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The Thread That Binds
Sherice is a new mother, a sonographer, quilter, and wife; an overworked young woman whose elderly mother is slipping away from her.
Sylvie is a newlywed and recent immigrant, unemployed and virtually penniless. Her husband’s paycheck can’t even cover prenatal care, let alone a baby, and her due date is only drawing nearer…
Joanne’s unconventional pregnancy turns her world upside down, redefining her career and relationships, and even bringing to the surface long-buried demons from her past.
Payton is seventeen, pregnant, and on the run. She flees to her uncle in Georgia with the hope of making a fresh start, but discovers making it on her own is harder than she could ever have imagined.
Gloria is trapped in an unhappy marriage; in love with someone else. Her life is falling apart. With a baby on the way, would it be selfish to flee?
Five women, once strangers, form bonds. Set in modern day Georgia, this is the story of friendship that blossoms in the land of country music, sweet tea, and secrets kept locked tight behind closed doors. Moving, funny, and at times heartbreaking, The Thread That Binds is a lesson in empathy, strength, and the beauty of love.
Sylvie is a newlywed and recent immigrant, unemployed and virtually penniless. Her husband’s paycheck can’t even cover prenatal care, let alone a baby, and her due date is only drawing nearer…
Joanne’s unconventional pregnancy turns her world upside down, redefining her career and relationships, and even bringing to the surface long-buried demons from her past.
Payton is seventeen, pregnant, and on the run. She flees to her uncle in Georgia with the hope of making a fresh start, but discovers making it on her own is harder than she could ever have imagined.
Gloria is trapped in an unhappy marriage; in love with someone else. Her life is falling apart. With a baby on the way, would it be selfish to flee?
Five women, once strangers, form bonds. Set in modern day Georgia, this is the story of friendship that blossoms in the land of country music, sweet tea, and secrets kept locked tight behind closed doors. Moving, funny, and at times heartbreaking, The Thread That Binds is a lesson in empathy, strength, and the beauty of love.
- GenresWomensWomens Fiction
357 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
14 people want to read
About the author
Alice Hayes
1 book3 followersOriginally from Winchester, England, Alice’s plans to read law at a British university were disrupted when she fell deeply in love with Georgia, USA, while studying abroad.
After moving all over Georgia, Alice has finally settled in Athens and has no plans to go anywhere else. She is a single mother to a three-year-old girl and a 65lb hound dog.
She likes coffee, wine, and anything edible with the words ‘salted caramel’ in its description. At the time of publication, Alice is a 24-year-old history student working full time in a law office, and writing fiction at every stolen moment. She hasn’t slept in approximately two years.
After moving all over Georgia, Alice has finally settled in Athens and has no plans to go anywhere else. She is a single mother to a three-year-old girl and a 65lb hound dog.
She likes coffee, wine, and anything edible with the words ‘salted caramel’ in its description. At the time of publication, Alice is a 24-year-old history student working full time in a law office, and writing fiction at every stolen moment. She hasn’t slept in approximately two years.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 20, 2015
The Threads that Bind by Alice Hayes is a 2015 Fastpencil publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Threads that Bind is a unique story of friendship that centers around five women, four of whom are expecting their first child.
Although each woman has a chance to tell her personal side of the story and give her perspective on how things are developing in their lives, it's Sherice who is really our main character. Sherice works in an OB clinic, which is how she meets Sylvia, which leads to a friendship with Payton, Joanne, and Gloria.
One small act of kindness will bring these ladies together and forge a bond that will see them through many of life's trials and ultimately give them the strength to make hard choices and to find peace for themselves.
I will admit, I had no idea what to expect when I started this book, and at my age, talk of pregnancy, and babies, and all that entails, is not something I identify with all that much anymore. So, I wasn't sure, in the beginning, if this book was a good fit for me. However, it didn't take long before I found myself invested in the lives of these women, caring about their situations and cheering them on as they met unexpected challenges and came out on the other side of it with solid friendships and a better life than when the story started.
There were a few minor issues for me. I felt the story could have been tightened up a little, and could have been trimmed down some. The new characters showing up at weird times and having their story integrated in with those of the other characters was unique in a way, but kind of confusing and jarring in others. However, in the end, it came together cohesively, which is what matters in the long run.
Each woman has an emotional back story and a difficult life. Sherice is dealing with her aging parents, Sylvia with financial difficulties and a broken down health system, Joanne is dealing with her unstable mom, her intentional decision to enter into parenthood without marriage, Payton with an unplanned teen pregnancy, and Gloria is dealing with a failed marriage and a broken heart.
Against the backdrop of Atlanta, Georgia, with sweet tea and grits, these women, who come from all over the world, set an example for everyone, sometimes by just being there for each other, sometimes by listening, sometimes by stepping up and taking care of someone when they are in a bind. In a world where we run a hundred miles an hour, dealing with our own internal battles, we sometimes lose sight of what other people are going through. We've lost that sense of community that supports one another, even when we have so much to deal with ourselves.
I can't say I approve of all the choices these women made, but I did love seeing each one rise to the occasion and take back their dignity, replenish their faith in humanity, learn to let go and learn to trust. Each character grew to possess a determination which made them stronger and released in them a new confidence, but they also learned to lean on those who love and care for them and to give that gift back in return.
