‘Why had it taken me so long to see clearly that somehow these two sadly broken children had healed each other and, in the healing, given the world something infinitely precious?’

What an incredibly intense and touching tale. When We Were Sisters was the type of novel that opens your eyes, makes you think, makes you feel, and fills you with the hope that there is a silver lining for those who so desperately need it.

While this wasn’t necessarily an easy read, it was an important and extremely emotional story about two young girls who bonded and became sisters of the heart as they endured the hardships of being in the foster care system. So as you can expect, there are some issues that are dealt with that some readers may be sensitive to such as child neglect, emotional and sexual abuse, and drug and alcohol references. I didn’t think these were done in too graphic a manner, but I would be remiss not to mention it.

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A special thank you to Mira and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emilie Richards returns following The Color of Light (2015) with her latest standalone, WHEN WE WERE SISTERS,another emotional Journey into the lives of women one story at a time-- two foster sisters, united in love and secrets.

“The stories of our lives can be told in so many ways, but no one account, no matter how carefully rendered, is completely true.”

Foster sisters: Robin and Cecilia. They do not share a single gene; however, they are honest-to-God sisters, right down to their bone marrow.

Robin Home is Leesburg, Virginia. Married to Kris for thirteen years. A patch of earth, her refuge and center. She has friends; however, she is the only woman in the neighborhood who grew up without a real home or family.

Cecilia her foster sister —a superstar singer-songwriter, her anchor. Robin hides her emotions. She is almost killed in a car accident—three women; her friend and neighbor, Talya died instantly, after they had changed seats.

Love and loyalty made them sisters. Secrets could still destroy them.

Cecilia is on her way to the hospital after she was called as an emergency contact. Years ago, she was thirteen when Robin and she became sisters. Robin was nine. Cecilia share so much with her audience. She is loved for her energy and ability to make her fans feel as if they know her. But of course, they do not know her at all.

Two years earlier, a film producer contacted her. He was doing a documentary on the foster care system and was looking for someone to narrate—someone famous. He wanted a celebrity who had been a foster child, someone to convey what the experience was like from a child’s point of view—how they can triumph.

Donny her manager wants it to be her decision. She turned it down initially; however, now, she has reconsidered and wants Robin to do it with her. She wants Robin to be the production stills photography. They would need photos for publicity and the book.

Cecilia has four homes —Manhattan, Nashville, California, and Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida, which is her favorite. Married once and quickly divorced from a country singer. She seems to have it all from fame, money, and beauty. However, she has nightmares and panic attacks. What is she hiding?

Years ago, Robin’s grandmother had just died, and her mother had vanished before she was two. She went into foster care. She had become mute. Selective mutism. She was painfully shy and terrified of new situations, wanting to escape her daily life. She slowly began to speak again. Cecilia saw a project in Robin that might have a happy ending.

Robin’s life has revolved around her children and her attorney husband which is not home very often—a marriage on the rocks--she put her photography business on hold. Presently, he will have to take over while she is working with Cecilia. Cecilia has to go back and confront her demons and possibly Robin as well. However, Cecilia often avoids the truth and tells lies without guilt. A man had died.

Two sisters protecting one another, young and heartbroken – they watched out for one another. Alternating narratives from Robin, and Cecilia, two foster sisters, and Kris, Robin’s husband.

As the documentary “At the Mercy of Strangers” unfolds, old secrets are revealed in order for healing to begin. Sometimes you have to re-visit your past in order to move on with your future.

One of my all-time favorite Southern authors, (have read all her books) Emilie Richards has a unique way of storytelling, tacking highly-charged topics with finely tuned research, sensitivity, and compassion.

Told with lots of heart and soul, an insightful look into the foster care system, family, and triumph over tragedy. Shared memories, some of abandonment, rejection, and terror at the mercy of strangers- on their way to happiness and fulfillment.

A special thank you to Harlequin/Mira and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A long-time devoted fan of Emilie Richards, would not miss one of her thought-provoking books! The Goddesses Anonymous series is no exception, set in the beautiful mountain town of Asheville, NC (where I visit as often as possible, when in NC from Florida).

Having read all the previous books in the series, THE COLOR OF LIGHT, (Goddesses Anonymous #4) is a special beautiful story, featuring my favorite and original Goddess, Reverend Analiese Wagner. Where we get first hand exposure to a female minister’s challenges, and learn of social and economic ills prevalent in our society today. Homeless and abuse.

Goddesses Anonymous Series
A group of women in Asheville, NC band together to find ways to help women who need them.
One Mountain Away, Book #1
Somewhere Between Luck and Trust, Book #2
No River Too Wide, Book #3

At the end of One Mountain Away, the first book of the Goddesses Anonymous series, Charlotte Hale wills her family farm in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina to a group of friends and asks that they use the property and their many talents to help other women.

The friends decide to call themselves the Goddesses Anonymous to honor Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of compassion, a powerful figure to Buddhists and Taoists, with many different names and representations in Eastern Asia. Kuan Yin turned back on her journey to heaven when she heard the cries of the suffering on earth and asked to stay and minister to them anonymously until no more suffering remained.

About Analiese
When the series began the minister of the Church of the Covenant in Asheville, Analiese Wagner, was is in her late thirties. As Charlotte’s minister Analiese challenged and supported her, known for speaking her mind. With both beauty and brains, Analiese a successful broadcast journalist, prior to entering the seminary. A surprising choice for the large, traditional Protestant church, this is her first ministry, and she is their first female minister. Unhappily married in her twenties and prior to his death, she was gathering strength to divorce him. She remained single afterward.

Now, in Book #4, her old flame and mentor, Isaiah Colburn is back from the past, and her feelings may be changing, as she longs for a partner and a family, as she is getting older, and at a crossroads in her life.

Poor Analiese, gets hit with double barrels, (should say triple), when an array of obstacles blindside her at one time. She is feeling pressure of ministering to a large, active congregation with contentious lay leadership. Exhaustion makes her question her own calling. Also the fact, she is getting older and her biological clock is ticking.

She is also concerned about the issue of the homeless, and while attending a rally, where she is a guest speaker, prior to arriving on stage, she is knocked to the ground. Afterwards she sees a man, who helped her up, who looks like Isaiah, from her past. She would know his eyes anywhere. Where did he disappear to. Is she seeing things?

They have been in love for years, but as a Roman Catholic priest, Isaiah could not act on, or acknowledge his feelings. Then he shows up during one of her sermons. What is he doing here in North Carolina?

Next, Analiese and Ethan Martin discover a homeless family in need of a place to spend the night, she offers them an empty apartment in the church parish house. Thereafter some of the council members feel she overstepped her authority(however, I feel if they elect her for such position, the church should trust her judgement and give her the authority to make those decisions, accordingly). Instead, there were some reactions of church council criticism, so Analiese is under added stress with deadlines and in her heart, torn - she knows the right thing to do is help this family. Now she has a congregation breathing down her neck to get the family out of the apartment into something more permanent. Easier said than done.

Analiese takes the homeless family under her wing, feeling responsible. It is in the middle of winter, the mother is very sick (diabetes), and the family was going to spend the night camped out in the church yard. When an old sexton’s apartment is sitting unused upstairs, only for storage. The family is heartbreaking, as the father lost his job in Ohio, and they moved to SC to live with family as long as possible. Now they have been living on the streets with a daughter (who was in AP class) and a son (who has ADD). They are a nice family, down on their luck. No drugs, alcohol, or abuse, just an ordinary family suffering from misfortune, with poor health care and diet; could happen to anyone. If the church is not there to help, what hope do they have of getting back on their feet in a down job market?

The committee has given her a deadline of two weeks to find them a more permanent place to live, and here they are approaching the Christmas holiday season. She pulls out all the stops and resources, and continues hitting a dead end. First she has to get the kids in school, register them, plus she has to help cleanup the father’s appearance with a haircut and better clothes to interview, get the mother to a doctor, get them proper food, clothes, plus do all this without hurting the man’s or family pride, plus fighting against council members.

She has to call in the Goddesses (Harmony) for assistance with the strong willed daughter, 14 year-old daughter Shiloh (loved her), who is primarily the one holding the family together, by taking her to the consignment shops, and convince her to get back in school, since she has been out so long, with a lot of work to make up. She is at the age with a lot of peer pressure, when other teens make fun of homeless kids with bullying and later other issues she is facing when she gets a part-time job. Now Analiese really feels bad.

Georgia and the other Goddesses are also there to help out when needed. She cannot throw this family out on the street, and in order to get food stamps and other assistance, they need a permanent address. All this plus her sermons to prepare, keeping the council members happy, while taking care of her church duties and other members, and now she has her old love back in town, and her own future to think about.

However, Isaiah may be just what the doctor ordered. He is experiencing some life changing decisions of his own, and using this time in a nearby log cabin to decide on his future, wrestling with the final vows he has not yet taken. In the meantime, he is a God-sent and steps in to help with this family, especially the father and the son with the help they need from a man’s perspective.

Is there hope for this couple and their future together? Analiese is tested, throughout the book in many ways.

The author is a pro at this subject matter since she is married to a minister, so sure she could tell some stories. We sometimes forget the challenges facing ministers (male or female), and the novel highlights some of their struggles, of balancing work and personal, and outspoken church members; plus making the right decisions, with an array of opinions from others.

As Emilie mentions in reference in the reader’s guide, 1700 ministers leave the ministry each month! Citing among other problems, exhaustion, depression, and negative impact on family. These are realistic feelings and I have worked in the church for years, starting as early as high school as church secretary, and later held offices, group leaders, teacher, director, committee chair, etc… and was married to a Minster of Music for fifteen years, so understand the politics, and many harsh words while trying to please a large group of people. Can only imagine what a minister experiences, especially female. My heart goes out to them.

So glad Emilie featured this character, as in the previous books, you always wonder how she can be so perfect and everyone has her on a pedestal. She is human, like the rest of the group, and we are able to see a more personal side, which is refreshing.

Fans will enjoy the original Goddesses making appearances or mentions: Georgia, Samantha, Taylor, and Harmony, and baby Charlotte (Lottie Lou) and also the new Goddesses: Christy, and Rilla. I have a feeling after this book, we may see another exceptional homeless young lady, we met here in COLOR OF LIGHT as a potential Goddesses candidate, as she seems to look up to the women, especially Analiese.

An inspiring story, and as always, Emile Richards speaks from the heart. A master storyteller, and an author which always leaves you with "food for thought"! Highly recommend this series- Can’t wait for the next.

Thank you for tackling the subject of the homeless. As Richards reiterates, "The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that 41% of the homeless population are families, and homelessness disrupts virtually every aspect of family life. Poverty and the lack of affordable housing are prime causes." A wake up call to us all-- to help those in need. We may find ourselves in the same position, one day.

This is book 11 of the Sweet Life boxed set. This was told from the cancer survivor's point of view and I thought that it was amazing. It's not real long but it really touched my heart. It also mentions Cottage Dreams that started in Canada and is sometimes open in the US. It is a program that helps families of cancer survivors. She talked about pulling her family back together. I couldn't find this book on it's own, it was always part of a set, However, I really want to read more of this authors writing.

By Emilie Richards 

ISBN: 9780778316343

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Publication Date:  June 24, 2014 

Pages: 496 

Series:  Goddesses Anonymous #3

Format: Paperback   

My Rating:  5 Stars 

A special thank you to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest  review.

Emilie Richards has skillfully crafted another winner! NO RIVER TOO WIDE--her latest Goddesses Anonymous series, set in the beautiful Western Carolina mountain area of Asheville, NC.

As a long-time fan of the talented author, Emilie Richards, having read the previous Goddesses, and nearly every book she has ever written – She is definitely at the TOP of her game with her upcoming, NO RIVER TOO WIDE to be released 6/24/14. 

A suspense thriller packed with secrets, and domestic violence; one of courage, forgiveness, redemption, and reinvention—a must read book for teens and women of all ages. For those who have suffered from abuse or currently involved in an abusive relationship, and anyone currently dating or involved in any relationship. 

Readers will love reuniting with characters from ONE MOUNTAIN AWAY (Somewhere between Luck and Trust), a group of women banning together to reach out to other women in turmoil and despair. 

Janine, the forty-five year old mother of Harmony, has been trapped in a nightmare of a marriage for years, doing everything in her power to leave this abusive and unhealthy life. She finally escapes her abusive husband, leaving her home in flames in Topeka, Kansas, while looking over her shoulder.

With the help of an organization called Moving On (fictional), an underground highway for abused woman, she is able to quietly reunite with her estranged daughter, Harmony, and grandbaby,Lottie in Asheville, NC.. 

However, Jan is not safe, having to watch her every move, waiting and watching for THE ABUSER (Rex- Husband), as she is afraid for her life, those she loves, and ones trying to protect her. Rex, the abusive husband and father, has disguised himself as the caring professional business man, community leader, faithful church goer, father and husband, and has owned a successful insurance agency for years. No one except his family knows what a monster he really is. Jan has lived in fear for her life, and her children’s lives, protecting them for years.  

However, the day the fire starts, and Janine makes her escape, little does Jan know at the time, Rex has disappeared, as well.

As the suspense builds for a complex saga---another mysterious guy Alex, with secrets of his own, is hot on her trail, and becomes entangled (in more ways than one), with her new friend Taylor, the owner of a new health and fitness studio, Evolution. 

Richards definitely hits on the raw truths of domestic abuse—a real and difficult subject with over 1.3 million women being assaulted by their partners every year, and 85% of domestic violence victims being women. Domestic abuse is one of the most chronically under reported crimes. Women who have not personally experienced this sometimes find it difficult to understand-- why women stay with men who abuse them.

This insightful and powerful novel, explores ways in which women choose the men in their lives, warning signs to watch for in new relationships, and how women can make good choices, and avoid the bad ones. 

“As rivers run through many of our lives, not just geographical rivers, but rivers of feeling.” The metaphor of the river and what it represents to Jan definitely reminded me of personal rivers I have crossed, as will other readers. 

NO RIVER TOO WIDE, is an ideal book for book clubs, with some thought-provoking discussion questions included at the end of the book.

The book features three different and complex women with men in their lives: Jan, who is escaping a long term abusive marriage. Taylor, who is finally able to think about having a man in her life, and Harmony, who is trying to fall in love with the perfect guy. Taylor, of course from the first Goddesses Anonymous book, has problems trusting and forgiving. Wow, what a challenge she faces in this book!

NO RIVER TOO WIDE is a story of triumph, of a woman moving beyond her terrifying circumstances and is able to regain control of her life—demonstrating, with the help, courage, and support of other women--nothing is impossible. (Highly recommend the entire series)!

I am grateful to these authors--- bringing to light, the dark topic of domestic abuse- for more awareness with some of the new 2014 fiction releases such as: Emily Giffin (The One and Only), Darcie Chan (The Mill River Recluse), Randi Davenport (The End of Always), and especially, Emilie Richards (No River Too Wide) —a few books I have read over the last few weeks. A special thanks! 

Hats off to Emilie for dedicating this insightful book to women everywhere, who work tirelessly and creatively to help other women who need them.