The Mill River Redemption

Mill River #2

by Darcie Chan

New York Times bestselling author Darcie Chan returns to the enchanting town of Mill River in a heartwarming novel of family, self-discovery, and forgiveness. Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy.

Josie DiSanti is starting over. Recently widowed, she has fled her New York City home with her two young daughters—spirited Rose and shy Emily—in tow. She takes refuge in Mill River, Vermont, to live with her only remaining relative, Ivy Collard, the local bookstore owner and a woman Josie barely knows. There, the young mother and her girls build a new life for themselves—until a shocking tragedy tears the sisters apart.

Years later, Josie’s still-estranged daughters return to the quiet town for the reading of their mother’s will, which stipulates that they must work together to locate a hidden key to a safe-deposit box containing their inheritance. Even from the great beyond, it seems Josie will do anything to bring about her daughters’ reconciliation. Having no choice but to go along with their mother’s final wishes, Rose and Emily move back to Mill River for the summer to begin the search—discovering that, in the close-knit community known for magic and miracles, an even greater treasure awaits them.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Family, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult, Novels

416 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2013

About the author

Darcie Chan is the New York Times bestselling author of the eBook sensation THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE and the novels THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION and THE PROMISE OF HOME. She has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.

For fourteen years, Chan worked as an attorney drafting environmental and natural resource legislation for the U.S. Senate. She now writes fiction full time and lives north of New York City with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose und Emily sind Schwestern, die seit vielen Jahren keinen Kontakt mehr zueinander haben. Sie sind im Streit auseinandergegangen. Nun stirbt ihre Mutter, und bei der Trauerfeier begegnen die Schwestern sich wieder. Die Mutter hat in ihrem Testament eine ungewöhnliche Aufgabe für ihre Töchter verfasst, die die beiden ungleichen Schwestern wieder zueinander führen soll. Doch ist nach so vielen Jahren wirklich noch eine Versöhnung möglich?
🌸💜🌸
Mein Leseeindruck:
Die Idee hinter dieser Geschichte gefällt mir sehr gut, und auch die Umsetzung ist gelungen. Es hat mir viel Spaß gemacht, Rose und Emily zu begleiten und ihre Streitigkeiten mitzuerleben.
Die Figuren sind sehr schön ausgearbeitet, so dass ich mir von allen ein gutes Bild machen konnte. Nicht nur die Hauptprotagonisten, sondern auch die Nebenfiguren sind sehr gelungen.
Der Schreibstil ist ebenfalls sehr angenehm. Die Geschichte wechselt dabei immer zwischen Vergangenheit (ab 1983) und Gegenwart (2013), so dass der Leser ganz langsam ein immer besseres Bild über die Geschehnisse erhält.
Was mir eher weniger gut gefallen hat, ist das Ende der Geschichte. Ich kann es nicht direkt ansprechen, denn damit würde ich zu viel verraten. Aber diesen einen bestimmten Punkt konnte ich nicht nachvollziehen und nicht gutheißen.
Dennoch hatte ich viel Freude an der Geschichte und habe das Lesen sehr genossen. Ein schönes und wirklich lesenswertes Buch!

[Aditi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, what a joke, all throughout the book, I got a feeling that this book is going to win over my heart and will be one of my favorite books. But alas the ending turns out to be such a joke! I almost laughed. Surprisingly, the complex ending didn't make me feel emotional at all.

Thank you Darcie Chan for your book, The Mill River Redemption.

But unfortunately, the book failed to spark up any interest in me! Last4-5 chapters were a complete disaster to such a great plot. When I started reading the book, I was so overwhelmed that immediately, I feel for the book, but it started to drag near the end, and the end totally left me disappointed.

It's about two sisters who are estranged due to a stupid circumstance or rather say due to unfortunate fate. And their mother, their only living parent is trying every end to patch them up, even if she had to kill herself.

What's the point of that Claudia and Kyle character or Miss Daisy character? They totally crowed the plot and I felt their presence was so pointless, I mean literally nothing came out of them.

Emily and Rose had always been close, but when an alcoholic Rose goes to pick up Emily's fiancé, they meet with a deadly accident that leave Emily's fiancé as dead and Emily and Rose's relationship as estranged. Their real estate business mother, Josie is trying very hard to make things right between them, but with no luck. But when Josie passes away suddenly, and mentioning on her will about a treasure hunt, it seems that things started to look hopeful between Emily and Rose. But Rose is an alcoholic, who can't get a hold of herself. And Emily is the only one trying. But when Rose's 9year old son, Alex meets with an accident, Rose is accepting her guilt and is trying for forgiveness. But it sounds like it’s too late for forgiveness from anyone in her life.

Well the good thing is that the characters apart from that Miss Daisy and Claudia, everyone is so spunky and well-developed and is quite believable. The plot in the beginning is also quite solid. Even the flow of narration was fantastic. The author knows how to draw her readers in to the story. And also she has addressed many sensitive issues like addiction, stealing, dieting etc and she has handled them quite brilliantly. Have you ever heard of a priest who steals spoons? Yeah I know sounds fun and unusual! Well I felt that reading this story is quite important since it enlightens us about some great family values and at times, while I was reading about the bickering of the two sisters, I got emotional along that way. And also the mind-blowing twist that the author delivered at the end of the book was though not touching, but it was delivered with right pace and right momentum and just at the right moment.

Verdict: Do read this book for its full-of-life characters! A 9-year old Alex simply stole the show!

