Book Review and Giveaway: The Good Woman by Jane Porter

Synopsis: Is it possible to leave it all behind?

The firstborn of a large Irish-American family, Meg Brennan Roberts is a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother who prides herself on always making the right decisions. But years of being “the good woman” have taken a toll and though her winery career thrives, Meg feels burned out and empty, and more disconnected than ever from her increasingly distant husband. Lonely and disheartened, she attends the London Wine Fair with her boss, ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan. It’s here, alone together in an exotic city, far from “real” life, that Chad confesses his long-standing desire for Meg.

Overwhelmed, flattered, and desperately confused, Meg returns home, only to suddenly question every choice she’s ever made, especially that of her marriage. For Meg, something’s got to give, and for once in her life she flees her responsibilities—but with consequences as reckless and irreversible as they are liberating. Now she must decide whether being the person everyone needs is worth losing the woman she was meant to be.

You can read Chapters 1-3 on the author's website!


Review: I am so glad that the author is continuing this series (the second book,The Good Daughter, comes out in February 2013, with a third also planned), so that we can hear more about the different characters, as when you finish the book, you will not want to let go of them! Maybe it was the locales (San Francisco, Napa, Santa Rosa,Capitola) that brought back so many memories, but once I started the book, I did not want to put it down, and ended up finishing it in 2 sittings!If you have siblings, you will truly eb able to relate to the pressures and relationships between and among the siblings. By basing the book around Meg, Porter started with the 'perfect child' to see how that perspective wears down the one labeled as such, but heaps such extreme expectations on those around her.

The book is about real people, with real issues, feelings and troubles. And as such, she draws the reader into their lives, where you may find yourself finishing the book and arguing with the author (mentally of course!), and the paths she took the characters down. While all is not resolved at the end of the book, I found myself wishing that Meg had grown from her experience and made a different decision. Or that Chad had stood more behind the confessions he made, and acted upon them. I almost felt like 'safe' choices were made in the end, and while they were understood, I hope they are not what they seem, in the second and third books. As always, Porter delivers a solid enjoyable book!


About the Author:

Jane Porter, a native of Visalia, California, graduated from UCLA with a degree in American Studies and worked in sales and marketing before returning to school to earn a teaching credential and an MA in Writing from the University of San Francisco. Since publishing her first romance novel in 2001, Jane has written and sold 39 novels, including her latest release, The Good Woman, the first book in her Brennan Sisters trilogy. A bestselling author, Jane has also been a finalist for the prestigious RITA award in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2010 from Romance Writers of America, and her '06 release, Flirting With Forty, picked by Redbook as its Red Hot Summer Read, went back for seven printings in six weeks before being made into a December 08 Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear. Jane, her surfer husband, and three sons make their home today in San Clemente, CA where she's currently working on her next novel. Check out her website for more: www.janeporter.com

Ready to slip into the Brennan family with this review copy?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book,free of charge, from Booksparks PR, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.