Each book I read by this author gets better and better. This is a very heartwarming story of love, sadness, lies, childhood and forgiveness.
My favorite line from this book: Over the years, Suzanna had told a million little lies and not once had she stopped to look back at the damage they might have done.
Suzanna left a bad relationship with her seven year old daughter for a better life. At least that is what she was hoping for when she left Earl. She had got pregnant while in high school only to be left alone by Bobby, the father of her baby. Earl took her in after her dad kicked her out. Earl was not a good man. He was a drunk and a bit abusive. Suzanna wanted more for herself and her daughter, Annie.
Suzanna ended up in Cousins, GA where she met Ida Parks and thus her new life began. Ida is a widow and looking for someone to make her feel like living. That is where Darla Jean enters the story. Ida Parks thinks Suzanna is Darla Jean, her deceased husbands long lost granddaughter. The relationship born from this is one of much love, laughter, happiness and a few tears. This is a family even though there is no blood relationship there at all. Darla Jean goes through a lot of ups and downs but eventually she accepts that she has to tell a few more lies for a little while to make Ida feel happy again. She intends to move on soon. Ida does not make it easy on Suzanna/Darla Jean though.
This is a great story told from Suzanna, Ida Parks and Earls points of view. It’s set in the 50s and has that small town charm going on that will capture your heart from the start. Throw in a man named Gregg and then you have a love story on top of everything else. This book is a great read that will keep you turning the pages. Keep you wanting more. Keep you rooting for everything to work out. You will want to smack Bobby and Earl a few times but will give you faith in humanity in ways too.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #BetteLeeCrosby, #BentPinePublishing for this ARC. This is my own true honest review.
A big 5 stars from me and a very high recommendation.
Great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
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