Title: The Keepsake Sisters by Lori Wilde
Moonglow Cove Series Book Two
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lori Wilde’s heartwarming follow-up to her “page-turning and passionate” (Jill Shalvis) trade paperback debut, The Moonglow Sisters, takes readers back to Moonglow Cove, Texas, with a story of twin sisters separated at birth who are reunited under unforgettable circumstances
It was a story that couldn’t possibly be true: Identical twins, separated at birth. Anna Drury wouldn’t have believed it, but the woman standing before her was physically alike her in every way…and held in her hands a keepsake baby bracelet, the same as Anna had. How could it be?
Anna—with her tall, strong husband and two adorable children, grew up loved and secure, and she freely opens her heart to others, so she embraces the idea of her new-found sister, Amelia. Everyone tells Anna to tread carefully, but Amelia is family, she sees it in the other woman’s face and knows it in the depth of her soul. And family should always be welcome.
Once the shock settles and the dust clears, the sisters learn about each other as they unravel the secrets of their past and separation. Anna wants to believe that life with her new-found sister will be perfect, but just as they are bonding in a special way, Amelia reveals the true reason for their reunion. Her kidneys are failing, and Anna could be her perfect match.
But if Anna agrees to her request it might threaten everything she holds dear, her marriage, her health…even her life. Faced with this dilemma, Anna must ask herself a hard question, how far will she go to help her twin, the woman who is her other half…and a woman she doesn’t really know?
Review:
The Keepsake Sisters by Lori Wilde is an endearing novel about what it means to be family.
Anna Drury is a Moonglow resident who owns a bakery and enjoys a happy marriage. Her husband Kevin travels for his job so she and their two children, 3 year old Logan and 10 year old Allie are on their own quite a bit. Anna has a huge heart and she is willing to help anyone in need. She volunteers a lot and enjoys playing in a band with her friends. Anna is close to her mother Robin and her brother Mike and she is still mourning the loss of her father.
When Amelia Brandt shows up at their house, Anna naturally welcomes her with open arms. Kevin, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with the complete stranger on their doorstep. Willing to fight for the chance to get to know the twin sister she has never met, Anna is upset that Kevin does not agree with her. In fact, he leaves her to deal with it on her own while he goes on a business trip. Anna is also shocked by Robin’s reaction to the news that Anna is not her biological child and that she wants nothing to do with Amelia. Despite the turmoil in her family, Anna could not be more delighted to spend time with Amelia. But how will she react when her sister reveals her reason for tracking her down?
Amelia is reserved and standoffish but determined to carry through with her plan. She did not grow up with loving and devoted parents so she is taken aback by Anna’s warm welcome. Amelia is very uncomfortable with her twin’s physical displays of affection and emotional declarations. Although Amelia grows to genuinely like Anna, she knows she needs to tell her why she wanted to meet her. However, will Anna change her mind once she realizes that her feelings toward her twin have changed?
Anna’s life is completely upended when Amelia knocks on her door. She completely accepts Amelia into her life and she will not allow her mom’s or Kevin’s attitude to affect her decisions. Anna is stunned by Kevin’s outburst but she acknowledges there might be some truth to what he says. But she is furious at his assumptions about Amelia and some of the decisions he makes without her knowledge. Equally unexpected is Robin’s reaction to Amelia and her out of character behavior. Anna does not want to hurt her family but will she give up the chance for a relationship with Amelia?
The Keepsake Sisters is a delightfully heartwarming novel with an engrossing storyline and wonderful characters. Amelia and Anna are beautifully drawn characters whose relationship slowly blossoms over time. Robin’s reaction to her daughter’s news is realistic and easy to understand. Kevin’s kneejerk response does not cast him in the best light and makes it difficult to like him. The undeniable bond between the twins is evident from their first meeting but will unanticipated details about Amelia alter Anna’s viewpoint of her newfound twin? With unexpected twists, Lori Wilde brings this captivating novel to a heartfelt conclusion.
