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The Sisters
Twelve years ago, Glory abandoned her two daughters--four-year-old Ruby and baby Aurora--at a fire station, running off to a man who promised love and protection. Though the refuge she hoped for turned out to be a sham, she believes Ruby and Aurora are better off without her. But Glory has since given birth to another daughter, who's clamoring for a life beyond their close-knit, tightly controlled world.
Sixteen-year-old Ruby loves her adoptive parents, but she hasn't forgotten Glory. Now that she has her driver's license, Ruby sets out in search of her birth mother. What she finds is a ramshackle house of castaway women, referred to as "sisters," ruled over by a charismatic bully who monitors their every move.
Glory would take ten-year-old Luna away in a heartbeat if they had somewhere to go. On good days, the girl is confined to the fenced-in yard; on bad days, she's sent to the dusty attic as punishment. When Ruby makes contact, Glory seizes on a chance for escape. Ruby is desperate to help, but how much does she owe to family she barely knows--and how can she fix someone else's life when she has so little power over her own?
Praise for Rosalind Noonan's Domestic Secrets
"This suspenseful read is Noonan at her best. Fans will be eager to get their hands on her latest, and it doesn't disappoint." --Booklist
"Noonan delivers another page-turning thriller whose deeply flawed characters draw you into a web of family secrets." --Kirkus Reviews
"Recommended for readers wanting stories of dysfunctional families, scandal, and violence that involve entire communities." --Library Journal
Sixteen-year-old Ruby loves her adoptive parents, but she hasn't forgotten Glory. Now that she has her driver's license, Ruby sets out in search of her birth mother. What she finds is a ramshackle house of castaway women, referred to as "sisters," ruled over by a charismatic bully who monitors their every move.
Glory would take ten-year-old Luna away in a heartbeat if they had somewhere to go. On good days, the girl is confined to the fenced-in yard; on bad days, she's sent to the dusty attic as punishment. When Ruby makes contact, Glory seizes on a chance for escape. Ruby is desperate to help, but how much does she owe to family she barely knows--and how can she fix someone else's life when she has so little power over her own?
Praise for Rosalind Noonan's Domestic Secrets
"This suspenseful read is Noonan at her best. Fans will be eager to get their hands on her latest, and it doesn't disappoint." --Booklist
"Noonan delivers another page-turning thriller whose deeply flawed characters draw you into a web of family secrets." --Kirkus Reviews
"Recommended for readers wanting stories of dysfunctional families, scandal, and violence that involve entire communities." --Library Journal
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2018
45 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Noonan
36 books161 followersROSALIND NOONAN grew up in suburban Maryland and enjoyed being part of a large family. "With my four siblings, Saturday mornings were a blast," she says. "There was festival seating on the living room floor as we devoured cartoons and passed the Sugar Pops."
She caught the writing bug in second grade when she won first place in a poetry contest. "The prize was twenty dollars," she recalls. "That was big bucks for a second grader. I thought I was going to Disneyland." Wooed by the taste of fame and fortune, she kept writing.
After attending Wagner College in Staten Island, she remained in New York City where she worked as an editor for various book publishers. Noonan currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a retired cop from the NYPD, and two children. Although she sometimes misses the rapid pulse of New York, she enjoys writing in the shade of towering two-hundred year old Douglas fir trees.
She caught the writing bug in second grade when she won first place in a poetry contest. "The prize was twenty dollars," she recalls. "That was big bucks for a second grader. I thought I was going to Disneyland." Wooed by the taste of fame and fortune, she kept writing.
After attending Wagner College in Staten Island, she remained in New York City where she worked as an editor for various book publishers. Noonan currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a retired cop from the NYPD, and two children. Although she sometimes misses the rapid pulse of New York, she enjoys writing in the shade of towering two-hundred year old Douglas fir trees.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
November 18, 2018
The Sisters by Rosalind Noonan is another of those titles that doesn’t exactly fit in a cookie cutter genre mold. This isn’t a thriller as you know exactly who is who and what is going on in the story but it’s much more than just a contemporary with some suspense and drama in the mix. It is one though that needs a bit of a warning with the cult like atmosphere involved the story wasn’t always a pretty one as far as relationships are concerned.
The story in the Sisters is told in sections with each dealing with a different section of Glory’s life and those around her. The point of view mainly goes from Glory and her oldest daughter but a few others are involved too. In the first section readers are shown what led up to Glory giving away her two daughters and becoming involved with the group known as the sisters.
After the opening showing what had happened in the past the next part of the book brings readers to the current time more than a decade after the opening. During this section answers are also given to what happened during the time that passed to both the daughters and to Glory. Then after that second part connecting their paths again the last part wraps up the entire story.
As much as this one might sound jumpy and possibly confusing I didn’t find that at all myself and was caught up in the story right away. I personally can’t imagine walking away from your own children and wanted answers as to why. As heartbreaking and dark as some parts of this book were though there were also moment’s that warm your heart when it comes to the children and adoption etc. This one may not be for everyone but I personally found it a compelling read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story in the Sisters is told in sections with each dealing with a different section of Glory’s life and those around her. The point of view mainly goes from Glory and her oldest daughter but a few others are involved too. In the first section readers are shown what led up to Glory giving away her two daughters and becoming involved with the group known as the sisters.
After the opening showing what had happened in the past the next part of the book brings readers to the current time more than a decade after the opening. During this section answers are also given to what happened during the time that passed to both the daughters and to Glory. Then after that second part connecting their paths again the last part wraps up the entire story.
As much as this one might sound jumpy and possibly confusing I didn’t find that at all myself and was caught up in the story right away. I personally can’t imagine walking away from your own children and wanted answers as to why. As heartbreaking and dark as some parts of this book were though there were also moment’s that warm your heart when it comes to the children and adoption etc. This one may not be for everyone but I personally found it a compelling read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 5, 2018
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
I usually don't read these type of books, however the blurb intrigued me enough to give it a try. The first part of this book was very emotional and difficult to read. Glory abandoning her children, which is one of the most difficult decisions any mother can make in her life, was just heartbreaking. She did her best but I still think there were other ways to deal with what she was going through. Fortunately, her daughters ended up with an amazing family. There were POVs of everyone involved in the story, because of this it kind of resulted in me not being able to connect enough with the characters. I was going back and forth, and sometimes I just wanted to get back to one particular POV to see what was going on with them. In my opinion the most important POVs were of Glory, Ruby and Luna. I think the story would've impacted me more if it was focusing only on them.
