I didn't realize that these were a compilation of stories from the romances Lisa Jackson used to write in her earlier novelist years, but I loved them! the stories tell of 3 sisters (meaning same father, so half-sisters) who didn't know about one another until recently but must depend on one another to move forward. Along the way, they find love in some unexpected places and are challenged by some danger as well! If you enjoy a solid plot line, some mystery, and steamy romance, you are certain to enjoy this book!

I am a huge Lisa Jackson fan and this did not disappoint! It has a great story and characters, with lots of romance! There is also a really good mystery to be solved! I would definitely recommend!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

This compilation of three romance style stories with one common theme is well done.
Three women who find themselves suddenly finding out that they are sisters is most engaging. Bliss is the daughter of John who has his last name. Tiffany is the daughter from a women not John’s wife. Katie is the daughter of John’s long time mistress who is now going marry John after the recent death of his wife.
All sisters have different views of this turn of events.
A tale well told.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the advance copy.

I always enjoy this author’s suspense books so was a bit surprised to find this more of a romance with a bit of mystery. Great plot, writing and character development. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Envious by Lisa Jackson

This collection of three vintage romances from around 1990 tell the story of three half sisters unaware of one another until their biological father suffers a health crisis that makes him realize he needs to make some changes and make things right with his daughters who do not know they have sisters. Throw into this a missing many mystery that appears in all three books and is resolved in the finale and you have an interesting tale that reminded me of similar books I read in that era. I had no idea that Lisa Jackson had written simpler romances as I met her work later when romantic suspense filled with thrills and chills were more her style so it was interesting to see what she was writing earlier in her career.

A FAMILY KIND OF GUY
Second Chance Romance – Bliss and Mason were falling hard for one another when their young love was thwarted by more than one occurrence and though their lives continued for ten years...neither was really happy. Seeing one another again after ten years apart the chemistry was still there but so were the hurts that lingered from the past. This book introduces the main characters and provides the first romance as well as introducing the mystery man who disappeared without a trace.

A FAMILY KIND OF GAL
Widow and her Brother-in-Law – J.D. Santini and his sister-in-law, Tiffany, met years before when Tiffany was engaged to J.D.’s older brother. Years have passed, much has taken place and now that both are free there is potential for them to be together...maybe. Tiffany is dealing with issues related to the feeling that father abandoned her while working, running an apartment building and raising her two children. This was an interesting relationship to watch unfold and there was a bit more about the missing man.


A FAMILY KIND OF WEDDING
Single Mother meets Hot Cowboy – Katie is a reporter looking for a story. She has never divulged the name of her child’s father and this is an issue in this story. She meets Luke while looking for a story and there is definitely chemistry. Luke is a quiet man but sometimes still waters run deep. I enjoyed watching how the two managed to get together, eventually, and also how all three stories and the mystery were tied up by the end of the trilogy.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington – Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

ENVIOUS (Forever Family Books 1-3) By Lisa Jackson
I am a fan of Lisa Jackson’s work, and I love her novels. This is different that what I have usually found from her, but enjoyable just the same. Envious has three stories about three young women that just find out that they are half sisters. One that concerns Bliss, one that brings us Tiffany and the last one is Katie. A heart attack makes John Cawthorne realize he needs to focus on his family. These are interconnected stories with a lot of hurt, heart and love. Can he repair his relationships? Read and see! These stories were introduced 1st in the 90’s and now have been re-released as one book. I give this 5 stars.

Three stories in one. Which is nice so you can read the series at once. The book was written in the 90"s.
Bliss Cawthorne has had a big bomb dropped on her. Her father John has suffered a heart attack and while her father is recuperating, he tells her that he getting married, so soon after her mother's death. And not only is he getting married to a woman that he's been involved with for years, they share a daughter, Katie. And on top of that, Bliss has an older sister that was resulted in a one night stand before her father got married to her mother.
The story follows the sisters navigating their new family, love, children and trying to give their dad a break for having all these secrets. While the girls are going through all that, there is the mystery of what happened to Isaac Wells, local older man who one day just disappeared.

Reissue of three of her earlier works. I really liked them as they mostly stand up in time. There are a few edits that could be made that would modernize the books (like removing the fax machine) but reading these were fun throwbacks. I will say these are far more in the romance category than her current works so if you are expecting dark suspense you might be a little disappointed, but if you want a romance with a little mystery and a lot of family dynamics this is a good read.

I love Lisa Jackson books. They never let me down to take me out of my mind into another world. Envious by Lisa Jackson was a complete surprise. I don't know what I expected but it wasn't 3 fantastic stories in one book. This book is full of love, hate, anger, angst, heartache, and redemption.

This was a bait and switch. The title, the cover, and the description said "intrigue". But what we got was romance novel. Seriously? Snobby-rich-girl-bosses-daughter and rugged ranch hand? Men coming in to save single moms? Women pretending to be independent but defining their lives by the men in them. Uhhh. It took me weeks to get through this. I would start it and then read something else. I did that about 6-7 times. I was so close to a DNF. Sorry, this one was not what it was presented as.

was an excellent read by Lisa Jackson. She never disappoints, this book about these three very different women but all running nd hiding from their past. All the characters were wonderful. The book kept my attention until the end. Loved this book. Thank you for the arc.

There stories in one. Romantic mysteries,with rugged heroes and strong beautiful heroines. Not as good as previous stories from this author.

