Tangle of Strings

Sweeney Sisters #4

by Ashley Farley

A nearly tragic accident leads to a discovery that rocks the Sweeney family’s world.

Some families never resolve conflicts. Not so with the Sweeneys. Their sense of family, their love for one another, and their willingness to forgive have always triumphed and brought them back together. Until now. The latest crisis threatens to tear the family apart and crumble the foundation that has always proved itself rock solid.

At the heart of the matter are sixteen-year-old Annie Bethune and her boyfriend, Cooper. At stake are their dreams for the future. As to these dreams, no one in the family holds back when asserting an opinion.

Annie soon begins to feel like a puppet on strings with all those she loves telling her what to do. When those strings become tangled and a family feud develops, Annie, unable to bear the pressure, runs away. Straight into the arms of danger.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Family, Adult Fiction, Romance

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2017

About the author

⭐️USA Today Bestseller⭐️
Ashley Farley writes heartfelt stories about women navigating life’s challenges. Her characters—mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives—face real-life struggles with resilience and grace. Best known for her Sweeney Sisters series, Ashley’s books have touched the hearts of readers far and wide.

A wife and mother of two young adults, for more than two decades, Ashley has split her time between Richmond and the Northern Neck of Virginia. Yet, a piece of her heart will always belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she draws inspiration from the moss-draped oaks, coastal cuisine, and the warm, welcoming spirit of its people.

Ashley loves to hear from her readers.
Visit her website @ http://www.ashleyfarley.com
Sign up for her newsletter @ https://ashleyfarley.com/newsletter-s...
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarley...

Reviews

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely love this series! We are used to seeing problems crop up for these sisters in their lives but this is the first time an issue has arisen that literally pits family members against one another with seemingly no end to the conflict. But, when tragedy strikes everyone is able to put all the fighting and egos aside and come together as only loving families can. This book was a very emotional and suspenseful read! I highly recommend all of the books in this wonderful series!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangle of Strings, the fourth book in the Sweeney Sisters series by Ashley Farley is a well written story about family and love and how a crisis can pull together or tear apart relationships and families. Ms. Farley's attention to background information and details ensures Tangle of Strings can be read as a standalone.
I like everyone in the extended Sweeney family, even Jackie, the dramatic high strung oldest sister, and mother of Cooper. I admired Flora Bell and her daughter, Thea, who was Annie's best friend. The characters I dislike are Thea's brothers, Tyrone and Willie, living on the wrong side of the law, intimidating others and referred to as the "Evil Bell Brothers".
With only moments to get to work and her mind occupied by a troubling secret and an upsetting encounter with her estranged mother, sixteen-year-old Annie, unable to hold back the tears, speeds her Honda Accord towards town.
Will Annie share her secret?
What will Cooper do?
Will Annie survive the accident?
Will the Sweeney sisters help Annie?
Will Annie be able to untangle the strings?

I enjoy reading this series and highly recommend this thought provoking, heartbreaking and suspenseful story. 5 stars.

Thanks to Ashley Farley for giving me an ARC of Tangle of Strings in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Tangle of Strings was recommended via a 5 star review from a GR friend.      I liked the sound of the book and am glad I decided to give it a try.    This is exactly the sort of book I've always enjoyed in the past and I'm glad to report this was no exception.     Although this was book 4 of the Sweeney Sisters series and I hadn't read any of the earlier books this one made a perfectly good stand alone story.      Whilst I might have been a little more enraptured with the characters had I been with the Sweeney family from the beginning of the series I quickly fell into their stories and found myself full of empathy for teenaged Annie and Cooper and the real life issues they faced.      I was disappointed this is where this series ends but on a positive note I was interested to read that Ashley Farley was inspired to write Saving Ben in honour of her much loved brother who died of an accidental overdose.  Having enjoyed her writing I may just give that one a try.

Thanks to Ashley Farley and NetGalley for the free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

Heidi and Hugh had talked about everything. He knew she wore a neon-pink shade of lipstick called Candy Yum-Yum, and she knew he ate ketchup on his grits and snored when he drank whiskey.

They’re mean as hornets, don’t get me wrong. But my mama loves them anyway.

A vision of his driving his redneck machine down the crowded streets of Manhattan, surrounded by yellow taxicabs and big city buses, caused his daydream to come to a screeching halt. Maybe New York wasn’t the best place for him after all.


My Review:

I don’t think I will ever tire of the Sweeney sisters and their odd collection of extended family members. Tangle of Strings is book four and I am more intrigued with them than ever before. Cozy up in your favorite chair and nestle in as the plot is boiling over with twists and turns of family tension, medical complications, police action, wry humor, and a resurfacing of the diva drama llama known as the old Jackie from book one. Poor Annie – she suffers through several trying incidents and has an extremely stressful and eventful stretch of time where she is constantly under pressure from all sides and has the entire family at odds. Ms. Farley’s clever pen has once again produced an engaging, emotive, and thought-provoking storyline. I adore this series and as always, eagerly await the next installment.

[Amanda Deering White · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read all the books in the series leading up to this, and I found them light and cute. The author introduced “bad guys” who were stereotypes of a black male criminals, down to the Nike clothes and gold teeth. At one point, there is a prostitution ring that is broken up. The sex workers are vilified by the author (they “deserve” to go to jail) whereas the white men frequenting their services are given a slap across the wrist and freed immediately for this “little mistake” they have made. I couldn’t take the racist and sexist undertones to the book. Although I liked the first few books, I won’t finish the series.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer)]

Read during vacation and enjoyed.

[Melissa Allen-Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very serious one

Very serious stuff going on in this book! Love this series still! Can’t wait to start the next book. Yet I’m not excited to be on the last one!

[Hope~The Click Happy Clicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big Annie fan so I really liked this book of the series. But bless her heart!!! She's been through so much & she's not even out of high school yet!!!

[Patricia Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangle of Strings did not disappoint

Tangle of Strings was a continued success for the Sweeney Sisters Series. Full of love and suspense. Consistent authentic family relationships.

[Luisa Maula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would’ve enjoyed this story more if it weren’t for the following:

• Abortion considered as morally wrong as it involves ‘murdering an innocent child.’

(I’d appreciate it if there’d be a reasonable explanation why someone would go through this procedure other than ‘ruining’ a couple’s future. Not to mention, abortion said to be wrong because the Lord apparently says so).

• Which reminds me, forcing someone into marriage because of what happened rather than hear what the couple has to say is a definite red flag of parenting for me.

• Pressuring their children to keep the baby for their own selfish desires is enough for me to judge their abusive authoritative behavior as soon as the cat was out of the bag.

• Grownups throwing more tantrums than the teenage couple upon finding out their children had an intercourse, resulting to an unwanted pregnancy.

• Having antagonists as black people who does drugs, harass women, and beats the daylight out of people for the heck of it. I never thought I’d have to encounter a stereotypical villain like this, yet here we are.

• Speaking of which, readers are also taught that prostitution is not a ‘real’ career and lets us know that women can find better job opportunities out there than even think about working in a ‘whorehouse.’


I had hopes that the author would at least enlighten their readers on teenage pregnancy and how should it be dealt with, but all we get is a bunch of traditional / old school behavior of confronting the young ones for the misdeed. Yikes.

I remember telling my significant other how the story got me hooked and even compared its theme to a typical Philippine Television Drama (Teleserye) at first. It didn’t take me long before I realized that this must be what the audience are living for all this time, and that got me back to my senses quickly.

The only positive note in this book would be how fast paced the story is, as it didn’t take me long to finish through the chapters as I usually do.

Oh, boy. That’s a lot. You know, what? I just happened to change my mind on rating this 4 stars at the beginning.

It was a good idea to scroll through the reviews and find that there are other readers here who end up having the book leave a bitter taste to our mouths, after all.

[Vee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea that this novel was a part of a series, but it became fairly obvious after the first few pages. Nevertheless, I decided to read this novel and base my opinions on only this one story.

The Sweeneys have had their fair share of conflicts, but they have always managed to come together because of their sense of family, their love for each other, and their willingness to forgive. But the latest crisis may be the one that undoes them.

At the heart of the matter are 16-year-old Annie Bethune, who is the ward of Faith and Mike Sweeney, and her boyfriend, Cooper. When Annie discovers that she is pregnant, she has to make a decision about what she is going to do. And while she appreciates everyone's support, she soon begins to feel like a puppet with everyone telling her what to do. As a family feud develops, Annie is unable to handle the pressure, and runs away ... right into the arms of danger.

Most of the story is about Annie and the pregnancy. We hear each character's opinion on what they think she should, and we also see what motivates each characters' opinion. For instance, Faith has never been able to conceive so she wants Annie to keep the child. Cooper's mother, Jackie, wants Annie to have an abortion because she doesn't want Cooper's future to be ruined. The list goes on and on. While the story definitely explores all of the different viewpoints at length, many parts of this novel didn't work for me.

Since I read this book out of order from the rest of the series, I was extremely confused by all of the family ties. Jackie is Faith's sister, and there's someone named Eli who is connected in some other way, and then ... oh, it was just a lot to keep straight in my head! Maybe it is better explained in the previous novels, but I was getting lost a lot on these details and that took away my focus from the story itself. I also found that there were way too many subplots and motivations going on, and it made the story more convoluted instead of complex. There really wasn't much of a focus throughout the story, and it made everything so muddled. Because of all of this, I felt like the seriousness of the issue being discussed in this novel wasn't handled well; the way the characters were dealing with it and talking about the consequences was really childish and tactless. Even the way in which the characters spoke was unbelievable and immature. In the end, this novel let me down because it didn't handle the gravity of the situation well and came off as being very immature.

[Care · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tangle of Strings is the story of Annie Bethune and her struggling through her recently reappeared birth mother, the desires and pressures of her legal guardians and de-facto adopted family, and her relationship with Cooper in the face of a family crisis. **some mild spoilers below**

The novel is a rushed, confusing conglomeration of many different plot lines all intersecting and intertwining. Eli, a member of the extended family of Annie's legal guardians, is a policeman involved in a sting trying to bring down two drug-dealing, pimp brothers. Cooper, Annie's boyfriend, loves her but is trying to leave the town with no strings. Heidi, her birth mother, reappears and reinserts herself in Annie's life, despite her unhappiness with that (there is also a minor plot where Heidi is dating her landlord who comes across as not quite so great but this isn't further explored). Faith, Annie's legal guardian, struggles with her infertility and inability to have a child with her husband Mike. And Annie finds herself pregnant as the result of one night's confusing events, catalyzing a whole host of relatives asserting their opinions and pressures.

The novel seems to lack focus and clarity because of the multiple plot lines and intersecting familial relations. As a result, it rushes through a very serious topic and its ramifications in a slightly tactless and unuanced manner where no one seems particularly mature or respecting of Annie's thoughts (even Annie herself, in unconvincing changes of mind), and where ultimately something happens that removes the decision from their hands. Because of the fast pace of the novel and all the characters and thoughts involved, the novel didn't really seem to delve into any character very deeply or conclude any plot particularly satisfactorily. The events and thoughts attributed to characters were not particularly realistic, and it was difficult to really enjoy the novel.

Thanks to the publisher for an advance digital copy.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another wonderful book about the Sweeney sisters but this time it's the story of 16 year old Annie. Her mother abandoned her as a baby and has just come back into her life and wants to develop a relationship with her. Since Annie is under the guardianship of the family, this creates turmoil for them. As the book begins, Annie (driving too fast on main street) is in a bad accident and ends up in the hospital. The ER doctor, also part of the Sweeney family, has to ask her if there is any chance she is pregnant. The answer incites a huge family uproar as they try to make a decision about what Annie and Cooper (her estranged boyfriend) should do. They don't stop to realize that the decision really belong to Annie and Cooper. Along with the family drama, there is a sub-plot that is very intense.

I loved this book and these characters. I hope that there are future books to this series because I enjoyed reading about the lives of the Sweeney family members. There is so much love and drama in this family that the author should be able to add more books to the series.

This is book 4 of the Sweeney Sisters series. This is such a convulated family that you really need to read this series in order to lessen the confusion. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah Joint · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say that this book was just not for me. I read a few reviews that said it worked as a standalone, so I went in confident. Nope. I was lost about the characters and how they're all connected to each other. I also feel like if I started from the first book, I wouldn't have made it to the fourth. It's just not my kind of book.

The adult characters are immature and hypocritical. They're discussing a very serious situation and it's their way or the highway... no one is willing to compromise. They're all trying to make a decision for a teenager about an unplanned pregnancy. When the teenager leans toward their decision, it's her decision and no one should try to sway her. When she doesn't, she's too young and upset to know what she's doing and needs guidance. The idea of termination is looked at as the wrong choice and something she would definitely regret in the future. The person in favor of it is written as selfish, uncaring, and unstable. The villains of the story are cartoon villains with no redeeming qualities. Maybe one is simply a psychopath, but both? It was unrealistic in a lot of ways.

I was given an ARC of this book from Net Galley and CrushStar Multimedia LLC. My review is honest and unbiased.

[Anne Rightler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangle of Strings, by Ashley Farley, is a story about family loyalty, love, and pulling apart and together in stressful times. Although fourth in the Sweeney Sisters series, the book can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The author does a good job of filling in enough of the back stories that one does not get lost in missing details. The focus in this book is on the teenagers of the family, Annie and Cooper, and the decisions that need to be made, the dreams that need to be considered and why can't the adults just let them find their way? So many opinions and which one is right? Will there be a family feud or will love and reason prevail? The story is fast paced with real-life situations that Farley infuses with drama and emotional tension. The characters are true-to-life and evocative--readers will get caught up in their lives. Family dilemmas covered by a whole lot of love and loyalty.
I received a copy of the book from the author. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Sweeney Sisters series, and the members of this family now feel like my own kin. This story focuses on the younger generation, specifically Annie and Cooper. Annie has been under the guardianship of The Sweeney family, and was recently reunited with Heidi, her biological mother who abandoned her as a baby. Annie is trying to sort through all of her feelings regarding her mother when an accident upends her life, revealing something that will test Annie, Cooper, and the rest of the family. This book is so heartwarming, even as it deals with events that are serious, and with startling consequences. This is a compelling story that will keep you turning pages until you get to the dramatic climax and conclusion. I was provided an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kiersta Barnes · Rating 1 out of 5]

So offensive

Spoilers galore here.
The only black male characters who speak in this entire series are, of course, drug dealers and pimps. It's terrible and just incredibly tone deaf and offensive in this day and age.
Secondly, we've got a 16 year old girl who wants an abortion, but adults in her life are refusing to sign consent forms and trying to force her into having a baby she doesn't want and then give it to her...
And the author "resolves" it all by having the girl get shot by one of the black men which makes the pregnancy non-viable, but otherwise has no complications.

Some of the earlier books have been a bit preachy. At times I've thought, wow a person would never say that phrase in real life; it sounds like they're reading a PSA.

This one though, was just awful. If there were/are more books in the series I'll never read them.

[Necole Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another amazing book by Ashley. This author had me fall in love with the Sweeney Sisters from her first book and now I am falling in love with the entire family. This book brings up real life issues for teenagers these days and really how decisions they make affect everyone around them. The author kept me in suspense through the entire story and I never saw the ending coming. I hope the author keeps writing about not only the sisters, but all the kids can have stories now too!

[Angela Thornburg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Downer book all around

The characters in this series are continually attacked by psychotic people for a storyline. In this book the characters, themselves are evil, picking on a teenage girl who gets, pregnant at age seventeen. It was really a waste and these are people I wouldn't want to meet, or an author I would read again.

[Katie Konow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why am I reading these?

[Merri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the series this was a little weak

[Kristine (The Writer's Inkwell) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review was originally posted on The Writer's Inkwell

Considering they come from a small town in South Carolina, the Sweeney sisters have no shortage of drama in their lives. Finally taking the focus off of Sam, this new book allows the readers to get some insight into the minds of Annie, Cooper, Sam's new husband, Eli, and Heidi, Annie's mother who abandoned her. This actually proved to work out well, because it allowed the story to expand in regards to the type of attachments the reader can make with the characters.

Annie is the primary focus of this book and I found myself surprisingly connecting with the young girl and sympathized with the predicament she finds herself in. The three Sweeney sisters don't make life easier as Annie faces a life changing decision and honestly, the predicament furthered my dislike of Jackie as a whole. If I had to save a Sweeney sister from a drowning boat, let's just say Jackie wouldn't make the top two list.

The thing I did find to be interesting about this whole ordeal was the development of Heidi. I am by no means a fan of this character and I completely agreed with Annie's anger towards the woman. But I found it to be interesting that as a reader, I was allowed so much insight to Heidi's personality and past. Most authors would have stayed with just Annie's point of view and I think it helps to smooth out my initial irk toward the character.

As for Eli's parts of the story, I'll be honest, I could have liked this book with or without his chapters. I suppose this is more of a personal choice, as I've been increasingly annoyed with characters in law enforcement after years of the same ole same. But none of this is the fault of the writing, it's just a personal choice. I didn't feel his storyline was really needed and the drama it brings to the book, doesn't help to make this book good. The book was strong without it, in my opinion. But on the other hand, it helped to introduce new characters from their small town and hopefully, they'll continue to play a role in the future books.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps my like for the story comes from my own personal experiences, but I felt a real connection with many aspects of Annie's story. It's those kinds of connections that can really leave a reader wanting more and I can honestly say I can't wait to see what kind of trouble they all find themselves in next.

I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. All opinions of the book are my own.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great series and this is no exception. It is heart wrenching in places, keeps you on the edge of your seat in others and gives you a ringside seat into family squabbles where everyone is right and wrong but too stubborn to see the other side.

The main focus of this book is Annie, who is a half sibling to Jamie (Samantha's son). She is 16 and has a streak of bad luck that sets up the story in this book. She is put into some situations that many teens face on a daily basis and I felt like the portrayal was pretty accurate. It doesn't help that some of these situations bring out the worse in Jackie and Faith and that inadvertently makes things worse and might be the cause why some things even happened. I know...vague, but when you read the book you'll understand! Let's just say they are acting like how most parents would act faced with various situations.

I felt for Annie and while she made decisions that she could based on the time and situation, I wondered how I might react if I were in her shoes. Annie does learn a lot in this book (which spans about a week) and while some situations are sad and others are scary, they leave a good message for anyone reading the book to look at all sides of a situation.

I do hope there might be another book to continue the saga, but if not it ended on a good note and it is left open for more books to follow.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

My last book to read in the series, since I read book 5 first. This one focuses on the life of Annie, a sixteen-year-old, who is fairly new in town. She has won the hearts of the Sweeney family but can that save her?
"Some families never resolve conflicts. Not so with the Sweeneys. Their sense of family, their love for one another, and their willingness to forgive have always triumphed and brought them back together. Until now. The latest crisis threatens to tear the family apart and crumble the foundation that has always proved itself rock solid.
At the heart of the matter are sixteen-year-old Annie Bethune and her boyfriend, Cooper. At stake are their dreams for the future. As to these dreams, no one in the family holds back when asserting an opinion.
Annie soon begins to feel like a puppet on strings with all those she loves telling her what to do. When those strings become tangled and a family feud develops, Annie, unable to bear the pressure, runs away. Straight into the arms of danger." synopsis copied

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true gem

This is Annie's story. A bit from the past but mostly represent. She has to work her way through several trials and tribulations in this novel. While she may be 16, life handed her a difficult and challenging first 16 years, where she often was the more of a parent figure than child. She feels stuck, at times, between being treated as and acting as a teen versus the "adult" she often feel she is. This has led her to feel smothered within the Sweeney family while also feeling loved.

In some respects this is also the whole Sweeney families story. They show that one can argue and disagree even say nasty words and have.major communication issues, yet in the end family and honesty is what really matters and keeps them together.

Another gem in this series, that for now ends with this novel, it is a touching and emotional novel the reader won't soon forget.

Rating: 4.8
✳✳✳✳✳

[Lois Chilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangle of Strings

Once again, Ms Farley has written a perfect example of loving families, dealing with an unwanted pregnancy, whether directly or indirectly. The people involved know as we all do, babies born under wanted circumstances never have words used like abortion or adoption for their futures.

Angry parents, adults wanting a child they can not have, people having lived the circumstances being discussed & last but certainly not least, the young man involved & the pregnant young woman all laying their opinions on the table & Ms Farley wringing every last drop of emotion from it. Whether you have ever walked in the shoes of any of the persons so noted above you definitely had a hurting heart through her writing.

I like her storytelling, I like her characters; she makes you take part in her story by picking a character & living her story. Once again, a great read.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangle of Strings, the 4th book in Ashley Farley's Sweeney Sisters series, is by far my favorite. The plot centers around two sixteen-year-olds, Annie Bethune, and her boyfriend, Cooper and their decision that will affect not only their lives but everyone else's in the Sweeney family. I really enjoyed the family drama as well as the danger that affects Annie's life, literally. Again, the setting of the Lowcountry is one of my favorites and I enjoy watching the Sweeney sisters fight through everything that life throws their way.

Go Cards! L1C4!!

[sharon mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whose love is most supportive?

There's lots of stark opinions in this book but they all come from the heart of love. Everyone cares about Annie but through personal interests, all those conflicting concerns serve only to confuse and antagonize her position in the family. Who is her mother when she desperately needs one? Many questions about relationships are investigated, answers are slow to come but they do eventually and even if the outcome may be sad, united family love wins out.

[Betty Davidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner.....

I read this novel on the edge of my seat,largely ...I thought it well written and as always a mixture of the Sweeney family in duress as well as the trauma from a hostage situation . Anne's new and only friend Thea and Annie get swept up in dire peril . I read a review that scathed the author because Thea and her family were
Seen as a "bad light " because they were black. I didn't get that impression at all. I truly have enjoyed the sweeneys. Wow now I see yet another.....wooopeee !

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangle of strings

This book follows several family members. Mostly about Annie and her long lost mother. This book is fast reading because of it being hard to put down. I really was involved with the characters, I wanted to tell them what to do, they were real to me. I was given this by the author for an honest opinion. This is part of a series, would be better to read the whole series but I have only read the one before this one and I still loved it.