Review: Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse

 

Letters from My Sister: A Novel by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Blurb:

Two Sisters. One Single Event. A Family Changed Forever.

At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life as the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer when their well-ordered household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly--and innocently--draws the wrong kind of attention. Meanwhile, Callie meets a man who offers her the freedom to abandon social constraints and discover her truest self.

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 missing baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light through their letters--including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie's life.

Bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse weaves a complex and suspenseful tale dripping with intrigue, romance, and Southern charm.

My Review: 

I have enjoyed previously released books from the talented author, Valerie Fraser Luesse and was ready to get my hands on her newest, Letters from My Sister. I thought it was a pretty good read. I was intrigued in reading in this and had to continue on turning the pages to find out what would be revealed in the end. I loved it.

I am giving Letters from My Sister a very well deserved five plus stars. I believe readers who enjoy clean historical fiction will not want to miss out reading this one. I am interested to see what other releases Valerie Fraser Luesse has in store for her fans in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Valeria Fraser Luesse’s Letters from My Sister from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.


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Review: Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Lusesse

Under the Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

Restless with the familiarity of her Alabama home, Ellie Fields accepts a teaching job in a tiny Louisiana town deep in bayou country. Though rightfully suspicious of outsiders, who have threatened both their language and their culture, most of the people in tiny Bernadette, Louisiana, come to appreciate the young and idealistic schoolteacher as a boon to the town. She's soon teaching just about everyone--and coming up against opposition from both the school board and a politician with ulterior motives.

Acclimating to a whole new world, Ellie meets a lonely but intriguing Cajun fisherman named Raphe who introduces her to the legendary white alligator that haunts these waters. Raphe and Ellie have barely found their way to each other when a huge bounty is offered for the elusive gator, bringing about a shocking turn of events that will test their love and their will to right a terrible wrong.

A master of the Southern novel, Valerie Fraser Luesse invites you to enter the sultry swamps of Louisiana in a story that illuminates the struggle for the heart and soul of the bayou.

My Review: 

I have enjoyed reading books by Valerie Fraser Luesse in the past. I was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest release, Under the Bayou Moon, and I was far from disappointed. I loved this book. It is probably among one of my favorites I have read for this year. It was great being transported back in time to Louisiana. I found Raphe and Ellie’s story to be a unique and it was refreshing to read something with a different plot line. It was intriguing to learn more about the Cajun culture, as well. I loved every single page of this book.

Under the Bayou Moon will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical fiction. Like always, I will be looking forward to reading more by Valerie Fraser Luesse in the future.

I received a paperback copy of a Under the Bayou Moon from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.



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Review: The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse

The Key to Everything by Valerie Fraser Luesse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

After WWII and a family tragedy, Peyton Cabot seeks connection with his troubled veteran father by retracing the trip he'd taken from Savannah to Key West at the same age. The adventure forces Peyton to come to terms with his identity and decide how much he's willing to risk for the girl he loves.



My Review: 

I have read Valerie Fraser Luesse’s previous books and The Key to Everything is by far my favorite to date. I loved reading Peyton’s story. It was great watching him grow as a person throughout his journey and adventure. It was learning some valuable lessons within its pages. It is all around a beautiful and heartwarming tale.

I am giving The Key to Everything four and a half stars. I would love to read more like this one by Valerie Fraser Luesse in the future.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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Review: Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Blurb (from Amazon):

There was another South in the 1960s, one far removed from the marches and bombings and turmoil in the streets that were broadcast on the evening news. It was a place of inner turmoil, where ordinary people struggled to right themselves on a social landscape that was dramatically shifting beneath their feet. This is the world of Valerie Fraser Luesse's stunning debut, Missing Isaac.

It is 1965 when black field hand Isaac Reynolds goes missing from the tiny, unassuming town of Glory, Alabama. The townspeople's reactions range from concern to indifference, but one boy will stop at nothing to find out what happened to his unlikely friend. White, wealthy, and fatherless, young Pete McLean has nothing to gain and everything to lose in his relentless search for Isaac. In the process, he will discover much more than he bargained for. Before it's all over, Pete--and the people he loves most--will have to blur the hard lines of race, class, and religion. And what they discover about themselves may change some of them forever.



My Review:

Missing Isaac is a good debut novel by Valerie Fraser Luesse. The characters are interesting with a wonderful setting. The plot, for the most part, was enjoyable but at times was slow and hard for me to get through. There are a few humor scenes that I liked between Pete and Dovey. They were fun together. Overall, I think Missing Isaac is worth a read and I am wondering what other stories the author will come up with next. I give this one 3 1/2 stars.
I received this book from the publisher. This review was 100 percent my own honest opinion.

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