Sister’s By Choice was a good book and it’s part of a series but I read it as a stand alone. Three women who are cousins but are more like sisters all have come to a point in their life that they are going to make decisions that will have big impacts. I found this book to be well written and I liked that each of the characters were so strong in their own lives and choices that they made. I found myself laughing and crying with them and completely relating to them in some areas.

Sophie's business, CK Industries, Clandestine Kitty an upscale cat supply business, burns to the ground. She decides that she needs to both rebuild her life and her business and moves back to Blackberry Island. But she's a Type-A++ personality, and has to have total control over _everything_, both business-wise and personally.
Her cousin Kristine is a mother of 3 boys and has a loving husband, but really wants to open a bakery, something of her own. Her husband, however, can't see that and thinks she should be happy staying home and taking care of her family. Somehow she has to convince him that she can do both, and does -- with a little unexpected help from her mother-in-law.
Heather is only 20 and wants desperately to get off the island and live her life, but her mother Amber is so needy and selfish and believes everyone should take care of her, and guilts everyone into seeing things her way, Including Sophie, her cousin. Heather's interactions with Sophie and one of Sophie's employees help her find her way out.

The story is about these three women, "sisters", who all grew up together and whose lives have changed since they were girls. They all struggle and dream and interact with each other, yet they have their own individual stories as well..

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read and review.

Susan is one of my favorite authors and this book was fantastic... So many feelings and family dynamics ...I couldn't put it down.

Sophie is returning to Blackberry Island to think about what she wants in her future. This is book 4 in the Blackberry Island series and it's fun to have the girls back together helping each other through bad times and celebrating good times. Sophie's warehouse has burned to the ground and she is going to rebuild her profitable cat business on the island. It's good for her and the community. Kristine has dreamed of opening her bakery for years and decides how is the time. Her husband and sons aren't real supportive and she has to decide what is most important. Heather wants to leave Blackberry so bad she can taste it but she's stuck caring for her emotionally ill mother. Wonderful story and a great addition to the series. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sisters By Choice is a wonderful book. It's about cousins who are as close as sisters. The story is charming and I was hooked from the first page to the last. Grab this wonderful book and prepare to read it in one sitting.

Susan Mallery manages to give her readers another sensitive, heartwarming story about three cousins that are as close as sisters. They’ve always supported & been there for each other. Each character is well written & defined as strong & confident. As this time of their lives moves along, they all have to learn to change with the circumstances & adapt to new lives.

Just like Ms. Mallery’s other stories, the storyline draws you in from the first page. As you read, the characters become family or friends & her dialogue has you feeling the same emotions they do. Be prepared to spend several hours reading because you won’t want to put it down until you’re done!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gem! I was drawn in almost immediately and I loved the characters from page one. This is a page turner! Even when I would put the book down, I would think about where the story was going. It is one of those that just stick with you. The pacing was good and the writing was phenomenal.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

This is the first book I have read by Susan Mallory and I’m really looking forward to reading more of her humorous and heartfelt storytelling. I really sympathized with Sophie who is a quirky divorced workaholic with no desire to marry again. She’s happy to be back home with her cousin Kristine who loves her busy life as a wife and mother while she dreams of opening her own business some day. They do their best to deal with their difficult and entitled cousin Amber while they sympathize with Amber’s daughter Heather and her problems with her mother. The one thing that keeps these women afloat is their love and support for each other, even when the going gets tough and it does. Fallible characters and wonderful storytelling are the marks of a truly talented author and Susan Mallory is one of the very best. I read a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

I've always told my children and grandchildren that everyone we come in contact with is someone whose life we impact, whether that be in a positive or negative way. Hopefully, we take care of what we say and how we behave and interact so that we have a positive impact on others. This book exemplifies that to me. The relationships are complex, heartfelt, and raw emotions are exuded.

When I requested this book from NetGalley I did so mainly because of the title since I am a trio of sisters so it caught my eye. I had no idea that it was #4 in the Blackberry Island series, so I was questioning a few things. I like knowing the backdrop of everyone's story to help me connect the dots and better understand characters. For example, why on earth was Amber so awful? What I liked though is that the characters were believable, real, and flawed like we all are.

