Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston . . . and other Valor Books

I just can’t say enough good things about the novel Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston. I was asked to review it by the publisher, and fortunately the novel arrived in the mail on a day when I was not feeling well. It saved my life! I just LOVE these old ladies and the hilarious situations they put themselves in. The fact that they are a Mormon Relief Society Presidency greatly added to the humor. A fast, fun read for all ages. Please visit Tristi’s blog for more information.

Another book by Valor that I received was I’ll Know You By Heart by Kimberly Job. This book is on the rather serious subject of spousal abuse and at times I found myself mentally yelling at the main character to run and call the police or to show some backbone. Then I realized what a creditable job the author did in showing how difficult it is for abused women to leave a terrible situation and how hard abuse is on families. Also, the husband’s character, though obsessive, was equally realistic, with emotions that were all over the board. The best part was the hero, Jared, and his daughter, who were both adorable!

A third book I read was The Sapphire Flute by Karen Hoover. Two of my children snatched this book before I got to it, my sixteen-year-old daughter and my thirteen-year-old son. Both had it read with in a day so take what you may from that. As for myself, I admire the world Hoover has created and the unique magic of the characters. A promising series. My only complaint is one my daughter voiced–that while the characters were in their mid-teens and getting married and so forth, the dialogue and feel of the novel seemed to be middle grade rather than young adult. Even so, I’m sure my daughter will devour the sequels, and I’ll be interested to see the plot development.