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Westenbury #3
Sing Me a Secret
The four Sutherland sisters have all had very different paths in life, but one secret and a slighty tense production of Jesus Christ Superstar are about to bring them all back together again...
When the news that pop-superstar Lexia Sutherland is returning to Westenbury, not everyone is thrilled by the news – including Lexia. There are too many memories she doesn't need to face – or need re-surfacing.
Meanwhile, Juno Sutherland just wants a little peace and quiet. As the local village doctor, she's got her priorities in order; kids, job, husband, tenacious pony, a role in the village musical... So when the sexy new locum turns up – and steals her office – the last thing she needed was to be hit with rising temperatures and an over-active imagination.
Will these sisters be able to uncover the past, deal with the future and put on the performance of a lifetime?
Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
February 12, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Sing me a Secret is the first book by author Julie Houston that I have read and I can see why she is a best-selling author as the storyline flowed perfectly and the book felt inviting and kept me entertained throughout.
This is a tale of four sisters, all very different with unique personalities. The book opens with youngest sister Lexia Sutherland winning a singing competition to front a new girl group, we then move forward in time fifteen years and find out about a long-standing falling out within the family between Lexia and the rest.
Lexia is now married to a Premier League Footballer and has a young son. When her husband signs a contract for a new football club they have to move to where she grew up and where her family still live. Not all are pleased that she is returning home.
The relationship between the sisters I have seen many times before within some of my friend’s families so they were perfectly realistic to me. I loved how warm they could be to one another as well as cold and brutal at times too.
The book is heart-warming, charming, and often funny, especially when one of the sisters Juno was involved. There are big secrets (given in the title) that are being held which when revealed were a shock to me. There is also a bit of eye-candy in the form of the new locum doctor, and a man to hate in Footballer Theo.
I love a book set within a village as you would think big cities were where the action happens but villages seem to have so much fun. I loved the book for all its surprises, great characters, and for giving me a laugh.
Sing me a Secret is the first book by author Julie Houston that I have read and I can see why she is a best-selling author as the storyline flowed perfectly and the book felt inviting and kept me entertained throughout.
This is a tale of four sisters, all very different with unique personalities. The book opens with youngest sister Lexia Sutherland winning a singing competition to front a new girl group, we then move forward in time fifteen years and find out about a long-standing falling out within the family between Lexia and the rest.
Lexia is now married to a Premier League Footballer and has a young son. When her husband signs a contract for a new football club they have to move to where she grew up and where her family still live. Not all are pleased that she is returning home.
The relationship between the sisters I have seen many times before within some of my friend’s families so they were perfectly realistic to me. I loved how warm they could be to one another as well as cold and brutal at times too.
The book is heart-warming, charming, and often funny, especially when one of the sisters Juno was involved. There are big secrets (given in the title) that are being held which when revealed were a shock to me. There is also a bit of eye-candy in the form of the new locum doctor, and a man to hate in Footballer Theo.
I love a book set within a village as you would think big cities were where the action happens but villages seem to have so much fun. I loved the book for all its surprises, great characters, and for giving me a laugh.
May 21, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
‘I’m claustrophobic,’ she lied. ‘Put me in that coffin of a storeroom and I’ll end up hyperventilating just as I’m ordering some innocent man out of his undercrackers. I’ll be breathing heavily like some dirty old man in a raincoat and then the whole surgery will be on the front page of the News of the World…’
The bloody gerbil was always going AWOL, reappearing when she least expected it. She’d been lying half-asleep in the bath the other day when the damned thing had run along its edge, stopped and eyeballed her and she’d had to grab the flannel to cover herself, feeling strangely embarrassed and at a disadvantage under Lady Gaga’s haughty, critical stare.
Patrick, the flamboyant, adored, but often absent father of their childhood was – here, Juno frowned at the memory – too busy shagging his students and being made to leave his lecturing positions – lechering positions, Ariadne had renamed them – to be remotely interested in his daughters’ musical ambitions.
‘What’s Rosemary Braithwaite got that I haven’t? Well, I’ll tell you: haemorrhoids, that’s what.’ ‘Isn’t that breaking the Hippocratic oath, Izzy?’ Ariadne ventured. ‘Yes, sorry, you didn’t hear that from me. As far as I’m aware, Mary Magdalene doesn’t have, and never has had, bum grapes.’ She paused. ‘Honest.’
My Review:
This was my first Julie Houston experience and I was an instant convert and quickly became a rabid fan. I adored her wry wit and clever levity and wore a near-constant smirk throughout my perusal of this deftly crafted and amusing tale of high achieving members of a dysfunctional family, one that would give new meaning to the term. The writing was engaging, observant, and easy to fall into and inhabited by oddly enticing characters who entertained even when they were annoying, and that takes mad skills. I relished each page and added every book on her listing to my TBR.
In addition to a cleverly amusing read Ms. Houston provided me with 3 new additions to my Brit Words and Phrases List with swinging a leg - being idle or avoiding work; locum - a person who temporarily takes the place for someone else of the same profession; and fit as a butcher’s dog – extremely healthy.
‘I’m claustrophobic,’ she lied. ‘Put me in that coffin of a storeroom and I’ll end up hyperventilating just as I’m ordering some innocent man out of his undercrackers. I’ll be breathing heavily like some dirty old man in a raincoat and then the whole surgery will be on the front page of the News of the World…’
The bloody gerbil was always going AWOL, reappearing when she least expected it. She’d been lying half-asleep in the bath the other day when the damned thing had run along its edge, stopped and eyeballed her and she’d had to grab the flannel to cover herself, feeling strangely embarrassed and at a disadvantage under Lady Gaga’s haughty, critical stare.
Patrick, the flamboyant, adored, but often absent father of their childhood was – here, Juno frowned at the memory – too busy shagging his students and being made to leave his lecturing positions – lechering positions, Ariadne had renamed them – to be remotely interested in his daughters’ musical ambitions.
‘What’s Rosemary Braithwaite got that I haven’t? Well, I’ll tell you: haemorrhoids, that’s what.’ ‘Isn’t that breaking the Hippocratic oath, Izzy?’ Ariadne ventured. ‘Yes, sorry, you didn’t hear that from me. As far as I’m aware, Mary Magdalene doesn’t have, and never has had, bum grapes.’ She paused. ‘Honest.’
My Review:
This was my first Julie Houston experience and I was an instant convert and quickly became a rabid fan. I adored her wry wit and clever levity and wore a near-constant smirk throughout my perusal of this deftly crafted and amusing tale of high achieving members of a dysfunctional family, one that would give new meaning to the term. The writing was engaging, observant, and easy to fall into and inhabited by oddly enticing characters who entertained even when they were annoying, and that takes mad skills. I relished each page and added every book on her listing to my TBR.
In addition to a cleverly amusing read Ms. Houston provided me with 3 new additions to my Brit Words and Phrases List with swinging a leg - being idle or avoiding work; locum - a person who temporarily takes the place for someone else of the same profession; and fit as a butcher’s dog – extremely healthy.
May 7, 2020
OH my! This was humorous and emotional with secrets and relationship and everything maddening as families and sisters were supposed to be.
The four Sutherland sisters who were together yet estranged with their own inner workings and grumbles had to come together for a village musical.
Past was weaved brilliantly into the present by the ever talented Julie Houston who got the equations between the sisters just right. Love was their bond, but secrets too got in their way. Warmth of the village and the quirky characters soon set the ball rolling. They were all different, some took time to grow on me.
The author could bring home important emotions, light and shadows paving its way. The story had realistic tones, the sisters and their life journey came alive in the prose. The story flowed well from its very concept. Overcoming the past for a brilliant future was the core, but it was their love for each other which made the story shine.
A brilliant, heart touching read by a wonderful author.
The four Sutherland sisters who were together yet estranged with their own inner workings and grumbles had to come together for a village musical.
Past was weaved brilliantly into the present by the ever talented Julie Houston who got the equations between the sisters just right. Love was their bond, but secrets too got in their way. Warmth of the village and the quirky characters soon set the ball rolling. They were all different, some took time to grow on me.
The author could bring home important emotions, light and shadows paving its way. The story had realistic tones, the sisters and their life journey came alive in the prose. The story flowed well from its very concept. Overcoming the past for a brilliant future was the core, but it was their love for each other which made the story shine.
A brilliant, heart touching read by a wonderful author.
May 21, 2020
After her husband jets off on business, Juno’s left balancing life as the village doctor with parenting two precocious children and a menagerie of rowdy animals. She’s also left with questions about the state of her marriage—further complicated by the arrival of a handsome new coworker … who steals her office. With her world already spinning, the last thing she anticipates is her popstar sister, Lexia, digging up long-buried secrets when she arrives in Westenbury after years of estrangement. Still, family is family, and an off-kilter production of Jesus Christ Superstar just might be able to heal old wounds and solidify a sisterhood once again.
Here’s a riddle: what do you get when you put the funniest writer working today in an echoey room? Answer: Julie Houston. Julie Houston. Julie Houston.
Yes, that means even among all the familial drama and tension, Houston’s practically trademarked humor is back on display. From a mistaken medical house call to some politically minded chickens to chaotic musical rehearsals, she keeps every moment lively and the laughs rolling. And it’s not as though she’s doling out jokes on every page. Instead, she writes with such heart, tapping into the real essence of her characters, that when she does send up a snort-inducing scenario, it lands uproariously.
In turn, most of Sing Me a Secret’s success rests on Houston’s masterfully crafted characters. Four sisters, four sets of secrets, and a family in desperate need of a restart. Juno manages the bulk of the action, tying much of the story together while occasionally ceding some of the action to Lexia. Houston swaps between their viewpoints and dips into the past to tell their stories, and the result is a richly complex history for these women that has an effortlessly saga-like quality.
Even with such a powerful story at the forefront, Houston doesn’t skimp on the action at the periphery. For being fictional, Westenbury is brimming with life, and it’s populated by a cast that’s never known a boring or mundane day. An abundance of marriage confusion. An exploration of mental health. A singing competition and subsequent fame. An Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that can’t keep a cast. Houston manages it all before settling on an ending that ties everything together in a totally satisfying way.
Is Sing Me a Secret Julie Houston’s best book? Possibly. But then, all of her books could argue for that title.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through Netgalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Here’s a riddle: what do you get when you put the funniest writer working today in an echoey room? Answer: Julie Houston. Julie Houston. Julie Houston.
Yes, that means even among all the familial drama and tension, Houston’s practically trademarked humor is back on display. From a mistaken medical house call to some politically minded chickens to chaotic musical rehearsals, she keeps every moment lively and the laughs rolling. And it’s not as though she’s doling out jokes on every page. Instead, she writes with such heart, tapping into the real essence of her characters, that when she does send up a snort-inducing scenario, it lands uproariously.
