If
You Must Know, the first book in Jamie Beck's new Potomac Point
series.
Amanda
and Erin; Two sisters living contrasting lives, their only common
link is their bloodline. As different as chalk and cheese, Amanda's
shocked when her perfect life's destroyed by deceit, while Erin lives
a carefree life. That's until their father dies and some painful
realities are exposed.
One
aspect of Ms Beck's writing I admire is her consistent writing skill.
After enjoying other novels by her, I know I'm going to be reading a
well-written book when I pick one of her titles. Therefore, when the
narrative didn't resonate with it caught me unaware. I ignored the
temptation to give up after a couple of chapters simply because of
the slow pace defused my enthusiasm. Besides, I don't like throwing
in the towel when I'm scheduled to write a review. So I plodded on…
and I'm glad I did because, whilst the beginning is slow, the reward
for my patience is when the pace picks up and elements I associate
with Ms Beck's writing begin to shine through.
The
characterisation is spot-on as the dynamics between these two
sister's unfolds. Absorbed within the storyline, the narrative had
its moments, but equally, sections failed to keep my attention. I'm a
mood reader and it's possible it affected my overall enjoyment of
this book…"It's me, not the book". If at a later date I
re-read this novel, I'll amend this review accordingly.
The
author's shift away from romance to women's fiction is a surprise and
a fact I wasn't unaware of before I began reading this novel. Yet, I
applaud her for the change of direction she's taking with her work.
Consequently, I'll still read future books in this series and by the
author generally.
***arc
generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***
Life
turns upside down for two sisters in Wall
Street Journal bestselling
author Jamie Beck’s emotional novel about how secrets and
differences can break—or bind—a family.
Sisters
Amanda Foster and Erin Turner have little in common except the
childhood bedroom they once shared and the certainty each feels that
her way of life is best. Amanda follows the rules—at the school
where she works; in her community; and as a picture-perfect daughter,
wife, and mother-to-be. Erin follows her heart—in love and
otherwise—living a bohemian lifestyle on a shoestring budget and
honoring her late father’s memory with a passion for music and her
fledgling bath-products business.
The
sisters are content leading separate but happy lives in their
hometown of Potomac Point until everything is upended by lies that
force them to confront unsettling truths about their family,
themselves, and each other. For sisters as different as these two,
building trust doesn’t come easily—especially with one secret
still between them—but it may be the only way to save their family.
