Category Archives: Literary Fiction

July 13, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Siracusa by Delia Ephron

Title: Siracusa by Delia Ephron
Publisher: Blue Rider Press
Genre: Contemporary, Literary Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Penguin’s First to Read Program

Summary:

An electrifying novel about marriage and deceit from bestselling author Delia Ephron that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they have hidden from one another are exposed and relationships are unraveled.

New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine—Finn; his wife, Taylor; and their daughter, Snow. “From the beginning,” says Taylor, “it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together.” Told Rashomon-style in alternating points of view, the characters expose and stumble upon lies and infidelities past and present. Snow, ten years old and precociously drawn into a far more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe as the novel explores collusion and betrayal in marriage.

With her inimitable psychological astute­ness and uncanny understanding of the human heart, Ephron delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none will see coming.

Review:

In Siracusa by Delia Ephron, two couples’ vacation in Italy is the perfect recipe for disaster.  Two troubled marriages + one enigmatic, manipulative child + secrets = a vacation to remember for all the wrong reasons.

New York couple Michael and Lizzie join their Portland, ME friends Finn, Taylor and daughter Snow for what should be an idyllic Italian vacation.  Told in retrospect from the four adults points of view, their trip starts innocently enough but it is quite clear that, at some point, things began to rapidly deteriorate once they arrive in Siracusa. While none of the characters are particularly likable, they are certainly colorful and interesting and the sequence of events leading up to the disastrous end of their stay in Siracusa is riveting.

Lizzie is a bit of a free spirit whose writing career is frustratingly stalled.  Devoted to Michael, she knows all of his secrets but she lovingly overlooks his faults.  She is hoping the trip will close the distance that has suddenly appeared between them, but she is still a little drawn to her ex-boyfriend Finn.

Michael is a Pulitzer prize winning author whose latest novel is not going as well as he would like.  He is not at all thrilled with the joint vacation and he spends a good part of his day trying to avoid Lizzie.  Michael is charming and larger than life and he easily captivates both Snow and Taylor during their vacation.

Finn owns a thriving restaurant but he is surprisingly immature and not overly observant.  Fun-loving, flirtatious and laidback, he is a hands-off dad who lets his wife have her way in pretty much every aspect of their life.  The events in Siracusa definitely leave their mark on him and he is the only one who makes any effort to get help dealing with happened while they were there.

Taylor is controlling, obsessive and completely clueless about everything.  She  believes Snow can do no wrong and she is so blinded by love for her child that she cannot (or will not) see how manipulative her daughter is.  Dismissive of Finn, she makes no effort to hide her contempt for her husband and she refuses to shoulder her share of the blame for their dysfunctional relationship.  Of the four adults, Taylor is the least likable and her viewpoint of the events certainly seems to be the most skewed.

Snow is quiet and unassuming but it does not take long to see how sly and manipulative she is.  She takes full advantage of her father’s inattention and her mother’s inability to see through her antics.  Snow is thoroughly enthralled by Michael and it is easy to see how his sudden attention to her leads to her crush on him.  Taylor thoroughly underestimates her daughter while Finn is quietly amused by Snow’s cunning which does not bode well for anyone who crosses her path.

Siracusa by Delia Ephron is a fiendishly clever novel that is fast-paced and compelling.  The characters are deplorable and their behavior is appalling but the plot is so spellbinding it is easy to overlook the unsavory characters.  A sense of foreboding permeates the story right from the very first page and despite the feeling that something pretty awful is going to happen, the conclusion is still incredibly shocking. 

I highly recommend this well-written novel to readers of contemporary literary fiction.

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Filed under Blue Rider Press, Contemporary, Delia Ephron, Literary Fiction, Rated B+, Review, Siracusa

July 4, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen

Title: The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Genre: Contemporary, Literary Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

How well do you ever really know the family next door?

Bucolic Newport Cove, where spontaneous block parties occur on balmy nights and all of the streets are named for flowers, is proud of its distinction of being named one the top twenty safest neighborhoods in the US. It’s also one of the most secret-filled.

Kellie Scott has just returned to work after a decade of being a stay-at-home mom. She’s adjusting to high heels, scrambling to cook dinner for her family after a day at the office—and soaking in the dangerous attention of a very handsome, very married male colleague. Kellie’s neighbor Susan Barrett begins every day with fresh resolutions: she won’t eat any carbs, she’ll go to bed at a reasonable hour, and she’ll stop stalking her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Gigi Kennedy seems to have it all together—except her teenage daughter has turned into a hostile stranger and her husband is running for Congress, which means her old skeletons are in danger of being brought into the light.

Then a new family moves to this quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac. Tessa Campbell seems friendly enough to the other mothers, if a bit reserved. Then the neighbors notice that no one is ever invited to Tessa’s house. And soon, it becomes clear that Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.

Review:

The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen is a compelling novel about the secrets of four neighbors living in idyllic Newport Cove, one of the twenty safest communities in America.

The oldest of the friends, Gigi Kennedy is happily married to husband, Joe, who is running for Congress while juggling his day job as a lawyer for an environmental company. She is a dedicated mom to their two daughters, fifteen year old Melanie and twelve year old Julia but she has a few secrets she would rather keep under wraps. Her biggest concern at the moment is her volatile relationship with Melanie, who has morphed from an innocent, happy young woman into a secretive, argumentative teenager Gigi barely recognizes.  While she is very supportive of Joe’s bid for office, she is not at all happy with the intense media scrutiny and she is rather suspicious of her husband’s twenty-two year old campaign manager, Zach.

Recently returning to work after staying home with her two children, ten year Mia and seven year old Noah, Kellie Scott is rediscovering herself. A real estate agent who is indulging in a not quite so innocent flirtation with her good-looking, married co-worker, Kellie is growing increasingly unhappy in her long-term marriage to her high school sweetheart, Jason. Instead of focusing on Jason’s positive qualities, all she can see are his flaws and Kellie cannot help but wonder if she can endure a future filled with the same old things year in and year out.

An über successful  businesswoman, Susan Barrett is struggling to move past her ex-husband Randall’s betrayal.  While she is grateful he is still an active part of their son Cole’s life, she cannot help but resent the new life he has created with his girlfriend Daphne.  Living the same neighborhood as her ex, Susan spends her free evenings sitting outside his house where she tortures herself by imagining what might be happening behind closed. Stunned by the happy couple’s latest news, Susan cannot help but reflect on why her marriage failed.

Newcomers to Newport Cove, Tessa Campbell and her husband Harry are a bit of enigma. An overprotective mom of two, Tessa tries to keep her distance from their new neighbors. Although she quickly succumbs to the warm welcome from Gigi, Kellie and Susan, she remains very tight-lipped about her family’s past. Of course, her new friends are a little curious about why Tessa keeps such a close eye on her two children, nine year old Bree and seven year old Addison. However, it is not until Harry’s shocking panic on Halloween that the three women seriously begin to question what is going on with Campbell family.

While the various events with Kellie, Susan and Gigi occur in the present, the truth about Tessa’s past is slowly revealed through a series of flashbacks. Going all the back to when Bree was a few months old, an interesting picture begins to emerge as Tessa struggles with single parenting since Harry is frequently out of town for business. Completely stressed and overwhelmed, she sees danger lurking behind every corner and after a few overreactions about her children’s safety, Tessa questions her judgment. All of her worries culminate in a shocking act that precipitates the family’s sudden move to Newport Cove.

Despite the outward peaceful appearance of Newport Cove, the enclave’s newsletter is quite entertaining as neighbors complain about barking dogs and the mystery dog pooping on various residents’ lawn.  A curmudgeon homeowner goes to great lengths to ensure everyone stays off his lawn while another neighbor goes out of her way to stick her nose into the newsletters’ various announcements, questions and grievances.  Despite the sometimes nitpicky complaints, there is a strong sense of community as everyone goes about their day to day lives. Readers will easily relate to the nuisance complaints (because who hasn’t experienced these things in their neighborhood?!) while at the same time, they will also appreciate the close-knit friendships between Kellie, Susan, Gigi and Tessa.

The Perfect Neighbors is an engaging novel of friendship with a captivating dash of mystery.  The different storylines about each of the women are absolutely riveting and there is plenty of anticipation over how each of the women’s issues will be resolved.  While all of the story arcs are interesting, the suspense about the reasons behind Tessa and Harry’s sudden move to Newport Cove is what keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace.  Old and new fans of Sarah Pekkanen are sure to love this newest release.

