Miss You Most of All (Platinum Readers Circle (Center Point)) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Bass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2010 | Series: Platinum Readers Circle (Center Point)

Few things are as lasting as the bond between sisters. In her poignant debut, Elizabeth Bass explores the lengths one cobbled-together family will go to for each other, and the power of a connection that never fades. . .

Sassy Spinster Farm is a place to find solace. At least, that's what it's become since Rue Anderson and her sister Laura transformed their childhood Texas homestead into a successful tourist destination. It's where guests flock to get their hands dirty and taste food fresh from the garden. And it's where Rue is raising her pre-teen daughter on her own--while trying to keep her outspoken sister in check. It's not easy, but together, it seems there's nothing the two can't handle--until an unexpected, and not entirely welcome guest shows up in the middle of one warm summer night.

Heidi Bogue, onetime stepsister to Rue and Laura, is back, and she's hiding from something. Why else would she return to the place she was dragged to, kicking and screaming, as a teenager? A place she was thrilled to leave when, three years later, she and her mother bolted, leaving Rue and Laura's father heartbroken? But while Laura is irate, Rue won't turn Heidi away. Technically, they were once sisters, and to Rue, sisterhood is forever.

Soon, Sassy Spinster Farm is turned upside down by Heidi's complicated presence. Still, Rue is determined that Heidi, like all their guests, finds the farm a safe place to discover--or remember--what really matters. It's a revelation that will come sooner than any of them expected, when devastating news shakes the foundation of their tenuous sisterhood.

Moving and uplifting, here is a beautifully written novel about the bonds we are born into and those we create for ourselves--and of the strength that comes in loving without limits.

Praise for Miss You Most of All"An exuberant celebration of life, love, family and friendship, told with a sassy Texas flair. It's a perfect balance of humor and heartache, a sweetly satisfying novel that will stay with the reader long after the final page is turned."--Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

"A funny, poignant, and deeply satisfying novel. What I loved about it most of all was the authentic portrait of a family with all its imperfect and humble acts of love-those things that truly make our lives worthwhile."--Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Summer House

"A deliciously great book for those who love real books that depict real life, with all the mess, tears, joy, and laughter that living on this planet--or in this case the Sassy Spinster Farm--involves."--Cathy Lamb, author of Henry's Sisters

"Incredibly funny, genuinely heartbreaking, and strangely comforting, Miss You Most of All is completely wonderful."--Beth Harbison, New York Times bestselling author of Hope in a Jar

"Elizabeth Bass has created a trio of Texas sisters whose struggle to meet some of life's toughest challenges will enthrall you. Utterly warmhearted, it will keep you eagerly turning the pages. Miss You Most of All is a special experience from start to finish."--Holly Chamberlin, author of One Week in December

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bass's sparkling debut will inspire laughs and tears as the sisters of Sassy Spinster Farm experience one of the most memorable summers of their lives. Cancer survivor Rue Anderson; her sister, Laura Rafferty; and military veteran Webb Saunders run a successful Sweetgum, Tex., farm where boarders can learn hands-on about planting, harvesting, canning, and storing. Despite some problems—Rue's just out of chemo and sharing custody of her 11-year-old daughter with her now engaged to be married ex-husband—things have a way of running themselves until the unexpected arrival of Heidi Dawn Bogue, Rue and Laura's bratty little stepsister, who's all grown up, on the run from a Brooklyn psycho embezzler mobster, and seeking sanctuary even though she knows Laura despises her. With bountiful grace and a real feeling for her characters, Bass creates a three-hanky delight by finding the earthy, homespun humor the women learn to embrace even in the most difficult situations. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 606 pages
• Publisher: Center Point Large Print; Lrg edition (July 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602858098
• ISBN-13: 978-1602858091
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

More About the Author

The youngest of four children, Elizabeth Bass grew up outside of a very small town in East Texas in pre-NetFlix days. The first loves in her life were animals and Humphrey Bogart. Had it not been for a father who kept the house full of books and some tireless elementary school teachers, she could have happily remained an illiterate rabbit caretaker addicted to black-and-white films on the late late show.

Before writing Miss You Most of All, she published thirty romance and women's fiction novels under the name Liz Ireland and co-authored two Regencies with her sister as Alexandra Bassett.

She lives with her husband in Montreal, where she writes and does freelance editing. An elderly cat or dog (or two...or four) can usually be found in her apartment, and during the busiest day she can often find time to sneak in an old movie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sisters and family, June 12, 2010

By 

Lisa Cothron "Lisa Cothron" (Lafayette, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss You Most of All (Hardcover)

I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. It first impresses with its humorous language and down-home style. But it caught me off-guard with its depth and human perspective on sisters, mothers and daughters, family, love, patience, graciousness, and death. There was more than one part of the book that requires tissues, particularly near the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it to others.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, June 3, 2010

By 

Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss You Most of All (Hardcover)

Efficient, friendly Rue has been helping her thorny sister, Laura, make the farm Laura inherited from their father into a paying proposition. To that end, they've transformed the farm into Sassy Spinster Farm, a bed-and-breakfast geared to giving an urban female clientele a farm-living experience. Sassy Spinster Farm also takes part in a Community Supported Agriculture program, in which people sign up for weekly boxes of fresh organic produce, as well as selling vegetables at the local farmer's market. These endeavors make for a lot of work. Rue thrives on organizing and brainstorming ways to make Sassy Spinster Farm financially viable --- at least she thrives mentally. Physically, she is still recovering from surgery and chemo treatments for advanced breast cancer.

While Rue doesn't dwell on the ravages the disease and treatment have dealt her body, she can't help but notice that Laura seems more than two years younger than herself. Even at age 36, Laura can recover from her frequent bouts of all-night drinking/smoking binges with no problem. Laura is usually unflappable, too, until she learns that, according to caller I.D., a Heidi B. has been calling the farm's phone. She flips out, afraid that the caller is their once-upon-a-time despised stepsister. When Rue reassures her that maybe the "Heidi B." is someone else, she lets herself be convinced. Laura goes outside to forget her troubles by doing her beloved farm chores (and, incidentally, to avoid having to pretend to be friendly to the B&B guests, since she loathes them). One of her farm workers this summer is her old friend Webb, who is up front about his feelings for her, while Laura does everything she can to deflect any kind of emotional interchange.

Meanwhile, Rue tracks down her 11-year-old daughter, Erica, whose dread of going to her father's house for summer weekdays is magnified by the fact that his new fiancée just happens to be Ms. Dench. Leanne Dench is not only obnoxious, she was Erica's fifth-grade teacher. Erica didn't like her before, and now that she is living with her father, Erica's disgust and trepidation are almost indescribable.

When Rue and Laura's ex-stepsister actually does show up in the middle of the night, secretly hiding out from a potentially deadly pursuer, she acts as a catalyst for unexpected relationships and situations. Heidi and Webb begin spending time together (their friendship is original and quite refreshing), while Rue finds solace in Heidi as a new friend who shares her taste in music and movies. Of course, Laura's continued hatred toward the interloper is fueled by a double case of jealousy: Why, she wonders, does Rue confide in Heidi over Laura? What in the world could Webb and Heidi have in common?

Erica has a new friend, too. Maggie is one of the cool kids, and would never have noticed Erica except that Erica sparked her interest with a lie about a nonexistent boyfriend. Soon, the two girls are plotting and planning what to do about Erica's father's upcoming marriage.

Filled with secrets and revelations, suspense, romance, tons of Texas farm atmosphere, and --- most of all --- celebrating the pleasures of family ties, MISS YOU MOST OF ALL is a truly delightful and warmhearted read. The characters of the sisters are so spot-on that readers will believe they've previously met them (especially the prickly Laura, whose personality flaws are priceless). Author Elizabeth Bass has a true gift for making readers laugh, and also for making their hearts ache with empathy for the characters' predicaments. This endearing novel is a satisfying page-turner and is very highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars profound Texas family drama, April 28, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Miss You Most of All (Hardcover)

Cancer victim Rue Anderson; her sister Laura Rafferty; and veteran Webb Saunders run the Sassy Spinster Farm in, Texas. The spread proves a great success as the "inmates" guests want to get down and dirty with work on a farm like planting and harvesting, etc. . Having just finished chemo treatment, Rue looks forward to sharing joint custody of her tweener daughter with her ex.

However, her recovery has a setback when the cancer returns. Worse is the return of the siblings' younger pain in the butt stepsister Heidi Dawn Bogue to the farm. Heidi hides her reason for returning to a place she loathed when her mom married the sisters' dad when she was a teen. In fact she needs to stay low as she is on the lam from her psychopathic Brooklyn embezzler boyfriend.

Readers will enjoy this character driven Texas family drama due to a strong lead trio and a solid support cast even if the Brooklyn mobster is somewhat stereotyped. Done with humor and wit (for instance, naming a child Portia is not Shakespeare literary allusion but an expensive car) Miss You Most Of All is a profound poignant relationship drama as three sisters find their groove.

Harriet Klausner