Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Jacquie Biggar’s (book 1 in the Defiant Sisters) – Letting Go. A story about family loss and two sisters who share different opinions about handling what they’ve experienced.
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Blurb:
A coming-of-age novel about the pain of misconceptions and learning from them.
When life gives you lemons…
Izzy
Mom is barely in the grave and the prodigal child is here to pick the bones clean.
I don’t want her here. My sister’s defection is a wound that won’t heal, and her return simply rubs at the scabs covering my heart.
I’ve managed just fine without her. She can go back to her fancy college and forget about us- that’s what she does best anyway.
If only I didn’t need her help. Or miss her so much.
Renee
The day my dad committed suicide I ran. I’ve been running ever since.
Going home is supposed to be the answer. Instead, it makes me question every thoughtless decision I’ve made.
My sister hates me. My little brother barely knows me. And Simon… is engaged.
None of it matters- or so I tell myself. I’m here to make amends and face a past haunted by regret.
As long as I can convince myself to stay.
Letting Go is a new adult romance dealing with tragedy, restitution, and love in all its aspects. The story relates to sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.
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My 5 Star Review:
Grief, hurt, and family. Everyone is affected differently by death. And when the father of this family took his own life, daughter Renee flees the home after witnessing it, leaving behind her sister Izzy and younger brother Ben and their mother. But after the mother dies from cancer, (where the book begins), Renee returns to the unwelcoming arms of her sister Izzy who was left to take care of her brother Ben twelve years of age, and their mother. Renee had fled, and Izzy carried the load. We’ll also learn of Renee’s heart throb Simon, now a paramedic Renee left behind too – unsettled love.
Renee returns for her mother’s funeral and upon her return is faced with confronting all those she left behind, still carrying the torch for Simon too. But Simon is now engaged to Lacey and when Renee comes back to town there is a small accident that happens between Simon’s grandmother and Renee – bringing the two ill-fated lovers back into each other’s orbit – and those unsettled feelings between them bubble up.
It’s evident the two lovers still had feelings for each other, and in this story, the tension between the two is electrifying. Izzy holds a lot of resentment toward her sister Renee for abandoning her in their dire family time. But Renee begins to see the damage she has caused in abandoning her now small family and decides it’s time to move herself and her physiotherapy practice back to her home town to help her sister and raise her brother Benjamin. But Izzy can’t let go of the hurt, and we’ll have to read book 2 to find out how this plays out, and what will become of Simon and Renee.
The story is written from the POVs of Izzy, Renee, and Simon in first person. Each character takes us into their own thoughts, wounds, and aspirations. This book is written as a new age adult genre, which explores many growing up adult situations that the younger gen are faced with – feelings, life decisions, romance, hurt, grief, and love.
©DGKaye2024
Hi Debby, This sounds like a wonderful, complex family story – it is lovely to see Jacquie’s book featured here. Congratulations to her. Toni x
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Hi Toni. It is a complex story, which I always enjoy. Thank you. Hugs xx
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It is a great review of what seems to be a fascinating and poignant family drama
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Thanks so much Thomas. That’s exactly it – family drama. 🙂
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Terrific review Debby and I enjoyed this book two.. families are complicated and Jacquie has a great way of bringing out the elements of this and the romance in life. ♥♥
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Hi Sal. You summed it up perfectly. A good mix of family and drama, with a touch of romance. Thank you. Hugs ❤ xx
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♥
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Hi Debby, an excellent review of this book of Jacquie’s. I also enjoyed it.
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Hi Robbie. Thanks for sharing that you too enjoyed it. ❤
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My pleasure 💚
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A well-handled review. Hopefully, there are not too many families like that!
Thanks Debs. xx
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Lol, hi Joy. Thank you, and I’m with you, but no doubts there is plenty family drama in this world. 🙂 ❤ xx
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This is a great story from Jacquie Biggar. The characters really grow on you. A super review. xo
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Thanks Darlene. I highly agree about the characters. Hugs xx
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Congratulations to the author and thanks for the recommendation, Debby. It sounds like the beginning of a great series.
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Thank you Olga. Yes, a great beginning and must read book 2 to complete. 🙂 Happy new week coming to you! 🙂 ❤
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Great review, Debby that definitely draws the reader into the thickening drama!!! Congratulations to both of you! 🩷🎉
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Lol, thanks Cindy. Oh how we love our drama – as long as we’re not in it. 🙂 xx
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You’re so very welcome.. that’s for sure.. 😂
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❤
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Thanks for this great review, Debby. It sounds like a good read. x
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My pleasure Stevie. I’m glad you enjoyed. ❤
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A super review, Debbie. Congratulations to Jacquie.
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Thank you John. 🙂
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😊
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Debby – your mastery of book reviews is truly remarkable. You had we on pins and needles to find out what comes next. Jacquie – looking forward to exploring your writing!!!
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Thanks so much Rebecca for your lovely compliment. Happy to entice! ❤
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Fabulous review Deb! Jacquie is so good at weaving relationships into interesting stories. I love her style of writing and she never disappoints.
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Thanks Balroop. I agree. I’ve read a few of her books and always enjoy. Hugs xx
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Every coming-of-age story is the same. And everyone is as different as the specific locale and characters. That’s why I keep reading memoirs and fiction. Thanks for a super review, Debby!
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You are so right Marian. Thanks for dropping by, and glad you enjoyed. ❤
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Jacquie has created an interesting scenario with this one. I like stories that put two characters with a different perspective in the same situation.
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Me too Pete, and she did a wonderful job with these characters. Now I must see what happens in book 2. 🙂
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I love your review, Debby. I also enjoyed this book so much and can easily add my recommendation to yours! Congrats to Jacquie!
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Thanks for seconding my opinion Jan. ❤
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Love seeing this book featured. It was a great Book 1 to the duology.
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Thanks for adding your take Jacqui. 🙂
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I’m so glad you got to this book, Debby. It’s so good. I really like the way Jacquie writes the complexity of sibling relationships. Congrats to Jacquie on the wonderful review. 🙂
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Thank you Diana. Now I must read book 2! 🙂 xx
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It’s good too!
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❤
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This sounds like a juicy read, Deb. Nice review you’ve shared and enticing us to dig in. Congratulations to Jacqui! I love her cover choice, too.
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Hi Lisa. Thanks so much, and so glad you felt a bit enticed. 🙂 xx
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Sounds like an intense read!
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Jacquie seems to have tapped insightfully into family dynamics.
This book’s premise is bound to take the dynamics to greater heights. Lots of room for tension. There’s also room for a lot more form the sounds of it, in books 2 & 3.
I enjoyed this review, Debby, Thank you!
Congrats to Jacquie on this intriguing series!
🌹❦🌹❦🌹❦
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Thanks so much Resa. Seems you got the story perfectly. Yes, now must read the next in this series. Happy to enlighten you my friend. 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Welcome!
Hope you’re holding up well in this heat dome. This is not how I remember late spring/early summer. Hugs! xoxo❦🌹
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OMG, seriously!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two hours at the gym, aircon turned to 62F, all fans on, and I thought I was going to pass out. Then, walk outside, and it hits you like a pizza oven! Stay inside! 🙂 ❤
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Yes! WTF? Big Hugs!!! xoxo
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Lol 🙂 xox 🙂
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Great review!
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Thanks Mark. 🙂
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