Taste of Honey

Carson Springs #2

by Eileen Goudge

Gerry Fitzgerald confronts a painful secret when the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty-eight years earlier comes into her life, seeking answers, while her best friend, Samantha Kiley, embarks on a scandalous love affair with a much young man. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Novels, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult Fiction

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

I began writing at the age of eight and wrote my way through the lean years before I found success as New York Times' bestselling author with my first novel GARDEN OF LIES. To date I have published 19 novels and a cookbook. Every life experience I've weathered has found its way into my novels in one form or another: bad exes, births, deaths, divorces, romances, and even true crime. My heroines are like me: tough cookies who don't crumble.

My latest novel, Book One of my Gold Creek series, ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW, is the story of a woman fleeing her abusive ex who finds refuge in a small California mountain town, where she's befriended by a group of women who call themselves The Tattooed Ladies and reinvents herself as a police sketch artist. Kyra "draws lines to stop crimes," as they say in the biz, never imagining she'll one day be forced to confront the biggest criminal of all: her ex.

I'm married to former entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon and the mother of two grown children. We live in Sacramento, California, where we remodeled a 1940's house for which I was the on-site project manager. Fortunately, multi-tasking is my superpower, so I was able to write a book and supervise a home remodel at the same time. The latter is sure to find its way into a future book. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see pics of my home remodel and other adventures.

Reviews

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book with the romance of Samantha and Ian (who happened to be the son of her youngest daughter's new husband) was certainly had some strong elements of incredulity, but as the reader I was swept along by getting to know all the characters of Carson Springs, like Finch the runaway who crashed the wedding and was then added to the household as an adopted daughter by Sam's other daughter Laura, who was a divorcee. Even the out of left field storyline of the serial killer in the area seemed somewhat plausible, although how Goudge involved this plot line with the main characters seemed altogether forced.

This story follows on with Sam and Ian and the birth of their child and Sam's closest childhood friend Gerry. This novel may not have seemed quite as incredulous but it went south pretty early on until it bordered on a sweetened up version of Peyton Place. Gerry is a former nun, who works for the convent she left when she became pregnant (by the priest) as the business manager for their fundraising business of honey based products called 'Blessed Bee'. She gave the child up for adoption and now some nearly 30 years later, though she has two children from her failed marriage still at home, she sets out to find the daughter she gave up. Very quickly this entire novel becomes a very sudsy soap-opera.

When Gerry finds the daughter and has to explain who her father is, and the child Claire sets out to find her father, though Gerry has warned her that he is now quite high ranking in the church and will deny everything. Claire learns for herself that Gerry was not mistaken in his reaction but unwittingly sets in motion the machinations that turn this into a caricature, when the priest sets out to get Gerry fired from her job in revenge. Claire in the meanwhile makes a snap decision to leave her career as an estate attorney and instead open a ‘tea shop’. A teenaged high school reporter, the boyfriend of Gerry’s high school aged daughter Andie, is the one that confronts the priest and gets a tape recording of him speaking about what happened between himself and Gerry so long ago, saves the day.

A happy ending is on the way with Claire taking up with the handyman fixing up her tea house, when after the grand opening of the tea house, Gerry and her kids are driving home not far behind Ian and Sam (now nearly 8 mos. pregnant) and finds their car has careened off the road and flipped. High drama, rushing them to the hospital, Sam in premature labor with the baby distressed, Gerry with her all the way, while Ian is in surgery. Gerry had recently had to bid farewell with the man she feel for, the conductor Aubrey who is going to Europe for a year. All ends happily of course. But it seems a happiness that is like sugared meringue, sticky, sickly sweet and absolutely without substance or sustenance.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I had read Stranger in Paradise so that I would have been familiar with the characters. A woman practicing to become a nun becomes pregnant while in the convent. The child's father is the local priest. Years after giving her daughter up for adoption,, she attempts to meet and build a relationship with her.
The characters are real and believable and the story is heartwarming and heart wrenching.
Am never disappointed in books by Ellen Goudge.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring!!

[Anna Plishak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Останнім часом хочеться читати щось легке і передбачуване, де з першої сторінки зрозуміло, що у кінці буде хеппі-енд. Саме тому я обрала роман Ейлін Гудж, який мені, уже давно рекомендувала подруга.
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Важко сказати, вдалим був мій вибір чи ні. З одного боку, любовний роман - це жанр, який не передбачає глибокого аналізу та пошуку логіки у вчинках персонажів. Та з іншого - якщо авторка вже взялася за серйозні теми (вагітність у ранньому/пізньому віці, відмова від дитини, стосунки з прийомними та рідними батьками, життя і робота при церкві), то їх потрібно розкривати, а не зводити все до банального "любить/не любить/прожене/приголубить.
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Що мені дійсно сподобалось у книзі, так це описи вигаданого містечка Карсон Спрінгс, місцеві традиції святкування Різдва та Великодня, а також відкриття невеличкої чайної. Епізоди, пов'язані з цими подіями наповнені світлом і теплотою. Їх неможливо читати без усмішки та віри у щастя.
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Особисто мені у романі не вистачило глибини, та, думаю, любителям жанру книга припаде до душі.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

an awesome sequel! In Taste of Honey, author Eileen Goudge continues with the characters of Carson springs, California. Book 2 focues on Gerry fitzgerald, best friend of main character Sam Kiley in book one. In book two, we learn more about the baby that she gave up for adoption twenty eight years ago. Romance is also in the air for Gerry with guest conductor Aubrie who is still grieving the death of his wife and child in a horrific car accident two years prior. Meanwhile, long lost daughter Claire comes to Carson Springs to meet Gerry her birth mother. but, will she be able to forgive the past. or are sleeping dogs best left to lie. And how will Claire arriving in Gerry's life affect her other children daughter Andie and son Justin? will they accept her as par tof the family? or will she pose a threat to their happiness?

[Donna Zigmont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I actually liked this one better than the first book. I really liked how Gerry and Claire's story was told. It wasn't all hearts and flowers which I liked. Truth be told I'm not really fond of Gerry. But she was there for Claire when she needed her and that was important. I did like Claire. I'm happy she and Byron didn't work out, I prefer her with Matt. The dynamic of them works better. I really like Finch. Andie got on my nerves I felt her A spoiled brat that needed a good slap. I enjoyed Mavis and Maude they kind of remind me of my Grammy. I disliked Father Jim, he was weak and not really priest material. I didn't really care for Simon, not sure why. But I was happy to see that Andie and Claire and the rest of the Family gave each other a chance.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Carson Springs trilogy. This one is about Gerry who is Sams best friend from Book 1 - Gerry has a secret that she has kept for years, a secret daughter that she was forced to give up when she was young. She has since married, divorced and has two teenage children with her ex husband, who traded her in for a younger model! This book had me captivated and it was nice to see what the characters from book 1 were up to as well. A great example of women’s fiction featuring mature characters as well, and the positions they find themselves in! Especially poignant was the authors notes at the conclusion where she revealed that this book was written during the Sept 11 tragedy in NYC. Such a terrible event for the world but this book gave her a well deserved distraction at that time.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What fun and quick read that was! I like taking a little trip to Carson Springs to see what the townspeople are up to. The second book in the trilogy tells the story of Gerry Fitzgerald. She decides to look up the child she gave up for adoption 28 years before. She's not sure what her daughter is going to think of her and how to handle her questions. It's not every day that a young girl on the way to becoming a nun gets pregnant from her priest. Gerry is also struggling with her feelings for her new lover, famous conductor Aubrey Boellinger, who is still stuck on his late wife.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An okay read; liked some of her older books better.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

bit too long..lifetime movie story

[L.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a sweet story. Paths once diverged reconvening. Dreams set aside and picked back up again. Hopes lost to the harsh realities of life given another chance. But there's no big moment, no aha, where at the end you think, "that's why I read this book." I struggle with general fiction for that very reason, especially women's fiction. Nothing wrong with it, it's just not really my cup of tea.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author so I am reading all of her books. This book is #2 of 3 in the Carson Springs series. Each book is a stand alone story that involves the same town and the same characters so it is not really a trilogy. I am getting ready to read the third one.

[Ayny · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. Not as good as the first story. I slogged my way through this second installment of "Carson Springs" series. Careers, babies, adoption, regrets, tea shops, men, lusty members of the church, and all wrapped at like a TV show. Too many descriptions of scenes that were not important, I felt.

[April Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the first book of the series, but still found it easy to follow the characters. When I started the book I almost gave up after the first 2 chapters as it seemed to drag on a bit, but ended up being a nice feel good ending.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing decent, story decent, but lordy, the over abundance of clichés. Perfect for good Catholics who want to be ok with sex outside of marriage and pursuing their dreams, but who really just want to get married and be a mom.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of this author for me, and although fairly engaging, too pat and romantic for me to pursue more.

