Already Home by Susan Mallery: Book Review

 

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Publisher: Mira Books | Published: March 29, 2011

Paperback | 368 pages | ISBN: 978-0778329510

Genre: Chick-lit

I love when a book has substance ~ when there is a message to be found deep within the pages...Already Home takes us into the lives of Jenna and Violet, two women who come together to open Grate Expectations, a cooking/chef store.  Long-time chef, Jenna has moved back home to Texas from California after a bitter divorce.  Once in Texas, Jenna throws everything she has into opening a cookware and cooking store.  Just before opening she hires her first employee, Violet, who has a background in retail and working with people.  Jenna's background is food and the creation of culinary masterpieces, although her ex has stolen her mo-jo.

Through laughter and tears we're taken through the first few months of the opening of Grate Expectations, peeking into the lives of Jenna and Violet.  We watch the progression as each woman grows through their friendship and through the day-to-day operation of the store.  Jenna's life is turned completely upside down when her hippie birth parents show up in the first week of the store's opening, leaving her bewildered and angry.  Her adoptive parents throw their arms open wide welcoming the birth parents in an effort to ease the transition for Jenna.  The opportunity for growth in everyone's life is immense.

Ms. Mallery chose to give us differing perspectives throughout the novel which worked very well.  Sometimes that approach can be annoying, but in this instance, it gave me the chance to truly get to know the characters intimately, to feel his or her emotions and see the thoughts flowing through his or her mind.  Violet had me laughing at times with her own version of "hippie" style - I kept thinking of my 17-year old daughter when I would read what Violet had on!  Serenity and Tom (Atomic), Jenna's birth parents, are quintessential Californians.  Kind, compassionate, giving and very much into organic living.  Beth, Jenna's adoptive mom, opens her home and her heart to not only Serenity and Tom but also to Violet.  Already Home is a book about families, mothers and daughters especially and the bond shared no matter the circumstance.  A truly beautiful book!

Be sure to enter the "All About Mom's Week" giveaway for my gently read ARC of Already Home.  To enter, fill out this entry form here.  I love, love, love your comments; however, this time they won't get you entered in my drawings for the week - I'm giving away 4 books - so be sure to go to the entry form to pick the order of books you'd prefer to win.  Thank you for visiting and being A Novel Source reader!

It is with many thanks I received a complimentary copy of Already Home from the publisher.