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Sweeney Sisters #5
Saturdays at Sweeney's
Members of the Sweeney family, young and old, chart their courses for the future in this final installment of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters Series.
When the seafood business Lovie Sweeney established sixty years ago is destroyed by fire, she finds herself at the center of an arson investigation. What really happened that night? Is Lovie responsible for starting the fire or is her family under attack from a sworn enemy?
The loss of their family business leaves the Sweeney clan in flux. Samantha faces the challenges of rebuilding the market while her son, Jamie, on track to graduate from college in six months, must decide whether to make his permanent home in Prospect or move to Charleston where a new special someone resides. At age forty-five, Faith, who has never fully recovered from an abusive marriage, is on a quest to find her true passion? Jackie is distraught when her son, Sean, flunks out of college and struggles to find direction in his life without his twin brother to guide him. A medical diagnosis brings the sisters closer together and threatens to change family dynamics forever.
The Sweeney women remind us that it’s never too late to begin a new endeavor and to never stop chasing your dreams until you draw your last breath.
When the seafood business Lovie Sweeney established sixty years ago is destroyed by fire, she finds herself at the center of an arson investigation. What really happened that night? Is Lovie responsible for starting the fire or is her family under attack from a sworn enemy?
The loss of their family business leaves the Sweeney clan in flux. Samantha faces the challenges of rebuilding the market while her son, Jamie, on track to graduate from college in six months, must decide whether to make his permanent home in Prospect or move to Charleston where a new special someone resides. At age forty-five, Faith, who has never fully recovered from an abusive marriage, is on a quest to find her true passion? Jackie is distraught when her son, Sean, flunks out of college and struggles to find direction in his life without his twin brother to guide him. A medical diagnosis brings the sisters closer together and threatens to change family dynamics forever.
The Sweeney women remind us that it’s never too late to begin a new endeavor and to never stop chasing your dreams until you draw your last breath.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2017
1422 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Farley
56 books2,367 followers⭐️USA Today Bestseller⭐️
Ashley Farley writes heartfelt stories about women navigating life’s challenges. Her characters—mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives—face real-life struggles with resilience and grace. Best known for her Sweeney Sisters series, Ashley’s books have touched the hearts of readers far and wide.
A wife and mother of two young adults, for more than two decades, Ashley has split her time between Richmond and the Northern Neck of Virginia. Yet, a piece of her heart will always belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she draws inspiration from the moss-draped oaks, coastal cuisine, and the warm, welcoming spirit of its people.
Ashley loves to hear from her readers.
Visit her website @ http://www.ashleyfarley.com
Sign up for her newsletter @ https://ashleyfarley.com/newsletter-s...
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarley...
Ashley Farley writes heartfelt stories about women navigating life’s challenges. Her characters—mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives—face real-life struggles with resilience and grace. Best known for her Sweeney Sisters series, Ashley’s books have touched the hearts of readers far and wide.
A wife and mother of two young adults, for more than two decades, Ashley has split her time between Richmond and the Northern Neck of Virginia. Yet, a piece of her heart will always belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she draws inspiration from the moss-draped oaks, coastal cuisine, and the warm, welcoming spirit of its people.
Ashley loves to hear from her readers.
Visit her website @ http://www.ashleyfarley.com
Sign up for her newsletter @ https://ashleyfarley.com/newsletter-s...
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarley...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
January 16, 2018
SATURDAYS AT SWEENEY'S, the fifth and final instalment in the Sweeney Sisters Series by Ashley Farley is a well written story about family and love and how a crisis can pull together or tear apart relationships and families. Ms. Farley's attention to background information and details ensures Saturdays at Sweeney's can be read as a standalone.
I like everyone in the extended Sweeney family, and feel like they are my friends and close neighbours. It's upsetting to see Captain Sweeney's Seafood Market go up in flames. This was the family livelihood for decades. What will they do now?
What or who started the fire at Captain Sweeney's Seafood Market?
Why was Lovie already there when the firemen arrived?
Does Lovie have Alzheimer's disease or is she suffering from shock?
Jackie and Bill have a secret. Will she share the secret with her sisters?
Will Faith tell Mike and Sam about her suspicions?
What does the future hold for the Sweeney sisters and their families?
I enjoyed reading SATURDAYS AT SWEENEY'S and highly recommend this thought provoking, heartbreaking and suspenseful story. 5 stars.
Thanks to Ashley Farley for gifting me an ARC of Saturdays at Sweeney's in exchange for an honest review.
* This book is being released today, January 16, 2018.
I like everyone in the extended Sweeney family, and feel like they are my friends and close neighbours. It's upsetting to see Captain Sweeney's Seafood Market go up in flames. This was the family livelihood for decades. What will they do now?
