The Three Mrs. Parkers

by Joan Medlicott

From Joan Medlicott, the nationally bestselling author who created the wonderful world of Covington, comes a heartwarming story about three generations of women who find their way past old hurts and losses to understanding, forgiveness, and love.
Winifred Parker climbed her way out of poverty by marrying into one of Philadelphia's oldest, wealthiest families. Now seventy-two years old, she has always felt that her son married beneath him and she has had no contact with her daughter-in-law, Zoe, since her son was killed in Korea.
Zoe Parker lives alone on twenty-eight acres of rural Carolina land that she inherited from her parents. Determined to preserve her property when faced with the threat of foreclosure, Zoe, now in her fifties, has no choice but to turn to her wealthy, estranged mother-in-law.
Katie Parker is a young divorcée whose daughter recently passed away. When she returns home to Zoe's land to heal, she knows enough about her mother's history to be surprised to find her grandmother living there, too.
Though old grievances stand between the three women, new challenges and grave danger cause them to forge a new path together, and they soon find unexpected bonds forming along the way. Joan Medlicott has created an entirely new group of characters you'll want to spend time with in this warm, rich novel about family, friendship, and where the two meet.

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Friendship, Chick Lit

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Joan Medlicott lives with her husband in Barnardsville, North Carolina, where she conducts the popular Tea on the Porch workshops.

Reviews

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about three generations of women who come together at a very difficult time in their lives. Winnifred needs help from the daughter-in-law she despised and never had any use for. Zoe needs the Parker family money keep her from losing her family's home. Katie (the granddaughter) is grieving the death of her nine-year-old daughter who was severely disabled from birth. There is plenty of blame and old grievances to overcome before these women can forge a new path together.
Great story.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just o.k. book. The forgiveness theme was heavy handed and got in the way of the story. Clean read with a happy ending . . . just wished it was better.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was reasonably good. I enjoyed it but it didn’t have a twist that I could see. Hallmark.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a multigenerational story of 3 women who all have their baggage (both within their family and without). Zoe is our first character. She is a widow with an adult daughter (Katie) and a terrible mother in law (Winifred). Winifred is having health issues and Katie's daughter with special needs passes away, thus making it necessary for all 3 generations to live together. Winifred was a PRICKLY lady at the beginning. She had treated Zoe terribly and had refused to acknowledge Katie's daughter. Someone how on a dime she flips pretty early in this book and becomes very sweet, loving and remorseful and she and Katie form a deep bond. While that was really sweet to see, I don't know how we got from A to B and it seemed to be unbelievable. Zoe struggles with forgiveness, as one might, but alls well that ends well. The first half of this book is pretty slow and is just getting to know the women. We also have a character named Maudie who is hired as a nurse for Winifred. She and Zoe become good friends and I liked that, but didn't know if it was completely necessary. The 3 Parker women open up an antique shop and I wanted MORE of that!! It was simply there as a plot device and I felt like it was such a missed opportunity. We could've seen a little more of the bonding and a little more charm/character with a little more conversation/time in the antique store, but instead it was just used as a convenient way for Katie to meet Contractor Jon and for Zoe to be out of town when needed. The pivot in this book comes about halfway through. Zoe has a history with an abusive man and that storyline comes to a climax at the halfway point and the 2nd half is MUCH more interesting and fast paced. Overall, I enjoyed this book. However there were a lot of underdeveloped characters and storylines and it all wrapped up too neatly. I couldn't tell if the author wanted this to be a heartwarming sweet book about female family members and forgiveness OR if she wanted it to be a hard hitting redemption tale. The tone seemed conflicting at times.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
Alan is the abusive man. He comes back into town and tries to kill Katie. He injures Jon and Winifred beats him with her cane and kills him. She's old and weak but the adrenaline and love for her granddaughter fuels her. In the end, Winifred's old family butler comes back for Katie and Jon's wedding. Winifred has changed so much that she and Lewis get married. Katie and Jon of course get married and then Zoe and Maudie are paired off as good friends.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Three Mrs. Parkers is a delightful read.

Winifred Parker decided that she could never forgive her daughter-in-law. She blames Zoe for her son's death. Going to live with her is madness. She hasn't let Zoe know about the state of her health. She needs to be around her family now, although, she's not sure it will work.

Zoe doesn't know how she'll cope with her mother-in-law. She has to try, the bank was about to foreclose on her family home and property. Winifred has agreed to help, under certain conditions.

Kathryn, white-haired before time, is devastated by losing her disabled daughter. Her passing, after so long being the sole provider and carer is daunting. How can she recover? Going back to live with her mother Zoe is her first reaction. She needs the stability of her mother's love. Finding Winifred Parker living there as well, takes some getting used to.

Dramatic events occur over the months they are together. Learning about each other. Changing perceptions and getting to know past horrors from each other's likes and dislikes. Living with the drama of the return to their country haven of a madman who had previously terrorised Zoe's life, brings them all together.

The ending is satisfying.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The three generations of strong women are delightfully real with strengths and weaknesses that they need to overcome to reconcile their relationships. In addition to leading you on the path to understand their history and feelings, this book also has riveting action that pulls you in. For me that's the perfect blend of a storyline. I didn't want this book to end.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three generations who need to learn to be family and work together for their own sanity. Familiar theme that hits close to home for me. Had many ups and downs but love conquers all. The Antique Shop was a wonderful common goal for all of them. Tragedy, loss, love and surprises! A very nice quick read.

[LInda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I intend to re-read this, as I read it long ago and don't remember much about it. I know it was a generation book and I do love Joan's books. May write more after the re-read.
Just re-read this and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a lot -- implied incest, marriage to rich husbands, damaged child, abusive husband, a con man, and probably a few I've left out. But all ended well for the most part and I'm glad I persevered and read it again.

[Jnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just an average, ok book. Three generations of women in a family coming together, finding forgiveness. I don't think its a spoiler to say that the wealthy grandmother has Meniere's Disease, of which I knew nothing but now I do. Not all of the plot rang true for me and I couldn't relate to any of the characters. I enjoyed the Carolina scenery/setting. Nice if you need an easy read.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three generations of women struggle with past hardships they have endured as well as harboring ill feelings towards each other....but as they work their way towards understanding and forgiveness they find themselves coming together not only to protect each other when they are threatened but opening a business together. Fairly predictable but an easy, enjoyable read.

[Angel · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be fair, I only read this for a reading challenge.

I was intrigued by the idea of three generations of women forming and repairing relationships with each other. Maybe a little romance thrown in too. But the writing in this was atrocious. Overly preachy and none of the characters spoke like real people. There's also outdated language in regards to a child with intellectual disabilities. I get that socially appropriate words change over time, but this book was written in 2005.

[Hanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Litt treg start, men det kommer seg ut over i boka.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was free. It was a cold night. So it put me to sleep.

[Joni Markowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. The story of three generations of strong women working together to heal and find happiness.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading chick lit for a change of pace

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family values abound! love that the eldest Mrs. Parker and her cousin were able to reunite. The 3 Mrs. Parkers were strong and yet weak in many similar ways.

[Joan Horkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story of forgiveness between three generations of women. A bit pat, but with a wonderful, happy ending.

[Mary Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre chick-lit.

[Marion Marchetto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingredients:
1 aging widow with hidden illness and secrets aplenty
1 middle-aged widow (daughter-in-law to the aging widow) with plenty of secrets of her own
1 young widow (daughter and granddaughter of the first two widows)with a tragic background

Mix together until a lumpy dough forms. Add a token male hero, a few well-intentioned neighbors, a heinous villain, an I-could-see-it-coming climactic moment. Place in a rural southern US setting, and voila!

This generational story tells of three women, each a product of her upbringing, and what they bring to the lives of each other. Secrets aplenty abound but they aren't given depth. For three women to overcome their stubborness and meld as one family it takes a lot more than these three give to the plot.

I thought Maudie was the best character in the book and she's just a nurse. We learn more about her, her Irish upbringing, and her mam than should be needed for a secondary character.

I think this story has possibilities that needed to be fleshed out and broadened. The writing was okay, the story okay (easy to read but leaving one with a 'so what?' attitude), and that's why I've given it three stars. Okay?

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe takes in her estranged mother-in-law to keep from losing her family home. Zoe's daughter, Kate, also moves home after the death of her handicapped child. Good story about forgiveness and family.

[Marianne Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just good....not great...but good. There were some things that REALLY bugged me about it.

I wanted to tell Zoe to "Man Up". My gosh, she was such a wishy-washy character.

I loved Winifred. I'm all about the strong women.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a blah book. Very predictable. If you are looking for an extremely easy read, then this book would work. I found the characters a little annoying. If you like books that are tied up at the end with a neat little bow, then you might like this one.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read. Not very exciting but enough to hold your attention.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I've read a few of the Covington series books and I love this author!
Has alot to do with forgiveness and families. Easy read and enjoyable.

[Lisa]

Non Ladies series / book one

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't quite the Ladies of Covington, but still an enjoyable read.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. It has some mystery, suspense, substance about relationships and forgiveness. Good characters.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much. I like reading about different generations of women.

[Bonnie Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Joan Medlicott has captured women and their friendships as you would really like them to be.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the ladies of Covington this time but written in the same tone. Pretty predictable but entertaining enough.