Helpful Score: 1
I thought this was an ok book.
"Lois Battle's BED & BREAKFAST is pure delight: touching and witty, sympathetic and shrewd. It's the kind of book I'll rush to tell all my friends about; it's the book I can't wait to give my mother." Quote from Nancy Thayer, author of BELONGING AND FAMILY SECRETS.
In this well-crafted story by the author of Storyville (Viking, 1993), Josie Tatternall, a military widow in her seventies, is inspired by a friend's nearly fatal illness to call together her own three daughters?in particular, her estranged daughter, Cam, who has not been home since the death of her father years ago. What starts out as a family gathering for the twilight of Josie's life actually marks the beginning of her understanding of her achievements and, quite unexpectedly, her second chance at love. The story introduces a cast of memorable characters, primarily Josie herself, who fully reminds us that life, love, and growth are not limited to any particular age. Somewhat light reading, but a good story nonetheless.?
One reviewer said "There are no heroes in this family drama, no villans either --just regular folks, drawn with sympathy and keen-eyed humor."
Christmas setting in the South -- a mother, three daughters and other family members and friends. Not at all limited to Christmas reading. I enjoyed it.
Christmas setting in the South -- a mother, three daughters and other family members and friends. Not at all limited to Christmas reading. I enjoyed it.
In this well-crafted story of Josie Tatternall, widow in her seventies, is inspired by a friend's nearly fatal illness to call together her own three daughters. Her estranged daughter, Cam, who has not been home since the death of her father years ago. Light reading, but a good story.
In this well-crafted story by the author of Storyville (Viking, 1993), Josie Tatternall, a military widow in her seventies, is inspired by a friend's nearly fatal illness to call together her own three daughters?in particular, her estranged daughter, Cam, who has not been home since the death of her father years ago. What starts out as a family gathering for the twilight of Josie's life actually marks the beginning of her understanding of her achievements and, quite unexpectedly, her second chance at love. The story introduces a cast of memorable characters, primarily Josie herself, who fully reminds us that life, love, and growth are not limited to any particular age. Somewhat light reading, but a good story nonetheless.?Susan C. Colegrove, Athens Regional Lib. System, Ga.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
This is the perfect time of year to read this book. I found it very endearing and i loved the Bed & Breakfast setting. The lesson taught in this novel narrows down to one thing--Life is short, love your family and cherish your friends. This was sad in part, funny in others, and i really liked Josie--she hustled and bussled to make the B & B a perfect place to stay and found time for her friends and brought her family together. The only thing i wished for when i finished this read was the recipes of the foods she served from her cookbook, as there was some wonderful sounding dishes mentioned in her "Low Country Cooking" Book.
Ten years of family secrets, misunderstandings, and recriminations have kept the Tatternalls apart-until Josie, a military widow suddenly alerted to mortality when one of her best friends keels over during a bridge game, impulsively invites her three grown daughters home for the holidays at her gracious South Carolina Bed and Breakfast.
the heightened expectations of the christmas season celebrated in great style and the upstairs/downstairs comedies of a Southern inn make a perfect setup for this portrait of a family in all its tender, touching, and flawed glory-and a love story that comes as suddenly as sunshine after the rain.
the heightened expectations of the christmas season celebrated in great style and the upstairs/downstairs comedies of a Southern inn make a perfect setup for this portrait of a family in all its tender, touching, and flawed glory-and a love story that comes as suddenly as sunshine after the rain.
When Josie woke up that morning she just knew that something was going to happen that day. The girls were coming for bridge so she tried to shrug it off. Then right in the middle of the bridge game, Peatsy Gibbs had just trumped Mary's Ace, said she was dizzy and then collapsed on the card table with an awful thud.
If you liked The Florabama Ladies Auxiliary and Sewing Circle by the same author, you will love this.
If you liked The Florabama Ladies Auxiliary and Sewing Circle by the same author, you will love this.
The death, or near death, of a close friend prompts a woman who owns a siimple bed-and-breakfast to re-prioritize her life. She decides she needs to reach out to her daughters and asks them to all come home and be together for Christmas. Each of the 3 daughters have their own opinions about spending the holidays together and are each having their own personal battles. This book highlights the complexity of love and relationships, and while there is no fairy-tale ending, lessons are learned and new appreciation does come to light, even if in surprising ways.
In this well-crafted story by the author of Storyville (Viking, 1993), Josie Tatternall, a military widow in her seventies, is inspired by a friend's nearly fatal illness to call together her own three daughters in particular, her estranged daughter, Cam, who has not been home since the death of her father years ago. What starts out as a family gathering for the twilight of Josie's life actually marks the beginning of her understanding of her achievements and, quite unexpectedly, her second chance at love. The story introduces a cast of memorable characters, primarily Josie herself, who fully reminds us that life, love, and growth are not limited to any particular age.
A sweet little book. I enjoyed it because I've always been fascinated by people who own B&B's. They really do have real lives?
I read Bed & Breakfast with a reading buddy in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
What a snooze fest! The narrative rambles and meanders and goes every bit of nowhere fast. While I didn't find any of the characters interesting or endearing, there was a lesson to be learned: do not expect your children to exhibit characteristics and behaviors as adults that were never instilled in them as children.
You see people all the time who whine and complain about their kids being self absorbed, unappreciative or indifferent, but that's exactly how they were overindulged, coddled and raised to be. When were they taught to appreciate the hand that feeds them?
Beyond that, the story lacked focus, had a narrow-minded scope and was very uneven for me. There was never anyone to root for or sympathize with. Just whining, moping, complaining and blaming. No one ever took responsibility for their own happiness. If that's your thing, God bless you. For me? Meh.
What a snooze fest! The narrative rambles and meanders and goes every bit of nowhere fast. While I didn't find any of the characters interesting or endearing, there was a lesson to be learned: do not expect your children to exhibit characteristics and behaviors as adults that were never instilled in them as children.
You see people all the time who whine and complain about their kids being self absorbed, unappreciative or indifferent, but that's exactly how they were overindulged, coddled and raised to be. When were they taught to appreciate the hand that feeds them?
Beyond that, the story lacked focus, had a narrow-minded scope and was very uneven for me. There was never anyone to root for or sympathize with. Just whining, moping, complaining and blaming. No one ever took responsibility for their own happiness. If that's your thing, God bless you. For me? Meh.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ten years of family secrets, misunderstandings, and recriminations have kept the Tatternalls apart - until Josie, a military widow suddenly alerted to mortality when one of her best friends keels over during a bridge game, impulsively invites her three grown daughters home for the holidays at her gracious South Carolina bed-and-breakfast. Cam, Josie's eldest, is her father's daughter - headstrong, smart, fearless, and utterly hopeless when it comes to making peace with either her family or herself. Years ago, she acquired the cynical veneer born of living too long in New York City and watching her writerly dreams fade. Still reeling from a breakup with the man she loves, she heads south heartily skeptical of the comforts of home and hearth. For Cam, this will be a season of shocks and surprises. Lila, the poised and perfect stay-at-home mother of two, lives near Josie in Hilton Head and is experiencing the slow disintegration of her own essentially loveless marriage. She dreads the prospect of this family reunion - especially the return of her black sheep, brilliant older sister, Cam. Yet, astonishing even herself, this is the Christmas when Lila finally will rebel. Evie, the all-too-candid baby of the family, routinely "shares" her family's secrets in her advice column for a Savannah newspaper. But even Evie has never created a scene like the tableau she stages at this Christmas dinner - when she arrives on the arm of her latest love, a rich man old enough to be her father....
Ten years of family secrets, misunderstandings, and recriminations have kept the Tatternalls apart - until Josie, a military widow suddenly alerted to mortality when one of her best friends keels over during a bridge game, impulsively invites her three grown daughters home for the holidays at her gracious South Carolina bed-and-breakfast. Cam, Josie's eldest, is her father's daughter - headstrong, smart, fearless, and utterly hopeless when it comes to making peace with either her family or herself. Years ago, she acquired the cynical veneer born of living too long in New York City and watching her writerly dreams fade. Still reeling from a breakup with the man she loves, she heads south heartily skeptical of the comforts of home and hearth. For Cam, this will be a season of shocks and surprises. Lila, the poised and perfect stay-at-home mother of two, lives near Josie in Hilton Head and is experiencing the slow disintegration of her own essentially loveless marriage. She dreads the prospect of this family reunion - especially the return of her black sheep, brilliant older sister, Cam. Yet, astonishing even herself, this is the Christmas when Lila finally will rebel. Evie, the all-too-candid baby of the family, routinely "shares" her family's secrets in her advice column for a Savannah newspaper. But even Evie has never created a scene like the tableau she stages at this Christmas dinner - when she arrives on the arm of her latest love, a rich man old enough to be her father....
