This one gives you exactly what you would expect from chick lit: a beautiful heroine trying to decide from two handsome men with some sassy friends. This one also throws in the grief of losing a father, the shock of discovering you have an illegitimate half-sister, and a more in-depth look at marriage than the usual chick lit book. You know how this one will end but it's a fun read anyway and an interesting look at what makes a family. ( )

This one gives you exactly what you would expect from chick lit: a beautiful heroine trying to decide from two handsome men with some sassy friends. This one also throws in the grief of losing a father, the shock of discovering you have an illegitimate half-sister, and a more in-depth look at marriage than the usual chick lit book. You know how this one will end but it's a fun read anyway and an interesting look at what makes a family. ( )

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2012/06/group-review-secret-of-joy.html ( )

This book was my pick, and though I don't read a lot of Contemporary Fiction, I was just so smitten with Melissa Senate's The Love Goddess' Cooking School that I decided I wanted to try something else she'd written. While I would say this book does not speak to me the way The Love Goddess' Cooking School did, I still found it enjoyable.

Part of the reason that I didn't like it as much may have something to do with the fact that I had a hard time liking Rebecca. She was so needy and clingy... my own personal reaction to that is to want to backpedal quickly, much like Joy. However, I didn't find Joy that easy to identify with either. I wanted to shake them both several times over at more than one point. I was also surprised at what little empathy I had for the Bitter Ex's club, and not just because I'm happily married. Prior to meeting my husband, I had similar relationship horror stories to all of the club and there are two things I learned. First, you have to be happy as one before you can be happy as two. Second, the old 'fool me once' adage stands because I may be able to forgive, but I am never able to forget. Unfortunately, instead of evoking empathy the Ex Club angered me; I was frustrated with the whole of them for giving third and fourth chances and for not valuing their own worth. I think the only character I really connected with was Theo. By the end of the book, I learned to like Rebecca but her lesson was long and arduous, for both of us.

All that aside, there are some wonderful gems of advice and great relationship questions tackled in this book. When is enough enough? When do you give up? When do you close the door? When do you try harder? Melissa Senate declares, you are the only one who knows what's right for you, and you must follow your instincts.

In the end, it is Melissa Senates wonderful ability to weave a story, even if it is a frustrating one, that wins the day. Though The Love Goddess' Cooking School is still on my list of all time favorites, I will be more selective in picking up another novel by Melissa Senate. This is not at all a reflection on her, but on my lack of interest in the Contemporary Women's Fiction genre overall. However, if she writes more Food-lit I'll be the first in line.

READ MORE: http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2012/06/group-review-secret-of-joy.html ( )

I really liked this book. It was sweet and a great example of a perfect summer read but with a little bit of substance. I haven’t read a Melissa Senate novel since See Jane Date back when I was heavy into Chick Lit. I’m happy to see that she hasn’t lost her touch creating likable female leads.

I really liked Rebecca although in the beginning I wondered if she was another one of those perfect female characters who pass gas that smells like roses. Thankfully, Ms. Crane gave her a slightly desperate quality that made her annoying yet endearing. I will say I loved her tenacity. I also loved that she didn’t force the situation into what she wanted, she hung back, didn’t give up and let the cards fall where they may.

I also liked Joy a lot. I liked how cautious she was. She wasn’t as desperate for this new found sister relationship as Rebecca was. In all fairness to Rebecca, her situation was very different. Joy was established, secure in her current relationships. Rebecca was foundering, lost, lonely.

There were many things that Ms. Crane did well. She was thoughtful in giving Joy troubles that were indirectly related to issues with her birth father. Another thing Ms. Crane she excelled at was creating a perfect setting in Maine. More than once during the novel, I wanted to hop in my car and drive up for a whoopie pie at Mama’s. I wanted to find my own perfect little yellow house. I wanted to look from my own Mr. Theo Grander and a cute little mutt named Charlie. Ms. Crane truly transported me there. It was a great escape.

I would recommend this novel. It’s touching, funny with a great cast of characters. I believe Ms. Senate does it again. ( )