What or who started the fire at Captain Sweeney's Seafood Market?
Why was Lovie already there when the firemen arrived?
Does Lovie have Alzheimer's disease or is she suffering from shock?
Jackie and Bill have a secret. Will she share the secret with her sisters?
Will Faith tell Mike and Sam about her suspicions?
What does the future hold for the Sweeney sisters and their families?
I enjoyed reading SATURDAYS AT SWEENEY'S and highly recommend this thought provoking, heartbreaking and suspenseful story. 5 stars.
Thanks to Ashley Farley for gifting me an ARC of Saturdays at Sweeney's in exchange for an honest review.
* This book is being released today, January 16, 2018.
December 28, 2017
Favorite Quote:
Did you fail sharing time in kindergarten?
My Review:
I have enjoyed this relevant and engaging series featuring three divergently different Lowcountry sisters and their addled yet feisty mother. Throughout the series, the sisters have faced a great deal of dispiriting hardships and challenges. This fifth and final installment of the series was fraught with tension from the beginning as it started with a fire to the family business that brought on a truckload of trouble and opened a channel for either a complete loss or a new opportunity. Each household, although while also blessed in many ways, was struggling with significant and overwhelming issues as well as the overriding critical element of the swift deterioration their elderly mother’s mental faculties. This concern was hitting close to home for me there is a rapidly ticking clock, and not an if but a when, until I will be facing this same despicable dilemma. Ms. Farley’s insightful narrative captured their inner conflict and turmoil with sensitivity and occasional hits of amusing levity which I fully appreciated as I've always found it preferable to laugh than to cry. I will miss the Sweeney sisters but was more than satisfied with their swan song.
Did you fail sharing time in kindergarten?
My Review:
I have enjoyed this relevant and engaging series featuring three divergently different Lowcountry sisters and their addled yet feisty mother. Throughout the series, the sisters have faced a great deal of dispiriting hardships and challenges. This fifth and final installment of the series was fraught with tension from the beginning as it started with a fire to the family business that brought on a truckload of trouble and opened a channel for either a complete loss or a new opportunity. Each household, although while also blessed in many ways, was struggling with significant and overwhelming issues as well as the overriding critical element of the swift deterioration their elderly mother’s mental faculties. This concern was hitting close to home for me there is a rapidly ticking clock, and not an if but a when, until I will be facing this same despicable dilemma. Ms. Farley’s insightful narrative captured their inner conflict and turmoil with sensitivity and occasional hits of amusing levity which I fully appreciated as I've always found it preferable to laugh than to cry. I will miss the Sweeney sisters but was more than satisfied with their swan song.
January 26, 2018
This is the fifth book in the installment of Sweeney Sisters. But since I have not read the first four, I have to admit, I read this book as a casual novel without bonding with any of the sisters.
Ashley Farley is explanative in her prose, so I could keep up with the happenings of the past. But in this book, being the last, the characters are pretty set in their ways. They move with an air of don't you already know me from the previous books? An already known feeling pervades the pages. Maybe that's one of the reasons, I couldn't feel their emotions. I didn't know them; they were strangers to me.
The story goes thus, the seafood store goes up in a fire, the sisters are at a loss, both in their livelihood and the plans of a future for themselves and the children. There are crisis abound, health issues of their mother Lovie, with child problems in elder sister Jackie's life, middle sister, Sam having lost her entire means of living in the shop fire, the younger sister, Faith being stalked by a criminal ex. All this makes the book a series of happenings.
I wouldn't say I loved the sisters and that I want to be a part of Sweeney Sisters, I certainly don't. I couldn't feel the bond between them. The real emotions between sisters felt lacklustre in this. Maybe being the final book, I am already supposed to feel their love from the previous books. The sisters have lot of untold hidden secrets, which keep on getting solved as the pages turned. I couldn't find that closeness, which sisters normally share even during the problems.
The core of this final book, the vein that threads through its pages is never stop living, never stop dreaming, never get scared in starting a new life, whatever be the age. And this point resonated deep within me, as it stands true in my life too, especially while standing in the cross roads of life.
Maybe one day I would go back and read the series in order, to fall in love with the Sweeney Sisters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Kindle Press and author Ashley Farley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Ashley Farley is explanative in her prose, so I could keep up with the happenings of the past. But in this book, being the last, the characters are pretty set in their ways. They move with an air of don't you already know me from the previous books? An already known feeling pervades the pages. Maybe that's one of the reasons, I couldn't feel their emotions. I didn't know them; they were strangers to me.
The story goes thus, the seafood store goes up in a fire, the sisters are at a loss, both in their livelihood and the plans of a future for themselves and the children. There are crisis abound, health issues of their mother Lovie, with child problems in elder sister Jackie's life, middle sister, Sam having lost her entire means of living in the shop fire, the younger sister, Faith being stalked by a criminal ex. All this makes the book a series of happenings.
I wouldn't say I loved the sisters and that I want to be a part of Sweeney Sisters, I certainly don't. I couldn't feel the bond between them. The real emotions between sisters felt lacklustre in this. Maybe being the final book, I am already supposed to feel their love from the previous books. The sisters have lot of untold hidden secrets, which keep on getting solved as the pages turned. I couldn't find that closeness, which sisters normally share even during the problems.
The core of this final book, the vein that threads through its pages is never stop living, never stop dreaming, never get scared in starting a new life, whatever be the age. And this point resonated deep within me, as it stands true in my life too, especially while standing in the cross roads of life.
Maybe one day I would go back and read the series in order, to fall in love with the Sweeney Sisters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Kindle Press and author Ashley Farley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
December 11, 2017
Reading about the Sweeney family again was so much fun - it was like having coffee with longtime friends and catching up on old times. This is the final book in this series but I sure would love to read about them again sometime in the future.
As the book begins, Sweeneys's Seafood Market is on fire and it looks like arson. When the fire department realizes that Lovie Sweeney had been at the scene when they got there and was unable to answer their questions, she becomes the first suspect. With the family's business gone, Sam and Faith need to decide what they will do next in their lives. Plus their children who planned to work at Sweeney's after college need to make decisions about their future. To top it all off, Lovie is diagnosed with Alzeheimers and her memory is rapidly deteriorating. I can't tell you much more without giving away any major plot points but I can tell you that the family has problems from all directions and it affects every one of them. Can they remember that it's family first and pull together for the good of the family???
This is a wonderful book about family and love. I have two sisters and I love reading books about sisters who always remember the importance of love and family. I know this is the last book in the series but would love to read more about this family -- maybe a book about the next generation?
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
As the book begins, Sweeneys's Seafood Market is on fire and it looks like arson. When the fire department realizes that Lovie Sweeney had been at the scene when they got there and was unable to answer their questions, she becomes the first suspect. With the family's business gone, Sam and Faith need to decide what they will do next in their lives. Plus their children who planned to work at Sweeney's after college need to make decisions about their future. To top it all off, Lovie is diagnosed with Alzeheimers and her memory is rapidly deteriorating. I can't tell you much more without giving away any major plot points but I can tell you that the family has problems from all directions and it affects every one of them. Can they remember that it's family first and pull together for the good of the family???
This is a wonderful book about family and love. I have two sisters and I love reading books about sisters who always remember the importance of love and family. I know this is the last book in the series but would love to read more about this family -- maybe a book about the next generation?
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
December 20, 2017
This is such a wonderful series. In fact, I want to live in Prospect! It sounds like such a divine town and they come together as a town and a family to help those in need.
This book hit home a little bit because of Lovie and her dementia/Alzheimers. I felt so bad for Lovie and her daughters as they dealt with her decline and what was best for her in the long run.
Faith had her past rear its ugly head and while she is the one that needed to deal with the situation, delaying telling her sisters put them in grave danger.
I enjoyed reading a little bit more about the children and the issues that they faced as they grow older. It brings the family full circle and some of the issues are what we might experience ourselves. Great life lessons!
If you haven't read this series you need to run to the store and pick it up. So good!
This book hit home a little bit because of Lovie and her dementia/Alzheimers. I felt so bad for Lovie and her daughters as they dealt with her decline and what was best for her in the long run.
Faith had her past rear its ugly head and while she is the one that needed to deal with the situation, delaying telling her sisters put them in grave danger.
I enjoyed reading a little bit more about the children and the issues that they faced as they grow older. It brings the family full circle and some of the issues are what we might experience ourselves. Great life lessons!
If you haven't read this series you need to run to the store and pick it up. So good!
February 3, 2018
It always feels like coming home when I open up a new book about the Sweeney sisters! As we catch up with the family, there are new daunting problems; a fire at the family’s business, the deterioration of their mother’s health, and a troubling time for one son and his parents. In true Sweeney fashion, they come together with the unwavering support and love for their family. This is a riveting, poignant continuation of the story. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, the author provides just enough back story to fill you in. But the rest the books are all so heartfelt and compelling, that I urge you to read them all!
December 17, 2017
Love, Love, Love this series! There are so many changes taking place in the lives of the Sweeney family, some good and some are just downright heartbreaking. The Sweeney sisters have always come together in time of need and this time it will take all their strength and love to see them through for the sake of their mother, Lovie. I highly recommend this wonderfully emotional story. Thank you to Ashley Farley for allowing me to be a part of her review crew.
January 5, 2018
This is a great series of books. The ups and downs of the Sweeney sisters. Their live's are touching and heart wrenching. All the challenges of real life and Alzheimer's. I Enjoyed reading this book.
Read
July 1, 2018Delightful. I enjoyed getting to read this. *work with author, read for pleasure*
July 23, 2021
Being the only Sweeney Sister's book I have read it was alright. I didn't find it particularly challenging and found the ongoing "family drama" tiring. But, a quick easy read. I doubt that I will read another.
December 14, 2017
RIVETING!
Saturdays at Sweeney’s is an incredibly beautiful, riveting novel! Once you’ve read the first page and entered the world of the Sweeney Sisters, their families and their treasured mother, Lovie, you won’t want to stop until you’ve read the final word. When a cowardly act of arson destroys their beloved seafood business and restaurant, all manner of rumors start to swirl. This is a story of individuals. People who are finding themselves facing the biggest challenges of their lives. This is a also story of a family. A family that is full of complications, struggles, hurts, deeply buried secrets, addictions, bitterness and jealousy. This same family is also filled with laughter, joy, pride, fun, survival, hard work, encouragement and understanding. The Sweeneys are SURVIVORS and as you read this wonderful story, you can feel the depth of love they have for each other and know they will develop a plan to get the job done no matter the odds. I was provided an ARC of this book by the publisher. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Saturdays at Sweeney’s is an incredibly beautiful, riveting novel! Once you’ve read the first page and entered the world of the Sweeney Sisters, their families and their treasured mother, Lovie, you won’t want to stop until you’ve read the final word. When a cowardly act of arson destroys their beloved seafood business and restaurant, all manner of rumors start to swirl. This is a story of individuals. People who are finding themselves facing the biggest challenges of their lives. This is a also story of a family. A family that is full of complications, struggles, hurts, deeply buried secrets, addictions, bitterness and jealousy. This same family is also filled with laughter, joy, pride, fun, survival, hard work, encouragement and understanding. The Sweeneys are SURVIVORS and as you read this wonderful story, you can feel the depth of love they have for each other and know they will develop a plan to get the job done no matter the odds. I was provided an ARC of this book by the publisher. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
February 13, 2018
What a heartwarming book. If you have not read any of the other books in this series, the author brings you up-to-date. Truthfully I have never read a book that touched on so many issues that have, or are affecting my life. The tenderness, tough love, questioning, insecurities and support are brought up in such a way that one cannot help but place themselves right in the midst of each situation. I am sure you will also find a little of yourself in the pages of this book. Oh and by the way, keep the tissues handy! This is real life, set in a fictional story, that will open your eyes and hearts to the importance of love, understanding and support of those who surround you! Ashley is an exceptional author who draws you in from the first page! I can’t recommend this book enough! I was given the opportunity to receive an ARC for my honest opinion.
January 5, 2018
Thanks to Net Galley and Kindle Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Another great read in the Sweeney Sisters life and the lives of their families. Sam ,Jackie & Faith each have their problems, but the strength they have together and the love of their families always sees them through. I loved reading more of the family tale but in this book we say goodbye to the sisters mother, Lovie. Lovie started the family business more than 50 years ago and has been a big part of this family story. This book touches on a few big topics dementia as Lovie begins to decline and drug abuse for one of Jackie’s twin boys Sean.
Great series and would love to read more about this family.
Another great read in the Sweeney Sisters life and the lives of their families. Sam ,Jackie & Faith each have their problems, but the strength they have together and the love of their families always sees them through. I loved reading more of the family tale but in this book we say goodbye to the sisters mother, Lovie. Lovie started the family business more than 50 years ago and has been a big part of this family story. This book touches on a few big topics dementia as Lovie begins to decline and drug abuse for one of Jackie’s twin boys Sean.
Great series and would love to read more about this family.
January 17, 2018
Loved this book from beginning to the end!
It was as wonderful as I thought it would be. The Sweeney Sister series has been a favorite of mine. Each book is full of surprises. In book 5 we learn more about the sisters and their kids. The kids are all growing up and making some difficult choices. We learn first hand just how hard it can be, to be faced with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The love and struggles of a wonderful family that are always there for each other. I will miss this series for sure but hopeful that we here more about the characters in future books! This was an amazing and wonderful book! Thank you Ashley Farley for a fabulous series!
It was as wonderful as I thought it would be. The Sweeney Sister series has been a favorite of mine. Each book is full of surprises. In book 5 we learn more about the sisters and their kids. The kids are all growing up and making some difficult choices. We learn first hand just how hard it can be, to be faced with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The love and struggles of a wonderful family that are always there for each other. I will miss this series for sure but hopeful that we here more about the characters in future books! This was an amazing and wonderful book! Thank you Ashley Farley for a fabulous series!
February 22, 2018
I'm sad that this is the last book in the Sweeney Sisters series (#5) but it was a very satisfying conclusion for these wonderful sisters. The sad side of this book is that Lovey's health has declined significantly and the daughters get the news they have feared that Alzheimer's is the diagnose. A fire has devastated not only the family but the town as well. Faith, Sam and Jackie must deal with Lovey, the rebuilding along with the children's problems as well. These three ladies and their families are a testament to fortitude and family love. I hope that Ms. Farley will treat us to more of the Sweeney's with the next generation.
February 12, 2018
Good ending to this series.
February 29, 2020
This might be my favorite book of the series. My grandmother had dementia & felt the pains of the family. I love a happy ending & the Sweeney's provided it with this last book of the series.
September 28, 2021
Great wrap up this series!
July 30, 2019
Saturdays at Sweeney’s
Well book five the final to a beautiful series was great. The story told of the ups and downs of an extended family and how love of family is what one needs to go through life’s troubles. It touched on many relative issues that the world is facing. And final message...love conquers all.
Well book five the final to a beautiful series was great. The story told of the ups and downs of an extended family and how love of family is what one needs to go through life’s troubles. It touched on many relative issues that the world is facing. And final message...love conquers all.
July 27, 2019
It's an excellent book because the author is on spot about all of the topics she covered. A wonderful read for people with elderly parents and those struggling with young adults who struggle with addiction.
A bit of the language bothered me but it's how young people communicate.
A bit of the language bothered me but it's how young people communicate.
July 19, 2019
Saturdays at Sweeney's the last book of the Sweeney Sisters series and what a wonderful wrap up to Lovie and the three sisters. There were tears: Lovie's declining health (Alzheimer's); Sweeney's Seafood destroyed by fire; young adult substance abuse. But, as the story unfolds, the power of family love lessens the burden and strengthens the resolve. I enjoyed catching up with these three families and the secondary characters - all of whom would make a great follow-up series. Hint! Hint!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
January 16, 2018
I thought this would be a great book to start the off the year. I was shocked to realize it’s the final book in the series and the first one I’ve read! The author brings readers up to speed, though. Reading about the Sweeney sisters and their families in Prospect made me think this is the perfect kind of small town dysfunctional heaven. There were a wide range of events happening and packaged all in this book with the cute cover: a family’s battle living with Alzheimer’s, the family business being destroyed, family secrets, alcoholism and recovery, drug abuse and therapy, younger generations starting their college pathways, a strange mystery of occurrences, and a sleazy tabloid writer. It didn’t shy away from those hard topics – it faced them head-on.
Each family member has his or her own spotlight throughout the book to continue the narration and plot.Each of the Sweeney sisters had their own secret to hide and each of those things continued to build up the tension and draw out the suspense, while their children are also struggling to move forward in their lives.
The book begins with Sweeney's Seafood Market on fire. The preliminary report points to a lightning strike, but further investigation reveals arson. The fire department is reluctant to point fingers, but it must be noted that Lovie Sweeney was at the scene before the fire department arrived. She couldn't answer their questions and becomes the lone suspect.
As Faith planned to step away from the business and leave it to Sam, she and her son Jamie must decide what their next move with the family business will be. Is this a total loss or a new beginning? Jaimie's entire summer plan was to work at Sweeney's. It is looking dismal with Lovie being the center of the fire investigation. The insurance won't pay out in the event of arson.
Sam's husband Eli must recuse himself from the investigation, but is right there alongside it every step of the way to ensure it is executed properly. From day one, it is not. It results in further disorientation from Lovie, who doesn't seem to know who Eli is. She is living in the past, and Sam is still with Allen. Concerned for her well-being, the sisters remove their mother from her townhouse and install her in Faith's home. With no job to report to every day, and stuck in limbo with the direction her life should now take, Faith readily volunteers to be caretaker extraordinaire for their mother. Lovie's mental faculties continue to decline, and soon she is becoming combative and hard to care for.
Suddenly dead animals begin showing up on the sisters' doorsteps, with their mother's hand-written recipes attached. Whoever set the fire is taunting the Sweeney girls. Faith quickly discovers who the true culprit is, but she never shares that information with her sisters or even her husband. Instead, she does what she wants to and ultimately puts her mother and daughter at risk.
The oldest sister, Jackie, is busy running her interior design business and looking to expand. Spending much of the week out of town, she is disconnected with the family. After trying to convince her sisters to place their mother in an amazing care facility, she is kind of on the outs. She is struggling to keep customers happy, sell her current location, and purchase a new showroom. Meanwhile, one of her sons is arrested on drug charges. Additionally, he is kicked out of Jackie's alma matter for straight failing grades his freshman year. He is brought back home and everything about it is kept a secret.
