Leisure Time Books
ISBN: 9780986167218
Published June 2015
Trade Paperback, 380 pages
My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani
I was anxious to dig into a good Southern women's fiction novel and reading Her Sister's Shoes did not disappoint. It transported me to a coastal South Carolina town and into the lives of the Sweeney Sisters. I come from a family where we are three sisters, so I was able to appreciate the nuances and the strengths and weaknesses of the relationship of these sisters.
The Sweeney sisters are three very different women, each with their own set of issues. Farley deftly creates each character by giving each woman her own distinct voice and her own chapters, so we get to know them well. In addition, their mother is experiencing dementia and they are faced with how to deal with this situation. I loved how well Farley interwove their lives seamlessly and built a good plot line around their struggles. Each woman had to learn to overcome great emotional obstacles—an injured and emotionally broken teenage child, an abusive spouse, infidelity in a marriage.
I loved the setting too. I could hear the seagulls along the wharf, smell the fish the fishermen hauled after a day out in the ocean and see the water sparkling at twilight. Farley vividly portrayed the life of a family whose business was seafood. It brought back memories of my trip to South Carolina as well as the Maritimes. It was a perfect summer read.
Her Sister's Shoes is a heartwarming, well-written story about how families can work together to support and help each other through both the good and bad times. It made me wonder how I would have dealt with the situations these women faced. It's never too late to make changes in one's life. Courage has many faces. Family bonds and relationships, including those of children can be a motivating and strong force for good. These are some of the themes explored in this novel.
I am Ashley Farley's newest fan and look forward to reading more of her works.
Note: This book is rated PG-13. There is very little profanity but the book deals with serious topics such as spousal abuse and attempted suicide.
To read more reviews, please visit Ashley Farley's tour page on iRead Book Tours.
Where to buy the book:
About the Author:
Ashley Farley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.
After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. SAVING BEN is not a memoir, but a story about the special bond between siblings.
When she's not working on her next novel, HER SISTER'S SHOES, scheduled for release in July of 2015, she can be found book blogging at www.chroniclesofavidreaders.com
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
And now for the giveaway!
Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
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