Review: From Here to Home by Marie Bostwick

Title: From Here to Home by Marie Bostwick
Too Much, Texas Series Book Two
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick welcomes readers to the quirky, unforgettable town of Too Much, Texas, in a heartwarming, richly satisfying story of friendship and moving forward…

Mary Dell Templeton prefers the quiet charms of Too Much to the bright lights of Dallas any day. She’s relieved to be moving back to her hometown–and bringing her cable TV show, Quintessential Quilting, with her. There are just a couple of wrinkles in her plan. Her son, Howard, who is her talented co-host and color consultant, and happens to have Down syndrome, wants to stay in Dallas and become more independent. Meanwhile, Mary Dell’s new boss hopes to attract a different demographic–by bringing in a younger co-host.

What Holly Silva knows about quilting wouldn’t fill a thimble, but she’s smart and ambitious. Her career hinges on outshining the formidable Mary Dell in order to earn her own show. Yet as Holly adapts to small-town living and begins a new romance, and Mary Dell considers rekindling an old one, the two find unlikely kinship. For as Mary Dell knows, the women of Too Much have a knack for untangling the knottiest problems when they work together. And sometimes the pattern for happiness is as simple and surprising as it is beautiful

Review:

From Here to Home by Marie Bostwick is an absolutely heartwarming novel of love, family and moving forward.

With her beloved quilting show up for renewal, the last thing Mary Dell Templeton needs are complications on the family ranch in Too Much, TX.  The show’s ratings are slipping and Mary Dell knows that without the show, the quilt store in her small hometown will lose business so she comes up with a pretty ingenious plan to film the upcoming season in Too Much.  Unbeknownst to Mary Dell, a newcomer to the network wants to cancel the show and a co-host has been hired to replace Mary Dell’s son, Howard.  When Mary Dell breaks the news to Howard, she is stunned by Howard’s reaction to the news and although she is happy that her son wants to stretch his wings, she is worried about him living on his own.

Howard’s replacement, Holly Silva, relocates from California to Too Much and immediately begins a crash course in quilting.  Holly is surprised by Mary Dell’s warm reception and the two women form a fast friendship.  Determined not to allow the network’s programming executive pit them against one another, Holly and Mary Dell present a united front but the show’s inept new producer refuses to listen to their suggestions.  Despite their hard work and their innovative ideas, Holly is still under pressure to sabotage the show and when Mary Dell faces a personal crisis, the future of the series remains in jeopardy.

Romance is also in the air for both Mary Dell and Holly.  Mary Dell’s close friendship with hotel owner Hub Jay turns to love but since she has not completely made peace over her estrangement with her husband, she is very reluctant to act on her feelings.  Holly’s surprising romance with Mary Dell’s nephew Rob Lee is complicated by his unresolved issues stemming from survivor’s guilt, untreated depression and PTSD.  With time,  patience and good humor, Mary Dell and Holly work through their respective issues, but will either of them find their happily ever after with the man of the dreams?

From Here to Home is a captivating novel that is brimming with humor and down home country charm.  All of the characters are richly developed and watching them grow as they work through their individual problems is incredibly gratifying. Marie Bostwick brings the town of Two Much and its quirky but lovable residents vividly to life.  Although this newest release the second installment in the Two Much, Texas series, it can be read as a standalone (but I highly recommend the entire series).

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, From Here to Home, Kensington, Marie Bostwick, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Too Much Texas Series, Women's Fiction

One Response to Review: From Here to Home by Marie Bostwick

  1. Timitra

    Thanks for the review Kathy