No matter what happens, a sisters’ bond is unbreakable

Synopsis

Sisters Laura and Penny were once close, bonded together after the early death of their mother. Laura always had her younger sister’s back until one day everything changed and Penny disappeared.

Twenty years later Laura finds herself alone and at a crossroad in her life; questioning her marriage and her future.

Meanwhile Penny has spent her whole life running away from her problems until one day she is forced to stop and face the shocking truth.

When Penny turns up on Laura’s doorstep late one stormy night, holding the hand of a shivering little girl, Laura is immediately suspicious of her sister’s motives. Just what does Penny want and who is this little girl?

Penny carries a devastating secret that will test their bond as sisters and is forced to make an impossible choice.

Can the sisters find it within their hearts to forgive and unite before it’s too late?

My review

Laura’s life is at a crossroad. She always took care of her children, but as they have left the house now for their studies, she is questioning her future. And her marriage is also at risk after discovering the unfaithfulness of her husband.
But the greatest shock is when one night she finds standing at her door her sister Penny, with a little girl.
When growing up, Laura and Penny were thick as thieves, Laura always had Penny’s back especially after losing their mother at a young age. But one day things went so wrong and Penny just disappeared for twenty years.
So obviously Laura is wary of Penny’s sudden return, but she didn’t expect the bombshell behind Penny’s return. And Penny, more than ever needs the support and help of her sister, but was their once strong but now broken bond mendable?  

I was kind of reluctant to read another book of this author. Not because she is a terrible writer, but because I just know beforehand that my heart will get broken and I will need plenty of tissues while reading.
But my desire to read was bigger than my reluctance, so I started to read but was fully prepared! 

This story broke my heart on so many different levels, as Laura and her family for sure aren’t facing an easy period.
I felt sorry for Laura from the start, as she clearly felt the empty – nest – syndrome and is wondering what to do with her life now that her children don’t need her anymore.
Being a daughter of a mother with that same syndrome, I could understand Laura’s anxiety, but I could also understand how suffocating it felt for especially her own daughter. 

To make things even worse, her own husband did the unthinkable and I totally agreed with her decision to kick him out! But it only added more sadness as now she was truly on her own… 

When Penny appears on her doorstep, as a reader we already know the reason of Penny’s sudden return home. And while we know why Penny is there, I could also understand why Laura isn’t really welcoming her and the little girl with open arms in her home.
And knowing both sisters and their stories, but me as a reader in a kind of difficult position too… Because I WANTED Laura to be welcoming Penny and Willow like nothing happened, but it also made perfect sense why Laura just didn’t. I think if I were in Laura’s same position, I would act and think the same thing. 

The focus in this book is on clearly on Laura and Penny and their relationship. But while they are having their own struggles, we also see how they are trying to protect their loved ones. Penny is protecting Willow as she is still too young to understand everything, and Laura is having a greater shock with revelation of her own daughter. 

But I found it sweet to read how all the side characters became also important pillars of this story, on their own unique way. Because of what is happening to Laura and Penny, everyone realizes that some things are just too important in life. And it was wonderful to see how this broken family stuck together when it matters. 

This story hit home on some levels, and that made me reach for tissues as it all seemed too familiar from my personal experience (different yet the same…).
But beside this major subject, I was also on a continuous emotional rollercoaster, as things wouldn’t just stop coming for Laura, Penny and their loved ones.  

And while it would easily crush people, it also shows how resilient and strong people can be. Because no matter what is happening, after an initial setback, strength to keep fighting can be found.
Even with the most hopeless situations, heart – breaking moments, the fact that the members of a broken family find each other again and can rely on each other, mended my broken heart. 

With each book I read from this author, I am crying all over the place, as the subjects are so heart – breaking and terrible for someone to endure. Yet the strength, hope and love that is written all over the pages, made me feel not only sad after finishing the last chapter, but also hopeful.
Because no matter what happened in the past, in the moments that matter the most, we can always find comfort and solace in the arms of a long lost sister, an estranged partner, our children, our parents, our whole family. 

This was a heart – breaking, crying – all – over – the – place, feeling – a – complete – sense – of – injustice story, yet a wonderful, heart – warming, courageous, hopeful, injecting – strength story that will touch your heart and it made me think how lucky I can count myself having all my loved ones around me… Something we sometimes need to be reminded of…