Cassie Costas and her stepdaughter Savannah have recently moved to Tarpon Springs Florida after the sudden death of their husband and father. Savannah is having a hard time fitting in as well as dealing with the death of her dad, which she blames on Cassie. Then she makes a decision that proves to have long-range effects. Due to Savannah's unwise actions, single mom Amber and her teenage son Will move in with Cassie and Savannah. While Cassie tries to find out what happened to her husband before his death and where all their money disappeared to, Amber is keeping secrets from everyone, including Will.

I really enjoyed this story. It is women's fiction with a couple of mysteries embedded into the story. The characters are wonderful. I like that they are realistic and relatable, flaws and all. Both Cassie and Amber are loving mothers, who would do anything to protect their children. I felt so bad for Cassie and how Savannah treats her, but Cassie continues to love her and do what she thinks is best for her. I really liked the theme of family in this story. Cassie is part of a large Greek family and their welcoming nature, love of family and friends and loyalty to one another was amazing. You didn't have to be blood to be family. Roxanne and Yiayia, Cassie's aunt and grandma were such great secondary characters. Amber's secrets are gradually revealed to the reader and bring this story to it's climax.

I was totally immersed in this story and the lives of these characters. This is a story that pulled me in from the beginning and held me right to the end. There are some twists, and suspense, but most of this story is about the bonds between people who call themselves family, whether by blood or by choice. This is a story of family and friendship, grief, secrets and sadness, hope, trust and eventually love. I definitely recommend this book.

Although Emilie Richards has written over 70 books, The House Guests is the first one I have read. After finishing this wonderful novel, I will be reading more of them.

Savannah is a 15 year-old girl who is angry that her stepmother Cassie moved her from New York City to Tarpon Springs, Florida following the drowning death of her father. She blames Cassie for his death because she overheard them arguing before he left and went sailing in a storm and died.

Amber is a single mom raising her 16 year-old son Will in Cassie's hometown of Tarpon Springs. They have moved frequently because Amber is on the run from someone. She works as a waitress at a restaurant, and money is tight.

When Amber loses a small money pouch filled with her rent money, she and Will are evicted from their apartment. Savannah finds the money pouch, and in a bid to make new friends, throws a party at her stepmom's new home. The partygoers trash the home, and Cassie is at her wits' end what to do with Savannah.

Cassie discovers that Amber and Will have been evicted, and offers for them to move into her home. Amber is wary at first, but Will is a good student and athlete, and she wants to give him some stability after years of constantly being on the move.

Cassie and Amber become friendly, although Savannah is less than kind to Will. Cassie confides in Amber that her husband lied to her about many things, and spent most of their money with no explanation. The two women find strength and companionship in each other.

I really enjoyed the Greek restaurant that Cassie's family owned. As someone with previous restaurant experience, that setting, and her boisterous Greek family, were so interesting to me. Richards details there were so well drawn that I could see the restaurant in my mind's eye.

The House Guests drew me in from page one with characters I grew to care deeply about. Every good story has secrets (why is Amber on the run, and what was Cassie's husband hiding), and this had more than enough to keep me turning the pages to find the answers.

I highly recommend this moving story of female friendship and the family you create. I read it in one day because I did not want to put it down. I also did not want it to end. Maybe we'll meet Amber, Will, Cassie and Savannah in Tarpon Springs again. (Pretty please, Emilie Richards?)

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer 2021 Mystery/Thriller Blogger Tour.

THE HOUSE GUESTS is by far one of the best books I’ve read this year, so far. The twists and turns just kept on coming and hooked me from the very first chapter! Emilie Richards has crafted a clever and engaging domestic drama. This book sucked me in in the first few pages. None of the characters are truly who they seem to be on the surface when they are first introduced in THE HOUSE GUESTS.

At first, I truly thought I knew why things were happening, but boy was I wrong! Trust me, once you start reading THE HOUSE GUESTS you won’t be able to put it down as Emilie Richards takes you on one heck of an emotional roller coaster ride! This is an intense story that never slows down. compelling characters pull you into the carefully crafted world of the Costas family. It was such a complex family story with so many twists and turns, I could not put this book down. I felt as if every chapter was another twist and turn. This book was women’s fiction, a mystery, and a contemporary romance all in one wonderful story. The complexity of the family and how well it played out is such a tribute to Emilie Richards’ writing. Once you are immersed into their lives you just want to keep coming back for more. Emilie Richards steps out of her comfort zone of women’s fiction and weaves a tale that includes suspense and intrigue and is fantastic.

THE HOUSE GUESTS is a great mystery story that had me up late one night trying to finish. I just had to know what was going on with Amber and why. After you read what she had to endure and why, you won’t believe it! I still can’t shake this amazing story, I’m kicking myself for not reading more of MS. Richards books……if you haven’t read THE HOUSE GUESTS yet, you need to read it very soon!! You will love every minute of it just like I did!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

When Savannah Westmore's father dies she and her stepmother, Cassie struggle to cope with his sudden passing. They move to historic Tarpon Springs, Florida, but Savannah dislikes it there and blames her stepmum for her dad's death. Savannah rebels and her resulting behaviour causes immense distress for sixteen-year-old Will and his mum, Amber Blair. Savannah's actions result in Amber and Will losing their home, which Cassie feels compelled to rectify and is the catalyst for Cassie's determination to uncover the secrets behind her husband's death and financial ruin. She sparks a series of events that could put their lives in danger.

The House Guests is a thrilling and emotionally compelling read. It has multiple layers and there are many mysteries to be unravelled. Very well-written by Emilie Richards, the characters are complex and richly developed. Savannah, the rebellious, angry and troubled teen was of particular interest and I liked the secrecy surrounding Amber. The supporting characters, especially Cassie's aunt, Roxanne and grandma, Yiayia provide another level of fascinating relationship dynamics. There's a lot going on and I was thoroughly invested right up to the end. A heartfelt, convincing and very worthwhile novel.

A special thank you to MIRA Books and the author for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request, received via NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Cassie is recovering from the shock of her husbands death and her teenage daughter isn’t helping. She blames Cassie for his death. Amber is living hand to mouth with her son when Cassies daughter makes a choice that leaves Amber and her son homeless. Amber is used to moving from place to place to keep her and her son safe. Amber and Cassie are both keeping secrets, trying to protect their loved ones. I liked the story line and characters, especially Cassies extended Greek family. There is drama and a surprise at the end that I didn’t see coming. Thank you to net galley for a copy.

Cassie Costas has her hands full since her husband’s shocking death. Her teenage step-daughter, Savannah, hates her and blames her for her father’s death. Cassie is determined to find out the truth behind her husband’s death but dealing with her rebellious step-daughter is getting in the way.

Savannah’s latest stunt leaves a single mother, Amber Blair, and her teenage son, Will, penniless as well as homeless. Cassie invites them to stay in their home until they get back on their feet. It’s not long before Cassie realizes Amber has some secrets of her own and may endanger all their lives.

This book is rich in family drama. Amber and Cassie both are desperately keeping their secrets from each other and their children. I was totally captivated and engaged in trying to figure out what was going on with these women.

The story moved at a nice, steady pace. I found it quite intriguing how Cassie invited two strangers into her home and how close they all became. It shows how family isn’t necessarily made from blood.

Although these are two separate stories, they fit together so well. Every character in this book is well developed and well written. There is character growth which is so satisfying for this reader. I won’t get too specific because I don’t want to ruin things.

I really enjoyed the supporting characters as well, especially Cassie’s family. So many lively and personable characters.

I found myself completely engrossed in this storyline. I couldn’t wait to see how it all wrapped up. At the same time, I hated to see it end.






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Typically when you read a thriller you are expecting someone to die at the outset and to spend the rest of the novel trying to figure out whodunit. Here we have a domestic thriller where most of the characters are very likeable. Down home goodness. Family-oriented. But that is what captivates you. Cassie's devotion to Savannah in the midst of her teenage angst. Amber's and Will's protective natures. The joy and comfort and aggravation that a big family like the Costas can bring. Family traditions and loyalty. You feel for the characters and they resonate with you. Emilie Richards wraps her story around you and pulls you in emotionally with just the right dose of mystery.

Would recommend for readers who like contemporary fiction with a mix of intrigue.

The House Guests by Emilie Richards has Savannah Westmore unhappy in Tarpon Springs, Florida with her stepmother, Cassie Costas. After the death of her father, Cassie moved Savannah and herself to Tarpon Springs for a fresh start. Savannah lashes out at Cassie and makes bad choices. She ends up making a decision that will have long-term effects. I thought The House Guests was well-written and engaging. The characters are developed and realistic especially Savannah (the rebellious, troubled teen). I liked the secrecy surrounding Amber Blair. It added an air of mystery to the story and wonder. I was curious about how the secret would affect all of them. The author captured the area and Greek American community that inhabits Tarpons Springs, especially the delectable food. I like how everything came together and I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. There are some good life lessons in this book. The House Guests is a story about friendship, grief, hope, trust, love, and, most importantly, family. One of the phrases I wanted to share from The House Guests is, “My daddy always said you can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair.” The House Guests is an eventful story with a tormented teen, a purloined purse, money mayhem, a problematic party, a shocking secret, delectable epicurean delights, and a gregarious Greek family.

