Books that focus on the strength of friendships and family ties are always winners for me. Adding motherhood to the recipe make them special . Which is why I enjoyed The Thread That Binds. Here is more about this novel followed by my review.
The Thread That Binds by Alice Hayes
Publisher: Fastpencil
ISBN: 978-1619334298Published: Sept 15, 2015
Trade paperback, 284 pages
Content Rating: PG 13 + M (for mature audience because of subject matter and language)
Book Description:
Sherice is a new mother, a sonographer, quilter, and wife; an overworked young woman whose elderly mother is slipping away from her.
Sylvie is a newlywed and recent immigrant, unemployed and virtually penniless. Her husband’s paycheck can’t even cover prenatal care, let alone a baby, and her due date is only drawing nearer…
Joanne’s unconventional pregnancy turns her world upside down, redefining her career and relationships, and even bringing to the surface long-buried demons from her past.
Payton is seventeen, pregnant, and on the run. She flees to her uncle in Georgia with the hope of making a fresh start, but discovers making it on her own is harder than she could ever have imagined.
Gloria is trapped in an unhappy marriage; in love with someone else. Her life is falling apart. With a baby on the way, would it be selfish to flee?
Five women, once strangers, form bonds. Set in modern day Georgia, this is the story of friendship that blossoms in the land of country music, sweet tea, and secrets kept locked tight behind closed doors. Moving, funny, and at times heartbreaking, The Thread That Binds is a lesson in empathy, strength, and the beauty of love.
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My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani
The Thread That Binds follows the lives of five women as they experience and struggle through all the different aspects of pregnancy and the choices that come with it. This contemporary story is told through the first person point-of-view of all five women. One would think that the reader would get them mixed up, but they each have distinct voices and personalities so that is was easy to switch from one POV to another. This is where the author's skill with characterization comes through beautifully.
Each of the women have their personal issues to deal with. With Sherice it's coming to terms with her mother's Alzheimer's illness. With Silvie it's not being able to afford pre-natal care, whereas with career-woman Joanne, it's choosing to have a baby as a single parent. Payton is a teen who got pregnant and has run away from unloving parents, and Gloria is stuck in a loveless marriage.
The way the friendship of these women help them pull through shows the strength of the bond one can create with another woman. Their lives and personalities are fully-fleshed out and we see the changes they experience both in perspective and in how they will deal with their future. I enjoyed each woman's story very much, even if I may not have agreed with ever decision she made.
Overall, this is a heart-warming story, filled with raw emotions and difficult moments. There were comical ones too, and there was one scene with Joanne that had me howling with laughter. If you like women's fiction and Southern fiction, you will love this one. Just one word of caution for those of you who watch content. Profanities and crude language are used throughout, especially the f-bomb and religious expletives. Most of it unnecessary.
Disclosure by Laura Fabiani: Thanks to the publisher for sending me this book for review. I was not told how to rate or review this product.
To read more reviews, please visit Alice Hayes page on iRead Book Tours.
About the Author:
Originally from Winchester, England, Alice’s plans to read law at a British university were disrupted when she fell deeply in love with Georgia, USA, while studying abroad. After moving all over Georgia, Alice has finally settled in Athens and has no plans to go anywhere else.
She is a single mother to a three-year-old girl and a 65 lb hound dog. She likes coffee, wine, and anything edible with the words ‘salted caramel’ in its description.
At the time of publication, Alice is a 24-year-old history student working full time in a law office, and writing fiction at every stolen moment. She hasn’t slept in approximately two years. Her first published novel, The Thread That Binds won third place in World's Best Story contest.
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Alice’s interview on World’s Best Story:
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Sounds very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThis novel is captivating. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
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