Customer Reviews

An Unexpected Family

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book starts out rather dramatically. It was a dark and stormy afternoon. Snow was blinding the visibility outside. Amelia was home alone when the knock came on the door. "I am your husband's daughter! Please let us in we are cold." Imagine the shock and disbelief.

This story was very believable and I couldn't put it down. It brings an important issue to light. If we all had the courage and love to help people in the same situation as Miriam and Sadie, like the ladies and their extended families did, I know the world would be a better place.

You will enjoy this visit to Covington.

Through the years, as we have followed the lives of Amelia, Grace, and Hannah, we rejoiced for Grace when she fell in love with Bob and again for Hannah when she and Max were married. Now, finally, we have the opportunity to cheer for Amelia Declose, whom many of us think of as the most delicate of the three friends, as she finds An Unexpected Family.

It was the ringing of the doorbell, followed by a frantic knocking, that changed Amelia's life forever. As she looked through the peephole of the front door, she had her first glimpse of a woman and child who identified themselves as Thomas Declose' daughter and granddaughter. Amelia was stunned and bewildered by these words - spoken by a stranger standing on her front porch. Thomas was Amelia's long deceased husband, and her only thought was, "Impossible! Our daughter died when she was nine years old." As memories and emotions whirled in her head, Amelia stood motionless and felt as if she was going to faint. As her struggle continued, Hannah's husband, Max, came up the porch steps and introduced himself to Miriam Declose Smith and her young daughter, Sadie.

Throughout the pages of this book, the reader is allowed an intimate look into some raw feelings of betrayal as Amelia deals with the unbelievable discovery of her husband's infidelity. Throughout their life together, Amelia believed Thomas to be completely faithful to her but now she must face the ugly reality that he led a double life with another woman and even had an illegitimate child by that woman.

We soon find out that Thomas's daughter, Miriam, is on the run from an abusive husband and is looking for sanctuary for herself and her daughter with the only person she felt she could trust - Amelia, her father's wife. To do so, she needed to tell Amelia a long story about Thomas' deception with her own mother, who died before Sadie was born - no easy task. In typical fashion, Hannah and Grace unite to help Amelia come to terms with her husband's adultery and to draw Miriam and Sadie (who were innocent victims in this saga) into their family circle.

***** This is not just a story about love, betrayal, forgiveness, respect, and friendship - although it is certainly all those things. To my mind, its main goal is to teach a painful lesson about self-inspection as Amelia is forced to confront, and come to terms with, a painful part of her own life and the depression she suffered following the death of her only child - which is when Thomas' infidelity began. I'll be waiting to read more about this unexpected family as they are incorporated into life in Covington! Bravo, Joan! *****

Reviewed by Ruth Wilson of Huntress Reviews.

In Covington, North Carolina, widow Amelia Declose is stunned when the proof that her late husband cheated on her arrives at her door. His daughter Miriam having no one to turn to has arrived at the hometown of her deceased father. She seeks shelter from her abusive obsessed former spouse. Amelia cannot refuse to help Miriam due to Sadie, her late spouse's young frightened granddaughter.

The three generations of females struggle to find common grounds especially with the two adults hurting from men who let them down. However, though Amelia and Miriam rationalize that they accept one another for Sadie's sake, both knows deep down they need each other too. Still neither will state that they are forging a family that could break apart if they fail to admit their need for each other goes beyond Sadie.

Fans of the Ladies of Covington will enjoy Amelia's turn in the hopper as her late husband's indiscretion arrives in town. Though somewhat feeling like a soap opera, the fully developed lead couple, Amelia who remains consistent with her past appearances and Miriam, keep the interesting story line focused as they initially sublimate their feelings while trying to do what is best for Sadie.

Harriet Klausner

I love Joan Medlicott books. It it so refreshing to read a book that is heartwarming and uplifting.

So many authors now days think they have to have sex in books, movies, and music. They don't understand that sex doesn't always sell.

In the beginning of this sequel, Amelia answers the door to find two strangers greeting her on a snowy day. They are Miriam, and her little daughter Sadie. When Miriam announced that she was the daughter of Ted DeClose, Amelia's deceased husband, she was in a terrible state of shock. Never having given a thought to Ted cheating on her in all of his travels overseas.

Hannah, Max, and Grace are more welcoming to the mother and child, especially since they are there to run from Darren, Mariam's very abusive husband. When Miriam tries to explain this to Amelia, Amelia gradually comes around and her heart softens toward the two. They need a warm safe shelter to hide out in, and when Darren finally discovers them later on in the book, Miriam and Sadie go running to Roger's house that is in a very far-off area from the ladies, Max and Bob. Max and Bob handle the crisis very well when Darren keeps on making his appearance by keeping a close eye on him. The problem resolves by the book's end.

Amelia becomes very close to Miriam and Sadie and they all really make a family.

This was a wonderful story created by Ms. Medlicott. It was part romance, and part drama, and all heart. The characters were well-rounded and interesting, and the dilemmas that Amelia had to face were realistic and heartwarming. I was completely drawn in by the relationship between the characters; Miriam, Grace, Amelia, etc., and the essential plot that made this book a memorial read. I would say that the book was an easy read that makes for a terrific book to read in bed before sleepy time arrives. There are plenty of discussions on the story, so I see no need to add more detail. If you haven't read the book I highly recommend the author.

I usually LOVE her books, but was disappointed in this one. Was way to short and didn't have the "meat" of her others in the "Lady of Covington" series. Hoping the next one will be better.

Great Book
It did go in a totally different direction ...but still had the Ladies intertwined and interesting...
a real page turner as all the rest of the series!!!
Loved it

An Unexpected Family is the first book I've read by bestselling author Joan Medlicott. Although, I realize I've popped into the middle of the Covington series of novels, I was instantly intrigued by Amelia, Grace, and Hannah. These three lovely ladies are the main characters in this delightful series which is set in the cozy community of Covington. The town atmosphere is quaint and appealing to readers both young and old alike.

An Unexpected Family mainly deals with Amelia and her devastation of discovering that her husband had been unfaithful to her early in their marriage after the death of their only daughter. Imagine her shock, feelings of betrayal, and her anger when Miriam shows up on her doorstep with her young daughter Sadie by her side. Amelia's first reaction to her claim of being Thomas's adult daughter is denial. However, with the help of her two good friends and housemates, Grace and Hannah, Amelia eventually embraces this wonderful new family that she so longs to have. After the death of her husband and only daughter Caroline, Amelia now has a wonderful opportunity to fill the huge void in her life. Amelia has to answer these questions as she heals and works through her grief. Can she get over her husband's infidelity? Can she accept Miriam and Sadie as her own? Only Amelia knows the obstacles that she must overcome. Yes...it is very true. "Love can come out of the blue..."

I love this series. I love these 3 women who decide to live together and I ordered the entire series from Amazon after I purchased one of the books on a North Carolina vacation. My mother who is a young 80 I loaned the books to and she is reading just as fast. I just have one major disappointment that happens when you read this book. Book 1 the Ladies of Covington there is a 21 year age difference between Thomas and Amelia. Even thru the first books I thought this can't be true, they make him sound younger than my math would say he had to be when he died.
and Amelia was to have a change of life baby at 49. (trust me I borrowed the book back from my mother to make sure I didn't remember it wrong) Now this book ameslia is turning 70 when Thomas's 24 year old daughter turned up that he had an affair when Caroline their child died. I am sorry. Trust your fans to know details. Now it is a 11 year age difference between Thomas and Amelia and there's no way she had the baby at 49. I love the books. I love the feisty nature of Hannah and Grace and love they push Aetmelia to be a better person and there are times she rises to the occasion to help someone like Laura. I love the recipes and the new life these women create. Just do me a favor, keep notes on your own characters so I don't keep saying this can't be true. If you can get past, the author changes times and dates to fix her latest turn of events.............an interesting story of forgiveness and betrayal. Also, when i read the series...........when the pastor dies give him his own chapter don't kill him off between books. Otherwise, a gentle series of 3 women coming in to their own.