The Sisters was in a way very suspenseful. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I couldn't put the book down. I have to admit that I did rush through the book a bit, because I was anxious to see what would happen next. This story definitely kept me interested and entertained until the end. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect enough with the characters. My favorite was Luna, she was such a brave little girl. This was a pretty fast-paced story, which I appreciated. However, everything resolved a bit too quickly in the end. Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it interesting. It was a bit different then what I usually read, but it was nice to mix it up a little bit. I love broadening my reading horizon, and I encourage everyone else to do as well. If this book sounds like something you would enjoy, then make sure to read it.
I usually don't read these type of books, however the blurb intrigued me enough to give it a try. The first part of this book was very emotional and difficult to read. Glory abandoning her children, which is one of the most difficult decisions any mother can make in her life, was just heartbreaking. She did her best but I still think there were other ways to deal with what she was going through. Fortunately, her daughters ended up with an amazing family. There were POVs of everyone involved in the story, because of this it kind of resulted in me not being able to connect enough with the characters. I was going back and forth, and sometimes I just wanted to get back to one particular POV to see what was going on with them. In my opinion the most important POVs were of Glory, Ruby and Luna. I think the story would've impacted me more if it was focusing only on them.
The Sisters was in a way very suspenseful. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I couldn't put the book down. I have to admit that I did rush through the book a bit, because I was anxious to see what would happen next. This story definitely kept me interested and entertained until the end. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect enough with the characters. My favorite was Luna, she was such a brave little girl. This was a pretty fast-paced story, which I appreciated. However, everything resolved a bit too quickly in the end. Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it interesting. It was a bit different then what I usually read, but it was nice to mix it up a little bit. I love broadening my reading horizon, and I encourage everyone else to do as well. If this book sounds like something you would enjoy, then make sure to read it.
December 20, 2018
This was a difficult book for me to read. I struggled with the parts where the mother abandoned her children to be with a man. The story then followed their lives. Told in different points of view, the story had me read it at a fast speed to get to the end. I kept crying at some scenes. I don't advice reading this book during Christmas.
The book had its suspense and drama when daughter Ruby went in search of her mother and sister. Ruby was a star, she was intelligent and courageous. The other characters too made their impact but Ruby captured me.
Overall the book dealt with sensitive topics, touched my heart in some ways and triggered my tears, a good read but not good for the Christmas week.
The book had its suspense and drama when daughter Ruby went in search of her mother and sister. Ruby was a star, she was intelligent and courageous. The other characters too made their impact but Ruby captured me.
Overall the book dealt with sensitive topics, touched my heart in some ways and triggered my tears, a good read but not good for the Christmas week.
September 24, 2018
The sisters by author Rosalind Noonan is a gripping and emotional book! The opening chapter literally broke my heart and gave me a mind set of how I felt about the mother. It’s so much deeper than that as the story goes on. This touched my heart and had me gripped at the same time. Fast paced and solid, the sisters is a true work of literature.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of the sisters (pub date November 2018) in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of the sisters (pub date November 2018) in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2019
Well I must say this story was one you could not put down rather you liked it or not, just needing to find out what happens and how the story unfolds is a must. I really did not enjoy the story at the beginning it was super slow and I was angry at the mother. I think that if the author started the story a little different then maybe I would have liked it a bit more then what I did. I really enjoyed the middle and ending part of the story, I am so happy with the rolls that Ruby played and how brave she was. I must say that I really hate reading about girls who get sucked into cults, knowing that they are down in their lowest points in life and for someone to take advantage of women in need. This is a story that I am glad I have on my belt loop. I think others would enjoy the story as well if they could get through the first part of the story. There was a point when I was reading the story I just did not care and I was gonna stop reading the story, but I felt I needed to read a little more the write a review. When I finally got to the point I felt was OK to stop and write the review I realized that I wanted to know how the story ended.
September 27, 2018
Well this was an emotional roller coaster of a read! All the feels! From the heart wrenching first chapter which left me teary eyed and gutted for Glory, this is a complicated story of life choices. Beautifully written!
Thanks to the author for this early signed copy:)
Thanks to the author for this early signed copy:)
October 17, 2018
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
It was a tad all over the place. It would have been more clear if the times and/or people would be written out when changing the chapters. It started out with two different couples then just the mom, then the mom and the adoptive family ... its just got confusing sometimes.
The story was quite powerful and upsetting. Things like this actually happen to children all over the world. From being left with others because parents can't take care of them to abuse (of any kind) to "cults".
I would say 3.5 stars... just because i really didn't like the bouncing around. ( i have issues with things being neat and orderly...)
It was a tad all over the place. It would have been more clear if the times and/or people would be written out when changing the chapters. It started out with two different couples then just the mom, then the mom and the adoptive family ... its just got confusing sometimes.
The story was quite powerful and upsetting. Things like this actually happen to children all over the world. From being left with others because parents can't take care of them to abuse (of any kind) to "cults".
I would say 3.5 stars... just because i really didn't like the bouncing around. ( i have issues with things being neat and orderly...)
November 29, 2018
The cover of this book got me, I won't lie. I thought for sure it was a thriller, but instead it turned out to be a little different than a thriller - I might say it is suspenseful contemporary drama though.
This is the story of a woman and her daughters and the choices she makes and how they will haunt her. Glory Noland is a young mother who is just trying to hold it together while her husband is gone. Glory struggles as a result of being in a biracial relationship, and then struggles even more when she becomes a widow raising two biracial daughters, Ruby and Aurora, on her own with no family willing to help her.
Glory is then forced to make the hardest decisions she's ever made. Glory just abandons her daughters at a fire station. Ultimately, the girls grow up in foster care, which turns out to be a good thing since Glory is living in a cult and is now the mother of third daughter, Luna.
Ruby is eventually adopted and she loves her adoptive parents, but when Ruby turns 16, she decides to seek out her biological mother. When she finds Glory, she's living in a cult - a rundown house of women - the "Sisters" - who are ruled by one man who monitors their every move. What happens next is how Ruby connects with Glory and learns about her sister Luna.
This is a very fast-paced novel that will touch your mom genes - it's definitely emotional. I enjoyed the way the author shared the story through different points of view. The character development in this book was awesome too, as readers watch Glory’s daughters grow up to be beautiful young women. I can't wait to read what's next for this author!
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!
This is the story of a woman and her daughters and the choices she makes and how they will haunt her. Glory Noland is a young mother who is just trying to hold it together while her husband is gone. Glory struggles as a result of being in a biracial relationship, and then struggles even more when she becomes a widow raising two biracial daughters, Ruby and Aurora, on her own with no family willing to help her.
Glory is then forced to make the hardest decisions she's ever made. Glory just abandons her daughters at a fire station. Ultimately, the girls grow up in foster care, which turns out to be a good thing since Glory is living in a cult and is now the mother of third daughter, Luna.
Ruby is eventually adopted and she loves her adoptive parents, but when Ruby turns 16, she decides to seek out her biological mother. When she finds Glory, she's living in a cult - a rundown house of women - the "Sisters" - who are ruled by one man who monitors their every move. What happens next is how Ruby connects with Glory and learns about her sister Luna.
This is a very fast-paced novel that will touch your mom genes - it's definitely emotional. I enjoyed the way the author shared the story through different points of view. The character development in this book was awesome too, as readers watch Glory’s daughters grow up to be beautiful young women. I can't wait to read what's next for this author!
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!
October 11, 2018
I found this book very jumpy and the story like was a little hard to follow. I went into it expecting one thing from the description then got something completely different, not bad per say just not what was expected. Then the more that story got unfolded it was like I jumped into another story line very different and I don't know how any of them connected.I like the concept of the story but I found the execution poor. I think that there was just to much going on that wasn't important to the story line and the bunch of time shifts and main character changes made it a little difficult to follow. Not my favourite read however I did like the concept so I will give the author another shot in a different book I think.
December 1, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing Corporation and Rosalind Noonan for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
The Sisters starts out making me think the story is about a mom who gives up her young kids for adoption. Which gives it more of a contemporary fiction/domestic fiction vibe. But then more and more little hints are dropped, and the story changes. Boom! There’s drama, suspense, cults in suburbia, and more. The book has a little bit of everything.
I really liked Ruby, the main character. She’s smart, kind, and seamlessly pulls together the worlds of bother her birth mom and adoptive parents. I also liked that the author shines a light on adoptions as well as non traditional types of cults. Informative as well as interesting! The story pulled me in right from the beginning and didn’t let go.
However a few moments I wasn’t a fan of, mainly due to the mistreatment of the women. That’s to be expected in books with these topics.
Overall, a perfect mix of drama, suspense and a loving family. A definitely recommend from me!
The Sisters starts out making me think the story is about a mom who gives up her young kids for adoption. Which gives it more of a contemporary fiction/domestic fiction vibe. But then more and more little hints are dropped, and the story changes. Boom! There’s drama, suspense, cults in suburbia, and more. The book has a little bit of everything.
I really liked Ruby, the main character. She’s smart, kind, and seamlessly pulls together the worlds of bother her birth mom and adoptive parents. I also liked that the author shines a light on adoptions as well as non traditional types of cults. Informative as well as interesting! The story pulled me in right from the beginning and didn’t let go.
However a few moments I wasn’t a fan of, mainly due to the mistreatment of the women. That’s to be expected in books with these topics.
Overall, a perfect mix of drama, suspense and a loving family. A definitely recommend from me!
November 19, 2018
Told from a variety of viewpoints, this is the story of a woman and her daughters and the impact of her decisions. Gloria left Ruby and Aurora at a fire station. No two ways about it, she abandoned them. They grow up in foster care but that's not an entirely bad thing, especially when it turns out that Glora, now the mother of a third daughter, Luna, is living in a cult. How does a daughter rescue a mother? Or can the mother figure out how to rescue herself and her daughters? This is well written and some might find it highly emotional. Splitting the narrative between the characters lessened the impact for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
September 1, 2024
The start of this book was a little slow, working up to the plot. It picked up towards the middle and the ending was spectacular, hence why I rated it 4 stars. Most of the book was a 3 star but I really liked the ending. This is a heartbreaking story of a mother’s courage, stupidity, heartbreaking, maddening loss of her daughters through the foster care system. After Glory drops her children off at a safe haven box she joins a cult of a brother and sister’s creepy home for down on your luck women. This would have been a good spooky season book.
October 12, 2018
I think I read too much of the blurb as I felt like I knew what was going to happen from the beginning. Yes, it is an engaging story and for the most part, I was invested in the characters. It was just such a sad and heartbreaking tale that I was depressed reading it. Usually that doesn't bother me but this time it did for some reason. I would still read more by this author as I do love a good family drama.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
January 24, 2019
I really wanted to like this more than I did. The premise was very interesting, I felt it wasn’t fully flushed out. The characters were endearing and disgusting, depending on the character, but I felt we only scratched the surface of them. I wanted more depth! For example, the relationship between the captors...it felt like there was more there. The ‘why’ was missing.
May 12, 2019
"The Sisters" is a story filled with tragedy and turmoil but also the loving bond between a mother and her child. This story follows a young mother, Glory, and a series of unfortunate events that land her and her daughters into a lot of trouble. Glory marries her high school sweetheart and starts a family with him at a young age. The odds are already stacked against them because they are a mixed race family. Glory takes care of her two daughters, Ruby and baby Aurora, on her own while her husband works up in Alaska in order to feed his family.
