Shattered Lies

I don’t normally write book reviews. This is my first one, probably my only one, but Shattered Lies was a book I truly enjoyed. I decided to throw in my two cents worth everywhere that I could. This story covers just every emotion of mankind: Hate, deceit and bigotry, but what it’s actually about is what all that hate and more does to a family, and to a person. That’s the point that someone might miss. I didn’t. This book is a great book about family, mistakes a family make out of stupidity, ignorance, bigotry, redemption, and forgiveness. I lived through a situation similar to this one posed in the book. I lived during the time the main characters the grandparents did and I have to admit that this writer, S.J. Francis is a talented author that hit things right on the nose with the writing, dialogue, and descriptions. I don’t know if the author is a man or woman, black or white, and frankly, I don’t care. What I do know is that he did a hell of a bang up job with this book to get this seventy plus year old black man to write this review. Yes #BlackLivesMatter. This book not only shows that, but the fact that in the end, all lives matter. Honestly, I could care less about what one person says about another, or a book review. This is America, but this book is truly a winner. Truthfully, if you’re a racist bigot, you won’t like this book because of the frank way the author writes. But if you’re not, you’ll love it. As my grandson often says to me, “It is what it is,” and what this is, is a really good book. I really liked it and think anyone else will too.

I just finished reading the book Shattered Lies by S.J. Francis. Katherine “Kate” Thayer is thirty years old, a veterinarian, and runs her grandmother’s farm, Magnolia Lane Farm in Thayerville, Mississippi. Kate was raised by her grandmother, Katherine after her parents passed away when she was a baby. Kate does not know much about her mother or her family. One day Kate goes into the attic and finds a journal written by her mother. This prompts her to start asking questions. Kate is going to uncover secrets that people have kept hidden her whole life. Everything is going to change. Secrets always have a way of coming out into the open (especially the ones you do not want to be known). Shattered Lies sounded like such a good novel. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. This is a novel about secrets, hatred, and bigotry. I started getting a little into the novel toward the end, but it was hard to read. There tends to be a lot of internal dialogue with the characters going on about whether they should or should not have kept the secrets and what should they do now (I think this makes up more than half the novel). The majority of the characters are really not likable (mostly because of their bigoted attitudes). All of the women seems to be strong, determined, and stubborn (there is nothing wrong with this). It is their way or the highway (you cannot always have your way in this world). I am amazed that no one was murdered in the novel. Several times I wanted to walk away from this book, but I persevered and finished it. There is a nice lesson about forgiveness and the ending is left so there can be a sequel (I will not be reading it). I give Shattered Lies 2.75 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of Shattered Lies from NetGalley and Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished reading this book and can’t say enough good things about it. In fact, I just handed my copy off to my roommate to read. Something is happening on every page of this book. There isn’t a dull moment. I just had to keep reading. I loved it. It’s not often a book comes along with a fresh plot, especially one about a touchy subject that is not only well-written and thought out, but it keeps the reader turning the pages to see what happens next. Shattered Lies is just that sort of book. I’m not surprised that most reviews for it are very good ones. There should be more. Where is Oprah Winfrey on this one? I certainly enjoyed it. At first, there is only one character that you can like, but as the story progresses and you learn more about each one and their motives, one comes to appreciate and understand what they’re all made of. (Except for the deeply rotten ones, of course.) I liked this book because I found myself cheering for Kate and jeering for her family members. And when the book finally ended, it was sensibly resolved and made me wanting more from this author and the characters. Bigotry remains an issue in this country, even in 2016, the author shows it, but I found that she/he was both tactful and compassionate when addressing the issue without slapping you in the face with it. I truly, truly enjoyed this book. I’m sure everyone will. It’s thought provoking and honest, perhaps a bit too honest for some readers to handle, but that’s what reading a good book is all about. This book will cause each one of us to examine our relationships and be grateful for the good ones we have. I’m anxiously awaiting to see if the author does write a sequel for this one because I’m definitely going to buy and read it, too. I was lucky enough to find a copy in my local bookstore.