Shattered Lies

In the United Kingdom (and other British owned countries) it is Boxing Day!  Boxing Day is the day after Christmas when servants (called staff today) and tradespeople (an example would be how we tip the postal carrier and newspaper delivery person) receive gifts from their employers and customers. Back when the big houses had servants, the employers would give each employee a new uniform.  

I just finished reading the book Shattered Lies by S.J. Francis.  Katherine “Kate” Thayer is thirty years old, a veterinarian, and runs her grandmother’s farm, Magnolia Lane Farm in Thayerville, Mississippi.  Kate was raised by her grandmother, Katherine after her parents passed away when she was a baby.  Kate does not know much about her mother or her family.  One day Kate goes into the attic and finds a journal written by her mother.  This prompts her to start asking questions.  Kate is going to uncover secrets that people have kept hidden her whole life.  Everything is going to change.  Secrets always have a way of coming out into the open (especially the ones you do not want to be known). 

Shattered Lies sounded like such a good novel (it really sounded interesting/intriguing).  Unfortunately, I was disappointed.  This is a novel about secrets, hatred, and bigotry.  I started getting a little into the novel toward the end, but it was hard to read (the writing style).  There tends to be a lot of internal dialogue with the characters going on about whether they should or should not have kept the secrets and what should they do now (I think this makes up more than half the novel).  The majority of the characters are really not likable (mostly because of their bigoted attitudes).  All of the women seems to be strong, determined, and stubborn (there is nothing wrong with this).  It is their way or the highway (you cannot always have your way in this world).  I am amazed that no one was murdered in the novel (or severely injured).  Several times I wanted to walk away from this book, but I persevered and finished it.  There is a nice lesson about forgiveness and the ending is left so there can be a sequel (I will not be reading it).  I give Shattered Lies 2.75 out of 5 stars. 

Now while I did not enjoy this book, other readers did.  If you have an e-reader (like Kindle, Nook, Kobo), get a free sample and check it out for yourself.  I received a complimentary copy of Shattered Lies from NetGalley and Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

I am joining the 2016 EBook Reading Challenge.  There are different levels that will suit every reader.  The levels are:

1.  Bits                           5 ebooks
2.  Bytes                      10 ebooks
3.  Megabytes              25 ebooks
4.  Gigabytes               50 ebooks
5.  Terabytes               75 ebooks
6.  Empty the Cloud  100 ebooks

You can read any genre and any length of book as long as it is an ebook (my preferred format).  Here is the link to the challenge if you wish to sign up.  I suggest that you set up a special list (shelf) for yourself on Goodreads.  I have a shelf for 2016 and then you can have a separate shelf for ebooks (it really helps to keep track of the books if you wish to).

I am currently reading The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald.  What are you reading?  I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader