Tag Archives: Pamela Kelley

Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley-review

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Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date. June 9, 2026

She doesn’t have a job–but she does have a closet full of designer bags and shoes…

Claire Shipman never imagined she’d be the single mom of a teenager, going through a contentious divorce, and unexpectedly pregnant. On the bright side, at least she’s on Nantucket, where she grew up, and where her mother and grandmother welcome her home with open arms.

For years, Claire lived an enviable Manhattan lifestyle. Until her ex had a marriage-ending affair and then reveals he lost his job and all their money.

Claire’s high school friends invite her to their book club and an off-hand joke that she could sell one of her Hermes bags sparks a business idea.

Her friend’s brother, Cody, is a furniture builder with a spare storefront. He’s initially skeptical about the prospects of a ‘used handbag shop’.

But Claire is determined. With the support of Lily, her mother, grandmother, old friends and new, she begins to build a true second chance at a new life.

••••••

REVIEW:I loved this book so much!

Nantucket Second Chances begins with Claire meeting up with her best friend, Rachel, once she arrives at her mother’s home on Nantucket. She and Rachel have been besties their whole lives while growing up on Nantucket. Claire had never needed Rachel more…………..

Claire proceeds to tell Rachel that she had been preparing for a dinner party at her and Ellis’ home in New York City, which they did often, hosting a lot of her husband’s clients, only to discover that she was pregnant. Claire had not thought she could conceive again so was caught between excitement and nervousness. She had planned to tell her husband after the party only for him to tell her he had some news of his own: he thought they should consider divorce. Shocked, Claire asked if there was someone else and he confirmed there was…..and they just found out that his new girlfriend was pregnant. Claire then informed him that she was pregnant as well. Which is how she finds herself at her mom’s house on Nantucket without her teenage daughter, Lily, who had wanted to try and finish out the school year in New York City.

It does not take long for things with Ellis to worsen. He informed Claire that he had lost his job, and all their money, but that he would do right by her, Lily, and the baby. Lily decides she is done with her dad and NYC and joins her mother on Nantucket and enrolls in school there.

Claire has not worked in several years and knows she needs to do something that will help her and Lily financially and decides to open a high-end consignment shop to sell some of her designer bags. She speaks to a friend’s brother, Cody, and eventually works out a deal to rent part of his building to give her business a go.

As Claire and Lily map out their new normal, they both find themselves happy on Nantucket. Claire’s growing friendships, especially with Cody, make her feel more and more at home. Lily is making friends faster than she ever thought she could and loves where she is.

However, on one of Lily’s first visits to her dad’s in the city, she hears things that do not make sense. Once she shares them with her mom, Claire discusses them with her attorney. Seems the attorney’s idea of a forensic audit on their finances was warranted after all. Once all becomes known, Claire does, indeed, get a Nantucket second chance.

Nantucket Second Chances is a wonderfully written story by Pamela Kelly. The world building was amazing as were the depths of the secondary characters. It has not been often for me in the last few years to read a book that pulled me in from the very first sentence. This one did. What an amazing story of perseverance and dogged determination to build the life you want and deserve. Well done, Pamela Kelly! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

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Christmas at the Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley a Review

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Christmas at the Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley a Review

 

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Description:
Three sisters, each at her own crossroads in life, inherit a Nantucket restaurant and must work together for one year before they can move on.

Mandy, Emma and Jill O’Toole are as close as three sisters who live hundreds of miles apart can be. They grew up together on Nantucket, but have scattered around the country. When their beloved grandmother passes peacefully in her sleep a week before her ninety-ninth birthday she leaves them quite a surprise. In addition to her Nantucket home, they learn that they’ve inherited Mimi’s Place, one of Nantucket’s most popular year-round restaurants. They had no idea that she was the silent owner of a restaurant, and no idea how they’re going to handle this kind of inheritance.

There is of course, a catch―she left the restaurant equally to Mandy, Emma, and Jill―and also to Paul, the executive chef for the past fifteen years.

And before they can sell, all three women need to work at the restaurant for a period of one year. Now they have to examine their priorities and figure out a way to make it work, all while discovering that Mimi’s Place is in serious need of a facelift. The restaurant hasn’t changed in years, and its finances are challenging. Meanwhile, Nantucket is a special place, a tight-knit and insular upscale beach community, both supportive and challenging.

Three sisters, each at a crossroads in her own life, facing the challenges of a surprise inheritance in the close-knit community of Nantucket.

 

 

Review:

Christmas at The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelly is a wonderful sweet story focused on three sisters. Mandy, Emma and Jill are very close sisters, with two (Jill and Emma) living many miles apart, with Mandy the only one who still lives in Nantucket. The ladies learn that their grandmother passed away, and to their shock, they have inherited the restaurant Mimi’s Place, which they did not know their grandmother owned the place; with the chef Paul who also inherited. The will provides that they must work in the restaurant for one year, at which time they can sell or share.

Jill lives in New York city, and owns an executive search firm with her partner, Billy; who are best friends. Jill’s job is hectic, and now she needs to stay at Nantucket to help with the restaurant, and she travels to New York every Friday/Saturday. Emma is a school teacher, who was married to her husband for 15 years, and he now wants a divorce, since he plans to marry his boyfriend. Mandy is married to Cory, who is a wealthy hedge fund investor; and they have 2 children. Mandy discovers an invoice of Cory, and realizes that he has been seeing other women; she files for a divorce, and makes him move out of the house.

The girls split up, taking turns to learn everything about the restaurant. Mandy works the day shift, until when the children come home. Whenever Cory takes a turn with the kids, she may help later hours. Jill mostly works at nights, helping at the bar or serving dinners; which allows her to work in the afternoon remotely. Emma will work different shifts, and becomes close to Paul, who was her first love years ago; and both begin to long for each other. Billy, Jill’s partner, also begins to realize that he has strong infections for her.

I really enjoyed this story, especially the three sisters who were so close and great together. It was nice to see the different kinds of food, that was terrific. Christmas at The Nantucket Restaurant was a sweet, wonderful, family oriented and great sisters, who I did enjoy following them. Christmas at The Nantucket Restaurant was very well written by Pamela Kelly. This was a fun story that I suggest you find time to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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