Overall, this is feel good story about friendship and kindness, about love and life, peace and contentment, and standing up for what is right.
I ended up enjoying this story, although I was skeptical at first. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy contemporary fiction or women's fiction or to anyone who likes uplifting and inspirational stories.
4 stars
November 15, 2015
This is a story of 5 women (Joanne, Payton, Sherice, Sylvia and Gloria) that come into each others lives - primarily through meeting Sherice - that become good friends and shared a sisterhood that many of us can only hope to have with other women. And of course these are Southern women (Georgia no less) and there is something to be said for Southern women!
There is a line at the end of the book that stood out to me - "I'm just thinking about the people here. What about them? Just about how they show you should always be kind to strangers; or how you never know what someone is dealing with." This is so very true in our everyday lives. We don't know what someone is dealing with and a little kindness goes a long way.
That line was very true in this book - each woman had their own demons and issues, but having each other for support was their saving grace. And no one situation was the same, but the stories melded together. And the ages of the women spanned several decades, with the youngest being 17 and the oldest closer to 40, which brought an interesting twist in how the different generations interacted with each other.
The whole book takes place over about a year, but it reads quickly, in fact I woke up around 5:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep and read for about 2 hours, and even then it was hard for me to put down.
The only portion that didn't seem to flow was how Gloria was introduced and at another point when the story is told from her viewpoint and she mentions being close to Payton, but I don't recall that sort of buildup of their relationship with each other in previous chapters. But it eventually smoothed out and was more cohesive.
Overall though I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
There is a line at the end of the book that stood out to me - "I'm just thinking about the people here. What about them? Just about how they show you should always be kind to strangers; or how you never know what someone is dealing with." This is so very true in our everyday lives. We don't know what someone is dealing with and a little kindness goes a long way.
That line was very true in this book - each woman had their own demons and issues, but having each other for support was their saving grace. And no one situation was the same, but the stories melded together. And the ages of the women spanned several decades, with the youngest being 17 and the oldest closer to 40, which brought an interesting twist in how the different generations interacted with each other.
The whole book takes place over about a year, but it reads quickly, in fact I woke up around 5:30 am and couldn't go back to sleep and read for about 2 hours, and even then it was hard for me to put down.
The only portion that didn't seem to flow was how Gloria was introduced and at another point when the story is told from her viewpoint and she mentions being close to Payton, but I don't recall that sort of buildup of their relationship with each other in previous chapters. But it eventually smoothed out and was more cohesive.
Overall though I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
November 14, 2015
I don't know what I expected when I picked up this book, but I certainly DIDN'T expect to start falling in love with all the characters soo quickly. Five women with completely different backgrounds and problems find themselves inexplicably linked together. Sherice is a young mother who works two part time jobs, supports her husband, and somehow finds time to quilt when she's not worrying about her mother's descent into alzheimers. Slyvie is an expectant newly wed and newcomer to the United States. She and her active duty husband struggle to make ends meet and are trying to get the prenatal help they need to care for their unborn child. Joanne desperately wants to be a mom, but with no man in her life she convinces her gay best friend to get her knocked up. Payton is a seventeen year old pregnant runaway from Alabama who want to get her life back on track. And Gloria is married to an unloving cheater and the child she carries may not even be his. Together they tell each other their secrets, fix problems, and support each other as only new moms and friends can. An uplifting, laugh out loud, and thought provoking book. It contains something for everyone, not just moms or married women.
I received this book for free from iRead Book Tours in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
I received this book for free from iRead Book Tours in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
December 7, 2015
FIRST IMPRESSION:
The first thing I noticed in this book was, obviously, the cover. It was beautiful, fitting and of course very intriguing. The simplicity of five mugs placed in a ring actually tells a lot on what the story is about. The narrative drew me in from page one.
REVIEW:
The Thread That Binds - a common link that binds five different women from various backgrounds and natives. Is it their job, the difficulties they face in life? Or the love they give and receive to others who are so similar yet so different?
From page one, the book has the feel of a pleasant, poignant read. I started reading this when I went through a turbulent time and this book, strangely enough, comforted me. The story is about five women. They are all average, every day women, each with their own problems, families and issues. There is a fine line of sadness and insecurity about the future going on in their minds. Four of the women are pregnant and one, the main character (or at least I felt so) works with OB. They each meet in different circumstances and friendship develops.
The thing I felt was the best part of this book was the characterisation. The 'leading ladies' are not strong in the conventional way, moving aside boulders and sacrificing themselves for the nation like wonder woman. But they are each, in their own way, strong for themselves and the people who need them. Emotional strength and empathy flows in abundance. They all have secrets in their lives, secrets they would rather keep to themselves. They come together, form bonds, realise the value of friendship, companionship and most importantly, the power of love.
As mushy as this sounds, the story is not immature or childish in any way. It is not preachy or improbably poetic. These are the women you as a reader would root for. These are the women you might have known or come across somewhere. Their geographical location does not matter since the story is universal. There is one woman who is losing her mother to Alzheimers, one who is in an unhappy marriage. One woman shows us just how difficult it is to not be a citizen of US and still live in it. Yet another shows how exactly teen pregnancy can be harmful, terrifying and yet fill one with a sense of awe. Then there is the woman who plans a child birth - out of marriage. Rather than seeing them as characters of a story, the author's writing makes it possible to visualise them to be actual people.
