Watching Glass Shatter

Perceptions of Glass #1

by James J. Cudney

After 40 years of marriage, Olivia's husband unexpectedly passes away. But when Ben’s will reveals a life-altering secret, she suffers a blow no widow should ever experience. As Olivia visits each of her sons to share a final connection before facing a truth that will change their family, she discovers that each has been harboring a painful secret, just like his father. Will the revelations destroy their family or bring them closer together?

Watching Glass Shatter is the 1st book in the Perceptions of Glass contemporary fiction, family drama series. Currently, there are two available, with a third planned in the future. Chapters switch POV between Olivia and each son, revealing different personalities, voices, and struggles not unlike many of us in life. You'll undoubtedly love some members of this family and experience a fiery angst for others. But in the end, it will tug at all of your emotions.

★★★★★ - "Cudney’s debut novel is both atmospheric and contemplative, and delivers a gut punch of family angst, devotion, and heartbreaking love."

★★★★★ - "The plot is well-thought out and intricately and methodically crafted. The execution is great, especially the last several chapters are stunningly beautiful. An astounding read."

★★★★★ - "A wonderful novel that I highly recommend to anyone."

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Thriller, Family Drama

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2017

About the author

James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in Connecticut, but I've traveled all across the US and various parts of the world. After college, I accepted roles working in technology, program management, and business operations in the retail, sports, entertainment, and media industries. Although I enjoy my career, I began to focus on other passions in 2016: telling stories and connecting people through words. My debut novel is 'Watching Glass Shatter,' a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. From there, I've written other family dramas and an eight-book mystery series. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com

I'm an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have ~1800 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice, and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this is my own book, I'm not going to write a review. I'm using this space to let you know when there are discounts or marketing promotions, as well as share some thoughts on how the book came to be.

Watching Glass Shatter is my debut novel from the fall of 2017. It took me one night to dream up the story, but a year to write and publish it. I always knew I had it in me yet never forced it to happen. I'm beyond thrilled at what I've accomplished, and now, when I look back... I see tons of things I did right, as well as a few I would've done differently. That said, it's the characters and the plot that have always been important to me. This feels like a real family, one with flaws and emotion... why not take a chance on reading it?

To buy this book, please visit Amazon where it's available for purchase as a Kindle, physical, or audio book. It's also available from Barnes and Noble as an order from their online system. If you're not convinced yet, check out the blog tour for this book where you can see each blogger's posts with author Q&A, special features, videos, and future release information. You can visit my author page for more details. Thank you for considering my work.

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching Glass Shatter by James J. Cudney is one of the best books I’ve read in 2017. It’s a debut novel about a family with secrets. These secrets have the potential to tear the family apart.

The matriarch of the family is Olivia. Her husband Ben, the patriarch, has just died unexpectedly, and she is left with their five grown sons, their families, and her sister Diane. She's also left with a secret from Ben regarding one of their sons. Olivia decides to take some time to spend which each of the boys, and in doing so she discovers that each and every one of them has their own little secrets they've been hiding.

I was sucked into this story as soon as I started reading it. A worry that I had was that with all the characters in the book, I would get confused and lost because each of the sons have their own family members as well, but not once did I have an issue with it. The characters are so well detailed and described. After reading about each one, I felt that I knew this family, and they all felt so realistic to me. I think overall my favorite character was Diane, but as the story moved on it became Olivia. In the beginning, I almost couldn't stand Olivia, but she begins to change. As she discovers so many new things about her sons and their spouses, she begins to realize that she's too much of a control freak and needs to let people make their own decisions. I loved this transformation—although it may not have been complete—she becomes more understanding, kinder, and less judgmental which I admired. The boys...where can I start? Each one is unique in their own way. They’re all likable, but my favorite son was Ethan. I had issues with Zach and a certain situation between him, Teddy, and his wife, but it came together at the end which was unexpected. I couldn't wait to find out whether the Glass family would heal or simply fall apart. I was literally astonished by this book because it has many twists and turns. You just won't know unless you read it from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the writing and the plot was unique to me. I thought the book was put together perfectly. Readers know that it takes more than just a good writer to offer a great book, and everyone has their own opinion on this. Some say they need to be captivated and that the characters need good development. Others say they really want to be taken on an adventure, but a good book to me is one that makes you feel, and this book did that for me. I had a myriad of emotions. I laughed, cried, jumped for joy, and even got angry at times throughout the book. It's truly heart-wrenching at times! I can't remember the last time I was this emotionally involved with characters. It's definitely been a while!

As far as the end: I liked it, but I expected something different. I wasn't sure if I was happy with Olivia's choices, or Rowena's choice for that matter, but it turned out great.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I’d recommend this book to anyone.

5*****

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A: I think I knew somewhere around 6 or 7 that I loved to read and write. I once wanted to be an architect, then a teacher, but I ended up focusing on literature and business in college. I wrote many short stories, poems and novellas in my early twenties, but I took a job in Corporate America to survive. I needed to get back to writing for the sake of my own sanity; I think I ultimately always knew from the beginning. I just didn’t do it right away!

Q: I was amazed after discovering the short amount of time it took you to write Watching Glass Shatter. It's such a stunning read! Would you say writing comes pretty easy for you? What do you find most challenging about writing? 

A: Thank you, that’s very kind. I did write the outline and first draft in less than 3 months, but with editing and beta feedback, it was around 6 months in total to produce Watching Glass Shatter. I just finished writing a second novel and it went a bit quicker; the initial outline and first draft (350 pages) took 2 months. Writing does come easily to me, but that’s not really the whole picture when I think about the editing components that need to happen afterward. The challenging part is finding the voice and the point of view for the key characters. Setting, plot and character are easy to decide when you have a passion for the story, but determining how to win over readers to feel everything you feel is the hardest part. It’s finding the rhythm to keep the pages turning and not get too far astray where readers feel disconnected. It needs to be seamless, and choosing the right words can be the reason I stumble or take longer than I hope.

Q: What do you love most about writing?

