Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Romance
Source: MIRA ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable tale about finding friendship with the unlikeliest person…

As the owner of Twisted, Seattle’s best salons, Erica knows that the sharpest cuts come from the people we love. She’s terrified that she’s losing her teen daughter, Summer, to her “other” family, especially to her stepmom, Allison.

All it takes to blow up Allison’s happy life is one collect call. From prison. Her beloved husband, Peter, has been arrested, leaving Allison pregnant, broke, scared and alone with a toddler. But when her stepdaughter ferrets out the truth, the teen rushes to the last person Allison wants to ask for help—her husband’s battle-ax ex.

Erica would do anything for Summer, even take in the woman her daughter loves like a second mom. Allison feels intimidated by Erica—a woman who would never let herself become so dependent on a man. But the more time they spend together, the more Allison realizes what Erica truly needs is a friend. Can two women who married the same man move beyond their complicated past and rethink what it means to be family?

Ope’s Opinion: This is actually a 2.5 rating. This book really frustrated me. When I got to the 25% point of the book I learned exactly what was in the synopsis: Peter is in jail, Allison has a toddler and is pregnant, Erica has a really good job and Summer wants to help Allison. It is on repeat for the whole start of the book. I actually went back to look to see if I was rereading the same chapter.

I felt like the author came up with a great story line ( an ex wife and the current wife having a positive relationship while the husband is in jail ), but she had nothing else to back up the story. So she just kept repeating it.

I am not sure why this in the romance category – it is more about Erica and Allison’s relationship.