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Home to Comfort
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 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 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 and 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 desserts for those they don’t. It’s Kimberly Fish at her finest, and a treasure for brave people who don’t retire quietly.
With Patsy leading resort security, FBI agents, and Mason 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 and 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 desserts for those they don’t. It’s Kimberly Fish at her finest, and a treasure for brave people who don’t retire quietly.
- GenresContemporary
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2024
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Fish
21books145followersKimberly writes award-winning novels about women discovering their grit. With accolades ranging from Best Texas Book, Best Romance, and Best Historical Romance, her novels set in the Texas Hill Country. Her WWII historical fiction details exploits and spy dramas on the American home front and reveal just what women can accomplish when they work for the greater good. With over 30 years in the writing industry, Kimberly delights in entertaining with wholesome stories, second-chance romances, and people finding their purpose--the books are mental vacations! Discover her novels and the backstory she blogs about at
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 23, 2025
I might have cried a little, knowing this is the last book in the series, and I won't be back in Comfort with Gloria and the rest of the town. But perhaps the author will take pity on us and provide us with another foray into Comfort down the road.
I have read all of the books in this series, but I felt like this book could be read on its own since the author provides information to tie the previous books into this one. That is always a plus for someone who might pick this book up and realize it is the last in the series.
The story starts off with a bang, and the first 35% of the book flies by quickly. I enjoyed the action and uncovering the truth about Mason's first wife. Gloria inserts herself into the situation, but only because incidents bring her to the center of the investigation. This is up Gloria's alley, so I don't think she minded helping solve the mystery. Once the action in Mexico comes to a close, the story does slow down, much like a small town in Texas. But just because she is back in Comfort doesn't mean life is sedate. Gloria still has to deal with Gardner and uncover what she has against her. There is also the truffle order for The White House. So much going on. This doesn't even include Gloria and Mason trying to figure out their life together as they start this new adventure.
I enjoyed the cast of characters, and the author does a fantastic job of bringing together friends, family, conflict, resolution, and love. This book nicely wraps up the trilogy, and everything is resolved—or at least for the most part. However, there will always be questions or wondering what happened with certain characters because a book is like life—it doesn't just end. We all keep living with new adventures.
Gloria's self-confidence is another aspect of this series that caught my attention. It doesn't hurt that she is a slightly older woman, not much older than myself, so I could relate to her as she brought in her past life experience and applied it to her new path in life. Her attitude is spot on because she doesn't put up with much of anything from those around her. We should all be lucky to be like her as we grow older.
This was a delight to read, and we give it 5 paws up.
I have read all of the books in this series, but I felt like this book could be read on its own since the author provides information to tie the previous books into this one. That is always a plus for someone who might pick this book up and realize it is the last in the series.
The story starts off with a bang, and the first 35% of the book flies by quickly. I enjoyed the action and uncovering the truth about Mason's first wife. Gloria inserts herself into the situation, but only because incidents bring her to the center of the investigation. This is up Gloria's alley, so I don't think she minded helping solve the mystery. Once the action in Mexico comes to a close, the story does slow down, much like a small town in Texas. But just because she is back in Comfort doesn't mean life is sedate. Gloria still has to deal with Gardner and uncover what she has against her. There is also the truffle order for The White House. So much going on. This doesn't even include Gloria and Mason trying to figure out their life together as they start this new adventure.
I enjoyed the cast of characters, and the author does a fantastic job of bringing together friends, family, conflict, resolution, and love. This book nicely wraps up the trilogy, and everything is resolved—or at least for the most part. However, there will always be questions or wondering what happened with certain characters because a book is like life—it doesn't just end. We all keep living with new adventures.
Gloria's self-confidence is another aspect of this series that caught my attention. It doesn't hurt that she is a slightly older woman, not much older than myself, so I could relate to her as she brought in her past life experience and applied it to her new path in life. Her attitude is spot on because she doesn't put up with much of anything from those around her. We should all be lucky to be like her as we grow older.
This was a delight to read, and we give it 5 paws up.
March 1, 2025
Comforting and joyful
Comforting and joyful, this series lives up to its name. This final book evokes all the wonderful feelings one attributes to the word “home”� family, safety, trust, hope, happiness, and love.
Gloria Bachman’s story and personality appealed to me even before her own series started. She is a fun mix of immensely capable and incredibly lucky. Perfect for a heroine who often finds herself unwittingly in the center of intrigue and mayhem.
In the conclusion of the saga concerning her love interest Mason Lassiter’s first wife, Gloria showcased her crime-solving abilities. Aided by her quick wit, intrinsic female knowledge, lived experiences of being underestimated, a great dose of sense of humor, and timely help from trusted friends, she bested both the FBI and the villains.
Her musings about relationships � marriage, friendship, adversaries � in addition to her insecurities, doubts, and impatience made her a wholly relatable character.
I have always admired how Ms. Fish can make her settings come alive and that’s especially true in Home to Comfort. The descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations Gloria was experiencing took me to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and to a large part of Texas.
With the satisfying resolution of conflicts and a hopeful ending for the major characters, I can’t really be sad that the Comfort and Joy series is complete. It has entertained me for an extended period, and I’m grateful to its creator.
