What do you think?
Rate this book
Men of the Sisterhood #1A
Upside Down
Behind every member of the Sisterhood, there’s a man who knows better than to get in her way. Now the guys are bonding together, in the first in a thrilling new series from New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels.
Through public triumphs and private sorrows, the men in the Sisters’ lives—husbands, friends, colleagues, and lovers—have offered invaluable aid and support. In the process, they’ve become an informal brotherhood of their own, able to relate to the unique challenges and rewards of life among the vigilantes.
But after years of bit parts, the Sisterhood’s significant others are itching to take center stage. Frustrated with the limits of the criminal justice system, Nikki’s husband Jack Emery has recruited his friends Ted, Joe, Harry, Bert, Jay, and Abner. They have brand-new headquarters with state-of-the-art equipment, an unlimited bankroll, and a plaque on the door that reads BOLO Consultants. Their first case: toppling ruthless slum landlord Tyler Sandford—also lieutenant governor of Virginia. Sandford may have friends in very high places, but that’s no match for BOLO—or the women who’ve got their backs....
Through public triumphs and private sorrows, the men in the Sisters’ lives—husbands, friends, colleagues, and lovers—have offered invaluable aid and support. In the process, they’ve become an informal brotherhood of their own, able to relate to the unique challenges and rewards of life among the vigilantes.
But after years of bit parts, the Sisterhood’s significant others are itching to take center stage. Frustrated with the limits of the criminal justice system, Nikki’s husband Jack Emery has recruited his friends Ted, Joe, Harry, Bert, Jay, and Abner. They have brand-new headquarters with state-of-the-art equipment, an unlimited bankroll, and a plaque on the door that reads BOLO Consultants. Their first case: toppling ruthless slum landlord Tyler Sandford—also lieutenant governor of Virginia. Sandford may have friends in very high places, but that’s no match for BOLO—or the women who’ve got their backs....
MP3 CD
First published January 1, 2014
1236 people are currently reading
1526 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
427 books6,547 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 110 reviews
August 3, 2014
You just can not go wrong with Fern Michaels!
March 21, 2019
Story is divided into 3 novels/novellas.
January 20, 2016
An Almost Snappy Travel Read: Upside Down by Fern Michaels
I downloaded this book to my iPad prior to a recent trip assuming it would serve a snappy read while waiting in departure lounges and on the actual flight. Unfortunately, as I was unfamiliar with Fern Michaels' brotherhood and sisterhood series, this was not the case. As the title indicates, the novel, Upside Down is Men of the Sisterhood, #1. In retrospect, I should have checked Goodreads and/or the author website before beginning. The fault for much of my dissatisfaction, therefore, rests with me and not the author. Nevertheless, I have penned a few comments.
Chapter One overwhelmed me with the introduction of a barrage of quirky characters. The purchase and renovation of a building in Georgetown, Washington into a state of the art complex dubbed BOLO owned and operated by a diverse group of men (aka brotherhood) proved interesting. The tale unfolded at bullet-speed with a band of women dubbed "sisters" connected in various ways to the men and equally quirky introduced. That they'd shared history yet the men mandated this enterprise a secret aroused instant intrigue.
Private Investigators, double agents, techno gadgets, funny incidents, a corrupt Lieutenant Governor, class-action suits against a drug company and dog-food processing plant, and a loveable pet German Shepherd added suspense and delight to the tale. As I progressed, however, I quickly realized my understanding undermined and my comprehension of nuances strained because of strangeness with what had happened to these characters in Fern Michaels earlier books. Despite the limitations, I committed to finishing the story. In the end, I assessed the plot thin and despite the issues and conflicts peppered throughout, scant resolved. I disliked the abrupt ending as it made clear the intent of Sisterhood, #1 was for readers to read Sisterhood, #2.
Notwithstanding my reservations, there was wording that caught my eye. For example, in Chapter Three when Jay Sparrow reflects about the men's attorney, Lizzie, Fern Michaels uses the descriptors, "Lizzi looked like a winter ice princess, with her long silver hair and long white coat." I liked how the author profiled Myra in Chapter Eight by stating "...Myra reached for her pearls, her lifeline when things moved out of her comfort zone." I also thought the scene of Betty Lou's small mother-daughter Georgetown restaurant in Chapter Eleven vividly depicted.
In order to fully appreciate Fern Michaels' books, I would recommend readers check out those published beforehand that are related to this series.
Marianne Perry
Author of The Inheritance
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
I downloaded this book to my iPad prior to a recent trip assuming it would serve a snappy read while waiting in departure lounges and on the actual flight. Unfortunately, as I was unfamiliar with Fern Michaels' brotherhood and sisterhood series, this was not the case. As the title indicates, the novel, Upside Down is Men of the Sisterhood, #1. In retrospect, I should have checked Goodreads and/or the author website before beginning. The fault for much of my dissatisfaction, therefore, rests with me and not the author. Nevertheless, I have penned a few comments.
Chapter One overwhelmed me with the introduction of a barrage of quirky characters. The purchase and renovation of a building in Georgetown, Washington into a state of the art complex dubbed BOLO owned and operated by a diverse group of men (aka brotherhood) proved interesting. The tale unfolded at bullet-speed with a band of women dubbed "sisters" connected in various ways to the men and equally quirky introduced. That they'd shared history yet the men mandated this enterprise a secret aroused instant intrigue.
Private Investigators, double agents, techno gadgets, funny incidents, a corrupt Lieutenant Governor, class-action suits against a drug company and dog-food processing plant, and a loveable pet German Shepherd added suspense and delight to the tale. As I progressed, however, I quickly realized my understanding undermined and my comprehension of nuances strained because of strangeness with what had happened to these characters in Fern Michaels earlier books. Despite the limitations, I committed to finishing the story. In the end, I assessed the plot thin and despite the issues and conflicts peppered throughout, scant resolved. I disliked the abrupt ending as it made clear the intent of Sisterhood, #1 was for readers to read Sisterhood, #2.
Notwithstanding my reservations, there was wording that caught my eye. For example, in Chapter Three when Jay Sparrow reflects about the men's attorney, Lizzie, Fern Michaels uses the descriptors, "Lizzi looked like a winter ice princess, with her long silver hair and long white coat." I liked how the author profiled Myra in Chapter Eight by stating "...Myra reached for her pearls, her lifeline when things moved out of her comfort zone." I also thought the scene of Betty Lou's small mother-daughter Georgetown restaurant in Chapter Eleven vividly depicted.
In order to fully appreciate Fern Michaels' books, I would recommend readers check out those published beforehand that are related to this series.
Marianne Perry
Author of The Inheritance
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
July 10, 2017
It was nice catching up with the "Sisterhood" series again after taking a couple years off and starting again with the men! It was kind of sad that the women choose their careers over their men and didn't see the effects that was having. It was good that the men changed places with the women and realized that they had to go on with their lives and find something constructive to do while trying to give the women a chance to figure things out, i.e. why they weren't happy. I quickly became familiar with the characters again but didn't know how short this first installment was, almost like a novella. It will be interesting to see where this series goes because once the women separated, the stories became boring and only featured Mayra and Annie in the "Sisterhood" series.
September 3, 2014
Zoooom!
From the first page until the cliff hanger on the last, this is a wonderful book. Fast paced with action and justice! Upside Down is the first book in The Men of the Sisterhood series. This book is not a stand-alone book – you simply must have book two at the ready because when Upside Down ends you won’t be able to rest until you find out what happens next. Upside Down updates us on the happenings with the Sisterhood and your reading won’t be as rich if you haven’t read a few of those books. A short book packed full of excitement! Enjoy! NetGalley and Kensington Books Zebra Leads provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
From the first page until the cliff hanger on the last, this is a wonderful book. Fast paced with action and justice! Upside Down is the first book in The Men of the Sisterhood series. This book is not a stand-alone book – you simply must have book two at the ready because when Upside Down ends you won’t be able to rest until you find out what happens next. Upside Down updates us on the happenings with the Sisterhood and your reading won’t be as rich if you haven’t read a few of those books. A short book packed full of excitement! Enjoy! NetGalley and Kensington Books Zebra Leads provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 5, 2017
I really liked this good novel. Having read previously the Fern Michaels' Godmothers Bundle: The Scoop, Exclusive, Late Edition, Deadline & Breaking News, I was excited to read the first novel in the Upside Down - Men of the Sisterhood #1 - by Fern Michaels. This first in the series seems to have many interesting characters. There was quite a bit that made me interested in reading more, making me look forward to the next book Countdown - Men of the Sisterhood #2 - by Fern Michaels. Story is intersting and lead into the next novel.
