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The Ties That Bind
FAMILY IS THE TIE THAT WILL BIND... Set amongst the giant ghost gums of country Victoria, follow the trials and tribulations of two sisters who must battle through great personal sacrifice, unrelenting passions and disarming loss as they navigate the happenings around them.
The Vietnam War arrives and brings them more heartbreaking tragedy, loss and unrequited love from which they may not recover.
Spread across both time and place, The Ties That Bind is a journey of healing and love but not one that shies away from the pain that comes from the intensity of both.
When two worlds collide, peace can be found on both sides...
"Stunning and moving as we share such insight into family and the consequences and tribulations of lives entwined... Great read..." Samantha, Indie Book reviewer
The Vietnam War arrives and brings them more heartbreaking tragedy, loss and unrequited love from which they may not recover.
Spread across both time and place, The Ties That Bind is a journey of healing and love but not one that shies away from the pain that comes from the intensity of both.
When two worlds collide, peace can be found on both sides...
"Stunning and moving as we share such insight into family and the consequences and tribulations of lives entwined... Great read..." Samantha, Indie Book reviewer
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2023
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. To start with it seemed a little slow but as the story moved on it got better and better .The author must have a lot of knowledge of Vietnam and the war and I found that fascinating, though terrible and sad too. Very well thought out and well written. It tells the story of two sisters and their friends two brothers and how their lives become intertwined. It made me smile and cry which is something I always strive to achieve myself when writing . Well done Julie
April 17, 2023
I really loved this book by Julie Kay. I enjoy reading historical fiction / romance and this book had everything I could want. The characters became like friends to me and I loved going through their emotional journey. I laughed and cried. This was the second book of Julie Kay's that I have read (Not my Father) and I hope that she keeps going, as I love her style. It was a 10 out of 10 for me.
July 23, 2023
Throughout The Ties That Bind, we follow two sisters Anna and Josie and their childhood friends the Wine twins in their adventures living in the Aussie bush. Kay includes native animals, beautiful imagery and plenty of awesome Aussie references throughout. She really does such a perfect job of describing this special time for these kids.
As we continue on, readers follow the characters lives through the Vietnam War. Faced with the atrocities of war, nursing, dealing with the lasting impact in following their young naive views, the characters adult lives are forever changed.
Contrasting between childhood chapters and the Vietnam War readers get a really balanced tale of life, loss and love.
It's so easy to get lost in the magical childhood adventures in Daylesford only to be quickly pulled back into the harsh reality of war.
Kay's writing is clear and real and she clearly has a talent for moving between time frames including clear links to historical events and settings. Kay presents these stories in a beautifully crafted text, cleverly interweaving in historical information as she goes.
We'll done Julie on this one and thank -you for sending me this to read and review.
As we continue on, readers follow the characters lives through the Vietnam War. Faced with the atrocities of war, nursing, dealing with the lasting impact in following their young naive views, the characters adult lives are forever changed.
Contrasting between childhood chapters and the Vietnam War readers get a really balanced tale of life, loss and love.
It's so easy to get lost in the magical childhood adventures in Daylesford only to be quickly pulled back into the harsh reality of war.
Kay's writing is clear and real and she clearly has a talent for moving between time frames including clear links to historical events and settings. Kay presents these stories in a beautifully crafted text, cleverly interweaving in historical information as she goes.
We'll done Julie on this one and thank -you for sending me this to read and review.
December 5, 2024
This was a beautiful, heartbreaking story that captured my heart. Julie writes with such compassion and understanding that I became fully swept up in the lives and loves of the characters; I grew to care for them as if they’re special people in my life.
I learned a lot about the Vietnam war from this story, and how it affected all levels of society in numerous ways. From Anna, who is angry that Australians are involved at all, through to love of her life Jonathan, who is gung-ho to fight in the war, all perspectives are covered. It’s also fascinating to learn what it was like for medical staff like Anna’s sister Josie and Jon’s brother Patrick, who volunteered for the cause. It had me googling to find out more about the Viet Cong too.
Lifelong friends Josie, Anna, Patrick and Jonathan grew up in Daylesford – which is very close to home for me. This added to this special, unforgettable reading journey. For the first time in a long time, I shed a few tears while devouring this one.
Another triumph, Julie. Thank you so much for your powerful and compelling story.
I learned a lot about the Vietnam war from this story, and how it affected all levels of society in numerous ways. From Anna, who is angry that Australians are involved at all, through to love of her life Jonathan, who is gung-ho to fight in the war, all perspectives are covered. It’s also fascinating to learn what it was like for medical staff like Anna’s sister Josie and Jon’s brother Patrick, who volunteered for the cause. It had me googling to find out more about the Viet Cong too.
Lifelong friends Josie, Anna, Patrick and Jonathan grew up in Daylesford – which is very close to home for me. This added to this special, unforgettable reading journey. For the first time in a long time, I shed a few tears while devouring this one.
Another triumph, Julie. Thank you so much for your powerful and compelling story.
July 6, 2023
A beautiful cover for a self-published novel, and one that certainly drew me into this story. I am generally not a fan of dual timelines though, and the change of husbands being obvious from the first page did not lead to the sense of dramatic irony that I would usually enjoy, it just made me a little uninvested in the later love story (stories). Probably geared more towards my mum's generation, which is why I have passed it on to her to read.
September 28, 2025
The Ties That Bind by Julie Kay
It is a very moving story about two sisters in the country, Victoria, who face pain, love, and loss.
The Vietnam War brings even more sadness into their lives, adding tragedy and heartbreak. These moments made me think about how difficult life can be when war and loss touch a family.
The story is not only about sadness. It also shows healing, hope, and the strength of love. The balance between pain and hope makes the book feel very real and touching.
I finished the story feeling emotional but also thankful. It reminded me of the power of family and love and how people can survive even the hardest times. The Ties That Bind is a heartfelt and unforgettable read.
Thank you so much for sharing this story, Julie. It touched me deeply, and I could feel the love and emotion on every page. The way you wrote about family, loss, and hope stayed with me, and I’m grateful for the chance to read such a beautiful book.
It is a very moving story about two sisters in the country, Victoria, who face pain, love, and loss.
The Vietnam War brings even more sadness into their lives, adding tragedy and heartbreak. These moments made me think about how difficult life can be when war and loss touch a family.
The story is not only about sadness. It also shows healing, hope, and the strength of love. The balance between pain and hope makes the book feel very real and touching.
I finished the story feeling emotional but also thankful. It reminded me of the power of family and love and how people can survive even the hardest times. The Ties That Bind is a heartfelt and unforgettable read.
Thank you so much for sharing this story, Julie. It touched me deeply, and I could feel the love and emotion on every page. The way you wrote about family, loss, and hope stayed with me, and I’m grateful for the chance to read such a beautiful book.
February 14, 2024
The Ties that Bind encapsulates the ties from a small community during a rather unsettling journey through life, love, loss and War. The Thorn Sisters and the Wine Twins start with their friendship that takes them through the Vietnam War and beyond. A beautiful story that actually highlights truth that did happen during this time. At first you wonder how this extra fits in until the whole family gets put together.
It really was a beautiful read and may help many to understand the era or just want a heart warming story to enjoy. This is well researched and well written.
I received a copy in return for an honest review. Thank you to Shawline Publishing
It really was a beautiful read and may help many to understand the era or just want a heart warming story to enjoy. This is well researched and well written.
I received a copy in return for an honest review. Thank you to Shawline Publishing
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews