Another excellent job, by the one an only ReShonda Tate Billingsley. This book is about a mother who kept a secret from her daughter. Lorraine Dawson had met Bernard Wells when she worked at a restaurant. Bernard fell in love with Lorraine, but he wanted to be successful so he married his boss daughter. Lorraine kept a secret from her daughter for years. Olivia was accepted to Juilliard, but did not go because she could not afford it. Lorraine was heartbroken so she went looking for Olivia’s father. Lorraine reveals the secret on her death bed. Olivia decides to investigate and more secrets and lies are discovered. There are so many families that have kept secrets for years. Secrets and lies will destroy a family. I got a copy of this book when I went to see Bilingsley at a reading at the public library here in Madison. I was very taken with her and glad to have gotten the book. I read it over the next three days and was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Billingsley is a talented story teller and I like the focus on her character's development and let them respond to situations rather than relying on over the top drama every few pages. I was also glad to see that although there was a Christian bent, it was not very heavily steeped in judgment and respectability politics. Of course, the protagonist, Olivia, is very sympathetic and surrounded by a cast of colorful characters including her best friend Mona, but it is important that Olivia is the point of empathy. She and Mona are practically the only people in the book who are exactly what they appear to be. Olivia has a crisis of faith and identity when she finds that her mother had an affair with a wealthy man named Bernard Wells. She had been told her father was dead, but her mother Lorraine makes the confession on her deathbed. Although Olivia is curious about her newfound father, she has to hit rock bottom before she decides to pack up her life in Houston and head to Los Angeles to find him. Much to her surprise, Bernard is quite thrilled to see her and wants to make amends for casting Lorraine and Olivia out of his life at the request of his controlling wife Adele. Hiding the budding relationship from Adele is only one of the complications Olivia and Bernard face. The Wells' other son Kendall takes a liking to Olivia as they both begin work at one of their father's stores. Olivia wants to tell Kendall that they are siblings but has promised Bernard she will allow him to tell him first. The writing is definitely engaging enough to keep the reader interested throughout the entire story. In fact, I finished the second half of the book in one night. I'm sure those who are already familiar with Billingsley's writing will enjoy this one and new fans like myself will also not be disappointed.
What do You think about A Family Affair (2013)?
Pretty awful...I can't understand why the high ratings. Not believable...like reading a soap opera.
—ebookman
This book was absolutely AMAZING! I could not put it down!
—email0015