The plot does not need twists. It keeps you hooked just simply in the way it is written. The story is simple, moves steadily and keeps you engrossed for more reasons than one. But if you are an adrenaline filled crime thriller junkie, this book will make you nod off at places. So if you are going to pick this up, make sure you like the summary. And if you do decide you like it and pick it up, it will surely be a great read and will give you a lot of things to take back with you long after the book has been finished.
WHAT I LIKED:
The theme of five strong women who come over adversities they face
The story, overall characterisation and the plot
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
Sometimes, it gets confusing seeing the chapters of individual characters, especially since they are not necessarily placed one after another ordered by characters.
The descriptions are a bit long, sometimes. Though this is not a hindrance, this slows down the pace of the story in places.
VERDICT:
A story that will give you five different perspectives - about the same thing and the force of love that helps you through it.
The first thing I noticed in this book was, obviously, the cover. It was beautiful, fitting and of course very intriguing. The simplicity of five mugs placed in a ring actually tells a lot on what the story is about. The narrative drew me in from page one.
REVIEW:
The Thread That Binds - a common link that binds five different women from various backgrounds and natives. Is it their job, the difficulties they face in life? Or the love they give and receive to others who are so similar yet so different?
From page one, the book has the feel of a pleasant, poignant read. I started reading this when I went through a turbulent time and this book, strangely enough, comforted me. The story is about five women. They are all average, every day women, each with their own problems, families and issues. There is a fine line of sadness and insecurity about the future going on in their minds. Four of the women are pregnant and one, the main character (or at least I felt so) works with OB. They each meet in different circumstances and friendship develops.
The thing I felt was the best part of this book was the characterisation. The 'leading ladies' are not strong in the conventional way, moving aside boulders and sacrificing themselves for the nation like wonder woman. But they are each, in their own way, strong for themselves and the people who need them. Emotional strength and empathy flows in abundance. They all have secrets in their lives, secrets they would rather keep to themselves. They come together, form bonds, realise the value of friendship, companionship and most importantly, the power of love.
As mushy as this sounds, the story is not immature or childish in any way. It is not preachy or improbably poetic. These are the women you as a reader would root for. These are the women you might have known or come across somewhere. Their geographical location does not matter since the story is universal. There is one woman who is losing her mother to Alzheimers, one who is in an unhappy marriage. One woman shows us just how difficult it is to not be a citizen of US and still live in it. Yet another shows how exactly teen pregnancy can be harmful, terrifying and yet fill one with a sense of awe. Then there is the woman who plans a child birth - out of marriage. Rather than seeing them as characters of a story, the author's writing makes it possible to visualise them to be actual people.
The plot does not need twists. It keeps you hooked just simply in the way it is written. The story is simple, moves steadily and keeps you engrossed for more reasons than one. But if you are an adrenaline filled crime thriller junkie, this book will make you nod off at places. So if you are going to pick this up, make sure you like the summary. And if you do decide you like it and pick it up, it will surely be a great read and will give you a lot of things to take back with you long after the book has been finished.
WHAT I LIKED:
The theme of five strong women who come over adversities they face
The story, overall characterisation and the plot
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
Sometimes, it gets confusing seeing the chapters of individual characters, especially since they are not necessarily placed one after another ordered by characters.
The descriptions are a bit long, sometimes. Though this is not a hindrance, this slows down the pace of the story in places.
VERDICT:
A story that will give you five different perspectives - about the same thing and the force of love that helps you through it.
November 25, 2015
I like reading #Womensfiction and that made me choose this book for review. I am glad that I picked up this one. As blurb mentions, the story covers lives of 5 different women, their problems, their friendship and how brilliantly the author connects these stories together.
I liked the way the author has chosen or portrayed each character.
For ex: Payton symbolizes a teenage girl and Sherice represents a matured individual. Joanne's character is very much different, whereas, we empathize Sylvie for her immigration problems. Gloria is a mystery initially and we gradually understand her.
The story is narrated in the perspective of each woman in every chapter. So this seems interesting to read, as we understand how each character feels or what go throughs in her mind while facing the difficult situation.
I loved Payton. She is a teenage girl, gets pregnant and her parents send her out of the house. I loved the way she understands the situation, tries to maintain a good relationship with Joanne, works in her uncle Marty's office, makes friends and finds happiness in her own way.
The Narration is gripping. I didn't like to pause in the middle while reading, enjoyed the flow and was guessing on how these characters will be connected and help each other. I would recommend this to every woman who loves to read a story which is nearer to reality and covers a range of emotions.
Few lines from the book about the true love and missing the loved one :
IF YOU WANT TO know whether someone is the love of your life, you only needlook at the way that they make you feel when they are not around. Anyone can come along and make sparks fly; any handsome face can make your heart flutter for a few seconds or a few minutes or even a few hours. When a man loves you, the time you spend together will feel all too short, and you would rather spend a minute with him than live another hour without. If a man is the love of your life, you will know it by what happens to you when he is not around: when he is on a business trip; or at work; or visiting family somewhere.