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Filed under Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Rated B+, Review, Sarah Pekkanen, The Perfect Nighbors, Washington Square Press

June 22, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Sweet Breath of Memory by Ariella Cohen

Title: Sweet Breath of Memory by Ariella Cohen
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Literary Fiction
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Life is in the telling.

With its tree-lined streets, vibrant downtown and curbside planters of spring bulbs, Amberley, Massachusetts, seems a good place for Cate Saunders to start over. It’s been two years since her husband, John, was killed in Iraq and life has been a struggle. Her new job as a caregiver doesn’t pay much, but the locals are welcoming. In fact, Cate has barely unpacked before she’s drawn–reluctantly at first–into a circle of friends.

There’s diner-owner Gaby, who nourishes her customers’ spirits as well as their bodies; feisty Beatrice, who kept the town going when its men marched off to WWII; wise-cracking MaryLou, as formidable as Fort Knox but with the same heart of gold; and, Sheila, whose Italian grocery is the soul of the place. As Amberley reveals itself to be a town shaped by war, Cate encounters another kindred spirit–a Holocaust survivor with whom she feels a deep connection. When revelations about John’s death threaten Cate’s newfound peace of mind, these sisters-in-arms’ stories show her an unexpected way forward. And Cate comes to understand that although we suffer loss alone, we heal by sharing our most treasured memories.

Review:

In Sweet Breath of Memory, Ariella Cohen seamlessly weaves past and present into a poignant yet uplifting story of healing.

Although it has been two years since her husband John’s death in Iraq, Cate Saunders is still deeply mourning his loss.  After losing her house due to unforeseen circumstances, she accepts a job as a home health care aide in Amberley, MA.  The small town is a close-knit community of influential women who take Cate under their protective wing.  Through her new friends’ life stories, Cate finds unexpected hope but it is the unexplained discovery of Holocaust survivor’s Miriam Rosen lost diary entries that helps her heal.

Cate’s grief over John’s death is compounded by guilt and her unshakeable need to learn the truth about how he died.  Convinced she is indirectly responsible for him being in Iraq in the first place, her efforts to get answers leave her  frustrated as she is stonewalled by military leaders who refuse to give her any information about the roadside bombing that killed him.  Cate is wracked with regrets over choices she made while he was alive and she cannot help but feel like she took him for granted over the course of their marriage.  Her is interest is piqued when she discovers Amberley has been shaped by war and the strong women who tenaciously kept it alive. Interviewing the various women who have been affected by loss and tragedy over the years, Cate discovers how resilient people can be despite enduring unbearable loss and experiencing unspeakable horror.

Cate immediately becomes friends with her landlady and store owner Shelia Morazzo.  Shelia is not only a savvy business owner, but she is also Amberley’s mayor. She is hardworking but her long hours still cannot fill the void she feels over her husband’s absence nor does it ease her concerns over his latest stint as a volunteer with Doctors without Borders.  Her worry intensifies when he returns home but after getting to know Cate, Sheila finds the courage to discuss how she feels about his time away from home.

Local diner owner Gaby French is quick to welcome Cate into the circle of friends.  Gaby cannot cannot help but worry about her new friend due to her uncanny ability to “see” how deeply troubled Cate is.  While Gaby can usually help the townspeople recover from their deepest despair, she is unable to shake her guilt from a long ago tragedy that completely altered her life.  She is also hiding a secret from everyone in town and when the truth comes out, Gaby finds help from a very unexpected source.

Gruff and outspoken, MaryLou Rice is a mechanic with a heart of gold.  Although loathe to admit or show her feelings, MaryLou cares deeply for her friends and she will do just about anything for them.  With multiple divorces behind her, she is not exactly looking for love but Cate cannot resist trying her hand at a little matchmaking for the striking beauty.

Town matriarch Beatrice McLean literally kept Amberley alive during World War II after she hired the women left behind to work in her family’s store.  She also came up with inventive ways to earn money and provide food for the families during the lean wartime years.  At the war’s end, Beatrice kept the women employed instead of filling their positions with returning soldiers.  Now in her nineties, Beatrice retains her dignity as her mind and body slowly begin to yield to the ravages of time.