[Dominique · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOOD BOOK

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about a woman about an unfortunate situation, how it's handled when it happens, and the long term effects on the woman and her future children.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems to be a whole lot of detail oriented characters intertwined. I admit I skimmed the pages, as the story went on. It appears the facts are right in their face and they struggle to accept it.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story concept of nun becoming pregnant and rekindling relationship with the daughter she had to give up.

[Lea Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these characters. Rolling right into book #3 in the series.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste of Honey
This family and others continues with Gerry's story. From when she first entered the convent, and had a baby that she gave up she regretted her actions. She's very good friends with Samantha.
Now that she's on the outside with a family, Andie and Justin for children and divorced living in Carson Springs she's reminded so much of her lost daughter. She had hired a PI to track her down and even knows her name.
Her best friend Sam is pregnant and she wishes she had what Sam has.
Love hearing of the towns traditions especially around the holidays and about the knit and crochet projects for the new baby.
On Christmas day Gerry called to set up a meeting with the daughter she had given away, and Claire had answered. She's in a serious relationship with Bryon who's attending college to be a doctor. She is a lawyer and she'd rather be cooking. She agrees to the meeting after talking to her friend and calls Claire back to set it up.
Gerry is now involved with the orchestra leader.
Andi is friends with Simon and they both share that their fathers had walked out on them, and divorced.
She is also friends with Finch, who Laura adopted.
Gerry works at Blessed Bee right at the convent where the nuns live. It's a thriving business.
Love hearing all about the happenings with the others in town, it's so easy to follow them from book to book as their new lives progress.
They do meet and Claire is able to spend a few days visiting and meeting the others in Gerry's life...
A mystery surrounding who Claire's father is after she's talked to who Gerry told her it was...
Pregnancy, cooking ideas, wedding, decisions about work, sex and births all come together to make this a really good read.
So fascinating to read about the bee business.
After the accident things will never be the same. Glad to see this book come full circle for so many..

[Donut Cat (Leah) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this novel. Great character development, quirky protagonists, plot. I liked it much better than the first book in this series.

[Ronda]

Enjoyed this book.

[Pamela Brossman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Eileen Goudge for many years and this one doesn't disappoint. It is the perfect beach read which is what I needed for my rainy week at Ocean City, Md. The town of Carson Springs reminded me of The Gilmore Girls Tv series with its adorable setting and quirky chawracters. I felt like I knew the main character, Gerry, pretty well and could sympathize with her. The reader doesn't get to totally be inside the head of Claire and I didn't like how she cheated on her boyfriend (like a loser guy would do). One strange thing in the author's writing is that there were several lapses of time during which important things happen that we miss and don't learn about until after the fact. It wouldn't have taken much to include these for the reader.
I read several reviews complaining of too much sex and I agree. Especially with the teenagers!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a woman, Gerry, who was going to be a nun but due to a pregnancy, decided not to take her final vows. She had the baby and gave it up for adoption. Now She lives in Carson Springs with her two children from a recently failed marraige. She has found her first child and contacts her much to the chagrin of her two younger children. The story unfolds as they all get to know each other and deal with the changes in their lives. There are some characters from the first book in this "Carson Springs" trilogy including Samantha, the woman that had fallen in love with a much younger man.

I liked this book a bit better than the first one, liked the characters better, I think.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taste of Honey is one of 3 novels by Eileen Goudge set in Carson Springs. The story is a bit predictable but the characters are likable and real. The plot is set around a woman who while waiting to take her vows to become a nun gets pregnant by the local priest. She leaves her order, gives the baby up for adoption and the story resumes 28 years later.

The story line had more sex than I would have preferred, but all-in-all I enjoyed the book.

[Mom]

This is a three book series. It grabs you in the first book so you want to read the next two to see what the out come is. Very descriptive writing(almost over kill) but gripping. And very detailed when setting up the location of the towns as pertaining to street names, stores, characters homes, you get a real feel for the town and people.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fitzgerald women came across as unsensitive and self centered especially Gerry. Ex. the Christmas Day phone call, the time chosen to tell the kids, her remarks about Isabella to Aubrey at the end. All of the women in this group need to figure out why their relationships with men are mostly about sex when they acutally want something more. And Gerry - none of this is God's fault.