PS: Mill River is a fictional town in a very real state, Vermont.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josie DiSanti moves after losing her husband in a fire that burned down the house to the little town of Mill River with her two small children, Rose, and Emily, to live with her aunt Ivy.  As they grown up the girls are inseparable but a terrible accident tears them apart. Years later they return to the town for the reading of their mother’s testament.  They learn that Josie will do anything to reconcile her two daughters. The sisters must move into neighboring houses during the summer and work together to find Josie’s safe deposit box which contains their inheritance...

I got a chance to read Darcie Chen's “The Mill River Redemption”, her second book after “The Mill River Recluse”. I have not read the first book, but I don’t feel that you need to, even though I must say I am a bit tempted.

This is not the usual book I go for. But I felt intrigued when I read what the book was about. About a small little town, a town where everyone knows everyone and two sisters that have to return to fulfill their mother's last will to be able to inherit. But nothing is easy; they haven’t spoke to each other for years and something putting two people together that are angry with each other can cause blowups.

In the book, we follow Josie in the 1980-90s building a life for herself and her children parallel with her children as grownups coming back to town and trying to find the key to the safe deposit box. I liked it at the same time you get to know the people in the past you also get to know them as grownups and, in the end, the past story reveals why they are estranged.

Rose and Emily are very different, Rose is superficial and Emily is down to earth. And there we have my biggest problem with the book. Emily is the good and Rose the bad daughter.  The story is written so you will feel for Emily always, it is she who got hurt, and it is she who always does the right thing. After a while, it feels like everything Rose does is to hurt everyone around here. Of course, it could be the alcohol talking, she is alcoholic, but I don’t buy it all the way. By always making it Rose’s fault then the book loses a bit of a credibility because not everyone is perfect and not everyone is bad. And I feel that the book had been better if they both had been portrayed with flaws instead of just Rose.

But besides that, I mostly enjoyed the book. It was a bit weird reading about Claudia and Kyle in the book, at first, I didn’t understand why there were chapters about their life in the middle of the story about Emily and Rose, but I figured that their story had something to do with the first book and I was right.

I received a free copy of this book from Brown Book Group in exchange for an honest review, thank you! I also want to thank Brown Book Group for letting me participate in the "The Mill River Redemption blog tour"! 

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
The only thing I needed to know about The Mill River Redemption before deciding to read it was that it’s perfect Maeve Binchy's fans. Trust me, that’s pretty much all you need to know as well, but here, I’ll share a few more details about this marvelous read just to be safe. What can I say, I’m generous like that.

It’s quite obvious that I’m a huge Maeve Binchy fan, and now I’m a huge Darcie Chan as well. Her prose is elegant and rich with emotion, her setting warm and familiar and the characters… oh, those characters. There are no words, even from a linguist like myself.

Chan paints Mill River to absolute perfection: not only the streets and the buildings, but the charming little community as well. This is her second book in this little town, a companion novel of sorts that can function very well as a standalone. (I myself have not read the first book yet.) As I understand, some of the secondary characters had a more important role in the previous book and the community was well established long before now.

The narrative itself jumps back and forth in time between 1983, when the newly widowed Josie arrived to Mill River with her two small daughters; and 2013, when she died and left a will designed to force the estranged sisters to communicate. The entire story is told in third person, from multiple perspectives, and the feel of it is similar to old realism authors like Flaubert and Balzac, without the excruciating details, of course. I’d go so far as to say that Mill River Redemption reads like classic literature in many ways,

The title says it all, I suppose. This is a story about two sisters’ long journey in different directions and back again. After years apart, Emily and Rose are forced to spend time together by their dead mother’s last wish, but years of silence aren’t so easy to overcome. Chan doesn’t give us easy solutions, though, nor does she offer absolutes. Forgiveness is hard to give, but often even harder to receive.

I was thoroughly impressed by Rose, not her actions or her personality, but the fabulous complexity of her character. It takes great courage to seek forgiveness, and Rose simply lacked that courage for the longest time so she chose to hide behind meanness and snide remarks. I felt that her inner battles and motivations were far more difficult to comprehend than Emily’s and I enjoyed solving the puzzle that was Rose Frye.

Please allow me to make this quite clear, even at the risk of repeating myself: Darcie Chan’s The Mill River Redemption is a wonderfully warm and elegant read, a book to be enjoyed with a blanket and a cup of hot tea. It’s very easy to surrender your heart to these characters – mine has yet to recover from the experience.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars
When widowed Josie DiSanti fled from New York, she still lived for years with fear that she and her two young daughters would be found. The year is 1983 They flee after a house fire from which Josie manages to save young Rose and Emily.They head to Mill River to live with Aunt Ivy., in Vermont. Ivy Collard, their only living relative, is owner of the local bookstore. Rose and Emily are close growing up but then a tragedy tears them apart. They can’t even bear to look at each other, much less talk to each other. When they are informed of their mother’s death, they find a peculiar term in her will. Josie has left directions that they work together to locate a key that will unlock their inheritance. Rose has her son Alex , nine year old with her, while husband Sheldon is out of work and looking for a job back in New York. Emily has never married and has no children. She would love to get to know her nephew Alex but Rose is blocking all attempts to do so.So will these sisters ever be able to work together and find the treasure Josie has them working towards?
This is a story of family, community, friendships, addiction in several different forms of which alcoholism is just one, and a romance or two. So a lot happening. The story moves between the 1980s and into 2013.
I admit to finding the story interesting though some of the behaviour of certain family members is hard to comprehend. There are some interesting characters, none more so that the wise beyond his years Alex. Aunt Ivy and Father O'Brien, are just a couple of the lovely characters and Daisy is a quirky addition.but it is Alex who is guaranteed to steal the heart.
I thought the ending and epilogue was a bit abrupt and in some ways a bit bizarre.
This is book 2 in a series about Mill River, but I read it as a stand alone, and it works fine. Enjoyable but not entirely convinced by the characters and their behaviour.

[Melinda Borie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was the literary equivalent of a Lifetime movie. I could almost hear the generic sentimental score.

Small town family drama? Check. Long-separated prodigal sisters? Check. A hurt over a decade old? Check. Addiction? Check. Tragically dead persons of various emotional attachments? Check. A precocious but neglected child? Check. Constant (over)use of the phrase "love of [her] life"? Check. Shoddy characterization of stock characters? So check.

Glurge.

Oh, and the subplot about the elementary school teacher who used to be fat and is now insecure about losing the Love of Her Life to the hot new girl in town? I'm just going to hop a train to the nice northern city of Nope, population: me. Jealousy of other women is a tired cliche, and body issues require a bit more subtlety than the blunt instrument of this novel's prose.

The book was so predictable for the first 90% of it that I did experience slight delight when I came to the plot twist, but it was mostly of a malicious nature, because with it came the revelation that all the characters in the novel are evil, and they deserve to be inflicted on one another utterly.

[Angela M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep coming across books that are about the adult children of a sick or dead or dying parent coming home to eventually make amends with each other or reconcile in some way with their pasts. They all seem to follow the same formula - they go home and through flashbacks or alternating narratives we find out what happened to break them apart. Then comes the realization that they are family and that's all that matters. They kiss and make up .So what made me want to read this one? I really liked The Mill River Recluse so I thought why not go back to that little town.

It's an easy read about how a mother will do anything to bring her estranged daughters back together.The story moves between the past and present and it isn't until about 3/4 through we learn what caused the rift between Rose and Emily. A tragic accident separates them and another accident is what brings them together in the end. There was a twist towards the end that I have to admit I didn't see coming. However, for the most part the story was predictable.

If you enjoyed The Mill River Recluse you should read this book. You'll find some of the wonderful characters from that book appear here- the kleptomaniac, but loyal friend Father O'Brien , sweet , innocent Daisy and while the inimitable Mary McAllister doesn't make an appearance , her kindness towards strangers who need help plays a big role in helping Josie and her daughters when they first arrive in Mill River. after the death of Josie's husband. I gave it three stars because of these endearing characters.

Thanks to Random House Group - Ballentine and NetGalley

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this great book! Thank you Judy Collins and Random House!

This is my first Darcie Chan novel and what a well written gem! I have not read The Mill River Recluse but did not feel like I missed anything in this novel. The Miller River Redemption explores tragedy, family love, and redemption in the charming town of Mill River, Vermont. Truly enjoyed this heartwarming story with a bit of twist I did not see coming. Recommended if you like to read about small town life and self-discovery.

[Jill Tool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darcie Chan has written a wonderful novel again. She has returned to her cozy little town of Mill River, Vermont, to catch up with some of the locals that were introduced in the first book, The Mill River Recluse and to hear Josie DiSanti's story. Don't worry if you haven't read the first book, you won't be lost when reading Redemption.

Josie DiSanti is a young mother of two little girls Rose and Emily. After losing her husband, their home to a fire, Josie calls her mother's older sister Ivy. Neither Ivy nor Josie know each other to well, but Ivy is the only family that Josie has, and Ivy who has never been married or had children of her own, takes Josie and the girls in without hesitation.

Josie, with Ivy's help raises the girls on her own, while also providing for them as a real estate broker. Josie loves her girls and is determine to keep her promise to her late husband Tony. The girls are more than sister's, they are each other's support, protector, friend and most importantly, they love each other. Then one day tragedy happens and the girls become estranged from one another. Josie is caught in the middle of this and tries everything she can to get the girls to come together again.

When Josie passes away, both girls find themselves back in Mill River for their mother's wake. Neither one talking to the other one after ten years. Josie attorney, informs the girls that their mother has left both of them an inheritance, but in order for them to get it, they both have to move back to Mill River for two months, live next door to each other in the houses that Josie has provided for them, and work together to figure out the clues that are left for them that will lead them to their inheritance. Neither girls want to live next to each other let alone move back to Mill River to be reminded of that awful day that pushed to sister apart.

Like the first book, this one did not let me down. If your a fan of Maeve Binchy or Karen White, then you'll soon become a fan of Darcie Chan, who is able to draw you into her little town of Mill River. So grab a cup of coffe or hot tea, pull up a chair and meet the incredible people from Mill River, Vermont. Who knows, you might make a friend or two.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....


While The Mill River Redemption was a really engrossing read, I am still not sure I really liked it. From the very beginning it was clear that Rose was, frankly, a bitch. She almost seemed like a caricature of a bad soap opera character. As much as I disliked her, I liked Emily. Much more even keeled and likable. Then there is little Alex, Rose's young son. He is the complete opposite of his mother and I was thrilled to see the relationship building between him and his Aunt Emily. I also loved their Aunt Ivy and the little bookshop across the street, really, the whole setting of Mill River is quaint and charming and really my favorite thing about the book. The story is told in both the past and present, so you can see the personalities of the sisters developing into who they are today, all leading up to the tragic event that changed them both forever. After the "tragic event" is revealed another terrifying event happens that kind of forces everything to wrap up nicely and I think that is where my biggest issue lies. It was just so bizarre the way things wrapped up. Among other reveals, Rose seems to receive a personality transplant and it just didn't seem to sit right with me.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the sound of The Mill River Redemption and having never read any novels by Darcie Chan, I was particularly excited to start it to discover Darcie’s writing.

Recently widowed Josie DiSanti has fled New York City with her two young daughters Rose and Emily, arriving in Mill River, Vermont, to take refuge and live with her only remaining relative, Ivy Collard. Ivy is a bookseller and a woman who Josie barely knows. As they build a new life for themselves, there is a socking tragedy that tears the sisters apart. Years later, Josie passes away and her still-estranged daughters return to the quiet town of Mill River to hear their mother’s will, which stipulates that they must work together to locate a hidden key to a safe-deposit box containing their inheritance. Having no choice but to follow their mother’s wishes, Emily and Rose move back to Mill River to begin their search – can they find the hidden key? And what else will they discover too?

I REALLY loved this. I had no idea what to expect but I was drawn in straight away and my attention was held throughout. I really liked Ivy and her bookstore, and I really enjoyed getting to know her and Josie throughout the past sections. I was very intrigued to find out about what had driven Emily and Rose apart, and I constantly wanted to read on to discover what they would find on their search and if this would bring them closer together.

I particularly loved the setting of Mill River…after reading about it I really wish I could move there and I know I would live a happy life there. Mill River is a stunning and beautiful little town which is really full of community spirit, love, and has a touch of magic too it too. Darcie really brought Mill River to life and I could picture it clearly in my mind.



The Mill River Redemption is a very captivating story, set in a beautiful town with fascinating characters, and I am looking forward to reading more from Darcie Chan.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written and emotional family drama with a hint of mystery to it, I absolutely loved this story, character driven and intriguing with a wonderful sense of place and time.

It was easy to immerse myself in this world as the story ebbed and flowed backwards and forwards in time to give a picture of a family – Josie brings her children to Mill River, escaping from something, we are not sure what and over the course of time settles in and becomes an integral part of the community. Sisters Rose and Emily are inseperable but something goes horribly wrong and when we meet them at their mothers funeral, they have not been together for many years. Forced into communication by the terms of Josie’s will, a voyage of discovery begins for these two girls, one that is fascinating and emotive and will keep you turning the pages desperate to know the outcome.

There is a beautiful depth and complexity to the characters here, a story of forgiveness and redemption – neither of which are easy – and Ms Chan does not offer simple straightforward solutions but rather allows her characters to speak, to learn, to develop and accept over the course of events and the passing of time.

The best things about this book for me were firstly the true sense of community within this town that the author conveys – a place I would love to live and is now as real to me as anywhere I’ve experienced in real life. Added to that were some eclectic and wonderful supporting characters – who I believe get more of a story in Ms Chan’s first novel, The Mill River Recluse, which I must go back and read. Overall this gave a realism and quirky edge to a really graceful story.

Captivating throughout, often charming, always emotional, this was a heartfelt tale elegantly told. Highly Recommended.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I fell in love with this story, the author, the town, and the characters!"

THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION, a beautiful and heartwarming novel, set in the quaint town of Mill River. A poignant story of a mother’s sacrifice to reconnect her two estranged daughters, (Emily and Rose), after a tragic accident.

If you read THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE, you will not want to miss, THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION!

WOW, I had no idea what was in store, when I requested to read thsi book, via NetGalley! I was initially attracted to the inviting, yet mysterious front cover; however, what I discovered, when I began reading, was so much more, A Treasured Gem!

Due to a horrible tragedy, Josie, a single mom arrives in Vermont from New York, in the middle of the night with two daughters to care for. She has to start over, with the help and support of her Aunt Ivy (owner of the town’s bookstore—many lovely book titles and quotes mentioned which literary fans will adore), and this angel, Mary, who lived on the hill - secretly gave gifts even after her death with the help of Father O’Brien. Readers will learn more about Mary in the first book, THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE.

Josie works hard to rebuild her life from no possessions, to a successful Realtor/Broker in town, making a real home for herself and her two daughters.

She never tells her young daughters the circumstances surrounding the death of their father, the tragedy and the FBI involvement, except the house fire, until readers learn more later in the book.

As the two daughters mature through their teens, Emily is more of the talented, good girl, and Rose, a rebellious teen, causing many heartaches for her family and mother. After yet another tragedy, due to Rose’s alcoholism, Emily and Rose’s world fall apart, and the sisters become estranged. Josie, the mother has spent years attempting to reconcile this family bond between her two daughters, unsuccessfully.

There are many dark and hidden secrets, which will keep you on the edge, with page-turning suspense, as they are not divulged until the last part of the book (no spoilers here). When you reach this part, you will understand why the author chose to keep things hidden—for an unbelievable and surprising climax!

During the time when Josie’s estranged daughters return to the quiet town for the reading of their mother’s will, with a lot of crazy items filled with stipulations and clues,they are forced to work together to locate a hidden key to her safe-deposit box containing their inheritance.

Emily moves from San Francisco (she has lost Andy, her fiancé) dog, hardly no possessions, and is a talented glasswork artist, and freelances with home renovations (readers will sympathize with this character).

On the other hand, Rose the older sister, an alcoholic, and very materially minded, selfish, New York apartment, and cushy lifestyle, (not so great mother) of her son, Alex, who is brilliant and not allowed to experience a boys' life, and her older husband who has lost his job, and on the verge of losing their New York Apartment, unless Rose gets this inheritance.

The two sisters are given two homes, across from the bookstore. Some fun and cruel games between these two sisters, forced to live next to one another, which will keep you laughing! Most of the time Rose is passed out drunk on the sofa and forces her son Alex to find the clues, and read the books, where clues may be found, while her husband is back in New York trying to find a job.

Rose is supposed to be working with Emily to solve the mystery, however, she does not cooperate. Emily is the one making the effort, while out working, to keep money coming in, and trying to find the clues necessary before the deadline. Even from the beyond, the mother, Josie will try anything for her daughter’s reconciliation, even to the extremes.

A bittersweet journey, of finding your way back, forgiveness, family dynamics, motherhood, self-discovery, and overcoming addictions such as alcoholism-- which get in the way--difficult lessons, in order to bring us back to those we love. There are other addictions and compulsions mentioned in the book as well with outside appearances, eating, stealing, and insecurities.

I loved the character Josie, as a strong loving woman sacrificing her time and love, to make a real home for her family after the tragic death of her husband, losing all her possessions.

There is reference to the character, Mary McAllister throughout the book, and plans for turning the old mansion into a B&B, by the new owners, as well as other background information. Hoping for another book in the series if they open the B&B, with this lovable cast of characters, as too good to end.

THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION characters are ones you will not soon forget, after the book ends. A close knit enchanting town full of magic, miracles, and redemption--people with big hearts, and a series I would highly recommend. Fans of Jan Karon’s Midford Series – will love this series).

Even though REDEMPTION may be read as a standalone, you will want to read RECLUSE (6/17/14), as could not wait to find out more about these characters--- this beautiful mansion and the lives and mysterious background of these unselfish, giving, and thoughtful characters: Father Michael O’Brien and Mary McAllister, set on a hilltop, overlooking the city in this quaint town of Vermont. (Another 5 star winner!) Would highly recommend reading both books.

I look forward to reading more from this newfound author, which has made it to my "favorite author list!"

A special thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


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[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bookstore, mothers, sisters, aunts, family secrets.

THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION is a wonderful, cozy, book that combines family, the love of books, and a small town and turns all of those into a book you won't want to stop reading.

Josie DiSantis had to move ​from New York ​back to her roots in Mill River, Vermont, after her husband was killed in a fire that destroyed their home. Luckily she and her daughters survived and had a loving aunt to take them in.

Mill River is a town that I would LOVE to live in. It seemed to be the perfect place to grow up, the perfect place to raise your children, and the perfect place to return to.

The only thing that wasn't perfect was the relationship between Josie's daughters, Rose and Emily. Something happened that tore their once close, sisterly relationship apart and had them estranged for years.

Josie tried to get them to reconcile all during her life and even after her death. Josie had devised a perfect plan described in her will that would hopefully bring the girls back together. Would this work? Nothing else had.

Josie was a strong character, Aunt Ivy was all the warmth anyone could ask for, and Rose and Emily were total opposites. Mill River and its residents knew everyone's business, but the town had the kindest folks ever.

I really enjoyed THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION because of the homey storyline and the beautifully described characters.

This is the first book I have read by Darcie Chan, and her writing style is inviting, descriptive, and simply superb.

I didn't want to stop reading because I wanted to see how the plan Josie devised was working out as well as wanting to be a part of that town with all those delightful residents.

Don't miss reading THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION if you like cozy, heartwarming reads.

This is going to be one of my FAVORITE reads of this year. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to spend more time with the characters. :) Even the cover is alluring and captivating. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel that catch your attention immediately with powerful emotions There Josie with a strong desire to protect her daughters from any harm. Rose and Emily the daughters. Rose is self center and outgoing. Emily is shy and covering for Rose. Ivy, the aunt who takes them in when they had nowhere else to go. Father O'Brien who has problems. Several other minor characters. The book is hard to put down so start when have time to finished.
Josie and her daughters meet Ivy in New York after a fire that kill her husband took everything they own. The police told Josie to leave town and tell one where they have gone. Rose and Emily are 4 and 2 years at the time. Ivy, an aunt Josie only living relative takes to Mill River. Josie and Ivy have never meet before. On Christmas Day Josie receives a key to a house and a sum of money to furnished it from a stranger. Two years later Josie receives a letter from New York and she relaxes and goes out to work. You follow Rose and Emily as they grow up. After an accident they are no longer speaking. The twist and turns will keep you on edge until the end. There is a surprise that I didn't see coming. I will definitely read more by this author.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Ballantine Books through Netgalley for an honest review. Thanks ffor the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.

[Deborah aka Reading Mom · Rating 1 out of 5]

I seem to remember liking the first book by Darcie Chan (The Mill River Recluse) a few years ago and thought this one might be a nice follow-up. I read a lot of fiction and have no problem suspending belief if a plot is well-written and characters are engaging and interesting. This book, however, was just drivel. The plot was ridiculous, the characters selfish, dysfunctional, (to a cartoonish degree) and totally unlikeable. I can't believe an entire book full of characters could really act so childishly, with absolutely no degree of communication skills. They had tantrums at the speed of two year olds, never stopping to actually use a brain cell in contemplation of solving problems in a reasonable, adult manner. I am so glad I only borrowed this one through Overdrive rather than wasting money on it.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the sound of The Mill River Redemption and having never read any novels by Darcie Chan, I was particularly excited to start it to discover Darcie’s writing.

