~ Review: Sister, Sister ~

PLOT SYNOPSIS:  Donna Hill, Carmen Green, Janice Sims - The bonds of sisterhood are celebrated in this collection of novellas by three award-winning best-selling romance authors. 

Many of us with Sisters or even close friends can relate to this novel.  Donna, Carmen and Janice have done a wonderful job of telling stories of the love, joy, and pain that sisters share.

There were times in Donna hills story “Thicker Than Water” that I wanted to “reach out and touch someone”.  Angela and Gayla had not spoken in 10 years.  They had a long history of bitterness and jealously due, for the most part, to their mother.  When Gayla becomes ill, Angela decides to put their differences aside and return home to care for her ailing sister.  This story was so full of jealousy and anger that I was frustrated throughout.  I felt like issues in their relationship were too petty to create such a chasm.  At the same time, I realize that sometimes little things can fester and become big issues.  I know sisters that have very similar issues to the women in this story.  I also know that these women have come together in a time of need.  Seeing this pettiness on paper makes you re-think your relationships with your sisters and friends.

Carmen Green delivers a great story with “Loving Lola”.  Sandra has spent the last 5 years raising her sister Lola’s son, Brian.  Lola was not ready to be a mother and needed time to grow-up herself.  When Lola meets the love of her life and decides to get married and take over the raising of her son, all of their lives are turned upside-down.  Is Lola ready to take on the responsibility of raising her son?  And who is this man that Lola’s marrying, would he treat Brain right?  What will Sandra do when she no longer has a child to raise?  This story takes us to Martha’s Vineyard where we are given a very strong example of a sister’s love.  Two sisters, very different discover healing and mutual respect.  Even when our sisters make mistakes, we hold out hope that their lives can be healed.  And with healing comes second chances.  I truly enjoyed watching these two sisters grow.  Not to disappoint, there is a bit of romance in this one (For both sisters!).  This story was full of happy endings.

“Best Left Unsaid” by Janice Sims had an interesting spin.  Sisters LuAnne and Rhonda live very different but related lives.  One is a Supermodel, one is a famous photographer, both very beautiful.  It’s been a while since they’ve spoken, partly due to LuAnne not being there for Rhonda when she loses her fiancé in a tragic accident.  When unmarried LuAnne get’s pregnant, naturally she returns home looking for the love and support of her sister.  When Rhonda discovers the underlying dishonesty that has kept her apart from her sister, she is challenged to open her heart and forgive.  As love, careers, and different lifestyles develop these two sisters realize a bond that cannot be broken.

In “Thicker than Water” I would have liked a bit more insight into the reason for all of the jealousy, I just didn’t feel there was enough to the story.  Loving Lola demonstrated how the love and strength of one sister could help the other grow and become strong as well.  I really enjoyed this story.  “Best Left Unsaid” was a good example of two equally successful sisters seemingly without jealousy who support and love each other, can have secrets that cause deep hurts and regrets.  These three novellas were a good effort at demonstrating the joy and pain of sisterhood. They remind you that the bond between sisters should never be broken.

26th December 2001