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A Bend in the Willow
Willowood, Kentucky 1965 - Robin Lee Carter sets a fire that kills her rapist, then disappears. She reinvents herself and is living a respectable life as Catherine Henry, married to a medical school dean in Tucson, Arizona. In 1985, when their 5-year-old son, Michael, is diagnosed with a chemotherapy-resistant leukemia, Catherine must return to Willowood, face her family and the 19-year-old son, a product of her rape, she gave up for adoption. She knows her return will lead to a murder charge, but Michael needs a bone marrow transplant. Will she find forgiveness, and is she willing to lose everything, including her life, to save her dying son?
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2017
About the author
Susan Clayton-Goldner
24 books186 followersSusan Clayton-Goldner was born in New Castle, Delaware and grew up with four brothers along the banks of the Delaware River. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona's Creative Writing Program and has been writing most of her life. Her novels have been finalists for The Hemingway Award, the Heeken Foundation Fellowship, the Writers Foundation and the Publishing On-line Contest. Susan won the National Writers' Association Novel Award twice for unpublished novels and her poetry was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies including Animals as Teachers and Healers, published by Ballantine Books, Our Mothers/Ourselves, by the Greenwood Publishing Group, The Hawaii Pacific Review-Best of a Decade, and New Millennium Writings. A collection of her poems, A Question of Mortality was released in 2014 by Wellstone Press. Prior to writing full time, Susan worked as the Director of Corporate Relations for University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.
Susan shares a life in Tucson, Arizona and Grants Pass, Oregon with her partner, John Carter, her fictional characters, and more books than one person could count.
Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies including Animals as Teachers and Healers, published by Ballantine Books, Our Mothers/Ourselves, by the Greenwood Publishing Group, The Hawaii Pacific Review-Best of a Decade, and New Millennium Writings. A collection of her poems, A Question of Mortality was released in 2014 by Wellstone Press. Prior to writing full time, Susan worked as the Director of Corporate Relations for University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona.
Susan shares a life in Tucson, Arizona and Grants Pass, Oregon with her partner, John Carter, her fictional characters, and more books than one person could count.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 5, 2017
A Bend in the Willow
Susan Clayton-Goldner
Received from Netgalley
A BEND IN THE WILLOW is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is filled with twists and turns that you never see coming. I found myself holding back tears at the same time as I was trying to breathe. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I just had to know what was going to happen. Susan Clayton-Goldner makes the characters very real and relatable that you can't stop your heart from breaking while reading. I have not read this author before but after reading this heart breaking story, I will gobble up everything she writes.
Catherine is hiding a huge secret from her husband, Ben. When her son gets injured and it uncovers an even bigger life changing diagnosis, she finds the life she created for herself crumbling. A BEND IN THE WILLOW will give you pieces of her past as you read and you will be shocked at what Catherine has endured especially when she was a young girl. She ran away from the girl she used to be and now, she finds herself right back where all the horror started. She confesses to the very ones who thought she was lost forever to them. It's been twenty years since she has seen them, but for the sake of her beautiful son, she must do what she has to do to save his life.
A BEND IN THE WILLOW is a gut wrenching story that is going to shred your heart just the way it did mine. I understood why Ben was shocked but at the same time, I wanted to shake him and tell him the past belongs in the past. I fell in love with Catherine's brother Kyle and her niece Loralee. I truly believe A BEND IN THE WILLOW would make an awesome movie and everyone would want to go and see it. I was so emotionally invested in all the characters and their lives that I just couldn't put this book down. I wish I could give this beautiful and heart breaking story ten stars.
Susan Clayton-Goldner
Received from Netgalley
A BEND IN THE WILLOW is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is filled with twists and turns that you never see coming. I found myself holding back tears at the same time as I was trying to breathe. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I just had to know what was going to happen. Susan Clayton-Goldner makes the characters very real and relatable that you can't stop your heart from breaking while reading. I have not read this author before but after reading this heart breaking story, I will gobble up everything she writes.
Catherine is hiding a huge secret from her husband, Ben. When her son gets injured and it uncovers an even bigger life changing diagnosis, she finds the life she created for herself crumbling. A BEND IN THE WILLOW will give you pieces of her past as you read and you will be shocked at what Catherine has endured especially when she was a young girl. She ran away from the girl she used to be and now, she finds herself right back where all the horror started. She confesses to the very ones who thought she was lost forever to them. It's been twenty years since she has seen them, but for the sake of her beautiful son, she must do what she has to do to save his life.
A BEND IN THE WILLOW is a gut wrenching story that is going to shred your heart just the way it did mine. I understood why Ben was shocked but at the same time, I wanted to shake him and tell him the past belongs in the past. I fell in love with Catherine's brother Kyle and her niece Loralee. I truly believe A BEND IN THE WILLOW would make an awesome movie and everyone would want to go and see it. I was so emotionally invested in all the characters and their lives that I just couldn't put this book down. I wish I could give this beautiful and heart breaking story ten stars.
December 18, 2016
I have just spent the last two nights reading this book. I could not put it down, I had to keep turning the page to see what was going to happen next.
This book is a real tear jerker. The author has made her characters very believable and personalized each one with both subtle and overt words and/or deeds that make them seem like someone that you may know.
I find that over descriptive books tend to lose my interest, and unfortunately there are many good stories out there that I find have been ruined by the author not knowing when to stop describing a scenario.
Susan Clayton- Goldner has found a nice balance in her writing, she describes enough for you to be able to develop a picture in your mind and then continues with her story.
I would have loved to continue reading this story.... Who want's a good book to end? ... but, it actually ends on a perfect note.
I absolutely recommend this book.
This book is a real tear jerker. The author has made her characters very believable and personalized each one with both subtle and overt words and/or deeds that make them seem like someone that you may know.
I find that over descriptive books tend to lose my interest, and unfortunately there are many good stories out there that I find have been ruined by the author not knowing when to stop describing a scenario.
Susan Clayton- Goldner has found a nice balance in her writing, she describes enough for you to be able to develop a picture in your mind and then continues with her story.
I would have loved to continue reading this story.... Who want's a good book to end? ... but, it actually ends on a perfect note.
I absolutely recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2016
A Bend in the Willow by Susan Clayton-Goldner
Beautifully bittersweet – this is the story of Robin Lee’s childhood, the events that formed and tested her, and what she did to finally move on and become the woman known as Catherine Henry. As Catherine her life is everything she dreamed it would be but it is based on lies and she fears that one day she will be exposed. When her five year old son is diagnosed with leukemia and a bone marrow transplant is all that can save him Catherine has to face people and places she has not seen in twenty years. What she finds is an astounding story of giving, living and love.
This is a novel that kept me reading, made me think, made me feel and left me with hope at the end. One phrase hit me so I highlighted it: …she (Catherine) remained certain there were some truths that needed to stay hidden. Perhaps that was the crucial difference. Not whether you always told the absolute truth, but what you knew in your heart was worth lying for…
I loved the characters, the story and the writing. I am thankful to Tirgearr Publishing and the author for the copy of this book. I have never read anything by this author before but will look for her in the future. I rate it at five or more stars but since five is the limit will leave it at that and tell you that if you like a great story then this one might be for you.
5 Stars
Beautifully bittersweet – this is the story of Robin Lee’s childhood, the events that formed and tested her, and what she did to finally move on and become the woman known as Catherine Henry. As Catherine her life is everything she dreamed it would be but it is based on lies and she fears that one day she will be exposed. When her five year old son is diagnosed with leukemia and a bone marrow transplant is all that can save him Catherine has to face people and places she has not seen in twenty years. What she finds is an astounding story of giving, living and love.
This is a novel that kept me reading, made me think, made me feel and left me with hope at the end. One phrase hit me so I highlighted it: …she (Catherine) remained certain there were some truths that needed to stay hidden. Perhaps that was the crucial difference. Not whether you always told the absolute truth, but what you knew in your heart was worth lying for…
I loved the characters, the story and the writing. I am thankful to Tirgearr Publishing and the author for the copy of this book. I have never read anything by this author before but will look for her in the future. I rate it at five or more stars but since five is the limit will leave it at that and tell you that if you like a great story then this one might be for you.
5 Stars
January 1, 2017
I would like to thank NetGalley and Tirgearr Publishers for the ARC of "A Bend in the Willow" by Susan Clayton-Goldner. The plot starts when Robin Lee Carter, a 17 year old, after being raped contributes to a fire that kills her rapist. She disappears leaving her old life behind, and is able to find happiness now married with a young son. Now known as Catherine Henry ,everything seems perfect until her young son needs a donor transplant to save his life. The only relatives that could possibly save her son's life exist in Catherine's other secret life she left behind. That secret could destroy Catherine's life but save her son. Susan Clayton writes about betrayal, forgiveness, family, trust and love. I felt very emotional reading this intriguing story, and would highly recommend this . This novel is adult fiction with a touch of mystery, and twists and turns.
December 17, 2016
My preferred genre of books, history (such as O'Reilly's Killing series), action-adventure (Clive Cussler/Andy McDermott), sci-fi (Bradbury/King), and light-hearted humor (Terry Ravenscroft/Ad Hudler) took an abrupt turn when I discovered A Bend in the Willow. Susan Clayton-Goldner's latest endeavor inspired me to add a new "shelf" to my Goodreads library. I chose to call it character driven fiction. I am uncertain that shelf will be big enough to hold this story.
From page one the reader is drawn into the world of young Robin Lee Carter living a hardscrabble life with her mother, father, and two brothers. Robin Lee is the "middle child". Being a middle child myself I found some easily identifiable traits we pretty much all end up with. We feel a strong need to care for our younger sibling and we greatly admire the older though we often find ourselves in conflict as we feel forgotten (see Jan Brady uttering Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!). In the case of Robin Lee, a baby boomer growing up in the south, she must deal with an older brother who adores her (though he probably wouldn't admit it in front of others) and a younger brother eager to please everyone. Sprinkle in a doting mother and a father haunted by PTSD, stir thoroughly and see what transpires.
No spoilers will be revealed here but, I will say, why can't the genius of Hollywood find a storyteller like Clayton-Goldner and give us films rich with human emotion and stories that captivate our hearts? Instead they just rehash yesterday's successes, throw a different name on it, and expect the sheeple to keep on buying tickets. I digress. Back to the wonderful book.
You have probably read the brief synopsis already and you probably think you have the story all figured out. I know I did. Let me just say, I was wrong. (My wife loves to hear that, but that's a different book). A Bend in the Willow develops the characters slowly, transporting the reader from the adult version of Robin Lee back to her childhood and then back again. Her story is interwoven, very well in my opinion, back and forth allowing the character to literally grow in front of our eyes.
In retrospect the entire story takes place over the course of a few weeks, but several years. Believe me when I say that last sentence does make sense, after you read the book!
I have recommended the book to all of my friends and I would recommend it to you as well. Characters like Robin Lee Carter are intricate puzzles of humanity allowing us to glimpse some parts of ourselves and others we know. Characters that allow us believability and make a work of fiction grab you by the heart. We feel her struggles and pain and we empathize, sympathize, and finally allow ourselves the luxury of belief. A Bend in the Willow is such a fitting title as it describes what many of us experience, the path of life is not straight, it has many bends, curves, switchbacks, and, unfortunately, some dead ends. I strongly encourage you to partake on this journey with Robin Lee Carter (Catherine Henry) and follow the bend of the willow. It is most assuredly a Good Read!
From page one the reader is drawn into the world of young Robin Lee Carter living a hardscrabble life with her mother, father, and two brothers. Robin Lee is the "middle child". Being a middle child myself I found some easily identifiable traits we pretty much all end up with. We feel a strong need to care for our younger sibling and we greatly admire the older though we often find ourselves in conflict as we feel forgotten (see Jan Brady uttering Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!). In the case of Robin Lee, a baby boomer growing up in the south, she must deal with an older brother who adores her (though he probably wouldn't admit it in front of others) and a younger brother eager to please everyone. Sprinkle in a doting mother and a father haunted by PTSD, stir thoroughly and see what transpires.
No spoilers will be revealed here but, I will say, why can't the genius of Hollywood find a storyteller like Clayton-Goldner and give us films rich with human emotion and stories that captivate our hearts? Instead they just rehash yesterday's successes, throw a different name on it, and expect the sheeple to keep on buying tickets. I digress. Back to the wonderful book.
You have probably read the brief synopsis already and you probably think you have the story all figured out. I know I did. Let me just say, I was wrong. (My wife loves to hear that, but that's a different book). A Bend in the Willow develops the characters slowly, transporting the reader from the adult version of Robin Lee back to her childhood and then back again. Her story is interwoven, very well in my opinion, back and forth allowing the character to literally grow in front of our eyes.
In retrospect the entire story takes place over the course of a few weeks, but several years. Believe me when I say that last sentence does make sense, after you read the book!
I have recommended the book to all of my friends and I would recommend it to you as well. Characters like Robin Lee Carter are intricate puzzles of humanity allowing us to glimpse some parts of ourselves and others we know. Characters that allow us believability and make a work of fiction grab you by the heart. We feel her struggles and pain and we empathize, sympathize, and finally allow ourselves the luxury of belief. A Bend in the Willow is such a fitting title as it describes what many of us experience, the path of life is not straight, it has many bends, curves, switchbacks, and, unfortunately, some dead ends. I strongly encourage you to partake on this journey with Robin Lee Carter (Catherine Henry) and follow the bend of the willow. It is most assuredly a Good Read!
February 20, 2017
3.5 STARS - When I was contacted by the author to review this book I was immediately intrigued by the premise. The idea of a woman with a hidden past who is forced to confront her turbulent history to save the life of her ill son. It not only tugged at the old heart strings but I liked the mystery aspect as well.
Even though the book deals with some serious issues (childhood illness, violence, abuse) it was, overall, an easy read that flowed fairly well. There were a few instances where it felt like some dialogue could have been cut down a bit but it's the emotional scenes of abuse and illness that I felt showcased the author's writing even though these scenes were difficult to read due to their subject matter.
Like I mentioned, the premise was strong but I think the book would have benefited from more character development and back story, specifically when Catherine was first out on her own. This would have helped me to better understand her side of things. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with Catherine who often came off as too detached and self-centred. Her reunion with her first son was lackluster and too brief for the build-up in the plot. Catherine's only goal was to find a donor for her young son. As a mother myself I get that, I do. But to bound into this young man's life with barely a hello to him (or your estranged brother) and expect them to feel obligated to help you after decades of radio silence when she could have reached out was hard to fathom.
In contrast, the connection Catherine had with her brother Kyle was my favourite part of the book. It went from being very close, to damaged almost beyond repair to ultimately a very healing force. Their bond was written with sympathy and heart and was very believable.
Overall, this was a good read. It's a story about family bonds, loss, forgiveness and learning to move on. And, while I would have loved to have had an epilogue to gain some closure and things fell into line a little too easily, in the end I still feel that people who enjoy a family drama will want to pick up this book.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Susan Clayton-Goldner for providing me with a complimentary ebook copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
Even though the book deals with some serious issues (childhood illness, violence, abuse) it was, overall, an easy read that flowed fairly well. There were a few instances where it felt like some dialogue could have been cut down a bit but it's the emotional scenes of abuse and illness that I felt showcased the author's writing even though these scenes were difficult to read due to their subject matter.
Like I mentioned, the premise was strong but I think the book would have benefited from more character development and back story, specifically when Catherine was first out on her own. This would have helped me to better understand her side of things. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with Catherine who often came off as too detached and self-centred. Her reunion with her first son was lackluster and too brief for the build-up in the plot. Catherine's only goal was to find a donor for her young son. As a mother myself I get that, I do. But to bound into this young man's life with barely a hello to him (or your estranged brother) and expect them to feel obligated to help you after decades of radio silence when she could have reached out was hard to fathom.
In contrast, the connection Catherine had with her brother Kyle was my favourite part of the book. It went from being very close, to damaged almost beyond repair to ultimately a very healing force. Their bond was written with sympathy and heart and was very believable.
Overall, this was a good read. It's a story about family bonds, loss, forgiveness and learning to move on. And, while I would have loved to have had an epilogue to gain some closure and things fell into line a little too easily, in the end I still feel that people who enjoy a family drama will want to pick up this book.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Susan Clayton-Goldner for providing me with a complimentary ebook copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
January 7, 2017
A Bend in the Willow is a beautifully written, haunting story that will draw you in and make you want to not put it down until the last page. Even then, you'll be wishing there were more. I loved this book, the story is full of emotion and deals with some heavy issues, but in such a way that it's not disturbing. Rather, I wanted to know more about each character and fortunately, Susan Clayton-Goldner delivered, giving insightful backstory to each one, making them come alive on the pages. Make sure to have some tissues handy, especially toward the very end. This is a book that I believe would make an excellent movie.
** Thank you to NetGalley and Tirgearr Publishing for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. **
** Thank you to NetGalley and Tirgearr Publishing for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. **
January 2, 2017
A heart-stirring story of family and forgiveness
Robin Lee Carter has put her ”junkyard trash” past behind her, reemerging as Catherine Henry, the beloved wife of a doctor, and mother to 5-year-old Michael. But when Michael is diagnosed with leukemia, she must not only admit to her past, but face the reasons she ran away from it. A tender tale, beautifully evocative of both the Arizona desert and small-town Kentucky, A Bend in the Willow examines the reasons good people tell lies, the fallout that inevitably occurs, and the forgiveness we all hope is possible.
I received an ARC (advance reader copy) in exchange for my honest review.
