WordsAPlenty received from the author a copy of Don’t Tell Anyone (Trager Family Secrets Book 2) by Laurie Boris in exchange for an honest review. Ms. Boris is also a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree.
It’s difficult to find one’s place in a family, even when born into it as there are always secrets generated, often times by well-meaning parents and siblings. Then there are those of us who enter into a family through marriage; finding our place is even more difficult as we are not always bound by the same rules but the secrets can be even more devastating.
Such is the case with Liza. Her first attraction was to Charlie followed up with marriage to Charlie’s brother, Adam. Mother Estelle disliked Liza in the beginning, not because of the relationships but because she’s a “godless hippie raised by wolves.” The first secret for Liza is keeping her past relationship details with Charlie from her husband. Adding to it are the secrets Estelle has been keeping from everyone – how her mother truly died, why she passed her young son Adam off to a neighbor when visiting her mother and even more complicated lies and secrets that slowly become exposed due to Estelle’s cancer ridden body.
This is a very moving and realistic story about families and how they sometimes hurt one another without meaning to; how they come together in tough times and how one handles the different aspects of dying.
This book was very moving and portrayed accurately the emotions and feelings of what I encountered the last month of my father’s life. I laughed, I cried and I mourned as only a child can for a parent whose stubbornness to protect conflicts with what the child wants or needs. Laurie Boris has captured the interactions, relationships and feelings of children, parents and family in one book. Boris portrays the situation via realistic dialog and interactions in a light manner.
The reality of caring for one’s parent is never easy; Boris reveals a well written, sensitive story that will ease some hearts. The humor in this book is sporadic and in appropriate places; the friends who try to help have their own ideas on how to ease Adam and Liza’s new home life with Estelle is priceless and poignant.
“That’s not going to do anybody any good. And you know her. If you nag at her about something she’ll do the opposite, for spite.”
This is a book that will haunt you well after you read the last page. If you have lost someone or in the process, give this book a read. It is not only engaging and eye opening, it is subtle and rich with vivid imagery and raw emotions. It’s not a how-to-deal-with-death book by any means; it is a novel, a story of one family and their struggles to ease their mother’s death while finding their own way through the changes.
“She couldn’t say exactly what happened next. The voices grew angrier, the taunts sharper, the volley faster. Adam accused Charlie of something; she knew the tone but couldn’t make out the words. There were sounds of a struggle. After taking the stairs two at a time, the next thing she saw was her husband’s fist flying toward Charlie’s face.”
The characters are well developed as is the story line. Boris creates and develops her characters in such a way that each of us can say – that’s my sister or brother or mom or dad or friend. Boris has also carefully constructed the plot so that her readers can say – yes, I can see mom or dad or grandmother or … doing the same thing!
Boris is a highly creative and sensitive writer leaving the reader wanting more. She uses rich dialog and vivid imagery to capture the attention of her readers and keeps them engaged.
This is an excellent book. One that I highly recommend. WordsAPlenty gives this book a five-star rating with enthusiasm and confidence.
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