In turn, most of Sing Me a Secret’s success rests on Houston’s masterfully crafted characters. Four sisters, four sets of secrets, and a family in desperate need of a restart. Juno manages the bulk of the action, tying much of the story together while occasionally ceding some of the action to Lexia. Houston swaps between their viewpoints and dips into the past to tell their stories, and the result is a richly complex history for these women that has an effortlessly saga-like quality.
Even with such a powerful story at the forefront, Houston doesn’t skimp on the action at the periphery. For being fictional, Westenbury is brimming with life, and it’s populated by a cast that’s never known a boring or mundane day. An abundance of marriage confusion. An exploration of mental health. A singing competition and subsequent fame. An Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that can’t keep a cast. Houston manages it all before settling on an ending that ties everything together in a totally satisfying way.
Is Sing Me a Secret Julie Houston’s best book? Possibly. But then, all of her books could argue for that title.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through Netgalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
May 17, 2023
3.5⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook copy of Sing Me A Secret by Julie Houston. This was an entertaining literary fiction about four sisters and the troubles in each of their lives. One is a singer in an abusive relationship, another has a marriage that’s falling apart, one has many secrets that slowly unravel and a secret which they all share and love in fear of…
This was fun and deep all at once; I was hooked from start to finish. I had no clue the true reason why Pandora had made Lexi promise to never come back!
Although everything is told in a matter of fact and even lightheartedly, there are a LOT of dark topics covered.
The trigger warnings I noticed are as follows:
-infidelity
-miscarriage
-rape (minor and adult)
-adult/minor relationship
-domestic abuse
-physical abuse
-drunk driving killing
-blackmail
-infertility
-violence - stabbing
-mental illness
-institutionalisation
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an audiobook copy of Sing Me A Secret by Julie Houston. This was an entertaining literary fiction about four sisters and the troubles in each of their lives. One is a singer in an abusive relationship, another has a marriage that’s falling apart, one has many secrets that slowly unravel and a secret which they all share and love in fear of…
This was fun and deep all at once; I was hooked from start to finish. I had no clue the true reason why Pandora had made Lexi promise to never come back!
Although everything is told in a matter of fact and even lightheartedly, there are a LOT of dark topics covered.
The trigger warnings I noticed are as follows:
-infidelity
-miscarriage
-rape (minor and adult)
-adult/minor relationship
-domestic abuse
-physical abuse
-drunk driving killing
-blackmail
-infertility
-violence - stabbing
-mental illness
-institutionalisation
March 3, 2020
Laugh-out-loud hilarious and heartwarming!
The perfect depiction of village life and all its characters! I loved it!
The perfect depiction of village life and all its characters! I loved it!
May 25, 2020
Having had the pleasure of reading Julie’s books before, I knew I was going to be settling down to a read that would not only be fun but that would also include troubles and traumas with life and relationships generally that many might find familiar – and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
The story centres around four sisters – all very different in personality but they all have one thing in common – they can sing, very well.
Set around a Yorkshire village called Westenbury, Juno, the GP having to hold the family fort whilst her husband decides to work in America. Pandora, an ex-solicitor but now leading the local musical theatre group with aspirations of bigger and better things and wanting to control everything and everyone. Ariadne, a classics teacher, is the singleton with no children and a no-nonsense attitude; and lastly, the youngest of the four, Lexia, who has had to deal with so much parental upheaval whilst her sisters were away studying at University and whose earlier lifestyle has taken its toll.
My goodness, what a lot of drama and emotional trauma this family has had to endure. Having been estranged from her family for some considerable time, Lexia’s return really does open Pandora’s box! and the consequences are far reaching for the whole family. The story flits back in time to tell Lexia’s part – of the four girls she was considered to be the one most ‘educationally challenged’ but her talents lay elsewhere – with a phenomenal singing voice she found fame with a career as a pop star.
As well as a romance element, there are several heavier topics covered here which include one or two rather unsavoury characters. The main characters of the sisters are well drawn, and engaging with their flaws and insecurities adding realism. Even some of the minor players had their place in the story. Juno’s young daughter Tilda, with her caustic comments found her way into my heart. It did take me longer to warm to some than others – Ariadne with her dry humour and was a favourite, as was Lexia. Although I could quite understand Juno’s almost obsession with the hunky new locum at the practice, it took a while for me to warm to her, she could be a bit of a scatterbrain which grated on me at times.
Although this is one of a series with some recurring minor characters, (Harriet Westmoreland from previous books makes a fleeting appearance) each story is a standalone and this can very easily be read on its own.
A story of secrets, marital issues and family relationships – and a storyline that was both witty and full of drama. Sing Me A Secret was a hugely enjoyable and entertaining read.
The story centres around four sisters – all very different in personality but they all have one thing in common – they can sing, very well.
Set around a Yorkshire village called Westenbury, Juno, the GP having to hold the family fort whilst her husband decides to work in America. Pandora, an ex-solicitor but now leading the local musical theatre group with aspirations of bigger and better things and wanting to control everything and everyone. Ariadne, a classics teacher, is the singleton with no children and a no-nonsense attitude; and lastly, the youngest of the four, Lexia, who has had to deal with so much parental upheaval whilst her sisters were away studying at University and whose earlier lifestyle has taken its toll.
My goodness, what a lot of drama and emotional trauma this family has had to endure. Having been estranged from her family for some considerable time, Lexia’s return really does open Pandora’s box! and the consequences are far reaching for the whole family. The story flits back in time to tell Lexia’s part – of the four girls she was considered to be the one most ‘educationally challenged’ but her talents lay elsewhere – with a phenomenal singing voice she found fame with a career as a pop star.
As well as a romance element, there are several heavier topics covered here which include one or two rather unsavoury characters. The main characters of the sisters are well drawn, and engaging with their flaws and insecurities adding realism. Even some of the minor players had their place in the story. Juno’s young daughter Tilda, with her caustic comments found her way into my heart. It did take me longer to warm to some than others – Ariadne with her dry humour and was a favourite, as was Lexia. Although I could quite understand Juno’s almost obsession with the hunky new locum at the practice, it took a while for me to warm to her, she could be a bit of a scatterbrain which grated on me at times.
Although this is one of a series with some recurring minor characters, (Harriet Westmoreland from previous books makes a fleeting appearance) each story is a standalone and this can very easily be read on its own.
A story of secrets, marital issues and family relationships – and a storyline that was both witty and full of drama. Sing Me A Secret was a hugely enjoyable and entertaining read.
June 3, 2020
Sing Me A Secret is the story of four sisters Ariadne, Pandora, Juno and Lexia and their families. The women are so different and have a varied age range but the one thing that they have in common is that they are all excellent singers.
Lexia was less academic than her sisters and left home to become a huge singing sensation. She went on to marry a top professional footballer and has a four-year-old son. After marrying she lost contact with her family but now her husband’s career brings her back to her home town.
Doctor Juno is juggling life as a village GP and mother to two children with an absent husband who is working abroad .She knows that her marriage has become stagnant which becomes more evident when a handsome young locum arrives on the scene.
Pandora announces that the village choir will be taking part in a singing competition and she insists that her sisters join in. Will they be able to bury the past and unite to put on a production to be proud of?
I loved reading about the family dynamics of this unique but still relatable family. There is literally a secret around every corner and plenty of highly amusing moments and dry wit. Even the children were individual and amusing especially ten year old Tilda with her extensive vocabulary and opinionated personality.
Julie Houston is a new author for me and I loved how she deftly changed from past to present and different character’s perspectives so seamlessly. The masterful dialogue really gives you an insight into the characters and swept the story along. Although the sisters are very different there are subtle similarities which emerge as the characters develop.
This is an entertaining, character driven read with some serious issues but plenty of laugh out loud moments too.
Lexia was less academic than her sisters and left home to become a huge singing sensation. She went on to marry a top professional footballer and has a four-year-old son. After marrying she lost contact with her family but now her husband’s career brings her back to her home town.
Doctor Juno is juggling life as a village GP and mother to two children with an absent husband who is working abroad .She knows that her marriage has become stagnant which becomes more evident when a handsome young locum arrives on the scene.
Pandora announces that the village choir will be taking part in a singing competition and she insists that her sisters join in. Will they be able to bury the past and unite to put on a production to be proud of?
I loved reading about the family dynamics of this unique but still relatable family. There is literally a secret around every corner and plenty of highly amusing moments and dry wit. Even the children were individual and amusing especially ten year old Tilda with her extensive vocabulary and opinionated personality.
Julie Houston is a new author for me and I loved how she deftly changed from past to present and different character’s perspectives so seamlessly. The masterful dialogue really gives you an insight into the characters and swept the story along. Although the sisters are very different there are subtle similarities which emerge as the characters develop.
This is an entertaining, character driven read with some serious issues but plenty of laugh out loud moments too.
May 6, 2020
This story is tagged as 'a laugh out loud, heartwarming novel from the bestselling author of 'A Village Affair'' - and it really is! I'd thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Village Affair' so jumped at the opportunity to read this. Set in the village of Westenbury, this time it features the four Sutherland sisters and most of the story is told from the point of views of Juno and Lexia. All four sisters have their own secret that the others are unaware of but as the siblings reconnect there will be revelations, surprises, news and singing. It is a lovely read, set in a delightful community where everyone knows everyone else - and everyone assumes they know each other's secrets. However, this story proves they don't! It is a story with everything from infidelity, blackmail, family drama, a musical production and, of course, romance. It has a great range of characters who all have their own contribution to the unfolding drama. Can the show go on regardless? What will happen when secrets from the past are revealed? How will others react?
This is an emotive read, exploring relationships in a serious yet fun manner. It is a taste of rural community, sprinkled with stardom, touched by anxiety, packed with love and laughs. I really enjoyed reading it and have no hesitation in highly recommending it!
I requested and was gifted a copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and thoroughly enjoying doing so - I can't wait to read more from this talented author in future!
This is an emotive read, exploring relationships in a serious yet fun manner. It is a taste of rural community, sprinkled with stardom, touched by anxiety, packed with love and laughs. I really enjoyed reading it and have no hesitation in highly recommending it!
I requested and was gifted a copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and thoroughly enjoying doing so - I can't wait to read more from this talented author in future!
May 4, 2020
I loved A Village Affair and immediately felt in safe hands and familiar territory with Julie Houston's latest novel: Sing Me A Secret.
What I love about this author’s characters is that not only do you quickly feel like you know them, you also know you'd have a good night out with them. They were perfect company for lockdown nights in too.
The author really nails the sister dynamic and gets right under the skin of family politics.
It's a cracking story. Funny; well told; doesn't pull any punches and I absolutely loved it.
Highly recommend.
What I love about this author’s characters is that not only do you quickly feel like you know them, you also know you'd have a good night out with them. They were perfect company for lockdown nights in too.
The author really nails the sister dynamic and gets right under the skin of family politics.
It's a cracking story. Funny; well told; doesn't pull any punches and I absolutely loved it.
Highly recommend.
May 13, 2020
Ok, full disclosure even though I have been aware of this author for a while now, this is actually the first I have read by Julie Houghton. I know, shock and horror!! As I did and do have a huge Mount Everest of a TBR pile, I did originally sign up to this blog tour to feature the book and an excerpt only. But as soon as I read the back blurb of the book I was charmed. So I was a little greedy and chose to review it too, even though I did break my own rule of not to start a series in the middle, but I am so pleased that I did because this is such an entertaining, feel-good, witty, sunny and the perfect escapist story. Which we all know is exactly what is needed in these weird times!
So as I said this is apart of a series set in a little country village, it’s idyllic, comfy and cute, it’s a place where everyone knows each other’s secrets; think Father Brown or Midsummer Murders (without the murders, obviously, but you get the idea) I did worry that I needed to read the previous books first, but personally, I don’t think you need to. To tell you the truth I read this as a stand-alone and if didn’t know there was a connecting book then I wouldn’t have guessed it. But it still won’t be stopping me from going out and grabbing a couple more of Julie’s books.
The story revolves around four sisters; The Sutherlands, Juno, Lexia, Ariadne and Pandora. Each sister has her own life and her own troubles, there are secrets swirling around that they may not be able to ignore. Pop-starlet; Lexia has to return to the village with her production of Jesus Christ Superstar, something she isn’t too keen on, I can tell you. She has her faults and her troubles and she would rather be anywhere else in the world then going back home. But will she receive a warm welcome from her estranged sisters? And more importantly, can, they all work together so the show goes on?
I really enjoyed getting to know each of the sisters, they all had their reason’s for their individual crisis’ and unhappiness, and there is more lurking in their backgrounds that does act as a bit of a hurdle for them. I did get a sense that each of them had their own unhappiness and it’s lovely to see them make their own journeys. The Sutherland sisters story is one that so many families can relate to, there is something hidden within the folds of the family make-up that makes close contact with each other very difficult, and Julie Houston has portrayed every emotion that runs through this family perfectly and in ding so pulls the reader in; you go through everything with them as though you have been dropped into the middle of their little village.
Which to be honest I would happily live in, I would be the nosey parker next door peeking at the neighbours behind the twitching net curtains, a bit like Marple.
This is one of those books that does have you giggling away, even rather embarrassingly while the family are all watching something on TV. You will sit down and not want to move until you have closed the last page, it’s in not other words but; charming!
I loved the friendly, simplistic, yet realistic plot, it kept me engaged and entertained through out. it has a great cast of characters, which are all so well developed and each one has a brilliant story of their own to tell. I loved the way the past and the present was linked and ran through the story with real ease, which shows just how marvellous of a writer Julie Houston is. I loved her fluid, creative and classical writing style. I honestly cannot fault a single thing about this book, it was a real joy to read and to be apart of this blog tour.
So as I said this is apart of a series set in a little country village, it’s idyllic, comfy and cute, it’s a place where everyone knows each other’s secrets; think Father Brown or Midsummer Murders (without the murders, obviously, but you get the idea) I did worry that I needed to read the previous books first, but personally, I don’t think you need to. To tell you the truth I read this as a stand-alone and if didn’t know there was a connecting book then I wouldn’t have guessed it. But it still won’t be stopping me from going out and grabbing a couple more of Julie’s books.
The story revolves around four sisters; The Sutherlands, Juno, Lexia, Ariadne and Pandora. Each sister has her own life and her own troubles, there are secrets swirling around that they may not be able to ignore. Pop-starlet; Lexia has to return to the village with her production of Jesus Christ Superstar, something she isn’t too keen on, I can tell you. She has her faults and her troubles and she would rather be anywhere else in the world then going back home. But will she receive a warm welcome from her estranged sisters? And more importantly, can, they all work together so the show goes on?
I really enjoyed getting to know each of the sisters, they all had their reason’s for their individual crisis’ and unhappiness, and there is more lurking in their backgrounds that does act as a bit of a hurdle for them. I did get a sense that each of them had their own unhappiness and it’s lovely to see them make their own journeys. The Sutherland sisters story is one that so many families can relate to, there is something hidden within the folds of the family make-up that makes close contact with each other very difficult, and Julie Houston has portrayed every emotion that runs through this family perfectly and in ding so pulls the reader in; you go through everything with them as though you have been dropped into the middle of their little village.
Which to be honest I would happily live in, I would be the nosey parker next door peeking at the neighbours behind the twitching net curtains, a bit like Marple.
This is one of those books that does have you giggling away, even rather embarrassingly while the family are all watching something on TV. You will sit down and not want to move until you have closed the last page, it’s in not other words but; charming!
I loved the friendly, simplistic, yet realistic plot, it kept me engaged and entertained through out. it has a great cast of characters, which are all so well developed and each one has a brilliant story of their own to tell. I loved the way the past and the present was linked and ran through the story with real ease, which shows just how marvellous of a writer Julie Houston is. I loved her fluid, creative and classical writing style. I honestly cannot fault a single thing about this book, it was a real joy to read and to be apart of this blog tour.
March 10, 2020
I love this author and couldn't wait to read her latest book. I wasn't let down at all as simply brilliant was a laugh out loud book from beginning to end full of secrets and families and can they work through it and move forward to the future or not. Really warm read set in a beautiful village and great characters and you just want to keep reading.
