Veena’s review of Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin HQN 11 Jul 17
Susan Mallery is one of my go-to authors. I enjoy her light, refreshing romances, but I wait for her insightful human relationship stories that delve into a woman’s soul. There is no more tangled a web than human relationships, which is what the book blurb promised. But while this is an interesting tale, it didn’t quite fulfill the potential that I had expected. Kelly Murphy, at the ripe age of twenty-eight, still lives at home with her divorced dad. She carries a lot of guilt that seems to have had an impact on her forming a healthy and fulfilling relationship. Having broken off with long-term boyfriend Sven, she’s licking her wounds when her estranged sister Olivia moves back to town. Her friends-with-benefits relationship with high school crush Griffith has definitely come at the right time and will go a long way toward healing her wounds.
Olivia comes back to town to pick up with her high school heartthrob, who had abandoned her in college in favor of a now-washed-up career and is currently mooching off his brother Griffith. Olivia has her own share of baggage but ends up wandering into opportunities that cause her to shine. As she explores a relationship with her sister, her father, and school friends, she finds herself quite enjoying the town, except she knows the bubble is going to burst when her family finds out the secrets she’s hiding. To complicate things, she starts up a booty call relationship with her sister’s long-term now ex-boyfriend.
Kelly’s father, a handsome man who’s been widowed a long time, takes up a sexual relationship with Kelly’s best friend, who’s been in love with him for a long time, despite their age difference. If all of these tangled threads aren’t complicated enough, Kelly and Olivia’s mom, the ex-wife, comes along to create her own brand of mischief. Will all these budding relationships be strong enough to survive?
With all the secrets and cross currents, it makes for interesting reading as each secret and/or hidden truth sees the light of day. I guess for all the implied excitement and emotionalism, the story seemed a bit academic and not real. I just expected a lot more intensity and depth and I was left wanting at the end.
Grade: C
Summary:
Kelly Murphy’s life as a tulip farmer is pretty routine—up at dawn, off to work, lather, rinse, repeat. But everything changes one sun-washed summer with two dramatic homecomings: Griffith Burnett—Tulpen Crossing’s prodigal son, who’s set his sights on Kelly—and Olivia, her beautiful, wayward and, as far as Kelly is concerned, unwelcome sister. Tempted by Griffith, annoyed by Olivia, Kelly is overwhelmed by the secrets that were so easy to keep when she was alone.
But Olivia’s return isn’t as triumphant as she pretends. Her job has no future, and ever since her dad sent her away from the bad boy she loved, she has felt cut off from her past. She’s determined to reclaim her man and her place in the family…whether her sister likes it or not. For ten years, she and Kelly have been strangers. Olivia will get by without her approval now.
While Kelly and Olivia butt heads, their secrets tumble out in a big hot mess, revealing some truths that will change everything they thought they knew. Can they forgive each other—and themselves—and redefine what it means to be sisters?
