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Three teenage sisters didn’t mean to destroy their family…
Sisters Laina, Faith, and Sadie Nelson know they are to blame. There was no way to predict how their lives would shatter with just a few lies—but they did, and now they fear the pieces are too many to pick up.
Had their parents let them leave, their father wouldn’t be behind bars…
The girls only wanted to escape from their hyper-strict home and start lives of their own. If he’d just allowed them to spread their wings, their father wouldn’t be serving thirty years for a crime he didn’t commit.
Sometimes you have to be creative to get your way, but creativity’s not always what it’s cracked up to be…
With the lives of nine siblings hanging in the balance, what will it take for the girls to admit their deceit and recant their tales of abuse? And if they do, will there be any room for forgiveness?
Family and friends are left to question everything they know about the legal system, social services, marriage, and family.
Can anyone really be trusted?
Can a family heal in the wake of false allegations, broken promises, and betrayal?
Or is it too late…
“Be careful what you lie for…”
Published February 2, 2016 by Limitless Publishing
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Social Issues, Drama
What’s It About?
Oppressed by their parents’ rules, Laina and younger sister Faith have always dreamed about escape. When they meet a troubled young girl who was molested by her father and brother, a light bulb goes off in the girls’ brains… if their father is gone, too, they can live the kinda life they want to live!
“We didn’t mean to destroy our family. To send our father to jail. Break our mother’s heart…”
A skilled social worker takes the case, and sees the girls for who they really are. Nine Lives by Author Erin Lee is a fictional account about a shift in power these two teens have over their innocent parents and the aftermath of their lies.
My Thoughts
Ok, so I haven’t gotten my butt off the couch all day because I have been so absorbed in Nine Lives. I literally could not put the book down because I wanted to know how this story would play out! I love fictional books that center around social issues and this book didn’t disappoint.
This book was written in the same style as Wave To Papa, another great book by this Author, centering around another fictional DCYF case. So if you read Wave To Papa, be sure to check out Nine Lives! The author is extremely knowledgeable about DCYF cases, because she is a therapist/child advocate herself, and has seen it all. Her cases inspire her stories, and allows the reader a unique view into this hidden world.
Laina and Faith sure did stir up a lot of trouble and while they would be easy to hate, I sympathized with them. Teenagers are so impulsive and their brains aren’t fully developed. They think about themselves first, and not about the consequences of their actions. I can picture this horrendous scenario playing out perfectly. It makes me wonder how many parents are falsely accused.
Told in first person perspective by the major players, Laina, Faith, sister Hope, Mother Heather, Father Tom, friend Harley, and Caseworker Juliet, the reader gets a full impression of this fictional case, from all sides. I truly loved this story and I look forward to more books by this author in a similar style!
To sum up, I loved the believable plot, the connection I felt with the characters through the author’s chosen first perspective point-of-view, and the flawed, yet sympathetic characters. If you have interests in psychology, social issues, and sociology, I HIGHLY recommend this novel to you! A great story that is difficult to put down. 5 stars!
***In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this novel by the author in exchange for a honest, thoughtful, and fair book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.
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About The Author
Author Erin Lee, Isn’t She Delightful?
Erin Lee is a freelance writer and therapist living with her family in southern New Hampshire.
She’s published numerous magazine articles, particularly on the topic of mental illness. She is the author of “Crazy Like Me” from Savant Books and Publications and “Wave to Papa” by Limitless Publishing. Her other writing interests include poetry and journaling. She recently completed her master’s degree in psychology. She is currently writing book one of the “Lola, Party of Eight” series titled “Alters.”
In her spare time, she serves as an unpaid taxi cab driver for her children and rescue/therapy dog, Milo Muse.
Author of Limitless Publishing
A Well Read Woman 