Serendipity

Loved it

I really enjoyed reading this book! the writer created an amazing story about two people who were so different but both want to prove they are good for one another.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

The first of the Barron brothers' contemporary romances is an entertaining tale

In Serendipity, New York, former wealthy Faith Harrington disowned her father Martin when he accepted a plea bargain after a Bernie Madoff level financial fraud; she also divorced her womanizing husband Carter Moreland who knew all before dumping her. She and her family are broke having to sell everything including the mansion on the hill through an SEC auction to pay back investors.

After a decade away Ethan Barron returns home too. He owes his younger brothers Nash and Dare having deserted them to foster care when their parents died and he couldn't cope; he knows he will need to be patient to win them over as they no longer need him like they did when he ran. Although the victim of her father's crime the townsfolk refuse to hire interior designer Faith; that is until Ethan hires the Princess on the hill to renovate his new purchase, her family's former mansion. Back in high school, they had a heated moment, but that seems tundra compared to how the former princess and the entrepreneur feel today.

The first of the Barron brothers' contemporary romances is an entertaining tale starring two strong obstinate protagonists and a powerful mostly extended families' support cast. The lead couple and their siblings have realistic issues including family dynamics that may keep them apart. With a nod to the headlines and some late suspense, Carly Phillips opens her upstate New York tale with a strong entry.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

My first Carly Phillips book of many to come!!!

Faith Harrington grew up as a privileged girl, living in a large stately home, in Serendipity, New York. When she returns to her hometown, after a failed marriage, she is faced with the challenge of overcoming the disdain that the locals feel for her and her family, based on her father and his criminal conviction.

Ethan Barron ran away from a complicated life in Serendipity after his parents are killed in a tragic car accident, leaving his younger brothers in foster care. When Ethan returns to Serendipity to make amends to his brothers, he purchases the grandest home that he can find, Faith Harrington's family home, which was taken from her family during the settlement of her father's financial affairs.

Faith and Ethan had a brief encounter back in high school and when circumstances bring them together years later, things get really interesting.

New York Times best selling author, Carly Phillips, has written a book that is not limited to romance alone. She gives us a story of overcoming ones past, finding family loyalties, love and acceptance. Phillips has written in some unexpected characters that I found to be a wonderful addition to an already good story.

This is my first Carly Phillips book. I am happy to say that this looks like it is going to be the first in a trilogy. Yeah for that!

I know that there are a lot of Carly Phillips fans out there who are going to love this read, but I would also recommend Serendipity by Carly Phillips to readers of romance or drama alike.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

DEFINITELY HIGHY RECOMMENDED

AS USUAL CARLY PHILLIPS DOES NOT DISAPPOINT, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK AND COULD NOT WAIT TO GET ONTO THE 2ND BOOK IN SERIES

Highly recommend

Love it

Well written book, use of profanity bothered me.

Review by Desere:

Faith is your normal spoiled rich girl with all the trimmings and never does anything bad, she has everything she wants including a near perfect marriage. That is until her world is shattered by a family scandal and her cheating husband!

Now Faith has to pick up the pieces and try to move forward but how and where, she picks her home town where everyone knows her and her family and the scandal so publicly flashed everywhere. Why you might ask? Well she figures if she can overcome facing everyone she knows in the town she grew up in, then she will at least be moving in the right direction.

So back she goes , with the help of a old high-school boyfriend and his sister she starts up a business and gets a decent place to live, she has her old school friends sticking by her and she does OK ,there is however one small very hot and delicious hiccup in the road ahead, ETHAN BARRON !!!

He gave her a lift home from school one afternoon but instead of going straight home he took her behind a secluded building and kissed her senseless! He wanted so much more but Faith was a good girl and only 16 so he backed off and wrote her off as the one that got away, especially after the look Faith's mother gave him when he did eventually drop her off at home.After all he was the town bad boy and no good at all!

Now years later Ethan still remembers the kiss that nearly brought him to his knees only now the wheel has turned, Faith is no longer 16 and innocent and she also is no longer rich nor does she still live in her parents Colosseum of a house ETHAN does! That's right the bad boy did well, very well for himself .

But the attraction from before is still there and hotter than ever before and it is not long before Ethan and Faith start up a fiery romance so full of explosive passion that the writer keeps you hanging onto the edge of the pages with every sentence.

But Ethan has a dark cloud hanging over his head , he is responsible for the death of his parents and his brothers will never let him forget it. Throw in a secret step sister he never knew about and all is focus and attention is required in trying to put his own life back together and deal with a rebellious teenager leaving him very little time for Faith.