Recently widowed Josie DiSanti has fled New York City with her two young daughters Rose and Emily, arriving in Mill River, Vermont, to take refuge and live with her only remaining relative, Ivy Collard. Ivy is a bookseller and a woman who Josie barely knows. As they build a new life for themselves, there is a socking tragedy that tears the sisters apart. Years later, Josie passes away and her still-estranged daughters return to the quiet town of Mill River to hear their mother’s will, which stipulates that they must work together to locate a hidden key to a safe-deposit box containing their inheritance. Having no choice but to follow their mother’s wishes, Emily and Rose move back to Mill River to begin their search – can they find the hidden key? And what else will they discover too?

I REALLY loved this. I had no idea what to expect but I was drawn in straight away and my attention was held throughout. I really liked Ivy and her bookstore, and I really enjoyed getting to know her and Josie throughout the past sections. I was very intrigued to find out about what had driven Emily and Rose apart, and I constantly wanted to read on to discover what they would find on their search and if this would bring them closer together.

I particularly loved the setting of Mill River…after reading about it I really wish I could move there and I know I would live a happy life there. Mill River is a stunning and beautiful little town which is really full of community spirit, love, and has a touch of magic too it too. Darcie really brought Mill River to life and I could picture it clearly in my mind.



The Mill River Redemption is a very captivating story, set in a beautiful town with fascinating characters, and I am looking forward to reading more from Darcie Chan.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mediocre writing, characters, and plot define this poorly paced and predictable novel. The story begins in the 1980s when recently widowed Josie and her two young daughters, Rose and Emily, move to Mill River, Vermont to live with an aunt she barely knows. The alternating chapters are in present day, after Josie dies and requires her now-feuding-adult daughters to live next door to each other and work together to solve a clever little mystery game to earn their inheritance.

Eventually, while his mother Rose is in an alcoholic stupor, Josie’s grandson Alex falls out of the tree he has climbed to retrieve the key (literally) to the mystery, and suffers a near-fatal head injury. It is then revealed that Josie is alive and set the whole thing up to bring her daughters back together. To this, I can only echo the most well-written sentence in the entire book: “What the FUCK, Mom?!”

Despite that the themes are not pre-teen, it felt like this book was written for that audience. The writing was completely without nuance; with the author spelling out in painful detail every squirm-inducing thought that went through the mind of each character, rather than conveying them through actions and dialogue. Furthermore, the major adult characters all behaved as if they were about 12 (this might be unfair, and if so I apologize to 12-year-olds everywhere). I did appreciate the presumably unintentional comedy gold about two-thirds of the way through the book when it was revealed that the kindly aging village priest was a kleptomaniac with a fetish for silver spoons. I would not have finished this book except that I received an ARC from netgalley and felt obligated to read and review it. I always appreciate the opportunity to do this, and wish that I had better things to say about this book.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was hooked on it from the first page, and it didn't disappoint at all. I found myself becoming emotionally invested in the characters, and torn between reading as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen, and trying to slow down to make the book last longer. The ending completely floored me, but I won't reveal so I don't spoil it! If you love stories about sisters and family, this is definitely the book for you. I would give it 100 stars if I could!

[Melanie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading the Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan and was thrilled to find out she has written a sequel, using some of the other characters from the first book. This is still a great stand alone book if you haven't read the first one. Two estranged sisters come back to Mill River because of their mother's death and find out that they have to solve a "riddle" and find a hidden key together before they can receive their inheritance. Without giving too much away, they work to find forgiveness in a seemingly impossible situation. This was a great book - one I could not put down!

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mill River Redemption” belongs to books that leave me speechless for a long time after reading them. This novel was a perfection in every single detail and I find it really hard to write a review that is going to do this book a justice. Thank you so much Clara for offering me this book to read and review, you really do know my tastes!

I was not aware before I was sent the book that there is a first book in the series, „The Mill River Recluse” and now I desperately want to read it as well! Though you can read „Redemption” easily as a stand – alone novel.



JosieDiSanti has lost her husband and house in the fire and we meet her when she and her two little daughters Rose and Emily are on their escape from New York to Josie`s only living relative, her mother’s sister Ivy, to Mill River. Ivy has her own bookshop and decides to take her niece in although they don’t know each other at all.

Josie and the girls easily settle to their new life in Mill River, and it’s also thanks to an anonymous person, who tends to help people of Mill River in their hour of need. Josie gets a house across the street from Ivy and the life goes on, with Josie starting to train to be a real estate agent after the girls went to school. But when the girls are adults, a tragedy happens, a tragedy that tears the sisters apart for years.

Fast – forward some years on and we meet the sisters and Ivy at Josie’s funeral. Desperate to bring her daughters together even from beyond her grave, Josie writes a will. Rose and Emily will get their inheritance but first they must move to Mill River again and work together for clues that are going to allow them to obtain the inheritance.

Is this possible to bring the girls together at all? Are they able to work on their differences and their grudge? Would it be possible for them to find the hidden key? What else are they going to discover?



Darcie can wonderfully describe the dynamics of the family, the feelings between the family members and she doesn’t left any doubt why the bonds look like this. And she also perfectly writes characters that you love or love to hate, which was a case with me. I had a problem with Rose from the very beginning, she seemed to me to be a very cold, very unhappy, very dissatisfied woman and what I learnt through the book only confirmed me in my belief. In my eyes she and only she was to blame for a life that she had, she wanted to be so independent, she was too proud to ask for help or admit defeat. But on the other hand there was more to Rose than our eyes saw. She carried a great amount of guilt in herself.

I was looking for any flaws in Emily but didn’t find any. She’s down – to – earth, very lovely character and to be honest, I didn’t suppose that she can hold to her traumas so long. She was easy – going and open to the world and I guess you couldn’t not like her.

