Review: The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery

Title: The Girls of Mischief Bay
Author: Susan Mallery
Genre: Women's Fiction/Contemporary Fiction
Series: Mischief Bay #1
Publication Date: 1st March 2015
Pages: 352
Book Source: Harlequin Mira & NetGalley

Synopsis: Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time at her Mischief Bay Pilates studio. Can she say enough is enough without losing the man she loves?

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg rose to become vice president in her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late — until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she can have it all. And if she can, does she want it?

Although Pam Eiland has a beautiful house and a husband she adores, she feels...restless. She wonders who a stay-at-home mom becomes after the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise her husband brings the heat and the humour back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, three very different women will discover that friends can become family, and that life is richer with sisters at your side.

My Thoughts:

Loved it! I've been craving another heartfelt series from Susan Mallery. I loved the first two books in her Blackberry Island series (not so much the last one) and The Girls of Mischief Bay has a similar feel ... warm and real.

For me, friends are the family you choose for yourself, the strength and security that true friendship brings is a beautiful thing and you can see how true this is for Nicole, Shannon and Pam.  

30 year old Nicole with her oxygen-bandit narcissistic husband, Shannon almost 40, successful business woman, ready for a partner in life and Pam at 50, empty-nester, doting mother to delicate fur-baby Lulu, seeking to spice up her 30 year marriage. They're an unlikely trio but I loved what each brought to the friendship, their journey individually and together. 

Susan Mallery has a knack for writing women's friendships, real women with heartaches, insecurities, strengths and flaws. Mallery doesn't gloss over the trials and sadness of life familiar to many of us or the pain and frustration of watching a loved one coping with the challenges and changes dealt them but there's also a lot to be said about the value of friendship, laughs and good wine. 

A big slice of life in these pages.

Of course the residents of Mischief Bay have favourite restaurants they frequent and Susan Mallery has put together a yummy selection of recipes from these restaurants. Here's a quick easy one I'd love to try ... plenty more on the website.   

Chicken-Bacon Pesto Pizza

 from THE SLICE IS RIGHT

• 1 store bought pizza crust

• 1 jar pesto, 6 oz

• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast

• 2 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

• ½ small onion, sliced

• ¼ C pine nuts

• 1 C shredded mozzarella

• ¼ C shredded parmesan

• 3 mushrooms, sliced

Preheat the oven to 425. Spread the crust with pesto. Add remaining ingredients. Bake directly on center shelf of oven until cheese is bubbly and starts to turn brown at the edges, 12-15 minutes. 

Connect with Susan Mallery

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