Comforting and joyful, this series lives up to its name. This final book evokes all the wonderful feelings one attributes to the word “home”� family, safety, trust, hope, happiness, and love.
Gloria Bachman’s story and personality appealed to me even before her own series started. She is a fun mix of immensely capable and incredibly lucky. Perfect for a heroine who often finds herself unwittingly in the center of intrigue and mayhem.
In the conclusion of the saga concerning her love interest Mason Lassiter’s first wife, Gloria showcased her crime-solving abilities. Aided by her quick wit, intrinsic female knowledge, lived experiences of being underestimated, a great dose of sense of humor, and timely help from trusted friends, she bested both the FBI and the villains.
Her musings about relationships � marriage, friendship, adversaries � in addition to her insecurities, doubts, and impatience made her a wholly relatable character.
I have always admired how Ms. Fish can make her settings come alive and that’s especially true in Home to Comfort. The descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations Gloria was experiencing took me to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and to a large part of Texas.
With the satisfying resolution of conflicts and a hopeful ending for the major characters, I can’t really be sad that the Comfort and Joy series is complete. It has entertained me for an extended period, and I’m grateful to its creator.
February 23, 2025
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.
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.
February 18, 2025
What fun it was to return to Comfort, Texas, via Kimberly Fish's final installment in the Comfort and Joy trilogy! Home to Comfort illustrates what Fish does best in her storytelling: bring people and places to life with humor and panache.
My prior escapes to Comfort, a real town nestled in the Texas Hill Country, have been via the five books in the Comfort Stories, Fish's other series set there. Yes, I jumped in and started with the third book this time around! I am certain there's a literary law against doing this, but go ahead and cuff me. No regrets. I already knew the town vibe, and I had no trouble sinking right into the story where, as expected, everything and everyone felt familiar. And wonderfully relatable.
"Why, oh why, had she not chosen the pedicure, or salt sauna, or even the gentle e-Bike ride over the hills? No. She had to prove to herself she could be the person who exercised while traveling. Foolishness!�
Early in Home to Comfort, I knew that main character Gloria Bachman was my kind of gal. She's a sixty-year-old woman who's been knocked down, gotten up, rebuilt her life, rebuilt her career, and has found the man of her dreams. She's smart, witty, fashionable, and has a knack for getting embroiled in shenanigans that will have readers giggling and gasping. But readers also spend a lot of time inside Gloria's head and are privy to her fears, self-doubt, and insecurities, and we learn how she sees herself and life around her. Gloria is such an authentic character.
"Gloria's heart flipped upside down and spilled worries all over the lovely Saltillo tiles."
Not only does Kimberly Fish write authentic and engaging characters (and mercy, there are a lot of them in Home to Comfort), she has a flair for crafting sentences that breathe life into her scenes. The inclusion of colloquial phrases, like: "From your mouth to God's ears," further enriches Fish's storytelling. This serves readers well with multiple plotlines that move from a Mexican seaside resort to the Texas Hill Country; truly, there are three delicious tales in one. I'm not kidding about the deliciousness factor -- the descriptions of drinks and foods and oh, the chocolate shop delights still have me drooling.
Though I had no trouble understanding the goings-on despite having not read the first two installments in this series, I do believe it would be beneficial to read the series in order. This would surely allow readers more insight into Gloria's nemesis Gardner, better visualize the wide circle of Gloria's friends and frenemies, experience firsthand the various town crises, and experience with Gloria her path to find peace and happiness in Comfort.
Fish is a gifted storyteller, and Home to Comfort, the Comfort Stories novels, as well as her Misfits and Millionaires series are endlessly entertaining. My only quibble with Home to Comfort is that it contains a considerable number of typos that make it feel like it lacked a final proofreading. I realize that many (most?) readers' eyes fly right past these kinds of errors, so it won't affect their reading experience, and admittedly, I am jealous. But for me, it's a huge distraction from an otherwise stellar story.
If you are drawn to stories of second-chance romance, robust characters, cozy mysteries, competent women, and armchair travel, then check out the Comfort and Joy series, and start with the first book, Sweet Comfort. I'll meet you there.
This full review and more special features will post on , 2/18/25.
My prior escapes to Comfort, a real town nestled in the Texas Hill Country, have been via the five books in the Comfort Stories, Fish's other series set there. Yes, I jumped in and started with the third book this time around! I am certain there's a literary law against doing this, but go ahead and cuff me. No regrets. I already knew the town vibe, and I had no trouble sinking right into the story where, as expected, everything and everyone felt familiar. And wonderfully relatable.
"Why, oh why, had she not chosen the pedicure, or salt sauna, or even the gentle e-Bike ride over the hills? No. She had to prove to herself she could be the person who exercised while traveling. Foolishness!�
Early in Home to Comfort, I knew that main character Gloria Bachman was my kind of gal. She's a sixty-year-old woman who's been knocked down, gotten up, rebuilt her life, rebuilt her career, and has found the man of her dreams. She's smart, witty, fashionable, and has a knack for getting embroiled in shenanigans that will have readers giggling and gasping. But readers also spend a lot of time inside Gloria's head and are privy to her fears, self-doubt, and insecurities, and we learn how she sees herself and life around her. Gloria is such an authentic character.
"Gloria's heart flipped upside down and spilled worries all over the lovely Saltillo tiles."
Not only does Kimberly Fish write authentic and engaging characters (and mercy, there are a lot of them in Home to Comfort), she has a flair for crafting sentences that breathe life into her scenes. The inclusion of colloquial phrases, like: "From your mouth to God's ears," further enriches Fish's storytelling. This serves readers well with multiple plotlines that move from a Mexican seaside resort to the Texas Hill Country; truly, there are three delicious tales in one. I'm not kidding about the deliciousness factor -- the descriptions of drinks and foods and oh, the chocolate shop delights still have me drooling.
Though I had no trouble understanding the goings-on despite having not read the first two installments in this series, I do believe it would be beneficial to read the series in order. This would surely allow readers more insight into Gloria's nemesis Gardner, better visualize the wide circle of Gloria's friends and frenemies, experience firsthand the various town crises, and experience with Gloria her path to find peace and happiness in Comfort.
Fish is a gifted storyteller, and Home to Comfort, the Comfort Stories novels, as well as her Misfits and Millionaires series are endlessly entertaining. My only quibble with Home to Comfort is that it contains a considerable number of typos that make it feel like it lacked a final proofreading. I realize that many (most?) readers' eyes fly right past these kinds of errors, so it won't affect their reading experience, and admittedly, I am jealous. But for me, it's a huge distraction from an otherwise stellar story.
If you are drawn to stories of second-chance romance, robust characters, cozy mysteries, competent women, and armchair travel, then check out the Comfort and Joy series, and start with the first book, Sweet Comfort. I'll meet you there.
This full review and more special features will post on , 2/18/25.
March 3, 2025
A fine ending to a fine trilogy!
Home to Comfort is the third and final novel in author Kimberly Fish’s warm and wonderful Comfort and Joy Trilogy, and it is a fine and satisfying finale to the story featuring Gloria Bachman and all the friends she’s made in her new hometown of Comfort, Texas. With its community of engaging characters and plot that deftly wraps up storylines that have carried over from previous books in the trilogy, this was the story I’d been waiting for. I didn’t want to put it down, almost reading it in one enjoyable session.
The main character, Gloria Bachman, is an older woman, formerly a bank president, who is now the owner of her own chocolate business and retail shop, Sweeties. Having been ousted from her lifelong banking career under a manufactured cloud, she had relocated to the Hill Country town of Comfort, Texas, and bought a charming cottage and a storefront on the main drag of downtown. She’d also met the man of her dreams in Mason Lassiter, a wealthy Dallas department store owner. I loved how Gloria kept her finger on her own pulse, checking and re-checking her feelings and perspective on her life, future, and the trajectory of her relationships, not only with Mason but with those in her periphery that have proven unreliable or unworthy: most specifically, her former best friend, Gardner Rogers. Gloria had been through the wringer in her past and was cautious of her still-healing heart. Like everyone, Gloria has insecurities and doubts, but the hallmarks of her personality are her confidence and ability to read people. These traits, along with her uncanny logic and intuition, serve her well when unraveling a mystery.In wrapping up Gloria’s story, the book is presented in a couple of different parts, starting with an exciting mystery centered on Mason’s first wife, Patsy, who, years earlier, had faked her own death while they were vacationing at a resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Gloria accompanies Mason to an exclusive beachfront resort there where the FBI plans to lure Patsy out of hiding and arrest her. The rest of the story finds resolution afterward back home in Comfort, where Sweeties is striving to fulfill an important order for the actual White House. To add to the suspense and excitement, Gloria needs to uncover the underlying reasons for her former best friend’s betrayal.
Fish’s storytelling is superb, with compelling scenes, vivid descriptions that make you feel you’re right there with the characters and an abundance of dialogue that fairly sparkles with humor and good feelings. While I was prepared for the second-chance romance because of the previous books, I was surprised by some of Mason’s harsh and hurtful comments and attitudes directed at Gloria. I felt like they’d gotten well past that when their relationship had finally become a romance, and I think if I hadn’t read the earlier books, I would have been thinking, “Red flag, sister!� over and over. Gloria doesn’t put up with much from anyone else, and she was way more forgiving than I would have been, especially considering her leftover wounds from husband number one. However, this is one of those things that she and Mason have to work out as they face a life together. Ultimately, everyone and everything was in place for an HEA.I recommend HOME TO COMFORT to readers of cozy mysteries with a romantic storyline or romance readers who enjoy a suspenseful element in their second-chance romance.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.
February 24, 2025
There are some of the Comfort books I’ve missed (they’re on my TBR � I just need more hours in the day!), but with Home to Comfort, I’ve now read all of Kimberly Fish’s Comfort and Joy trilogy. I have absolutely loved them.
We’ve heard about Patsy, Mason’s not-quite-so-dead-as-they-thought first wife, in the first two books in the trilogy. Now Gloria has a chance to help the law get up close and personal with Patsy and bring her to justice for her crimes and misdeeds. She and Mason travel to a Mexican resort, ostensibly vacationing, to lure Patsy out into the open. Let’s just say shenanigans ensue, along with some nail-bitingly tense moments.
But that’s not the only adventure in the story! Once they return to Comfort (and oh, what a hardship, leaving the sunny Mexican coast for a chilly Texas winter!), Gloria has to focus on getting a big order of Sweeties� truffles ready for their debut at the White House. She is determined that everything will go smoothly, and so it does � until Gardner Rogers shows up like a bad penny.
