REVIEW: The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage by Shirley Jump

In The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage (O’Bannon Sisters #2) by Shirley Jump we get to come home and spend time with the O’Bannon Sisters, surrender to the sweet smells and tastes of the bakery and in the end, walk away better and stronger than when we first arrived. This is the story of Nora and her husband Ben, but also a story about the youngest O’Bannon sister Magpie.

Nora and Ben have been married for years, and everyone thinks that they have a wonderful marriage, a beautiful home and two amazing children. But looks can be deceiving. On the surface, Nora tells everyone that things are great, but that is a lie. Ben has a gambling problem that has drained their account and now their home is on the line. They have stopped talking and she is barely holding it together.

When Magpie asks Nora to bring the kids and join her on a little week long get away, Nora jumps at the chance. She needs time to think, time to make decisions, figure out next steps. But Ben is persistent and he will do what ever it take to keep his family together. Even if it means showing Nora that he had truly heard her all along, that he is there for her, that he is still the man that she fell in love with, that she can still trust him to make things right.

Then there is Magpie. She is holding on to a secret as well, but as with all of the O’Bannon sisters, she tries to keep it in. When she comes clean, as when Nora finally comes clean, they both find love, acceptance, and unwavering support from not only each other, but from their mother as well.

A try feel good book that will show you the strength of family, sisters, and faith. If you have faith and truly believe, anything is possible. I love this amazing series. These characters have found a way to rise above the adversity and come out the other side stronger than before.
 

Book Info:

Publication: May 15th 2018 | Forever | O’Bannon Sisters #2

Nora has always been the sister who binds the O’Bannons together. No matter what crisis hits, smart, dependable Nora knows how to fix it. But for Nora, the pressure of perfection is taking its toll.

Nora’s marriage is in trouble, and she has been reluctant to worry her sisters with just how dire her situation is. Now though, faced with losing her husband, her home, and the life she’s worked so hard to build, Nora can no longer pretend.

As the O’Bannon women rally around her, Nora begins to see that failure is nothing to fear. It’s like they say in the bakery: if you want to make something good, you can’t be afraid to get messy. When her husband returns, asking Nora to give their family a second chance, Nora must decide if their relationship can be saved-or if it’s time to throw out the old recipe and start from scratch.