A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 – 4.5 stars

When Ryan Gracey gets an unexpected phone call from her older sister, Wendy, who’s out of town, asking her for a huge favor, Ryan is alarmed. Something sinister has transpired and Wendy insists that Ryan travel to her home and care for her two young daughters until further notice, a tall order from her near-perfect sibling, the mother of her two nieces of whom Ryan knows very little about. Stunned and confused by her sister’s instructions, Ryan finally relents and heads to Florida where their mother is currently watching her nieces, Holly and Noelle. The girls are taciturn, odd little precocious children, and Ryan quickly realizes the enormity of her decision. As days turn into weeks with very little contact from Wendy, Ryan begins to put her sleuthing skills to work to find out what’s going on with the sister she hardly knows. When the pieces of the puzzle begin taking shape will Wendy turn out to be an innocent victim, or a mastermind of deception?

Wowza!! I devoured this book. A Family of Strangers was like patiently awaiting a light rain transform into a thunderous storm. As the storm intensified I could feel the tension mounting and the mystery unfolding, relieving me of the unanswered questions that lurked in my mind. Why was Wendy refusing to come home? How would Ryan find out what happened to her? Was Wendy the golden girl everyone made her out to be, even her parents? Why were Ryan’s nieces so peculiar? As the story

unfolded I got the answers to all of these questions and more.

I connect easily with Emilie Richards’ writing voice. I love the dialog between characters, and the length of her books allows for excellent character development, which makes for a great story.

There’s so much to love about A Family of Strangers; excellent character building, a thoroughly satisfying mystery, an enormous twist I didn’t see coming, intrigue, a little romance, an amazing dog and a couple of kids who eventually stole my heart. A great read.

Thank you, Emilie Richards, for a complimentary ARC of A Family of Strangers in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

Have a great day everyone, and thanks for reading. 😊

The Swallow’s Nest by Emilie Richards

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Stars

Sometimes the unpredictability of life can sabotage our best laid plans…..
What would you do if your beloved husband’s mistress showed up at your door during his cancer remission party that you were hosting for him, and thrust their love child into your arms, then left? This is a glimpse into the scene that Lilia Swallow finds herself in. Reeling from this new revelation, Lilia takes refuge with her family in Hawaii, and in doing so receives a few words of wisdom from family members, and her best friend Regan, that gives her the fortitude to return home to California and reconsider her new circumstances. But just when Lilia thinks she can get past the trials that almost destroyed her marriage, life throws a few more curve balls that threaten to derail her future.

Lilia Swallow

Three women. One baby. The Swallow’s Nest takes us into the lives of a wife, a mistress, and a mother-in-law. All desire to lay claim to the child that Lilia’s husband, Graham, fathered with his mistress, Marina. The exploration into each woman’s life exposes emotions that plague each of them—feelings of failure, betrayal, ineptness and unworthiness. Nevertheless, working through those emotions for Toby’s sake is a challenge that each woman is willing to tackle. The question is, which of the three will get him? And will each woman find a way to accept the outcome, and one another?

The Swallow’s Nest was extraordinary. Emilie Richards succeeded in holding my attention through to the conclusion of this 500+ page novel. And the fact that she was capable of doing it without sex scenes, violence or profanity takes real skill.

All of the characters possessed distinct qualities and characteristics that kept me interested in the way their lives would ultimately turn out. I loved how Lilia eventually handled her very difficult situation, and how each of the women comes to recognize the strengths they possess within themselves. Definitely recommended.

Thank you Emilie Richards for a free ARC of The Swallow’s Nest. In exchange I have provided an honest review.