Robin Lee Carter has put her ”junkyard trash” past behind her, reemerging as Catherine Henry, the beloved wife of a doctor, and mother to 5-year-old Michael. But when Michael is diagnosed with leukemia, she must not only admit to her past, but face the reasons she ran away from it. A tender tale, beautifully evocative of both the Arizona desert and small-town Kentucky, A Bend in the Willow examines the reasons good people tell lies, the fallout that inevitably occurs, and the forgiveness we all hope is possible.
I received an ARC (advance reader copy) in exchange for my honest review.
December 2, 2016
A Bend in the Willow, Susan Clayton-Goldner
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction
I’d not read any of Susan’s books before but this sounded intriguing.
I love romance reads, been finding concentration difficult this year so light ones have been the mainstay. Sometimes I want something that’s got a bit more depth to it, and I’ll go outside my usual zone into one like this, a non romance or ones with just a touch of it.
I wouldn’t want to read books like this exclusively, but love to mix and match reads to my moods.
So, I loved this story, loved the way it slowly built up, that it was clear Catherine was holding back a huge secret, loved the way we only found out snippets as the story unfolded.
Then things went really wrong, a huge crisis came and she was forced to reveal all, well part anyway, she was prepared to tell Ben everything but.... He was so shocked – well, who wouldn’t be – and his reaction was just what Catherine had feared.
She had to go back to her past, to reveal who she is to people who don’t know what happened to her, but she needs the help of her family to see if one of them can be a donor to Michael.
That means telling people who haven’t seen her for twenty years, who didn’t know what happened to her, finding out if her brother was still alive, seeking out Ryan, and all the upset that would bring to their lives. Michael needed her and she wasn’t going to let him down.
Its was emotionally gutting, brought me to tears a few times and I understood exactly why she had acted that way, and yet I also understood why Ben was shocked.
When someone is hiding something so huge from you it must make you question everything. Ben was a good man, loved his wife and son but in shock, and reacted badly. The more secrets came out the more I felt for Catherine and him.
Michael was wonderful, a real sweetheart, and his illness is all too real for many kids. I felt that part of the story was really well done, and could feel for the poor kid, especially when he’s facing death.
In hospital people die, you can’t avoid it, the guy in the bed opposite died one morning when I was having chemo, its tough but happens, even in kids wards.
The other characters were great, Kyle and his family, the people who knew Robin Lee, Ben’s secretary Helen, and his dad. They added to the feeling of reality, the emotions that built up, and how desperate Catherine was both as a teen when she disappeared, and now when her carefully constructed world collapses.
I felt so sad for her, she was trying so hard and yet the whole thing wasn’t her fault, she was just a scared teen.
Of course once lies are told, they build up and grow and she had to carry on with them even though she didn’t want to. Experience had taught her that she needed to keep quiet.
Its a fabulous read, a story that so full of drama and emotion, made me cry, and the characters felt like people I knew.
I’d intended reading part way and then back to a lighter read, as I’d just come off a similar great but heavy story. However I was so engrossed, so caught up in Catherine's world that I couldn't leave it until I knew how things were going to work out, hoping Ben would understand, hoping of course that Michael would get his transplant and recover, hoping Catherine's family would forgive her.
Its a book I felt really sad to leave but was happy at the ending, a positive note even if there was still lots to sort out and move forward.
Stars: Five, a wonderfully realistic, emotional, drama filled story.
ARC supplied for review purposes by author
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction
I’d not read any of Susan’s books before but this sounded intriguing.
I love romance reads, been finding concentration difficult this year so light ones have been the mainstay. Sometimes I want something that’s got a bit more depth to it, and I’ll go outside my usual zone into one like this, a non romance or ones with just a touch of it.
I wouldn’t want to read books like this exclusively, but love to mix and match reads to my moods.
So, I loved this story, loved the way it slowly built up, that it was clear Catherine was holding back a huge secret, loved the way we only found out snippets as the story unfolded.
Then things went really wrong, a huge crisis came and she was forced to reveal all, well part anyway, she was prepared to tell Ben everything but.... He was so shocked – well, who wouldn’t be – and his reaction was just what Catherine had feared.
She had to go back to her past, to reveal who she is to people who don’t know what happened to her, but she needs the help of her family to see if one of them can be a donor to Michael.
That means telling people who haven’t seen her for twenty years, who didn’t know what happened to her, finding out if her brother was still alive, seeking out Ryan, and all the upset that would bring to their lives. Michael needed her and she wasn’t going to let him down.
Its was emotionally gutting, brought me to tears a few times and I understood exactly why she had acted that way, and yet I also understood why Ben was shocked.
When someone is hiding something so huge from you it must make you question everything. Ben was a good man, loved his wife and son but in shock, and reacted badly. The more secrets came out the more I felt for Catherine and him.
Michael was wonderful, a real sweetheart, and his illness is all too real for many kids. I felt that part of the story was really well done, and could feel for the poor kid, especially when he’s facing death.
In hospital people die, you can’t avoid it, the guy in the bed opposite died one morning when I was having chemo, its tough but happens, even in kids wards.
The other characters were great, Kyle and his family, the people who knew Robin Lee, Ben’s secretary Helen, and his dad. They added to the feeling of reality, the emotions that built up, and how desperate Catherine was both as a teen when she disappeared, and now when her carefully constructed world collapses.
I felt so sad for her, she was trying so hard and yet the whole thing wasn’t her fault, she was just a scared teen.
Of course once lies are told, they build up and grow and she had to carry on with them even though she didn’t want to. Experience had taught her that she needed to keep quiet.
Its a fabulous read, a story that so full of drama and emotion, made me cry, and the characters felt like people I knew.
I’d intended reading part way and then back to a lighter read, as I’d just come off a similar great but heavy story. However I was so engrossed, so caught up in Catherine's world that I couldn't leave it until I knew how things were going to work out, hoping Ben would understand, hoping of course that Michael would get his transplant and recover, hoping Catherine's family would forgive her.
Its a book I felt really sad to leave but was happy at the ending, a positive note even if there was still lots to sort out and move forward.
Stars: Five, a wonderfully realistic, emotional, drama filled story.
ARC supplied for review purposes by author
January 19, 2017
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
** I received an advanced readers copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
I jumped at the opportunity to read this book after reading the synopsis. It sounded intriguing and intense. When Catherine's son was diagnosed with leukemia she was forced to face her past as Robin Lee Carter in the hopes of finding a bone marrow match for him. In doing so she hoped to save her son at the possible cost of her own future.
The book started off with a young Robin Lee and then quickly switched over to Catherine in 1985. As the story of Michael's illness unfolded the reader got tiny snippets of her past as Robin Lee Carter. Slowly the reader learned about her painful and disturbing past.
This book was easy to read and I was able to finish it quickly. I was interested in Catherine's past as Robin Lee and that was what kept the pages turning for me. There wasn't as much of the back story as I would have liked. The back story always intrigues me more and I found I was craving more.
This book was a story of love and forgiveness and the lengths people will go to in order to protect the ones they love. It was also a story of how secrets can come back to haunt you when you least expect it. The content wasn't always easy or pleasant to read but it painted a fairly good picture for the reader.
I do have to mention a couple of things that I struggled with as I was reading this book, Catherine being the biggest one for me. I had a hard time liking her. First, I found it hard to take when she wouldn't tell her husband her secret on more than one occasion. She would go as far as saying that it was really bad and that she could be in trouble but would stop at that. The bigger thing for me though was that I couldn't identify with her and the entire reconnection with the son that she put up for adoption. I found her cold and somewhat heartless about the entire thing. She was only connecting with him because she was hoping he was a bone marrow match for Michael. She seemed emotionless and selfish and not at all concerned about what it would do to him. It was very much unresolved in my opinion. I feel like her character needed to be fleshed out and developed a little more in order for me to understand and empathise with her. In fact, all of the characters would have benefited with a little more developing. They sometimes felt a little robotic.
I did however enjoy the reconnection that Catherin/Robin Lee had with her brother. I could feel a little bit more of the pain and emotion throughout that aspect of the story. Again, I felt that she lacked a bit of emotion and it was coming mostly from the other characters but a tiny bit did show through.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and am thankful that I had the opportunity to read it!
** I received an advanced readers copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
I jumped at the opportunity to read this book after reading the synopsis. It sounded intriguing and intense. When Catherine's son was diagnosed with leukemia she was forced to face her past as Robin Lee Carter in the hopes of finding a bone marrow match for him. In doing so she hoped to save her son at the possible cost of her own future.
The book started off with a young Robin Lee and then quickly switched over to Catherine in 1985. As the story of Michael's illness unfolded the reader got tiny snippets of her past as Robin Lee Carter. Slowly the reader learned about her painful and disturbing past.
This book was easy to read and I was able to finish it quickly. I was interested in Catherine's past as Robin Lee and that was what kept the pages turning for me. There wasn't as much of the back story as I would have liked. The back story always intrigues me more and I found I was craving more.
This book was a story of love and forgiveness and the lengths people will go to in order to protect the ones they love. It was also a story of how secrets can come back to haunt you when you least expect it. The content wasn't always easy or pleasant to read but it painted a fairly good picture for the reader.
I do have to mention a couple of things that I struggled with as I was reading this book, Catherine being the biggest one for me. I had a hard time liking her. First, I found it hard to take when she wouldn't tell her husband her secret on more than one occasion. She would go as far as saying that it was really bad and that she could be in trouble but would stop at that. The bigger thing for me though was that I couldn't identify with her and the entire reconnection with the son that she put up for adoption. I found her cold and somewhat heartless about the entire thing. She was only connecting with him because she was hoping he was a bone marrow match for Michael. She seemed emotionless and selfish and not at all concerned about what it would do to him. It was very much unresolved in my opinion. I feel like her character needed to be fleshed out and developed a little more in order for me to understand and empathise with her. In fact, all of the characters would have benefited with a little more developing. They sometimes felt a little robotic.
I did however enjoy the reconnection that Catherin/Robin Lee had with her brother. I could feel a little bit more of the pain and emotion throughout that aspect of the story. Again, I felt that she lacked a bit of emotion and it was coming mostly from the other characters but a tiny bit did show through.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and am thankful that I had the opportunity to read it!
December 26, 2016
In Willowood, Kentucky 1965, after a severe beating and rape Robin Lee Carter set a fire that killed her rapist and ran. The resulting rape left her pregnant and after having the babe which she gave up for adoption she left again to reinvent herself. Legally changing her name to Catherine Henry, she went to school and later married a medical school dean living in Tucson, Arizona. In 1985, when their 5-year-old son, Michael, is diagnosed with a chemotherapy-resistant leukemia, Catherine is desperate to find a bone marrow match and must return to Willowood. There she will face her family and her 19-year-old son, a product of her rape, whom she gave up for adoption. Though her return will likely lead to a murder charge, Catherine is willing to lose everything, including her life, and beg in order to save her dying 5 year old son.
Wow, it has been a long time since I actually sat and read a book cover to cover in one sitting, but this was one of those rare times where the reader becomes so invested in the outcome that you simply cannot put it down! Not only was A BEND IN THE WILLOW that compelling and written so powerfully, it was also a new author I had never read before! My only issue and it is so minor, was reconciling the title with the story.
The early portion of A BEND IN THE WILLOW held the story of a struggling family, with a loving mother, her three children, and their father who suffered from PTSD following his service in Vietnam. A changed man from the loving, caring man her mother described to a young Robin Lee. And with the beginning portion fully covered the reader gets to see and feel the emotional impact of all the motivations that lead to this powerful character driven novel.
