What do you think?
Rate this book
Siblings
The Symington Parents…
Marilyn Symington strives to be a good mother and the family peacemaker. But when lingering health issues send her to her husband’s business partner Dr. John Hazelton, she is drawn into an illicit relationship which threatens the foundation of all she’s built.
Ronald Symington is a well-respected doctor, but he is burdened by problems at the Symington Medical Center and the growing family friction, with only the apparition of his late father to rely on for advice. Looking for leverage, Ron hires a PI to investigate his uncooperative partner, but what will he do with the shocking secret he discovers?
The Symington Children…
Richard, the oldest of the Symington offspring, followed Ronald into medicine, but he can’t escape his father’s shadow. He also has a hidden gambling addiction, which leads him to perform illegal abortions to pay off his debts, though he tries to convince himself he’s helping his patients—prostitutes—by saving them from back-alley butchers.
Wilson is a true middle child, lost in the shuffle, fighting for recognition and approval, and always feeling he comes up short. After falling in with drug dealers, he spent time in prison, but is now seeking redemption by secretly working with the FBI to catch the real offenders.
Maggie, the youngest, is a Registered Nurse, but she’s always looking for something more, something…exciting. She and her lover experiment with drugs and sexual fantasies, until one particular fantasy turns terrifying, forcing her to reexamine her priorities.
Can the damaged family which found its wealth and social standing in medicine somehow heal and find peace? Or are their sins too numerous and egregious to forgive?
Marilyn Symington strives to be a good mother and the family peacemaker. But when lingering health issues send her to her husband’s business partner Dr. John Hazelton, she is drawn into an illicit relationship which threatens the foundation of all she’s built.
Ronald Symington is a well-respected doctor, but he is burdened by problems at the Symington Medical Center and the growing family friction, with only the apparition of his late father to rely on for advice. Looking for leverage, Ron hires a PI to investigate his uncooperative partner, but what will he do with the shocking secret he discovers?
The Symington Children…
Richard, the oldest of the Symington offspring, followed Ronald into medicine, but he can’t escape his father’s shadow. He also has a hidden gambling addiction, which leads him to perform illegal abortions to pay off his debts, though he tries to convince himself he’s helping his patients—prostitutes—by saving them from back-alley butchers.
Wilson is a true middle child, lost in the shuffle, fighting for recognition and approval, and always feeling he comes up short. After falling in with drug dealers, he spent time in prison, but is now seeking redemption by secretly working with the FBI to catch the real offenders.
Maggie, the youngest, is a Registered Nurse, but she’s always looking for something more, something…exciting. She and her lover experiment with drugs and sexual fantasies, until one particular fantasy turns terrifying, forcing her to reexamine her priorities.
Can the damaged family which found its wealth and social standing in medicine somehow heal and find peace? Or are their sins too numerous and egregious to forgive?
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2015
18 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Janssen
7 books7 followersKen’s debut novel centers on the exploits of Mark Matthews, a private investigator turned FBI agent. In Blood Money Mark helps topple an association funneling money to terrorist organizations.
Fatal Dose, the second Mark Matthews Mystery, exposes a drug mafia distributing counterfeit prescription drugs.
Mysterious Forces is a multi-genre work about how Archetypes and Basic Instincts control our lives. Steeped in Jungian Metaphysics, it tells the story of three generations of the Hampton family, living, unknowingly, under the influence of the Archetype Perfidia.
Everyman, Revisited, Ken’s latest novel takes narrative license from a fifteenth century allegorical morality play and Philip Roth’s modern day adaptation, both simply called Everyman. In Everyman, Revisited, the protagonist is portrayed by Reverend Aaron Masters, minister of the New Thought Metaphysical Center. The novel is not about “new thought” per se; rather about new ways of thinking. Everyman, Revisited is as provocative as it is inspirational. It is written under the pen name Michael St. James.
Ken has epublished several short stories at Nights and Weekends, Writing Raw and Long Story Short.
Ken lives in Ohio, with his wife Jeannette.
Fatal Dose, the second Mark Matthews Mystery, exposes a drug mafia distributing counterfeit prescription drugs.
Mysterious Forces is a multi-genre work about how Archetypes and Basic Instincts control our lives. Steeped in Jungian Metaphysics, it tells the story of three generations of the Hampton family, living, unknowingly, under the influence of the Archetype Perfidia.
Everyman, Revisited, Ken’s latest novel takes narrative license from a fifteenth century allegorical morality play and Philip Roth’s modern day adaptation, both simply called Everyman. In Everyman, Revisited, the protagonist is portrayed by Reverend Aaron Masters, minister of the New Thought Metaphysical Center. The novel is not about “new thought” per se; rather about new ways of thinking. Everyman, Revisited is as provocative as it is inspirational. It is written under the pen name Michael St. James.
Ken has epublished several short stories at Nights and Weekends, Writing Raw and Long Story Short.
Ken lives in Ohio, with his wife Jeannette.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 6, 2018
Wonderful story of.family love
Wonderful story of family love. Love of siblings and love of parents for their children and love of life long relationship between significant others.
Wonderful story of family love. Love of siblings and love of parents for their children and love of life long relationship between significant others.
January 14, 2023
First of all, the book needs a different title - this one just does not reflect the gist.
This book is about a totally dysfunctional family and has too much preaching in it at times.
Overall, I thought it was just a blah.
This book is about a totally dysfunctional family and has too much preaching in it at times.
Overall, I thought it was just a blah.
December 14, 2015
Nothing is ever perfect in any family, and only those in that family know what goes on behind closed doors. The Symington family, though a well respected family outside of their horrid lies, and ways of life, have many secrets, that are focused on throughout this novel. The Symington parents do their best to keep their children - all adults now - under control, but when they can't even keep their lies under wraps, it's a hard thing to do for all parties involved.
This novel dealt with a lot of real world issues. It was interesting to see these issues portrayed through a more medical standpoint than just real world issues that characters seemed to have in most novels. I think the most interesting of the issues was Mrs. Symington herself. When her health takes a turn for the worse, she turns to Mr. Symington's business partner. Only problem is that the doctor/patient protocol doesn't seem to apply to this relationship. When Mr. Symington (AKA Ron) has growing suspicions, he does the one thing that any sane man would do; hire a PI. The only issue is that he isn't prepared for what it uncovers.
This novel isn't what one would expect. I like medical mysteries/family drama novels, and this one had a nice spin on it that had the reader asking what was going to happen next. There wasn't too much guessing work that would want to leave the reader ripping out their hair (thank you for that!), but there was just enough that kept the reader wanting to continue reading and really getting to the bottom of the Symington family.
There is a slight cliffhanger. Not like OMG I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW. But more of, well...that ending can go one of two ways. I'm not sure if Mr. Janssen left the novel where he did to give the reader the satisfaction of their own ending, or if there are any plans for a sequel. I plan on keeping my eyes open for more of the Symington family, and give Mr. Janssen a 4/5 Bars!
This novel dealt with a lot of real world issues. It was interesting to see these issues portrayed through a more medical standpoint than just real world issues that characters seemed to have in most novels. I think the most interesting of the issues was Mrs. Symington herself. When her health takes a turn for the worse, she turns to Mr. Symington's business partner. Only problem is that the doctor/patient protocol doesn't seem to apply to this relationship. When Mr. Symington (AKA Ron) has growing suspicions, he does the one thing that any sane man would do; hire a PI. The only issue is that he isn't prepared for what it uncovers.
This novel isn't what one would expect. I like medical mysteries/family drama novels, and this one had a nice spin on it that had the reader asking what was going to happen next. There wasn't too much guessing work that would want to leave the reader ripping out their hair (thank you for that!), but there was just enough that kept the reader wanting to continue reading and really getting to the bottom of the Symington family.
There is a slight cliffhanger. Not like OMG I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW. But more of, well...that ending can go one of two ways. I'm not sure if Mr. Janssen left the novel where he did to give the reader the satisfaction of their own ending, or if there are any plans for a sequel. I plan on keeping my eyes open for more of the Symington family, and give Mr. Janssen a 4/5 Bars!
