Lies and Other Acts of Love. Kristy Woodson Harvey

Published: Berkley Publishing
Date: April 5th 2016
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 352
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source:Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
            

After sixty years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows that all of us, from time to time, need to use our little white lies.

Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is, until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness, even through her grandfather’s declining health.

But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. And Lovey has to decide whether one more lie will make or break the ones she loves . . .

Lies and Other Acts of Love was a very interesting and thought provoking read. The characters were really very real - not perfect, but very human. Especially in the second half of the book it was compulsive reading as events happened and I wondered where it would go next.

It is a story about family - three generations, with the spotlight mainly on the first and third generations, namely Lovey and Annabelle.  I really liked Lovey, she is in her eighties and she has gained the wisdom of life by raising a family of girls and marrying the man she loved. Now in their late years, we see old age creeping along and the limitations of sickness and infirmity. What I really loved about Lovey is her ability to hold her tongue, even when she can see her daughters or granddaughter making mistakes. She just wants them to be safe and happy.

While we have Lovey's point of view, which does give us a little inside information, we also have Annabelle who narrates as well. She is young, a little indulged and impetuous. She is sort of aware of her own feelings but as yet has not learned to be like her grandmother and consider things from other people's viewpoints. She is quick to judge and hasn't yet the ability to look with eyes of love instead of judgement. She sometimes gets hold of the wrong end of the stick. However she is loved and I think there is hope for her! She comes from a strong line of women and I believe she'll be one too.

Lies and Other Acts of Love is a 'hook in' title. It implies lies are okay! This book is riddled with lies! Some of the lies are upsetting, one of them I applauded and respected - to some extent. Possibly full truth would have been okay. But we live in a world where people judge and even though we say imperfections are okay, we point them out!

Dear Carolina. Kristy Woodson Harvey

Dear Carolina
Kristy Woodson Harvey
Published: Berkley
Date: May 2015
Format: Paperback
Pages: 308
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Local library

I first noticed this book when I read a review by Kristin at Always With a Book, I made a note of it to read sometime in the future. When I was browsing our local library shelves there sitting facing me was a pristine copy of the book, so I felt the time had come to read it. The library rose a few more degrees in my esteem, for already having it on its shelves here in New Zealand!

Jodi Thomas says on the cover - "Characters with rich, complicated lives.... Beautifully shows how a family comes to be". As Jodi Thomas is a favourite author of mine, I needed no further incentive to read.

Each chapter is alternately spoken by two women. It is addressed to baby Carolina, and while that sounds a little odd it works perfectly.  Frances Mason - Khaki to those closest to her, is a very successful interior designer, mother of Alex and wife of Graham. They live mostly on a farm in Nth Carolina, but they also have an apartment in New York.  Khaki has it all and is very happy, but the one thing she would love is another child to add to their family.

Jodi is a cousin of Geoffrey and while he has had a well adjusted life, Jodi has not been so lucky with an alcoholic mother and a father who died. Jodi also reaches for the bottle when things become stressful. So when she is pregnant at nineteen, she fears that her baby is going to end up having the same kind of life as she has had, and she doesn't want that. With an aching heart Jodi comes to a decision that she hopes will give Carolina the love and sense of family she wants for her.

Khaki has a huge loving heart, and as the story progresses she makes decisions that are right for her and her family, so by the end she is very grounded. Jodi - so young, has a wonderful sense of planting and growing and is an expert in canning and jam making. She knows if she can keep busy she may have a chance of overcoming the need to drink. She too has a big heart and I enjoyed her evolution during the span of the novel. 

I really enjoyed this book, I think anyone who enjoys women's fiction, and the exploration of parenthood, love, trust and strength and growth will find it right down their alley. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, it's so accomplished, totally agree with Jodi Thomas!