A: The emotions I can deliver, whether it’s laughter, fear, inspiration or tears. My characters are people I have a relationship with… this might sound a bit funny, but it feels like I’m their therapist, listening to their story as we sit together in my office (dining room). I listen, ask questions, throw out ideas… then it gels into something that feels quite real. It’s almost like my responsibility is to tell their story as best as I possibly can, which requires readers feel the same emotions I do when I discover it the first time.

Q: Did you enjoy reading as a child? If so, what are some of your favorites?

A: I did! I have been on a quest to review on Goodreads every book I ever read, but remembering the ones from my childhood are not as easy. I’m getting old! Yes, I can say that aloud now. It happens. I loved reading serial fiction and anything about nature. I adored Return of the Native and Nancy Drew books. There’s something about visiting the same characters repeatedly that makes me feel like they’re part of the family.

Q: As of now, how many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

A: I have 1 published book. I have a second written and in an editing stage, which will be delivered to 5 beta readers before 12/1. It should be published in early 2018. I am also working on a sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, due out sometime in mid to late 2018. I have 1 other writing project planned for 2018, but I will be announcing that in the coming weeks. Watching Glass Shatter is probably my favorite because of the connection I feel to the Glass family; however, in the second book, tentatively titled Father Figure, there are 2 primary characters instead of 10, which allowed me to dive even further into their psyche and emotions. There are a few parts of this book that I absolutely adore, and if I can pull off some of the editing changes I think need to happen in the coming weeks, it may be my new favorite. Father Figure is a fine balance between love and villains; I seem to like writing for villains based on what’s happened in this next book! I scared myself a few times.

Q: When it comes to writing, what tools do you use? 

A: I have a laptop and a leatherbound journal. The laptop, using MS Word, has all the writing, but the journal has my ‘to do’ list for edits and ideas. I don’t use any other software, but my Dad just convinced me today to stop reading aloud my own work and instead to buy an application that reads it to me. I’ll hear mistakes and potentially awkward language more easily if all I’m doing is listening. He’s a smart guy!

Check out this post titled "What's on your Desk, Wednesday?" by Sassy Brit where James discusses his writing routine and his desk @ Alternativeread.com 

Q: What are some of your writing tactics? Do you outline? Do you do all your own editing?

A: I begin with an outline that includes plot, timeline, character and setting details. I list a few bullets for each chapter on what needs to happen, then I dive into writing. Editing is complicated as there are at least ten different types of editing that need to happen. I did them all myself in Watching Glass Shatter, which is both good and bad. I had help from several fantastic beta readers who caught lots of proofreading issues, including things like tone, character voice and point of view. Without their feedback, Watching Glass Shatter would not have been as good as it turned out. I am interviewing a few editors for Father Figure. I believe that no matter how strong I think I am at reviewing my own work, someone else with a bit more experience and a separation between the words will help turn a great book into a stellar book. I want a stellar book, so I’m likely going to take that step quite soon.

Q: What’s the publishing process been like for you and how do you market your books?

A: I initially searched for a literary agent, which is always one of the first important steps. The process could take years, but I preferred to get my work out in the hands of readers sooner than years. After 3-months of searching for a good agent, I got lucky as an author I met on my blog connected me directly with a publisher, Creativia. It’s not often you connect with a publisher this quickly, and I am quite grateful. Marketing responsibilities are split between Creativia and me; they handle Amazon, Bookbub and a few other key tools and advertising. I applaud them as they took me directly to the #1 spot last weekend in multiple categories on the Amazon Kindle FREE book list. I’m also still pretty high in their ranks for Kindle PAID books this week, which I would not have been able to do on my own. I am incorporating insight from some great bloggers on how to build a marketing plan, which I will put into effect in 2018 once the blog tour and holiday season comes to an end. I will have more on that in the coming weeks, as there will be more opportunities for others to participate in fun ways with marketing in 2018.

Q: I love the cover as it fits the book perfectly! Who designed it and did you have a part in the actual design? 

A: I’ll say right out of the gate, I have no design sense whatsoever. I know what I like, but I cannot draw, paint, sketch or do anything artistic (except write). I provided a summary of what I thought would be a good cover; Creativia loved the idea but didn’t think it would sell very well for my target audience. We looked at some photos and incorporated colors and ideas from different angles. In the end, I adore the cover. It is absolutely beautiful, but there has been some pushback from a few readers who think it makes the book look more like a thriller mystery when it’s more a family drama with some suspense and mystery. I understand that point, but I also think the entire shattering image and the leaf represents the Glass family perfectly – just like you said!

Q: What do you think makes a great book?

A: I’m first and foremost a plot guy. When I read, I need to fall for the story, then the characters. I can love a book if the characters are only so-so, but I can’t love a book with great characters and a bad story. I tend to prefer something emotional or humorous. If you can combine all those things, plus add something unique, I think you’ve got your readers sold on a great book. 

Q: Do you think your writing will stay in this genre? 

A: Not entirely, no. I will always write in the family drama/saga genre, weaving in suspense and mystery, but I have plans to write across a few genres. I will be writing a mystery series starting in 2019 with a male protagonist in a small college town who stumbles into various incidents. I haven’t decided if it will be a cozy or somewhere in the middle, but it won’t be the violent or scary kind (although I love those books too). I have written 2 outlines for other books which both have historical fiction and fantasy involved in them, which may be surprising since I don’t read a lot of fantasy. It’ll be light, but enough that the intrigue is pretty intense.

Q: How many books do you plan to write regarding the Glass family?

A: My goal is to write 2 books per year for the foreseeable future. I’d like 1 to be a GLASS book and 1 to be something else. I currently have 2 full plots worked out for the GLASS family which would be 2018 and 2019. I plan to create some polls and forums to discuss with readers which characters they’d want to explore more, as I could also write stories from the past, e.g. Grandpa and Grandma Glass, who were both mentioned. Or perhaps how Olivia and Ben met, maybe Diane and Olivia’s upbringing… so many options! I feel a connection with the 5 brothers, so I think the stories will focus on them in 2018 and 2019.

Q: How did you come up with the character names in the book and are any characters or events based on anything true?

A: None of the events are based on truth; however, a few character lines or actions were pulled from people I know because I like having a few notable connections for my friends and family to figure out. Since I’m an only-child, I don’t have any brothers for things to happen such as the movie 54, the cicada incident or the memories of the fishing trips. I was a bit scared people would think that I described something that happened to me – and that would be embarrassing! The last name GLASS is a family name, and on Blog Tour Day 13, Linda @ Maine Paper Pusher revealed how that all came together! 

Q: Did you have to do much research for the book or were the characters and events just all in mind?

A: I had very little research for this book, but that was a conscious decision. I selected plots and characters that were common or real people we all know or have in our lives. The only areas I spent a few hours researching were in assigning personality traits to siblings based on birth order. I wanted to ensure it was clear why each brother chose the life they chose and how they ended up with their own particular secret. In my next book, I did have a fair bit of research to pull off the plot twists. 

Q: Was anything edited out and did you have alternate endings for the book?

A: Yes, a few things were edited out. I’m still not sure it was the right decision, but it was also nothing serious. The memories for Ben and Olivia’s engagement and wedding were much longer. I also had a scene with all the brothers at the anniversary party before Ben died, letting readers get to know them early on. I removed it because it was too much ‘information dropping’ and chose to slowly disseminate that level of detail. I will say that the brother I ultimately chose as the brother discussed in the initial secret revealed in the will is not the one I originally plotted out. There was an alternate ending and some readers will absolutely hate it. I ended the book without revealing the original secret, clearly building a major cliffhanger where it was narrowed down to 3 of them. Ultimately, beta readers felt you needed closure to that secret, so I didn’t end on a cliffhanger of that magnitude. But I left in a lot of ‘what if’ scenarios and questions which will be covered in the sequel.

Q: What else do you like to do outside of writing?

A: When I had free time, which is never currently, I spent it doing genealogy research, reading 2 or 3 books each week, watching more TV shows and running around the city to different plays, museums and parks. I miss it, but I also love the writing life. I’m a creature of routine. I’m done by 7 each night… we either cook or eat out, then watch an hour of TV together and play with Ryder… and by about 10ish, I’m in bed to read for 30 to 45 minutes. W, my other half, stays up a bit later, but I get up earlier. It’s a good balance for us to each of a little bit of alone time to get our own stuff done!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben, the patriarch of the Glass family, has been killed in a tragic accident. Olivia, the matriarch, not only has to deal with the grieving process, but also with a secret of such enormity, that it will have the ability to tear this family apart.

Ben left two letters with his lawyer to be given to Olivia on his death. One of them is for Olivia, revealing Ben's secret, and the other is for the son who will be most affected by it, though she doesn't know which one. She decides to spend time with each of her sons before finding out which of them this secret affects. Olivia thought she knew her sons really well, but she's about to discover that they all have secrets of their own too!

This was very much a character driven novel, and with quite a large number of family members ( Olivia, her sister, and Olivia's five sons and their families ) I expected to get a bit lost along the way, but that wasn't the case. We were provided with an in depth look at each of them, giving great insight into what made them tick, how their vices or issues affected the way they interacted within the family dynamic. There were tears, laughter, hope, and forgiveness.

My initial thoughts on reading the synopsis were, sounds intriguing - well let me tell you, when I started reading this novel that quickly changed to, boy this is really gripping!

James Cudney deserves credit for this debut novel, he's taken me on such an emotional journey and really brought his characters to life in terms of personalities and feelings, and with such a unique storyline it makes for a real page turner!

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Watching Glass Shatter is a gripping family drama by new author James J. Cudney aka Jay to many of us in reviewing circles. When I began reading I expected to like the book; I never expected to spend the entire day with a "can't put down" novel! Once I became involved with the Glass family, I had to see it through to the end!

The patriarch of the Glass family has been killed in a tragic accident. After his death the family is shattered but we soon learn that the cracks and fissures already were there yet no one was looking closely enough to see. Glass also left a letter for his widow that ultimately could/would change her life and possibly one of her five son's life forever.

The book is written in a manner so that we, the reader, have an opportunity to get to know Olivia, the widow, and her sons individually and in depth. We learn their dreams, hopes, fears and secrets. We then view each person with Olivia and examine their relationships as they morph through the grieving process. Most importantly, we watch as they grow into themselves and into the realization that their father/husband is gone forever and their secrets have destroyed the best part of their family.

This book played on my emotions in a very real way. I laughed, I physically ached at times, I cried for happiness and I cried in mourning with this family. Cudney has a gift, a true gift, for expressing, describing, the innermost thoughts and feelings of his characters in a way that you can relate to deeply. It didn't matter if it was the youngest son, the disgruntled daughter in law or Olivia, with whom I closely identified. Cudney paints their personalities with a vivid brush. You will become part of this family.

EDITED NOTE: I just spoke with the author and the concerns I had about grammar and speech patterns were corrected in the current version of the book. I've updated my rating accordingly to FIVE beautiful stars. Yes, I know I'm a grouch who doesn't give them out often but - it IS brilliant! I hope you all will read this one! Oh - and in searching for a way to express the type of book it actually is, I discovered that "fictional realism" is a genre. Who knew? Fiction that is as close to reality as possible without actually being true. That absolutely describes this marvelous novel.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Watching Glass Shatter” is an intimate look into the lives of a family.
“The Glass Family”....is as complicated as any family can be.
With 5 adult children - all sons- we are reminded that we never stop being children.

The author’s writing is subtle — it works it’s way into our heart and mind so that we have real feelings for the characters. Each with struggles -and or secrets.

At its ‘heart’....”Watching Glass Shatter” is about love and how love shapes us - transforms us..... when it’s important to reach out to someone —when to stay quiet — when it’s important to let go— and all the consequences of the choices we make.

A very delightful novel - easy to devour it. I did.
It’s rich, funny, sad, and hopeful....a perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and savory!

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great debut from James Cudney!

From the outside, the Glass family seemed to have it all. Ben Glass the patriarch, is a partner in a successful law firm. His devoted wife Olivia and their five grown and successful sons.

How appearances can be deceiving

Ben was tragically killed in an accident. He’s left behind two letters with his lawyer for his grieving wife to open upon his death. The second letter has the potential to rip apart his already grieving family. As Olivia decides whether or not to open the letters, she spends extra time with each of her sons to reconnect. What she discovers is secrets and deception. How well does she really know her sons?

All it takes is one pebble to crack the glass. Leaving it weakened and prone to shatter when the next pebble strikes.

An original and clever premise. Had me intrigued right away! With a large cast of characters, I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to keep them apart. But fortunately, they were all very well defined. And I had no difficulty following along. Well done! Very enjoyable read!

Thank you to James Cudney for providing an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.

A Traveling Sister read which included Norma, Brenda, Susanne, Lindsay and Marialyce!

For our full Traveling Sister review please visit Norma and Brenda's fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching Glass Shatter is a gripping family drama. Having not read many family dramas before, I am glad I read this one.

The Glass family has just lost its patriarch, Benjamin Glass. At the time of reading of his will, Benjamin’s widow, Olivia, receives an unexpected confession from her late husband about one of their sons that could shatter the whole family. Prior to revealing the secret to her children, Olivia decides to spend a week with each of her sons and discovers some more secrets while staying with each of them. It becomes clear that her husband was not the only one with secrets in this family. The book covers Olivia’s effort to reconnect with her sons all over again in an effort to reunite her family. Will Olivia be able to fix them or will the whole family implode?

The story essentially is about a family’s struggles to cope with loss of a loved one and how they manage to come together once again. Watching Glass Shatter is well crafted character driven story. After the initial chapters, the books explores each of the character in depth (Olivia, her sister, and Olivia's five sons and their families ). We learn about their hopes, fears and secrets. We also examine their relationships with Olivia and how the family drifted apart over the years. The many characters may sound confusing, but that was not the case. Each character is extremely well written, with his own unique personality and a story. As the story progresses, we know about the Glass family more and more in detail, their innermost feelings and struggles and their secrets; (which we can relate to and which make them so real). What I liked the most was how the characters evolved through the course of the story.

The story is absorbing with many twists till the end. I enjoyed the writing and the story, which was really unique. Overall, Watching Glass Shatter is a very well written debut novel. An entertaining and a suspenseful family drama with well-developed and realistic characters and a unique storyline. I enjoyed this book and if you like reading family dramas, you will enjoy reading this story.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching Glass Shatter by James J. Cudney is a 2017 Creativia publication.

Engrossing family drama!

I love family secrets and conflict because in real life we all know that family can be hard, but at the end of the day, they are still family, which is the most important thing. But, what is great about books like this one is watching how a fictional family responds to disappointments, mind blowing and life altering secrets, and how they deal with internal conflict and matters of conscience.

Olivia and Ben raised five sons and after many years of marriage are very happy together. But, when Ben dies suddenly, Olivia learns her beloved husband harbored a monumental secret regarding a decision he made many years ago. Now it is up to Olivia to handle this highly emotional bombshell that will forever change the family dynamics if it ever comes to light.

As the story proceeds, the reader learns about each of Olivia’ sons, their wives, girlfriends, their past and current mistakes, desires, and dilemmas. Each of them has a major problem, or two, they must overcome or cope with and some of them will make stunning choices that further complicated an already delicate situation.

As Olivia proceeds to honor her husband’s will, she slowly begins to take charge of her life and make decisions about her own future, as well as a few controversial ones regarding her sons.

But, will her sons manage to salvage the mess they’ve made of their own lives and will Ben’s shocking secret finally be revealed?

Whew! This is one seriously complicated family!! There is a large cast of characters, which normally causes a problem for me, especially with books, but somehow, I managed to keep everyone straight without losing track of the threads that connected them to the story.

Some of the characters I love, some had to grow on me, and the jury is still out on a few others. But, the novel is absolutely absorbing, and hard to put down. I kept worrying about the characters or found myself fuming about something they did or said.

There are some pretty heavy issues to resolve, some tears will be shed, and you will probably need a box of tissues close by on a few occasions, but have no fear, the story ends on a positive note as most of the characters make great strides in either their professional, or personal lives- or both.
The outcome of Olivia’s quest turned out far differently from the way I imagined it might. I kept wondering how each of her sons would react if they discovered their father’s secret. This scenario kept me on edge all the way from the start to very emotional conclusion.

For some reason, while reading this book, I was reminded of a popular weekly family drama which aired on television a few years back. My husband I got hooked on it and never missed an episode. It was very high in dramatics, with a large, loaded cast. The initial set up was slightly similar to the one in this book, and like this novel, was highly addictive. My husband and I were always talking about the characters and wondering what would happen on the next episode, which is very unusual for us.

This book had that same effect on me, and it got me to thinking…. since life is full of surprises, conflicts, dramas and tragedies, maybe the author will keep readers updated on this family from time to time. I’d love to catch up with them someday.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.

Is there any better time to read a book about family dysfunction than around the holidays?

James J. Cudney's Watching Glass Shatter is an immensely readable, deliciously soapy novel about a family on the verge of being torn apart by secrets. It's also a commentary about how when it appears people have it all, they often aren't satisfied, and things are much more complicated than they seem from the outside looking in.

Ben Glass and his wife Olivia are about to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. They have five wonderful sons, and Ben is in the process of beginning to plan his retirement from the law firm he has led tirelessly for years. But the family is thrown into turmoil by Ben's sudden death, which leaves Olivia shocked, despondent, and wondering what she is going to do with the rest of her life given all that she and Ben had planned.

The truth is, Ben's death is actually not the worst of it. After reading Ben's will, his attorney reveals a secret a conflicted Ben has kept hidden for many years: when Olivia gave birth to one of their sons, the baby died shortly after his birth. Rather than tell Olivia, who was asleep at the time, Ben was able to find a young woman looking to give her infant son up for adoption, so Ben arranged for them to switch babies, and never said a word, although he always felt guilty and wanted to tell the truth.

To make matters worse, Ben directed his attorney to find his son's biological mother upon his death. Only once the woman is located (if that is possible) can the information about which son this was be revealed. Olivia feels angry, betrayed, and utterly despondent that in addition to losing her husband and best friend, she has now learned she lost a baby years ago, and she may lose one of the young men she has raised from birth.

