Book picks similar to
With a Little Luck by Anne Baker
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family-sagas
fiction
historical-lit
Such a Perfect Sister
Donna Hay - 2002
As if she didn't have enough problems, her job as sous chef at a smart bar and restaurant is like working in a war zone under the command of a psychopath. To cap it all, the man she wants, Luke, is dating someone else, and it happens to be her dazzling sister Alex. It's tough. It's even tougher because she suspects that Alex isn't really in love with Luke at all. Then Alex rashly accepts Luke's proposal and Phoebe must don taffeta once more. But Phoebe's not the only one let down in love. One evening, into the restaurant walks Will, all dressed up with nowhere to go. He's just come from a wedding—his own—where the bride jilted him at the altar.
Daughter of Destiny
Jeannie Johnson - 2004
But in a single night, the actions of one generation alter the family's legacy for ever. The three Strong brothers are overseeing their inheritance in the West Indies. In this balmy, tropical setting, an ugly situation is fuelled by Barbados rum, a murder is committed, and a child conceived. And the repercussions of this fatal night have a violent domino effect which reaches down through generations.
My Sister's Child
Caroline Finnerty - 2015
Jo is the elder sister, responsible and hardworking. Isla is carefree and has always avoided being tied down. The sisters have always had a strained relationship, but when Isla asks Jo for something that rocks the very foundations of the family that Jo has worked so hard to have, she is horrified. And, as Isla persists in her pleas, Jo fears she will lose the one thing she holds most dearly. Thought-provoking and compelling, this is a layered and moving story of sisterhood, love and lies and the finely-woven link between nature and nurture that will challenge the way you think about motherhood.
Second Place Sister
Sue Horner - 2014
Ali” to friends and family. Janelle Jennings: a forty-nine-year-old bestselling romance author, Botox-stuffed narcissist, four-time ex-wife (but who’s counting?), and all-around spoiled brat. What could these two possibly have in common? Uncork the wine. Bring out the calming chocolate. Ali Lawrence’s diva sister, Janelle Jennings, is making an unexpected visit to their hometown of Willoughby, Georgia, and Ali needs help. Since they were schoolgirls, Ali has suffered ridicule and criticism from her prom queen, beauty pageant older sister, whom their mother still coddles at Ali’s expense. Ali is suspicious of her sister’s motives for visiting Willoughby, and especially her odd behavior and uncharacteristically long stay. Something’s not quite right, and Ali is both curious and concerned. During this visit, Ali vows to stop being a bitter doormat and stand up to Janelle. But when Ali discovers a secret that has the potential to destroy Janelle’s career and tarnish her reputation, will she expose her sister, or, for the sake of family unity, will she protect her? Can the sisters finally come to terms with each other, admire their achievements, and ignore their faults, or will their relationship continue to disintegrate, bringing bedlam to Willoughby in the process? Someone has to take the first step: Will it be Janelle in her stepladder stilettos or Ali in her ratty, old running shoes?
Deep and Dark and Dangerous/All the Lovely Bad Ones
Mary Downing Hahn - 2009
Hot Pies on the Tram Car
Sheila Newberry - 2007
Warm and comforting, just like her pies, Florence is always there as a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, especially to her full house of family and friends. There's six year old niece Josefina, left with Florence by her wayward sister, Stella.Rose Marie, Florence's younger sister, in search of adventures of her own. And Manny, invalided out of the First World War, and in need of a job and a place to rest his head.But working in the pie shop every day and taking care of others leaves Florence little time to look after herself. What will happen when it all becomes too much? And will Florence ever find her own shoulder to cry on?
Birmingham Blitz
Annie Murray - 1998
With her family in crisis, and with bombing raids devastating the streets of Birmingham, Genie struggles to achieve happiness.
The Granville Sisters
Una-Mary Parker - 2005
When war is declared, the love lives of the Granville girls suffer. Rosie's husband is killed during the Blitz. Then Lousie falls in love with Jack, a sixteen-year-old evacuee from the slums of London. When she falls pregnant, she is sent to Wales in disgrace. The girls? mother, Liza, can only pin her hopes on Charlotte now . . .
The Secret Mother
Victoria Delderfield - 2015
The Secret Mother puts a face on the label Made in China - the bittersweet story of a girl - like millions of others - willing to risk everything.
The Complete Lake Series
AnnaLisa Grant - 2013
Having lost both her parents and grandparents, and with nowhere else to go, Layla is moving from Florida to a small town in North Carolina to live with the only family she has left: her estranged uncle and aunt. The last five years of Layla’s life were spent appeasing her less-than-loving grandmother, followed by being her grandfather’s caretaker. Growing old before her time, Layla lost her identity. Now she must learn how to allow herself to be the one cared for and loved. Life takes an unexpected turn when Layla meets Will Meyer. His breathtaking good looks are enough to catch her eye, but his sincerity and passion are everything she needs to find the strength and confidence she lost — and lead her into love. When tragedy once again strikes Layla’s life, her hope is all but completely crushed. Through it all, Layla learns what it means to truly love and be loved. Troubled Waters (The Lake Trilogy, Book 2) College life for Layla Weston isn’t starting the way she’d intended. She’s revisiting the plans she once had to be the reclusive girl she wanted to be at Heyward Prep, and Layla is more than confident in her ability to succeed this time. After all, she’s got a whole new bag of secrets to keep. Still reeling from Will’s disappearance, Layla is doing her best to adjust to life back in Florida. She continues to hold out hope, confident she was meant to find Will’s ring for a reason. Just as Layla is starting to accept that she must keep moving forward, secrets from the past threaten Layla and her family. As Luke and Claire join with Layla to protect their family, Layla discovers that her uncle may not be the man she thought he was – and that there’s more to Will’s disappearance than she ever could have imagined. Safe Harbor (The Lake Trilogy, Book 3) Layla Weston was supposed to be planning her wedding, not waiting for her fiancé’s father to die. As Luke prepares to defend Holly for the shooting of Gregory Meyer, Layla and her family weigh the possibility of being able to return home to North Carolina. Only Layla isn't quite sure that's what she wants. Will and Layla are faced with a new set of challenges for their future - including the status of their upcoming wedding. And when new revelations about his father come to light, Will finds himself questioning his own destiny as a man. With Layla's help, he must learn that his identity is not determined by his DNA. Now that they are on the brink of their happily-ever-after, will Layla and Will get everything they dreamed of? Or will their happiness continue to be just out of reach? Anchored: A Lake Series Novella They've been to hell and back again, but now Will and Layla are beginning the biggest adventure of their lives: parenthood! It's only been a few short months since Will and Layla welcomed their twins. And while Layla is excited for all that awaits her in motherhood, she's feeling a little disconnected from the friends who have stood by her from the moment they met. Reintegrating into her social life and balancing motherhood may be a bit of a challenge, but Layla isn't going to miss her opportunity to help her dearest friends find their Happily Ever After, too. But what would life be without a curve ball once in a while? When someone from their past surfaces and asks for help, Layla isn’t sure telling Will is the best thing to do. He spent years protecting her, now it’s her turn to protect him from further heartache. She knows she won’t be able to keep the secret from Will forever, but no matter what happens, Layla is confident they’ll walk through it together, remaining just as anchored together as they’ve always been.
Two Kinds of Wonderful
Isla Dewar - 2001
She did not know that her children would not understand, would not forgive her. She had one moment of joy, shutting the door, leaving, followed by ten years of guilt.Then the death of the family matriarch Nan reunites Roz, now with a career, a flat and a lover, with her family. Histrionic Zoe and infuriatingly laid-back Jamie arrive on her doorstep. Suddenly Roz is a mother again. A human soup is stirred, and dark family secrets are revealed. But Roz soon realises that her children have only returned to her so that, in the proper scheme of things, they can leave her. Rather than she leaving them.