Forbidden Sister - A Review

Forbidden Sister - V.C. Andrews (publisher)

Overview:

I had every reason to hate her, my forbidden sister. She was like someone who had died but wouldn’t stay buried. . . .

Emmie Wilcox was only six when her older sister, Roxy, was thrown out of their New York City apartment. Their stern father’s military-style rules left no room for rebellion, and Roxy was as defiant as Emmie—now an outstanding student at a private school—is compliant: a perfect daughter, un fille parfaite, as her Parisian-born mother lovingly calls her. Two sisters, total opposites—yet Emmie is secretly obsessed with the mystery surrounding Roxy: What had she done? Where is she now? And is there a hidden side to Emmie that resembles Roxy’s spiteful nature? Knowing only that Roxy is a highly paid escort to the city’s wealthiest men, Emmie goes behind her father’s back to track down the sister she fears, despises, and inexplicably clings to . . . and whose influence might run deeper than Emmie ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

It has been years since I've read a V.C. Andrews book and I forgot how much I enjoyed them. I was able to quickly get into the story line and found most of the characters enjoyable.

Emmie has got definite growing pains going on and at times I felt she needed to have some sense knocked into her. Her parents, while main characters, really didn't affect me either way. Roxy is intriguing and I would have loved to see more into her and Ms. Brittney's arrangement. How she got to be where she was, etc. Maybe in book 2. My favorite character was their Uncle Alian from France. I just loved him and I hope we get to see more of him as well and learn more about Emmie's time in France.

To put it succiently, I enjoyed the book and look forward to book 2.

The Fate of Mercy Alban - A Review

The Fate of Mercy Alban - Wendy Webb (publisher)

Overview:

Grace Alban has spent more than twenty years avoiding her childhood home, the stately Alban House on the shores of Lake Superior, for reasons she would rather forget. But when her mother’s unexpected death brings Grace and her teenage daughter back, she finds more is haunting the halls and passageways of Alban House than her own personal demons.

Long-buried family secrets, a packet of old love letters, and a lost manuscript plunge Grace into a decades-old mystery about a scandalous party at Alban House, when a world-famous author took his own life and Grace’s aunt disappeared without a trace. The night has been shrouded in secrecy by the powerful Alban family for all of these years. Her mother intended to tell the truth about that night to a reporter on the very day she died—could it have been murder? Or was she a victim of the supposed Alban curse? Grace soon realizes her family secrets tangle and twist as darkly as the mansion’s secret passages.

With the help of the disarmingly kind—and attractive—Reverend Matthew Parker, Grace must uncover the truth about her home and its curse before she and her daughter become the next victims.

My Thoughts:

Okay when I was first approached to review this book, I was hesitant. It sounded good but I was not sure if I was in the mood for it. Man am I so glad I decided to give it a try. I loved this book! I rang in 2013 reading this awesomely, fantastic, Gothic ghost story.

This book is full of creep factor. A wealthy family with long buried secrets that are refusing to stay buried any longer. The characters were great and I found myself, as I was reading, trying to figure out who is good, who is bad, and where exactly was the story going to take me. I am glad to report that I really never knew what was going to happen, until it happened.

Now on to my favorite part of the book. The house!. I want to live there. I really do. Big huge house with secret passages and hidden rooms. Imagine having something like that growing up. You could play hide and seek in there and never be found. Totally cool!

So if my gushing hasn't made it clear, if you love Gothic ghost stories in any way, run and get a copy when this comes out. You 'won't be sorry.

Author's Website: Wendy Webb