Mystery and women's fiction meet in the middle for Emilie Richards' latest novel, The House Guests.

Cassie Costas is reeling from the loss of her husband. It was so sudden, and she's had no time to process. To make matters more complicated, her stepdaughter is struggling right alongside her, and it's taking a toll on their relationship.

That's not all it's doing, as Savannah rebels against everything, from the move to her stepmom and everything in between. Her actions result in two others losing their home, which Cassie feels compelled to rectify. Only, things don't go quite as planned.

The House Guests is a thrilling and emotionally compelling read - one that has multiple layers and so many mysteries to unravel. It's a lot to take in and will keep you thoroughly invested right up to the end.

The story is about two single mothers and their teenage children. All of them have secrets. Secrets they're hiding, and secrets they're trying to uncover. It's a rough and fascinating balance, one that should have plenty of appeal for a broader audience.

Personally, I found myself intrigued by the mysteries that Cassie was delving into. First, the one revolving around her husband. And second, the one revolving around the woman she just took in. It was fun trying to predict what was actually going on.

This story flowed smoothly from one plot arc to the next, leaving me captivated right up through to the final pages. It's one of those novels that you can really sink your teeth into, which I can't get enough of!

Thanks to MIRA and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Savannah just lost her father. On top of that…her step mother, Cassie, has moved her to a podunk town in Florida. Savannah is not happy. She has been rebelling for quite a few weeks. She runs across a lost purse with quite a bit of cash in it. She and her friends throw a wild party with the money. Little does she know, this small act of rebellion changes her life.

Amber is the owner of the small purse. She needed the money to pay her rent and her back rent. Through some twists and turns, Cassie finds out about the issue. Amber and her son are now living in a tent at a campground. So, to make amends, Cassie moves this small family into her home.

There is a lot going on in this story, several storylines at one time. The author melds them together with ease. And her characters are wonderful. Especially Amber! I can just fell her angst and her worry coming off the pages. And when you get to the kicker toward the end…then you understand where all her secrecy is coming from.

This was almost a 5 star read. It was just a tad too long. It could have been shortened by quite a few pages and still been a fabulous read.

Need a good family story with a kick!…this is it! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The House Guests is a story of two single mothers with big secrets who find each other and form a bond that helps them survive the revelations and find the life they could have only dreamed of living.

What I Liked

I love the themes of friendship and family, with their emphasis on support and connection over the need for a genuine blood relation. The Greek family in the story gives me the warm fuzzies even as the tension mounts. With that type of family backing, you up, you know that everything will always be alright – that you can weather all storms.

The novel is very unexpected. I was expecting a high-octane thriller, but instead, I experienced a low simmer building of suspense with each flip of the page. I found myself continually holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and that kept up the tension until the multiple explosions at the end as the secrets revealed and the consequences faced.

All the characters are instantly relatable and sympathetic except for Savannah. Though she is developed with extraordinary realism, her grief makes her a character that is a bit off-putting. She comes across as spoiled, unsympathetically demanding, and even cruel as her anger (caused by grief and situational depression) takes hold, and she says and does completely insensitive things. It comes across as particularly harsh because of all the love and warmth she is surrounded by. And, Yiayia was probably my favorite character. The matriarch of the Greek family that is central in the story is warm and welcoming to all, and her role at the end of the story had me laughing and cheering.

What I Wished

I found the novel to be a much longer read than I expected. Since I enjoyed the story, I think that might be because of the exposition levels over dialogue. I wish there had been a better balance between the two to keep the pages flipping as fast as the story's pace. But, that is the only thing that impacted my enjoyment of this unexpected find.

To Read or Not to Read
If you are looking for a suspenseful read with the warmth of a chick-lit story, The House Guests is one you won't want to miss this summer!

From the blurb, I expected The House Guests to be more mystery/suspense than it actually was. Instead, it's more of a domestic drama. Oh, there is mystery - actually, there are a couple of them, but the focus is more about the lives of these women. And I was surprised to find just how caught up in their lives I became. I was completely invested in what would happen and how things would play out for these characters. Emilie Richards certainly knows her stuff when it comes to a compelling story that tugs at the heartstrings with characters who get under your skin. The pacing is good as is the writing, and it's a story you won't soon forget.