First, of course, there is the pain. The pain that comes with loving someone whoisn’t there is unlike anything else. At times, it is almost a sweet, enticing kind ofpain: when you feel the pang of their absence, it only reminds you of what you have, of how deep and beautiful and powerful your love is. You might even smile. Other times, it is the worst thing you have ever felt. You may find yourself cuddling close to a pillow at night, wishing it were him. You may take out their photograph and just stop to stare for a little while. You will be reminded of them at every turn. A song on the radio, a show on television, a special place where you once made memories: all of these things will bring them back to the front of your mind. In everything that you do, the love of your life follows you, reminding you not only that he exists, but of your love. After all, who but the love of your life could spring to your mind just by hearing a certain song? If they are not the love of your life, why do you see them everywhere that you turn?
My Rating: 5/5
I couldn't see any reason to give a lesser rating than this
I liked the way the author has chosen or portrayed each character.
For ex: Payton symbolizes a teenage girl and Sherice represents a matured individual. Joanne's character is very much different, whereas, we empathize Sylvie for her immigration problems. Gloria is a mystery initially and we gradually understand her.
The story is narrated in the perspective of each woman in every chapter. So this seems interesting to read, as we understand how each character feels or what go throughs in her mind while facing the difficult situation.
I loved Payton. She is a teenage girl, gets pregnant and her parents send her out of the house. I loved the way she understands the situation, tries to maintain a good relationship with Joanne, works in her uncle Marty's office, makes friends and finds happiness in her own way.
The Narration is gripping. I didn't like to pause in the middle while reading, enjoyed the flow and was guessing on how these characters will be connected and help each other. I would recommend this to every woman who loves to read a story which is nearer to reality and covers a range of emotions.
Few lines from the book about the true love and missing the loved one :
IF YOU WANT TO know whether someone is the love of your life, you only needlook at the way that they make you feel when they are not around. Anyone can come along and make sparks fly; any handsome face can make your heart flutter for a few seconds or a few minutes or even a few hours. When a man loves you, the time you spend together will feel all too short, and you would rather spend a minute with him than live another hour without. If a man is the love of your life, you will know it by what happens to you when he is not around: when he is on a business trip; or at work; or visiting family somewhere.
First, of course, there is the pain. The pain that comes with loving someone whoisn’t there is unlike anything else. At times, it is almost a sweet, enticing kind ofpain: when you feel the pang of their absence, it only reminds you of what you have, of how deep and beautiful and powerful your love is. You might even smile. Other times, it is the worst thing you have ever felt. You may find yourself cuddling close to a pillow at night, wishing it were him. You may take out their photograph and just stop to stare for a little while. You will be reminded of them at every turn. A song on the radio, a show on television, a special place where you once made memories: all of these things will bring them back to the front of your mind. In everything that you do, the love of your life follows you, reminding you not only that he exists, but of your love. After all, who but the love of your life could spring to your mind just by hearing a certain song? If they are not the love of your life, why do you see them everywhere that you turn?
My Rating: 5/5
I couldn't see any reason to give a lesser rating than this
December 8, 2015
This piece of feminine literature contains a chapter structure similar to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, where each division is narrated through the perspectives of one of many characters, although in this book’s case, the point of view is strictly first-person. The first character introduced his Sherice, who works at an OBGYN clinic and has a child with husband Chase nicknamed Little Roo, her real name Mollie. Her specific duty at her clinic is sonography, and loves her occupation in showing expectant parents prenatal images of their babies, quickly crossing paths with a pregnant French immigrant, Sylvie.
The second introduced character is Joanne, who indicates that in the Deep South, women are expected to be married by their twenties, and notes that she grew up in a trailer with older brothers, further having a homosexual friend named Marty who doesn’t care much for Republicans and bisexuals, and works for a procurement company. Saturday is her favorite day of the week, which she considers her only day of freedom in the week since she attends church on Sundays. Joanne had a good friend in college, with both realizing that they were the only ones in their sorority unmarried and without children.
As mentioned, Sylvie is a Frenchwoman, married to an American soldier named Jonathan, and indicates her troubles dealing with America’s healthcare system compared to the universal structure of that in her homeland. Their initial income is $300 month, with the cheapest health insurance policy available to them running $250 monthly, with Sylvie being ineligible for government age due to her citizenship in a foreign country, and is in the second trimester of her pregnancy. Jonathan and she visit a supposed free clinic to the south, only to discover that they have to pay more for care than their monthly income allows, with said clinic supposedly never turning away military families.
Introduced in part two of the story is Payton, niece to Marty, who works part-time at a gymnastics school and too is pregnant. The final introduced character a ways into the novel is Gloria, who has an unhappy marriage with Hal and detests the stickiness of the State of Georgia. Overall, this is an enjoyable work, with the alternating perspectives keeping the narrative fresh, alongside some occasional twists. The rare political references and discussion of healthcare place the story in the first decade of the current millennium, perhaps even that before, and aside from the consequentially-dated nature of the story, it’s still very much enjoyable and recommended.
The second introduced character is Joanne, who indicates that in the Deep South, women are expected to be married by their twenties, and notes that she grew up in a trailer with older brothers, further having a homosexual friend named Marty who doesn’t care much for Republicans and bisexuals, and works for a procurement company. Saturday is her favorite day of the week, which she considers her only day of freedom in the week since she attends church on Sundays. Joanne had a good friend in college, with both realizing that they were the only ones in their sorority unmarried and without children.