Jamie is tasked with babysitting Sean and they both get jobs at a local restaurant. In the time the boys aren't working the restaurant, they are out catching crabs and selling on the site of their burned family business on Saturdays. Soon, Jamie connects with his half-sister and goes to work with her catering company.
This is the story of real life that real families face every day. It was eye-opening to family, loyalty, love, motivation, distrust, secrets, fear. It is also a wonderful example of how important it is to be understanding and supportive of your loved ones going through tough trying situations. I connected so well with this family and fell in love with them. I definitely want to go back and read the first four books in the series.
Each family member has his or her own spotlight throughout the book to continue the narration and plot.Each of the Sweeney sisters had their own secret to hide and each of those things continued to build up the tension and draw out the suspense, while their children are also struggling to move forward in their lives.
The book begins with Sweeney's Seafood Market on fire. The preliminary report points to a lightning strike, but further investigation reveals arson. The fire department is reluctant to point fingers, but it must be noted that Lovie Sweeney was at the scene before the fire department arrived. She couldn't answer their questions and becomes the lone suspect.
As Faith planned to step away from the business and leave it to Sam, she and her son Jamie must decide what their next move with the family business will be. Is this a total loss or a new beginning? Jaimie's entire summer plan was to work at Sweeney's. It is looking dismal with Lovie being the center of the fire investigation. The insurance won't pay out in the event of arson.
Sam's husband Eli must recuse himself from the investigation, but is right there alongside it every step of the way to ensure it is executed properly. From day one, it is not. It results in further disorientation from Lovie, who doesn't seem to know who Eli is. She is living in the past, and Sam is still with Allen. Concerned for her well-being, the sisters remove their mother from her townhouse and install her in Faith's home. With no job to report to every day, and stuck in limbo with the direction her life should now take, Faith readily volunteers to be caretaker extraordinaire for their mother. Lovie's mental faculties continue to decline, and soon she is becoming combative and hard to care for.
Suddenly dead animals begin showing up on the sisters' doorsteps, with their mother's hand-written recipes attached. Whoever set the fire is taunting the Sweeney girls. Faith quickly discovers who the true culprit is, but she never shares that information with her sisters or even her husband. Instead, she does what she wants to and ultimately puts her mother and daughter at risk.
The oldest sister, Jackie, is busy running her interior design business and looking to expand. Spending much of the week out of town, she is disconnected with the family. After trying to convince her sisters to place their mother in an amazing care facility, she is kind of on the outs. She is struggling to keep customers happy, sell her current location, and purchase a new showroom. Meanwhile, one of her sons is arrested on drug charges. Additionally, he is kicked out of Jackie's alma matter for straight failing grades his freshman year. He is brought back home and everything about it is kept a secret.
Jamie is tasked with babysitting Sean and they both get jobs at a local restaurant. In the time the boys aren't working the restaurant, they are out catching crabs and selling on the site of their burned family business on Saturdays. Soon, Jamie connects with his half-sister and goes to work with her catering company.
This is the story of real life that real families face every day. It was eye-opening to family, loyalty, love, motivation, distrust, secrets, fear. It is also a wonderful example of how important it is to be understanding and supportive of your loved ones going through tough trying situations. I connected so well with this family and fell in love with them. I definitely want to go back and read the first four books in the series.
July 14, 2019
Good
A little slow, but still a good story. Love really does conquer all. Now, I'm off to the next book!
A little slow, but still a good story. Love really does conquer all. Now, I'm off to the next book!
July 14, 2019
Light easing
I love the family story. It is light reading and yet I learned something about Alzheimer’s disease and addiction. Both are problems the world faces today.
I love the family story. It is light reading and yet I learned something about Alzheimer’s disease and addiction. Both are problems the world faces today.
December 21, 2017
I have found that my love of the Sweeney Sisters novels hinders on my appreciation for the character of Sam. As the middle sister, Sam is the backbone of her family and seemingly is the only one who has grown up over the past several years/books. As the family’s business goes up in flames, Sam finds that she is completely alone in deciding if she should rebuild or move on. Her sisters are not invested in rebuilding the family’s legacy and they spend much of the book too wrapped up in their own personal dramas to care that their sister has ultimately lost everything. After all, the locals suspect and blame Lovie Sweeney of setting the business ablaze, especially since she was found at the scene of the crime and showed signs of complete confusion.
One of the reasons it’s difficult for Faith to be available to support or help Sam, is because she is busy trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. Another reason is that their mother, Lovie is clearly deteriorating and Faith takes it upon herself to take care of her. But Faith hasn’t really grown as a character in this series. When she discovers who may be the true culprit, she never thinks to seek out her sisters or confide in her husband. Instead, she makes one bad decision after another that puts her, her daughter, her mother, and the rest of the family in harm’s way.
