New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams.
Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More “Mom” than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn’t exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina’s life has suddenly become…complicated.
Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men—her high school sweetheart and a younger maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn’t seem to want the great guy she’s married to, and doesn’t seem to be making headway writing her first book; their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has; and Nina’s starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.
But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they’ve ever wanted?
Praise for the novels of Susan Mallery
“In her second ‘Blackberry Island’ novel, Mallery has again created an engrossing tale of emotional growth and the healing power of friendship as these three ‘sisters’ meet life’s challenges.”
—Library Journal on Three Sisters
“Susan Mallery gives us a candid, honest look into the turmoil of family life when tragedies and personal crises occur…Mallery never disappoints her readers and Three Sisters is no exception. It’s a winner and should be on everyone’s short list of must reads.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Barefoot Season is a well-written story of healing, letting go, and making room in your heart for hope.”
—USA TODAY
“Gritty and magical, angst-ridden and sweet.”
—Publishers Weekly on Barefoot Season
“Susan Mallery weaves a tale of broken friendship with enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned reader of commercial women’s fiction guessing about where the story will lead.”
—Book Reporter on Barefoot Season
“Mallery skillfully reveals insights into each woman’s life to create a poignant tale of forgiveness, friendship renewed, and family.”
—Library Journal on Barefoot Season
“Mallery has set the bar high….The characters…come to life in their small-town setting and will touch readers’ hearts and funny bones.”
—RT Book Reviews on Barefoot Season
“This poignant tale of family dynamics, the jarring impact of change, and eventual acceptance and healing is sure to please Mallery’s many, devoted fans.”
—Booklist on Already Home
Evening Stars
A Blackberry Island Novel
Susan Mallery
To the women in my life.
Thank you for becoming my ‘sisters of the heart.’
Thank you for the love and support, for the friendship, the laughs,
the advice, the caring. Thank you for being there, for believing in me
and for telling me straight, when I’m heading in the wrong direction.
This is for you. With all my love.
Contents
Chapter One
IN A BATTLE between Betty Boop and multicolored hearts, Nina Wentworth decided it was going to be a Betty Boop kind of day. She pulled the short-sleeved scrub shirt over her head and was already moving toward the bathroom before the fabric settled over her hips.
“Don’t be snug, don’t be snug,” she chanted as she came to a stop in front of the mirror and reached for her brush.
The shirt settled as it should, with a couple of inches to spare. Nina breathed a sigh of relief. Last night’s