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Return to Sender
The double christening of her sisters' two kids gets Holly Bennett thinking. She would seriously love to have a baby one day, but for the first time in ages being adopted has become a stumbling block for her. Does she want to start a family of her own when she doesn't even know who she really is or where she's come from?
With an on-off boyfriend who she's swiftly falling out of lust with, Holly decides to move back to her home town to be near her adoptive family. Who knows, it may be the change she needs to get her life back on track - and the place to be if she wants to begin tracing her roots.
But these roots prove trickier to trace than Holly has expected. That is, until she hires her own oh-so-sexy private investigator to take charge...
With an on-off boyfriend who she's swiftly falling out of lust with, Holly decides to move back to her home town to be near her adoptive family. Who knows, it may be the change she needs to get her life back on track - and the place to be if she wants to begin tracing her roots.
But these roots prove trickier to trace than Holly has expected. That is, until she hires her own oh-so-sexy private investigator to take charge...
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Zoë Barnes
42 books14 followersDid you know ...?
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.
Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.
Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 12, 2010
I've read most of Barnes books - they are enjoyable, mostly lghthearted chick lit that often centered around struggling with pregnancy, babies and marriage.
I was shocked to hear of her death only just recently and Return to Sender is her last book I believe, published not long before she took her own life.
Return to Sender is probably less lighthearted than usual- Holly is struggling with her mothers death from a genetic disease and the desire to find out about her birth mother that is triggered by the circumstances. Her sisters, struggling with issues of their own, are not supportive and she is not sure how to deal with that. Holly is also not sure about her long term relationship with Murdo, or her long term career plans.
All the characters are struggling with something difficult and even though it finishes on a note of hope for most of the characters -a little more happily ever after for Holly - it is not a light read and a bit darker than expected for chic lit.
I was shocked to hear of her death only just recently and Return to Sender is her last book I believe, published not long before she took her own life.
Return to Sender is probably less lighthearted than usual- Holly is struggling with her mothers death from a genetic disease and the desire to find out about her birth mother that is triggered by the circumstances. Her sisters, struggling with issues of their own, are not supportive and she is not sure how to deal with that. Holly is also not sure about her long term relationship with Murdo, or her long term career plans.
All the characters are struggling with something difficult and even though it finishes on a note of hope for most of the characters -a little more happily ever after for Holly - it is not a light read and a bit darker than expected for chic lit.
January 31, 2022
This book had me pretty engrossed in the beginning, easy to follow, likeable main character, bit of romance and excitement. But it lost me towards the end.
So many different conflicts with all the characters it actually felt very sad. Then all of a sudden it's happy endings for all. Except the reader that is... the whole point of the book was for Holly to find her birth Mother and that doesn't really happen and left me a little confused.
So many different conflicts with all the characters it actually felt very sad. Then all of a sudden it's happy endings for all. Except the reader that is... the whole point of the book was for Holly to find her birth Mother and that doesn't really happen and left me a little confused.
December 10, 2022
An older book that still had a bit of catch.
September 7, 2025
An entertaining read - of finding what you really want in life - not what other expect you to want. A quick read that was entertaining with likable characters.
June 14, 2011
Holly Bennett is 29years old she has a boyfriend Murgo, she moved back
home to Cheltenham a year ago to nurse her ill mother with Motor
Neurone Disease, she then passed away, but why hasn’t Holly returned
back home to London? She works as a post lady.
Holly is adopted she has 2 sisters Jess and Grace at her Nieces
Christening she thinks she may like a baby one day, but she wants to
find her birth mum first, with some help from her friend Nesta she
hires Private Investigator Phil Connell, Holly thinks he’s “cute” but
is it just Holly’s Mum they find?
I loved this book, it was easy to read and follow, and I could connect
with the characters, I would definitely recommend this book.
home to Cheltenham a year ago to nurse her ill mother with Motor
Neurone Disease, she then passed away, but why hasn’t Holly returned
back home to London? She works as a post lady.
Holly is adopted she has 2 sisters Jess and Grace at her Nieces
Christening she thinks she may like a baby one day, but she wants to
find her birth mum first, with some help from her friend Nesta she
hires Private Investigator Phil Connell, Holly thinks he’s “cute” but
is it just Holly’s Mum they find?
I loved this book, it was easy to read and follow, and I could connect
with the characters, I would definitely recommend this book.
May 13, 2012
This book is simple and easy to understand. It is about Holly whos Step Mum has just died and wants to track down her birth Mum, on her way she finds her new love and has to choose between him and her Boyfriend. The ending is slightly odd but it is stillan enjoyable book.
October 17, 2016
Classic chick lit.
Likeable characters - the adoption storyline didn't go where you thought it would but aside from that it was quite predictable. It tried not to to be predictable with the Murdo and Phil storyline. A few other tandem storylines in there
Likeable characters - the adoption storyline didn't go where you thought it would but aside from that it was quite predictable. It tried not to to be predictable with the Murdo and Phil storyline. A few other tandem storylines in there
April 21, 2012
I was hoping for the author to dig deeper into the adoption story, but really all it was about was an insecure girl who couldn't think on her own.
September 10, 2010
Would have liked it better if it had a different ending.
September 30, 2012
Great read, good story and true relationships between the characters.
February 4, 2014
Utterly predictable.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews