HOME TO COMFORT
By Kimberly Fish
Women’s Fiction / Contemporary / Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing
Pages: 382
Publication Date: October 10, 2024
*** SYNOPSIS ***
Gloria Bachman has pivoted so many times this year she has whiplash. Now, in the middle of winter and drenched in Mexican sunshine at a five-star resort, she has a role to play: Mason Lassiter’s “arm candy” in a sting to nab his not-actually-dead, first wife, Patsy. It didn’t make any sense to her, either, but who argues with government officials offering an expense-paid trip and a reason for a new beach wardrobe?
With Patsy leading resort security, FBI agents, and Mason on a merry chase, Gloria knows that if you want to catch a woman of a certain age, you have to think like a woman of a certain age. Thankfully, she’s got the credentials.
If only she could understand the other people in her life—particularly Gardner Rogers. Gloria returns home to Comfort, Texas with a ring, a pressing need to organize her house, and a custom order of Sweeties signature truffles to be delivered to White House chefs. When her business partner embarks on last-minute travel plans, one of her best friends announces a retirement, romances bloom from unlikely sources, and Gardner and her ex-husband, Harry Rogers, come unhinged—quite publicly—it all forces Gloria to face her strangest challenges yet.
This final book in the Comfort and Joy trilogy weaves happy endings for the townsfolk that readers have come to love, and just deserts for those they don’t. It’s Kimberly Fish at her finest, and a treasure for brave people who don’t retire quietly.
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*** REVIEW ***
A Sweet Romance With Large Doses of Humor
I’ve really enjoyed the Comfort and Joy series that feature an older heroine who’s reinventing herself in this charming small town in Texas. Right from the first book, I fell in love with Gloria and all the delightful people who show us all what a community of caring people can be for each other. The diversity of the characters – from the jobs that they have, as well as their race and culture and financial standings – is an added bonus. Differences are put aside when somebody is in need, and the community rallies to help.
There are many changes in the life of Gloria and her love interest, Mason. Some of the issues that had been keeping them apart as a couple were cleverly resolved in that fun caper in Mexico. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I won’t say how that happened, but it was a nice resolution to the issue of his ex-wife who had been a thorn in their sides for too long.
In addition to the stake I had in what would happen between the two main players, I was eager to see how relationships with Gloria’s close friends would play out. Being back home in comfort, Texas is as much about the comfort of all those friendships as the place on a map. It was such a pleasure to see how the lives of the characters evolved along with Gloria’s, all ending up in better places.
Interactions between friends is laced with so much clever dialogue, like this line: “Well, my heartbeat is freezing,” Drue blustered. “Let’s go.”
The humor in the narration also made me chuckle and appreciate the authors ability to offer fresh and fun wordage: “Gloria’s heart flipped upside down and spilled worries all over the lovely Saltillo tiles.”
There are many more funny moments in the book, and I truly enjoyed the wit. That’s one of the things that helps me relate to Gloria so deeply. I appreciate a character who can be so authentic and just put all her inner thoughts out there, often in ways that make me nod and smile.
Of course, Gloria’s old nemesis, Gardner, has to show up and throw her monkey wrench into the welcome-home feeling. I’d really hoped that problem would be resolved after the first or second nasty encounter between her and Gloria, especially after Gardner was arrested. That didn’t happen, and she kept showing up. Again, no spoilers so I won’t detail the confrontations but at times the way she acted was overblown and a little unbelievable.
Since I’d loved the series so much up to this point, I would’ve been very satisfied with a different kind of final chapter to the story. One that would’ve tied up the personal things between Gloria and Mason and set them on a potential future together. What took place in Mexico was so delightful and had enough drama to satisfy that element of a cozy mystery.
When Gloria and Mason head back to Comfort, I was eager to see how they’d handle the challenge of fitting together as a couple. There’s the question of where they’d live. Would Gloria have to give up the home she loves? Would Mason be able to turn over the leadership of his business in Dallas? Would his son, Ian, come to fully accept Gloria? With all those questions and adjustments to be made, I found it irritating when Garner and her ex-husband, Harry showed up with their shenanigans that cast them as silly teenagers and not adults.
Still, because I like the people in Comfort, Texas so much, especially Gloria and Mason, I put that irritation aside to enjoy the rest of the story that was most engaging on so many levels.
If you’re like me and enjoy novels of second-chance romance that feature a strong, funny, and self-aware main character, I urge you to put Home to Comfort on your TBR list. You won’t be disappointed.
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*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR ***
Kimberly Fish has been in the writing industry for over 30 years. An amateur historian and fan of cozy mysteries, she weaves history and mystery into her stories of women finding their grit and sweet second chances.
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*** GIVEAWAY ***
Two winners will receive autographed copes of the book. Ends 3/06/2025. U.S. Only.
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Lovely review, Maryann. I think since I hadn’t read the first two installments (yet), some of the things that niggled at you didn’t niggle at me. I really enjoyed the subplots (Mexico shenanigans especially), and I imagine that when I read the prior books, I’ll have answers to many of my questions.
Glad you liked the review, Kristine. I really enjoyed the chapters set in Mexico a lot. Gloria was at her best with the witty dialogue and assertive way she handled herself. The people in Comfort are such a fun, interesting bunch, that I fell in love with them in the first book, which is what has kept me reading. You’ll like the other two in the series.