Although she is no longer living, Miriam Rosen’s presence is keenly felt in Amberley.  A survivor of the Lodz ghetto in Poland, she spent several years after World War II ended searching for her brothers.  When the opportunity arose to come to America, she settled in town where Beatrice hired as s clothing designer her family’s store.  Although she rarely spoke of those war torn years, Miriam recorded the atrocities she endured at the hands of the Nazis in her journal. These entries were lost in the years leading up to her death, but the pages mysteriously appear just when Cate needs encouragement most.  When Cate decides to enter a writing contest, she ties the various threads of the women’s lives together with Miriam’s wartime experiences.  But most importantly, Miriam’s story provides her with the compassion she needs to make a decision about the information she uncovers about John’s death in Iraq.

Sweet Breath of Memory is a magnificent story of friendship, resiliency and compassion that is deeply moving. This beautifully rendered debut novel by Ariella Cohen has a unique storyline and an incredible cast of multi-faceted characters that will leave an indelible mark on readers’ hearts.  A heartfelt and captivating story of hope and healing that I absolutely loved and highly recommend to fans of contemporary fiction.

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Filed under Ariella Cohen, Contemporary, Kensington, Literary Fiction, Rated B+, Review, Sweet Breath of Memory

June 13, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Girls by Emma Cline

Title: The Girls by Emma Cline
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Historical (1969), Mystery, Literary Fiction
Length: 370 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

An indelible portrait of girls, the women they become, and that moment in life when everything can go horribly wrong—this stunning first novel is perfect for readers of Jeffrey Eugenides’s The Virgin Suicides and Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad.

Northern California, during the violent end of the 1960s. At the start of summer, a lonely and thoughtful teenager, Evie Boyd, sees a group of girls in the park, and is immediately caught by their freedom, their careless dress, their dangerous aura of abandon. Soon, Evie is in thrall to Suzanne, a mesmerizing older girl, and is drawn into the circle of a soon-to-be infamous cult and the man who is its charismatic leader. Hidden in the hills, their sprawling ranch is eerie and run down, but to Evie, it is exotic, thrilling, charged—a place where she feels desperate to be accepted. As she spends more time away from her mother and the rhythms of her daily life, and as her obsession with Suzanne intensifies, Evie does not realize she is coming closer and closer to unthinkable violence.

Emma Cline’s remarkable debut novel is gorgeously written and spellbinding, with razor-sharp precision and startling psychological insight. The Girls is a brilliant work of fiction.

Review:

Loosely based on Charles Manson and his followers, The Girls by Emma Cline follows fourteen year old Evie Boyd and her involvement with a cult that commits a shocking mass murder.

The summer of 1969 is a tumultuous period in Evie’s life. Her parents are newly divorced and she is often left unsupervised as her mom tries to “find” herself and re-enters the dating scene.  Her only friendship hits a rocky patch so Evie eagerly seizes the opportunity to impress Suzanne, a young woman she has admired from afar. Thoroughly captivated by Suzanne, Evie is soon spending all of her time at the derelict ranch where her new friend lives with Russell and his followers. 

Despite her initial uneasiness, Evie enthusiastically embraces the ideology of the group and her days are spent in a drug and alcohol induced haze. Although slightly uncomfortable with Russell’s sexual attention, she is honored to be chosen by the charismatic leader. However Evie is less than enthused to be selected to “entertain” Mitch Lewis, the musician who is supposed to broker a record deal for Russell. Her night with Mitch marks the beginning of the end for Evie, who is confused by Suzanne’s indifference after their night with the musician. At the same time, Russell and his followers are in the beginning of a downward spiral that culminates in an act of horrific violence that haunts Evie for the rest of her life.

Although unhappy with her life at this point in time, Evie is not rebelling against society like the other people living on the rundown ranch. She is, however, in the throes of an adolescent crush on Suzanne and she will do anything to gain her attention and approval. Less than thrilled with the changes at home, Evie is easily seduced by the atmosphere on the ranch and the illusion of freedom. Already slightly disillusioned with her friend after their night with Mitch, she begins to see Suzanne’s darker side yet she cannot shake her fascination for the older girl. Of course, it is not long until Evie’s rose-colored glasses are rather violently ripped away yet even as an adult, her adulation for Suzanne still remains.

The Girls is a somewhat slow-moving story yet the novel is still incredibly fascinating. Emma Cline is a gifted storyteller whose descriptive prose brings the time period, characters and setting vividly to life.  The characters are brilliantly developed and surprisingly sympathetic despite their heinous act of violence. A reflective yet highly intriguing depiction of how easily someone who feels disenfranchised, unloved and lonely can be drawn into a cult.

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Filed under Emma Cline, Historical, Historical (60s), Literary Fiction, Mystery, Random House, Rated B, Review, The Girls

May 23, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: She Poured Out Her Heart by Jean Thompson

Title: She Poured Out Her Heart by Jean Thompson
Publisher: Blue Rider Press
Genre: Contemporary, Literary Fiction
Length: 426 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Penguin’s First to Read Program

Summary:

Tracing the complicated friendship of two very different women who meet in college, She Poured Out Her Heart is a novel of remarkable psychological suspense, crafted by National Book Award finalist Jean Thompson.

The night that Jane and Bonnie meet on a college campus sets them on paths forever entwined. Bonnie, the wild and experimental one, always up for anything, has spent the past two decades bouncing between ill-fated relationships, while Jane’s seemingly perfect life, perfect husband, and perfect children have all but materialized out of a fantasy. But these appearances contradict the quiet, inescapable doubt Jane feels about her life. One night, in the middle of her own Christmas party, she steps outside into the snow, removes her clothing and shoes, and lies down in the backyard. When she is discovered, nothing is the same for anyone. As Jane begins to have visions and retreat into a private inner world, Bonnie finds herself drawn inevitably into an affair with Jane’s husband.

Thompson’s mastery of complex emotion begets a novel of desire and the nature of love—who we love, how we’re loved, and, most important, that we reach urgently and always for a higher love, regardless of our circumstances. She Poured Out Her Heart is a finely wrought, haunting story of female friendship and deception, and the distance in between.

Review:

In She Poured Out Her Heart, Jean Thompson explores the intricate bonds of friendships.

Bonnie Abrams and Jane Nicholson have been friends since college and although their friendship has had its share of ups and downs, the two women still remain close nearly two decades later.  After college, their lives go in completely different directions: Jane is married to Eric, a cardiologist, and she is a stay at home mom to their two kids whereas Bonnie has achieved professional success but continues her lifelong pattern of sleeping with unavailable men. Jane is rather shy and unable to give voice to her growing unhappiness while Bonnie is self-confident and quite outgoing.  When life gets too difficult for Jane to deal with, she welcomes the “white” space she disappears into and after one of these incidents lands her in the hospital, Eric and Bonnie find comfort in one another’s arms. When Jane discovers the affair, neither Bonnie nor Eric is prepared for her rather unconventional reaction.

Jane is content to coast through life doing what is expected of her. She is not especially passionate about Eric and she is often overwhelmed by the demands of her children.  Jane downplays Eric’s suggestion she get professional help for her depression  but to avoid conflict, she agrees to see a therapist.  Jane makes an attempt to describe what she is experiencing to her doctor, but since she is not completely honest, she does not receive adequate treatment.  Fast forward a few years and Jane’s coping mechanism takes a dangerous turn and leaves no one in doubt about her fragile mental state.

Although Bonnie puts a positive spin on her dating life, she is growing increasingly unhappy with her single status.  She continually chooses emotionally unavailable men or men with commitment issues, but she cannot seem to break free from this unhealthy pattern.  It takes Bonnie a long time to understand what motivates these poor choices but by the time she figures this out, she is already emotionally invested in her relationship with Eric.  It is not until Jane makes an extremely out of character decision that Bonnie re-evaluates her life but will she truly commit to the changes she has decided to make?

None of the relationships or characters in She Poured Out Her Heart are particularly healthy or happy.  Bonnie, Jane and Eric are deeply flawed and they each have different coping mechanisms for dealing with their problems.  Eric hides behind work, Bonnie drinks too much and Jane is never fully invested in any part of her life.  Jean Thompson does a wonderful job keeping the plot realistic and unique but there is little character growth or real progress overcoming their issues. Despite the novel’s surprisingly hopeful conclusion, the lack of resolution with any of the storylines is extremely frustrating.

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Filed under Blue Rider Press, Contemporary, Jean Thompson, Literary Fiction, Rated C+, Review, She Poured Out Her Heart

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