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For the Love of My Sister: Paula Gallant's Legacy
The overwhelming sense of gratitude and love I felt at Thanksgiving, surrounded by my two sisters, their husbands and our five children, allowed me to finally exhale. With a sense of unimaginable contentment I finally let go of the breath I was holding since my parents died. This pure love carried me straight through to Christmas, until murder entered our lives.
This is a true story about how love never gives up. This is Paula Gallant's legacy.
This is a true story about how love never gives up. This is Paula Gallant's legacy.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2024
8 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 6, 2024
In her book, “For the Love of My Sister,” Lynn Gallant Blackburn describes her childhood in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, as idyllic. Born and raised in a small, tight-knit community, she was the eldest sister of three sisters she loved and doted on. After losing both parents early on, the shared grief strengthened the sisters’ bond even tighter. Lynn, Lana, and Paula were getting in a groove—with their flourishing careers, marriages, and expanding their family trees, the women were finally enjoying life. But tragedy would strike their family again in 2005—this time, a ruthless murder took one of the sisters.
When 36-year-old Paula’s life was snuffed out, a part of Lynn died as well. For years, she and the rest of her family lived in fear, anger, and grief, frustrated that Paula’s killer was still out there, living freely. Lynn advocated for Paula in every way she could—keeping the investigation going, banging on the doors of government decision-makers, and ensuring Paula’s face would not be forgotten.
They would get justice for her baby sister’s murder; there was no other option.
Lynn Gallant Blackburn has written a powerful memoir that does two things: it memorializes her sister, and it addresses the need for more awareness regarding the prevalence of male violence against women and girls. As with any memoir, the writing is personal and brimming with emotion. Readers can expect to laugh, cry, shout, and everything in between as Lynn’s story touches our hearts in a profound way.
Despite the tragedy that befell the Gallant family, the memoir’s overarching theme is love and how it can carry you through the most tumultuous times. From their modest beginnings in their childhood home on Coady Street, the Gallant parents nurtured Lynn, Lana, and Paula. They surrounded them with a supportive village, people who rallied together when someone in their community faced adversity. And in a lot of ways, this is how the family endured the agonizing years following Paula’s murder.
Moreover, I was genuinely inspired by the author’s years of work advocating for others who have suffered a fate like Paula’s. Lynn channeled her pain and made tremendous improvements to support programs offered to murder victims’ families. She spoke at various events and was instrumental in developing a rewards program for unsolved major crimes in Nova Scotia. It is a testament to perseverance, what you can accomplish when you have love fueling your fire.
“For the Love of My Sister” will appeal to readers who enjoy memoir/true crime books that focus on family and justice. Moreover, the author has done an exceptional job of allowing a horrific tragedy to catapult her into making meaningful change.
When 36-year-old Paula’s life was snuffed out, a part of Lynn died as well. For years, she and the rest of her family lived in fear, anger, and grief, frustrated that Paula’s killer was still out there, living freely. Lynn advocated for Paula in every way she could—keeping the investigation going, banging on the doors of government decision-makers, and ensuring Paula’s face would not be forgotten.
They would get justice for her baby sister’s murder; there was no other option.
Lynn Gallant Blackburn has written a powerful memoir that does two things: it memorializes her sister, and it addresses the need for more awareness regarding the prevalence of male violence against women and girls. As with any memoir, the writing is personal and brimming with emotion. Readers can expect to laugh, cry, shout, and everything in between as Lynn’s story touches our hearts in a profound way.
Despite the tragedy that befell the Gallant family, the memoir’s overarching theme is love and how it can carry you through the most tumultuous times. From their modest beginnings in their childhood home on Coady Street, the Gallant parents nurtured Lynn, Lana, and Paula. They surrounded them with a supportive village, people who rallied together when someone in their community faced adversity. And in a lot of ways, this is how the family endured the agonizing years following Paula’s murder.
Moreover, I was genuinely inspired by the author’s years of work advocating for others who have suffered a fate like Paula’s. Lynn channeled her pain and made tremendous improvements to support programs offered to murder victims’ families. She spoke at various events and was instrumental in developing a rewards program for unsolved major crimes in Nova Scotia. It is a testament to perseverance, what you can accomplish when you have love fueling your fire.
“For the Love of My Sister” will appeal to readers who enjoy memoir/true crime books that focus on family and justice. Moreover, the author has done an exceptional job of allowing a horrific tragedy to catapult her into making meaningful change.
January 8, 2025
Lynn Gallant Blackburn bravely shares her (and her family’s) horrific experience with domestic violence and their fight for justice for her beautiful sister Paula. Nothing could have possibly prepared Paula’s family for the horrific events of December 27, 2005. The love Lynn and Lana shared was the driving force to keep Paula's case alive in the media and with the inadequate and chaotic integrated police system.
Lynn did a beautiful job of always bringing it back to Paula and the legacy. The love of family and the determination for justice is truly inspiring
December 4, 2025
This was such an emotional read, a story I could unfortunately relate to having lost my aunt to murder and having given my own impact statement in court.
I feel deeply for the family of Paula Gallant.
I feel deeply for the family of Paula Gallant.
December 6, 2024
So incredibly said but beautifully written. A sister’s love knows no boundaries. Such a great legacy to Paula and Lynn’s pursuit of advocacy for woman is incredible.
January 13, 2025
A remarkable story of horrific tragedy and the enduring love this family have for each other. In helping others you help yourself
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews