✾ Evening Stars ✾ Susan Mallery ✾ Blackberry Island #3 ✾

© ✰ Bianca ✰ 

SUSAN MALLERY - EVENING STARS

• Blackberry Island #3
• 368 Pages
• release date -  25 Februrary - 2014

★★★★★

4.9 Stars

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams.

Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More "Mom" than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn't exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina's life has suddenly become…complicated.

Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men—her high school sweetheart and a younger maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn't seem to want the great guy she's married to, and doesn't seem to be making headway writing her first book; their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has; and Nina's starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.

But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they've ever wanted?

Click here to see the Blackberry Island Series on goodreads

Click here to see Susan's Blackberry Island Page

MY THOUGHTS

 Like the 2 previous books in the Blackberry Island series, Evening Stars also has more than one main character.
We have Nina (30) & Averil (26) - sisters.
Nina, has always been the responsible one in the family. Her mother had her when she was only 16 and as soon as Nina was old enough, she wasn't only acting as a mother for her little sister, but she also had to take care of her Hippie/carefree mom.
That's the main reason why she never left the island, why she never went to medschool and why her first love Dylan left her 10 years ago.

Now Dylan is back - working in his Dad's medical practice.
But he's not the only one who's back. There's also Kyle ☺ He's only 26 and he had a huge crush on 16 year old Nina when she was babysitting his little sister ☺ Now he's a Navy Pilot and stationed nearby. And he wants to convince Nina that she's still the girl of his dreams. But he's only looking for a short fling, because he's only staying for a few months.

Then there's Averil.
She's a bit like her flighty mother.
Nina made her go to college. So she went to UCLA. Then she met Kevin, fell in love and married him. But now things are weird at home. She doesn't really know why. Kevin wants a baby and she wants to write a Novel - but she just can't seem to bring herself to do either.
Her answer - flee home to Blackberry Island - and try to find out who she really is and what she really wants.

Then we have the girls' mom - Bonnie and her gay partner Birdie. They have been together for 10 years now - and Birdie thankfully has a calming influence on Bonnie.

The older couple runs an anitque store in town - but in reality it's Nina who's responsible for everything her family does.

Will Nina have to choose between Dylan & Kyle? Or is she just a fling for Kyle? Does Dylan want her at all? Or does he just feel guilty for leaving her?

Will Averil be able to find out what she wants? Will she fix things with Kevin?

And then the Antique store thing!!! Could be that Bonnie & Birdie haven't only found their usual junk on this last antiquing-road-tour......

 NOPE..... I'm not telling you ☺



____________________________________________________________

I REALLY LOVED THE BOOK!!!

I loved the previous 2 books in the series and I loved this one too.

If you're expecting one of those sweet and cute Susan Romances that we're used to.... this series is different.
But good different. It takes a moment to get used to it, but once you do - you'll love it.

Evening Stars was a really interesting and moving and funny and cute Story.
I especially love the location. Susan describes Blackberry Island so wonderfully real. I wish I could live there!!! ☺

I somehow got the feeling - with this whole series - that Susan had read a few Luanne Rice books to prepare for Blackberry Island. It's really not a typical Susan Mallery Series.
It's much deeper and intense - it's not so much a Romance, more of a 'finding-yourself-literature' - thing ☺
 I loved it - BUT I have to admit I love Susan's Fool's Gold Series and her other books a bit more.
And this last one in the series was my least favorite. The first 2 were much more moving and interesting.
Not that I didn't love this one too. There were 3 really great guys in here (I always need my heroes!!) - Kevin (Averil's husband) and Kyle & Dylan (Nina's 2 choices).
And I really loved Nina too - but I just didn't get how she could choose between the 2 guys - I would've taken them both!!!! ☺ It was a difficult situation that Susan put Nina in, I would've left out one of the guys - one would've been enough to cause trouble for Nina.

What I really liked about the book was that we got to hear about the Girls from the last book - Andi, Boston & Deanna. And we even met Michelle from book 1 again! It was really great to read what happened to them!

BUT - if you love Susan Mallery & Luanne Rice - you will love this book too!
Just try it!!! ☺

it's worth it - if only for the great Location ;)

↓ LINKS TO THE BOOK AND AUTHOR ↓

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ABOUT SUSAN:

STOLEN FROM GOODREADS

With more than 25 million books sold worldwide, New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is known for creating characters who feel as real as the folks next door, and for putting them into emotional, often funny situations readers recognize from their own lives. Susan’s books have made Booklist’s Top 10 Romances list in four out of five consecutive years. RT Book Reviews says, “When it comes to heartfelt contemporary romance, Mallery is in a class by herself.” With her popular, ongoing Fool’s Gold series, Susan has reached new heights on the bestsellers lists and has won the hearts of countless new fans.

Susan grew up in southern California, moved so many times that her friends stopped writing her address in pen, and now has settled in Seattle with her husband and the most delightfully spoiled little dog who ever lived.

Review and excerpt ~~ Thrown for a Curve ~~ Sugar Jamison

   

WHEN YOU’RE A big girl

Cherri has often wished she were thin and graceful like a ballerina instead of being a six-foot-tall blonde with curves that require serious caution. Surely a charming Irishman like her new boss Colin, with his throaty brogue and to-die-for bod, would never go for someone like Cherri. Unless maybe he’s looking for the exact opposite of a delicate lass? 

there’s more of you to love

When Colin hired Cherri to work in his furniture-restoration shop, he had his eyes, first and foremost, on her artistic talents. But now he can’t help but see Cherri for the lush, spirited beauty that she is…and, soon enough, he finds himself mixing business with pleasure. But Cherri turns out to be more vulnerable than she appears. Is she in need of more than Colin can give? Or could it be that a feeling stronger than lust has him thrown for a curve?

ARC received from St Martin’s Press via Netgalley for an honest review

I have not read book 1 in the Perfect Fit series (Dangerous Curves Ahead) and do not feel that it is necessary to have read it to get into Thrown For A Curve.

22 year old Charlotte "Cherri" hasn't had the easiest.  Left with her mother at 8 years old when her mother took off, she has spent the last years looking after her grandmother, working her butt off at school and in her best friend's store.

At 6 foot tall and with curves you could drive on for days, she thinks she is a bit of a freak and no guy would really want her.

Ugh!  I swear the way she talked about herself, you would think she was 8 foot tall and 200kg, she has such a low opinion of herself!

Colin is the sexy Irishman, her best friend's husbands best mate.  Since his last relationship, he has manwhored his way through half of New York, but now only has eyes for Cherri, but won't act on it because of the age difference.  Bad boy reformed?

Cue the boy wants girl, girl wants boy, friends think it is a bad idea, boy and girl get together anyway.  Bad things happen, boy and girl have troubles, break up and make up.

It is a pretty run of the mill scenario, but I did enjoy it. 

EXCERPT

“Colin?”

He looked up at the sound of a female voice calling his name. Cherri stood in the doorway of his shop, bundled up in a hat, her homemade scarf, and a puffy coat.

His heart malfunctioned at the sight of her, performing some kind of stupid squeezing thumping thing. Something was wrong. She had never stepped foot in his territory before.

“Cherri?”

He took two steps toward her before stopping. She held some sort of wooden box in her hands. It was in pieces, and judging by the look on her face she wasn’t too

far from falling to pieces herself.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry, his mind chanted. He wasn’t sure he could take it today.

She looked unsure for a moment, taking a step backward. “Are you busy? I—I don’t want to bother you if you are.”

“Come here, love.” He stayed frozen as he watched her come toward him. Even in a too-puffy coat that hid far too much of her body, she was lovely to look at as she

crossed his shop.

“I can’t pay you much,” she said, handing the pieces of the broken box to him. “But do you think you might be able to make it play again?” She looked so innocent, so heartbroken, as if somebody had stomped on her

favorite toy. 

“You don’t have to pay me anything, you daft girl.” With his head he motioned toward the stool he kept at his workbench. “Sit. I’ll take a look at it.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, flashing him those pretty dimples of hers. “Baba was so upset that she dropped it. I want to make it whole for her.”

He had yet to examine the box or to focus on her words. He was too busy watching her strip out of her winter gear. Under it she wore a pink cardigan with a white tank top that was just low-cut enough that he could make out the tops of her buttermilk-colored breasts. A voice, probably his conscience, ordered his eyes upward.

She’s not what you need right now.

His gaze traveled to her head and the ugly wool hat she wore on it. It was the last to go, and he stared as her rowdy mane of golden hair tumbled to her shoulders.

She really had no idea how beautiful she was. No clue. He had heard her say that she was built like a lumberjack but all he saw was a tall curvy goddess. Even with her cheeks red from the cold and her eyes glossy from the wind she was lovely. It made him forget that she was the last person he should be attracted to.

“What?” Her emerald-colored eyes widened and her cheeks darkened with embarrassment. “If you tell me I have snot on my face I’ll die.”

“No.” He chuckled. “I was wondering if you walked here. You look a bit like a Cherri Popsicle.” 

That I would like to lick.

He mentally castigated himself for that one. He lost all common sense around her.

“I did walk here. But I walk everywhere and it’s not be- cause I own the world’s shittiest car. Walking helps me keep my big bottom from spreading into a huge one.”

But I like fat-bottomed girls.

Colin kept his mouth shut to make sure his inappropriate response didn’t come out. An image of her very curvy be- hind shot into his mind and . . . Knock it off!

He shook his head and finally looked at the box. “So you’ve brought me a music box.” He studied it for a few moments. It was factory- made, mostly cheap wood.

There was nothing spectacular about it except for the intricate pink roses painted on the lid. That alone made the box worth saving.

“Beautiful.” He glanced up at Cherri. “You wouldn’t happen to know who painted this? This is some of the best detail work I’ve ever seen.”

She beamed at him, dimples flashing, skin glowing. He gulped. “I painted it.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Her eyes lit. “Dorky art major. Remember? My painting skills make up for my lack of beauty and grace.”

“You’re very beautiful, Cherri,” he said without thinking. “I don’t think you realize how exquisite you are.”

“Exquisite?” She laughed that deep throaty laugh of hers, and heat unfurled in his gut. “You must get a lot of ass.”

“What?” Her statement knocked him off guard.

“Ass? Tail? Panties dropping? Any of those ring a bell? I’m saying that you must

have a lot of women trying to have sex with you. Probably some men, too.”

The blood rushed out of his brain as soon as the word sex formed on her lips.

Shit.

She was just twenty-two years old. And in the two years he had known her, he had never seen her date. He had never seen her with a guy. She was mature for her age but she had this innocence around her. And yet something about hearing those words come from her mouth made his remaining brain cells malfunction. She was the only woman he had a hard time keeping his cool around. He was more than just attracted to her and he wasn’t sure why.

“For fuck’s sake, Cherri, where the hell did that question come from?”

She waved a dismissing hand at him. “Oh, don’t tell me you don’t know. The brogue, the pretty words, not to mention the way you look, all make you deity-like with your sex appeal. You probably don’t have to work hard to get women to drop their drawers.”

No, he never did. Using his hands and getting women to fall into bed were the only things he excelled at. He was like his pop that way. It took running into an ex whose name he couldn’t remember to show him that. So many women. So many empty I love yous. It never took away that empty feeling in his chest. He promised himself he wouldn’t say those words again unless he meant it.

“But you don’t have to use any of that charm on me. I won’t fall for it. Well . . .  Not too hard,” he heard her say when he tuned back into the conversation.

 

At times it felt like both the MC, Colin and Charlotte devolved into 15 year old whiney teenager.  Sure I could understand that a bit from Charlotte as she has never been in a relationship before and is only 22 (though I am sure that someone would have shot me if I had been like that in my 20s!!) but it really did irritate me.  She could be so mature but so immature at times.  And aaargh Colin you are a 34 year old man, act like it!

There were a couple of things that I felt weren't really necessary ~ every time Colin is with his friends they bring up "you're such a manwhore". OK - we get it!  We got it the first dozen times it was brought up. I felt that this was overkill, and I did feel sorry for him that his friends treated him this way.

The other thing was Colin's ex. Did she really need to come into the story?  Or was she just there to prove Colin's reformation from manwhore to one-woman man?  She just seemed superfluous to me.

I loved loved loved Baba and Rufus (the dog).  Baba was a feisty old Ukrainian woman, got her words hilariously mixed up.  And boy she may be old but she still goes for the men!  She is great the way she interacts with Colin.

Thrown for a Curve has it's funny moments, but it has quite a lot of dark, sad moments as well.  Cherri goes through more than a 22 year old should have to in her years.

This is the first Sugar Jamison I have read, and if I come across more I will read them too.