A Bella Flora Christmas by Wendy Wax

Everyone is coming home for Christmas.  It's a good thing they have a big house!

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 7th.

Kyra was hoping for a nice, peaceful Christmas before she has to move out and let the new tenant move in.  The problem is that she has to make a decision very soon over whether she will let her son act in a movie with his father.  She's not sure she wants to do that and she knows it will cause trouble if she doesn't.

She's trying to act happy but everyone knows she isn't.  More secrets are shared on the back deck in the evenings as they have a drink at the end of the day.  The women say they will support her.  It hurts when the woman he lives with calls and threatens to hurt her family and friends if she doesn't decide in favor.  She doesn't react well to bullying.  Then she finds out her girlfriend that was her only friend after her affair was made public has already had a phone call from her saying she might lose her job.  Those with power like to use it for their advantage.

This is a novella and Kyra struggles through the Christmas activities still dithering over the decision.  Her mother says to do what is best for her child.  She finally decides by the end of the story.

There will be more in this series.  Kyra's story isn't over yet.

One Good Thing (Ten Beach Road #5) by Wendy Wax

Each evening they go out and sit on the deck and watch the sunset go down.  They have a drink, talk about their days and, as their mother requests, they each pick out a good thing that came from that day.  When there's emotional trauma and disasters everywhere, it's hard to find that good thing...

Berkley sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It is being published today.

From financial disaster to a husband who walked off with a younger woman and took all her money with him to a young man defying his father and driving his love off to a popular singer who is having a comeback and wants their mother to travel with him, there's plenty of strife, emotional trauma and troubled times in this household.  Some things get solved, some don't.  What stays the same is the fact that they are there for each other, they're still fighting and they are still moving forward.

There's lots of drama, lots of love, and a sense of family and undying loyalty.  There's a bit of sad along with a lot of happy and you feel the women will come out on the top.  Their story isn't done yet, so watch for the next book in this series.