All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start.  But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever? Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish – time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows. But Allie’s return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie’s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole status, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family. As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret—one that holds the key to Allie’s freedom.

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Ten years ago, pre-med student Allie was set up to have one great life in front of her. About to embark on a medical career, she also had a beautiful little girl and a perfect loving and supportive boyfriend. Then one night's events had Allie suddenly facing down a murder charge. After sitting in prison for a decade, all the time proclaiming her innocence, Allie is now out on parole and determined to rebuild her life and clear her name of the wrongful accusations.

 

Easier said than done though, she quickly comes to find out. Everyone in town still questions Allie's innocence, making it near impossible for Allie to find a job. Little hard to turn around your life if you have no income to bankroll the changes! The struggle to start again only strengthens Allie's resolve to get to the bottom of the truth of that fateful night so that she can finally try to put this business behind her once and for all. The truth that starts to surface turns out to be stranger and more dangerous than she could've ever imagined. 

 

Caroline, that pretty little girl is now a hurt and confused teenager, raised by Allie's sister Emma. Caroline barely has any memory of her mother and it doesn't help that her opinions of Allie are influenced by the brainwashing of Emma, who has built up a lifetime of bitterness against her older sister. Allie was always the perfect one, the admirable school career, the kind, helpful, pretty one her parents doted on. Comparatively, second child Emma was treated like a bit of a stick in the mud. It seemed nothing she did was ever quite right, no matter how hard she tried... so she just stopped trying and embraced being the wild child. When Allie is sent to prison, it's a chance for Emma to step up and finally win her parents' approval as the responsible, mature child who wasn't sent to prison. Now that Allie is out, Emma isn't ready to give up the life she's built as Caroline's surrogate mother and the darling child of her parents and she's willing to go to nearly any lengths to hold onto the life she's come to love. 

 

Though the thriller aspect of the plot wasn't quite as strong as I had hoped, there were still enough question marks around the characters to keep me turning pages. I think my main disappointment with the thriller element was that the build up was good and showed potential but there was some dropping the ball when it came to the follow-through. I also felt that sometimes the flashback scenes, mainly the way the reader was only given small snippets at a time, were dragged out throughout the plot a little longer than necessary. It brought down the overall pace of the story a bit. I will say though, I found the ending to be a strong one with a satisfying epilogue. The one thing I would've liked a better conclusion to is what happened with the relationship between Caroline and Russell, since Russell was actually one of my favorite characters in the whole book.

 

Sister Dear is a strong candidate when choosing potential titles for your next book club round up. It offers topics for meaty discussions such as the treatment of convicted felons after their release, or the glorification of sports players or coaches, even to the point of being willing to overlook highly unethical, even illegal behavior in favor of maintaining fanhood. It also looks at sibling rivalries turned twisted, which is bound to get club members talking! 

 

 

FTC Disclaimer: In the case of this book, both TNZ Fiction Guild and BookLookBloggers.com kindly provided me with copies of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own. 

 

#SISTERDEAR  AVAILABLE NOW!  UNPUTDOWNABLE  4 STARS!  @LauraMcNeillBks  @ThomasNelson  

 

Two Sisters, one jealous sister, and a trail of unbelievable acts.

Could you really be that jealous of someone and have such a desire for revenge t​hat you would go to any lengths ​t​o ruin that person's life?

​We meet Allie as she is released from prison after​ ​ten years for a crime she didn't commit, Emma, Allie's sister who raised Allie's daughter, and Caroline, Allie's 15-year-old daughter.

Allie was released from prison and returned to her home town in hopes of reconciling with her daughter, but all wasn't easy especially in the small town of Brunswick where the residents didn't forget what happened ten years ago and wouldn't change what they believed.

Allie knew she hadn't killed a man, but the jury and the town still accused her and shunned her.

Being a felon in her small, home town wasn't working out too well for Allie.  Emma subtly and cruelly made things difficult for her sister and niece and would stop at nothing to keep Caroline as her own.  Caroline was embarrassed to have anyone know her mother was out of prison and back in Brunswick.

All of the characters had a lot of baggage to deal with along with the jealousy factor that definitely did a lot of personal damage.

The characters in SISTER DEAR were for the most par​t ​not trustworthy.

Emma was a sister that I am glad was not mine.

The sheriff was not likable at all and definitely a ​sheriff who had some secrets.

I liked Allie and Caroline, though, because they seemed genuine.

SISTER DEAR is unmistakably a tension-building page turner that keeps your interest from the opening sentence.

Be sure you have a lot of time when you begin SISTER DEAR because you won’t be able to stop reading.  

The last 20 pages became even more suspenseful...I was nervous.  :)  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and Litfuse Publicity in return for an honest review.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I finished it in one day. I completely felt for Allie from the start of the story. A woman who has spent a decade in prison for a crime she says she didn't commit. Who is released only to find that life on the outside is now extremely difficult, relationships are strained, and her daughter doesn't want to have anything to do with her. She is desperately trying to get her life back but also can't put the past behind her and is determined to clear her name. She is a strong woman in the story but also lonely and vulnerable at times. Once I finished, I felt like I had a little bit more of an understanding of what it must be like to try to get your life back after such a long time gone.

Certain characters are out to get Allie as soon as she returns home and it's easy to see who is trying to hide something right from the start. Not so easy however, to figure out what really happened until the solution is handed to you in the last few chapters of the book. Let's just say that the true nature of certain characters is slowly revealed as the suspense builds. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire last third of the book and found myself talking to the characters at pertinent moments until it ultimately came to a head. I was completely satisfied with the way the author decided to conclude the story and felt really good when I finally closed it at the end.

The book was well paced and hard to put down, even for a few minutes. A great mystery and I rooted for Allie throughout the entire story.

By: Laura McNeill 

ISBN: 9780718030926

Publisher:Thomas Nelson Fiction 
Publication Date: 4/19/2016 

Format: Paperback 

My Rating: 5 Stars +

 

A special thank you to Thomas Nelson--FICTION and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Talented storyteller, Laura McNeill returns following her sensational debut, Center of Gravity, landing on my Top 50 Books of 2015 “Best Southern Domestic Psycho-Suspense" with a strong followup, SISTER DEAR, an edge of your seat (nail-biter), tension-filled, psychological suspense thriller Top Books of 2016.

From jealousy, greed, betrayal, family, revenge, murder, and highly charged topics of steroid use in high school sports-football; mixed with brilliant writing and clever plotting; A mind-blowing whodunit mystery!

As the book opens Allie Marshall is finally getting out of prison. She has been an inmate at Arrendale State Prison for a crime she did not commit. Someone murdered the high school football coach. Who set her up? She thinks it may have been the Sheriff; however, she needs proof.

She has lost her life, her promising medical career, her reputation, and her daughter. The judge had sentenced Allie to sixteen years. She had been granted an early release—ten years behind bars.

"An imprint made by incident, mistake and tragedy. Evidence and lack of it." Appeals failed. She was innocent. The wrong place at the wrong time. And the killer still out there.

Caroline, her daughter was only five- years- old, when Allie was convicted. Caroline is now a teen, living with her Aunt Emma, Allie's sister. She does not even know her. The joyous reunion she had imagined for years, did not happen.

Allie is returning to Brunswick, Georgia a small historic southeastern town on the coast, in South Georgia, near northeast Florida. Her father has sold his veterinary practice, from the stress of the trial (Allie worked there as a vet tech).

She had it all before prison, a college education, and an acceptance to medical school—she was leaving the following week. She was almost there- living her dream. From college honor societies and her charity work, to her job—destroyed by one night long ago. She was the good girl, the responsible studious daughter.

Her sister, Emma was the one always in trouble. One night before leaving for school, she wanted to celebrate with her sister Emma. A quiet girls night in with movies, dinner and some wine. Emma led a secretive life. Dangerous secrets. She had everyone fooled. One trip to the pharmacy, had led Allie to go after her. The one night which changed Allie’s life. The wrong place, the wrong time—trying to rescue her sister.

Emma was the only one who came to see Allie when she was in prison. Was she really a supporter? She has been raising her daughter Caroline. She was the one constant in her life.

Allie, also lost Ben, the guy who wanted to marry her; however, with his political career, he even wanted to sacrifice—she could not allow this and broke it off. Her best friend Morgan was long gone. At first Lily, her mother, and Paul, her dad came to visit at the prison. Then their visits stopped as well as Caroline. Her prison sentence changed everyone and everything.

She had survived. Her mission is to get her daughter back, find a job, and try and find the real killer. She wants justice. She was free. She will go to the new veterinarian owners and get a job, doing anything. Hopefully, the new owners will give her a chance to start over.

Carolina was not speaking to her. Old friends ignored her, and her own parents were keeping a safe distance.

The author skillfully unravels the events leading up to the tragic murder, the past, and the present. Flashing back and forth from 2006-2016; through the years, we hear from perspectives: Allie, Emma, Caroline, and Sheriff Gaines. The secrets of a town.

Emma is overly protective of Caroline. She wants to adopt Caroline. She needs Allie gone.

Before prison, Allie was dating Ben. Living in a small town ruled by football, Allie discovered Coach Thomas was abusing the football players—one being Ben’s brother. There were many. Outrages, tempers, personality changes. Everyone turned a blind eye. The coach wanted to win and the use of drugs and steroids was suspected. He wanted to make a name for himself—wins, college football scholarships, and NFL recruits. He would use whatever tactics he could. Allie submitted an editorial about it ten years earlier. No one else was concerned or believed her.

When the coach was murdered and Allie was the first on the scene, she was quickly convicted, without a lot of evidence. Allie does not trust Sheriff Gaines. She needs proof. Coach Thomas’ family was in the pharmaceutical business. However, it is hard attaining proof, when she was being watched--her every move. Everyone was judging Allie, waiting for her to screw up so they could send her back to prison. A daughter and a town which wants nothing to do with her. Wrongly accused, and now having served her time--she is an outcast.

Caroline, a teen is losing all her friends at school since her mom has returned. She felt like her life was a Stephen King movie. Everywhere she went, tension built. It was the anticipation, the beats leading up to the moment when tragedy struck the main character. Things start happening to remind everyone of the murder. Everything attached to her is being attacked. From her boyfriend to her best friend—now gone from her life.

Interestingly, Sheriff Gaines' wife June, is in a nursing home where Caroline works part-time. Her mind is not right, after an accident, but she recalls things from the past. Mysteriously, she thinks Caroline is Emma.

There is also a boy Russell, working at the nursing home—his parents now own the local vet, and Allie’s new boss. He befriends Caroline. Natalie gives Allie a job. Between Natalie, Allie, Caroline, and Russell---will they figure out the pieces of the mystery before it is too late. What really happened that night? What kind of monster is Emma? What about Sheriff Gaines--how is he connected?

WOW, Emma is one sick character. On the exterior Allie thinks she is the best sister, supportive and caring. However, she is her worst enemy. She is out to steal her daughter and ruin her life. She is manipulative, obsessive, and conniving to the tune of: A Fatal Attraction, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and the Boy Next Door. .

The suspense is chilling, mind-blowing—keeping you guessing as what went down. Until after the 50% -80% readers do not know what went down and how it all happened until the very end. Readers get bits and pieces, keeping you glued to the pages.

Loved, Loved!!! "Un-put-down able" a read in one sitting. Twists and turns you do not see coming. Emma is pure evil—two faces. Ideal for the big screen---Predict, a New York Times Bestseller. Laura McNeill has written two back to back winners---quickly becoming one of my favorite psychological suspense authors.

On a personal note: Enjoyed familiar places, having lived in Buckhead and weekends in Dahlonega (North Georgia, Lake Lanier) as well as Southern coastal Brunswick and Jekyll Island. If you have ever lived in Atlanta, you know their obsession with football. 

The twists with Sheriff Gaines and June were brilliant—and wow, loved Natalie and Russell’s character. Heart-pounding intensity. Everything about this crime thriller was top-notch. You will root for Allie from page one to the end. From the excellent character development, the pacing, and the explosive ending.

A riveting Southern mystery! Dealing with highly charged topics of steroids, drugs, and abuse in the sports industry. Readers will be truly invested in the story, its characters, and the vivid settings. For fans of Mary Kubica --McNeill's lyrical writing shines -Tops on my list!

SISTER DEAR has all the ingredients I look for in an engaging psychological thriller – Highly Recommend!

 

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CENTER OF GRAVITY