Unsurprisingly, I adored this book! With wit and wisdom, Gloria navigates both the good and bad in her life using wisdom and skills she’s learned through her experiences. She’s comfortable in her own skin (even if she doesn’t mind losing a few extra pounds before she and Mason finally say “I do�), and she isn’t afraid to call things as she sees them. Fish also uses her seasoned heroine to clearly demonstrate that women should never be discounted as too old, too dull, too anything to make a difference. And they should never, ever be underestimated. I really loved that, as I’m getting to that age myself!
And for all the joy the book brought me, I was so sad to see it end. I’ve said before that turning the final page of a book felt like saying goodbye to friends, and that really hit hard here. I have so enjoyed getting to know Gloria and all the wonderful people in Comfort, I hated to bid them adieu.
This isn’t a story where everything goes perfectly, or where all the loose ends are tidied up in the final chapter. Gloria’s efforts to bring Patsy out in the open didn’t always go according to plan. The truffles� trip to the White House might have hit a few bumps along the way. The course of true love doesn’t always run smooth, and friendships can be irreparably broken. But the ending is satisfactory. The right things fall into the right places, and I sighed contentedly when I finished the book, even if I did sniffle a time or two. Just like real life, we won’t always know what happens with the characters we’ve come to love. I like to imagine that Gloria and Mason find new projects and adventures to share, and that they settle into their marriage and live as close to happily ever after as anyone can on this earth.
If you want to read a book � verily, an entire trilogy � that feels like a hug in story form, pick up Home to Comfort and the rest of the Comfort and Joy trilogy. It’ll make you smile, and maybe make you crave chocolate and Mexican food, too. And with life being what it is these days, I reckon we can all use a little Comfort in our lives.
We’ve heard about Patsy, Mason’s not-quite-so-dead-as-they-thought first wife, in the first two books in the trilogy. Now Gloria has a chance to help the law get up close and personal with Patsy and bring her to justice for her crimes and misdeeds. She and Mason travel to a Mexican resort, ostensibly vacationing, to lure Patsy out into the open. Let’s just say shenanigans ensue, along with some nail-bitingly tense moments.
But that’s not the only adventure in the story! Once they return to Comfort (and oh, what a hardship, leaving the sunny Mexican coast for a chilly Texas winter!), Gloria has to focus on getting a big order of Sweeties� truffles ready for their debut at the White House. She is determined that everything will go smoothly, and so it does � until Gardner Rogers shows up like a bad penny.
Unsurprisingly, I adored this book! With wit and wisdom, Gloria navigates both the good and bad in her life using wisdom and skills she’s learned through her experiences. She’s comfortable in her own skin (even if she doesn’t mind losing a few extra pounds before she and Mason finally say “I do�), and she isn’t afraid to call things as she sees them. Fish also uses her seasoned heroine to clearly demonstrate that women should never be discounted as too old, too dull, too anything to make a difference. And they should never, ever be underestimated. I really loved that, as I’m getting to that age myself!
And for all the joy the book brought me, I was so sad to see it end. I’ve said before that turning the final page of a book felt like saying goodbye to friends, and that really hit hard here. I have so enjoyed getting to know Gloria and all the wonderful people in Comfort, I hated to bid them adieu.
This isn’t a story where everything goes perfectly, or where all the loose ends are tidied up in the final chapter. Gloria’s efforts to bring Patsy out in the open didn’t always go according to plan. The truffles� trip to the White House might have hit a few bumps along the way. The course of true love doesn’t always run smooth, and friendships can be irreparably broken. But the ending is satisfactory. The right things fall into the right places, and I sighed contentedly when I finished the book, even if I did sniffle a time or two. Just like real life, we won’t always know what happens with the characters we’ve come to love. I like to imagine that Gloria and Mason find new projects and adventures to share, and that they settle into their marriage and live as close to happily ever after as anyone can on this earth.
If you want to read a book � verily, an entire trilogy � that feels like a hug in story form, pick up Home to Comfort and the rest of the Comfort and Joy trilogy. It’ll make you smile, and maybe make you crave chocolate and Mexican food, too. And with life being what it is these days, I reckon we can all use a little Comfort in our lives.
February 22, 2025
Home to Comfort lives up to its name; the story feels like curling up on the sofa with your favorite throw, a cup of tea, and a good book.
I appreciated so many things in Kimberly Fish’s final book in the Comfort and Joy series. As a woman of a certain age myself, I enjoyed that Gloria was a “seasoned� character who, while she shared so much wisdom (more on this), also managed to get herself into pickles on the regular. It was a fun reminder that no matter what stage we’re in, we’re always learning and growing.
Several sentences in the book stood out like treasures and had me stopping to take note. I circled back to them so that I could absorb their wisdom and let them settle in me:
“Do not dismiss me because you had a bad day. Embrace me because I can lighten the load.�
“It will all work out in the end. And if it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end.�
Along with Gloria, Fish created a cast of characters that makes Comfort feel like the Texas version of Stars Hollow. From Drue and Joynella to the Bunco Ladies, Gloria’s “daughters by choice,� and even Patsy and Gardner, I delighted in each introduction. Meeting them inspired me to go back to the beginning of the series so I could experience their stories.
