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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Nov 6, 2022  
Author Julia Brewer Daily shares an excerpt and a beautiful scrapbook page from her contemporary Western women's fiction novel THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH. There's also a giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Amazon or Bookshop gift card!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/11/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-fifth.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Emma Rosales is the heiress of the largest ranch in Texas—The Thorn. All the responsibilities of managing a million acres now fall into her fifth-generation hands. A task Emma could handle with her eyes closed…if The Thorn were any ordinary property.

The Thorn is home to many things. Clear, cloudless skies. Miles of desert scrub and craggy mountains. A quiet disrupted only by whispers of the wind. And an ancient web of secrets won’t let Emma out alive without a fight.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a family saga as large as the state of Texas.
      
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Family on Smith Street in Books

Aug 20, 2023  
The Family on Smith Street
The Family on Smith Street
Elisabeth Carpenter | 2023 | Crime, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really quite enjoyed listening to this book which was enhanced by the excellent narration of Sarah Durham who really brought the story and the characters to life. I haven't read or listened to anything by Elisabeth Carpenter before but if this is an example of her work, I won't be making that mistake again!

The story definitely kept me guessing and it was difficult to know who to trust; it's told from multiple points of view and from different timelines but once I was into the story, I found it quite easy to keep up.

I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue running throughout the book and the unravelling of secrets and lies until the very satisfying ending.

Overall, a really enjoyable audiobook and one I would recommend to lovers of domestic and/or psychological thrillers and my thanks goes to the Author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Family on Smith Street.
  
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ClareR (5950 KP) rated Confessions in Books

Sep 10, 2025  
Confessions
Confessions
Catherine Airey | 2025 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Catherine Airey’s book Confessions didn’t end up on some prize lists this year. It’s so well written, engaging, unputdownable (I read it in a day - I was ill!), and it has a lot to say about loss, purpose, family, secrets and women’s experiences.

I love a multi-generational story, and this starts with Cora Brady, the Twin Towers disaster and how she wanders the streets of New York afterwards. Her estranged aunt comes to her rescue in a letter, offering Cora a home with her in Ireland.

Some parts of the book are about Cora’s mother, an artist, her aunt and her own daughter.

I was pretty much transfixed by this book; I was completely immersed in the lives of these women. Sometimes it was heartbreaking, and at other times there was a real hope for the future.

It’s a great read, and I’d highly recommend it.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Her Sister's Lie in Books

Mar 11, 2019  
Her Sister's Lie
Her Sister's Lie
Debbie Howells | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Overall, this one is a mixed bag
Hannah Roscoe hasn't seen or spoken to her sister, Nina, in ten years when she receives the call that Nina is dead. The sisters have no other family, so Hannah is now guardian to her fifteen-year-old nephew, Abe, a sullen and angry boy whom she barely knows. Abe comes to live with Hannah, and soon they learn that the police are investigating Nina's death as suspicious. Simultaneously, Hannah begins experiencing strange, unexplained events that quickly have her questioning both her safety and her sanity. Nina's death seems to be close to exposing secrets she thought were buried forever. Is Hannah safe? And her secretive past?

"I... then stopped myself, pulled by the invisible thread that runs through all of us, that however much we might want to, none of us can ever truly disown. Family."

Well, this was an interesting, albeit frustrating one. I really love Debbie Howells' work and the fascinating stories she weaves. Her characters are always complex and often flawed, and there's no exception here. Hannah is a mess, honestly, and I won't lie, she's not the easiest to like. Truly, there aren't really any likeable characters here. Hannah is an unreliable narrator, which sometimes drives me a bit insane. However, the book does a strong job of making you wonder who to trust or believe and what exactly is going on. I was confused a good portion of the time. The weird, creepy things that happen to Hannah are interesting and crazy, though they sort of stressed me out. (Maybe I get too involved?)

The novel is filled with references of Hannah and Nina sticking to the script and keeping each other's secrets. At first, it's intriguing and you're curious as to what they are hiding. After a while, when Hannah makes yet *another* reference to the script and secrets--without any details being revealed--you sort of want to scream. I get a little frustrated at the lack of any reveal throughout the entire book. Eventually, I basically guessed all the major twists anyway, though I still found them clever.

So, overall, this one is a mixed bag. Unlikable characters, some frustrating plot pieces. Some clever plot twists, though I managed to predict most of them. It's a very quick read, however. My rating may be slightly affected by my overall love of Howells. If you've never read anything by her, I would definitely head to THE BONES OF YOU first.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).