A*R*C for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley 4.5 stars

The Getaway is book 1 in the Lake in the Clouds series by Emily March and what a great start to this series. We meet the Prentice family Genevieve, her 4 children and her sister Helen.

This story sets the stage for all the books to follow..with angst, anger, feuding, estrangement and so much more. Once you start reading this book captures you and doesn’t let go til the last word is read! I can’t wait to see where Ms. March takes us on this journey with the Prentice family!

I loved this book! The Getaway is a fantastic start to a new series. I loved Genevieve & her actions to restore her family. Jake and Tess were the perfect couple to start the series. I enjoyed every moment of this book. I loved the sibling interactions as much as the romance between Jake & Tess. I'm very excited for more stories in this series! I received an advance copy from NetGalley & am voluntarily leaving a review.

Parents all over the world must feel like Genevieve Prentice felt when her children seemingly no longer needed her. So instead of trying to change their way of thinking, she pulled up her boot straps and made plans for herself. Oh was that the wake up call the Prentice offspring needed! While their appearance in Colorado was for their own personal reasons stemming from whatever crises spurred them, being there with Genevieve and her sister Helen was a balm for all their souls. The Getaway wasn't so much as an escape from life, but a renewal and reawakening of family, togetherness, and friendship. I can't wait to see what the rest of the series is about!

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at my request and voluntarily left this review.

March’s new novel is firmly in the women’s fiction category, there is a minor romance, but the focus of the novel is family and learning to be the person you were meant to be. I enjoyed the read, but I did feel like the story was a bit all over the place. The big issue between the kids was confusing and they didn’t completely explain how it all worked out. This definitely felt like part of the story instead of the whole story so I’m interested to see where the next book takes us.

I loved reading The Getaway by Emily March, book one in her new Lake in the Clouds series, follows the Prentice family as they deal with real-life situations and emotions; among which are love, grief, sibling rivalry, coming of age, letting go and romance.

Genevieve was widowed young and raised her four children basically alone. Her close knit family was broken into pieces three years ago and decides that for once in her life, she needs to let go and focus on herself. Genevieve decides to invest in a lodge with her sister in Lake in the Clouds, a small, quirky mountain town in Colorado. Her children are shocked to realize that she sold her house and most of her things to move and change her life. Genevieve and her sister, Helen, love the tiny mountain town and quickly became involved in the town’s activities. They are both surprised when Jake Prentice shows up in one of the cabins at the lodge. And that he has quit his job. Jake Prentice, the oldest of Genevieve’s children, has taken on extra responsibility since the day his dad died when he was fifteen years old, and still believes he’s the leader of the family. When told that role was never his to assume and that he is not to continue, Jake becomes confused about whom he is. Jake does connect with a former colleague, Tess, igniting a romantic bond, one where they balance each other’s personalities. The road to self-discovery and self-healing is often difficult and this family will need to face this journey head-on.

Ms. March wrote an amazing story full of a mother’s love, sibling disagreements, beautiful scenery, forgiveness, and gratefulness; including some of her own family experiences, adding a charming, personal touch to this tale. With a touch of Celeste Blessing’s healing touch, hearts are healed, just as in the Eternity Springs series. I highly recommend The Getaway to other readers and look forward to finding out what happens to this adorable family in the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

What do you do when it feels like nobody needs you?
Genevieve has decided only one of her children still needs her so she moves to Colorado where her sister lives. Her son is struggling in his career and shows up one day after his mother tells him he needs to find out what really makes him happy.. When his father died, he took it the hardest of her 4 children. Her sister, Helen, is trying to get a waterfront lodge renovated.
Working through real problems and finding a way to overcome their individual struggles.
A enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Getaway by Emily March
Lake in the Clouds series #1. Women’s fiction. Contemporary with family, siblings and a touch of romance. Minor spinoff of the Eternity Springs series. This book can be read without knowing or reading the prior series.
Genevieve dedicated herself to raising her family without working outside. She values family above all else. Her children are all adults and not getting along. She makes a startling announcement that she is selling the house and that she expects her eldest, Jake, to figure out who he is.
This story follows two main paths: Genevieve decides to purchase and renovate a hotel while remaining connected to family and Jake as he takes assessment of his life and family relationships and a love interest.