As the attorney searches for the woman, Olivia decides to spend time visiting each of her sons, trying to determine if she can uncover the truth, but more importantly, ensuring that their lives are progressing the way that she and Ben hoped they were. In addition to experiencing a little friction with her daughters-in-law, what she finds is that each of her sons is carrying his own burden, his own secret that is torturing him. If all of these secrets are revealed they have the potential to destroy her family completely.

There is quite a lot going on in Watching Glass Shatter and I just couldn't get enough of it. Some of the secrets I could see coming, but I was hooked from start to finish. I've seen that Cudney is a fan of soap operas, and that comes as no surprise reading this book, and that's part of what makes it so enjoyable. He deftly avoids the plot or the dialogue becoming too campy or melodramatic, however.

You may know how this story will resolve itself, but it doesn't matter one bit, because you'll want to see it/read it with your own eyes. This is a compelling addition to the dysfunctional family genre, and I look forward to seeing what Cudney writes next!

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars.

“Watching Glass Shatter” is a character driven novel written by James J. Cudney.

This is a novel about a family whose secrets threaten to tear them apart. Olivia is the Matriarch, who, after her husband Ben’s death, is left to cope with a devastating secret involving one of her five sons, which threatens to destroy the family. As she spends time with Teddy, Matt, Caleb, Zach and Ethan, she realizes that each of them also has a shocking secret, and no one is left unscathed.

In his first novel, “Watching Glass Shatter” James Cudney has written a book involving distinct, extremely well developed characters. Each chapter is broken out by these separate characters and not once, did I get confused as to which chapter I was reading. I admit I had my favorite characters. I loved Olivia’s sister Diane, who everyone turned to in their times of need. I also loved Caleb, Olivia’s middle child. His struggle felt the most real and the most personal to me and I loved all of his interactions.

While I felt that there were certain parts of the story that were a little implausible and needed more research, overall I found the novel be well written and funny at times, given the subject matter. Frankly, I was impressed that it was a debut. James, you did good!

This was a Traveling Sister Read. It included Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Lindsay and Marialyce. The discussions the book generated were phenomenal.
The full Traveling Sister Review can be found on Norma and Brenda’s fabulous blog at: https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

Thank you to James J. Cudney for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter on 11.15.17.

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

WATCHING GLASS SHATTER by JAMES J. CUDNEY was an interesting, entertaining, and a suspenseful family drama which was full of dynamic, well-developed and realistic characters. I absolutely love the cover of this book and that very clever title! I am totally a "cover girl" and when I seen that cover I just knew that I had to read this book. Although, I found a few things within this novel to be a little bit over the top it was just so much fun reading this with some laugh out loud moments that I found the most enjoyable. My absolute favorite character and chapters were with Caleb.

Brenda and I prepared the review for this book together so instead of repeating the review here the full review can be found on our book blog which is noted below.

This was a Traveling Sisters group read which I had the pleasure reading along with Brenda, Lindsay, Kaceey, Susanne and Marialyce. We had a great discussion with this book and it will definitely be a memorable one!

Thank you so much to James J. Cudney for providing me with a copy to read in exchange for a review.

Our combined Traveling Sisters Read Review can be found on our book blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traveling Sister Review by Brenda and Norma with Kaceey, Lindsay, Susanne and Marialyce

We read Watching Glass Shatter with four of our Traveling Sisters and we have prepared a combined Traveling Sisters Read Review, which is our signature review for our blog.

Watching Glass Shutter is an interesting, witty, heartwarming but yet a heartbreaking family drama that explores many family secrets within the Glass family and the familial relationships between mothers and sons. It has quite the intriguing mystery within the storyline which added some suspense to the story for us.

James J. Cudney does a fantastic job creating realistic characters with their own unique stories giving his characters a lot of heart and a down to earth feel. There is a lot of family drama going on within this family drama story and at times felt like it was a tad bit over the top. James does a great job separating the characters into their own chapters and giving them strong distinct voices and each with their own secrets. Each chapter ends with a cliff-hanger keeping us interested and engaged.

We all absolutely loved the humor that James brought to the story and had us laughing out loud a few times. At times we felt there was little witty theatrics going on and that added some warmth and laughter to the story for us.

Olivia brought out some strong feelings and reactions from us. We felt anger, sad, hopeful, and respect for her as we saw her perspective changing towards her sons throughout this story. We felt most of our discussion had us thinking and discussing Mother’s and their relationships with their sons and this opened up quite the discussion amongst ourselves.

What a clever title for this book as the Glass family’s life was shattered after the sudden death of Olivia’s husband. Through her perseverance by getting to know her sons again she began to piece her family back together giving us a clear picture in our minds of the glass shattering. Brilliant James!

Thank you so much to James J. Cudney for providing us a copy to read in exchange for a review.

Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...

[Lindsay L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This was a suspenseful family drama full of lively and secretive characters. The story kept me entertained and guessing from start to finish. I had the pleasure of reading this along with my Traveling Sisters - Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Susanne and Marialyce. We had lots of theories, guesses and great discussion along the way.

To find our full Traveling Sister Read review, please visit Norma and Brenda's fabulous blog at:

https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

A big thank you to James J. Cudney for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!!

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching Glass Shatter

What a wonderful and thought-provoking debut book this is. I have not found it easy to write a review without some level of spoilers.
There is so much depth in the author’s writing. I was immersed in it right from the very start. The theme is all about secrets. The title is most appropriate. After forty years of happy marriage Olivia Glass… the mother of five sons is informed one day that her husband Ben has been killed in a car accident leaving her devastated.
The family gather for the reading of the will when she is given a letter from her husband for her alone. She is shocked to the core by its contents. It reveals to her a secret she has known nothing about and cannot reveal to any of her family at this point in time.
To discover the answer to this secret that her husband has kept from her throughout most of their married life he has instructed her to visit each of their sons and spend some time with them. When she discovers what she needs to know, there is a second sealed letter she must pass on to the appropriate son.
During her visits to each son more secrets are revealed to her which which again leave her shattered. She finds she knows little of each of her son’s individual and private lives.
The individual characters are so well drawn as the author deals with his characters by giving them chapters of their own as we learn of their secrets.
I found Olivia (the family matriarch) to be a strong character. Although she loves her sons she is the sort of dominant person who both likes and expects to control. She rarely stops to think about other’s feelings before she speaks. This is made very clear as the book progresses. I found myself disliking Olivia more and more. Each chapter is told from one or other of the in-depth character’s viewpoint including Olivia’s own personal reaction as she learns so much more of the lives of each son.
As more and more secrets are revealed there is much emotional stress going on among these compelling characters and their mother. In any book of fiction, the characters must grow in one way or the other. This is so evident in every family member including Olivia. I began to admire her as she comes to terms with the family secrets and her own greater understanding of both herself and her sons.
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time and I found it a real page turner. It touched my heart and moved me to tears more than once. I recommend it highly.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are secrets and then there are SECRETS......

Imagine losing your spouse of 40 years...Devastating. As if that is not hard enough, imagine that you learn that your spouse has been keeping a secret from you and that secret is only revealed upon their death. What a blow! That is what happens in this book!

Olivia's husband, Ben is tragically killed in a car accident. While sitting with her sons at the reading of the will, she is given two envelopes. One is for her to read and the other is for one of her sons to read. What she reads is a SHOCK to her. Naturally she is blindsided and angry. How could her husband keep such a secret? How did he pull it off?

Olivia decides to spend a week with each of her sons and learns some "truths" while staying with each of them. It becomes clear that her husband was not the only one with secrets in this family. How well do we know those in our lives? How well do we know our children? Olivia learns a lot about her children through the course of this book.

There are a lot of characters in this book, but it is easy to tell all of them apart. Each has his and her own personality, plus the chapters are titled letting the read know exactly who is in each chapter. Some brothers you will like more than others - or at least I did. We learn the secrets of each son and the motivation for keeping the secrets, well, a secret! Everyone thinks that their family is dysfunction to a degree, and this family is no different. I loved the scene where everyone's secret did come out! While reading this section, I wondered how this would have played out in my family - most likely louder and involving mass food consumption!

This was a very well written (and thought out) debut novel. The characters are well written, and I had my favorites! Some I felt for, some I rooted for, some I booed and hissed at (plus, I thought they got off a little too easy), some I cried for/with, etc. There also was some growth and insight (especially for Olivia) for most of the characters. It all comes down to family and what makes a family.

I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Starjustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome debut novel, by James J. Cudney, that reads like a movie script at a fast page-turning pace that keeps the reader involved with the Glass family from the beginning to the very end.
The story entails the enlightenment of a family, to each other, and their journey to closure after the loss of the father unexpectedly.
The characters are all very strong and their stories are extremely interesting as well as diverse.
I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it highly!

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of character driven novels, then you are in for a treat with Watching Glass Shatter. This fine book written by a new author, James, Cudney, is a powerful look into family and its dynamics on members of the family and others within their circle.

The family patriarch, Ben, has been involved in an awful automobile crash that takes his life and eventually involves his family in a secret that may have devastating results. Olivia, his wife, is a strong minded, authoritarian parent and when she is given a letter from her husband at the reading of his will, she is thrown off kilt. The family is comprised of five sons grown to adulthood each of which have had close ties with their dad. Unfortunately, because of circumstances, the boys have grown apart each one leading a life that also contains secrets. It seems at the point of Ben's death, the family is in need of once more finding its way back to each other and their mother.

Olivia takes it upon herself to reestablish the connections with her sons. She is determine to become a part of their tangled lives and try to help them move forward in a way that will benefit them and the people they have chosen as partners. In the process, Olivia recognizes in herself her inability in the past to let the boys make their own decisions without her stepping in. She can see her sons are unhappy. They are devastated by the loss of their father whom they dearly loved and respected. Some of them are ashamed of what they have done and are doing. Some of them are embarrassed to embrace their weaknesses and one of them is about to hear more devastating news. Their father's letter to their mother will change many things, although the boys are not privy to its contents, Olivia will cope with its effects and in the long run enable herself to find and help her sons.

I truly enjoyed this book as it allowed the reader to get to know the characters. I was not at all a fan of Olivia but as the book progressed, I came to see that she was trying to change not only her sons but also herself. Olivia's sister Diane, a minor character was wonderful. She always provided both the boys and her sister a voice of reason and steadfast advice. It's hard for me to say which one of the sons I liked best. They all were fine young men, flawed for sure, but each one of them managed to stand tall and make changes in their lives that were meaningful and set them on the right path.

There were some hard to believe (at least for me) circumstances. However, that being said this book will leave you with a feeling of having truly known its characters. You will become involved in their lives, happy for their successes and sad for their losses. I truly recommend this book for its ability to make the Glass family so very authentic to the readers.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a child growing up in Texas and Oklahoma we often took road trips. Since everything was far apart the road trips were long. I would pass the time daydreaming in the back seat and making up stories about the houses we passed. Was the family with the red door happy? Did they have kids? I had a dream of writing stories then, before I knew how much work was involved. (Hats off to writers! Ya’ll are amazing!)
Anyway, writers daydream and construct stories from sparks. This is one of those books about a family. Its beautiful, its heartrending, and its the kind of book that will live in your memory forever. Thank you, James for introducing us to the Glass family! 😊

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Watching Glass Shatter" is the debut novel of James J. Cudney and it is phenomenal!

Olivia and her sons and the rest of the characters are well-rounded, developed, complex characters. There were points where I wanted to "Gibbs' slap" each of them in turn, but they're all terrific characters. I can also identify with each of them in turn as they deal with the various pressures and secrets in their lives. Zach and Caleb are my favorites. They seem to have a hidden depth to them and I want to get to know them even more than we do in this book.

The character development in this novel is wonderful. We watch several characters go from being obsessed with their own lives and their own feelings, to the exclusion of others, to reaching out and enjoying the fact that they have a family to rely on. Everyone grows to some degree, some more than others, but everyone grows and changes a little in this book and it’s fabulous to watch.

The setting descriptions were slightly wordier than I tend to like, but they worked in this book. I didn't feel as though they pulled me out of the story as setting descriptions sometimes do. I tend to prefer more basic descriptions, but the wordiness worked in this novel and it didn’t detract from anything at all.

The plot line is so dramatic and amazing. How Ben’s secret affected Olivia, how the secrets of the boys affected their relationships in the family, everything was excellent. There was just the right amount of suspense for a dramatic novel without there being too much suspense.

All in all, I’m totally in love with this book and would put it in my top 5 books of 2017 list. It’s phenomenal, amazing, and you really need to read it! I’m hoping that James will write a sequel!

[Hamad · Rating 5 out of 5]

After becoming a grumpy cat and and losing faith in finding a good book, I remembered one of my reading goals for this year and it was: to read a book written by a Goodreads friend.



Watching Glass Shatter restored my lost faith, gave me a huge dose of entertainment and really surprised me! In my last book review, I apologized to Margaret Atwood for the low rating, now I need to apologize to James for not having read this earlier and for not having higher expectations.

If you want to know how this book felt, in short, it had the same vibes as Without Merit by Colleen Hoover, and although I enjoyed that book, I have to agree with many reviews which said that it had way too many elements and that it should have focused on one subject. The thing that this book excelled in!!

Also this is a character driven book, with multiple POVs and many backstories of the characters, the writing style was good and humorous, the pacing was fast and it was just so good that I almost had the Cheshire cat smile on my face the whole time I was reading this.

I don't want to write a summary as the book synopsis had done that in a good way, but this was so relateable as I come from a family with almost the same construction as the Glass family, the similarities were uncanny!!

So, the decision to read this book was one of the best decisions ever, I can recommend this to everyone, so if you haven't read it yet, go and pick it up quickly!

Actual Rating is more like 4.75, but since is James debut novel and since I haven't enjoyed a book in a long time, I am gonna keep it as 5 stars.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having followed James Cudney's blog and his reviews for some time, I knew he could write, and my expectations for his first novel Watching Glass Shatter were not let down. He has a style of writing that immediately drew me into the story, and it is certainly quite a story! I don't want to give anything away, because it is a mystery and the sense of suspense I felt throughout my reading made this such an enjoyable, memorable book. I love a thriller based around the intrigues of a family and Cudney delivers just this. The patriarch of the wealthy Glass family, Benjamin Glass, dies and leaves behind a widow and five sons. Benjamin, however, told his widow a secret about himself and one of their sons, most affected by this, which could really stir up the family and change their lives forever. That being said, she doesn't actually know which one of his sons Benjamin was referring to, so she does a bit of detective work, spending a week with each of them. I won't give anything away, but lets just say there are plenty twists and turns I didn't see coming! While the mystery really held my attention, I am such a character-driven reader and the big cast of characters in this book appealed to me. It can be a challenge to add depth to multiple characters in a novel such as this and still keep the tension high, but Cudney did it very capably. I felt this was more than a typical mystery, because there is so much thoughtful commentary on family and what it means to be linked in this way, even when we are adults. I was intrigued by each of the characters, but I think Ethan might have been my favorite to read about. I also liked how Olivia developed from someone I didn't like much at first, to a 'real' and engaging character. There were so many individual stories to learn about, and they all came together nicely, providing a satisfying conclusion and one I had not guessed.
I am quite enthusiastic about this book, for one because it is was just good, but also because, amid the sea of crime fiction I have been devouring lately, it stands out as something a little different, a little more multi-faceted. I can't believe Watching Glass Shatter was a debut novel, and very much look forward to James Cudney's future work (one more book is already available!). Recommended for fans of character-driven mysteries with intricate plots!

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this wonderful debut novel!

Full disclosure, I received a copy of this novel for my honest review. I'm not going to go very deep into summary or thoughts on specific scenarios simply because I think this is a must-read and the reader must form his or her own opinions.

Books about family secrets tend to be unoriginal. Watching Glass Shatter is definitely not that. I found the plot to be surprisingly refreshing. When I first learned of the meat of Ben's secret, I knew I had to keep reading. What made everything even more intriguing was the fact that particular secret was only one of many. I felt compelled to see how everything was pulled together.

I particularly enjoyed how well the characters are developed and how much background the reader is given. In the same breath, I can see where reading through all of this background can be a little tedious, but it's definitely worth it in the end.

The latter part of the novel is so beautifully written. The lessons learned and the outcomes of the various events are pulled together so nicely. I teared up in a couple of places. The themes and lessons learned may be specific to the Glass family, but there are many universal feelings and ideas implemented within them.

For a first novel, it leaves very little to be desired. I was definitely impressed.

Thank you Jay for providing me with a copy of this novel. Please continue writing. :)

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an extravagant book! I was initially drawn to this novel because I loved reading Jay’s reviews and other writings on his blog. His blog was one of the very first that I had followed and I highly enjoyed his his daily updates. Now, that has no bearings on my review if I don’t enjoy a book from a fellow blogger, I simply let them know and don’t waste either of our time posting. What sealed the deal for reading this story was the incredible cover, synopsis, and many other glowing recommendations. Starting this book I had no idea how invested I would become in the characters and how incredible and well written this story would be.

Watching Glass Shatter was everything I was craving in a story plus more, all wrapped up in one book! The plot flowed smoothly. It was complex and brilliant. Mr. Cudney created unique characters that I fell in love with and orchestrated a perfect blend of humor, tragedy and realistic features.

Now when I say I cried, I don’t mean a little teary eyed. I mean the ugly cry, that I went through a whole box of tissues kind of cry. Was it worth the ugly cry? Heck yes it was! Will I be reading this novel again and recommend it to everyone I can? Hell to the yeah! Thank you Jay for quite the experience and for creating such a remarkable family drama! Congrats on your book and this will surely be a story that I won’t soon forget!

[Candace Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not long ago, I read Father Figure but Cudney, and after, I just knew I had to read Watching Glass Shatter! They are both very different books, but equally as good! Also this one had some interesting secrets!

What I liked best about this book is it is very character driven. I'm sure I've said this numerous times but those are my favorite kind of books. There were a lot of POV's, and I've read books where the personalities feel too much the same or that they are there for no reason. But like Six of Crows (completely different genre), they perfectly fit in the puzzle of this novel. 

I felt for the mom, Olivia, especially. As a mother, sometimes I think I'm doing things not enough or that I could have done things better. But no mother is a hundred percent perfect, we try our best because, and each day is a learning curve. And I loved her character!

There was a choice between Zach Glass and another character that most people would want to whip out the witch hunt torches for, but sometimes, things happen. As long as it isn't a repetitive circle I believe people should be forgiven.

Overall, this was such a dang addicting read that I finished it way quicker than expected. I will say there is a particular chapter that made me tear up! Cudney just knows how to brings out all kinds of different emotions with his books. I need his next book already!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling family saga

This novel was so compelling. Although some dragged and sometimes I felt there might be too many sons in thee mix I grew attached to each brother. The trouble Olivia faced pushed this strong woman into making difficult decisions. Her situation made more complex as each hidden truth was unveiled.

It was worth the effort to get to know this family.

[Didi Oviatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m completely in awe that Watching Glass Shatter is James J. Cudney’s debut novel. As a strong supporter of up and coming new authors, I read several debuts a year. This one has blown the rest completely out of the water. I ugly cried and everything, multiple times. There are actually a few reasons why Watching Glass Shatter has become my favorite debut. Obviously the plot plays the biggest part (it’s uniquely brilliant), but also because the quality of writing is wonderfully well-polished.

This story is complex, with so many twists, and so many characters and personal dynamic to each one of them. Being able to develop and unravel the story so flawlessly, leaving no loose ends untied is an excruciatingly intricate task, and in my opinion James nailed it. This book has an authentic, rich, and elegant feel to it. The kind of feel that I’ve only came across by very seasoned, big name authors. In a mere few weeks time since it’s release, Watching Glass Shatter has accumulated an extremely impressive collection of shining five star reviews, and for great reason. This book deserves every single rating and positive review that it’s received so far, and everyone that it’s bound to receive in the future. It’s inevitable, this book is fantastic. Hands down one of the best family dramas I’ve ever experienced, now let me tell you why.

Watching Glass Shatter isn’t all tears, it’s also very modern and chic. Olivia and Benjamin Glass are the parents in a very upscale family. Ben, being a lawyer and founder of his own firm, has always loved his wife dearly and together they have raised five children. Ben was the rock, the mentor, and the confidant of the entire family, so when he dies and leaves Olivia with his outrageously heart wrenching secret (my first ugly cry) she is forced to open up her heart and her mind to each of her sons.

The secrets, traumas and struggles of each one of Olivia’s boys and their own families are the type of secrets that many families face yet sadly choose to keep buried. They’re deep rooted, impactful, and very authentically drawn out. Each secret intertwines with another, and all the son’s affect each other in so many ways and on so many levels. Olivia forces everything to the surface in a much needed and healing way in order to deal with the bigger picture that Ben left her to handle.

Watching Glass Shatter is about grief, trauma, healing, and family ties that go beyond that of any other family story I’ve read. It’s far from average… it’s a beautiful read in every way. It even raises awareness for more than one topic that are often misunderstood. This is a debut that is worth the rapidly growing attention it’s getting. Go read this book!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book on many levels. I liked the way the author structured the book to allow the reader to get to know the characters and their relationships in a very straight forward way. I appreciated the fact that the book was tightly written, with plenty of character development, but no unnecessary padding. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Nikki (Saturday Nite Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Glass family loses their patriarch and during his will reading his wife is rocked with a family secret that could cause more damage to an already fragile family dynamic. Although Olivia, the matriarch, does not realize the fragility of her family, she spends time with each son and learns that they each have been keeping their own secrets. What we experience in the book is the journey Olivia takes to repair her family and accept her new role as head of the Glass family.

The author did a great job of building an interesting story line. There may have been a few bumps in the execution, but you couldn't help but love some of the characters. I was not sure if we were supposed to like the matriarch Olivia or not, but I found it hard to like her throughout, even at the end. My favorite characters were Ethan and Caleb, you will see why if you read this book.

I wish the author much success and look forward to seeing his work grow.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story goes like this, Olivia Glass not only had to deal with her husband, Ben Glass dying in an accident but also had to deal with a hidden fact, a secret which only Ben knew. One of her child is not hers, and Ben's will does not reveal which one of her sons is not truly hers. Olivia then goes to visit her sons and get to know them before shattering their lives with the truth. But it's Olivia who learns that each of her son has a horrible secret and she has to find a way to bring her family together
This is James J. Cudney debut novel.. And what a fabulous job he has done in this book. There is maturity in his writing, there is pathos, there is angst, all written with an underlying emotion of love. The pain and shock that Olivia goes through jumps right out from the page. I couldn't connect with Olivia at the beginning, she did come across as a rigid mother and a haughty mother-in-law.
But as the story progresses, I got to know Olivia and empathise with her and then I found myself totally immersed in her life, in fact rooting for her. And I give total credit to the author James for that. His writing from the point of view of Olivia is simply superb. Her love for her children and her absolute need to understand them and help them made me love her more.
The title and the book cover is so apt for this story as I watched Olivia Glass shatter when each of the secrets are revealed to her.
There are a few niggles....
I have to wait for some time for James' next work and I have to re-read this book to find them
I do like my family sagas but I love those sagas which have suspense in them, which makes me turn pages. This is what James does in his book. He made me read well through the night, he made my heart beat faster he made me curiouser and curiouser as I turned the pages.
Family comes with its own drama and complications especially when there are spouses, children and secrets involved. But James has managed to weave his words in such a way that it is absolutely breathtaking. All the characters play their parts very well.
The author, James has brought home the fact that sometimes it may be difficult to connect with all family members all the time but when there is genuine love, then it becomes easy. Family is everything, they are the ones who always stand by us, with us. This is the core of James' debut novel.
James words have woven a string of love around my heart and I am still in the early beginnings of a book hangover
There is a line in this book
From your lips to God's ears
I add further to this for James
From his words to literary success
From our reviews to book sales
From a blogger to established author
From our lips to God's ears...
Kudos James J. Cudney for writing this book and I am eagerly waiting for your next...

[Julronimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure that there were any fresh twists to the “story about family secrets”. This book was a pleasant surprise. As in real life, families that appear perfect to outsiders seldom are perfect in reality. Also of note was the character of the mother. So often mothers are the gentle, understandings ones. It was great to read about a strong woman with flaws. I hope to read more of this author in the future.