The Sutherland sisters have had very different lives but they all hold one secret but there is going to be a production of Jesus Christ superstar and will this bring them all back together. The sister Lexie who is a pop star is returning to Westenbury I'm sure not everyone will be pleased. To be fair even Lexie isn't sure about returning as you has to many memories. The other sister who is a local dr Juno Sutherland she has everything in order but a locum dr turns up and takes her room how will she react. She's also going to be in the show will the sisters be able to uncover the past and move forward to start a future together or not. How will the performance go and will they be able to win. Will the sisters really be able to be close again or not.
Full of secrets and worth more than five stars.
The Sutherland sisters have had very different lives but they all hold one secret but there is going to be a production of Jesus Christ superstar and will this bring them all back together. The sister Lexie who is a pop star is returning to Westenbury I'm sure not everyone will be pleased. To be fair even Lexie isn't sure about returning as you has to many memories. The other sister who is a local dr Juno Sutherland she has everything in order but a locum dr turns up and takes her room how will she react. She's also going to be in the show will the sisters be able to uncover the past and move forward to start a future together or not. How will the performance go and will they be able to win. Will the sisters really be able to be close again or not.
Full of secrets and worth more than five stars.
May 10, 2020
Four sisters all very different, but very loyal to each other, and like all families having secrets some common to them, some private to one or a couple of them.
The story set in Scotland is in itself picturesque. The loyalty that all of them have to their original place of birth is very nice to see. The sisters despite their difficulty in coping with a romeo type father and a mentally depressed mother who was besotted with her husband were not judgemental of either party though they did accept their limitations.
How the sisters whose paths were so diverse came together in a mix of family secrets unearthed, blackmail, domestic abuse, infidelity and a super performance of a musical in a village is this story.
Funny as in laugh out funny, but with strong overtones of a family story, I do hope there will be a sequel. The author will have to find something if there is a sequel because there is a lot going on in this busy story.
Enjoyed the read tremendously.
The story set in Scotland is in itself picturesque. The loyalty that all of them have to their original place of birth is very nice to see. The sisters despite their difficulty in coping with a romeo type father and a mentally depressed mother who was besotted with her husband were not judgemental of either party though they did accept their limitations.
How the sisters whose paths were so diverse came together in a mix of family secrets unearthed, blackmail, domestic abuse, infidelity and a super performance of a musical in a village is this story.
Funny as in laugh out funny, but with strong overtones of a family story, I do hope there will be a sequel. The author will have to find something if there is a sequel because there is a lot going on in this busy story.
Enjoyed the read tremendously.
December 3, 2022
Narrated by Laura Brydon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great voice
Story by Julie Houston ⭐⭐⭐
This book was an ok story of family drama and hidden secrets.
Everything was just OK. The characters, the story, their lives. It didn't particularly grab me, but I also didn't dislike it.
Great voice
Story by Julie Houston ⭐⭐⭐
This book was an ok story of family drama and hidden secrets.
Everything was just OK. The characters, the story, their lives. It didn't particularly grab me, but I also didn't dislike it.
April 30, 2020
What a lovely warm funny book about the Sutherland sisters and the village they live in Westenbury.
Juno is the local doctor. Lexia is a superstar singer married to a handsome rich footballer, Ariadne is a teacher, and Pandora wants to put on Jesus christ superstar in the village hall.
The girls are all excellent singers, their mother has mental health issues and a philandering father who is in a relationship with a much younger woman.
Secrets are being kept from each other which are bound to come out.
Enter a young very good looking Locum into the mix who one of the sisters falls head over heels in love with.
This book was fun and made me laugh out loud. The names of Juno's children's animals being one of them.
Such a good story, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Juno is the local doctor. Lexia is a superstar singer married to a handsome rich footballer, Ariadne is a teacher, and Pandora wants to put on Jesus christ superstar in the village hall.
The girls are all excellent singers, their mother has mental health issues and a philandering father who is in a relationship with a much younger woman.
Secrets are being kept from each other which are bound to come out.
Enter a young very good looking Locum into the mix who one of the sisters falls head over heels in love with.
This book was fun and made me laugh out loud. The names of Juno's children's animals being one of them.
Such a good story, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
May 9, 2020
A great read for lockdown - light hearted, little bit far fetched and perfect escapism. Full review to follow for the blog your later in the month.
June 15, 2024
A fave book of Julie Houston's - highly recommended.
April 5, 2020
I'm happy to have received this book from NetGalley for my fair and honest review. I loved the character of Lexi and would've loved the book just from her POV. She felt the realest and the mystery around her life and her relationship with her family was a full book in itself. I had trouble connecting with Juno though. I loved the characters around her - Harry Trotter, Lady Gaga, Tilda, Ari - but considering how much of the book was dedicated to her, she felt a bit unfinished. She should've been a smart, competent woman but she felt half baked.
I tried to keep up with all the slang but got a bit lost here and there. However, overall a solid read. It reminded me a bit of Jane Green at points.
I tried to keep up with all the slang but got a bit lost here and there. However, overall a solid read. It reminded me a bit of Jane Green at points.
May 25, 2020
Four sisters come together for the first time in years when former popstar, Lexia, reluctantly returns to Westenbury, her home town. Their lives and personalities couldn't be more different and yet a secret holds them together - and provides a big shock when revealed to the reader!
Houston has created a page-turning story that will have you gasping one minute and laughing the next.
A gorgeous village read full of humour and heart!
April 12, 2020
There are four sisters, Ariadne, Pandora, Juno and Lexia. Each of them grow to be women who have complicated lives and complicated relationships with their sisters.
Ariadne is a teacher who does not particularly like children.
Pandora has a Queen Victoria complex, she believes she knows how to run the world as well as everyone in that world. Pandora manages groups made up of the best people. One of her groups is producing a musical.
Juno is a family physician. Her husband has gone to the states for a year and she is now the one in charge of her son, her daughter, her daughter’s horse as well as her part time work in a family medical practice. Juno has recently begun having wild day dreams about the newest doctor to join the family practice.
Lexia has been a super star singer. She married a football star and now they have a little boy who wants to follow in his father’s football shoes. Lexia has been unable to live her life for awhile. Now she and her family have returned to her home town.
All of these women grew up in a home with a father who left them for another woman. Their mother became disconnected from reality because she was unable to live without the man she loved as much as life itself. But, no matter what, their mother sang. And all the girls can sing as well.
Now that all of them are grown women, they are facing life from their individual perspectives.
This is a story about ups and downs. It is about working to overcome difficulties. It is about remembering what is truly important in life.
Ms Houston writes with heart and humor. Her characters respond to life like real humans. At times they go forward with grace at other times not so much.
Although there is humor, there are also times of darkness. Which is also like real life.
Ms Houston is a talented author and her stories are well done.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.
Ariadne is a teacher who does not particularly like children.
Pandora has a Queen Victoria complex, she believes she knows how to run the world as well as everyone in that world. Pandora manages groups made up of the best people. One of her groups is producing a musical.
Juno is a family physician. Her husband has gone to the states for a year and she is now the one in charge of her son, her daughter, her daughter’s horse as well as her part time work in a family medical practice. Juno has recently begun having wild day dreams about the newest doctor to join the family practice.
Lexia has been a super star singer. She married a football star and now they have a little boy who wants to follow in his father’s football shoes. Lexia has been unable to live her life for awhile. Now she and her family have returned to her home town.
All of these women grew up in a home with a father who left them for another woman. Their mother became disconnected from reality because she was unable to live without the man she loved as much as life itself. But, no matter what, their mother sang. And all the girls can sing as well.
Now that all of them are grown women, they are facing life from their individual perspectives.
This is a story about ups and downs. It is about working to overcome difficulties. It is about remembering what is truly important in life.
Ms Houston writes with heart and humor. Her characters respond to life like real humans. At times they go forward with grace at other times not so much.
Although there is humor, there are also times of darkness. Which is also like real life.
Ms Houston is a talented author and her stories are well done.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.
January 9, 2023
The four Sutherland sisters have gone on to brilliant careers. Juno is a GP, Lexia, the youngest, is a former popstar, Pandora was a barrister and Ariadne is a teacher, despite their father leaving when Lexia was a teenager and their mother Helen's subsequent mental health issues.
Lexia hasn't been home to Midhope for decades, pretty much ever since she was discovered on a talent show when she was just seventeen. But her footballer husband Theo Ryan has just been signed for Midhope Town so she is moving back. But her arrival uncovers a web of secrets that will rock the family to its core.
Meanwhile, Pandora has entered the village choir into an Andrew Lloyd Webber amateur singing competition and is organising the choir with ruthless efficiency, bringing her keen legal brain to producing the best version of Jesus Christ Superstar seen outside Broadway.
Juno is learning to cope with a part-time GP job and looking after her two children after her husband has accepted a twelve-month appointment in Boston, Massachusetts. But when a new GP starts at the practice she finds herself drawn to him. Is he a womaniser luring all nearby women with his charms, or is she falling for a colleague? Now I'm convinced that I've read another Julie Houston book featuring Juno but I can't for the life of me find it. I'm not sure if its because all her books are set in the same small town and the stories are interlinked or I'm just rubbish at googling!
Anyway, after a slow start this turned out to be a fun read.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Lexia hasn't been home to Midhope for decades, pretty much ever since she was discovered on a talent show when she was just seventeen. But her footballer husband Theo Ryan has just been signed for Midhope Town so she is moving back. But her arrival uncovers a web of secrets that will rock the family to its core.
Meanwhile, Pandora has entered the village choir into an Andrew Lloyd Webber amateur singing competition and is organising the choir with ruthless efficiency, bringing her keen legal brain to producing the best version of Jesus Christ Superstar seen outside Broadway.
Juno is learning to cope with a part-time GP job and looking after her two children after her husband has accepted a twelve-month appointment in Boston, Massachusetts. But when a new GP starts at the practice she finds herself drawn to him. Is he a womaniser luring all nearby women with his charms, or is she falling for a colleague? Now I'm convinced that I've read another Julie Houston book featuring Juno but I can't for the life of me find it. I'm not sure if its because all her books are set in the same small town and the stories are interlinked or I'm just rubbish at googling!
Anyway, after a slow start this turned out to be a fun read.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
May 18, 2020
I've loved every book by Julie Houston, and relish having her name on my reading list; I have so looked forward to this one and it's a total delight to visit Westenbury once more.
Juno Sutherland has more than enough on her plate; a part-time job as a local doctor keeps her very busy, and then there's home, two children, her husband and a pony with a mind of it's own to take care of - not to mention her broken family which has left her mother needy and her sisters estranged. So she could do without a new locum joining the practice and booting her out of her room . . .
Well, it didn't take long for me to burst into laughter! The author's golden touch shone through the pages mixing joy, fun, laughter and angst - seamlessly. In what seemed like no time at all I was totally invested in all these fabulous characters as they became almost real. I felt that Juno was a close friend who I got to know better and better as the story expanded to include all of her family and I was thrilled when a few of the locals popped up - especially those who has been the focus of previous novels. I love that, while each book is a stand-alone read, those who came before are never entirely forgotten. With her trademark warmth, compassion - and terrific humour - this author has created another winner. Superbly written and wonderfully entertaining, this is absolutely a five star novel!