Bliss's father is in the hospital after suffering a serious heart attack. He feels the need to confess some things to Bliss that she doesn't know. First he never loved her mother, and second he has been in love with a woman he calls Brynnie for all of Bliss's adult life. She also has two half sisters and he eants her to move back home and be one happy family. This was a good book. Its full of lies and deceit and romance. The characters are real and the plot is good but not exciting. It moves along wuite slowly but it is good nevertheless.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author, Lisa Jackson, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Envious in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Lisa Jackson certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention. I have always found her books to capture the imagination and come alive in the narrative. This book is no exception.
Envious is about three sisters who have no idea they are siblings. All are trying to escape the shadows of their past. The characters are well drawn and compelling and storyline was well thought out and written. I was hooked from the start.
Well worth a read.

As usual Lisa Jackson does not disappoint!! I have been reading her books for years and get excited every time she releases a new book. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend this book!!

If you read the Forever Family series back in the 1990s, as I did, then finding those three stories in one book to read once again will be a treat. If you had no clue about the books previously then Envious is an even sweeter treat for you since you’ll get to experience these stories for the first time. Either way, there is no denying that Bliss, Katie, and Tiffany will draw you into their lives, maybe break your heart a bit, and heal not only themselves but their relationships with women who they’ve only recently discovered are their sisters… eventually.

I enjoyed stepping back into this world once again. There’s conflict, anger, tensions between these three women. Add to that their (collective) father has suffered a heart attack and now is trying to make amends to the women who never knew about each other. With an underlying mystery going on as well there is a lot to keep you engaged throughout Envious. Finding real, true love hasn’t come easy to these sisters but love is on their horizon as they all learn to trust, forgive, and take a chance on a forever love for themselves. I had fun with this combined story, and seeing it with fresh eyes caught things that I didn’t remember from my previous reading of the trilogy. That’s always a fun discovery for me, and one of the reasons I do re-reads for I always find something new.

If you love a good, solid second chance at love romance with a bit of suspense then you’d enjoy the Forever Family trilogy brought together in Envious.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Envious by Lisa Jackson was a complete surprise. I don't know what I expected but it wasn't 3 fantastic stories in one book. Ms. Jackson has provided three different stories. John Cawthorne had a daughter out of wedlock that never knew who her father was. He went on to marry and have another daughter. During the time he was married he met and fell in love with someone else and had another daughter that believed her step-father was her father. After John's wife died he was free to marry the woman he loved but a heart attack interfered. He had a come to Jesus moment and now wants all his daughters in his life. Each book in this collection is the story of one of those daughters. These well-written stories are loaded with phenomenal characters, humor, drama, spice, action and a little suspense with the mystery running through all 3 books of where is Isaac Wells. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from Lisa Jackson in the future. Envious is books 1-3 of the Forever Family Series. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Lisa Jackson, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book. This is my honest opinion.

John Cawthorne is an older man who just had a heart attack. This is when he decides to come clean so to speak. His wife passed away a few months ago and he has just declared to his daughter he is getting married again to the love of his life. His only daughter, Bliss is shocked but that was just the beginning. He now told her she has to half sisters! One older to a brief fling and one younger than her who is the daughter of the woman he’s about to marry. Neither sister knew he was their father till now. Pain, disappointment and resentment is felt by all three. Bliss the middle girl but the one he raised gave his name and treated so well. Or so she thought. Not yet knowing how he changed her life years ago.

The story is told in three parts. First from Bliss and the challenges of being asked to the wedding of her father to another woman. It wouldn’t be bad except it’s only been a few months and to find out he’s been unfaithful to her mother for years. She struggles with meeting her half sisters. Apparently her father thinks they can now all be one happy family. Bliss left the ranch her father runs, along with other holdings as he did well in business and rancher, after he heart was broken by the love she can’t forget. Having to go back to ranch for a wedding is compounded by learning the man she loved, who left her without a word, has moved back there after his divorce. . Now how can she meet the half sisters how can she not.
The second part is from the perspective of the oldest half sister Tiffany. Her mother didn’t ever marry and they struggled to survive. Never ever hearing from a dad she though dead or just gone. She is bitter and is trying to survive herself as a widow and mother of a thirteen year old boy heading for trouble and a three year old girl who suffers nightmares since her father died. She really resents. Bliss and thinks of her as the princess. The one who had their dads name and was raised in affluence.
The third part is Katie, daughter of the woman who had John Cawthorns heart. Her mother has married so many times they run together. But she was told her father was husband number two. Katie has twin younger brothers and she is full of life and boundless optimism. Even finding out who her father really is, although surprising she is excited to meet her half sisters. She is a a bit embarrassed in her mothers part but is willing to reach out to both her family. Katie has a son, no husband and doesn’t talk about him to anyone her son is being quite a challenge and it takes a lot to keep him I going in the right direction. She and her son are fine. Then a new neighbor moves in the ranch next door and things get complicated.

I enjoyed this book. Reading the different perspectives, the pain, disappointment and the joy and then happiness that can possibly come out of it. Without giving too much away, there are complications in girls lives including the new groom and bride. Secrets come out that could prove to be too much to forgive. There are some explicit sex scenes but they are not overly through the book. Just letting you know. Overall I’m glad I read the book and it held my interest. It’s a romance story, lots of difficulty especially with past love and trying to move on. But old love stays in your heart doesn’t it.

This book is the compilation of the Forever Trilogy from the 1990's. 3 half-sisters who have no idea the others exist. 1 legitimate, 2 the products of affairs. The story of 3 sisters and the men who love them, with the disappearance of an older man thrown in for mystery.

A compilation of three previously published stories, Envious takes readers back to Bittersweet. I had read these long ago so it was like reading them for the first time for me.
Three grown women find out they are half sisters. Each book tells the story of one of the women. First up is Bliss and I admit I had some doubts about the other two from this story. However, after reading all the stories you realize just how amazing these women are. Tiffany ended up being my favorite and Katie was much different than I expected. The men in their lives are also very different.
There is an underlying mystery to the trilogy. The romances are sweet while being complicated. This is a story about finding yourself and letting go of the past. A must read for fans!