Bottom line: Loved this story! I can’t describe more without giving spoilers, but this is a powerful story and I could see this on the big screen as a major motion picture. One note to new readers, have some tissues handy as there are parts where you will definitely need them. Ms. Clayton-Gardner wrote beautifully capturing real emotions of real people who have struggled through life and you will have to lay this novel down more than a few times to re-compose yourself in order to continue. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Marilyn Rondeau
Wow, it has been a long time since I actually sat and read a book cover to cover in one sitting, but this was one of those rare times where the reader becomes so invested in the outcome that you simply cannot put it down! Not only was A BEND IN THE WILLOW that compelling and written so powerfully, it was also a new author I had never read before! My only issue and it is so minor, was reconciling the title with the story.
The early portion of A BEND IN THE WILLOW held the story of a struggling family, with a loving mother, her three children, and their father who suffered from PTSD following his service in Vietnam. A changed man from the loving, caring man her mother described to a young Robin Lee. And with the beginning portion fully covered the reader gets to see and feel the emotional impact of all the motivations that lead to this powerful character driven novel.
Bottom line: Loved this story! I can’t describe more without giving spoilers, but this is a powerful story and I could see this on the big screen as a major motion picture. One note to new readers, have some tissues handy as there are parts where you will definitely need them. Ms. Clayton-Gardner wrote beautifully capturing real emotions of real people who have struggled through life and you will have to lay this novel down more than a few times to re-compose yourself in order to continue. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Marilyn Rondeau
January 2, 2017
A Bend In The Willow is women's fiction and is the tale of one women with two names and separate lives which ultimately mesh together.
Robin Lee Carter grew up in Willowood Kentucky. Her father was an abusive drunk who suffered post war PTSD and he was violent towards all three of his children.
By the age of seventeen, Robin's youngest brother had tied after an unattended head injury caused by her father, her mother had died of cancer and Robin had suffered ten years of sexual abuse from her father. One evening he raped her and broke her arm in his drunkenness, then fell asleep in oil covered overalls with a lit cigarette.
Robin fled the scene of the fire which resulted, with money to start a new life and her father's child in her belly. She tried in vain to contact her older brother for a year after the fire, then gave up.
She gave her baby away and made a new life for herself eventually marrying again and having a new child. But when her son Michael is diagnose with a rare Leukemia she must face the past to see if her family are suitable bone marrow donors.
An emotional tale for both Robin and the people whose lives she had connections with. Her adopted son, like so many children, had many questions and set backs because of his adoption and the hopes he raised of being reunited with his birth mother. Husband Ben who was devastated to find his wife had lied to him about her past. And for Robin's brother Kyle who went into a burning house believing he needed to rescue his sister and almost losing his own life because of his heroic actions.
My favourite character was Kyle's daughter Loralee, her angelic childhood reasoning and determination to see the good in people and to want to do her best, bound so many of the other characters together. Add this to several plot points to capture your empathy and compassion, this is a quick, enjoyable read.
Robin Lee Carter grew up in Willowood Kentucky. Her father was an abusive drunk who suffered post war PTSD and he was violent towards all three of his children.
By the age of seventeen, Robin's youngest brother had tied after an unattended head injury caused by her father, her mother had died of cancer and Robin had suffered ten years of sexual abuse from her father. One evening he raped her and broke her arm in his drunkenness, then fell asleep in oil covered overalls with a lit cigarette.
Robin fled the scene of the fire which resulted, with money to start a new life and her father's child in her belly. She tried in vain to contact her older brother for a year after the fire, then gave up.
She gave her baby away and made a new life for herself eventually marrying again and having a new child. But when her son Michael is diagnose with a rare Leukemia she must face the past to see if her family are suitable bone marrow donors.
An emotional tale for both Robin and the people whose lives she had connections with. Her adopted son, like so many children, had many questions and set backs because of his adoption and the hopes he raised of being reunited with his birth mother. Husband Ben who was devastated to find his wife had lied to him about her past. And for Robin's brother Kyle who went into a burning house believing he needed to rescue his sister and almost losing his own life because of his heroic actions.
My favourite character was Kyle's daughter Loralee, her angelic childhood reasoning and determination to see the good in people and to want to do her best, bound so many of the other characters together. Add this to several plot points to capture your empathy and compassion, this is a quick, enjoyable read.
February 5, 2017
What an excellent novel. I am so glad that the author contacted me with a suggestion that I might like this book.
The writing is wonderful, she captures the essence of her characters very well and develops them easily into people whom you feel you have known forever.
The themes of the book are many and are also developed well. This book would lend itself well to any "Book Club," "Coffee Clutch," or for a family who reads together and shares together.
The themes are these 1) Love and Transparency, 2) Truthfulness and Forgiveness, 3) Trust and openness, 4) The pain of childhood abuse, 5) The pain of war and the ravages on those who serve, 5) The fear of medical uncertainty, 6) The fear of a parent loosing a child, and finally 7) Why hiding your past may painfully effect your future
These themes are woven into a wonderful story that will leave you wanting more. Little Michael Henry, young, energetic, full of wonder and love has a secret that he knows nothing about, the secret is his body is about to fail him.
What will his parents do as the sickness sends their lives into a spiral. How will Catherine's past also send them into a further spiral? What will be the keys to bind their relationships even more firmly, or will they unravel.
I won't say more because that would be too much of a spoiler, but let me say this, when the book ended, I wanted more. I'm sure you will feel the same.
Enjoy!
The writing is wonderful, she captures the essence of her characters very well and develops them easily into people whom you feel you have known forever.
The themes of the book are many and are also developed well. This book would lend itself well to any "Book Club," "Coffee Clutch," or for a family who reads together and shares together.
The themes are these 1) Love and Transparency, 2) Truthfulness and Forgiveness, 3) Trust and openness, 4) The pain of childhood abuse, 5) The pain of war and the ravages on those who serve, 5) The fear of medical uncertainty, 6) The fear of a parent loosing a child, and finally 7) Why hiding your past may painfully effect your future
These themes are woven into a wonderful story that will leave you wanting more. Little Michael Henry, young, energetic, full of wonder and love has a secret that he knows nothing about, the secret is his body is about to fail him.
