This is book 4 in the Blackberry Island series and it features cousins, Sophie, Kristine and Heather. Sophie is a mess! She has major issues with being in a relationship because of her past. She’s got an unnatural OCD with running her multi million dollar cat supply empire, which is REALLY strange. Even though she hires people to run certain departments, she can’t seem to stop interfering with their jobs. Kristine just wants to open her own bakery after being a stay at home mom and wife for so long. Her husband was really a jerk about it all. Heather just wants to live life for herself instead of taking care of her totally able-bodied mother, Amber. Amber is an awful person. She’s rude, entitled like no one I’ve ever seen and just wants to be taken care of, even though she is 100% able to take care of herself.

I think I liked only one character in the whole book and that was Kristine. The family dynamics were interesting but the romance was horrible and made ZERO sense. It probably would have been better with no romance at all. I’m a big fan of this author’s writing style but this book was a HUGE let down for me.

This was a lovely book. I enjoyed the characters, the friendship, the fun, and even the dysfunction. This story is heartwarming and was a “feel good” for me.
Many thanks to Harlequin MIRA and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.5 Hearts Oh how I adored this story and Oh how I love Susan Mallery! Susan has a way of bringing you right into her world and you not only want to visit you want to pack up and move there. Blackberry Island has been no different.

In this story we meet Sophie, Kristine and Heather. They are “Sisters By Choice”. We all have one of those or maybe more than one like in this case.

Having my own Sister By Choice made this story more real to me. My SBC and I have been through so much and yet when we should have fallen apart we grew closer together. As I read about Sophie, Kristine and Heather I knew they could and would survive it all together.

Susan Mallery is simply the best when it comes to writing. She is always the first I mention when someone asks who I read. And this story is just proof as to why. Another wonderful trip to Blackberry Island.

This BlackBerry island Book #4 by Susan Mallery, doesnt disappoint. She captures women at their best emotions, risks, letting go and finding true freindships within each other whether they are related or not.
We meet three close knit  cousins   and who couldve been sisters because of their loyalty to each other.Sofie, relocates from her Los Angeles home where her booming Cat Product office  business goes up in flames, and now has to move back home to  BlackBerry island in WA. to relocate all over again. She is begins fostering a pg cat and she hesitates after losing her own cat . She is a generous giver to her relatives, helping them financially in all ways, with hiring them,qualified or not. Elliot, hired to be the manager with better business management, trying to get her to step back and let her employees do their jobs, especially management. SOfie hires relatives just to give them a job. He and another employee MAggie convince her quit trying to be controlling and let everyone do their qualified skill so the business can grow better without complications and lost time and clients. Her cousin Amber, an employee as well...is Heather's 40 something yr old mother. Amber feels SOfie is rich and owes it to her"poor" relatives to make life easy for them and give a handout.Amber has lived a life expecting these  handouts from everyone,wants to  work little hours but expecting bigger paycheck from SOfie, and dependent on her young  daughter Heather to keep paying the bills where they both live in AMber's mother's house.I find myself rooting for Heather, she finally has had it from supporting her greedy controlling mother and holding her back from having an independent alone successful life of her own and not be made to feel guilty for saying no. Amber always finds a crisis to get money from here daughter.Heather keeps putting off continuiing her college because of this.We watch a young caring  scared teenager grow into a butterfly that finally spreads her wings to fly.Kirsten,  makes us want to shake her for  ideas that she has brainwashed herself with, beleiving she has to be a stay at home mom without being able to make her dreams come true. She has always been so good to her 3 sons and husband ,keeping her home going but she isnt happy.She loves to bake and isnt content just baking cookies  in her kitchen and sells them locally. I was happy she got convinced to go out there and follow her dream and not let anyone stand in her way.She has the grandmothers inheritance and saved it for a purpose,now is the time.Her husband Jaxten has to realize he WILL lose his wife no matter how much he thinks he can scare her by leaving to his parents and giving threats if she doesnt give up her "silly idea" of opening the  cookie  shop.He  has his 3 sons beleiving moms are supposed to stay at home and take care of their families,and I was happy to read that they observed this isnt always true...women have their own skills and need to explore outside of their kitchen if they have a skill and want to expand it beyond being a wife and mother.It doesnt change their home, it only makes the sons see how women can also be successful and they should respect and support them for it.I was happy to read the results of a troubled marriage and won't give spoilers of how this entales.I did expect more in the ending,it left me hanging but I guess this is where book $5 will continue.Ive been enjoying these series of books of Blackberry island and want to thank NetGalley forgiving me the opportunity reading this book and these are my own opinions.You will love this Mallery novel and find your own frendships could be actual Sisters By Choice!

I enjoyed reading Susan Mallery’s latest book Sisters By Choice. This is from the series Blackberry Island, but it can be a read alone. This story is about cousins Sophie, Kristine, and Heather. How the women deal with challenges in each of their lives. Great read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

EXCERPT: Eight years after her divorce, Sophie Lane still wasn't very good at dating. She supposed she only had herself to blame - if she really 'put herself out there,' as her cousin Kristine was always saying, she could find someone.

From Sophie's point of view, there were multiple problems with that statement. First, Kristine had married her high school sweetheart after graduation and had been happily married for the past sixteen years. She wasn't exactly someone who should be giving dating advice. Second, Sophie didn't have a lot of time to 'put herself out there.' She was busy - she owned a company and she loved her company and all the hard work that went into keeping it successful. To be honest, her business was way more interesting than any man, which might be a big part of the dating problem. That and, well, the actual dating.

Getting dressed up, meeting for dinner, listening to a man talk about himself for three hours, wasn't exactly how she wanted to spend a lone evening when she wasn't dealing with some crisis at the office. Plus, she never quite understood all the rules.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.

Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.

Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?

MY THOUGHTS: Susan Mallery always manages to make me tear up. When I read her books, I tend to get very emotional. And although I haven't read any of the previous books in this particular series, Mallery still got me with Sisters By Choice.

She writes moving stories with a warm sense of wit that has me smiling even as I am weeping. Her characters are not only strong and sassy, but overwhelmingly realistic - even the unbearable Amber. I am sure we all know someone just like her. I always feel like I have 'moved in' with her characters, they become like friends and family, and I am sad to close the cover on them.

I like Mallery's diversity - yes, there is romance, but there are always other issues, intricate family relationships complete with their inevitable dramas. And although the outcome may be predictable, the journey is an enjoyable one.

****

#SistersByChoice #NetGalley

A couple of quotes from Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery:

'Sex is great, but sometimes you need a sandwich as well.'

'Parents can make things better and worse, and often do both at the same time.'

THE AUTHOR: #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.

Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin-MIRA (USA & Canada) for providing me with a digital ARC of Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on Sandysbooksday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

I love Susan Mallery's books. Sisters by Choice is a great read! Super enjoyable and fun!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love the Blackberry Island books - the setting is wonderful and the characters are interesting and varied. I also enjoyed following most of the characters in this one. This story included many situations that required them to grow and change, and that was very realistic. I had a big problem with one of them, however - she was completely toxic to the others and the argument that she was "family" just didn't work for me. Sometimes you have to cut people like that out of your life so they can't poison it.

Another great read from Susan Mallery! I enjoyed all the characters in different ways in this book (though Amber was way over the top for me). My favorite character was definitely Heather but I liked Sophie and Kristine as well. Susan Mallery always does a good job of writing good characters that pull you into their story and make you wish you were there with them. I could totally picture Blackberry Island and wished I was there. Blackberry Island is a series, but this one can definitely be read on its own.

I have been reading a Susan Mallery books for a long time, and although I love her romance books, I must say I think she really shines with her Women’s Fiction. And this book in particular was so good. Three cousins, are all different in their lifestyles, yet are intertwined as family and what it is that runs throughout the book. I will say it took me awhile to warm up to a Sophie, the work obsessed, prickly cousin who started her own business. I loved Kristine from the start and could easily relate to her. But I never changed my opinion of Amber. She had no redeeming qualities as far as i was concerned. A wonderful read and one I could not put down. I always love Ms. Mallery’s writing, and in particular loved this story!

Immensely Enjoyable!!

Susan Mallery is the Queen of light hearted, fun reads. Her books flow so effortlessly and hook you right from the very beginning. Before you know it you are completely immersed and completely addicted. Susan Mallery writes books that are impossible to put down. With such engaging characters, you never want to leave the pages.

I am a huge fan of Susan Mallery and quickly devour everything she has ever written. I have never been disappointed. She is definitely a go to author to make my heart feel lighter. I will always read her books.

Sisters by choice...what a wonderful thought. I have many "sisters' I've chosen along the way and our the interactions of the three in this story are very familiar. As in real life, no one's life is perfect and the young women in Sisters By Choice have come to a place in their lives where change is the only door open to them. How each of them supports the others will have you calling your cousins and almost cousins to remind them you are there for them. A "feel good" story where Susan Mallery weaves her magic again.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. This new book by Susan Mallery started off a bit slow for me but eventually picked up and I struggled to put it down. Interesting characters and backstories that kept me guessing.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Why does Susan Mallery know how to write books like this? How does she know? The story of three cousins on Blackberry Island figuring out their futures was everything. It was touching and funny and frustrating yet uplifting.

Reading about Sophie (the business owner who's been burned before), Kristine (the stay-at-home mom who's ready for more), and Heather (the younger cousin with a mom like an albatross) was fascinating. They were each the victims of circumstance but were done with their victimhood. This book was about them breaking out of their restraints and facing what comes next. Whether it was a move or a new love, they found a way to stand on their own while also relying on the people they cared about.

This was a really great read that kept me entirely enthralled, eager to know what was coming next and see how these women would learn and grown based on their experiences. Another fantastic Mallery book!

You know you are invested in a book when your first thought upon waking up is that you can finish your books after work ;) Seriously, I did not want to put this book down! I was cheering, groaning in frustration, and back to cheering. Loved this story and the characters and now that I've read this book, I need to go back and read the 1st three in the series :) I've always enjoyed Susan Mallery's books and this one was wonderful!

I love reading Susan Mallery’s book and this one was no exception. I enjoyed reading this book about the closeness of cousins and accepting them for their flaws. There was a time or two that if I could, I would have like to give a cousin a shake out of frustration but also wanted to give a hug for comfort :-) You hit another home run, Susan!

Things were going well for Sophie Lane until the night her cat toy business burnt to the ground. With nothing keeping her from leaving Sophie decides to move back home to Blackberry Island and rebuild her business. She soon learns that she has to make some changes within herself if she is to succeed in business and in life. With all the things she has had happen in her life she has a hard time letting go. Is she willing to make the changes needed in her life so that she can truly be fulfilled or will she let her pride get in the way. I
Kristine leads a happy life with a great husband and three wonderful boys, being a wide and mom are her life. She soon realizes that she was rd more in her life and doesn't want to be defined in those terms. Kristine has a small cookie business that she would love to turn I to a bakery but soon learns that is easier said than done. Her husband has a problem with the changes she wants to make and soon life takes an unexpected turn.
Heather has spent most of her life taking care of her mother, there is nothing wrong with her, she just blames her for the way her life has turned out. Heather at the age of twenty wants so much more for her life but worries about what will happen to her mom if she leaves. She is forever built ridden and has never been able to just walk away. With new opportunities coming to life for her will she finally let the guilt go and love the life she has always wanted to.
This was such a wonderful read that had me laughing and crying as it took me on an emotional ride into the lives of each women. I couldn't put it down and love each e.tion that it pulled out of me, I always look forward to this author's work and she never disappoints.

Sophie Lane has come home to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business. She is determined to focus on rebuilding her life and her business on the island. Can Sophie let go of her need to control everyone around her? Can she get past all the hurt and loss in her past?
Kristine is a wife and a mother, but she has had a dream for a long time. She wants to open a bakery and have something for herself that she can work at and be proud of. Can her husband get past his need for her to just stay home and raise their family? Will she have to choose between her family and her dream?
Heather is twenty years old and has big dreams for her future. What Heather can’t get past is the guilt of not looking after her mother who refuses to look after herself and thinks the world owes her a living. Can Heather step away from the responsibility of taking care of her mother? Can she really move away and follow her dreams of going to college?
The story takes us on the journey of these three women, who each have their own struggles and dreams. The story weaves beautifully through each individual story yet, intertwines them all together at the same time.
The reason I am not giving this book five stars is that I didn’t feel the “warmth” between the characters as the title suggests. I wouldn’t call them sisters, I would call them close relatives, as they only seemed to show up once in awhile in each others lives and I didn’t see any sort of bond forming between them during the story. The book was good, the story was nice, but I just didn’t get that warm fuzzy from this one. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read and review.

Reading a Susan Mallery book after so long was like coming home to a warm hug. The story was about three women closer than most friends, sisters bound by their hearts.

Sophie lost her factory in fire, so she moved home to Blackberry Island to be with her family Kristine, who was a stay at home mom but had her own dreams which were yet unfulfilled. Heather wanted to break free but her mum had an emotional hook into her.

Being down with fever, I needed a book which would distract me from my aches and pains. And this book was perfect for me. It was absolute fun to read about the three women and the nitty-gritty parts of their life. I loved being the voyeur peeping into their lives. It certainly was more interesting than mine on a good day.

Susan Mallery has written a tale enveloped in warmth and love. I could feel the love between some of the characters, there was a genuine bonhomie between them. The women were varied in their nature, but kind at hearts. I loved the different characteristics inbibed into them. They were colorful, clear-headed, independent, wanting to be independent, and one was a downright parasite. Emotions ran through them at the various circumstances.

Overall, the book made me happy and kept me engrossed through my entire afternoon.

Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery
Blackberry Island #4

Mixed feelings on this book. The writing was excellent and the issues believable but I really had trouble relating to some of the characters and the issues they were facing. I think that it might have been too laden with negative issues that had to be dealt with and provided too little happiness and light to be one of my favorite books by this author.

My thoughts:
* Amber was awful – she was petty petulant and perfectly horrid in her way of treating everyone and that included her daughter
* Sophie was hard to relate to – she was driven, unable to trust, a micromanager and rather immature – wasn’t sure what Dugan saw in her
* Kristin had a dream – organized, efficient, great mom and wife but unfulfilled. Pursuing her dream had the potential of derailing all she held dear – was it worth it?
* Heather was trapped – her mother the mooch took and took and kept her tied down – would she ever get away?
Jaxsen – flawed but Kristine loved him and he loved her – if he could get his head screwed on straight and then communicate with Kristin – well – they might have a future that was better than their previous years together
* Dugan – a hunk and a half – really do not see what he saw in Sophie but liked him as a book boyrfriend
* Supporting characters were great: Maggie, Eliot, Tina, Bear, the three sons of Christine, Lily & Mrs. Bennett.
* I think I was expecting a more upbeat story...and this left me a bit unsettled.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes & No
Why no? It didn’t make me happy...left me feeling unsettled with a HFN feel at the end
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin - Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars