Synopses & Reviews
A debut novel about luck and love, and winning a sweepstakes, with a cast of characters who will charm readers from the very first page
The HomeSweetHome Network has just announced this year's lucky winner of a brand-new, fully loaded dream home: Janine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
For Janine "Janey" Brown, hearing her name called on the TV has the hallmarks of one of her aunt Midge's harebrained plans designed to bring Janey into a world outside the one she once shared with her fiancé. Janey, however, is reluctant to give up the safety and sanctity she finds in her tiny kitchen, submerging her anxiety and grief in the pursuit of the perfect pot-au-feu.
Meanwhile, across town, Janine "Nean" Brown just knows that this house is her destiny. Good fortune took its sweet time showing up in her life, but better late than never. And now that it's here, the house promises an escape from the latest in her revolving door of crappy jobs and drunk boyfriends. This house will turn her into someone the world sees, instead of the bedraggled girl who others look past without a thought.
Both Janine Browns head for Christmas Cove, Maine, to claim the prize they both rightfully think is theirs. When their lives and personalities intersect, however, they discover that more than just a million-dollar dream home awaits them at the waters edge. These three women (oh yes, Aunt Midge comes along for the ride!) arrive at their newfound mansion only to uncover what exactly it means to truly be "home."
Filled with wit and charm, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is Kelly Harms's enchanting and heartfelt debut--a testament to the many, many ways love finds us, the power of a home-cooked meal, and just what it means to be lucky.
Review
"Janey and Nean each have a common name and uncommon hard luck, and when they suddenly have in common a sweepstakes house, their lives begin to change . . . Their quirky wit will win you over, even as they fumble through their crazy new life . . . Alive with warmth and wit; I enjoyed it right through to the satisfying end." —Kristina Riggle, author of Real Life & Liars
“A delightful book bursting with good humor, fast action, and delicious food. Aunt Midge is a pure joy, and I loved Harms surprising, spirited, and generous slant on what it takes to make a family.” —Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Summer Breeze
Review
“A delicious concoction of reality and fairy tale—the ideal summer book! Youll feel lucky for having read it. And after meeting her, I guarantee you will want a great-aunt Midge of your very own.”
—Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling
“Warm-hearted and funny, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane pulls you in with quirky yet relatable characters, intriguing relationships, and the promise of second chances. Harmss debut is as refreshingly delightful as a bowl of her character Janeys chilled pea soup with mint on a hot summer day.”
—Meg Donohue, bestselling author of How to Eat a Cupcake: A Novel
“Funny, original and delightfully quirky, Kelly Harmss The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane shows us that sometimes, all we need to make it through one of lifes rough patches is a change of scenery and a home-cooked meal.”
—Molly Shapiro, author of Point, Click, Love: A Novel
"The characters are so well drawn that they practically leap from the page, charming dysfunction and all! A poignant, hilarious debut that's filled with heart, soul, insight and laugh-out-loud moments.
It'll make you rethink the meaning of what makes a family -- and if you're anything like me, it'll make you want to pick up and move to 1516 Shipwreck Lane immediately! I'm such a fan of this utterly charming novel."
—Kristin Harmel, international-bestselling author of Italian for Beginners and The Sweetness of Forgetting
“Kelly Harmss The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is a delightful book bursting with good humor, fast action, and delicious food. Aunt Midge is a pure joy, and I loved Wimmers surprising, spirited, and generous slant on what it takes to make a family.”
—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Summer Breeze
"Janey and Nean each have a common name and uncommon hard luck, and when they suddenly have in common a sweepstakes house, their lives begin to change in ways neither of them could have imagined. Their quirky wit will win you over, even as they fumble through their crazy new life. THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS OF SHIPWRECK LANE is alive with warmth and wit; I enjoyed it right through to the satisfying end."
—Kristina Riggle, author of Real Life & Liars, The Life You've Imagined, Things We Didn't Say and Keepsake
“A succession of plot twists keeps the reader intrigued and invested. In the manner of Mary Kay Andrews and Jennifer Weiner, Harms novel is emotionally tender, touching, and witty.” —Booklist
“[A] charming winner…A perfect recipe of clever, quirky, poignant and fun make this a delightful debut.” —Kirkus
“Spunky leading ladies that you can take to the beach.” —Fitness Magazine
“Former editor and agent Harms seems to have picked up some tips from the best-selling commercial authors with whom she has worked; there's big in-house enthusiasm for this debut. Great for book clubs.” —Library Journal
"Harms is an engaging and good-humored writer who delivers a light but enjoyably wacky story that will make every reader wish for an Aunt Midge of their own." —Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters
"Love, lies, food, and past and present triumphs and sorrows deliciously intertwine in Madison author Kelly Harmss debut novel about accepting second chances." —Madison Magazine
Synopsis
A debut novel with huge bookclub potential—about luck and love, and winning a sweepstakes—with a cast of characters who will charm readers from the very first page
The HomeSweetHome networks Free House Sweepstakes has just announced this years lucky winner of a brand-new, fully-loaded dream home: Janine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
For Janey Brown, hearing her name called on television feels like the inescapable fruition of her Aunt Midges endless string of harebrained plans, each of them designed to drag Janey into the world outside the tiny kitchen where she is happiest submerging her anxiety and grief in the pursuit of the perfect pot-au-feu.
Meanwhile, across town, Nean Brown just knows that house is her destiny. When she hears her name, its almost not even a surprise. Good fortune took its sweet time showing up in her life, but better late than never. For Nean the house promises an escape from the latest in her revolving door of crappy jobs and drunk boyfriends, from being the kind of person other people look at but dont see.
Both Janine Browns head for their new hometown of Christmas Cove, Maine to claim the prize, and when their lives intersect, they discover that more than just a million-dollar dream home awaits them at waters edge. In the vein of Mary Kay Andrews, the Good Luck Girls will win you over.
Synopsis
This years lucky winner of a brand-new dream home: Janine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa.For heartbroken Janine "Janey" Brown, this announcement has the hallmarks of one of her Aunt Midges harebrained plans to lure her from her tiny kitchen, where shes been submerging her grief in the pursuit of the perfect pot-au-feu. Meanwhile, across town, Janine "Nean" Brown couldnt be more thrilled. She just knows that this house is her destiny, the chance to escape the latest in her revolving door of crappy jobs and drunken boyfriends.When both Janine Browns descend on Christmas Cove, Maine, to claim the prize they both think is theirs, however, they discover that more than just a dream home awaits them at the waters edge. Filled with wit and charm, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane is Kelly Harmss enchanting and heartfelt debut—a testament to the many ways love finds us, the power of a home-cooked meal, and just what it means to be lucky.
About the Author
KELLY HARMS is a former editor and literary agent where she worked with a wide array of bestselling and award-winning authors of commercial fiction. She traded New York City for the writing life in Madison, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and young son. She currently works as a freelancer and amateur baking enthusiast—Harms can make a lot of things, but not clafoutis. This is her first novel.