After a tragic accident, Glory is left to take care of her daughters on her own. She visits the mall to meet up with some women who call themselves the sisters. The sisters are a group of women who are taken in by two siblings who give them a roof to sleep under and food to eat along with a job at their hotel. At first glance, the sisters seem like an incredible group of women who are rising through the ashes of their dark pasts. Glory is interested in joining them until she is able to get back onto her feet, but the siblings say that they do not allow children. With no other choice, Glory decides to abandon her two daughters in hopes that they would have a bright future without her. The sisterhood turns out to be more dark than expected for Glory. She now lives in a house run by a man and his sister who have very strict rules and punishments. When Glory finds herself pregnant in the house, she finally decides that it's time to escape.
This book was slow at the beginning and I was tempted t0 put it down at first. However, once the drama starts, it was practically impossible to put down. I found myself needing to read chapter after chapter just to know that everything was going to be okay. Things definitely got worse before they got better and there were times that I was frustrated at how impossible escape seemed for Glory and her daughter. The bond that Glory shared with all three of her daughters brought them all together in the end. The moral of the story shines through in the end that a helping hand and a little ray of hope can go a long way in times of trouble and that some bonds are indeed unbreakable.
After a tragic accident, Glory is left to take care of her daughters on her own. She visits the mall to meet up with some women who call themselves the sisters. The sisters are a group of women who are taken in by two siblings who give them a roof to sleep under and food to eat along with a job at their hotel. At first glance, the sisters seem like an incredible group of women who are rising through the ashes of their dark pasts. Glory is interested in joining them until she is able to get back onto her feet, but the siblings say that they do not allow children. With no other choice, Glory decides to abandon her two daughters in hopes that they would have a bright future without her. The sisterhood turns out to be more dark than expected for Glory. She now lives in a house run by a man and his sister who have very strict rules and punishments. When Glory finds herself pregnant in the house, she finally decides that it's time to escape.
This book was slow at the beginning and I was tempted t0 put it down at first. However, once the drama starts, it was practically impossible to put down. I found myself needing to read chapter after chapter just to know that everything was going to be okay. Things definitely got worse before they got better and there were times that I was frustrated at how impossible escape seemed for Glory and her daughter. The bond that Glory shared with all three of her daughters brought them all together in the end. The moral of the story shines through in the end that a helping hand and a little ray of hope can go a long way in times of trouble and that some bonds are indeed unbreakable.
December 30, 2018
My First book by Noonan but not my last I stayed glued to the pages and really enjoyed the sory.
March 9, 2019
What a total disappointment! I can't say there was honestly anything in this book that I found to be redeeming. The story was boring and predictable, the characters were not memorable, and the "plot twists" were pretty much the worst I've read in a long time. If I was one to quit a book, I would have quit before I even got a quarter of the way through. Unfortunately I have to finish a book that I've started, that being said, it also took me much longer to read this book than it would normally take me. Even when I get extremely busy with work I can usually finish a book within about two weeks. This book took me an entire month to finish. At no point was I hooked, or felt the need to find out what happened next. It never even piqued my curiosity at any point which is pretty sad. I had a lot of hope that this book would be a decent thriller since there were a few decent reviews and also because the author has several other books. I disliked this book so much that I likely won't be reading anymore books from Noonan unless someone tells me that shes got a book out that just can't be put down. I have never been one to like predictable books, and this one just was to easy to see what was coming next. Hopefully this review can save someone elses time and prevent them from reading something that isn't at all what its meant to be.
October 12, 2018
This was a tough one. There’s a story here it’s just a bit muddled. There is character development and some fleshed out plot lines but also some disconnect, at least for me. The story gives you all the emotions - hope, despair, kindness, etc.
The story of a cult always fascinated me. This story does show how easily someone becomes absorbed into that life. Also it shows the manipulation and those that are preyed upon. That’s some sad and scary stuff.
The story ends on a realistic note. It’s hopefully but not sugarcoated. I would read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for a copy in exchange for a review.
The story of a cult always fascinated me. This story does show how easily someone becomes absorbed into that life. Also it shows the manipulation and those that are preyed upon. That’s some sad and scary stuff.
The story ends on a realistic note. It’s hopefully but not sugarcoated. I would read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for a copy in exchange for a review.
May 10, 2023
I am someone who prefers to stick with Christian Fiction but also someone who loves to shop at Dollar Tree. I found this novel at Dollar Tree a few days ago. The cover captivated me, and the blurb on the back sounded intriguing--like women's fiction mixed with a little suspense--so I took a risk and purchased it.
Wow! What a story! I rarely give a 5 star to a secular fiction novel, but this one deserves it. First, the way the words flow in the sentences is like honey. A lot of thriller or suspense authors seem to try to make the story urgent with short, choppy sentences that don't make sense. This one is written very, very well. Through multiple points of view.
Other things I appreciated is the lack of gratuitous descriptions of sex and graphic scenes of abuse. It happened, but they weren't even fade-to-black situations like used in Christian Fiction. Horrible acts weren't glorified but rather shown to be the horror that they were. One example is that abortion was shown to be the tool used by manipulators to empower their continuation of abuse. In that same vein, I'm glad the unborn children--and all children--were wanted by their mothers, whether or not their conception was a surprise. I'm also glad the humanity of the baby conceived thru IVF was shown; it's too bad so many don't understand each individual embryo is another human being worthy of the same love and protection.
I love the relationships. I love how much Glory, Tamarind, and Nicole all love and dote on their children, but in different ways. Rima comes off as pushy, but that could be a cultural thing. The way the community (neighbors and police) suspected Leo was up to no good, and yet did nothing, is so earie. This can happen anywhere! I love the McCullum family. I love that a family can be built through adoption. And I love Hazel and her mother.
The story reminds me of what Ariel Castro in OH did, but with a Phillip Garrido from CA mixed in. It was nice to read a story about a non-religious cult; the religious/Christian cult seems so overused. And although the word "cult" is used repeatedly, I think it leans more toward human trafficking.
I understand Glory's mom had to be prejudiced and unforgiving, in order to push Glory into further desperation, but I feel like the racist and unforgiving *Christian* trope is overused. I thought it was taboo to describe non-white characters using food and drink words--cinnamon or mocha skin, etc. I think vanilla hair was used once for a white person, so maybe that makes the distribution even?
Overall, it was an excellent story. Now I'm open to reading more by this author.
Wow! What a story! I rarely give a 5 star to a secular fiction novel, but this one deserves it. First, the way the words flow in the sentences is like honey. A lot of thriller or suspense authors seem to try to make the story urgent with short, choppy sentences that don't make sense. This one is written very, very well. Through multiple points of view.
Other things I appreciated is the lack of gratuitous descriptions of sex and graphic scenes of abuse. It happened, but they weren't even fade-to-black situations like used in Christian Fiction. Horrible acts weren't glorified but rather shown to be the horror that they were. One example is that abortion was shown to be the tool used by manipulators to empower their continuation of abuse. In that same vein, I'm glad the unborn children--and all children--were wanted by their mothers, whether or not their conception was a surprise. I'm also glad the humanity of the baby conceived thru IVF was shown; it's too bad so many don't understand each individual embryo is another human being worthy of the same love and protection.
I love the relationships. I love how much Glory, Tamarind, and Nicole all love and dote on their children, but in different ways. Rima comes off as pushy, but that could be a cultural thing. The way the community (neighbors and police) suspected Leo was up to no good, and yet did nothing, is so earie. This can happen anywhere! I love the McCullum family. I love that a family can be built through adoption. And I love Hazel and her mother.
The story reminds me of what Ariel Castro in OH did, but with a Phillip Garrido from CA mixed in. It was nice to read a story about a non-religious cult; the religious/Christian cult seems so overused. And although the word "cult" is used repeatedly, I think it leans more toward human trafficking.
I understand Glory's mom had to be prejudiced and unforgiving, in order to push Glory into further desperation, but I feel like the racist and unforgiving *Christian* trope is overused. I thought it was taboo to describe non-white characters using food and drink words--cinnamon or mocha skin, etc. I think vanilla hair was used once for a white person, so maybe that makes the distribution even?
Overall, it was an excellent story. Now I'm open to reading more by this author.
October 22, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read The Sisters before its release on November 27, 2018 in exchange for an honest, impartial review.
I want to start out and say that this book may trigger more sensitive readers with regard to the topics of miscarriages and sexual abuse. It does not delve in deep to these areas, however, they are here in the book. What saddens me the most is that even though this is a work of fiction, there are innocent children out there today in this situation in this book.
This book is told through the story of 2 families that are connected to each other; Glory Noland and the McCullum family. The book is broken down in to 3 parts; The Last Time I Saw You, The Shape Of Tea Leaves, and Glory’s Ghost. Rosalind Noonan does a tremendous job alternating between the stories of Glory and the McCullum family.
Glory goes from the struggle of being in a biracial relationship to being a widow raising 2 biracial children on her own with no family willing to help her. She meets a group of women at her local mall that call themselves The Sisters and ever so graciously end up taking her in. On the other side, the McCullum family is secretly struggling to conceive and start a family, but, has all the family support in the world.
This book sucked me in and would not let me go. I read this book with tears in my eyes so often, just wanting to jump in and help these women and children. The character development in this book was remarkable and we watch Glory’s young children grow up to be beautiful young women, especially her eldest Ruby. For a sixteen-year-old girl who has so much going on in her own life with her mother, she was certainly raised to do right in the world and is someone to be proud of.
This is a solid 4 star read for me. I had to stop myself from reading at some points in time just so I could get some sleep. I knew if I continued on, more would develop along in the story and the sun would be rising, as it would be time for me to get ready for work. Noonan’s penmanship in this tale is heartbreakingly real and page turning. While I would have wished for a different ending, Noonan does what is right and ends this book on realistic terms, which still please me. Once you pick this book up, you will find it irresistible to put down.
I want to start out and say that this book may trigger more sensitive readers with regard to the topics of miscarriages and sexual abuse. It does not delve in deep to these areas, however, they are here in the book. What saddens me the most is that even though this is a work of fiction, there are innocent children out there today in this situation in this book.
This book is told through the story of 2 families that are connected to each other; Glory Noland and the McCullum family. The book is broken down in to 3 parts; The Last Time I Saw You, The Shape Of Tea Leaves, and Glory’s Ghost. Rosalind Noonan does a tremendous job alternating between the stories of Glory and the McCullum family.
Glory goes from the struggle of being in a biracial relationship to being a widow raising 2 biracial children on her own with no family willing to help her. She meets a group of women at her local mall that call themselves The Sisters and ever so graciously end up taking her in. On the other side, the McCullum family is secretly struggling to conceive and start a family, but, has all the family support in the world.
This book sucked me in and would not let me go. I read this book with tears in my eyes so often, just wanting to jump in and help these women and children. The character development in this book was remarkable and we watch Glory’s young children grow up to be beautiful young women, especially her eldest Ruby. For a sixteen-year-old girl who has so much going on in her own life with her mother, she was certainly raised to do right in the world and is someone to be proud of.
This is a solid 4 star read for me. I had to stop myself from reading at some points in time just so I could get some sleep. I knew if I continued on, more would develop along in the story and the sun would be rising, as it would be time for me to get ready for work. Noonan’s penmanship in this tale is heartbreakingly real and page turning. While I would have wished for a different ending, Noonan does what is right and ends this book on realistic terms, which still please me. Once you pick this book up, you will find it irresistible to put down.
November 2, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read The Sisters before its release on November 27, 2018 in exchange for an honest, impartial review.
I want to start out and say that this book may trigger more sensitive readers with regard to the topics of miscarriages and sexual abuse. It does not delve in deep to these areas, however, they are here in the book. What saddens me the most is that even though this is a work of fiction, there are innocent children out there today in this situation in this book.
This book is told through the story of 2 families that are connected to each other; Glory Noland and the McCullum family. The book is broken down in to 3 parts; The Last Time I Saw You, The Shape Of Tea Leaves, and Glory’s Ghost. Rosalind Noonan does a tremendous job alternating between the stories of Glory and the McCullum family.
Glory goes from the struggle of being in a biracial relationship to being a widow raising 2 biracial children on her own with no family willing to help her. She meets a group of women at her local mall that call themselves The Sisters and ever so graciously end up taking her in. On the other side, the McCullum family is secretly struggling to conceive and start a family, but, has all the family support in the world.
This book sucked me in and would not let me go. I read this book with tears in my eyes so often, just wanting to jump in and help these women and children. The character development in this book was remarkable and we watch Glory’s young children grow up to be beautiful young women, especially her eldest Ruby. For a sixteen-year-old girl who has so much going on in her own life with her mother, she was certainly raised to do right in the world and is someone to be proud of.
This is a solid 4 star read for me. I had to stop myself from reading at some points in time just so I could get some sleep. I knew if I continued on, more would develop along in the story and the sun would be rising, as it would be time for me to get ready for work. Noonan’s penmanship in this tale is heartbreakingly real and page turning. While I would have wished for a different ending, Noonan does what is right and ends this book on realistic terms, which still please me. Once you pick this book up, you will find it irresistible to put down.
I want to start out and say that this book may trigger more sensitive readers with regard to the topics of miscarriages and sexual abuse. It does not delve in deep to these areas, however, they are here in the book. What saddens me the most is that even though this is a work of fiction, there are innocent children out there today in this situation in this book.
This book is told through the story of 2 families that are connected to each other; Glory Noland and the McCullum family. The book is broken down in to 3 parts; The Last Time I Saw You, The Shape Of Tea Leaves, and Glory’s Ghost. Rosalind Noonan does a tremendous job alternating between the stories of Glory and the McCullum family.
Glory goes from the struggle of being in a biracial relationship to being a widow raising 2 biracial children on her own with no family willing to help her. She meets a group of women at her local mall that call themselves The Sisters and ever so graciously end up taking her in. On the other side, the McCullum family is secretly struggling to conceive and start a family, but, has all the family support in the world.
This book sucked me in and would not let me go. I read this book with tears in my eyes so often, just wanting to jump in and help these women and children. The character development in this book was remarkable and we watch Glory’s young children grow up to be beautiful young women, especially her eldest Ruby. For a sixteen-year-old girl who has so much going on in her own life with her mother, she was certainly raised to do right in the world and is someone to be proud of.
This is a solid 4 star read for me. I had to stop myself from reading at some points in time just so I could get some sleep. I knew if I continued on, more would develop along in the story and the sun would be rising, as it would be time for me to get ready for work. Noonan’s penmanship in this tale is heartbreakingly real and page turning. While I would have wished for a different ending, Noonan does what is right and ends this book on realistic terms, which still please me. Once you pick this book up, you will find it irresistible to put down.
November 4, 2018
I usually don't read those kinds of book but the blurb intrigued me and it was a hit! Loved it! Although the subject is touchy and taboo, I found myself unable to stop reading and was rooting for Glory and Luna to escape and be able to reconnect with Ruby and Aurora. It was a suspenseful read that kept me wanting to know what would happen next.
Here's a quick synopsis:
Twelve years ago, Glory abandoned her two young daughters at a fire station to run of to a man who promised her love and protection. She soon finds out the refuge she hoped for turned out to be a sham but she believes her daughters are better off without her.
Now sixteen years old, Ruby loves her adoptive parents but she never forgot her birth mother. With her newly driver's license, she sets out on a search to find her. What she finds is a rundown house full of castaway women who call themselves "The Sisters" and ruled by a charismatic bully who monitor their every move.
Glory would take her 10 year old daughter away from the cult if she had a place to go. Luna is not allowed to venture outside and confined to the attic as a punishment if she doesn't follow the rules. When Ruby makes contact with her birth mother, Glory sees her chance to get away.
The first part of the novel was emotional and difficult to read. Glory, a young widow after her husband was killed in a car accident in Alaska where he worked, abandons her two young girls at a fire station and joins the Sisters. Fortunately, Ruby and Aurora are placed in a good home with loving parents. The story is told in multiple POVs but the most important ones are Glory, Ruby and Luna's.
I've rushed through this book, I couldn't get enough of the characters. My heart was broken over Glory's decision to abandon her daughters to join a cult. I understood her decision to want to give them a better life but still. As for Luna, she was so brave for her age. Always locked in the attic, unable to venture outside.
Overall, this was out of my reading comfort zone but I did enjoy the book. I would definitely recommend it!
Here's a quick synopsis:
Twelve years ago, Glory abandoned her two young daughters at a fire station to run of to a man who promised her love and protection. She soon finds out the refuge she hoped for turned out to be a sham but she believes her daughters are better off without her.
Now sixteen years old, Ruby loves her adoptive parents but she never forgot her birth mother. With her newly driver's license, she sets out on a search to find her. What she finds is a rundown house full of castaway women who call themselves "The Sisters" and ruled by a charismatic bully who monitor their every move.
Glory would take her 10 year old daughter away from the cult if she had a place to go. Luna is not allowed to venture outside and confined to the attic as a punishment if she doesn't follow the rules. When Ruby makes contact with her birth mother, Glory sees her chance to get away.
The first part of the novel was emotional and difficult to read. Glory, a young widow after her husband was killed in a car accident in Alaska where he worked, abandons her two young girls at a fire station and joins the Sisters. Fortunately, Ruby and Aurora are placed in a good home with loving parents. The story is told in multiple POVs but the most important ones are Glory, Ruby and Luna's.
I've rushed through this book, I couldn't get enough of the characters. My heart was broken over Glory's decision to abandon her daughters to join a cult. I understood her decision to want to give them a better life but still. As for Luna, she was so brave for her age. Always locked in the attic, unable to venture outside.
Overall, this was out of my reading comfort zone but I did enjoy the book. I would definitely recommend it!
August 23, 2022
First of all, I am utterly fed up with reading about mothers of young children or GOD FORBID a single mom who just cannot cope so they haven't had a shower or combed their hair since dinosaurs roamed the earth and their house is a disaster etc etc etc...because, after all, they have a baby who cries and a 3 or 4 year old who needs to be fed occasionally...who could POSSIBLY deal with ALL THAT without completely falling apart? Phew, now that I've gotten that off my chest I can continue 🙄
I liked the Tamarind and Pete story a lot. They and their families were very believable. Love love love Tamarind's Mom.
But how about the big chunk of the story that was missing 🤔? Ruby and Aurora were already "in the system" because of the burning🔥 breast pump incident so identifying the kids after they were dumped with the fireman would have been easy...so, what happened next? Did they find their nitwit mother? (nitwit is the nicest word I can use for that *×#¥€* nitwit) Did she sign away her parental rights? Were they taken from her because she couldn't be found? (even though she was in the food court at the mall EVERY. FRIGGING. DAY.) 🙄🧐
Then the nitwit has another baby and even though BABIES AND CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED IN FRICKING LUNATIC NATALIE'S HOUSE they let the nitwit keep her because in 10 BLOODY YEARS she'll be old enough to work and earn MONEY FOR WHACKJOB NATALIE and....and just maybe become her biological father's next girlfriend 🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮
What in the serious hell am I reading? Am I actually supposed to believe any of this? 🤔😬
And I'm only half way through 😒😖
More later:
Still enjoying all the parts about Tamarind's family and now the nitwit is dead and I'm about to read a section called Glory's Ghost...🙄😠
Not sure why it was called Glory's Ghost because feeling guilty doesn't mean there is a fricking ghost.
This was a not great story all tied up in a pretty little bow at the end.
AVOID AVOID AVOID!!
I liked the Tamarind and Pete story a lot. They and their families were very believable. Love love love Tamarind's Mom.
But how about the big chunk of the story that was missing 🤔? Ruby and Aurora were already "in the system" because of the burning🔥 breast pump incident so identifying the kids after they were dumped with the fireman would have been easy...so, what happened next? Did they find their nitwit mother? (nitwit is the nicest word I can use for that *×#¥€* nitwit) Did she sign away her parental rights? Were they taken from her because she couldn't be found? (even though she was in the food court at the mall EVERY. FRIGGING. DAY.) 🙄🧐
Then the nitwit has another baby and even though BABIES AND CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED IN FRICKING LUNATIC NATALIE'S HOUSE they let the nitwit keep her because in 10 BLOODY YEARS she'll be old enough to work and earn MONEY FOR WHACKJOB NATALIE and....and just maybe become her biological father's next girlfriend 🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮
What in the serious hell am I reading? Am I actually supposed to believe any of this? 🤔😬
And I'm only half way through 😒😖
More later:
Still enjoying all the parts about Tamarind's family and now the nitwit is dead and I'm about to read a section called Glory's Ghost...🙄😠
Not sure why it was called Glory's Ghost because feeling guilty doesn't mean there is a fricking ghost.
This was a not great story all tied up in a pretty little bow at the end.
AVOID AVOID AVOID!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2021
I so rarely DNF anything, I hate to do and there are a lot of times that I push myself to finish something that I am violently losing interest in. Honestly, I don't hate myself enough to punish me by finishing this. I'm much closer to the start than the end and I already just want out.
I rarely read reviews before I write my own, but I skimmed a few, to see if the pace picked up or if the story got better. Every review, especially the good ones, just made me that much more positive that this book is NOT for me.
Apparently, it has "triggers", but none of the ones listed mention craptastic writing as a trigger. Lots of awful writing, the kind that almost put me to sleep in my tub and caused me to drown. I didn't even make it to page 20 before I was over the whole thing. And it just goes down hill from there, with the jumpy chapters from there and now, her and him and nothing interesting happened. We get abandoned kids and then go back to happy family minus one.
Why can't authors tell linear stories without the unnecessary flashback gimmick. I'm 95% sure if I jump to the end of the book, the choppy flashback sequences serve no greater purpose than if we moved forward in the story in a straight forward method.
I wanted to be interested in a character, any character and their arc but the story is so over bloated with people, that I can't get a grasp on a basic storyline to care about, so that I can ride it out to the end.
I'm actually mad that this was used from a library sale, and has an address sticker stuck on the inside cover. That means that I can't trade it in and actually get something out of it for wasting my time.
This author goes on an avoid at all costs list because there is no way that her writer's voice and style.of writing could improve enough for me to spend money on another book, even second/third/fourth hand one.
I rarely read reviews before I write my own, but I skimmed a few, to see if the pace picked up or if the story got better. Every review, especially the good ones, just made me that much more positive that this book is NOT for me.
Apparently, it has "triggers", but none of the ones listed mention craptastic writing as a trigger. Lots of awful writing, the kind that almost put me to sleep in my tub and caused me to drown. I didn't even make it to page 20 before I was over the whole thing. And it just goes down hill from there, with the jumpy chapters from there and now, her and him and nothing interesting happened. We get abandoned kids and then go back to happy family minus one.
Why can't authors tell linear stories without the unnecessary flashback gimmick. I'm 95% sure if I jump to the end of the book, the choppy flashback sequences serve no greater purpose than if we moved forward in the story in a straight forward method.
I wanted to be interested in a character, any character and their arc but the story is so over bloated with people, that I can't get a grasp on a basic storyline to care about, so that I can ride it out to the end.
I'm actually mad that this was used from a library sale, and has an address sticker stuck on the inside cover. That means that I can't trade it in and actually get something out of it for wasting my time.
This author goes on an avoid at all costs list because there is no way that her writer's voice and style.of writing could improve enough for me to spend money on another book, even second/third/fourth hand one.
May 19, 2020
I've never picked up a book by this author before but the cover and blurb caught my attention. I can honestly say this was an enjoyable story, albeit sometimes emotionally depressing. Glory is a struggling Mom trying to make ends meet and barely scraping by when things in her life take a turn for the worse. She ultimately decides her daughters would be better off without her. Those two girls end up being adopted but there is a touch of curiosity about their birth mother and the eldest, Ruby, decides to track her down. At only sixteen Ruby travels down a road filled with tragedy in a hunt for the truth. She finds out she has a half sister, Luna, and Glory needs help for them both but what can she do about it? She has a whole other family to think about. I'm not sure what genre this book really falls into, somewhere in the suspense category but you already know who's who so maybe not. With so many cult like undertones maybe it could fall in as a thriller. But in all honesty there is no need to categorize it. This was a well written story and a relatively quick read. I enjoyed that it varies on viewpoints from Ruby, Glory and Luna. Kept me on my toes and in the moment for each of them. A lot of characters you can both love and absolutely hate in this one.
October 12, 2018
I received a advanced readers copy of this book for a honest review! Day 1 before bed I was already through the book 50 % as it really drew me in. Glory had two daughters from an interracial marriage. Her mom basically disowned her for that fact, she didn’t approve of her swaying from ‘her kind’ and her Husband family was pretty much more of the same. So it was them against the world but when her football husband tore his acl forfeiting a career in sports times got hard and he left to go to Alaska to work and learn a trade so as to be able to take care of his wife and daughters. Unfortunately things went wrong very wrong and Glory was forced to do what no mother should have to. Give up her kids, her babies her girls. For this she was heartbroken.
Got herself caught up with the wrong people and years later when the paths of her and her oldest daughter cross there is no turning back!!!
This is a great read, kept me interested from start to finish. Look for it in November at a book store near you! This is my honest take on this book! Truly enjoyed the read!
Got herself caught up with the wrong people and years later when the paths of her and her oldest daughter cross there is no turning back!!!
This is a great read, kept me interested from start to finish. Look for it in November at a book store near you! This is my honest take on this book! Truly enjoyed the read!
December 10, 2025
The opening chapter of The Sisters wrapped itself around my ribs and refused to let go. It felt like the kind of beginning that steals a little breath and tucks it away for safekeeping. I was fully invested, heart and pulse leaning forward, waiting to learn what tragedy had carved these characters into who they became.
Ruby was the brightest spark for me. Every time she appeared, the story steadied itself. She had a quiet strength that felt warm, like a porch light cutting through fog.
But somewhere after that unforgettable beginning, the path split into too many trails. The book kept widening instead of deepening, scattering itself across multiple stories when I was still clinging to the intensity of the first chapter. I kept wishing the narrative would return to that raw emotional thread that started it all.
There is beauty here, and pockets of tenderness, but I found myself wanting a more focused journey. If the novel had stayed closer to the heart-shattering promise of its opening, I think it could have been truly stunning.
Ruby was the brightest spark for me. Every time she appeared, the story steadied itself. She had a quiet strength that felt warm, like a porch light cutting through fog.
But somewhere after that unforgettable beginning, the path split into too many trails. The book kept widening instead of deepening, scattering itself across multiple stories when I was still clinging to the intensity of the first chapter. I kept wishing the narrative would return to that raw emotional thread that started it all.
There is beauty here, and pockets of tenderness, but I found myself wanting a more focused journey. If the novel had stayed closer to the heart-shattering promise of its opening, I think it could have been truly stunning.
November 13, 2018
Trigger warning: This book addresses topics that could be a trigger for some readers (miscarriages and sexual abuse). They’re not explored in great detail, but they are contained.
I’ve read (and loved!) books by Noonan in the past, and I had high hopes for this book. Sadly, it didn’t meet my expectations. From the start, I wanted to like it, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and there wasn’t as much development with them as I would have liked. Things, overall, felt very jumpy and disjointed between the two storylines. almost like there were too many things going on at once. It almost felt like I was reading a book by a different author than I’ve read in the past. As I’ve truly enjoyed other books by this author, I will give future books a try.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
I’ve read (and loved!) books by Noonan in the past, and I had high hopes for this book. Sadly, it didn’t meet my expectations. From the start, I wanted to like it, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and there wasn’t as much development with them as I would have liked. Things, overall, felt very jumpy and disjointed between the two storylines. almost like there were too many things going on at once. It almost felt like I was reading a book by a different author than I’ve read in the past. As I’ve truly enjoyed other books by this author, I will give future books a try.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
September 2, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Kesington Publishing for this partnership.
I was immediately attracted to the cover of this book.
It all began when twelve years earlier Glory abandoned her two daughters Ruby and Aurora at the foot of a fire station because a man had promised her love and protection except that it was just a joke, she still thought her daughters would be better off without her by their side. Except Glory has another daughter again.
Ruby is 16 years old and loves her adoptive parents but can't forget her mother. Her driver's license in her pocket, she goes looking for Glory. What she's going to find is beyond anything she expected to find.
I immediately hooked on the story so moving, engaging, captivating, addictive and full of suspense and twists and turns and found the characters so engaging.
I was immediately attracted to the cover of this book.
It all began when twelve years earlier Glory abandoned her two daughters Ruby and Aurora at the foot of a fire station because a man had promised her love and protection except that it was just a joke, she still thought her daughters would be better off without her by their side. Except Glory has another daughter again.
Ruby is 16 years old and loves her adoptive parents but can't forget her mother. Her driver's license in her pocket, she goes looking for Glory. What she's going to find is beyond anything she expected to find.
I immediately hooked on the story so moving, engaging, captivating, addictive and full of suspense and twists and turns and found the characters so engaging.
November 20, 2018
Rosalind Noonan’s latest novel “The Sisters” is an expertly crafted tale of suspense, and family relations. Glory Noland is a young mother trying to hold it together while her husband is away seeking employment, but when plans go awry she is forced to make the hardest decision in her life. The choices that Glory makes will haunt her and her children for a long time until the sisters find a way to make peace with the past. This is a fast-paced novel that will touch the fiber of your soul. Excellent job Ms. Noonan! I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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