While I had a hard time sympathizing for Faith, I found Jackie to be utterly repulsive. I have never really been a fan of the eldest Sweeney sister and her actions/story line have only further contributed to my lack of disinterest.
Now that I’ve gotten past my gripes, let me tell you what I truly love about this book and this series. This series is about a family that is not perfect and they have a lot of ups and downs. They make mistakes, keep secrets, and get into trouble. But at the end of the day, this family saga gives me insight to the love and strength of a family. This is something I am not fortunate enough to have in my real life, so it’s nice to live vicariously through the Sweeneys. I also enjoy the way the family rallies around one another in a time of need (with the exception of my gripes above). At the core of it all, it is the family aspect of this series that makes it a hit with me. I love reading about how the family is growing and changing. It’s even nice to see some of the younger perspectives being introduced and their storylines developed. This book has its ups and downs, but the overall story is what makes this a must read in my book.
Reviewer’s note: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
One of the reasons it’s difficult for Faith to be available to support or help Sam, is because she is busy trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. Another reason is that their mother, Lovie is clearly deteriorating and Faith takes it upon herself to take care of her. But Faith hasn’t really grown as a character in this series. When she discovers who may be the true culprit, she never thinks to seek out her sisters or confide in her husband. Instead, she makes one bad decision after another that puts her, her daughter, her mother, and the rest of the family in harm’s way.
While I had a hard time sympathizing for Faith, I found Jackie to be utterly repulsive. I have never really been a fan of the eldest Sweeney sister and her actions/story line have only further contributed to my lack of disinterest.
Now that I’ve gotten past my gripes, let me tell you what I truly love about this book and this series. This series is about a family that is not perfect and they have a lot of ups and downs. They make mistakes, keep secrets, and get into trouble. But at the end of the day, this family saga gives me insight to the love and strength of a family. This is something I am not fortunate enough to have in my real life, so it’s nice to live vicariously through the Sweeneys. I also enjoy the way the family rallies around one another in a time of need (with the exception of my gripes above). At the core of it all, it is the family aspect of this series that makes it a hit with me. I love reading about how the family is growing and changing. It’s even nice to see some of the younger perspectives being introduced and their storylines developed. This book has its ups and downs, but the overall story is what makes this a must read in my book.
Reviewer’s note: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2018
Saturday’s at Sweeney’s, the last book in the Sweeney Sisters series by Ashley Farley, is about the matriarch of the family being accused of ruining the family business.
The book starts off with Sam Sweeney being called and told their family business is on fire. She is shocked as the rest of the family but hurt when the police believe her mother was responsible for the incident.
Sam is basically in charge of running the family business and hopes to rebuild with her son Jamie, who doesn’t want to leave his hometown. Jackie doesn’t really want to deal with the problems surrounding the business nor the issues her son, Sean is having, but is quick to give advice to her sisters. Faith, the youngest, volunteers to take care of their mother until they make a final decision about placement, but she is also keeping a secret from her sisters that may be dangerous.
This is my first introduction to Ashley Farley’s writing but will not be my last. She is an author I will continue to follow. This book shows the realistic interaction within a family, which made me connect with the characters. The mystery aspect is just a plus. The twists and reveal were unsuspected but worth the wait. The transitions Lovie goes through in the book made me sympathetic to her family’s issues of placing her in facility.
I read this book with determination to find out who committed this crime because to blame it on an elderly woman with dementia was bugging me. In the process, I met some interesting characters with everyday problems. I recommend this book to readers who love mysteries.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes only.
A&RBC Reviews
5 Stars=Non-Page Turner
The book starts off with Sam Sweeney being called and told their family business is on fire. She is shocked as the rest of the family but hurt when the police believe her mother was responsible for the incident.
Sam is basically in charge of running the family business and hopes to rebuild with her son Jamie, who doesn’t want to leave his hometown. Jackie doesn’t really want to deal with the problems surrounding the business nor the issues her son, Sean is having, but is quick to give advice to her sisters. Faith, the youngest, volunteers to take care of their mother until they make a final decision about placement, but she is also keeping a secret from her sisters that may be dangerous.
This is my first introduction to Ashley Farley’s writing but will not be my last. She is an author I will continue to follow. This book shows the realistic interaction within a family, which made me connect with the characters. The mystery aspect is just a plus. The twists and reveal were unsuspected but worth the wait. The transitions Lovie goes through in the book made me sympathetic to her family’s issues of placing her in facility.
I read this book with determination to find out who committed this crime because to blame it on an elderly woman with dementia was bugging me. In the process, I met some interesting characters with everyday problems. I recommend this book to readers who love mysteries.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes only.
A&RBC Reviews
5 Stars=Non-Page Turner
January 16, 2018
Wow - another powerful book from in the Sweeney Sisters series!