Faith realizes the situation for what it is and tries her best to keep her distance but Ethan will have none of it he wants Faith and he will stop at nothing to make sure he gets her married to him asap ! He utilises every chance he can get to prove to Faith they belong together no matter what or who tries to keep them apart.

As time goes on we see Faith and Ethan both overcome their family scandals ,and the writer shows us the journey of how true love and even the most mind blowing of scandals can overcome and bring together even the most highly,most unexpected kind of people in a small little town called Serendipity.

Overall the book is very well written and a very delicious story there is however the profanity that did bug me a little as I think the book still would have delivered the right message and the incredibly explosive packed romance it was meant to without the use of profanity. But yes overall a excellent book.

Great Read

Enjoyed not a moment for boredom....can't wait until next part is published

So Recommended

If you want a sweet, funny, and heartfelt read please read Serendipity. you will love the characters I can not wait for the next one :)

Sexy Romantic Bad Boy gone Good Book

The author does a nice job developing this story - giving us the back ground of what Faith and Ethan experienced when they were young and not ready to handle the relationship. Then when they are both grown and back home she does a nice job developing their romance and the stuggles they both are expereince by their pasts and what is happening at the current time in their lives. Its a very good romantic read. Every girls dream.

Another good Carly Phillips work!

Carly Phillips has started another good series! I've been a long time fan of hers and have enjoyed her other series, the Hot Zone, the Chandler Bros, the "Simply...." ones, add this new one to your list.

I'm looking forward to the next one in the Serendipity series.

Great read!

I love all of Carly Phillips' books. The characters in Serendipity were ones I think must can relate to. It's nice to know that some people do judge people on their actions and not on another's. It's a journey from guilt to acceptance and one I think you will enjoy.

Loved the Book!

Ms Phillips always writes a fun and sexy book with characters that are very real. I am sure Bernie Madoff was the inspiration for the plot which involved the wife and daughter of a ponzi cheat who come back to town where neither is very popular. Faith sets about proving herself to the community while her mother sits and cries over her misfortune. Bad boy Ethan has also come back to town and he and Faith had a brief encounter in high school that remains as "unfinished business". Ethan has two estranged brothers (see two more books coming) and then Tess shows up to further complicate matters. She is a half sister none of the three knew about. The plot is a bit complex but compelling. I always judge a book by how long it takes to read it. This one was over in a day. If you enjoy light, funny, sexy and believable then Serendipity (and other Phillips books) is for you.

Its ok

Not to bad i mean it could have been better but still good

Loved this intro book to Serendipity!

My Review:
It's no secret that I am a huge fan of fun, contemporary romance and this one was right up my alley. In this book, Carly introduces us to her new series set in Serendipity. The three books in the series are going to feature three brothers. This first featured Ethan, the oldest, and most hated in the family. When he was 18 years old, he was arrested. His parents were on the way to pick him up from jail, and they were hit and killed by a drunk driver. Filled with guilt, a life going downhill fast, and two younger brothers needing his support, Ethan ran and joined the army. This left his two younger brothers to the foster system and they have never forgiven him for that. He hasn't forgiven himself either. Now he's home and is hoping to make amends and find some common ground so that he and his brothers can be a family again.

Faith is the heroine in this novel and she is dealing with her own trials. Her father has just been convicted for creating a Ponzi scheme which has left half the town in dire straits. Neither Faith nor her mother were aware of what he was doing, but in the eyes of the town, they are guilty by association. She is trying to get an interior design business going in the town that now loves to hate her.

There were a lot of little details about this book that I really loved:

*Dane & Nash, the brothers- although they were complete jerks in this book, you could see that they were simply really hurt when they were abandoned after the shocking loss of their parents. I cannot wait for their stories...they are sure to be fabulous.

*Tess, the surprise 14 yo sister- I loved the addition of Tess to the story. She is just as troubled as Ethan was when he was 18, so he can relate to her issues and I loved that. I love how she bonds to him and has issues with the other brothers because they give him a hard time. Just a FABULOUS story line!!

*Faith- I loved that Faith has always stood up for Ethan and been able to see the good in him since high school. He may only remember their high school interaction as a rebuff, but she truly liked him then and now.

*Faith's mix of girlfriends- women can be truly cruel. I loved how Faith handled and earned the respect of the women around her in this book. There is lots of female interaction in this book at the bar, at the stores, at the mall...I love it all.

*Ethan- Loved how Ethan made his money and then how he and Tess bond over video games. Such a classic guy thing, but he was smart enough to make it a serious career.

Overall, this was simply a fun, entertaining book to read. I enjoyed it a lot and am really looking forward to the next 2 installments in the series, Destiny coming January, 2012 and Karma coming summer, 2012.

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