Category Archives: Emilie Richards

July 5, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: The House Guests by Emilie Richards

Title: The House Guests by Emilie Richards
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Two women. Two families. Two lifetimes’ worth of secrets.

In the wake of her husband’s sudden death, Cassie Costas finds her relationship with her teenage stepdaughter unraveling. After their move to historic Tarpon Springs, Florida, Savannah hates her new town, her school and most of all her stepmom, whom she blames for her father’s death. Cassie has enough to contend with as she searches for answers about the man she shared a life with, including why all their savings have disappeared.

When Savannah’s rebellion culminates in an act that leaves single mother Amber Blair and her sixteen-year-old son homeless, Cassie empathizes with the woman’s predicament and invites the strangers to move in. As their lives intertwine, Cassie realizes that Amber is hiding something. She’s evasive about her past, but the fear in her eyes tells a darker story. Cassie wonders what the woman living under her roof is running from…and what will happen if it finally catches up to her.

Review:

The House Guests by Emilie Richards is a multi-layered novel about family, friendship and new beginnings.

Cassie Costas and fifteen-year-old daughter of her heart Savannah have recently relocated to Tarpon Springs, FL from New York. Following the devastating loss of husband and dad Mark Westmoreland, Cassie and Savannah’s once close relationship is going through a very rough spot. Savannah is resentful, hurt and angry and refuses to talk to her stepmother. Cassie is trying to understand what was bothering Mark in the months leading up to his death. She is also trying to understand her new financial situation. With the assistance of her beloved Aunt Roxanne and the rest of their family, Cassie hopes to make a new life for her and Savannah.

Amber Blair and her sixteen-year-old son Will have fallen on tough times in the past, but their current situation is very unexpected. Cassie’s recent illness coupled with lack of income have left them in dire straits. Amber is grateful for Will’s understanding as they find themselves unexpectedly homeless. She wants to do the best she can for Will but begins to wonder if it might be time for them to move on.

Once Cassie discovers exactly how badly Savannah’s latest rebellion has hurt Amber, she is determined to make it up to her and her son. Despite Amber’s reservations, she agrees to Cassie’s invitation to move in with her and Savannah. While they tiptoe around one another at first, Cassie and Amber become very close friends. And much to Cassie’s relief, Savannah has settled into her new school and becomes friends with Will and two other girls. While Savannah’s hostility toward her has dimmed a bit, their relationship is still quite strained.

Cassie wants answers to questions about a few things that happened before Mark died. She hopes to finally get explanations for the sudden changes in his behavior and his inexplicable decisions. Cassie also continues trying to repair her relationship with Savannah but will she lose patience following her stepdaughter’s latest misstep?

Amber has lived her life looking over her shoulder for so many years she cannot imagine living without fear. She has managed to prevent Will from delving too deeply into the past, but she knows a day of reckoning is inching near. Amber is uncertain about living with Cassie and Savannah, but she knows it is the right choice for now. As she continues shielding Will from the past, is Cassie underestimating his desire for the truth?

The House Guests is an emotionally compelling novel with a hint mystery and a dash of intrigue. Cassie and Amber are vibrantly developed women with relatable strengths and all too human foibles. Will and Savannah are typical teenagers who believe they are more mature than they are. Trouble ensues as they make well-intentioned but ill-advised decisions that do not always work out as planned. The two story arcs are well-written and perfectly illustrate the consequences of keeping secrets. With interesting twists and unanticipated turns, Emilie Richards brings this captivating novel to a realistic conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Mira, Rated B+, Review, The House Guests, Women's Fiction

June 24, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards

Title: A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Could a lifetime of memories…be a lifetime of lies?

All her life Ryan Gracey watched her perfect older sister from afar. Knowing she could never top Wendy’s achievements, she didn’t even try. Instead Ryan forged her own path while her family barely seemed to notice.

Now Wendy shares two little girls with her perfect husband while Ryan mourns the man she lost after a nearly fatal mistake in judgment. The sisters’ choices have taken them in different directions, which is why Ryan is stunned when Wendy calls, begging for her help. There’s been a murder—and Wendy believes she’ll be wrongfully accused.

While Wendy lies low, Ryan moves back to their hometown to care for the nieces she hardly knows. The sleuthing skills she’s refined as a true-crime podcaster quickly rise to the surface as she digs for answers with the help of an unexpected ally. Yet the trail of clues Wendy’s left behind lead to nothing but questions. Blood may be thicker than water, but what does Ryan owe a sister who, with every revelation, becomes more and more a stranger?