And then there was Jaxsen whose name (and spelling) I love, but the "attraction" ends there. He couldn't capture my heart and kept me frustrated and angry with him, but that's also life. We all have those people in our life who, no matter what we say or do, we just can't connect with them the way we'd like. Some people negatively impact us and that's just how it is.

Don't let these two characters who grabbed my attention the way they did make you think I didn't like the book or hated all of the characters (see my rating). I loved this book and it surprised me in several ways. I am definitely going back and reading the first three books now as soon as I am able.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada) for giving me a free copy to read in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

The 4th book in the series is sadly the least enjoyable, for me at least. I'm having a hard time believing Susan wrote this, to be blatantly honest. It's not terrible by any means, but the characters are somewhat... lacking, for a better term. Especially Amber, I cannot stand Amber, and the fact that she gets away with treating her daughter in such a manner is beyond me. Idk, I know it's getting raving 5 star reviews, and I agree, the series as a whole is definitely a 5 starrer. But this one fell a bit flat for me. Y'all want my honest opinion, there ya go! 3.75 is my star rating :)

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced PDF so that I can share my opinions with y'all

Sophie , Kristine, Amber and Heather each have issues and are family. Sophie loses her warehouse to a fire and has relocated back to Blackberry Island. Her cousins are happy to see her and help rebuild. Kristine is married and looking for more in her life than being a wife and mother. She runs a baking business from her kitchen and hopes her stubborn husband will be agreeable to obtaining a lease on the old bakery in town. Heather is stuck with caring for her unappreciative mother Amber. Amber is very manipulating and very harsh. Heather and Amber go to work for Sophie at the warehouse . Heather is wanting to leave Blackberry Island and live a life of her own. Even though they are family some are more supportive than others. I enjoyed seeing Sophie and Kristine support Heathers dreams and keep Amber satisfied so she can make her way in the world.

I could not get enough of this book!! I loved how the characters where going through their own hardships, they were always there for each other!

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can get your copy here :
https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Choice-Blackberry-Island-Book-ebook/dp/B07QJCGY7K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Sisters+by+Choice+Susan+Mallery&qid=1576453825&sr=8-1


You cannot imagine my excitement when I got the email that said that I was approved for this book. I have been trying to get on Susan Mallery’s review list for quite a long time. I am an enormous fan and have read and loved EVERY ONE of her books! I missed her at Book Con a few years ago and since then, I feel like I have been trying to get on her radar and get ARCs of her books, to no avail. FINALLY, I got my chance to read and review one of her books.
This is the 4th book in the Blackberry Island series. There is a slight arc to the story, but if you read this independently of the others, you can catch up for the most part, but you are missing 3 other AMAZING books, so just start at the beginning! Her other books are also available on AMAZON as well.
This book was amazing in the sense that it really caused emotions! I was so mad at this book and wanted to punch certain characters in the face and yell at some of the others to wake up and stop letting people walk all over you.
We start out with a bang with this book. Sophie is out at dinner on a date and receives a call from her alarm company. The alarm company is calling to let her know that her business, CK Industries is on fire. After she gets the call, she immediately leaves the restaurant to head to her business, completely forgetting that she was on the date. She arrives on the scene to be told that the building is a total loss, so after an unsuccessful date, she is also faced with losing everything on her business side. The first person that Sophie turns to is her cousin, Kristine who was 1130 miles away in Blackberry Island. Sophie decides to close down operations in Valencia, California and head home to Blackberry Island for a while. Kristine is more than happy to have her, as she has her hands full with her 3 boys; Tommy, JJ and Jaxsen who is just a baby.
Sophie is nervous about moving back to small town life until she is pleasantly met by Bear Gleason, eager to help with her warehouse operations in any way possible when he shows up not only with a resume in hand, but also references. Could she honestly have gotten a warmer welcome? He quickly sets off to work without being instructed to when the eighteen-wheeler filled with inventory pulls up.
We then meet Heather Sitterly, a waitress going to community college. Heather’s mother Amber is pretty demanding to her. Amber was rear-ended three weeks prior and her car was totaled, and she sustained soft tissue injuries. Poor Heather is only twenty years old, but has she has been supporting her mom and the household since she was sixteen years old. Her mother pulls the guilt trip about becoming pregnant instead of going to college. Sophie, Amber and Kristine were all cousins who had grown up together, so they have been through a lot. We are taken on many family drama adventures throughout this book.
It did not disappoint in any way. I cannot wait to read the newest book that will be coming out shortly.

I love a book that tells the story of women’s personal growth and this book has it with it’s three female characters. In Sisters By Choice, Sophie is a successful business owner with a habit of micro-managing and personal attachment issues. Kristine is a wife and mother of three boys who desperately wants to open her own bakery but whose husband won’t support this. Heather is a 20 year old who is torn between staying to support her single mother has been financially dependent on her since she was 16, and leaving home to attend college. The women, while related, are not sisters but care for one another as though they were.

I enjoyed the book and it held my interest throughout. I thought the antics of Heather’s mother were highly entertaining (although I felt for Heather). I loved the fact that Sophie’s business was a “cat empire” and she fostered expectant mother cats. Overall, a nice cozy read which I recommend to readers who appreciate women’s fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Ms. Mallery brings together four different women who are related by more than blood. We celebrate the camaraderie and joys and weather the trials and tribulations with these women as they ride the waves of life to emerge stronger and even more connected. I believe there is something in each one of the characters that readers will relate to within their own lives and relationships.

Sophie is rich in money but other than her close relationship with Kristine is alone. When fire causes her to move her business to Blackberry Island, not a single employee wants to move with her forcing her to find new employees who are not willing to let her micro-manage them. Also enter the handsome Tai Chi instructor who has insane sexual chemistry but also forces her to look at her business and relationships differently. Can Sophie adapt and change and actually find happiness?
Kristine seems to have the most stable and happy life. Married to her high school sweetheart with three adorable little boys she thirsts to start her own bakery business threatening the peace and stability of her marriage and home. Support comes from unexpected quarters and forces her to evaluate what is truly important to her. I love the dialog between her and her boys.
Heather is trapped with a needy mother who constantly holds her back financially and emotionally. She longs to break free and go to college and yet cannot get free from the anchors that are holding her back. Both she and Amber come to work for Sophie. With some of the new support that is now offered to her can Heather finally find a way to soar.
It's a fulfilling journey to witness these women reach for their dreams while growing and evolving in their love and friendship. One can't help but feel sorry for Amber who has no qualms about living in her own make believe world. Do any of you have an Amber in your life? It'll be interesting to see how Sophie, Kristine and Heather weather her.
All in all a story that's thought provoking and yet stimulating.

This is book number four in the Blackberry Island series. I would highly recommend this book and the others in this series. Very enjoyable book and author. I found the book to be very engaging and easy to read.

Sophie, Kristine, and Amber are cousins. Sophie built a kitty toy empire which went up in flames one night so she is coming back to Blackberry Island to rebuild. In doing so, she gets to know her family again (and, as happens in Blackberry Island books, herself as well.)
Kristine is generally happy with her husband Jaxsen and her three boys but, as the boys are getting older, she's getting ready for something more. It's too bad that Jaxsen doesn't seem to want that for her.
Amber got pregnant at 18 and now relies heavily on her daughter, Heather, for everything. Heather is slowly drowning under her mother's needs. Amber has absolutely no idea how to function in the real world. She wants to leave but isn't sure that her mother will survive without her. Now her grandmother is selling the house Heather and Amber are living in and Heather is at the end of her rope.
Sophie wants to grow her business but isn't sure how. It's her whole life and she is in charge of every part of it to the point that nothing else is important to her. She doesn't want to get married again but is happy to jump into a physical relationship with the local tai chi teacher. But when it turns out that he might have a brain, Sophie isn't as sure about continuing a relationship with him.
And I wish we had seen more of the relationship building between the cousins, between Kristine and her husband, and between Sophie and Dugan. This book didn't feel like it went as deep into the female friendships that other books in this series have.

Three stars
This book came out February 11th
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin-Mira and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sophie, Christine and Heather - cousins who become sisters of choice. Sophie who has to learn to let go and enjoy life, Christine , who has to decide what it is she wants out of life and Heather , who needs to escape her life and find her way in the world.
Great read about love and friendships and family.

Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery takes the reader back to Blackberry Island, a wonderful hometown in which I would love to live. After a devastating tragedy, Sophie Lane returns home to start over. While there, Sophie and her two cousins, Kristine and Heather, learn to lean on each other and become Sisters By Choice.

I love reading Susan Mallery. Her books aren't just your typical romance books. Yes, there is romance. But there is also family, friendship, community, and so much more. Her characters are extremely believable (and believe me, there is one you will love to hate!) and relatable for the average reader.

I give this book five huge stars and would recommend to anyone who wants to escape for a while to a beautiful small town on an island. The characters will capture your heart from page one and won't let go even after you close the back cover.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advance copy!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QJCGY7K?ref=cm_sw_em_r_rw_dp_SlJ6cQwzxKXVc

Below is the link to my Goodreads Review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3081219337

Cousins, who grew up as sisters come back together on Blackberry Island, when fate intervenes. Sophie Lane isn’t your typical woman. Kristine Feilding is wanting to have her dream come true. Heather Sitterly wants to leave the island to start her dream. They each must overcome their individual issues to make their dreams come true. They’ll come together to support each other and solidify their bond of Sisters by Choice.
Sophie Lane is shocked and devasted when her business is destroyed by fire. A trip home to start over her cat supply business has her connecting with her cousins. As a control freak, it’s hard for Sophie to relinquish control of her business. Word spreads quickly that Sophie is hiring. Her first hire is her warehouse manager. She gets involved with her Tia Chai instructor on a physical level but as she learns more about him it scares Sophie. They put the physical relationship on hold when she realizes that he’s more than she thought he was. Her new boyfriend helps her to realize that she can let go. He scares her by how insightful he is of Sophie. When Sophie is ready to continue their physical relationship, he pulls back to give her time to figure out her feelings for him. She’s not happy with the course of things. Sophie reluctantly gives up some control of her business to her department managers. She puts the future of the company in jeopardy at a meeting with a distributor. Family has been hired to work at her company and has mixed results. A fostering of pregnant cats leads to Sophie keeping the mothers. A little jealousy rears its head when a separation in the relationship. An epiphany has Sophie revealing her feelings.
Kristine Feilding took the traditional route, with a husband and sons. Her dream is to expand her baking and catering business to an empty bakery in town. He husband is old fashioned and isn’t pleased with the idea that she’s keeping an inheritance instead of letting him use it for his own purposes. It leads to a fight. Tensions escalate when fights result in him leaving and has Kristine wondering if her marriage will survive. She gets advice from her cousin about her business plan. It pushes Kristine take measures to make her dream come true. Her hope and feeling take several hits when things seem to work out with her husband. She’s on the verge of losing hope of keeping her marriage together. Kristine’s husband helps her out by doing the renovations at the bakery. A frank discussion has the truth coming out and reassurances being made. They work together with a therapist has them becoming a better couple.
Heather Sitterly has grown up taking care of her mother, Amber since she was sixteen. Her dream is to get away from Blackberry Island and the life she lives with her mother. She works several part-time jobs an accident has her loosing all the savings Heather has when her mother needs a new car. It makes Heather angry. A new job working for Sophie has her trying to save again. Her idea gets her a promotion. Heather’s boss takes her under his wing and helps her to get experience in marketing along with giving her advice. A call from Heather’s grandma has them looking for a new place to live. The apartment Amber picks is way out of their price range. Fights become a regular thing resulting in Heather being kicked out. She temporarily moves in with Sophie and is encouraged to go for her dreams. A decision is made and a future started.
Susan Mallery show you that family is what you make it and not necessarily actual siblings but who you consider them as such. She takes you back to Blackberry Island by bringing home Sophie Lane after a devasting fire has her starting over. Three cousins must over come guilt, control issues and fighting for what she believes in to make their dreams come true and to find and keep the love they’ve found. They’ll support each other and make the bond that made them Sisters by Choice even stronger than it was before, these most recent trials. Come home to Blackberry Island where your dreams can come true. Susan Mallery delivers another heartfelt story of love and family.