Publisher's Weekly Review
One of Christian fiction's favorite authors pens an engaging story about family secrets that begins powerfully, but eventually loses steam. Kathleen Seymour's carefully constructed world starts to collapse when her teenage daughter, Joelle, is caught shoplifting and a row with her boss leaves Kathleen unemployed. After a few sessions with a therapist, Kathleen tries reconnecting with her daughter by taking her to a party hosted by the estranged family members Kathleen left years ago. Through multiple points of view and rich, detailed flashbacks to previous generations, Austin convincingly illustrates how shame and bad choices can affect families for years. The fairy-tale ending is less convincing, as it's replete with former delinquents spouting pat phrases; it's also implausible that painful relationships between family members are easily repaired with a single trip back home. But the three-time Christy Award winner offers the surprising plot twists and fresh language that keep her fans coming back to the bookstores for each new novel. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
This is a tale of multigenerational secrets, forgiveness, and reconciliation, the saga of four generations of women who ran away from their troubles. The book begins with the strained relationship between Kathleen Seymour and her daughter Joelle, who is caught shoplifting, an incident that upsets Kathleen because her father and brothers had a history of stealing. Kathleen decides to return to her hometown with Joelle to try to help save their troubled bond. She severed her family ties 35 years ago just as her mother, Eleanor, and grandmother, Fiona, had done before her. The homecoming is coincidentally the occasion to celebrate her father's birthday and his return from prison. At the same time, Kathleen reexamines her own troubled childhood. Told through multiple points of view, the story is rich in detail and provides interesting flashbacks. Austin shows how humiliation and incorrect choices can affect families for years. The unrealistic ending is trite and not particularly convincing, but the message about understanding and forgiveness is genuine. Linda Stephens provides an inspiring and somewhat entertaining reading. Recommended for large fiction collections or Austin fans. Carol Stern, Glen Cove P.L., NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
