Customer Reviews

Third Time's a Charm: A Novel (Sister-to-Sister)

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have read all the books in this series and it is the best one by far! I loved all of the books, although this one has a fast pace and an unlikely romance that blossoms by the end of the book. It has a sweet romance plot but also deals with issues of work coming between family, friends, and God. The book also focusses on the sisters' relationship with their father and compels the main character, Tori, to search for her father. The book does not focus on Tori finding God as much as the second or first book did for the other sisters, although it still keeps a divine connection, helping the sisters to find their heavenly Father. Overall a very good ending to the Sister-to-Sister series! It would be very interesting to read about some of the sisters' problems with their marriages, kids, faith, and such when they are little older.

So I picked up the "Stuck in the Middle" Book 1 just because it was a free download and my kindle was new and was anxious to try it out. I got hooked, read straight through it and immediately purchased book 2 & 3. These stories were so easy to get into, relate to and the reading was simple and relaxing. There was that moment in each book where the tears stung my eyes. . .really nice stories, well written and uplifting.

I have really enjoyed reading the Sister to Sister series by Virginia Smith. This is mainly because I am part of a three sister family so I could easily relate to what the sisters were going through. This time, it's the youngest of the sisters who gets to share their story. Tori's over fast paced career is none too familiar for her age group. It's amazing how some companies and bosses expect you to work round the clock 24/7 and still think you haven't done enough. Competition is cutthroat in these types of businesses and it's completely possible to overwork yourself to do beyond your best and it's still not enough. I could understand Tori's sisters' concern over her working too much and not being fully compensated in terms of rest. However I personally did not like their interfering with her love life. While things might have worked out for the best, I thought at times they went a bit overboard with constantly calling Ryan for updates. If I was Ryan I would have found it really annoying. As it stands, I personally would never try to set up any of my sisters much less keep contacting their date, because I know that they would kill me if you they found out what I was doing!

I really liked Tori perhaps even more so than her other two sisters. One thing I found quite interesting was Tori's reaction to her sister's hasty marriage. She suspects that the reason why they are getting married very fast is due to since the two are both Christians they are doing this so they can have sex faster. Why this might not be the case between Joan and Ken, I do know for a fact that is the sole reason as to why a good deal of Christians marry after a short dating relationship. Therefore I can see why Tori would be very hesitant about seeing this marriage as being welcoming. The story doesn't have a typically happy ending. The issue with the girls' father, while complete, is never really fully resolved the way they and the reader would have liked. I understood the anger and hurt that took place at the revealing of the truth about the girls' father and I could see why there was much pain on all sides. However this is a more realistic outcome and much more satisfying than a fairy tale ending.

I'm really sad that this series is over. I've grown to love the Sanderson sisters and seeing them change throughout the course of the series. The story is just really fun to read and you just don't want it to end. I know though that whatever Virginia writes next will be just as fabulous to read. If you have sisters or have ever wanted one, you will definitely enjoy reading this series.

TITLE: Third Time's a Charm: A Novel
AUTHOR: Virginia Smith
FORMAT: Paperback, Kindle
PAGES: 327
PRICE: $10.19 (print), $9.99 (kindle)
ISBN-10: 0800732340
ISBN-13: 9780800732349


Tori Sanderson is the youngest of the three Sanderson sisters. She loves to shop for designer clothes and shoes.

Her two older sisters fix her up with Ryan, a farm boy from her hometown. Over time Tori slowly falls in love with Ryan, much to her two older sisters' delight. Unfortunately, Ryan's busybody sister-in-law interferes way too much, showing up at their first date with her two sons. The two older Sanderson sisters are also not quite as bad at interfering but they do invade their sister's love life asking Ryan for details after each date. In fact, they go as far as to show up at the hardware store where Ryan works!

Tori works at a very high pressure job in a nearby town and has a boss that expects her to work 24/7. She's also up for a promotion along with her coworker, Mitch. If Mitch gets the promotion, Tori would work for him so the competition between the two is fierce!

Mitch also has his eye on Tori and can't figure out what Tori sees in Ryan.

Tori's possible promotion adds further complications to their relationship since she has to work harder than ever hardly leaving her time to breathe much less date. She has to do her regular job as well as garner experience and get a presentation together for the owners of a restaurant. Whoever has the best presentation and wins the restaurant owners over, gets the promotion. So, the competition between Tori and Mitch is fierce!

I truly enjoyed this easy to read book but was a bit disappointed in the beginning. Tori is at the mall buying a gift for her sister, Joan's, wedding shower present. While she's in the mall she sees a pair of designer shoes that she thinks she has to have. This makes her late for Joan's wedding shower! How can you be late for one of your sisters' biggest events in her life? From there on the book got much better.

This is the last book in the Sister-to-Sister series. As a sister myself, I could relate to the three sisters. I've never read a book from this trilogy before but after reading this book, I would like to read the other two books. This Christian book is easy to read without being `preachy'. This book has to be in any church library and in your own personal library!

I read the first of the trilogy because it was either free or cheap I don't remember. I instantly fell in love with all three of the sisters and their families. I would recommend this book and the other two, they were easy to read and easy to love.

Ok, I feel in love with "Stuck in the Middle", then with "Age Before Beauty" I felt mmmm, happily married, but that the honeymoon was over. Well, "Third Time's a Charm" DEFINITELY brought the fireworks back!!!! It's the last book of the series and you will MISS the Sanderson sisters and the happenings of their lives (Grams and Sunday dinner included). I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. It deals with the real life effects of emotional scars and childhood trauma. A MUST READ!!!! I love that the books in the series have "classic" and "clean" story lines with "hip" details. Like, good ole' fashioned Sunday dinner, but True Religion jeans. Love it!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Sister to Sister Series! I really wish the series could continue! I feel as if the Sanderson sisters are family! I am going to miss them terribly!

I too got sucked into the "sister" series after picking up "Stuck in the middle" as a free book on my Kindle. Although the first 2 were good, this was by far the best of the 3. Though I will admit, like when I read the other 2 this one left me wanting to hear more about the Sanderson sisters. Maybe one about Chelsea next?

I got the first book as a freebie and then could not put my Kindle down..... needlesto say i got the following to books and loved them. Whish there were more books like these!. Its love and Christ(without being a sermon)all i one.

This is light, entertaining fluffy Christian chick-lit at it best. The main character wears $300 jeans to visit a pig farm and ends up covered in pig feces. A couple of kids ruin her designer silk blouse and replace it with one the same color (except the one they bought cost a fraction of what hers did). Tori is the youngest of three sisters; one is happily married, one is engaged, and they are sure she needs to be. She'd like a guy, but doesn't have time for one, since she is working all the time, for a boss who has no life.

Her sister's upcoming wedding will mean even more changes; the family home is being put on the market. While going through the attic, Tori finds photos of her dad, who abandoned the family when she was young. Looking for him is a minor subplot.

It is a Christian novel, which in this case means she met Mr. Wonderful at church, and we get to sit through a Sunday School lesson. Also, Tori doesn't like her brother-in-law-to-be because she thinks he is too much of a religious fanatic who has turned her whole family (except her) into religious fanatics. Mr. Wonderful likes him, and explains to her that Ken's faith is genuine, not something he puts on for a few hours on Sunday. Tori decides a person of faith is a better associate than one without.

Despite a couple of possibly serious subplots, on the whole this book remains light and fluffy, or maybe I was just in a light mood and didn't contemplate this novel enough--but when I blow through a 327 page book in 2 and a half hours, there wasn't much contemplation involved. Grade: B

I'd like to thank Christian Review of Books and Kathy Carlton Willis Communications for providing a complimentary review copy of this book