I admired Josie. We get to know her as a helpless, heartbroken widow and tell our goodbyes later to a strong, successful woman. I adored her determination to make the girls’ life better and at ease and really admired how far ahead she went to show her daughters what is important in life.

There was a bunch of other brilliant characters in the book as well. Ivy was a great aunt and friend, Daisy was so good – natured, Father O’Brien with his hidden secret, they were all written in a fantastic, vivid way and added so much warmth to the whole story. It wouldn’t be the same book without them all. But I still am not sure about the plot with Claudia and the young police officer. Yes, of course, they were a part of some scenes, and while Kyle was in some ways significant to the story, I couldn’t really place Claudia. The way she was described and the way some of the chapters were dedicated to her I was sure she’s going to be an important part of the story, of the plot but in my eyes, she was not. Hers served maybe as a kind of a getaway, a breath of fresh air between the drama developing.

The characters are very mobile, they all grow up and develop in this book, they are complex and they’re just popping out of the pages to embrace you and drag you into their lives.



The things that the sister did to each other as a revenge were ridiculously funny! I guess I would never hit upon such ideas. Of course it hurts to see that, firstly, they did such things, and secondly, that they could only see the way to solve the problems through police.

The setting of the story, Mill River, couldn’t be better. Darcie describes it as a friendly, charming town, full of nice people, people helping each other, town where the biggest misdemeanour was to destroy someone’s lawn or cut the tires in someone’s car . And this all actually after the sisters moved into the town…



I was immediately drawn into the story, into the drama and the mystery puzzle. There was not a single flat moment in this book, the tension was palpable through the whole story. We gradually learn that there happened something very tragic in the past, something that brought the two sisters apart but Darcie keeps us in uncertainty what it was almost till the end, but I must tell that waiting for this secret to be revealed didn’t spoil the reading at all. There are some books when you wait, and wait, and wait for something important to be told and the waiting makes you desperate and bored but it was absolutely not the case here, there was so much happening in this book, drama intertwined with humour and there were many twists and turns to keep your attention the whole time.

The story jumps back and forth in time, and it starts in 1983 with Josie’s arrival, and takes us on a journey to 2013, when she unexpectedly dies. In between we get to know Josie, Ivy and the girls, and learn about how they settled in the town, and how their lives looked life, with the girls going to kindergarten and school, with the girls growing. The sisters couldn’t be more different, they’re like chalk and cheese, and it was visible from the very beginning. Rose, the wilder one, the one so seeking independence, is now a wife with a rich husband and a very intelligent, young son, who in fact helps her to resolve the mystery. But apart of the inheritance Rose has a lot of other problems, starting with her husband, his job and ending with alcohol. Emily, on the other hand, is a carpe diem type of girl, she doesn’t have a firm, solid place, she moves a lot and appearances are not as important for her as they are to Rose. She drives old car (you wouldn’t see Rose in such one), she has a dog (Rose hates dog), she feeds birds (birds are full of bacteria and germs for Rose) and can do things that usually no other girls do: plumbing, repairing cars, changing the tyres… Such things. The day of her mother’s funeral is the first day that she sees her nephew Alex. The time gap let us to catch on all the development the characters undergo, I especially loved how Josie blossomed, from the widow in despair to a very successful businesswoman.



The story is told in third person, from very different point of views, but everything is clear and wonderfully explained and described, no confusions here. Written in a very captivating, elegant and tender way, it has you rooting for the characters and wanting to desperately know what’s going to happen. And it has one of the biggest twists in the books. Period.



This book was perfect in every single detail. The characters, the descriptions, the plot, and that every thread has found its end, and it left me feel so satisfied and content. I have found answers to all my questions. I love when authors don’t choose the easy way to write the book and make it complex and complicated, and they don’t keep out of difficult situations to put the characters through. That was the case here and I have enjoyed the read through and through, I actually couldn’t put it down and some of you know that it’s really hard for me to find time to read as much as I’d like. Well, I finished this book in two days. It was unputdownable, I found myself obsessing about the story and I only wanted to dive into it again. It’s my sure bet, this book, and I would heartily recommend it to you to read it as soon as you can.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming tale about bringing two sisters back together after years of not speaking. I liked the way chapters alternated between past and present day.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mill River Redemption by Darcie Chan is one of the better books that I have read in a long time. The story revolves around a family that lives in Mill River and the tough times and happy times they experience.

Josie DiSanti and her two young daughters, Rose and Emily move to Mill River after Josie’s husband dies in a house fire. She is running away from the person responsible for her husband’s death. They move in with Aunt Ivy, even though Josie does not really know her Aunt that well. Josie and her family adjust to life in the small town community and feel that they belong. After a tragedy occurs in their lives, the sisters have a falling out and they have nothing to do with each other. Both move away from the town and lead their own lives. When their mother suddenly dies, Rose and Emily must move back to Mill River and live next door to each other to solve a riddle if they want their inheritance. Their mother has placed two clues in their respective houses that will lead them to the key to their inheritance. To say things are volatile between the sisters would be an understatement.

There are really two stories told in The Mill River Redemption. The first is what happens in the past and the second is what happens in the present. The chapters pretty much alternate between the past and present. I really enjoyed this technique of storytelling. The writing style flows easily and the book is an easy read.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and very human. They display many positive and negative traits and sometimes I loved them and sometimes I really disliked them. Throughout the entire book I cared what happened to them and became invested in them. The writing style is very descriptive, whether talking about the small town or the emotions that the characters are feeling, and I really enjoyed that.

It seems that some authors are able to write a book that creates a real connection with their readers. This was the case for me while I read The Mill River Redemption. I was drawn into the book from the very first page until the very last page and I am very happy that I found this book to read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a heartwarming story about life. This could be read by young adults as well as an older reader. I have not read any other books by this author but I plan on reading the first book in the series, The Mill River Recluse. And I will be waiting patiently for book three. Treat yourself to a great read and get both of the books in the series. You will not be sorry.

[Dannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a member of the From Left to Write online book club. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

You can read this review on my site here.

Darcie Chan returns to Mill River, Vermont to share the story of Josie, Rose, and Emily DiSanti, in her new release, The Mill River Redemption. Digging into a theme of family love and the bonds that hold family together, the DiSanti family struggles to overcome a tragedy that has ripped two sisters apart. You will have a difficult time putting this book down.

Returning to Mill River, you will find familiar characters from Darcie’s first novel, The Mill River Recluse. However, if you've not had the opportunity to read The Mill River Recluse (like me), no worries! The Mill River Redemption is a stand alone novel, so you will feel completely at home reading without worrying that you've missed important details. The DiSanti story is very much it’s own.

The Mill River Redemption flows well and is a very easy read. I never found myself bored, or skimming through pages, and definitely never felt the need to put the book aside and come back later. It was quite the opposite; I had to force myself to put the book down my very first day.

Josie DiSanti is a widowed mother of two that has decided to move her young family to Mill River, Vermont after a tragic incident claimed her husband. Moving in with her only living family member, aunt Ivy, Josie begins to rebuild her life and give her daughters, Rosie and Emily, the family life she believes they need.

Although the two daughters have a close bond as children and teens, Rosie and Emily are two sides of a coin. As young adults, tragedy strikes the DiSanti family breaking the bond of the two sisters. Estranged well into adulthood, Josie is determined to bring her once-close daughters back together, even if it’s her final wish.

The DiSanti story is told through both current actions and flashbacks, but is in no way confusing or choppy. Darcie did a great justice to each character by developing a solid story for each. I didn't feel that I had to re-read areas of the story to understand a character or understand their path in the overall story line.

I will tell you… it was definitely not the ending I was expecting.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estranged Sisters Search for Their Inheritance

When their mother, Josie, dies, Emily and Rose return to Mill River for the reading of the will. The sisters have been estranged because of something that happened many years ago. In the will they are chagrined to learn that their mother's stipulates they must cooperate with each other to find the key to a safety deposit box that will hold their inheritance.

Although the main plot is ploy to get the sisters back together, a secondary plot involves Josie bringing her two young daughters to Mill River to live with her aunt Ivy after her husband dies in a mysterious accident. Toggling back and forth between the plots gives us the background for why the sisters are estranged as well as why the death of their father was so traumatic.

The setting is a great escape. Mill River is exactly the sort of small town you might choose if you were looking for a place to heal. The characters, particularly Ivy and Father O'Brien, bring life to the story. The plot revolves around the destructiveness of lies and alcoholism, both of which are good topics, but it feels thin. The author tries to keep your interest by doling out tidbits about why the sisters are estranged and what happened to their father, but it feels like a way to drag out the story.

It's an easy book to read. I recommend it if you like stories about small town life and secrets.

I reviewed this book for Net Galley.

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read Mill River Recluse and I absolutely loved it. I couldn't wait to read Mill River Redemption. I pre-ordered this book however sad to say I was disappointed. The story line had so many unnecessary twists. As I read the story I was kept wondering "what drove the sisters apart?" and "what as the mystery surrounding the death of Josie's husband?". As the answers eventually unfolded, I was not impressed. The ending was, well, ridiculous. I didn't "feel" enough tension between the two sisters; just annoyed at the silly antics they played on each other. The relationship between Kyle and bulimic Claudia was equally irritating as well.

The dialogue between characters was often long and felt like an inspirational lecture from a life coach. There was a scene where Josie was watching her young daughters play on a tire swing. That part was written so well. As I read that part, I envisioned the two girls laughing and felt how much Josie loved her girls. I wish the author could focus more on that instead of the distracting twists and unnecessary complications.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard just giving 3 stars for this novel but as much as I really liked 3/4 of this story I absolutely HATED the end. I realize that it is probably only me, and I DID like how the author wrote (mostly) I found the end so awful that I felt like the whole reading experience was ruined.

I honestly felt that the author could tell a story and keep the reader immersed in the pages of the book. I am also sure that many readers will not agree with my opinion about the ending....

[Christopher White · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some pretty messed-up relationship dynamics in THIS story. A mom sends her estranged daughters on a scavenger hunt, after her death, to find their inheritance. For most of the book, I thought, 'Where's the fun in that?' (I sent my OWN kids on a scavenger hunt a couple of Christmases ago. I know for a fact that I had a lot more fun watching them tear through the house looking for the next clue than THEY had.) But, as I read further into the book, questions were answered, or rather replaced with others. Stranger ones. More messed-up relationship ones. This is one curious story. 3 stars.

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh...I really, really liked this story until...well, no spoilers, but that reveal nearing the end of the book disappointed me. :( Despite this little let-down, it was an enjoyable read.

I received this book from Net Galley for review.

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this audio. Wish now I had listened to the first book before beginning this one. The story of Josie, Emily, Rose & family was interesting & well written. Sweet little Alex. I do have a problem with Rose & Emily's mother but won't mention it further so as not to spoil the read.