Juno Sutherland has more than enough on her plate; a part-time job as a local doctor keeps her very busy, and then there's home, two children, her husband and a pony with a mind of it's own to take care of - not to mention her broken family which has left her mother needy and her sisters estranged. So she could do without a new locum joining the practice and booting her out of her room . . .
Well, it didn't take long for me to burst into laughter! The author's golden touch shone through the pages mixing joy, fun, laughter and angst - seamlessly. In what seemed like no time at all I was totally invested in all these fabulous characters as they became almost real. I felt that Juno was a close friend who I got to know better and better as the story expanded to include all of her family and I was thrilled when a few of the locals popped up - especially those who has been the focus of previous novels. I love that, while each book is a stand-alone read, those who came before are never entirely forgotten. With her trademark warmth, compassion - and terrific humour - this author has created another winner. Superbly written and wonderfully entertaining, this is absolutely a five star novel!
April 28, 2020
I loved this story!!
The plot was excellent, it was full of family ups and downs and I loved the way that the book was written. The book has a lovely flow to it and I thought that the story had excellent attention to detail too. It was funny and at the same time serious where it needed to be – it had everything!
I thought that the characters were strong and really well gelled together and their interaction was great – it is 5 stars from me for this one, it is another fabulous book from Julie – very highly recommended!
The plot was excellent, it was full of family ups and downs and I loved the way that the book was written. The book has a lovely flow to it and I thought that the story had excellent attention to detail too. It was funny and at the same time serious where it needed to be – it had everything!
I thought that the characters were strong and really well gelled together and their interaction was great – it is 5 stars from me for this one, it is another fabulous book from Julie – very highly recommended!
May 17, 2020
I've read all of Julie Houston's books and I have to say she just seems to get better and better! This story is based in Westenbury, Yorkshire, and it is a perfect example of village life and community spirit. Throughout the book there is a strong feel of love and loyalty between the four main characters; the Sutherland sisters. This book had everything I could have wanted. One minute it had me laughing out loud, the next I was sat on the edge if my seat not knowing what to expect. I absolutely loved everything about this story and would highly recommend it.
July 29, 2020
A joy to read. It will end up making your heart sing!
You know when everything comes together in a novel? The right title, the perfect cover and every page is a joy to read? Well, this is one such book.
It has everything – the ups and downs of family life, with enough drama, love and angst to keep you anxiously turning those pages.
Every family has their secrets and the four Sutherland sisters are no exception. The emotional threads running through it will pull on your heartstrings at times, but there are also plenty of incredibly funny, heart-warming moments to enjoy.
A wonderful read!
You know when everything comes together in a novel? The right title, the perfect cover and every page is a joy to read? Well, this is one such book.
It has everything – the ups and downs of family life, with enough drama, love and angst to keep you anxiously turning those pages.
Every family has their secrets and the four Sutherland sisters are no exception. The emotional threads running through it will pull on your heartstrings at times, but there are also plenty of incredibly funny, heart-warming moments to enjoy.
A wonderful read!
February 5, 2021
Rather Addictive reading
I started this as a light read to keep myself jolly during long days spent indoors - I loved the twists and turns the story took. Each character was fully developed and perfectly portrayed. The entertaining character flaws and niggles about village life were vividly described and added lovely humour. Jumping between decades was also a fabulous book that kept me returning each day. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I started this as a light read to keep myself jolly during long days spent indoors - I loved the twists and turns the story took. Each character was fully developed and perfectly portrayed. The entertaining character flaws and niggles about village life were vividly described and added lovely humour. Jumping between decades was also a fabulous book that kept me returning each day. Thoroughly enjoyable.
March 15, 2021
Yet another brilliant book....
A story I couldn't put down. In the end t was reading a chapter before going to sleep and before getting up in the morning! Only once did t guess what was going to happen. Typical sisters, all different yet loving and protective of each other and my, each with a different story. A drama for each sister. Can't wait to read the next book.
A story I couldn't put down. In the end t was reading a chapter before going to sleep and before getting up in the morning! Only once did t guess what was going to happen. Typical sisters, all different yet loving and protective of each other and my, each with a different story. A drama for each sister. Can't wait to read the next book.
March 26, 2021
Fantastic read
This is my fourth book by Julie Houston and I couldn't give it any less than a five star rating. The story grips you from the beginning with the sometimes tangled lives of the four sisters. It is well written, hilariously funny in parts and hangs together well. I can't wait to read the next one. I thoroughly recommend.
This is my fourth book by Julie Houston and I couldn't give it any less than a five star rating. The story grips you from the beginning with the sometimes tangled lives of the four sisters. It is well written, hilariously funny in parts and hangs together well. I can't wait to read the next one. I thoroughly recommend.
November 29, 2020
Great
I really enjoyed this book.The way the characters of the
sisters were portrayed, each with their own stories but interwoven with each other
was brilliantly written .
I couldn't put it down
I really enjoyed this book.The way the characters of the
sisters were portrayed, each with their own stories but interwoven with each other
was brilliantly written .
I couldn't put it down
December 26, 2020
It's been a while since I read a novel in a modern time frame & I enjoyed reading about the four sisters
I think the book leaves the story open for future books perhaps to follow on with further escapades of the sisters
I think the book leaves the story open for future books perhaps to follow on with further escapades of the sisters
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