I really liked that Jake isn’t overconfident. He’s going through life changes and that’s thrown him a bit off his game. He expresses that exactly to Tess. It was such a feel good and heartfelt moment.
Zero heat in this one as it is classified as Women’s fiction. All the frisky antics are behind closed doors.
I’m sure it took Genevieve a huge amount of strength to walk away from her arguing children. I’m not sure how I feel about that piece of the storyline but I will say that by the end I was happy as all the pieces came together in a satisfying finish.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

Poignant first of series story of family dynamics: good and bad with romance too
This book was so good! We meet the Prentice family: Genevieve, the matriarch; Jake; Willow; Lucas and Brooke, Gen’s children. And don’t forget Genevieve’s sister Helen who was always there to help. Genevieve was widowed at the very young age of 39yo. From that point on her children became her life and so she celebrated every holiday even the miniscule ones with special plates and decorations. However, once her family of adult children decided that coming home for a special celebration at Thanksgiving was beyond their interest, Genevieve has an epiphany. Will her children like or even accept this new-and-improved Mom? Unlikely!
Then there is the other story, the romance between Jake Prentice and Tess Crenshaw. While Jake wanted less family intrusions, Tess would have loved being in that predicament as a former Child Welfare child. Their banter will delight and excite.
There will be lots of revelations, maturation, heartache and happiness throughout this stupendous book which I highly recommend. If you like reading about a family that went from functional to dysfunctional but found their way back to a delightful HEA/HFN, read this delicious book. Low on the steam but high on the passion. I really can’t wait to see what happens in book #2 in this series. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Oh! Get your tissues…they may be needed periodically.

The Getaway by Emily March - 3 Stars I love books set in Colorado because it's my home and I love how other people see the beauty of it too! This book follows Genevieve Prentice as she comes to terms that her family is not acting like she thinks they should and so sells her family's home and moves to Colorado where she and her sister bought an inn. Along with Genevieve's perspective we also have her eldest son Jake and a woman who used to work for him named Tess. The three end up in Colorado together as they sort through all the drama that the family is going through. Overall I enjoyed this story especially the family dynamics between Jake and his mother as well as his three siblings. I also enjoyed Genevieve's story and the growth she went through even at her age which reminds us all that we continue to grow as we get older. Im curious to see where the next book will go and who's story we will get. I do have a few other thoughts but they are spoilers so continue reading if you are ok with it. Thank you Forever Publishing for my gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was really enjoying this one up until the end which left me feeling somewhat empty. One of the main points of the book was about Jake finding out who he really was and what he wanted out of life but in the epilogue we still got nothing! They mentioned he is just arriving from somewhere but not what he is up to in his life. I am not a fan of incomplete story arcs and thats what this one felt like to me. They did wrap up his relationship story just not his personal one. Makes me wonder if we will still have his pov in the continuation of the series.

What a wonderful start to a new series by Emily March. She has a knack with character descriptions that make you feel their emotions and understand the reasoning behind their actions. Coming from a large family myself, the reality is spot on. It's not always sunshine and roses.

The Prentice family is going through growing pains. It's painful at times, but also a truthful and honest depiction. As they each face hurdles and upsets in their lives they turn to their mother , who was s the rock of the family.

Since the death of their father at 39, the family has been in mourning and the series is about discovering who they are and how they want to live their lives going forward. It's a story about acceptance, understanding, and what family truly means.

This book was hard to put down and definitely a 5 star read. If you read the Eternity Springs series, you'll enjoy hearing about Celeste Blessings. Now waiting for book 2 will be hard! I can't wait to read more of the Prentice family from Colorado and Texas.

Emily March is one of my favourite authors and her books never disappoint

I enjoyed the story and enjoyed the characters. I felt I could relate in some ways in how Genevieve’s children felt with her drastic change!

I sometimes wish I had the means to just pick up and take a risk on something new. Maybe that’s what retirement will be like just like it was for Genevieve’s sister Helen.

This book makes me want to visit Colorado one day!!

Can’t wait to see what Emily has in store next!

The Getaway revolves around two main characters; Genevieve a widowed mother of 4 and her adult son Jake. Genevieve is struggling to find herself now that her children are all grown and have placed strain on the family so much so that Genevieve decides a dramatic change is needed for her to find out who she is outside of the role of Mom. This resonated with me as a mother, because as a mother it is hard to not lose yourself to that role.

Jake Prentice has always been the family's fixer since his dad died. He gets a wake up call that it isn't his job to fix the family's problems and that revelation has him making large life changing decisions.

I enjoyed the way the author told two stories from multiple points of view. She was able to give insight into very different people who are at a personal impasse without making one the victim or the other the person in the wrong. I enjoyed the way a romance builds once it was able to give some air to grow.

The story was much more complex than just these two situations but I don't want to give anything away. This is a book about family dynamics and relationships at its heart with a dash of romance thrown in.

Read if you like:
Complex/close knit families
Closed door romances
Multi generational Points of View
Finding oneself
Cinnamon Roll Characters

Trigger Warnings:
Domestic Abuse
Death of a parent
Miscarriage

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copies! This is my honest opinion.

The Getaway struck a chord with me. Genevieve is tired. She’s tired of the family feud, tired of her children, tired of her life. She sells out and moves to Colorado, leaving most of her old life behind. Except her children keep,popping up. They have to figure out their own lives.
Jake, the oldest, is used to assuming control and fixing things. He got on my nerves quite a bit. Even with Tessa, he still rankled me.
Often I fantasize about chucking everything and beginning anew. However, easier said than done.
It’s the beginning of a new series and I’m eager to see the next story.

Absorbing, heartfelt, and sweet!

The Getaway is a heartwarming, compelling tale that takes you on a journey to Lake in the Clouds, Colorado, and into the lives of the middle-aged widow and mother of four, Genevieve and her oldest, overworked, most serious son Jake, as they discover together the importance of taking chances, accepting change, embracing the future and finding contentment.

The prose is light and amusing. The characters are complex, authentic, and supportive. And the plot is a beguiling tale about life, loss, family, determination, kindness, forgiveness, parenthood, tough love, self-discovery, happiness, romance, and the importance of moving on.

Overall, The Getaway is a tender, uplifting, nostalgic tale by March, complete with strong, endearing characters, a touching storyline, and an insightful look into the complex, unbreakable ties that bind us as family.

The Getaway: Lake in the Clouds
Emily March
September 6, 2022

Genevieve Prentice built her life around her children. When her husband David died unexpectedly, leaving her in the big painted lady Victorian house of her dreams. She loved the home but without David she and her kids needed to struggle on. Their eldest son, Jake, took charge of his siblings while his mom tried to recover. She did her best to provide for their wishes and hopes. She never went to work, just did what she could with the insurance money that his life procured. Now Eighteen years later, the four children have grown and found life outside the large home. Still finding their needs on her mind, when her sister, Helen came to visit they once again made plans to take a special trip, travel although none of the tips seemed to happen. Helen lives in Colorado not far from an extra special location near her home, Lake in the Clouds.
Jake is now a managing director for an architectural planning and design firm. He finds himself having to follow his bosses request to tighten the company belt and Eternity Springs . Instead we find the Prentice clan relocating from Texas to the beautiful mountain areas near the Lake in the Clouds. I enjoyed the splendor she verbalized when Genevieve and Helen arrived at their Colorado home.
The Getaway will be published by Hachette Book Group on September 6, 2022. Their allowing me to read and review Emily March’s latest book via NetGalley is very much appreciated. I have read all of the Eternity Springs series and was truly looking forward to reading her newest publication. Her fans will welcome this recent novel. Enjoy!