Is Wendy, who always seemed so perfect, just a perfect liar—or worse?

Review:

A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards is an engrossing family-centric novel that is quite suspenseful.

Ryan Gracey is the host of a successful cold case crime podcast and lives a few hours away from her family. The youngest in the family, she is not overly close to her much older sister Wendy Cartwright who is married with two young daughters, eight year old Holly and six year old Noelle. When Wendy phones her out of the blue, Ryan is expecting an update on their father who has recently undergone heart surgery. Instead, Wendy weaves a far-fetched tale of a murder in which she proclaims her innocence along with her fear the Sheriff will name her the chief suspect. She then requests Ryan’s help in locating someone whom she believes will exonerate her.  Wendy also asks her sister to take care of her daughters because she is planning to disappear until her name is cleared. Although unsure whether to believe Wendy’s story, Ryan nonetheless agrees to return home and stay with her nieces until her sister’s return.  With the help of her best friend, Sophie, who also works on the podcast, Ryan begins investigating her sister’s story. Will they uncover the identity of the victim? And will she locate the person whom Wendy insists will clear her of murder?

Ryan loves her nieces but she has not spent much time with them.  She is a little troubled by their behavior but she is determined to make her time with them as fun and happy as possible. Little by little, Noelle comes out of her shell, but Holly is closed off and she initially resists Ryan’s efforts to engage with her.  The closer Ryan gets to her nieces, the more certain she is that something is very wrong in Wendy’s household. She is determine to uncover the mysteries surrounding her sister, but is she fully prepared for what she is about to learn about Wendy and their family?

Ryan also reconnects with former K-9 police officer Mateo “Teo” Santiago. Their brief romance years earlier continues to haunt her and their fraught history leaves her very reluctant to talk to him. Finally deciding to take charge of this somewhat disturbing part of her life, Ryan is very surprised by Teo’s reaction. Is there any chance she and Teo can overcome their painful past?

A Family of Strangers is a multi-layered novel that features a compelling mystery, many secrets and a heartwarming romance. The characters are richly drawn with enviable strengths and relatable flaws. Despite her mixed emotions about returning home, Ryan puts her nieces’ needs ahead of her own and she is surprised by her emotional reaction to the young girls. She is also drawn into the mystery surrounding Wendy but will she allow her family loyalty blind her to the truth? With plenty of intriguing twists and unexpected turns, Emilie Richards brings this absorbing mystery to a realistic conclusion that is also quite satisfying.  I highly recommend this marvelous novel.

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Filed under A Family of Strangers, Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Mira, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense

June 12, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Swallow’s Nest by Emilie Richards

Title: The Swallow’s Nest by Emilie Richards
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Three women fight for the chance to raise the child they’ve all come to love 

When Lilia Swallow’s husband, Graham, goes into remission after a challenging year of treatment for lymphoma, the home and lifestyle blogger throws a party. Their best friends and colleagues attend to celebrate his recovery, but just as the party is in full swing, a new guest arrives. She presents Lilia with a beautiful baby boy, and vanishes.

Toby is Graham’s darkest secret—his son, conceived in a moment of despair. Lilia is utterly unprepared for the betrayal the baby represents, and perhaps more so for the love she begins to feel once her shock subsides. Now this unasked-for precious gift becomes a life changer for three women: Lilia, who takes him into her home and heart; Marina, who bore and abandoned him until circumstance and grief changed her mind; and Ellen, who sees in him a chance to correct the mistakes she made with her own son, Toby’s father.

A custody battle begins, and each would-be mother must examine her heart, confront her choices and weigh her dreams against the fate of one vulnerable little boy. Each woman will redefine family, belonging and love—and the results will alter the course of not only their lives, but also the lives of everyone they care for.

Review:

The Swallow’s Nest by Emilie Richards is an emotional novel of forgiveness, motherhood and second chances.

Lilia Swallow and her husband Graham Randolph’s lives were turned upside down by his cancer diagnosis. A year later, they have cause to celebrate after his cancer goes into remission following aggressive treatment.  However, Lilia’s joy quickly turns to devastation when Graham’s business associate Marina Tate shows up with a three month old baby boy named Toby.  Marina hands Lilia the baby and delivers a stunning blow with her vindictive announcement that Toby is Graham’s son.  Understandably upset and furious, Lilia leaves Graham and Toby to visit her family in Hawaii where she tries to figure out what to do next.  Despite her anger and hurt, Lilia cannot bring herself to walk away from her marriage until they are out from under the massive debt from Graham’s medical expenses.  Will Lilia’s tangled emotions about the circumstances of Toby’s birth prevent her from loving the baby?  Is there any possible way for their marriage to survive Graham’s betrayal?

