V. Joy Palmer: Valerie Fraser Luesse

Friday, September 8, 2023

Review of Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse

About the Book ~

Two sisters. One mystery. A family changed forever.

At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life when their well-ordered Alabama household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly--and innocently--draws the wrong kind of attention.

After Lily has a baby, Callie witnesses something she was never meant to see--or did she? Her memory is a haze, just an image in her mind of Emmy standing on a darkened riverbank and cradling Lily's baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light--including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie's life.

For more information about Valerie Fraser Luesse and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Bring your own sweet tea for this one because Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse is southern fiction at its finest!

I liked Callie from the moment I read her opening words in Letters from My Sister! Her humor and whimsy captured my bookish friendship. Plus, Callie and Solomon's romance deserves all the heart eyes! The setting and the author's ability to capture the era blossomed in my imagination, and the pacing was laced with intrigue, mystery, confusion, and swoons in all the right places.

Letters from My Sister delves into triggering subjects such as death, grief, racism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking from a sexual predator. Despite these challenging facets, I found that I could NOT stop reading this engrossing story! Furthermore, I loved the author's gentle exploration of privilege, showing how one can erase personhood and consent even with the best of intentions, and the bumpy road where trauma and trust collide. The cloudy effects of trauma as it waged war with what Callie knew to be truth will transcend the particulars of this heart-wrenching family saga and touch many hearts with an aching relatability. Through it all, the author continued to highlight that God works in mysterious and awesome ways that cannot be defined by human boxes of understanding. Very well done!

Four Stars ~ Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse was a captivating family drama! Letters from My Sister is a standalone novel, but the author has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girls. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

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Friday, July 10, 2020

Review of The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse

About the Book ~

Peyton Cabot's fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savannah family, has come home from WWII a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents' devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams, Lisa Wallace.

Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: He will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle all the way to Key West, Florida. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton's journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined--namely, the key to his unknowable father, a reunion with Lisa, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.

Through poignant prose and characters so real you'll be sure you know them, Valerie Fraser Luesse transports you to the storied Atlantic coast for a unique coming-of-age story you won't soon forget.

For more information about Valerie Fraser Luesse and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Despite whatever I subconsciously expected to find in The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse, I was not prepared for the way this story would WRECK me with its BEAUTIFULNESS!

You can't prepare for it, dear readers. But you can read it and experience it for yourself. Because it's a journey that should not be missed!

The author has a real talent for immersing readers in the era and the setting! In the span of a few words, I was transported into Peyton's world. I was surrounded by the stuffy, backstabbing Cabot family. I was biking down the A1A to the island world of Key West in 1947. I was transformed by the new experiences, people who loved their neighbor, and hardships that only offer two options: grow stronger or remain stuck.

Peyton's coming-of-age story truly moved me! The "keys" to where Peyton came from, the man he was growing into, and the opportunities to love had me crying every few pages! However, the aspect that undid me the most was the way Peyton's story intersected with Kate's (Peyton's mother) unconditional love and journey through grief. Marshall's (Peyton's father) heart-twisting story lays out the story of a man with more good in him than not, a man who made mistakes, a man Peyton could learn from even in the end. The truth that your bad choices -- even choices with devastating consequences -- don't have to define your life for eternity is a narrative that is so very needed in this world! The Key to Everything challenges her readers to learn and grow with a beauty that will wreck you!

Five Stars ~ I can't recommend The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse enough! The Key to Everything is a standalone, but the author has other titles in her backlist for readers to enjoy!

Possible Triggers ~ Grief, death of a loved one.