Family Ties Family Lies by Jacqueline Boulden – Review by Amanda

Family Ties, Family Lies by Jacqueline Boulden 

5 star review 

This is a story about a perfectly, imperfect family, that find the importance of forgiveness and a love that always endures. Our main character Rose finds herself unexpectedly returning home for longer than planned, when her mother, Carly is hospitalized. Once at the hospital it quickly becomes clear that her mother is very sick. 

A simple task of getting photo albums out of the attic, opens Pandora’s box that forever changes Rose’s life. Her curiosity is piqued by an identical mystery, inscription in three books from her late father’s office. Rose has a journalism background, once her nose sniffs the hint of a mystery she is pathological when it comes to getting answers. Her mother is unwilling and unable to help Rose with answers. Rose has no choice but to start searching for them on her own. 

The tapestry of the small town and its characters is beautifully woven together. You will meet Aunt Tess, who runs the diner, the sheriff deputy, who’s knee deep in a big case, an ex boyfriend, that owns and runs the pub, a heart broken father and daughter, that run the library and an old mentor at the local paper to name a few. All that make the town richer for having them. Book lovers will easily recognize the author as one of their kind. 

This heartbreaking, heartwarming mystery is a must read. Each page compels you to turn to the next. As someone that has recently lost loved ones to illnesses, this is the book I didn’t know I needed. It was very cathartic for me. If you have recently loss someone you may want to recover a little first, or, the very least, have a box of tissues handy. 

Either way, read it and forgive, ‘We’re all frail human beings. Life demands a lot of us, pushes us, and we all err.’ It is said to get out the four things before you lose someone; I’m sorry, I forgive you, thank you and I love you. This book beautifully illustrates the importance and power in doing so.