The House Guests offers us a family drama with two mysteries going on. I loved seeing the two women’s lives - their struggles, their determination, their budding friendship, and their growth. Also involved are two teenagers who also find themselves at a crossroad. Woven into the storyline is a wonderful mix of Greek traditions. Well written with strong character and plot development.

When Savannah steals a pouch full of money and throws a party while her stepmother is out of town, she never thought about the repercussions. After her mom Cassie finds out what she’s done and realizes the money was to pay rent on an apartment for Amber and her son Will, she invites them to live with her as she’s now kicked out for failure to pay up.

After the death of her father Savannah has been acting out, and when her stepmom uproots them from New York and moves to her hometown in Florida, things go from bad to worse. But Savannah’s behavior and attitude are the least of Cassie’s problems when it becomes clear her husband Mark was hiding things before he died and ultimately, they have no money left. Besides the secrets Mark was keeping, it’s obvious Amber is hiding something or running from something or someone.

Unfortunately this story fell flat for me. There was WAY too much description of Greek food and family that had me flipping the pages without really focusing on the story. The suspense aspect was almost nonexistent save for one small scene. This story was slow moving but I kept reading as I wanted to find out the truth about Amber and Mark. In my opinion the book’s summary made me feel this was going to be more frightening than it ended up being. If you like easy-paced, mysterious domestic dramas you might enjoy this one.

Thank you to MIRA Books for my copy and letting me take part in this blog tour!

This book kept me on my toes. Each of these characters had a secret that they needed to solve or keep hidden. I like how these two families became joined together although I do not think it is real believable. I enjoyed how the two teens became friends and the two moms became friends. I really enjoy the ending where everything gets put together. There is not a lot of action but there is a lot of heart in this story. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Savannah Costas makes a decision that proves to have long-range effects. She and her stepmother are having a difficult time dealing with her father's death. In fact, Savannah blames her stepmother for his death. What is more is that they have been forced to recently move and Savannah is completely unhappy. Due to Savannah's unwise actions, Amber and her teenage son Will move in with Cassie and Savannah.

Meanwhile, Cassie is having a difficult time with her husband's sudden death. For one thing, their finances were not in order, and Cassie is determined to discover why that is the case. What is more is that after years of mothering Savannah, their relationship is strained to the point that it is completely broken.

With regard to Amber, it seems as if she is hiding something and this gives Cassie pause. However, she feels really bad for Amber and Will's plight and bends over backwards to give them a home and security all while working out her own difficulties.

Savannah was very difficult in this story. Rebellious, unhappy and uncertain, she was the epitome of a troubled teen. Having raised six children, Savannah was easy to understand, even if she was unlikable at times during this story. Despite the challenges facing Savannah, Cassie, Amber and Will, this touching story has a strong family vibe to it - whether it is due to Cassie's extended Greek family, or Cassie's kind nature despite the uncertainty she is facing.

Will was the "good" kid in this story. His bond with his mother was wonderful, even if she kept secrets from him. The secrets that Amber kept led to the mysterious air of this domestic drama. It was intriguing to see what Amber was hiding from her past and if in any way it would impact what was going on with Cassie and Savannah.

This story of family and friendship was truly compelling and flowed together nicely, weaving in drama, grief, sadness, hope, trust and even love. All of the characters were solid, even Roxanne and Yiayia, Cassie's aunt and great aunt. I love how Emilie Richards drew each character and allowed the reader to follow their growth. This is only my second book by this talented author, but that is something I soon hope to change.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Emilie Richards returns to the warmer, more nurturing Women's Fiction that she is known for, after a foray into the darker side in 2019's A Family of Strangers. Although there is a bit of suspense and a dangerous encounter at the book's climax, the focus is on the multilayered relationships among the three main female characters.

Amber is a young mother of teenaged son Will who has found herself homeless after she loses the purse that contained the money she needed to pay her back rent. Cassie is a recent widow who has moved from New York City back to her Florida hometown, along with her rebellious teenage stepdaughter, to find a fresh start after her husband's tragic death, and the subsequent discovery of devastating financial losses. And Savannah is the 15 year old teenage girl who blames Cassie for the loss of her father, her home, and her friends

Through Savannah's careless behavior, Amber and Will end up moving in with Cassie and Savannah. This is the catalyst for Cassie's determination to uncover the secrets behind her husband's financial ruin and death, and for Amber consider curtailing her vagabond life of running and hiding from her past. When Savannah encourages Will to find out information about his birth father, she sets in motion a series of events that could put their lives in danger.

The House Guests is long, rich and engaging. Cassie and Amber are scrappy and resourceful, and to their delight they find that their unconventional living arrangement leads to a much needed friendship. Both women find potential love interests, but the focus is definitely on how their relationship gives them the courage and support to solve their own problems. Savannah is troubled, selfish and angry, but by the end of the book she has realized that Cassie, despite the "step" in her name, has been a true mother to her in every sense of the word.

Richards sets the book in Tarpon Springs, Florida, a real city that has the highest percentage of Greek-Americans in the country, and the cultural touches she adds (including a mouth-watering Greek restaurant owned by Cassie's grandmother) are interesting without dragging the book down in too much detail. The secondary characters, especially Cassie's aunt and grandmother, provide another layer of interesting relationship dynamics.

I've been reading Emilie Richards' work for more than 25 years (yes, that makes me an Old), and she is still writing heartfelt, relevant novels. The House Guests is the perfect summer read.

What starts out as one single mother helping another single mother turns into a complex story. This book has quite a few subplots. They are introduced slowly so the reader does not become confused. I enjoyed the different stories and how many of them intersected at the end of the book.

Author Emilie Richards has penned more than seventy novels, including several series, that have been published in sixteen languages. She was raised in Gulfport, Florida, about thirty miles from Tarpon Springs, the setting of The House Guests. She says the story was inspired by an idea that had been "tugging" at her for years after reading about a woman who was rendered homeless when she lost her rent money. Also "tugging" at her were memories of an elementary school field trip to the Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs, where she watched a "sponge diver in a deep sea diving suit and helmet demonstrating how sponges were harvested." To write the book, she returned to Tarpon Springs to learn about the Greek-Americans who settled the town and still make up a large portion of its population, as well as Greek culture and food. During her visits, she observed the annual Epiphany celebration, and sampled the cuisine, including moussaka, pastitsio, horiatiki salad, and baklava. Her research brings credibility and believability to a story that is both charming and suspenseful.

As the book opens, Amber Blair is down on her luck. Again. She has been on the move since before her sixteen-year-old son, Will, was born. Tarpon Springs, Florida, is her latest stop. She was hired to manage a restaurant, but it remained closed for an extended period of time when Amber and other employees contracted hepatitis. Health insurance being a luxury she has never been able to afford, she wracked up a hospital bill and fell behind on her rent. But with her health finally improving and being back at work, she has saved up enough money to pay one month of the back rent and made an arrangement with her landlord to pay the remainder due. She also sells homemade items on Etsy such as the zipper pouch created from a brocade jacket and embroidered with the name of her landlord's wife into which she has stuffed the wad of cash she plans to give the landlord. But disaster strikes when she stops by the local thrift shop in search of more vintage clothing she can repurpose for crafts, opens her purse, and discovers the pouch is gone. Her search for it is futile, and the landlord is out of patience. Once again, she and Will find themselves packing up their car. Blair reserves a spot for them at a local campground where they can sleep in side-by-side tents until she can manage to save up enough money to again secure housing for them.

Fifteen-year-old Savannah Westmore hates everything about her life. Before moving to Tarpon Springs, she was expelled from the prestigious school she attended in Manhattan. No one, including her beloved father, Mark, a psychiatrist, believed her version of events. After a fight between Mark and her stepmother, Cassie, about their savings account that Savannah overheard, Mark, an expert sailor, went out in his boat, despite bad weather. He drowned, and Savannah blames Cassie, believing that her father would never have gone sailing that day were it not for the quarrel. Cassie and her father married when Savannah was just three years old and her father always had custody of her, although she visits her physician mother, Gen, at her Palm Springs home during school breaks. After Mark's death, Cassie purchased a home in Tarpon Springs in order to be surrounded by her loving Greek family and enrolled Savannah in Coastal winds, the local public high school. But Savannah is no longer interested in her studies and has been befriended by two girls who, like Savannah, are social outcasts. When they find a pouch containing eight hundred dollars in the parking lot across from the thrift store, Helia convinces Minh and Savannah to throw a party at Cassie's house while she is out of town. Cassie returns to find her beautiful new home defiled, and Savannah severely hung over.

Cassie also finds an embroidered pouch in the garbage can . . . that matches the one depicted in the newspaper article that Travis, a distant cousin and local journalist, has just published. Travis convinced the woman who is the subject of the article to let him write a story about how she and her son were evicted from their apartment after the woman lost the pouch containing the rent money she worked so hard to save. Cassie learns the woman's identity and location from Travis, finds her at the campsite where she and her son are settling in, and convinces her that they must stay with her and Savannah. After all, it was only because of the immature, irresponsible actions of Savannah and her friends that Amber and Will have become homeless.

So begins an endearing tale of loss, friendship, survival, and what it means to be a family. Richards has crafted characters who are empathetic and believable. All four of the main characters -- Cassie, Savannah, Amber, and Will -- find themselves at crossroads. Cassie and Savannah were both devastated by Mark's death. For Savannah, who had a close, loving relationship with her father, grief has been fueled by anger and disappointment. Mark did not believe her when she related her version of the events at school that culminated in her expulsion. From her perspective, he also convinced Cassie that she was lying. Both of them noticed a profound change in Mark's personality and their relationships with him in the year preceding his death. He became irritable, withdrawn, uninterested in their lives. They were at a loss as to why their attentive, doting husband and father became so distant and disconnected from them. With his sudden and tragic death, they were deprived of the opportunity to understand and repair their family dynamic. Worse, Cassie believed that Mark's successful practice had made them financially secure, and she is stunned to learn that, after using the bulk of the proceeds from Mark's life insurance policy, she has little money left. She knew Mark drained and closed their savings account, but when she learns that all of their investments and retirement accounts are gone, as well, Cassie embarks on a quest for answers. Richards compassionately details Cassie's journey from a wife content to let her husband manage the family finances to an independent woman who must take responsibility for all aspects of her own life and well-being. For Cassie, the answers are elucidating, as well as heartbreaking and, ultimately, empowering.

Richards also depicts Savannah's evolution from a comfortable girl with every advantage necessary to ensure success and happiness to a rebellious, resentful, and distinctly ungrateful teenager. In Savannah's mind, her hatred of Cassie, her stepmother, is justified. She doesn't want to live in Tarpon Springs with Cassie, especially after Amber and Will move in and she is forced to relinquish her large bedroom suite to them. She just wants to mark time until she turns eighteen and can escape. To what? She has no idea, but she is convinced her life will magically improve. She is naive and gullible in many respects, but also intelligent, insightful, and full of promise if she can work through her grief and find equilibrium. And realize that not all parents are genetically connected to their children. Rather, the act of parenting is much more complicated and demanding than simply creating a life.

Injecting clues about Amber's past at deftly-paced intervals, Richards keeps readers engaged in the mystery. Amber is not her real name and she is determined to protect Will from someone who does not know she has a son. She has moved with Will from place to place over the years, never daring to settle in one location for too long. But as she and Cassie get to know each other, and Cassie's family members welcome her and Will into their midst, Amber finds herself wondering if she and Will can safely remain in Tarpon Springs. Will has developed friendships and is a stabilizing influence on Savannah. He is doing well in school, and emphatically wants to stay. Hard-working and unfailingly loyal to Amber, he enjoys his job at Kouzina, the restaurant owned and operated by Yiayia, Cassie's grandmother, and widowed aunt, Roxanne. But he is weary of Amber's deflection when he asks about his father, spurred on to demand answers by Savannah, who insists that he has a right to know about his parentage and family. As Amber scrambles to shield Will from danger, she also tries to resist her growing attraction to Travis and remain realistic about the prospect of staying in one place permanently. Aside from Cassie, there is only one person on earth who knows the truth about why Amber has been on the run for so many years, and what might happen if the person looking for her ever finds her . . . and learns of Will's existence. Now that individual might be in danger, as well.

The book's location serves as a vibrant additional character, especially the Kouzina and its bickering proprietors, Yiayia and Roxanne. The voices of Richards' characters are just right, especially the teenagers who manage to get themselves into mischief that escalates as the story's even pace accelerates toward a heart-stopping resolution, with all secrets revealed and the characters' futures determined.

The House Guests is a thoroughly engrossing and entertaining story about four characters' transitions, against their wills, from the lives they were living into futures they neither envisioned nor designed. But that's the point. They all learn that some things in life are beyond one's control and they must adapt in order to survive and, hopefully, find happiness.

I’ve been a fan of this author for awhile now so I was excited to be able to read an early copy of her next book.
All families have secrets and both of these two have doozies.
Cassie and Savannah are trying to cope with a loss. Amber and Will are dealing with their own secrets.
Circumstances have thrown the four together.
It’s a good book but maybe a bit too long for me. I can’t say I was a fan of the characters to begin with but as the story goes on I came to like them more.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy