Product Description

When the honeymoon is over, real life begins...Newly married Debbie is at her wits' end about her and Bryan's mounting debts, but there's no way he's going to stop living the high life and become a stay-at-home husband. Meanwhile, her dad has just found out his workaholic second wife, Aimee, is pregnant. He couldn't be happier, but she's horrified. Is their marriage going to last? Debbie's mum, Connie, has met a gorgeous new man and is all set to make a life of her own. But her family needs her more than ever to sort out all their problems. Will she put her family first as always, or can she walk away and finally make a fresh start? Will anyone be happy ever after?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87844 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

From the Back Cover
When the honeymoon is over, real life begins . . .
Newly married Debbie is at her wits' end about her and Bryan's mounting debts, but there's no way he's going to stop living the high life and become a stay-at-home husband.
Meanwhile, her dad has just found out his workaholic second wife, Aimee, is pregnant. He couldn't be happier, but she's horrified. Is their marriage going to last?
Debbie's mum, Connie, has met a gorgeous new man and is all set to make a life of her own. But her family need her more than ever to sort out all their problems. Will she put her family first as always, or can she walk away and finally make a fresh start?
Will anyone be happy ever after?

About the Author
Patricia Scanlan lives in Dublin. Her books, all Number One bestsellers, include Two For Joy, Double Wedding, Divided Loyalties and Forgive and Forget. Although Patricia loves writing fiction, she's really longing to be asked to research a book on Great Luxury Spas of the World or the Poshest Boutiques in Paris...she doesn't mind which!

Customer Reviews

Average for a Patricia Scanlan Book
First of all Patricia Scanlan's writing style has always been the typical Chick Lit stuff. It is usually the stuff or romance gone wrong and then hopefully going right with some tears and hopefully laughter along the way. I am a typical Chick Lit fan in that I like this particular style of writing and Patricia Scanlan has always been one of my favourite authors for this very reason. Her books have in the past always captured me and I end up feeling a sense of contentment whenever I read her books.

This particular story is a follow on from her previous novel Forgive and Forget. Having said that you could read this alone and still pick up the story from where it left off. We meet Debbie and Bryan who are newly married, and Debbie's battle to get her new husband to stop spending his money on parties, drink and drugs.

Connie who has done her bit for her daughter and son-in-law ends up having an interesting new man turn up in her life. Could this be what she has been waiting for? Unfortunately for Connie, her ex-husband Barry has re-married to Aimee. When Aimee finds out she is pregnant and Barry realises he may well have to go through parenthood all over again seeks solace by trying to get Connie's attention. In the meantime unbeknown to Aimee and Barry, Aimee's daughter Mellissa from her first marriage, is silently spiralling into a world of obsessive eating disorders. Everyone suddenly want's Connie's attention and she wonders, can she walk away from them and let them solve their own problems for once. Or will she help them all and lose the chance at her own happiness?

Patricia Scanlan manages to cover the real topics in life such as eating disorders, relationships with your ex and love later in life without making them too disheartening. The story runs along nicely with real detail and feeling and I thoroughly enjoyed it up until the very last chapter where it felt like the author got bored of writing and just finished with a very short and sweet epilogue. Almost felt like there should have been another 5 or 6 chapters to finish it nicely. I still enjoyed the book but ended up feeling a little disappointed.

a good read but....
this follows on really well from forgive and forget and is a good book overall. i do feel however that the epilogue was a bit rushed, after all of the detail with the characters throughout the book the ending was a bit flat. i am a fan of patricia's books but there have been a couple now where i feel the ending was rushed. i feel that we need a third book now to explain in more detail what happens to the characters. still a good book worth reading.

Please, can we have some more?
I am a huge fan of Patricia Scanlan's books. There is no one to equal her in writing family dynamics and good 'vile' characters you don't like but relish reading about. I was thrilled to see this book on the shelves, a greatly anticipated sequel but, like many other reviewers I feel there must be another book on the way to tie up the characters stories satisfactorily for the reader!! There are still so many unanswered questions regarding characters we care about. I would give this book five stars if I knew there was going to be a third book on the way (done before with City Girl, City Woman, City Lives).
A great read but anyone thinking of buying this must make sure to have read Forgive and Forget first!