Review: Already Home by Susan Mallery

Already Home
Susan Mallery
Publisher: Mira
Published: April 29, 2011
Audio Book {11hrs}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Women's Fiction
Jenna Stevens
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store.

Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love...

Whenever I read Susan Mallery, I know I’m getting a great romance. But with Already Home, I got something more. With this I got to witness the dynamic relationship between women.

Jenna has come home to heal from a divorce, only to be blindsided by meeting her biological parents. Witnessing Jenna and her biological mother Serenity build their relationship was a heartwarming yet heart wrenching sight. I was so happy and impressed by Jenna’s adoptive mom Beth, with how she encouraged Jenna and Serenity’s relationship. That to me showed Beth to be strong of character.

When I wasn’t totally absorbed in Jenna, Serenity, and Beth’s story, I was absorbed in Violet’s. Violet, the manager of Jenna’s store, had her own difficult story to tell. I loved Violet! She struggled much of the book to find love and acceptance. Most of her issue seemed to stem from her belief that she didn’t deserve it.

Jenna’s newly discovered brother, Dragon, was another character I loved. He made me wish I had a brother. :) He was just the right mix of funny, strength, compassion, and love of family.

When I wasn’t laughing along with this family, I was crying with them. That is what I loved about this book. It drew me in, like I was a member of the family facing this journey right along with them.

I now have to get a copy of this book for my keeper shelf since my copy was from the public library. This is one I definitely recommend for reading again and again.

Read by Teri Clark Linden
Duration: 11 hours
Brilliance Audio

Narration: B+

The narrator took a little getting used to at first. It took me a while to warm up to her, but once I did I enjoyed the book.