Lilia’s decision to return to Graham is not arrived at easily nor does she know what the future holds for them as a couple.  She cannot in good conscience walk away from him considering their staggering debt. Despite Graham’s remission, he is not psychically strong enough to work long hours and they are relying on Lilia’s income to help them recover financially.  Needing to keep expenses to a minimum, she and Graham continue living under the same roof but they lead separate lives. Toby slowly but surely works his way into Lilia’s heart and without hesitation, she becomes his primary caregiver.

Marina’s abandonment of Toby is not for his well-being; it is completely self-serving and rather spiteful.  While Graham’s decision to begin an affair with her is selfish and uncaring, she entered into the relationship with her eyes open and completely aware of his marriage. Marina is entirely self-absorbed and lacks any empathy for the impact his cancer diagnosis and treatment has on his life.  She never regrets her decision to leave Toby in Lilia and Graham’s care and Marina feels nothing but relief that he is no longer her responsibility.

Just as Lilia, Graham and Toby are well on their way to becoming a family, tragedy strikes and Graham’s estranged mother, Ellen, sees her grandson as an opportunity to make up for her mistakes with her son. She sets in motion a plan without giving any thought to Toby’s well-being or her daughter-in-law’s feelings.  Gaining Marina’s cooperation is instrumental to bringing the plan to fruition and after some consideration, Marina agrees to help Ellen. Will Ellen’s reprehensible scheme succeed?

The Swallow’s Nest is a beautifully rendered novel that quite poignant yet ultimately uplifting.  Emilie Richards tackles very difficult subject matter with ease and the resulting story tugs on readers’ heartstrings. Lilia and Toby are wonderfully developed characters who are easy to like and root for. The secondary characters are marvelously developed and provide a wonderful support system for Lilia. Marina and Ellen, however, are not likable or sympathetic but they do undergo a great deal of growth by novel’s end.  A truly captivating story that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Harlequin, Mira, Rated B+, Review, Women's Fiction

May 18, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards

Title: When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Literary Fiction
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: A+ & A Recommended Read

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Love and loyalty made them sisters. Secrets could still destroy them.

As children in foster care, Cecilia and Robin vowed they would be the sisters each had never had. Now superstar singer-songwriter Cecilia lives life on the edge, but when Robin is nearly killed in an accident, Cecilia drops everything to be with her.

Robin set aside her career as a successful photojournalist to create the loving family she always yearned for. But gazing through a wide-angle lens at both past and future, she sees that her marriage is disintegrating. Her attorney husband is rarely home. She and the children need Kris’s love and attention, but does Kris need them?

When Cecilia asks Robin to be the still photographer for a documentary on foster care, Robin agrees, even though Kris will be forced to take charge for the months she’s away. She gambles that he’ll prove to them both that their children—and their marriage—are a priority in his life.

Cecilia herself needs more than time with her sister. A lifetime of lies has finally caught up with her. She wants a chance to tell the real story of their childhood and free herself from the nightmares that still haunt her.

As the documentary unfolds, memories will be tested and the meaning of family redefined, but the love two young girls forged into bonds of sisterhood will help them move forward as the women they were always meant to be.

Review:

When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards is a heartrending, poignant and healing novel that highlights both the positive and negative aspects of the foster care system. This riveting story about two foster sisters, Robin Lenhart and Cecelia, is a sensitive and realistic depiction of a system that is oftentimes woefully overburdened and underfunded.  And most heartbreaking is the all too real fact that the children who end up in foster care through no fault of their own are the ones who pay the highest price when the system fails to adequately protect them.

Cecelia aka CeCe and Robin grew up together as foster children who are consider themselves sisters of the heart. As adults, their lives took them in very different directions but there is absolutely nothing that can destroy the bond they forged as kids.  While CeCe is a wildly famous and popular singer/songwriter, Robin put her career as a photojournalist on hold to stay at home with her two children, Nik and Pet.  Although still deeply in love with her lawyer husband Kris, Robin is slowly realizing that everyone she knows seems to be moving on with their lives while hers remains exactly the same.  After surviving a car accident that took the life of one of her best friends, Robin accepts CeCe’s offer to become the photographer for a documentary about foster care.  While it is a difficult yet cathartic journey for both women, will long held secrets and long forgotten memories destroy the lives they have worked so hard to build?

Robin has always found it difficult to give voice to her dissatisfaction but in the aftermath of the car accident, she is much more open and honest about her discontent.  She takes full responsibility for letting Kris take advantage of her but she is no longer willing to continue on their current path.  His long hours and heavy workload mean little time spent together as a family and Robin is tired of  allowing him to put his career first.  Kris is not at all happy about her decision to accompany CeCe but Robin refuses to change her mind and their once close marriage slowly begins to crumble under the weight of his anger and inability to see things from her perspective.

CeCe is a strong willed survivor who tackles life on her own terms.  She lets nothing and no one stand in her way as she sets about accomplishing her goals.  Although she has achieved success beyond her wildest dreams, CeCe is still haunted by the events of her childhood and she hopes that facing her past will finally put her demons to rest.  At long last ready to face her worst memories, CeCe jumps headlong into the foster care documentary but as she soon discovers, nothing can prepare them for the sheer terror awaiting them as they confront the horror they experienced at one of the hands of one of their foster families.

CeCe and Robin’s reasons for participating in the documentary are quite different yet this decision serves as a catalyst for change in both of their lives.  Robin’s marriage is in crisis but for the first time, she is finally putting her needs first despite her discomfort.  She is also taking an important step once she begins talking about her problems instead of keeping silent.  CeCe at long last reveals the darkest parts of herself and her past and although she continues to try to maintain an emotional distance from everyone but Robin, true healing does not begin until she takes a chance on love.

Despite its sometimes dark and gritty subject matter, When We Were Sisters is surprisingly uplifting and hopeful. While Robin and CeCe experienced traumatic life altering events, they also had positive experiences with foster parents and family members who truly loved them.  Emilie Richards presents a fair and balanced perspective of both the good and bad elements of the foster care system.  A beautifully rendered and impeccably researched story that has a realistic storyline that does not shy away from difficult or sensitive topics, this incredibly moving novel is an emotional and healing journey that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Harlequin, Literary Fiction, Mira, Rated A+, Recommended Read, Review, When We Were Sisters

July 15, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Color of Light by Emilie Richards

color lightTitle: The Color of Light by Emilie Richards
Goddesses Anonymous Series Book Four
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The deeper the darkness, the brighter the light 

For more than a decade minister Analiese Wagner has felt privileged to lead her parishioners along a well-lit path. Her commitment has never been seriously tested until the frigid night she encounters a homeless family huddling in the churchyard. Offering them shelter in a vacant parish house apartment and taking teenage Shiloh Fowler—a girl desperate to rescue her parents—under her wing, she tests the loyalty and faith of her congregation.

Isaiah Colburn, the Catholic priest who was her first mentor and the man she secretly longed for, understands her struggles only too well. At a crossroads, he’s suddenly reappeared in her life, torn between his priesthood and his growing desire for a future with Analiese.

Divided between love and vows they’ve taken, both must face the possibilities of living very different lives or continuing to serve their communities. With a defeated family’s trust and her own happiness on the line, Analiese must define for herself where darkness ends and light begins.

Review:

The Color of Light is another thought-provoking and poignant addition to Emilie Richards’ wonderful Goddesses Anonymous series. In this outing, minister Analiese “Ana” Wagner’s judgment is called into question when she steps in to help a homeless family. As if she does not have enough on her plate, she is surprised by the sudden reappearance of her longtime friend and mentor Father Isaiah Colburn. Although they have been out of touch for several years, they easily pick up where they left off but Ana is disconcerted by the realization that she is still in love with Isaiah. Unbeknownst to Ana, Isaiah is close to finalizing a decision that will change the course of his life. Both of them are at a crossroads that leaves each of them questioning whether they have chosen the right path and if not, what comes next for them professionally and personally?

While Ana is not having a crisis of faith, she does begin to question whether or not she wants to continue her career as a minister. She is continually butting heads with some of the church’s leadership and members of the congregation and her days are filled with putting out fires and juggling meetings. Her decision to help the Fowler family is met with resistance and Ana is frustrated by some of her parishioner’s lack of compassion for their situation. Trying to get the family some assistance is a burden she willingly takes on, but Ana is coming dangerously close to burning out as she devotes most of her time to helping others.

Isaiah is also having trouble reconciling the demands of priesthood with his personal life. He is on a sabbatical to try to decide whether or not to leave the priesthood when he reconnects with Ana. Although he is close to making a final decision about his future, both Isaiah and Ana are concerned about the effect his choice will have on the future of their relationship and their careers.

The story arc about the Fowler family is particularly heart wrenching. A job loss devastated the family and they have been trying to get back on their feet for quite some time. Much of the family’s care rests on the shoulders of fourteen year old Shiloh due to her father Man’s depression and her mother Belle’s poor health. Ana steps in to help Man find work and get Belle some much needed medical attention and as their lives finally begin to turn around, Shiloh discovers she can rely on her parents to take care of her after a traumatic incident.

The Color of Light is a very heartwarming and inspiring story. As in previous installments of the Goddesses Anonymous series, Emilie Richards raises awareness of social issues in a realistic and straightforward manner. There is also a strong spiritual element to the storyline that is quite thought-provoking. All in all, it is an absolutely delightful story that tackles some real life problems with a great deal of compassion that old and new fans are sure to love.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Goddesses Anonymous Series, Harlequin, Mira, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Color of Light

June 23, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: No River Too Wide by Emilie Richards

too wideTitle: No River Too Wide by Emilie Richards
Goddesses Anonymous Series Book Three
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Length: 496 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Some betrayals are like rivers, so deep, so wide, they can’t be crossed. But—for those with enough courage—forgiveness, redemption and love may be found on the other side.

On the night her home is consumed by fire, Janine Stoddard finally resolves to leave her abusive husband. While she is reluctant to involve her estranged daughter, she can’t resist a chance to see Harmony and baby Lottie in Asheville, North Carolina, before she disappears forever.

Harmony’s friend Taylor Martin realizes how much the reunited mother and daughter yearn to stay together, and she sees in Jan a chance to continue her own mother’s legacy of helping women in need of a fresh start. She opens her home, even as she’s opening her heart to another newcomer, Adam Pryor. But enigmatic Adam has a secret that could destroy Taylor’s trust…and cost Jan her hard-won freedom.

The Review:

No River Too Wide, the newest addition to Emilie Richards’ heartwarming Goddesses Anonymous series, is another beautiful novel about family, friendship and healing. In this outing, Harmony Stoddard’s mother, Jan, finally escapes her abusive marriage and, with the loving support of Harmony and fellow Goddess Taylor Martin, begins a new life in North Carolina.

Escaping her abusive husband is just the first stop in Jan’s journey and afraid of endangering Harmony and her daughter Lottie, she is planning on just a quick visit with them. Not wanting to lose touch with her mom again, Harmony persuades Jan to live with Taylor and help out with Taylor’s pre-teen Maddie. Jan uneasily settles in with Taylor and although she is overwhelmed with her newfound freedom, she slowly begins to regain her self-confidence.

Insight into Jan’s marriage is provided through a series of tapes where Jan reveals the slow and insidious progression of abuse by her husband Rex. She recounts the chilling events that left her hopelessly trapped in her marriage and fearful for her children’s lives.  These heartbreaking accounts are a realistic depiction of why it is so difficult leave an abusive relationship and it also demonstrates some of the warning signs that a relationship is in danger of becoming abusive.

As Jan is picking of the pieces of her life, so are Taylor and Harmony. Both are entering into new territory when they begin dating again. Taylor has been wrapped up in taking care of Maddie and getting her new business up and running while Harmony has been busy with baby Lottie. Taylor is surprised by her unexpected attraction to newcomer Adam and despite her reservations, they are soon dating. Harmony is also in the throes of a new romance with a very nice man, but their relationship lacks passion.

There is also a bit of a mystery element to No River Too Wide that centers around Rex and his insurance business. It soon becomes obvious that Adam is somehow involved with this investigation, but the exact nature of his role remains unclear for much of the novel. When Taylor discovers the truth about why he is in town, her issues with trust issues and forgiveness jeopardize their relationship.

No River Too Wide is an emotional and thought-provoking story of overcoming years of emotional and physical abusive. Emilie Richards has once again written a compelling story of love and forgiveness that old and new fans of Goddesses Anonymous series do not want to miss.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Emilie Richards, Fiction, Goddesses Anonymous Series, Harlequin, Mira, No River Too Wide, Rated B, Review, Romance