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Sisterhood #22

Blindsided

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Ladies On Fire

Myra Rutledge isn't ready to mothball the Sisterhood just yet. When Maggie Spitzer, former editor-in-chief of the Post and an honorary member of the Sisterhood, arrives with a new mission in mind, the Vigilantes are soon gathering in their war room once more. While catching up on each other's lives, they plan a brilliant campaign against a duo of corrupt judges running a moneymaking racket that sends young offenders to brutal boot camps, often on trumped-up charges. Their enemies are powerful and ruthless, but the Sisterhood have their own formidable allies--including former President Martine Connor. Once their scheme takes off, the guilty won't know what hit them. . .

Praise for Fern Michaels and her Sisterhood novels. . .

"Readers will enjoy seeing what happens when well-funded, very angry women take the law into their own hands." --Booklist on Weekend Warriors

"Revenge is a dish best served with cloth napkins and floral centerpieces." --Publishers Weekly on Payback

282 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

988 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read

About the author

Fern Michaels

424 books6,514 followers
Fern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.

As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.

Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.

Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.

READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/

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5 stars
2,289 (52%)
4 stars
1,279 (29%)
3 stars
607 (13%)
2 stars
122 (2%)
1 star
51 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
Profile Image for Karen.
440 reviews
January 7, 2014
I am a huge fan of the sisterhood series and I must say this book was wonderful..I do miss the ones who are no longer with the sisterhood,but a few have returned for this book..Highly recommend it for fans of this series and anyone who likes to see justice prevail..
5 reviews
Read
January 9, 2014
The Sisterhood rocks!!

Fern Michaels and the Sisterhood series are one of my favorites. Always anticipating the next book. Myra and the gang rock!!
Profile Image for Shirley Bibbins.
1 review
January 12, 2014
I have read all the books in Fern Michael's "Sisterhood" series, and was royally entertained by each of them. "Blindsided" is no exception. I hope Ms. Michaels continues this series.
Profile Image for Becky.
351 reviews
August 22, 2024
I just couldn’t get excited about reading this book. I read about a third of it, then skipped over much of it and read the last few chapters.
323 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2014
The Vigilantes have pretty much retired; however, they come back together to sock it to a pair of corrupt twin judges. When your members include a former President, millionaires, and other people with significant power, you can make a difference in ways most ordinary people can’t, and some of those methods aren’t exactly legal. However, what matters is that good triumphs over evil.

I will preface the rest of the review by saying that this is the first Fern Michaels book I have ever read, and since it’s number twenty-something in The Sisterhood Novels, I may be missing something coming into the series so late. My expectations were pretty high given Michaels’ best-seller status. I was exceedingly disappointed. You might even say I was “blindsided.”

Please note: There may be spoilers below. From the first few pages, I knew it wasn’t going to be an enjoyable experience just from the unnatural dialogue. There were so many elements of the story where I just went “Huh?” For example, one character’s husband died 10 months prior to the commencement of this novel, yet she only told two people. Who does that? One of the main couples frequently talks to their deceased “spirit daughter,” who likes to make appearances from time to time. Another thing that really shocked me was the lack of originality for the story line as a whole and even for characters’ names. The story line involving the corrupt judges sending kids to a boot camp and getting kickbacks is very similar to one I saw on an episode of Law & Order. One of the characters is named Jack Sparrow (and no, he is not a pirate!). The members of this vigilante group seem to do an awful lot of talking (along with eating and getting drunk) with only sporadic bursts of action. What the heck is Charles doing down there, anyway? I mean, he’s obviously not using any modern method of doing research since half the Vigilantes don’t know what Facebook is or understand the term “booty call.” It seems rather unbelievable that they manage to pull off what they do with their seemingly limited skill set. And what’s up with the “special shields” that we never get to see?

If you’re a Fern Michaels fan, then you’ll probably enjoy this book if it is an example of her usual work. I will not adding another of her titles to my reading list.
Profile Image for Marcia Adams.
4 reviews
December 28, 2019
This was the first time I read Fern Michaels. I tried to enjoy the book but just could not get into it. I do not like her writing style. Lost interest after 136 pages. That is why I gave the book 1 star. The book is about 26 chapters long.
Profile Image for BJ.
1,088 reviews10 followers
November 28, 2015
I'm glad this author decided to keep writing this series. Miss all the younger ladies though, hope we'll get to see more of them in future books.
Profile Image for Cindi.
55 reviews
May 18, 2015
Another book from the sisterhood series. Another hit.
Profile Image for Heather .
1,193 reviews18 followers
September 2, 2014
# 22 In Sisterhood saga
Alright this is an ongoing series so if you haven't read previous novels you might be a bit lost but for the most part it can be understood as a stand-alone if you don't care to know the backstories and hints from previous books and characters.