As the first book in a new series, this book has definitely caught my attention and left me eager read the next books. Family and the relationships within it are the focus of this book. The matriarch of the family, Genevieve, has made a big life decision without consulting her children. After the death of her husband nearly two decades ago, Genevieve devoted herself to her four children, but recently her children have shown her that they no longer need or want her input in their lives, and that time spent together is no longer a priority for them. Her decision to focus on herself includes selling the family home and all the items she has held onto for the sake of family tradition. and go into partnership with her sister, Helen, in buying and renovating a lodge and cabins in Lake In The Clouds, Colorado. This decision sends a ripple of shock through the family and is a catalyst to a whole series of changes within the family.

This book focuses on Genevieve and Helen, as well as Genevieve‘s son Jake and the woman he has long admired, Tess. Letting go of the past, the emotional baggage and the items she had gathered to bring comfort and traditions to her family, was hard and somehow freeing for Genevieve. Reducing or breaking off communication with her children helped her not to backtrack or second guess her decision. She didn’t expect that her brave decision and biting words she showered on her bickering children would effect Jake the way they did. He examined his own life, the stressful and never ending work as well as having no family or romantic relationship of his own, and decided it was time for a major shake up. His appearance in Colorado both surprised and worried his mother, but when she felt herself backsliding into the overly concerned and hovering mode, Genevieve booked a trip to Salzburg for herself and her sister, their dream trip, so that Jake could work things out on his own. Jake decided that one change he really wanted to make was to bring Tess into his life and hopefully build something lasting with her. From this point on, these characters experienced personal reflection, examination and growth. New priorities are made and fortunately, repairing, building and strengthening family ties was one of them.

This author has given her readers a wonderfully perceptive and insightful story about a family we will want to know more about. She had shown that family relationships can be messy, confrontational, and hard work to maintain, but they also ground us and are worth all the turmoil they may bring. When the going gets tough, family (by blood or by choice) is there to offer unconditional support and love. I can’t wait to read more about this family. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

What a great start to a new series! This book is a great read. It hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. It is full of emotions with wonderful characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary copy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Getaway
by Emily March
Pub Date: September 6, 2022
Forever
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I found it truly enjoyable and cannot wait for what happens next in this series about an adorable family,.
Really loved this book!

The Getaway is book 1 in a brand new series by Emily March. The story sets the foundation for future books, while retaining the charm of the Eternity Springs series, and a few locales and people pop up from there, too!
I will be purchasing this for our library.
5 stars

A delightful new novel series. It has it all. A wide variety of ages, romance, divorce, family issues, new beginnings and so much more. Engaging characters kept me captivated with their lives. I am eagerly awaiting the next one. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

When Genevieve Prentice’s husband died 20 years ago, leaving her a young, single mom of 4 kids, she did everything she could to establish and continue traditions for her family. 20 years later, her life still revolves around her children. However, they have been stuck in a family feud for a few years and Genevieve has had enough. She moves from Texas to Colorado to be closer to her sister and begin living life for herself.

Jake, the oldest son, has hit some bumps in the road and shows up unexpectedly at the lodge Genevieve and her sister are renovating. Genevieve is not happy to see her son, assuming he’s trying to, once again, step into his father’s role and take control of her plans. This prompts Genevieve to head out on a sister’s trip and leave Jake to sort out his feelings for the woman he has had a crush on for years.

There is a lot packed into this book, from family drama, to abuse, to foster care trauma, and yet Emily March does not write with a heavy hand. Instead, this could be an easy beach read or perfect for a mountain vacation. I am definitely looking forward to more of this series in the future.