As mentioned, Sylvie is a Frenchwoman, married to an American soldier named Jonathan, and indicates her troubles dealing with America’s healthcare system compared to the universal structure of that in her homeland. Their initial income is $300 month, with the cheapest health insurance policy available to them running $250 monthly, with Sylvie being ineligible for government age due to her citizenship in a foreign country, and is in the second trimester of her pregnancy. Jonathan and she visit a supposed free clinic to the south, only to discover that they have to pay more for care than their monthly income allows, with said clinic supposedly never turning away military families.
Introduced in part two of the story is Payton, niece to Marty, who works part-time at a gymnastics school and too is pregnant. The final introduced character a ways into the novel is Gloria, who has an unhappy marriage with Hal and detests the stickiness of the State of Georgia. Overall, this is an enjoyable work, with the alternating perspectives keeping the narrative fresh, alongside some occasional twists. The rare political references and discussion of healthcare place the story in the first decade of the current millennium, perhaps even that before, and aside from the consequentially-dated nature of the story, it’s still very much enjoyable and recommended.
December 28, 2015
Books that focus on the strength of friendships and family ties are always winners for me. Adding motherhood to the recipe make them special . Which is why I enjoyed The Thread That Binds.
This novel follows the lives of five women as they experience and struggle through all the different aspects of pregnancy and the choices that come with it. This contemporary story is told through the first person point-of-view of all five women. One would think that the reader would get them mixed up, but they each have distinct voices and personalities so that is was easy to switch from one POV to another. This is where the author's skill with characterization comes through beautifully.
Each of the women have their personal issues to deal with. With Sherice it's coming to terms with her mother's Alzheimer's illness. With Silvie it's not being able to afford pre-natal care, whereas with career-woman Joanne, it's choosing to have a baby as a single parent. Payton is a teen who got pregnant and has run away from unloving parents, and Gloria is stuck in a loveless marriage.
The way the friendship of these women help them pull through shows the strength of the bond one can create with another woman. Their lives and personalities are fully-fleshed out and we see the changes they experience both in perspective and in how they will deal with their future. I enjoyed each woman's story very much, even if I may not have agreed with ever decision she made.
Overall, this is a heart-warming story, filled with raw emotions and difficult moments. There were comical ones too, and there was one scene with Joanne that had me howling with laughter. If you like women's fiction and Southern fiction, you will love this one. Just one word of caution for those of you who watch content. Profanities and crude language are used throughout, especially the f-bomb and religious expletives. Most of it unnecessary.
This novel follows the lives of five women as they experience and struggle through all the different aspects of pregnancy and the choices that come with it. This contemporary story is told through the first person point-of-view of all five women. One would think that the reader would get them mixed up, but they each have distinct voices and personalities so that is was easy to switch from one POV to another. This is where the author's skill with characterization comes through beautifully.
Each of the women have their personal issues to deal with. With Sherice it's coming to terms with her mother's Alzheimer's illness. With Silvie it's not being able to afford pre-natal care, whereas with career-woman Joanne, it's choosing to have a baby as a single parent. Payton is a teen who got pregnant and has run away from unloving parents, and Gloria is stuck in a loveless marriage.
The way the friendship of these women help them pull through shows the strength of the bond one can create with another woman. Their lives and personalities are fully-fleshed out and we see the changes they experience both in perspective and in how they will deal with their future. I enjoyed each woman's story very much, even if I may not have agreed with ever decision she made.
Overall, this is a heart-warming story, filled with raw emotions and difficult moments. There were comical ones too, and there was one scene with Joanne that had me howling with laughter. If you like women's fiction and Southern fiction, you will love this one. Just one word of caution for those of you who watch content. Profanities and crude language are used throughout, especially the f-bomb and religious expletives. Most of it unnecessary.
November 24, 2015
The Thread That Binds is a story of love in action. Not romantic love, but friend love. The love between five women each seeking comfort and solace at a time in each life fraught with emotions, difficulties, and sometimes fear.
These women--Sherice, Sylvie, Joanne, Payton, and Gloria--all of them in various stages of pregnancy, except Gloria. The friendship building begins with Sherice, a sonography technician in an obstetrics clinic. The simple act of reaching out with her creative side is the start to a relationship she doesn't expect. And with each new woman introduced the friendly group grows and grows.
At some point, each woman confronts fear, distrust, sorrow, anger, jealousy, and more. And here the friendships become all important. Unanticipated support from the others shores each struggling woman up and forward.
In many ways, Hayes is a gifted writer. Early on I felt as though I might be too old for this novel, but quickly I became engaged with the characters such that I couldn't set them aside. I wanted to help them too.
Hayes might have tightened up the narrative a bit, and perhaps let each woman tell a bit more of her story before changing places with another character. Still, all in all, I can say it was an enjoyable read.
Young women approaching the childbearing phrase of their lives will find this an enjoyable read. The book itself underscores the importance of friendly support from other than relatives and close family members.
Hayes manages the group of characters so well it is evident that in all this world, everyone will find or needs to find a really good friend. Especially at those special times in our lives.
FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via iRead Book Tours. Opinions expressed are mine.
These women--Sherice, Sylvie, Joanne, Payton, and Gloria--all of them in various stages of pregnancy, except Gloria. The friendship building begins with Sherice, a sonography technician in an obstetrics clinic. The simple act of reaching out with her creative side is the start to a relationship she doesn't expect. And with each new woman introduced the friendly group grows and grows.
At some point, each woman confronts fear, distrust, sorrow, anger, jealousy, and more. And here the friendships become all important. Unanticipated support from the others shores each struggling woman up and forward.
In many ways, Hayes is a gifted writer. Early on I felt as though I might be too old for this novel, but quickly I became engaged with the characters such that I couldn't set them aside. I wanted to help them too.
Hayes might have tightened up the narrative a bit, and perhaps let each woman tell a bit more of her story before changing places with another character. Still, all in all, I can say it was an enjoyable read.
Young women approaching the childbearing phrase of their lives will find this an enjoyable read. The book itself underscores the importance of friendly support from other than relatives and close family members.
Hayes manages the group of characters so well it is evident that in all this world, everyone will find or needs to find a really good friend. Especially at those special times in our lives.
FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via iRead Book Tours. Opinions expressed are mine.
December 9, 2015
This is a story that truly shows the strength of women and the power of friendship.
Each of the ladies in this novel are connected to one another through that ever present "circle of life". Some have little ones already and are enjoying the time spent with them as others in the family begin reverting back to that stage of life. Some have a little one on the way but whether seen as a planned event, blessed miracle, or unplanned (but LOVED) consequence, all depends on which set of eyes you are looking through. There are those that have it easier (notice I didn't say EASY) and those that struggle through every step they take. The common thread amongst them all is that they are not alone in what they face no matter how grave, joyous, or somewhere in-between their current situation is. Every one of them has survived things, whether easily seen from the outside or not, and each woman has an inner strength that will be found or rediscovered by book's end, ready to share with the next soul in their path's that needs a shoulder regardless of the reason.
In conclusion, a great group of women one would be lucky to call friends with a story that will touch you heart and soul. It reminds us that we are not truly alone in this world no matter the circumstances and to always keep the faith even when things seem their bleakest. A tough lesson for certain, but one we can all benefit from...myself included. Recommended read for Fiction and Women's Fiction fans from older teens through adults due to some content and concepts covered.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review...full post can be seen on my site**
Each of the ladies in this novel are connected to one another through that ever present "circle of life". Some have little ones already and are enjoying the time spent with them as others in the family begin reverting back to that stage of life. Some have a little one on the way but whether seen as a planned event, blessed miracle, or unplanned (but LOVED) consequence, all depends on which set of eyes you are looking through. There are those that have it easier (notice I didn't say EASY) and those that struggle through every step they take. The common thread amongst them all is that they are not alone in what they face no matter how grave, joyous, or somewhere in-between their current situation is. Every one of them has survived things, whether easily seen from the outside or not, and each woman has an inner strength that will be found or rediscovered by book's end, ready to share with the next soul in their path's that needs a shoulder regardless of the reason.
In conclusion, a great group of women one would be lucky to call friends with a story that will touch you heart and soul. It reminds us that we are not truly alone in this world no matter the circumstances and to always keep the faith even when things seem their bleakest. A tough lesson for certain, but one we can all benefit from...myself included. Recommended read for Fiction and Women's Fiction fans from older teens through adults due to some content and concepts covered.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review...full post can be seen on my site**
December 11, 2015
Be kind to stranger
The Thread That Binds by Ms. Alice Hayes is a story of five different women that comes unexpectedly with one situation that is bound with one another and that is pregnancy. This book is a beautiful story of different five women. I am sure that of the women in the story can relate to your life if not with friends and maybe relatives.
Being pregnant is a wonderful feeling only if you have the husband, family and friends that supports you in this very important part of being a woman. Not all pregnant women are happy in their situation but they have no choice but to think and prioritize the safety of their unborn child. All those babies that they are carrying are so precious.
My favorite character is Sylvie. I can relate to her being immigrant. I am also an immigrant from the Philippines. I can feel her but luckily I did not experienced what she did when I was pregnant with my first child. I did go through the same time with Sylvie in processing all the important documents. I feel so sad that she has to go through all those difficult times in life and especially no close families to take care of her.
This book is heart wrenching, so emotional but a wonderful and beautiful story. I am thankful to Sherice and her family for always be kind to strangers. This woman has a heart of gold and open her hearts to these five amazing women. You will blown away with their amazing story and their courage to walk through and move on to life despite their individual situations.
Disclosure:
I was given an electronic book to read and review. All my thoughts and opinions is 100% honestly mine.
The Thread That Binds by Ms. Alice Hayes is a story of five different women that comes unexpectedly with one situation that is bound with one another and that is pregnancy. This book is a beautiful story of different five women. I am sure that of the women in the story can relate to your life if not with friends and maybe relatives.
Being pregnant is a wonderful feeling only if you have the husband, family and friends that supports you in this very important part of being a woman. Not all pregnant women are happy in their situation but they have no choice but to think and prioritize the safety of their unborn child. All those babies that they are carrying are so precious.
My favorite character is Sylvie. I can relate to her being immigrant. I am also an immigrant from the Philippines. I can feel her but luckily I did not experienced what she did when I was pregnant with my first child. I did go through the same time with Sylvie in processing all the important documents. I feel so sad that she has to go through all those difficult times in life and especially no close families to take care of her.
This book is heart wrenching, so emotional but a wonderful and beautiful story. I am thankful to Sherice and her family for always be kind to strangers. This woman has a heart of gold and open her hearts to these five amazing women. You will blown away with their amazing story and their courage to walk through and move on to life despite their individual situations.
Disclosure:
I was given an electronic book to read and review. All my thoughts and opinions is 100% honestly mine.
December 14, 2015
A well-written story about love in its many forms and the role of female friendship in overcoming difficulties, The Thread that Binds is long and heavy in content but easy read. The story flows well, making the intertwining plots and their various related details easier to follow. Some important concepts are explored throughout the story, from the importance of family to the importance of respect in a relationship, be it between husband and wife or parent and child.
This is not however a book that digs deep into the concepts and feeds lessons to its reader. Rather, an unaware or uninterested reader might not learn much, if anything, from this book. But a reader wanting to learn to improve their selves and their relationships (romantic and other) stands to be inspired by one, if not more of the main characters.
The buildup of the story does at times come off a little awkwardly, especially with the haphazard introduction of characters. It could be me, but when I know a story is about five women, I don’t want to meet one of them only halfway through the book. Furthermore, some editing is still needed but the quality remains consistently good.
Despite mild sexual content that might bother some readers and a little bit of coarse language, I would still recommend The Thread That Binds as an exploration of sorts of the nature and quality of relationships.
First published: http://www.saharsblog.com/review/book...
This is not however a book that digs deep into the concepts and feeds lessons to its reader. Rather, an unaware or uninterested reader might not learn much, if anything, from this book. But a reader wanting to learn to improve their selves and their relationships (romantic and other) stands to be inspired by one, if not more of the main characters.
The buildup of the story does at times come off a little awkwardly, especially with the haphazard introduction of characters. It could be me, but when I know a story is about five women, I don’t want to meet one of them only halfway through the book. Furthermore, some editing is still needed but the quality remains consistently good.
Despite mild sexual content that might bother some readers and a little bit of coarse language, I would still recommend The Thread That Binds as an exploration of sorts of the nature and quality of relationships.
First published: http://www.saharsblog.com/review/book...
November 25, 2015
This book follows the journey of a handful of women who all become connected through their knowing one woman – Sherice.
Sherice seems to be the center, the glue of everyone. Each individual person meets Sherice in one aspect and then slowly, they are all brought together in one or way or another (except Payton who met Sherice through Joanne.)
I felt like in a sense, I could be any one of these women. Except Gloria. She was the only person that I felt I could not personally relate too, but that didn’t make me like her any the less.
Like Sherice, I tend to take on far too much and care for others before caring for myself. My family situation is strongly mirrored in Payton and Sylvie’s families. I felt that Joanne and I had a lot of characteristics in personality together as well as our father situations.
I loved the friendship that these ladies had together and wish I had a friendship like they did. They were such a wonderful group of ladies who were always there for the others in every time of need. It was the best support group any person could ask for.
If you are into general fiction, you will thoroughly like this book. I feel it is more “women” fiction, but you never know. There could be a man who likes it as well!!
Sherice seems to be the center, the glue of everyone. Each individual person meets Sherice in one aspect and then slowly, they are all brought together in one or way or another (except Payton who met Sherice through Joanne.)
I felt like in a sense, I could be any one of these women. Except Gloria. She was the only person that I felt I could not personally relate too, but that didn’t make me like her any the less.
Like Sherice, I tend to take on far too much and care for others before caring for myself. My family situation is strongly mirrored in Payton and Sylvie’s families. I felt that Joanne and I had a lot of characteristics in personality together as well as our father situations.
I loved the friendship that these ladies had together and wish I had a friendship like they did. They were such a wonderful group of ladies who were always there for the others in every time of need. It was the best support group any person could ask for.
If you are into general fiction, you will thoroughly like this book. I feel it is more “women” fiction, but you never know. There could be a man who likes it as well!!
December 1, 2015
Where do you turn to when you are in a hopeless situation? For Sylvie, it was non-existent healthcare for her baby. For Payton, it was finding a new home and job for herself and her baby. For Sherice, it was dealing with her mother's advancing Alzheimer condition. Gloria was surviving an abusive marriage and Joanne's decision to raise a child alone without a husband raised more questions than answers.
The author managed to blend these very different scenarios easily by introducing the new characters one at a time. Each character had it's own chapter so you were able to identify with each person without getting lost.
Some of the situations in this book were loosely based on the author's own life. Her goal was to show that kindness and empathy can make the difference between despair and hope. The friendships that developed between the characters was heartwarming.
Although I enjoyed the book overall, I found the ending to some of the women's story to be a bit unrealistic and easy. A good read for someone who enjoys women's fiction.
Please note: there is profanity throughout the book as well as some crude / distressing situations.
The author managed to blend these very different scenarios easily by introducing the new characters one at a time. Each character had it's own chapter so you were able to identify with each person without getting lost.
Some of the situations in this book were loosely based on the author's own life. Her goal was to show that kindness and empathy can make the difference between despair and hope. The friendships that developed between the characters was heartwarming.