So we start this novel with Maggie coming back and spills her tale and then gives the Sisterhood a new mission. Seems that a couple of twin Judges are in need of a good ol' Sisterhood enlightenment.
With the help of the Post team, Abner (their secret hacker) and of course Charles & his friends a plan is in the works. We also get a new guy a small town reporter and even get Jack Sparrow and a small crew to help Pearl with her FBI problems.
Celeste and Eunice "Cee and Nessie" Ciprani think they have a good thing going. They are rich, have power and everyone fears them. Who cares if they made their money by declaring their brother dead and sending any and all kids that come into their court rooms to "camp". Millions of dollars every year noone has gotten close to uncovering or taking down these two so called Honerable Judges....Until Now!!!!

My take: it was a decent sisterhood book not the best but still good enough to read. I miss the old team of the original sisters. After all they took down Jellicoe and his operation which was huge. I don't know maybe its me but this 'new' sisterhood isn't living up to the old sisterhood sisters that I loved.
Profile Image for Amee.21.
89 reviews
October 25, 2013
It's good but not as great as the others. I really miss the involvement of the other vigilante woman. I don't care if it makes the book longer but to put in a bit more detail about Lizzie Fox handling her business vigilante style still makes it cohesive. I want to hear more about Abby/Abner even if it's just a teaser. I think the plot was awesome and the bad guys description made me feel like taking them down myself and wanted to kick the in the balls if they had any...

Dear Miss Fern Michaels,
I say this with the up most respect because I adore your books and you are a phenomenal writer. I would love your books to grow and expand in pages as your vigilantes grow and expand to bring in new characters/family and new generations in need of guidance to be prepped to earn super hero vigilante status and gold badges of course! I would read hundreds of pages if it was one of your books. Don't think we won't.

Just so you know...

Amee
3,513 reviews
October 31, 2013
The vigilante ladies are at it again and this time their focus is on two judges who are identical twins. These twins have the citizens of their town scared to go against them. They have declared their missing brother dead and stolen his lands and money. No one knew about this until a young reporter started investigating them and got run out of town. Then the ladies heard of it and said enough is enough!

I usually love the vigilante series but this one fell short. I wish Ms Michaels would include the rest of the vigilantes and not just the older women.
Profile Image for Sandy.
276 reviews
December 11, 2013
The premise is funny and somewhat interesting, although, as with many series books, this one is not one of her best.

I'm going to say something about quality rather than content. There were so many typos and extra words in sentences that I'm wondering if anyone edited or even read this book before publication.

Profile Image for Ann.
6,008 reviews83 followers
January 7, 2014
I like the sisterhood books. I also am happy that author Fern Michaels has let them age gracefully. None of their lives have been perfect, like real life, they rely on their friends to survive. Their mistakes are forgiven and they are truly a family. This book gets them back to bringing the bad guys (or ladies) to justice and they do so in style.
46 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2018
This book started out so slow I wanted to give up on it. It was 378 pages long and only the last 100 pages did it draw in my interest. My first time reading a book by Fern Michaels. I will give her one more chance but if her next book is this slow to start out with I will not be reading any more of her books.
13 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2014
Always the best of writers!

Always the best of writers!

I had a hard time putting this book down! Once again a great best seller by Fern Michaels! Hope she has another in this series soon.
Profile Image for Carol Gil.
884 reviews3 followers
September 11, 2023
Good as always!

I love Myra and Annie! Those two can do anything. They are bored with normal lives and needs a mission to keep them occupied. With Nellie, Marti and Pearl's help they do just that and found true love for Marti on the way!
Profile Image for Carole St-Laurent.
Author 54 books
April 16, 2018
Really love the way it is written. It is engaging and makes me want to read more. bUT, I trully hoped for a more satisfying ending. I the ending would have had more punch and logic for me, it would have been a 5 star book.
Profile Image for Denise.
3 reviews
January 21, 2014
As always Fern Michaels delivers! Can't wait to see where Myra & Annie will be going next@
Profile Image for Suzanne Smart.
465 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2014
Just love the sisterhood series!! Always a fun read and continue to love the characters!!!!!
8 reviews2 followers
February 12, 2014
Another book in Fern Michael's Sisterhood series. Again the women manage to stop the target from doing harm to individuals and give the town
their lives back.
Profile Image for Cynthia Sylvia.
1 review
February 17, 2014
I loved it. I loved the whole series and pray Ms. Michaels will continue on with it. It was great to see even a partial crew back together.
Profile Image for Diane Swart.
25 reviews
March 26, 2022
I really like this series. Happy to see another book in the series.
Profile Image for Lisa.
242 reviews2 followers
March 2, 2019
not as bloodthirsty as the last one.
Profile Image for Mary.
641 reviews5 followers
June 18, 2023
I've only gotten through the first few chapters of this book. I gave it three stars just because I had to give it something so that I could start writing the review. I expect that I will give it five stars when I'm finished. The reason is that I've only read a few chapters but I immediately cared about the story, about the characters, about the problem presented. I can't remember ever getting so engaged with the book so quickly.

I wanted to go ahead and start the review because I am afraid that by the time I finish reading it, I will forget how irritating the writing style is at the beginning of the book. In the first chapter alone, she introduces 16 main characters that are connected in a confusing and ambiguous web of personal and professional relationships. She gives contradicting information about who these people are, and how they are related to each other but there are huge gaps in the info.

For instance, she obviously works with a team of women to solve mysteries. In chapter 1, she refers to them as "the girls" who operate "vigilante – style". They are Nikki, Alexis, Katherine, Isabel, Yoko. But in chapter 2, she refers to this same group of women as "the Vigilantes", and lists them as Nellie, Pearl and Martine. Two entirely different lists.

Myra refers to Annie as "coming home" leaving the reader to wonder if Annie is her daughter, her sister, her mother, or a friend who lives with her. You find out in chapter 3 she actually lives 5 miles down the road.

The confusing narrative is written so that you can't always tell who is speaking, can't always tell who is being spoken to, and can't always understand who or what is being discussed. So the context doesn't give you a lot of information about who is who in this very large group of important characters . I recommend you start a character list on Page 1 -- you'll need it.
24 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2020
I really do love the older generation of the Sisterhood. They are feisty, smart and resourceful. It is good that Maggie, Ted and Espinoza are included to keep the continuity to the previous stories. In the earlier books I had a real dislike for Maggie but in the last couple of books she seems to have settled down some and is less caustic. All that being said, I miss the younger generation and would like to see them more in the storyline.
This storyline was one of the better ones and is about two identical twin female judges who have entered into a scheme to send juveniles to a particularly harsh boot camp (which they own) for even the smallest of infractions. These twins are really among the worst of humanity and deserve their fate. A new reporter is entered into the mix who provides comic relief and fits right in with Maggie, Ted and Espinoza.
Once again, the narrator does a superb job of portraying all the different characters. She makes the story come to life.
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews67 followers
April 15, 2024
I really liked this book because of all the characters were involved were in other books by Fern Michaels. For 21 books, she has made these characters become real and has kept them evolving and maturing as they made sure that justice was served. This time, it was to see that twin judges were made to pay for all the harm they did, especially to the youth of the town, by finding them guilty of charges that should never have shown up in court in the first place. They then sentences them to lengthy sentences in special "camps" that had been set up on property the judges owned and had been renting to the state for detention centers. The not-so-good thing is that some of my favorite characters are leaving or have left the group.
22 reviews
June 3, 2017
Is Justice really blind?

Another fast-paced tale from Fern Michaels, but this time the story is focused on the skills of the "second string" ladies and their supportive backup team. I thought I would miss the original Vigilantes but these ladies are just as exciting and focused on vengeance as their younger Sisters. Retirement from professional life has left them bored and itching for another mission to right wrongs and dispense their unique brand of justice. I enjoyed reading the buildup to the evil twin judges' downfall and punishment, especially as children were wrongly involved this time.
Profile Image for Lisa.
31 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2017
Another fun storyline for "The Sisterhood" ~ the Senior Citizen bunch! After hearing from a small town reporter, Maggie contacts Myra & Annie about another possible mission. There are twin judges, Celeste & Eunice Cipriani, in the town of Baywater, that sentence youth to one of four camps thst they own, and are suspected of grrtting funds from the state for these sentences. They cheated their brother out of his inheritance after proclaiming him legally dead, when he is still alive in another country on a mission. They should be going to jail for their acts, but people are so afraid of them, they won't be convicted of the suspected crimes ... until the Sisterhood gets involved!
6 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2018
Another hit

Kept my interest from page 1. These ladies never cease to amaze me. When you open the book it is like opening the door to your house and letting them all come in for coffee.
Fern Michael's writes with a paint brush. Her descriptions let you see the words as if it were a movie rather than a book. I am always anxious for the next one, in the meantime, I keep rereading the ones I have. I recommend these stories to everyone who believes in justice, the Sisters' way.
Profile Image for Kem.
1,141 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2018
A lot of conversations and planning. Maggie is back and seems to be her usual bossy self. Team 2 mostly gets together and agrees to a mission that I for one totally agree with. Twin women judges in a small town are evil. How they got away with it for so long is beyond my comprehension. Vigilante justice prevails, al, the bad girl's ill gotten money is donated or returned to the people cheated. Don't know where they ended up, but based on past books it's probably a remote jungle somewhere. Yeah!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews

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