There was so much packed into this book that Fish could have easily broken it into two novels. The adventure in Mexico could have been a book on its own, ending with Mason and Gloria’s nuptials. Gloria’s return to Comfort—where she faced ex–best friend drama, high stress at her truffle shop, and the challenge of navigating a new marriage—would have handily served as the series finale. However, I also understand the author’s decision to wrap up the series with this final book.
Taking a closer look at the story, I found two plot points particularly poignant. First, Fish realistically captured the friction between Gloria and Mason as they transitioned from a long-distance relationship to living together in the same space. She did not shy away from the doubts, distress, and fears that mark this type of life change.
Second, I appreciated that, throughout the novel, Fish wove threads of frustration around the fact that women of a certain age are underestimated, dismissed, and patronized. She does it with skill, wit, and also a measure of maturity. One of my favorite places this shows up is when Gloria observes how the authorities in Mexico handle Mason’s crazy, criminal ex-wife:
“Though she could never have been friends with Patsy [the ex-wife], it was hard to hear the men underestimate her creativity.�
Well played, Ms. Fish.
Home to Comfort is a feel-good novel that kept me reading well past my bedtime. I highly recommend it.
I appreciated so many things in Kimberly Fish’s final book in the Comfort and Joy series. As a woman of a certain age myself, I enjoyed that Gloria was a “seasoned� character who, while she shared so much wisdom (more on this), also managed to get herself into pickles on the regular. It was a fun reminder that no matter what stage we’re in, we’re always learning and growing.
Several sentences in the book stood out like treasures and had me stopping to take note. I circled back to them so that I could absorb their wisdom and let them settle in me:
“Do not dismiss me because you had a bad day. Embrace me because I can lighten the load.�
“It will all work out in the end. And if it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end.�
Along with Gloria, Fish created a cast of characters that makes Comfort feel like the Texas version of Stars Hollow. From Drue and Joynella to the Bunco Ladies, Gloria’s “daughters by choice,� and even Patsy and Gardner, I delighted in each introduction. Meeting them inspired me to go back to the beginning of the series so I could experience their stories.
There was so much packed into this book that Fish could have easily broken it into two novels. The adventure in Mexico could have been a book on its own, ending with Mason and Gloria’s nuptials. Gloria’s return to Comfort—where she faced ex–best friend drama, high stress at her truffle shop, and the challenge of navigating a new marriage—would have handily served as the series finale. However, I also understand the author’s decision to wrap up the series with this final book.
Taking a closer look at the story, I found two plot points particularly poignant. First, Fish realistically captured the friction between Gloria and Mason as they transitioned from a long-distance relationship to living together in the same space. She did not shy away from the doubts, distress, and fears that mark this type of life change.
Second, I appreciated that, throughout the novel, Fish wove threads of frustration around the fact that women of a certain age are underestimated, dismissed, and patronized. She does it with skill, wit, and also a measure of maturity. One of my favorite places this shows up is when Gloria observes how the authorities in Mexico handle Mason’s crazy, criminal ex-wife:
“Though she could never have been friends with Patsy [the ex-wife], it was hard to hear the men underestimate her creativity.�
Well played, Ms. Fish.
Home to Comfort is a feel-good novel that kept me reading well past my bedtime. I highly recommend it.
February 17, 2025
Home to Comfort, the final installment in the Comfort and Joy series, is a delightful tale that almost defies description. While primarily focused on the intrepid Gloria and her compulsion to unravel mysteries, Home to Comfort also mixes in thoughtful introspection on life, friendship, and the importance of community.
Although my brain usually balks at reading a book in a series without first reading the preceding volumes, Fish does a fantastic job of bringing new readers up to speed on previous events. She masterfully weaves in the necessary details from the first two books in the series without making it feel like you’re reading a performative summary. All the threads come together in a delightful romp through the Texas Hill Country filled with mystery, mayhem, and mouth-watering chocolate.
The story opens with Gloria emerging sweaty--and rather the opposite of Zen--after a hot yoga class at a resort in Cabo San Lucas. I knew immediately that she was a woman I’d love spending the next 380 pages with, and I was not wrong. Gloria is a ‘woman of a certain age� who has survived the collapse of her career and community with strength and grace. She’s found a new home with true friends, created a new business, and found love with Mason. Now, she and Mason just have to help the authorities catch his ex-wife to prove that she faked her own death.
As the action and adventure in Cabo comes to a close, the second act opens with Gloria’s return to Comfort to get her chocolates to the Oval Office and her continued struggle to discover why her former friend Gardner worked so diligently to ruin her life. The cast of characters in Comfort is substantial, and likely more easily managed for those who have read the entire series. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fruits of Gloria’s labor to build a life and surround herself with such marvelous people. I was delighted to see that Comfort is a real place, and thanks to Kimberly Fish and this truly cozy mystery, it’s a place I plan to visit on my next trip to Texas. She brings this town and its inhabitants to life.
Gloria is such an engaging character. She absolutely leaps off the page. She isn’t perfect, which makes her all the more real. I found myself wishing I could walk into her chocolate shop and while away the afternoon as she spun tales of her adventures and plied me with goodies.
I recommend Home to Comfort, and the entire Comfort and Joy series, to anyone who enjoys a spirited heroine on the hunt for answers and a colorful cast of characters to meet along the way.
Although my brain usually balks at reading a book in a series without first reading the preceding volumes, Fish does a fantastic job of bringing new readers up to speed on previous events. She masterfully weaves in the necessary details from the first two books in the series without making it feel like you’re reading a performative summary. All the threads come together in a delightful romp through the Texas Hill Country filled with mystery, mayhem, and mouth-watering chocolate.
The story opens with Gloria emerging sweaty--and rather the opposite of Zen--after a hot yoga class at a resort in Cabo San Lucas. I knew immediately that she was a woman I’d love spending the next 380 pages with, and I was not wrong. Gloria is a ‘woman of a certain age� who has survived the collapse of her career and community with strength and grace. She’s found a new home with true friends, created a new business, and found love with Mason. Now, she and Mason just have to help the authorities catch his ex-wife to prove that she faked her own death.
As the action and adventure in Cabo comes to a close, the second act opens with Gloria’s return to Comfort to get her chocolates to the Oval Office and her continued struggle to discover why her former friend Gardner worked so diligently to ruin her life. The cast of characters in Comfort is substantial, and likely more easily managed for those who have read the entire series. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the fruits of Gloria’s labor to build a life and surround herself with such marvelous people. I was delighted to see that Comfort is a real place, and thanks to Kimberly Fish and this truly cozy mystery, it’s a place I plan to visit on my next trip to Texas. She brings this town and its inhabitants to life.
Gloria is such an engaging character. She absolutely leaps off the page. She isn’t perfect, which makes her all the more real. I found myself wishing I could walk into her chocolate shop and while away the afternoon as she spun tales of her adventures and plied me with goodies.
I recommend Home to Comfort, and the entire Comfort and Joy series, to anyone who enjoys a spirited heroine on the hunt for answers and a colorful cast of characters to meet along the way.
February 18, 2025
Kimberly Fish provides the final delightful installment about the endearing, amateur sleuth Gloria Bachman in Home to Comfort, the third book of the Comfort and Joy trilogy. Detailed descriptions of the Cabo San Lucas resort’s activities, colorful, fragrant flowers framing the walking paths, and luxurious suites immediately draw readers into this story. Gloria and her beau, Mason Lassiter, are in Mexico to help capture his first wife, Patsy, who isn’t dead. When she spots Patsy red-handed in Mason’s room, Gloria follows hot on the trail to help put Patsy behind bars- the first of many challenges that must be resolved.
One of Ms. Fish's strengths is creating realistic characters. Readers will remember Gloria as a strong, successful, and reflective heroine. Readers, especially in a similar retirement-age category, consider Gloria as a friend. Gloria's obstacles are crucial for her development, yet she navigates each situation with intelligence and grace, revealing her growth, reflective nature, and heart. The supporting cast is also well-developed. Their interactions provide insights into her relationships and further define her personality. This interconnectedness, especially with Mason, highlights the importance of community in character development.
The roadblocks Gloria encounters are not quickly or neatly managed, allowing her to reflect on past experiences and the lessons she’s learned. Readers get insight into her strong support network when she seeks advice from friends. Gloria is steadfastly true to herself and her values, which makes her journey relatable. The author’s choice to keep some elements of the story imperfect mirrors real life, emphasizing that resolution doesn’t always mean a tidy ending, making Gloria's journey even more rewarding for readers.
Fans of amateur sleuth and contemporary women’s fiction will enjoy traveling from Mexico to Comfort, Texas, to learn the hidden secrets of the past and their impact on the present. Home to Comfort is perfect as a stand-alone story but more enjoyable after reading the prior installments, Sweet Comfort and Finding Comfort. Enjoy this trilogy by the talented Kimberly Fish today.
One of Ms. Fish's strengths is creating realistic characters. Readers will remember Gloria as a strong, successful, and reflective heroine. Readers, especially in a similar retirement-age category, consider Gloria as a friend. Gloria's obstacles are crucial for her development, yet she navigates each situation with intelligence and grace, revealing her growth, reflective nature, and heart. The supporting cast is also well-developed. Their interactions provide insights into her relationships and further define her personality. This interconnectedness, especially with Mason, highlights the importance of community in character development.
The roadblocks Gloria encounters are not quickly or neatly managed, allowing her to reflect on past experiences and the lessons she’s learned. Readers get insight into her strong support network when she seeks advice from friends. Gloria is steadfastly true to herself and her values, which makes her journey relatable. The author’s choice to keep some elements of the story imperfect mirrors real life, emphasizing that resolution doesn’t always mean a tidy ending, making Gloria's journey even more rewarding for readers.
Fans of amateur sleuth and contemporary women’s fiction will enjoy traveling from Mexico to Comfort, Texas, to learn the hidden secrets of the past and their impact on the present. Home to Comfort is perfect as a stand-alone story but more enjoyable after reading the prior installments, Sweet Comfort and Finding Comfort. Enjoy this trilogy by the talented Kimberly Fish today.
February 4, 2025
When I learned this would be the final book in this series, I felt a mix of emotions—both happy and sad. Happy because I appreciate a story that reaches a satisfying conclusion, but sad because saying goodbye to Gloria and the world she inhabits isn’t easy. Gloria and all her friends have occupied a happy spot in my heart for some time. It’s rare to find a character like her—a woman of a certain age who is not only successful and accomplished but also reflective about her choices in life. Watching her navigate uncertainties with intelligence and grace made for a compelling and refreshing read, especially for this reviewer, who can relate to those very questions.
Fish doesn’t make things easy for Gloria in this book. Instead, she throws plenty of challenges, surprises, and the occasional left hook her way, keeping the story engaging and emotionally rich. Yet, rather than tying everything up in a perfect, too-neat bow, the author leaves readers with an ending that feels true to life—satisfying, yet a little imperfect, just as life often is. That sense of realism is one of the things I have always appreciated about this series. Life rarely follows a predictable path, and neither does Gloria’s journey, which makes it all the more rewarding to follow.
Another highlight of Home to Comfort is the return of the full supporting cast from previous books. Their presence enhances more than the story; it also gives readers glimpses into their lives and futures, making it feel like a proper farewell to a beloved community. Seeing where they are now and imagining what lies ahead for them added a layer of warmth and nostalgia to the book. For fans of the series, this final installment is a heartfelt and fitting conclusion that reminds us that even as some chapters close, others are always waiting to begin.
Fish doesn’t make things easy for Gloria in this book. Instead, she throws plenty of challenges, surprises, and the occasional left hook her way, keeping the story engaging and emotionally rich. Yet, rather than tying everything up in a perfect, too-neat bow, the author leaves readers with an ending that feels true to life—satisfying, yet a little imperfect, just as life often is. That sense of realism is one of the things I have always appreciated about this series. Life rarely follows a predictable path, and neither does Gloria’s journey, which makes it all the more rewarding to follow.
Another highlight of Home to Comfort is the return of the full supporting cast from previous books. Their presence enhances more than the story; it also gives readers glimpses into their lives and futures, making it feel like a proper farewell to a beloved community. Seeing where they are now and imagining what lies ahead for them added a layer of warmth and nostalgia to the book. For fans of the series, this final installment is a heartfelt and fitting conclusion that reminds us that even as some chapters close, others are always waiting to begin.
February 20, 2025
While I’ve never been to Comfort, Texas, I think I’ve been to small, insular towns like it. Comfort works hard to keep to its roots, even as the suburbs of Austin and San Antonio creep ever closer.
Comfort is home to Gloria Bachman, once a high-flying bank executive, now a chocolate shop owner and a force of nature. She’s found her place in little Comfort and her man, the very handsome Mason Lassiter, owner of a swanky Dallas clothing store empire. But all is not perfect as Gloria’s arch enemy is out to destroy everything she’s built for herself. First, she must fend off an attack by Mason’s ex-wife, who’s running wild somewhere in Mexico. When Gloria returns to Texas, she has to tackle her ex BFF Gardner Rogers, the woman with a vendetta.
Like the previous two Comfort stories, this one is full of friends and family, gossip, intrigue and infighting, and all the kookiness of a small town. Picking up Home to Comfort is like returning to old friends, catching up on their lives, their comings and goings. It’s like pulling on a comfy old sweater and settling in with a cup of tea before a fire; warm, inviting and safe.
While the resolution seems to be a foregone conclusion, it was fun getting there. I really like Gloria as a character. She’s a woman of a certain age who's seen a lot in her life and not willing to put up with a bit of nonsense. A straight shooter. Her friends circle around her, propping her up when she needs it and in return she has their back.
I really enjoyed this series and am sad it’s over but I’m happy for Gloria and the gang. I might even take a weekend break in Comfort!
Comfort is home to Gloria Bachman, once a high-flying bank executive, now a chocolate shop owner and a force of nature. She’s found her place in little Comfort and her man, the very handsome Mason Lassiter, owner of a swanky Dallas clothing store empire. But all is not perfect as Gloria’s arch enemy is out to destroy everything she’s built for herself. First, she must fend off an attack by Mason’s ex-wife, who’s running wild somewhere in Mexico. When Gloria returns to Texas, she has to tackle her ex BFF Gardner Rogers, the woman with a vendetta.
Like the previous two Comfort stories, this one is full of friends and family, gossip, intrigue and infighting, and all the kookiness of a small town. Picking up Home to Comfort is like returning to old friends, catching up on their lives, their comings and goings. It’s like pulling on a comfy old sweater and settling in with a cup of tea before a fire; warm, inviting and safe.
While the resolution seems to be a foregone conclusion, it was fun getting there. I really like Gloria as a character. She’s a woman of a certain age who's seen a lot in her life and not willing to put up with a bit of nonsense. A straight shooter. Her friends circle around her, propping her up when she needs it and in return she has their back.
I really enjoyed this series and am sad it’s over but I’m happy for Gloria and the gang. I might even take a weekend break in Comfort!
March 1, 2025
It’s always difficult saying goodbye to beloved friends, even when those friends are fictional. I’ve been reading Kimberly Fish’s Comfort books for the better part of a decade now, and when I opened her latest, Home to Comfort, and read that it was the final book in the Comfort and Joy ssub-trilogy featuring Gloria Bachman, I felt a lot like good neighbors were moving away.
As aways, Kimberly Fish is the consummate storyteller, hooking us on this book at the very beginning, when Gloria lament choosing a hot yoga session instead of a massage or a mani-pedi on her resort vacation. True to form, she sticks it out, proving to herself and all of us that you don’t have to be young and skinny to take such classes (though maybe you have better sense than to repeat the process.)
But this isn’t a resort story. Rather, it’s Fish’s trademark mix of mystery and romance, relationship drama, and continued self-awareness, told through the happenings and hijinks of Gloria and the men in her life, Gardner, Harry, and of course Mason Lassiter. Fish’s use of dialogue is on point, as always, and her pacing is dead-on, with the romantic bits enhancing but not out shining the mystery elements of the story.
If you’ve read the previous two books in the Comfort and Joy trilogy, you’ll benefit from familiarity with some of the characters, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy this book.
At 382 pages, this book is the perfect length to savor, much like the perfect summer afternoon as it slips into evening.
Goes well with: chocolate truffles and a glass of red wine.
As aways, Kimberly Fish is the consummate storyteller, hooking us on this book at the very beginning, when Gloria lament choosing a hot yoga session instead of a massage or a mani-pedi on her resort vacation. True to form, she sticks it out, proving to herself and all of us that you don’t have to be young and skinny to take such classes (though maybe you have better sense than to repeat the process.)
But this isn’t a resort story. Rather, it’s Fish’s trademark mix of mystery and romance, relationship drama, and continued self-awareness, told through the happenings and hijinks of Gloria and the men in her life, Gardner, Harry, and of course Mason Lassiter. Fish’s use of dialogue is on point, as always, and her pacing is dead-on, with the romantic bits enhancing but not out shining the mystery elements of the story.
If you’ve read the previous two books in the Comfort and Joy trilogy, you’ll benefit from familiarity with some of the characters, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy this book.
At 382 pages, this book is the perfect length to savor, much like the perfect summer afternoon as it slips into evening.
Goes well with: chocolate truffles and a glass of red wine.
March 1, 2025
I usually do not read (or review) books that I read out of order. I am a completist at heart and prefer to read books in order even when I am told that I don’t have to. In regards to Kimberly Fish’s Home to Comfort, I was glad to have broken my rule because now I will for sure have to go back and read about Gloria from the beginning. I had to get caught up and found myself reading the synopses for the first two books in order to get a grip on the timeline for this third book in the Comfort and Joy series.
I loved reading about a strong woman who is older in age who is both successful and thoughtful. A lot of books are focused on the younger set, but as someone who is now very much in the older category, I appreciate thoughtful and well-rounded stories such as this one. A story in which Gloria finds herself in surprising circumstances and facing challenges. Gloria’s adventures are done in a way that truly engage the reader, making it very easy to keep turning the page. I truly felt the heart in this story and it is partly what has me wanting to go back from the beginning and read it properly the whole way through.
For readers of the Comfort and Joy series, you will undoubtedly be quite satisfied with this read. For those looking for a well-rounded story about a strong woman facing life head-on, do yourself a favor and start from the first book in the series. I think we will not be disappointed.
I loved reading about a strong woman who is older in age who is both successful and thoughtful. A lot of books are focused on the younger set, but as someone who is now very much in the older category, I appreciate thoughtful and well-rounded stories such as this one. A story in which Gloria finds herself in surprising circumstances and facing challenges. Gloria’s adventures are done in a way that truly engage the reader, making it very easy to keep turning the page. I truly felt the heart in this story and it is partly what has me wanting to go back from the beginning and read it properly the whole way through.
For readers of the Comfort and Joy series, you will undoubtedly be quite satisfied with this read. For those looking for a well-rounded story about a strong woman facing life head-on, do yourself a favor and start from the first book in the series. I think we will not be disappointed.
March 3, 2025
Home to Comfort is, as its title suggests, a nice comfy read for when you are taking an afternoon break or winding down for the night. This is the first book I read in the series and it just so happened to be the last. While it was the last one in the series, the author does a good job of explaining past events that have taken place in the life of Gloria Bachman, although it does feel like a lot, which just means I need to go back and read the whole series!
There's just something nice about a book when it reads like episodes of someone's life. During the story, we start at Gloria's crazy Cabo vacation, then her getting married, then running into an old friend back home, and making truffles for the white house and other small details in between. The author keeps our main character's life alive and happening with each chapter and it feels like we are looking into the window of our character's everyday life.
Home to Comfort is an all-around cozy read. Our characters are well drawn-out and I enjoyed my ride along with Gloria and her whirlwind adventures and drama. I would recommend reading the first of the series though, before I pick this one up, but if you are okay reading things out of order, like I have done, then I support that too.
There's just something nice about a book when it reads like episodes of someone's life. During the story, we start at Gloria's crazy Cabo vacation, then her getting married, then running into an old friend back home, and making truffles for the white house and other small details in between. The author keeps our main character's life alive and happening with each chapter and it feels like we are looking into the window of our character's everyday life.
Home to Comfort is an all-around cozy read. Our characters are well drawn-out and I enjoyed my ride along with Gloria and her whirlwind adventures and drama. I would recommend reading the first of the series though, before I pick this one up, but if you are okay reading things out of order, like I have done, then I support that too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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