Although I enjoyed the book overall, I found the ending to some of the women's story to be a bit unrealistic and easy. A good read for someone who enjoys women's fiction.
Please note: there is profanity throughout the book as well as some crude / distressing situations.
November 28, 2015
The Thread That Binds by Alice Hayes was an amazing book. I love that the author brings such different women together and have them all connect. I like it because it made me realize that you never know someone else story is and what they are going through. I loved this author’s writing and how she made me understand why the characters did the things they do and I was also able to understand the character’s background and where they had come from. She did all of this without bogging you down with too many details and spending too much time on their backgrounds. It is a hard thing to not over do the amount of back stories that authors give but she did it just right and she has become of my new favorite authors. If you love books that take place in modern times than this is one you aren’t going to want to miss.
FTC:I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
FTC:I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 2, 2015
Put together five young women – four of whom are pregnant and one who is their obstetrician and you have a lot of morning sickness and baby talk! You would think it was all too much, except that the author has cleverly crafted each woman’s character to make them interesting and endearing.
On another level it’s a story of women going through the problems that are a part of life these days – feeling rejected by family, coping with the idea single motherhood, taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, financial constraints, etc. How they form a friendship and how this friendship binds them to each other and gives them the strength to cope with life, makes a lovely read.
Looking forward to reading more from Alice Hayes.
Read more here: http://corinnerodrigues.com/the-threa...
On another level it’s a story of women going through the problems that are a part of life these days – feeling rejected by family, coping with the idea single motherhood, taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, financial constraints, etc. How they form a friendship and how this friendship binds them to each other and gives them the strength to cope with life, makes a lovely read.
Looking forward to reading more from Alice Hayes.
Read more here: http://corinnerodrigues.com/the-threa...
December 10, 2015
Alice Hayes has written a captivating story about five struggling women—Sylvie, Joanne, Payton, and Gloria. Their lives intermittingly intertwine as they all have a baby on the way and are trying to overcome life’s challenges. With the backdrop in Georgia, Alice brings to life her intriguing characters, making them easy for readers to understand and relate to. Themes in the story are suffering, heartbreak, friendship, joy, and love. I would recommend this story to readers that enjoy women’s fiction.
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Fastpencil
Publication date: September 15, 2015
Number of pages: 357
Content Rating: PG (some swearing, kissing, implied sex)
Book Rating: 4 stars
A review copy of this book was provided byiRead Book Tours.
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Fastpencil
Publication date: September 15, 2015
Number of pages: 357
Content Rating: PG (some swearing, kissing, implied sex)
Book Rating: 4 stars
A review copy of this book was provided byiRead Book Tours.
November 25, 2015
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
The Thread That Binds is a story about 5 women, most of them pregnant, who become friends. As time goes on, they depend on each other for support. Each woman has her unique struggles but they're able to overcome what they're going through with love and support of their families and friends.
The characters are well developed. They are all so different and yet they all have new families starting. No matter what situation they're in, they have that in common and they do what they can to help each other.
I really liked the ending. It was perfect. Anyone who likes women's fiction will like The Thread that Binds.
The Thread That Binds is a story about 5 women, most of them pregnant, who become friends. As time goes on, they depend on each other for support. Each woman has her unique struggles but they're able to overcome what they're going through with love and support of their families and friends.
The characters are well developed. They are all so different and yet they all have new families starting. No matter what situation they're in, they have that in common and they do what they can to help each other.
I really liked the ending. It was perfect. Anyone who likes women's fiction will like The Thread that Binds.
November 26, 2015
This is the first book I have read by this author and I thought it was a good book. I enjoyed getting to know each of these women in this book and how they ended up forming a friendship that brought them close together. For me this is a book that grabbed me from the first page and did not let go until the very end. The author's writing style made the book read quickly. The author did a good job with the characters each of them could have been anyone you know. I think that is what I liked about this book is that I felt as if I was friends with these ladies as well. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a story of friendship, strong bonds and love.
November 30, 2015
The story addresses a number of everyday issues people cope with, apart from pregnancy of course, like financial problems, or the unbearable pain a daughter feels watching her mother decaying with Alzheimer’s disease, for example. Most of the characters are very lonely, rejected by their families, but the book is about the power of friendship which, thanks to Sherice, is where all these women will find the strength to fight for their own happiness.
We didn’t have a good start, the book and I, but in the end these characters became friends and I really enjoyed the book.
Full review on my blog.
We didn’t have a good start, the book and I, but in the end these characters became friends and I really enjoyed the book.
Full review on my blog.
December 10, 2015
I love books about relationships between women and this book is about the friendships these five women build and the bonds they share.
It’s filled with all kinds of emotions as they all search to find their way in a world that isn’t easy. Each woman has her own characteristics and struggles. Together they help each other through a difficult time, share secrets and build each other up.
The books is at times happy, sad, emotional and funny. I would recommend it to anyone who loves books about friendships and/or southern fiction.
It’s filled with all kinds of emotions as they all search to find their way in a world that isn’t easy. Each woman has her own characteristics and struggles. Together they help each other through a difficult time, share secrets and build each other up.
The books is at times happy, sad, emotional and funny. I would recommend it to anyone who loves books about friendships and/or southern fiction.
September 28, 2015
Review to follow!
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