Beautiful cover! Unlike her other novels this is rather down beat but that just adds to the intrigue. She is a master at building believable characters, even those with smaller roles and the reader is drawn into the family goings on. Many themes are covered but they blend well in this riveting storyline. Only the demise of one character feels stilted and less realistic, more a convenience for the author than a power moment in the story.

This absorbing story is written from three perspectives, Martha, Willow and Naomi who is their mother. All women are different in their own ways. Martha is strong, confident and determined; Willow more light-hearted and carefree, and Naomi having re-discovered an old love, is happy with life as it is.
Martha stubbornly believes that as Naomi is getting older, she should sell her home and downsize to be nearer to them. However, Naomi, having lost her husband, has met up again with Ellis, an old flame, she loves her home and doesn’t want to move. The story is light-hearted with a friendly feel, exploring family dynamics and differences of opinion, but also looks at the darker side of some relationships.
The plot steadily unfolds, I like the way that Erica James paints her characters; she skilfully describes their strengths and weaknesses as they develop throughout the story. You begin to feel that you know them and can empathise.
Erica James skilfully writes about families and relationships taking place in beautiful settings. The pace steadily increases as untold secrets unfold, making this one of my favourite reads.
Highly recommended.

This novel unfolds many home truths, but also the suppression of the truth to protect those closest to us. I loved all the characters, in particular the younger sister with whom I had much empathy. A pretty emotional ride, providing an insight into the realms of abusive men. Facing the truth is one thing, but actually confronting it takes courage. The sisters were so very different in character it was interesting to observe their strengths and weaknesses.

Erica James’ style of writing is excellent - the more you read, the greater the pull to read more until you feel totally immersed. With so many new novels coming to market, it’s difficult to choose, but I’m so glad I picked this one. The story was highly credible and for me even more enjoyable as the story flowed through one timeline.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading Erica James books for years now so when I see this on Net Galley I didn't hesitate to request it and I was not disappointed that I did.

She is such a good writer when it comes to telling a story. Characters that you can believe and even relate to and subjects that are both every day and gut wrenching at the same time.

This book does need a big fat content warning for domestic abuse/violence so if that is a particularly challenging subject for you then skip this one.

It does however have a happy ending and the relationships that triumph are strong and nurturing.

The absolutely highlight of this books for me is that Naomi (the Mother in this story) is a woman in her early 60's starting a new loving relationship with a fabulous sex life. So often storylines like that are reserved for those in their 20's and 30's so to have an older woman having a great new sex life with a lovely new boyfriend was a massive hurrah. We need more portrayals of woman in their 50's, 60's and beyond being sexual creatures.

5 Stars for this really fab little read

I really enjoyed Mother and Daughters and is the first book I’ve read by Erica James but I’m sure won’t be the last!
The story centres around Naomi and her two grown-up daughters Martha and Willow. Naomi has been a widow for two years and is trying to rebuild her life in the little village of Tilsham by the sea which just sounds so gorgeous!

Naomi's daughters are like chalk and cheese – complete opposites!
Martha is the eldest daughter, she’s sensible, a planner and determined.
Willow is the youngest daughter she’s much more laid back, a people pleaser and happy to go with the flow.
I loved the mainly seaside setting and getting to know each of the women a little more with every chapter.
Mothers and Daughters highlights the love a mother has for her daughters and the lengths she will go to in order to protect them, even if it’s to the detriment of herself!
It was lovely to see Naomi blossom once again as an old flame comes into her life.
I could relate to Martha and her feelings when desperately trying to get pregnant
There’s friendships, secrets, pregnancies, marriage, and some really lovely tender moments in this story.
There’s also some less savoury topics including domestic violence, gas lighting, sexual abuse and coercive controlling behaviour which is told really sensitively and well.
A brilliantly told story of family dynamics, history and an underlying sense of home and belonging, and the love of a mother for her daughters is so strong.
I loved seeing relationships be healed, new ones starting and the character development throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reading copy of Ten Years in exchange for an honest review.