May 19, 2015
A little disappointed in this book. The sisterhood series all had a beginning and an end. So you could read book 5 in the series without having read book 4. Th is was like a cliffhanger. Did not even know it was the end of the book when I was done reading. The story line is as good as usual, but nothing hAppened really. It was a long prelude to book 2 of the men of the sisterhood series which I am r e Ding next. Review to be continued....
April 6, 2024
When I chose to read this book, I was under the impression that it was the first of a series, linked to a previous series, but able to stand apart. The introduction of the characters was very slow, apparently the premise was that readers would have read the other series. By the time I had an idea of how the characters were connected, but not truly knowing the backgrounds, I was more than halfway through the book. I was reading with anticipation that the men would begin their investigations when the book, not the story, came to an abrupt end. This "first in a series" was in fact a prelude to the actual story. This was not even a story with a cliffhanger because there was nothing to keep me engaged enough to continue to book two. The conflicts between characters, the anticipated investigations, etc. were not developed enough to make this series worth reading. I've previously read and enjoyed other Fern Michaels books, so this was doubly disappointing.
April 19, 2021
Fern Michael's has done it again.
I am a huge French Michaels fan. I became hooked with the Sisterhood since I read the first one which is the first of any of her books I read. I am happy she is now writing one with it being the men this time. I can not to read the next one. It is just like Fern Michael's to reel you in. There is never a dull moment in the book. The Men of the Sisterhood will leave you wanting more. With them all being involved with the women of the Sisterhood it leaves you wondering who will come out on top. The men have in the past helped the Sisterhood out. They all know each other well because in truth they are one huge family.
I am a huge French Michaels fan. I became hooked with the Sisterhood since I read the first one which is the first of any of her books I read. I am happy she is now writing one with it being the men this time. I can not to read the next one. It is just like Fern Michael's to reel you in. There is never a dull moment in the book. The Men of the Sisterhood will leave you wanting more. With them all being involved with the women of the Sisterhood it leaves you wondering who will come out on top. The men have in the past helped the Sisterhood out. They all know each other well because in truth they are one huge family.
July 16, 2022
Clearly the worst book I've read in a long, long time. There was no mention in the reviews that there is an entire series of Sisterhood books that need to be read first, (perhaps implied but not made clear) so the characters were totally new to me. The brief about the book mentions their first case in their new, state-of-the-art, headquarters. The case is barely mentioned in this first book. Really, not much is mentioned. Filled with long, rambling dialog, the book reveals little and screeches to an abrupt ending--so the reader will be forced to go to the next book in the series. No, thank you, I'm through with this series.
January 2, 2024
Absolutely loved this novella.
This is the men of the Sisterhood forming their own club. Jack, Ted, Bert, Abner, Harry, Avery, Dennis, and more have bought a building with the state of the art amenities that almost rival the Sisters.
With Charles and Fergus gone, the women are facing challenges. Jack and Nikki's marriage is on the rocks. Abner and Isabelle's marriage doesn't look like it will make it either. And Alexis broke up with Ted for her career.
Now the men want to fix the dirty justice system.
A must read!
This is the men of the Sisterhood forming their own club. Jack, Ted, Bert, Abner, Harry, Avery, Dennis, and more have bought a building with the state of the art amenities that almost rival the Sisters.
With Charles and Fergus gone, the women are facing challenges. Jack and Nikki's marriage is on the rocks. Abner and Isabelle's marriage doesn't look like it will make it either. And Alexis broke up with Ted for her career.
Now the men want to fix the dirty justice system.
A must read!
December 10, 2017
I enjoyed this book just as I have enjoyed the sisterhood books but I didn't understand why the men were being so secretive. Why didn't they want their women to know what they were doing? Why did they appear to be setting themselves up in competition to their women? Why couldn't they all work together?
I did read this book before I have read all of the sisterhood books that introduced these men, maybe it will become clear and I have done that.
I did read this book before I have read all of the sisterhood books that introduced these men, maybe it will become clear and I have done that.
January 12, 2018
Enjoy reading the series.
Glad the characters are continuing on in the guys version of 'Vigilantes'.
Too short. Didn't like the ending.
Felt like I was left hanging upside down. Lol
Glad the characters are continuing on in the guys version of 'Vigilantes'.
Too short. Didn't like the ending.
Felt like I was left hanging upside down. Lol
October 30, 2018
I am a big fan of Fern Micheals . I will read anything she puts out.It's about time she puts out something with the men that goes along with the sisterhood. I would hoghly reccomend this book to anyone who like Fern Micheals.
August 7, 2019
Good as ever
I loved the series of the Sisterhood. I am certain I will love this series too. Fern has done a great beginning of a new series. Can wait to start reading the next book.
I loved the series of the Sisterhood. I am certain I will love this series too. Fern has done a great beginning of a new series. Can wait to start reading the next book.
November 19, 2019
What? Not a book.
I am disappointed. And I'm never disappointed in a Fern Michael's novel. Upside Down had no ending, no slide into book 2, nothing! And it was slow and boring all the way through. I don't even know if I want to read Countdown "Book 2" .
I am disappointed. And I'm never disappointed in a Fern Michael's novel. Upside Down had no ending, no slide into book 2, nothing! And it was slow and boring all the way through. I don't even know if I want to read Countdown "Book 2" .
March 27, 2021
Upside down
A great start to a new series by Fern Michaels and on the men of the sisterhood. This is a great read and a great beginning to a new series. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
A great start to a new series by Fern Michaels and on the men of the sisterhood. This is a great read and a great beginning to a new series. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
December 9, 2022
where’s the story?
Started get the husbands setup to do some problem solving, wives working on problem solving without anyone having any clue of which or what problems to solve. Incomplete chaos!
Started get the husbands setup to do some problem solving, wives working on problem solving without anyone having any clue of which or what problems to solve. Incomplete chaos!
May 26, 2025
Short start
I feel like this just set the groundwork for where the series is going. Short and to the point with little action to get it truly moving, but also enough to make you want to pick up book 2... we shall see where it goes..
I feel like this just set the groundwork for where the series is going. Short and to the point with little action to get it truly moving, but also enough to make you want to pick up book 2... we shall see where it goes..
October 6, 2025
I was looking forward to reading one of Fern Micheals books as been recommended, I didn’t enjoy this book, I kept with it hoping it would get better but it didn’t! Could not make out anything, then it finished suddenly! Very disappointing waste of time, now on to something I hope to enjoy.
August 18, 2017
I was so disappoint in this book.
March 2, 2018
Very disappointing book. I'm a Fern Michaels fan but this was not very good at all!!!!
Don't bother!
Don't bother!
May 17, 2018
This story reminds me of the show Timothy Hutton played in, basically Modern day Robin Hoods. A good part of the story. Now on to the next section.
October 20, 2018
Love these books
May 18, 2019
Yep!
Another great one from the sisterhood series but the guys are up something this time. As always Fern Micheals keeps you reading and wanting more.
Another great one from the sisterhood series but the guys are up something this time. As always Fern Micheals keeps you reading and wanting more.
Want to read
March 4, 2020Finding it hard to suspend disbelief and think I will wait until I am in a more receptive mood.
April 11, 2020
It was really short. I felt like it ended before the story ended. But it was well written and made me want to read want to see if there was more to the story
July 22, 2020
Plot never developed and it seemed to just end. Disappointing as authors other books fully developed
Read
August 1, 2020B
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 110 reviews