Customer Reviews

There's Always Plan B

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Carly Spencer, weeks away from the Big 40, finds herself and smart-mouth 15 year old daughter Tiffany on their way to her childhood home, Chatsworth-by-the-Sea, a Bed & Breakfast on the Northern CA coast. Her marriage of 17 years is over, her soon-to-be ex-husband needs to find himself, at least that's what he says. Plan A - The good life in Santa Monica with Neil, a successful executive is gone. Now on to Plan B Carly's going to run the B&B with her mother, Rhonda, for the next 2 years then Rhonda will retire to Las Vegas. Cathsworth has been in Carly's family for at least 150 years her many-greats grandfather had the English manor brought over and reconstructed after striking it rich in the gold fields. The house is haunted by a young woman, Mary, she was Carly's friend when Carly still lived at Chatsworth. The B&B and Rhonda are not in the best shape now so it's up to Carly to put Plan B into motion. A younger than Carly ghost-buster and a former teacher both would like to be her new love interest but she's not sure. With wonderful humor and wit Ms Mallery has created a great story.

For the first 140 pages the main character dealt with rude and mean daughter and mother. I was ready to give up on the book at that point. Then the book did a turn around and Carly found her voice and decided to fight for her life. She has to save her B&B and make the cute ghostbuster believe that Mary the ghost is real. I was just getting into the story and then it stopped....

When I first heard about There's Always Plan B, one of the first books to be released under Harlequin's TheNextNovel, I wondered if this book would be romantic. Well it is and more......it's a story and exploration of a beautiful woman about to turn 40 who finds herself alone with a teenage daughter to raise.

Carly Spencer has been "dumped" by her husband to go in search of himself and is left to pick up the pieces. She decides to relocate to her family home and business, a B&B called Chatsworth-by-the-Sea to assist her mother in rescuing the family home and business. Carly decides to use her skills as a one-time event planner to restore the B&B, using Mary the fabled resident ghost as a draw to increase revenues and pay the mortgage.

Then, who should appear but tall, dark, handsome, and sexy Adam a ghost-buster who threatens to ruin the B&B rep and puts Carly's hormones into overdrive. Plus, Carly also runs into her old teacher from high school days who also becomes interested in her.

This book is not only entertaining but it's also an exploration into relationships....mother/daughter, friendship, self image and esteem and a "younger man" love interest. It's a great read, one you won't be sorry to have purchased.

When her husband decides that it is time to find himself and files for divorce, Carly finds herself starting over with her teen daughter in the northern California town she grew up in. Plan A was marriage and family; plan B is running the family inn. But it is in need of more attention than Carly bargained for, and when she comes up with a plan to bring it back into the black, she gets opposition from her mother every step of the way. Capitalizing on the inn's haunted past, she encourages groups to plan their outings in her inn and get to know the resident ghost, Mary. What she doesn't count on is a real life ghost buster coming around to debunk Mary's existence, nor does she count on being attracted to the guy, who is several years younger.

Mallery's novel for the now defunct Harlequin Next line starts out a little shaky in the story set up, particularly the surly teenager and sour puss mother. But when she introduces the second chance at romance with Adam the ghost buster, the story really takes off, particularly the elaborate lengths she will go to turn Adam into a believer, while fighting her attraction to him. A second potential romance with her former high school teacher is funny, especially when she cannot bring herself to call him by his first name. Overall, the story is just above average. It was an okay novel (just not as exciting as her Buchanan series or my personal Fave "Falling for Gracie") and took several attempts before I finished it.

© Tracy Vest, September 2008

I normally like the books that susan mallery writes, but I thought this one was not up to her standard. It was OK. And I was really bored so I read it. But, some of the situations were not as believable as could be. However, her relationship with the daughter and the ex-husband were good.

I enjoyed the book and was disappointed when it ended. I still wanted to see how the characters' lives turned out.

So far have loved all the new NEXT books--every one's different, but also a special read in its own way. I read all Susan Mallery's work before this and she's a must-buy for me, but this one--just totally loved it. All the relationships were so real. This had humor, was a fast read--but also had poignancy and emotional depth. Strongly recommend.

I alway enjoy reading anything Sasan Mallery writes. But I was disappointed in this one she left you hanging at the end. What happened with her teenage daughter? tHE 2 new men in her life?

I recently stumbled across a Susan Mallery book and since then have read all that I can get my hand's on. I truly enjoy her writing. I can't say I loved this book as much as others, but I did enjoy it. When I got to the end of the book I turned the page looking for more. It wasn't the ending I expected, but perhaps that is a good thing. This morning I woke up thinking about the book and its ending and realized it was more true to life than other stories. It did leave me wanting another book about Carly, her daughter, and especially Adam. I would certainly recommend this book to Susan Mallery fans as well as those who have never tried one of her books.