I love the Sweeney sisters, they are as real as you can get. They love deeply, argue deeply, speak their minds but family is the most important thing to them at the end of the day (even if sometimes their actions speak differently!).
In this novel, emotions are running high and the pain is very raw. Lovie, who you fall in love with right from the start, is at the center of an arson investigation of her own family business! For months, she has been showing signs of Alzheimer's and this had already had the girls on the fence on how to care for her but when because of this she is being blamed for arson, a decision needs to be made and fast. While the girls in their hearts struggle with the idea that their Mother could have caused the fire (and deep down they know she couldn't have), all fingers point to her.
With this background, the girls need to decide not only Love's future but their own and the future of their family business - do they rebuild, do they move on or do they change? While this is all taking place, life is still moving forward - children are moving home, facing crises, addiction and major life changes!
Saturday at Sweeney's is a well written, unique to the series novel that you will not want to put down. Ashley draws you into the story from Chapter One and leaves you craving for more. She spins an amazing plot where you don't see the ending coming. This is a story of family, life, moving forward, faith, trust and strength. It is real, raw and full of emotions - a definite must read novel and series.
September 22, 2018
I bought and read this book when it came out in January. I am doing reviews on Goodreads so am working on the books I have read. This is a fast paced, page turner, keep you wanting to read it kind of book. When the Seeney seafood business caught on fire, the fire is ruled arson and the suspect is the mother, who has bad spells, they think is Alzheimer's and the girls have to decide what to do about their mothers care. But did she set the fire? I love the Sweeney sisters and all that they have had to go through. In this book, their business burns to the ground. You will read about the families coming together, some falter, some have decisions to make whether to rebuild or move on to something different. It isn't just about the Sweeney sisters because one that really stuck with me was the twins. They decided to go to different colleges and the outcome was a surprise to the family but it was something I never thought about before. I always learn things from Ashley's books. So many decisions to make but as a family, they can make it through. Life isn't always easy, there are struggles, differences and sometimes reading about other families help you with your own.
This was the last book in the series, if you haven't read the other books, I think you too will fall in love with the characters. She ended the series so there was no wondering, everything was answered, and like life, I feel they are friends who have gone someplace else.
This was the last book in the series, if you haven't read the other books, I think you too will fall in love with the characters. She ended the series so there was no wondering, everything was answered, and like life, I feel they are friends who have gone someplace else.
January 15, 2018
If you have not picked up the Sweeney sisters series, you really must...as soon as possible. You will fall in love with this family, just like I did. The three Sweeney sisters are not perfect, by any means. As a matter of fact, they all have had their share of troubles and hardships but because they have family and good friends, they make it through the tough times.
Saturdays at Sweeney's get off to an intense start with a fire at the family business—a business that has been thriving for several generations and is the glue that holds the family together. Now with it gone, what's going to happen to the Sweeneys? And then there's the question of how the fire started? Was it arson? And is a Sweeney guilty of starting it?
As the family works on regrouping, the matriarch of the family is failing and the family receives some devastating news. How much more can this family handle?
This is an amazing series that captured me from the start, full of memorable characters that I came to think of as friends. I'm sad that this is the last book in the series but I am hoping that some of the characters have a strong enough voice that the author will take us back for a visit.
Saturdays at Sweeney's get off to an intense start with a fire at the family business—a business that has been thriving for several generations and is the glue that holds the family together. Now with it gone, what's going to happen to the Sweeneys? And then there's the question of how the fire started? Was it arson? And is a Sweeney guilty of starting it?
As the family works on regrouping, the matriarch of the family is failing and the family receives some devastating news. How much more can this family handle?
This is an amazing series that captured me from the start, full of memorable characters that I came to think of as friends. I'm sad that this is the last book in the series but I am hoping that some of the characters have a strong enough voice that the author will take us back for a visit.
December 27, 2017
I received an Advanced Reader Ebook Copy of Saturday at Sweeney’s from Ashley Farley in exchange for my honest opinion. I have read every book in the series, this one makes 5, and have loved every single one! It’s about the Sweeney family and their lives in a small town called Prospect which is in the Lowcountry. There are 3 sisters who are the main characters, and although I hate to admit it, I seem to favor Sam, the middle daughter. Ashley covers many everyday topics that we all go through in life and I think that’s why the books are so easy to relate to. You can’t help but love this family and it feels like the characters are real and that you actually know them. This particular book covers some very sad and upsetting topics, but just as in life, things aren’t always happy and perfect. Alzheimer’s is the main topic, with a little drug addiction, guns and fire thrown in there. I have recommended all of these books to my reader friends. If you haven’t read about the Sweeney’s yet, you really should. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed!
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