’s like watching a film as the plot unfolds.

A lovely romantic comedy series which highlights with charm and humour family life, relationships and the problems women face in society.

I received a copy of these books from Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover Julie Houston's books - they're a riot!

Harriet is horrified when her husband Nick gives up his safe job in order to set up in business - again. When it turns out that the wife of the man he's going into business with is married to her old enemy from school, the luscious Amanda, Harriet  becomes a bit nervous about her husband's fidelity - knowing Mandy's reputation only too well. Her attempts at keeping their love life alive are not easy, what with two teenagers - who bring their own issues - and a lively four-year-old to contend with. Then there's the matter of her best friend Grace's antics with sex-god Sebastian, son of Amanda ...

This is, without any doubt, once of the funniest rom-coms I have ever come across. Having previously read another of Julie's books, I knew I would like this but nothing - absolutely nothing - could have prepared me for the mirth this novel caused. My poor long suffering husband turned over in bed muttering what sounded similar to 'it's like trying to sleep with Muttley' as the bed rocked with my laughter. When he asked me what was so funny, I emitted this loud sort of squeak - well, my fist and a good bit of the sheet were in my mouth by then! I couldn't speak for giggling almost maniacally and had to explain over breakfast this morning.

Fun and laughter aside, there is a really solid storyline to this novel covering several issues, all intertwined with normal family life. I am so happy to have the sequel lined up to read next - I'm not sure I could wait! There are several hysterically funny scenes which will stay with me - gardening will never be the same again!! Would I recommend this? You bet! Treat yourself today and place yourself in Harriet's shoes for a few hours - you'll feel so much better for it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Houston has written another book that had me laughing out loud, with tears rolling down my face! Such a truly delightful story about Harriet - wife, mother and school teacher. Married to Nick whom she feels has totally turned their lives upside down by quitting his stable job to go in on a new business venture. Adding to her meltdown is the fact that the man that Nick will be working with, well she knows his wife Amanda, very well. They are enemies from their old school days. Her best friend in the world, Grace has found out that her husband has had enough of their marriage because she is obsessed with having a baby.

Harriet's mother might have dementia or so she thinks because she's booking holidays and not telling Harriet's dad about them. She's also looking for someone named Patricia all the time. Oh and there may or may not have been a fire in the garden shed.

An absolutely wonderful, funny, laugh out-loud story, that deserves 5+ stars!!

Harriet Westmoreland is anxious. In the middle of a recession, her husband, Nick, casts aside a great job to invest in a new business. Making things more tense, one of his business associates is Amanda, a former classmate and enemy, who just might be trying to seduce Nick. All signs point to an impending disaster … And that’s before Harriet’s best friend, Grace, falls in love with Amanda’s son.Toss in recalcitrant teens, an unruly classroom, and a secret or two and— well, it’s just another day for Harriet.

The thing about Julie Houston’s novels is that they have a way of sneaking up on the reader. As her work unfolds, it can seem so obvious how everything will eventually unravel. Harriet believes Amanda is attempting to seduce her husband— surely that’ll be the focus. And yet, Houston whisks the reader off at breakneck speed, weaving in out of scenes like an uncomfortable dinner party, a burning shed, and a nutty class reunion. All plots are eventually tidied up, but it’s one hell of a fun ride through the end.

While these scenes are hilarious and original in their own right, they’re pushed over the edge by the character of Harriet. She’s such a realistic main character with genuine worries that it’s impossible not to root for her. Money problems. Kid problems. Marriage. Work. Friends. Family. She’s bogged down with a host of issues, as all mothers are, she tackles each of them head-on. Sure, she has moments where the world is too much, but it’s brilliant reading as she gains confidence and takes control of each increasingly stressful situation she’s faced with.

Of course, she doesn’t have to go it alone. Houston has peppered this book with a charming cast of secondary characters. Grace is the perfect best friend— argumentative when necessary, but always caring. These two conspire against Amanda, their former enemy and apt foil. Yet some of the most touching scenes stem from Harriet interacting with her own family. Her mother struggles with memory issues and secrets of her own, and this subplot is explored in a beautifully surprising way. There are plenty of other great characters, and a lesser author would have balked at the task of navigating so many people and their throughlines, but Houston brings everything together in a more than satisfying narrative.

Goodness, Grace and Me is deliciously frenetic in the best way possible. Julie Houston combines wacky situations, real characters, and a ton of heart into a perfect novel.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is an enjoyable debut novel and an easy read and in places very funny. Would recommend.

Julie has such a lovely way with her writing that it is full of humour, love and friendship that envelopes her readers into a wonderful story full of characters that you just love to be amongst.

Several times did I actually laugh out loud whilst devouring this book. Light hearted, entertaining and addictive! I love the Westmorelands and I’m so glad there’s another book featuring them. Chaotic family life and relationship turmoil played out within a written hug. A difficult balance to achieve but deftly managed. Thoroughly enjoyable! One to curl up with whatever the time of year.

Thank you NetGalley

I liked this book but I felt that there was too much content and it got a bit confusing at times.
I wanted to like this book more than I did

An easy-to-read story about Hattie, her family, and her relationships, with some great references to how our school days never really leave us. A complex and extensive cast of characters make for some brilliant little sub-plots - I can't wait to see if any of these are embellished in the sequel. It was predictable at times, but in some ways that made it more refreshing as it didn't veer into the obscure or ridiculous with bonkers plot twists. Seemed really true to life, although Hattie's can keep her chaotic, but loving, life!

Hat and Nick have three children, a granny flat with Nick’s mum in residence, a hectic life with constantly balancing money in and money out after Nick’s textile business went toes up. Hat has been teaching again, and Nick has, unbeknownst to her decided to venture off in a new business start-up, leaving her the only breadwinner with ever increasing bills as their son is a voracious teen, the eldest daughter will be heading to university soon, and the new job will mean Nick will be traveling for extended periods of time. When you mix in Hat’s best friend Grace’s husband moving on with his side piece, the old head girl and nemesis from their school days also being all too involved in Nick’s new business venture and Grace finding consolation and entertainment in the arms of her nemesis’ son, a twenty four year old young man in a situation that could prove disastrous for Nick’s new business, things are just about at total overload. Until Hat comes up pregnant, and her mother’s increasing confusion seems to be leading to signs of dementia.

This is one of those stories, and lives, that shows with perseverance, friendship and humor, and a willingness to overlook the detritus collecting when late starts and quick exits push cleaning to the end of the to do list. With Harriet’s frequent mood-swings from pregnancy and a certain propensity to over-think EVERYTHING, are frequently offset by her rather wacky and scattered behavior, often quite funny, and her genuine good-nature and inability to sulk for more than a handful of moments at a time. With ridiculous moments offset with true family time, a husband who is genuinely in love with her, and her own ability to overreact for England and forget it the next moment, this is a story of a family, through good and bad, making their way through as best they can.

Clever insets of interactions between friends, the unearthing of a long-buried mystery, some truly quick recoveries and plenty of moments that every couple has seen and endured, the story is quick to read and clever for the honesty, even in ridiculously twisted situations that seem to work out – at least at the moment.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-ajF/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I really enjoyed this book!! It was lighthearted with just the right amount of drama and twists to keep it interesting! Harriet is such a fun character and I really enjoyed following where life took her.... can’t wakt to read the next one!!

Three and a half stars.

Harriet is approaching 40. A married mother of two teenagers and a five year old she is also a teacher at the local school and still as much in love with her gorgeous husband Nick as she was the first day she saw him at university. Then Nick suddenly announces that he has given up his safe, steady job )the one he took after his own business went to the wall at the start of the recession) to go into business with a local millionaire who just happens to be married to Mandy, Harriet's girl-crush from school who led her brother a merry dance before dumping.

Soon Nick is off to Milan with the gorgeous Mandy, to help with translating the legal documents, while Harriet deals with her mother's increasing;y bizarre behaviour, two teenagers, her best friend's marriage disintegrating, her wilderness garden, straitened financial circumstances and the joys of public school teaching.

I liked this book but I didn't love it, in retrospect there was just too much going on, too many threads and it all got a bit frenetic, then everything got resolved in one chapter - so quickly that I actually turned over two pages at once and accidentally missed the end, I was knee deep in the 'six months later' epilogue.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Really enjoyed everything about this book. Witty, amazing characters I flew through this. Would recommend this to anyone.