Naomi is a widow, living in a lovely village on the coast. Her house is right on the beach and she wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. She is very much a part of the local community. Naomi has two daughters. The eldest, Martha, is a successful career woman. She and her husband Tom are great planners, leaving nothing to chance. The only fly in the ointment is their failure to conceive, despite Martha’s determination. Naomi’s other daughter, Willow, is totally different to Martha in looks, attitude and character. She floats through life, flitting from job to job, relationship to relationship, so when she meets Rick her family are delighted. He is responsible, respectable and loves Willow very much, everything her family could wish for her.

This story revolves around the three women. We get to know their feelings, hopes and dreams and share their problems and worries.

If you like a book to escape into, with a somewhat predictable plot, then this is definitely for you. It is well written, has a proper ending and the characters are well defined. An easy read rainy day book!

3.5* rounded up as I love Bosham and the Anchor Bleu!

Thank you NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an advance copy of this book. Erica James is a favourite author of mine, I love reading ‘chic lit‘ upon occasion and her blend of well developed, likeable characters with interesting and not too predictable, plots. This one didn’t disappoint. I also enjoy the way she writes about women of different ages, giving the story broad appeal.

As per the title, this book focused upon two generations of the Miller family, Naomi, a widow of two years and her daughters, Willow and Martha, in their thirties. Naomi meets an ‘old flame’, Ellis and trouble flares between the strong willed (very broody) Martha and the flighty, kind-hearted Willow.

Martha is very suspicious of her mother’s new partner and tensions flare as she questions his intentions. There is a new partner on the scene for Willow too, ‘Rick,’ a man who is seen as a great catch, with good prospects and a potentially serious relationship.

The reader gradually picks up on undercurrents not as obvious to those living the story and, rafter like a crime novel, that is what makes the book enjoyable.

Beautifully written this follows Naomi who is widowed and her daughters Martha and Willow.
Each have their own struggles and secrets which slowly unfold.
Naomi meets Ellis whom she knew before she married Colin and they rekindle their love.
Martha is married to Tom and trying for a baby. She is a bit bossy to her sister
Willow who seems to stumble through life and is a bit ditsy. She meets Rick and within months she moves in with him.
I loved the setting,. I could imagine myself living at Anchor House.
Part of this was difficult to read as it contains coercive and controlling behaviour. It was written sensitively.
This was one of those books that I didn't want to end.
I love Erica's books and can highly recommend this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Two years after her husband‘s death, Naomi‘s patronising midthirties daughter Martha keeps bullying her to sell the family home and downsize to a location that lends itself to Naomi eventually becoming a granny on tap. Fortunately, fate brings Ellis, a former flame, back into Naomis neighbourhood…A heartwarming story about a mother who would at long last like a chance to live a life of her own choice after decades of putting her daughters‘ best interests and peace of mind first. I was allowed to read an ARC through netgalley in return for my honest opinion.

An absolutely gorgeous family drama that really brings out all the feels! The story focuses on a mother and her daughters that are all in need of a change, psychologically or otherwise, and come together in time of crisis.

Mothers and Daughters is the recent compelling family tale from Erica James; centering around the story of two generations of the Miller family, matriarch Naomi, and her two daughters Martha and Willow. We follow these three women as they struggle with life, grief, secrets and hopefully learn to adapt their previous perceptions.

We first meet recent widow Naomi. Having lost her husband Colin a few years ago, she has encountered love again and is now finding a way beyond her grief. Of course life is not simple and we soon learn that Ellis and Naomi have a complicated history - a history that could lead Naomi's daughters to never accept Ellis in her life.

Meanwhile, eldest daughter Martha, is happily married to Tom and they are embarking on the journey to parenthood. Martha already has plans for mother, though Naomi might not approve!

And finally, we meet the youngest member of the Miller family, Willow - considered to be the family scatterbrain. In reality, a young with a carefree attitude that belies her deep scars. Settling down with the perfect Rick, her family are relieved that Willow is finally behaving like an adult but sadly there are some dark events ahead for Willow.

I found these three main characters to be hugely relatable and many of the scenarios raised are (sadly) commonplace in society today - we are only too familiar with domestic violence, gaslighting. While the author does deal compassionately with these topics, I do think that readers should be made aware of these potential triggers in the story. Also there are numerous references to the Covid-19 pandemic and the loss of a family member bit this is not a main focus of the tale and it quickly moves forward.

The characters are all well-drawn, with easily recognisable flaws. And the resolution towards the end did give a sense of 'tidying up' all of the loose ends but remained enjoyable and I guess that provides for a happier ending to the story.

Another enjoyable offering from Erica James and I enjoyed the characters and storylines, and could identify with some of the mother/daughter complexities of the storylines. The exploration of a relationship manifesting coercive control was excellent and challenging. Well written, good characterisation.

MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS by Erica James
Publish Date - 17 March 2022

I have not read any Erica James work before and was intrigued. Therefore, I requested and was lucky to be granted access to ARC. I am not sure if my mood contributed to the reading of this novel but, unfortunately, the contents and story was not for me and found the book well written.

I give a 2 star rating simply because this book was not for me.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Erica James is one of my favourite authors and I was looking forward to
Reading the is. Mothers and daughters
Cleverly illustrates the bond between mother and daughter and sensitively portrays the relationship that
Mothers have with their daughters and how even when daughters grow up this bond is special and mothers still worry about them the story also explored a lot of other sensitive topics such as the death of a loved one and problems with fertility along with coercive control.

The story explores the relationship that Naomi has with her daughters Martha abs willow and her own relationship with her new found love Ellis and explores how she finds herself again following the death of her husband Colin. Her daughters partners also feature in the story as to how their relationships with her daughters and her develop and also delves into secrets from the past and how they affect the present day. This was one rollercoaster of a read with heartbreak and happiness mixed together and takes you on a journey of discovery with each and every one of the characters with a few twists and turns ans surprises along the way.

The title of this book is precisely descriptive of its contents. It is the story of Naomi and her two daughters and their respective partners. The focus of the book is family relationships and several regrets. Naomi, widowed fairly recently, meets up again with a boyfriend from her student days. That encourages her to face up to the truth of her marriage. The two daughters have issues to resolve too as they are very different. The story is about family relationships. There are no hugely exciting moments but the story rolls along fairly predictably to a satisfying conclusion. It is a good read.

I found the style of writing to be so tedious and banal that I could not continue. The story did not really begin until Chapter 10, and it was far too long. I skipped to the end and managed to get the gist of the story which was predictable and unoriginal. Also, to conveniently kill off an unpleasant character is a cop out. I will not be reading any more of this author's work.

An absolutely wonderful read. Full of twists and turns. Naomi was a wonderful character and I loved the close relationship she had with her two daughters, It was a beautifully written book which captured my attention from the very beginning. I loved it.

If you've never read an Erica James book, then you are in for a treat. She has written great, insightful books & this one will not disappoint. I enjoyed it so much.

Naomi lives on her own in Anchor House after her husband Colin died suddenly, a prominent man in the village & her daughters Martha & Willow have left home to live their own lives. A face from the past moves in next door & this begins a major change in her life. Will her daughters agree with the changes in her life, or will more questions than answers be revealed?

Erica James's books, explore family life, gets to the difficulties that can arise & can hit a chord in our own lives. This book did this for me. So much research must have been done to get to the nuances in this book & it shows in her ability to bring out emotions & feelings whilst you are carried through Naomi's story.

Highly recommended read. Looking forward to her next book.

A fabulous read. A family drama exploring the issues of generational domestic abuse. Whilst the theme is a very serious one, the story is told in an uplifting way.

I couldn't put this book down. I love Erica James and was really excited to read her new novel and it did not disappoint.
It tracks the stories of a mother and her two daughters as they navigate a particular period in their lives.
Martha is desperate to have a baby and wants her mother to move closer to her and her sister Willow. Willow is in a relationship and suddenly finds herself in a situation she is not sure she is happy with. And Naomi is hiding a secret from her daughters - well, more than one!
As I got to know the characters I was completely hooked and had finished it in 3 nights. I loved the setting of the book as it was set on the coast which is always my favourite setting.
Great story, relatable characters and an ending I didnt see coming!
Cannot recommend highly enough