What will his parents do as the sickness sends their lives into a spiral. How will Catherine's past also send them into a further spiral? What will be the keys to bind their relationships even more firmly, or will they unravel.
I won't say more because that would be too much of a spoiler, but let me say this, when the book ended, I wanted more. I'm sure you will feel the same.
Enjoy!
December 14, 2016
The author, Susan Clayton-Goldner, is a lovely lady in her own right. She brings an intriguing tale of one woman's life, Robin Lee Carter, in "A Bend In The Willows" The book is written in the first person and is an engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story begins with the main character, remembering back to 1954, when she was a child of seven. She'd had a secret crush. Who didn't at a tender age? Mom and dad, her best friend, she and her brother making a fort in the woods. All the remembrances of her sweet early years. Then, life changes. The sweetness of youth leaves and she encounters some horrific events. Still a child, she see the cruelness of people, when she's abused both physically and verbally. The book continues with personal and family tragedies, that build her character, but also take their toll. The sexual abuse was both poignant and relevant today, but her survival is the true story. She endures a rape, where she exacts revenge on her attacker. I don't want to spoil the book, because this is a must read. It's a journey through one woman's life. Her joys, her romances, her heartbreaks and her disappointments. You won't be disappointed. I recommend this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.
April 5, 2017
It has been a long time since a story has moved me to tears! But reading the last chapter of this book about soaked my pillow! This is a beautiful story written with Southern charm. You live through each character. It has also been a long time since I have found a story so beautifully written that you could be reading a movie script. You can just hear the words coming off the page into your mind.
Robin Lee Carter grew up in the small town of Willowood, Kentucky. Growing up poor, all her dreams are of leaving this small town where she grew up, and she makes it happen. She completely reinvents her life with a new family. She has no desire to contact her family back in Kentucky until her son becomes so ill that only a blood relative could possibly save him. She finds out that finding who she needs may be harder than she ever thought.
Susan Clayton-Goldener's work is so beautifully written you feel as if you have just been dropped into the middle of this small town and are just soaking up what is going on around you. You can feel every emotion she is going through as she tries to save her son as well as her marriage. This is honestly the best book I have read in a long time.
Robin Lee Carter grew up in the small town of Willowood, Kentucky. Growing up poor, all her dreams are of leaving this small town where she grew up, and she makes it happen. She completely reinvents her life with a new family. She has no desire to contact her family back in Kentucky until her son becomes so ill that only a blood relative could possibly save him. She finds out that finding who she needs may be harder than she ever thought.
Susan Clayton-Goldener's work is so beautifully written you feel as if you have just been dropped into the middle of this small town and are just soaking up what is going on around you. You can feel every emotion she is going through as she tries to save her son as well as her marriage. This is honestly the best book I have read in a long time.
December 22, 2016
When Michael falls off of his horse and gets hurt Catherine and Ben's life's changes. When the doctors run test on Michael they find out he is very sick. Catherine knows the only chance to save her son is to go back her life as Robin Lee. When Robin confronts Ryan he is excited to finally meet her. When he finds out why she seeked him out he gets angry and walks out of her life. When Robin goes to Kentucky the pain she suffered as a child comes back to her. When Robin goes to visit her mothers grave she is shocked to find a grave with her name on it. Kyle isn't happy when she shows up. The way Kyle suffered since he last saw her is truly awful. When Michael gets transferred to another hospital his only chance to survive is his young cousin. The author will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens to Michael. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review. The words in this review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book. This book deserves a higher rating than a five star review.
December 21, 2016
I have never read anything previously by Susan Clayton Goldner but this has to be one of the best books I have come across in forever. While initially I held little expectation, I can now say without a doubt that the emotional content filling these pages is beyond anything I could have imagined when I started the book. How the story developed to its eventual emotional climax and how each of the characters lives were shaped by their past was remarkable. The past - present storylines also helped the reader better understand what brought the characters to where they are now. If you like lifetime movies then don't pass on this book. I am a grown man and at times felt myself getting teary-eyed emotional as I read (but don't anyone tell on me cuz I might deny it). Maybe someday this book will move to the big screen ..I hope it does..but until then do yourself a favor and enjoy it as it is - a Gold Star literary work.
December 13, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fabulous!! I felt like the characters were my friends and I wanted to help them all through the book. I know when I have found a good book when I take extra time in a day to read and finish a book in only 4 days!
Almost everyone has a secret in their life that they share with no one --- or very few. The mystery of Catherine's secret throughout most of the book was very intriguing. And then, WOW!!
This is a great book for a little mystery, a little romance, and good old-fashioned "human condition" emotions. The author keeps your interest in the way she describes the scenarios and the feelings of her characters; it puts you right there with them.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone and, in fact, will be recommending it to all my friends who read.
This book was fabulous!! I felt like the characters were my friends and I wanted to help them all through the book. I know when I have found a good book when I take extra time in a day to read and finish a book in only 4 days!
Almost everyone has a secret in their life that they share with no one --- or very few. The mystery of Catherine's secret throughout most of the book was very intriguing. And then, WOW!!
This is a great book for a little mystery, a little romance, and good old-fashioned "human condition" emotions. The author keeps your interest in the way she describes the scenarios and the feelings of her characters; it puts you right there with them.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone and, in fact, will be recommending it to all my friends who read.
January 7, 2017
I LOVED this book !!! Once I started it, I couldn't stop. The author wrote it in such a way that I wanted to know what was going to happen next in both the present & past. And I appreciated the separation in the story letting me know that what I was going to read next was from Catherine's/RobinLee's past, explaining her actions & feelings in the present. My heart ached so bad for Michael as his health deteriorated, & for his parents as well, knowing how helpless they felt & the problems that the stress can cause. When RobinLee had to go in for questioning, my chest tightened as I read the next pages, so afraid the she was going to miss her son's possible last days or seeing him before surgery. I'm waiting for the sequel to find out about the lives of RobinLee,Ben, Michael, Ryan, Kyle, Lucy, & Loralee.
December 20, 2016
Definitely worth reading. It’s a tale about surviving, being the person you promised your Mother you would become. To succeed, the heroine had to sever all ties. That means you have no idea what happens to those you loved and left, no idea even what they believe happened to you. A new identify also means your new life is founded on lies, until the day it implodes.
It’s a common premise, that’s been presented many times for eons. Susan Clayton-Goldner has successfully given us a story that is fresh, plausible, and gripping. I started it late at night and got far too little sleep.
I read this as a pdf file and preordered the Kindle version. This is definitely a book I will read again.
It’s a common premise, that’s been presented many times for eons. Susan Clayton-Goldner has successfully given us a story that is fresh, plausible, and gripping. I started it late at night and got far too little sleep.
I read this as a pdf file and preordered the Kindle version. This is definitely a book I will read again.
January 4, 2017
I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this novel from the very beginning as I could associate some of the early years of Robin Lee's family life to my own. She was the product of a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and I had the same situation in my life, but not to the extent that Robin Lee endured. The story is centered around strong family love but the circumstances of life take this family on a tough journey. The author has done an excellent job of developing her characters and has a plot that twists and turns throughout the book. This plot will keep you in suspense from beginning to end. If you are looking for a good fast paced read then this is the one for you. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I loved this novel from the very beginning as I could associate some of the early years of Robin Lee's family life to my own. She was the product of a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and I had the same situation in my life, but not to the extent that Robin Lee endured. The story is centered around strong family love but the circumstances of life take this family on a tough journey. The author has done an excellent job of developing her characters and has a plot that twists and turns throughout the book. This plot will keep you in suspense from beginning to end. If you are looking for a good fast paced read then this is the one for you. I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 7, 2017
I was asked by the author if I would be willing to read a copy of her book for an honest, unbiased review. Sure, why not. What I wasn't expecting was the emotional and heartbreaking ride that this story took me on. I am a mother of a young son who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease this past year, so this story hit very close to home for me. I would do anything for our son and I can see that Catherine is the exact same way. She is one of three siblings who has a father with war-related post tramatic stress disorder, along with an alcohol drinking problem. While she would do anything to never have to return home, that is exactly where she has to go. This is a great story and I highly recommend it.
December 14, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It unfolded slowly and kept me in suspense until the very end. I wish it had an epilogue to show what happened to the family after the story ended. There was one story line I would have liked to seen go a little further before the novel ended. The author uses many descriptive words and figurative language to help you visualize the setting and enable you to go inside the minds of the characters. I thought the characters were realistic because all of them had flaws- none were perfect as in some books where the main character can do no wrong. This book tackled abuse and cancer, both of which are important topics today. I highly recommend this book.
December 15, 2016
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
If you were granted only one book to read, I highly recommend Susan Clayton-Goldner’s novel,
A Bend in the Willow. Not only is the author an accomplished writer, with several awards to her name, this story will pull you in and play your heart strings with an unerring sense of your own humanity. Each character is so well-developed that I felt as though I was watching a play on stage. Susan Clayton-Goldner weaves a tale like no other, with a profound blend of prose and poetry, and will leave you with a deeper appreciation for a life lived beyond self.
If you were granted only one book to read, I highly recommend Susan Clayton-Goldner’s novel,
A Bend in the Willow. Not only is the author an accomplished writer, with several awards to her name, this story will pull you in and play your heart strings with an unerring sense of your own humanity. Each character is so well-developed that I felt as though I was watching a play on stage. Susan Clayton-Goldner weaves a tale like no other, with a profound blend of prose and poetry, and will leave you with a deeper appreciation for a life lived beyond self.
January 24, 2017
I started this book and couldn't quit reading until I was finished with it. This is the first book I've read by Susan Clayton-Goldner but I can guarantee it won't be the last!! I'm an avid reader, and I read romance stories most of the time, but I absolutely LOVED this book!!! The author has such a talent for bringing her characters and story to life that it felt like I was living it with them! I laughed and cried (make sure you have a box of tissues handy!), and felt the emotions of all the characters, from the fear, desperation and anger to the hope and relief. This book is well worth reading and I highly recommend it!!
January 5, 2017
A Bend in the Willow is a satisfying read, with well-drawn characters and the emotional depth I appreciate in a story. Clayton-Goldner tells Robin Lee’s story with a richness of language that is as compelling as the story itself. And it is compelling. I typically lean toward a different genre so I wasn’t sure how captivated I would be. But I was, completely, to the very last line, which I loved.
March 22, 2017
Really needs to be a more star rating that just 5! This book is emotionally pulling. You want to scream, kick, cry and smile all in one. You want to to reach out and help yourself just so the mother isn't facing what she is. When this author wrote this book she diffidently knew this would be a top reader! And if you have yet, you really need to! This book pulls your from the real reality and makes you feels deep emotions and a connection with the characters. Astonishing read!
June 18, 2017
Being a lovely day yesterday, I thought I would spend an hour or two reading this novel in the garden. That hour or two turned into a whole day, as I couldn't stop turning the pages. I very rarely write what a story is about for fear of spoiling for others, but I do highly recommend. It is the first time that I have read any novels by this author and it certainly will not be the last.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
December 17, 2016
Susan Clayton-Goldner sure knows how to write a page turner! Once I started this book, I had a hard time putting it down. The book had an intriguing story and a gripping plot. The main characters lives converged in a thought-provoking and insightful look at the emotional trauma resulting from violence in families. I highly recommend this book.
October 5, 2017
3.5/5.0
A five-hanky read, this emotional tale yanks on heartstrings and wrings out emotions while dragging the reader backwards through a tangled hedge.
Read full review in the 2017 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
A five-hanky read, this emotional tale yanks on heartstrings and wrings out emotions while dragging the reader backwards through a tangled hedge.
Read full review in the 2017 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
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