December 29, 2015
Stormy, secrets, lies, betrayal, seduction, perfection all of this can be used to describe the Symington family .Ronald , Marilyn ,Maggie, Wilson, and Richard all the members of this family have some sort of dirty little secret . This story was definitely a page turner .When I first started reading this book I was like where is this going and do I want to continue this journey. So I kept reading and the more I read the more I started liking this book. It was so worth the read because not only about the Siblings individually but the whole family and it all sort of fit.
This story takes the reader on a journey with a family that is perfect to the outside world. Yet cracks begin to form and secrets that should have stayed hidden rise to the surface and when they come to light no one is safe.
This book I worth reading because the author put so much passion and even though it wasn’t a favorite book of mine it was a great book filled with so many wonderful things . K.J. Jansen wrote a powerful story about family and how they are not perfect and how they weather the storm together.
Review by Lindsey
This story takes the reader on a journey with a family that is perfect to the outside world. Yet cracks begin to form and secrets that should have stayed hidden rise to the surface and when they come to light no one is safe.
This book I worth reading because the author put so much passion and even though it wasn’t a favorite book of mine it was a great book filled with so many wonderful things . K.J. Jansen wrote a powerful story about family and how they are not perfect and how they weather the storm together.
Review by Lindsey
Want to read
August 3, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (8/3/2018)!💝
Blurb:
The Symington Parents…
Marilyn Symington strives to be a good mother and the family peacemaker. But when lingering health issues send her to her husband’s business partner Dr. John Hazelton, she is drawn into an illicit relationship which threatens the foundation of all she’s built.
Ronald Symington is a well-respected doctor, but he is burdened by problems at the Symington Medical Center and the growing family friction, with only the apparition of his late father to rely on for advice. Looking for leverage, Ron hires a PI to investigate his uncooperative partner, but what will he do with the shocking secret he discovers?
The Symington Children…
Richard, the oldest of the Symington offspring, followed Ronald into medicine, but he can’t escape his father’s shadow. He also has a hidden gambling addiction, which leads him to perform illegal abortions to pay off his debts, though he tries to convince himself he’s helping his patients—prostitutes—by saving them from back-alley butchers.
Wilson is a true middle child, lost in the shuffle, fighting for recognition and approval, and always feeling he comes up short. After falling in with drug dealers, he spent time in prison, but is now seeking redemption by secretly working with the FBI to catch the real offenders.
Maggie, the youngest, is a Registered Nurse, but she’s always looking for something more, something…exciting. She and her lover experiment with drugs and sexual fantasies, until one particular fantasy turns terrifying, forcing her to reexamine her priorities.
Can the damaged family which found its wealth and social standing in medicine somehow heal and find peace? Or are their sins too numerous and egregious to forgive?
Blurb:
The Symington Parents…
Marilyn Symington strives to be a good mother and the family peacemaker. But when lingering health issues send her to her husband’s business partner Dr. John Hazelton, she is drawn into an illicit relationship which threatens the foundation of all she’s built.
Ronald Symington is a well-respected doctor, but he is burdened by problems at the Symington Medical Center and the growing family friction, with only the apparition of his late father to rely on for advice. Looking for leverage, Ron hires a PI to investigate his uncooperative partner, but what will he do with the shocking secret he discovers?
The Symington Children…
Richard, the oldest of the Symington offspring, followed Ronald into medicine, but he can’t escape his father’s shadow. He also has a hidden gambling addiction, which leads him to perform illegal abortions to pay off his debts, though he tries to convince himself he’s helping his patients—prostitutes—by saving them from back-alley butchers.
Wilson is a true middle child, lost in the shuffle, fighting for recognition and approval, and always feeling he comes up short. After falling in with drug dealers, he spent time in prison, but is now seeking redemption by secretly working with the FBI to catch the real offenders.
Maggie, the youngest, is a Registered Nurse, but she’s always looking for something more, something…exciting. She and her lover experiment with drugs and sexual fantasies, until one particular fantasy turns terrifying, forcing her to reexamine her priorities.
Can the damaged family which found its wealth and social standing in medicine somehow heal and find peace? Or are their sins too numerous and egregious to forgive?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews