At Home on Ladybug Farm (Center Point Premier Fiction (Large Print)) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Donna Ball (Author)

Book Description

Series: Center Point Premier Fiction (Large Print) | Publication Date: November 1, 2009

From the award-winning author of A Year on Ladybug Farm comes the continuing story of three women who learn what it takes to turn a house into a home.

A year after taking the chance of a lifetime, Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget are still trying to make a home for themselves on the newly-renovated Ladybug Farm. Life in the Shenandoah Valley is picturesque, but filled with unexpected trials— such as the introduction of two young people into the ordered life the women have tried to build for themselves.

As the walls of the old house reveal their secrets and the lives of those who have gone before begin to unfold, the cobbled-together household starts to disintegrate into chaos. And when one of their members is threatened by a real crisis, they must all come together to fight for the roots they’ve laid down, the hopes they share, and the family they’ve become.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Proving true friendship can create fierce family ties, Ball's exceptional sequel to 2009's A Year on Ladybug Farm updates the trials, tribulations and triumphs of three single women of a certain age struggling to renovate Blackwell Farms, a rundown Virginia estate. A year has passed since Lindsay Wright, Cici Burke and Bridget Tindale arrived from Baltimore to live on the farm. Adding joy and sometimes frustration to the household are crusty old housekeeper Ida Mae; Cici's 20-year-old daughter Lori, who doesn't want to return to college in California; and Noah Clete, a fatherless 15-year-old Lindsay wants to adopt. Ball's bright examination of their efforts to rehab a place that was burned down during the Civil War, rebuilt, and then served as a winery, a home for WWII military wives and a creamery known for its cheeses, is absolutely delectable. Injecting extra zing are Ball's fascinating flashbacks, while Noah's transformation from misfit to responsible teen is another sweet note in this entertaining treatise of how love overcomes adversity. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Donna Ball has created a delightful world in her Ladybug Farm novels. Her characters are lively and endearing, and readers will feel a longing to join the girls on the front porch in the evenings as they reminisce about the day''s activities."
-Fresh Fiction

"At Home on Ladybug Farm is a wonderful novel with wonderful characters working together to turn their new house into a home."
-ReaderToReader.com

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 382 pages
• Publisher: Center Point Pub; Lrg edition (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602855919
• ISBN-13: 978-1602855915
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #971,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Donna Ball published her first book in 1982. Since that time she has written over eighty works of commercial fiction under pseudonyms that include Rebecca Flanders, Donna Carlisle, Leigh Bristol, Taylor Brady, and Donna Boyd. She is known for her work in women's fiction and suspense, as well as supernatural fantasy and adventure. Her novels have been translated into well over a dozen languages and have been published in virtually every country in the world. She has appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and has been featured in such publications as the Detroit Free Press, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, and even T.V. Guide. She is the holder of the Storytelling World award, 2001, the Georgia Author of the Year Award, 2000, Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards for consecutive years 1991-1996, the Georgia Romance Writer's Maggie Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times, among others.

Donna lives in the Northeast Georgia Mountains in a restored Victorian barn which was the inspiration for A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM and AT HOME ON LADYBUG FARM. She spends her spare time hiking, painting, and enjoying canine sports with her four dogs-- two golden retrievers, a rough collie, and a border collie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine drama, October 10, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: At Home on Ladybug Farm (Paperback)

One year has gone by since Lindsay Wright, Cici Burke and Bridget Tindale left Baltimore to relocate and start over on Blackwell Farms in the Shenandoah Valley. The place was a dump, but the three single women worked hard; assisted but at times distracted by their grumpy housekeeper Ida Mae; Cici's 20-year-old daughter Lori who fled a California college to come "home", and fifteen years old Noah Clete.

Now the farm has undergone much renovation and revealed some of its history to its current residents. They know what happened during the Civil War as this farm and its neighbor were home to battles and occupations. It was turned into winery, a cheesy creamery, and a WWII refugee camp. Now Ladybug Farm is home to another generation of misfits.

Using flashbacks to tell the history enhances a warm tale of love and friendship as Donna Ball informs her audience what happened to those and more who spent A YEAR ON LADYBUG'S FARM. The cast is solid as each still struggles with what they want, but have come a long way baby from where they were especially the trio of Maryland expatriates. Fans will enjoy the return visit to the three single women and their three "wards" as fans will feel AT HOME ON LADYBUG FARM.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great sequel!, December 23, 2009

By 

Cornelia W. Wood "Constant Reader" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: At Home on Ladybug Farm (Paperback)

Having read "A Year on Ladybug Farm" and loved it, I was delighted to read the sequel - it's just as good (which doesn't always happen, unfortunately). I'd recommend both books to anyone who enjoys a good read and marvelous characters. Hope there will be another Ladybug book soon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect reading., November 12, 2009

By 

Audrey M. Holyfield "catmama" (Mtn Home, AR United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: At Home on Ladybug Farm (Paperback)

Perfect reading. It is enjoyable by itself but by reading the first book you get into the reason these are doing what they are doing. I just hope this is not the end and there will be more about them from Ms, Ball. Loved both of them.