A Severing of Ties: The Benson Family Chronicles

Benson Family Chronicles #1

by Chelsea Falin

This is the first book chronicling the Benson family, through the eyes of two sisters, Willow and Emilee. It takes you through their struggle to make it in a world that is so against them. Through their whole childhood, the two girls have but one to make it out of the prison they call home. As they grow and mature, only one girl will make that wish come true. Where will these two Benson girls end up? You will have to read the story to find out.

188 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2010

About the author

Chelsea Falin is the self published author of 21 current titles, including five contemporary fiction novels. She is, as always, working on her newest title.

Chelsea was born and raised in the small town of Dade City, located in west-central Florida. Currently, she resides in southern New Jersey.

Reviews

[Jovarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Severing Of Ties tells the story of two sisters named Willow and Emilee who are fighting for their lives against all odds under the torturous guidance of their alcoholic father and their drug addict of a mother. Together, they try to live and reach their dreams of living a happy life but things soon turn from bad to worse as they discover they need to find themselves amidst the dangers of living in a precarious neighborhood.

Throughout the entire story, we are shown how cruel life can be even with children. Sometimes life throws us curveballs right at the beginning where we are still young children. But, as the story tries to portray, the tough one will endure and the others will falter. Chelsea Falin once again creates a realistic world where she creates characters that everyone can relate to. This is the world where we live in today. It is very easy to connect with her characters as they are happening somewhere in our world today.

This thought provoking story leads us into the lives of the characters and how they have changed over the years. One will find the story a very engaging one since it depicts real life situations. The situations where the characters fall under become an eye opener to the audience. It becomes the doorway to understanding how these kinds of people live day by day with the burden of having to claw their way just to live and breathe another day.
A truly inspiring story, A Severing Of Ties delivers what every person wants in a short story of courage and self-realization. For those who need an inspiration as well as melodramatic tale based on real life situations then this story is for you. Children might find the subject very graphic and adult. It is best that you help them understand the entire concept.

[Dini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benson family, the children to be precise will touch your hearts from the very beginning of the story. The author has skillfully narrated the incidents, the filthy surroundings in a detailed manner that you would get absorbed to their characters. I went through the first chapters with tears in my eyes as I could feel the endless pain they were bearing and their vulnerability of these innocent souls.

Although it’s a work of fiction, the characters and most of the incidents might obviously the reality among people all over the world. Life is no fairy tale to the Benson family as the miseries that have taken place in their life has out-numbered the happy moments dawned in their whole lifetime. Still, they got strong with each and every obstacle they had to face and cherished every happiness which rarely was bestowed to them. The story is not a bunch of depressing incidents but an eventful journey of the Bensons with courage, love and unity. I would suggest everyone to read it, especially the young readers as this would make you believe that determination and hard work can lead you to success irrespective of whatever the sorrows destiny would throw at you. May this be a story for the teenage crowd who has been gifted with loving parents and comforts realize the bitter truth in the society, that there are thousands of less fortunate people out there, so they would learn to appreciate even the little things offered to them in life. Happy reading to you all!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Severing of Ties is an incredibly entertaining and inspiring story. It sucks you in from the very beginning, with vivid attention to detail on even the smallest matters. The characters seem incredibly lifelike, and you can't help but feel bad for the ill-fated Benson family. The contrast between the stories Willow and Emilee tell is striking. Willow's story is inspiring in that she eventually pulls herself out of the situation she had been placed in, although she makes a few mistakes...I won't name the specific mistakes, as I'm pretty sure those would be spoilers, however, I can say that they are fairly common mistakes for young women today. Emilee's story is inspiring in an entirely different way. It shows you the harmful effects of giving into temptation and selfishness. All in all, I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a very well thought out contemporary fiction novel, and also to anyone who enjoys books revolving around a family, or life in the south- both urban and rural.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A realistic look at a family fighting to escape the poverty cycle, A Severing of Ties follows the Benson children as they grow up in some of the worst circumstances imaginable. At the beginning, the story focuses on all of the children as they dream of and work toward a better future. As the children grow, the story begins to focus on Willow and Emilee, the oldest girls, and how each decision they make affects their family and their future.

An interesting, sometimes graphic story, A Severing of Ties illustrates the desperate situations that many children find themselves in. Some will rise above their beginnings, others will not. Willow and Emilee’s stories are tangled around and through each other, while the rest of the family become supporting characters while the sisters learn not only what they’ll do for love, but that love can lead you wrong.

A Severing of Ties is an inspiring, thought-provoking story. It’s not an easy read- it’s full of raw emotion and horrific situations- but is definitely worth the emotional roller-coaster. Highly recommend it!

[pcb]

With one apostrophe error in the dedication and two on the first page, I knew I would not be able to read this book without being annoyed. I am sorry because the plot sounded interesting.