Emilie Richards

In this series debut, minister's wife Aggie Sloan-Wilcox turns sleuth after a dead body is discovered on the parsonage doorstep. Her husband, Ed, becomes one of the suspects for the murder when he reveals that he has been counseling the victim. Aggie, who knows that Ed isn't capable of murder, fears that he may be in danger because of something the victim might have revealed to him during counseling. Her search for answers becomes more urgent after a second murder occurs.

I was completely show more surprised by the villain's identity. The clues were there, but I missed them. This book is everything the first book in a cozy series should be. It introduces a likable amateur sleuth, a best friend who serves as investigative sidekick, a local cop who recognizes the sleuth's intelligence and would prefer her to leave matters to the professionals, two bright and precocious daughters, and a charming small town in Ohio. I read the second book in the series first and enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed this one. I'll definitely be picking up more of the books in this series. show less

Remember when Emilie Richards used to write feel-good novels about women making quilts and helping each other through hard times? Someone must have told her that darker is in fashion now, because A Family of Strangers goes to some pretty bleak places. Still, it has Richards’ characteristically thoughtful portrayal of family dynamics, and although the plot takes a while to hit its stride, it’s ultimately a rewarding read.

True crime podcast journalist Ryan Gracey receives a shocking phone show more call from her much older sister Wendy, who claims she has to disappear to avoid being framed for a murder she didn’t commit. Wendy is by all appearances the loving mother of two adorable daughters and the loyal heir apparent to their father’s real estate development company, so Ryan has no choice but to temporarily move back to her hometown, become her nieces’ caretaker, and shield the truth from her parents, especially her father who is recovering from heart surgery.

The Gracey family has never been close, and they especially don’t talk about their feelings. Ryan always felt like an underachieving afterthought who never held her parents’ full attention. But as Ryan puts her professional skills into finding out the truth about Wendy’s disappearance, she realizes that everything is about to change, including her relationships with her parents, nieces, and especially the sister she never really knew.

The story starts a little slowly, especially while the focus remains on Ryan’s initially unrewarding forays into parenting the nieces she barely knows. But once the suspense/mystery plot kicks in things move more quickly. The appearance of Ryan’s ex-lover Teo and his talented dog Bismarck provide some welcome additional layers to the story and give our heroine someone to strike sparks off. Their relationship ended badly, and even as they tentatively reconcile, Teo has definite opinions about Ryan potentially putting herself in danger through her investigations. Ryan’s podcast partner Sophie and her fan network of true crime podcast sleuths also provide more richness and make it feel more realistic that Ryan would have the tools and knowledge necessary to solve the mystery of Wendy’s disappearance.

Although the novel ended strongly, I couldn’t help thinking that this wasn’t Richards at her most genuine. She seemed to be channeling Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell or any one of those bestselling authors who create dark stories about troubled women. In these challenging times, I need a reliable author like Richards to reassure me that the world is full of strong, compassionate women who will stand up for each other, like the characters in her [b:Goddesses Anonymous|40768439|Goddesses Anonymous (4 Book Series)|Emilie Richards|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1553557766s/40768439.jpg|63450985] or Shenandoah Album series. There are plenty of authors who can make me uneasy; I need Richards to make me feel better.

ARC received from Net Galley. show less

Emilie Richards writes intelligent, thoughtful women's fiction. In When We Were Sisters she takes a break from her Goddess series to demonstrate the bond between two "sisters of the hip and heart" who went through the foster care system together. Through the process, she shows many sides of child welfare - the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly.

Robin Lenhart is a housewife, married to hotshot attorney Kris, and mother of two kids. Cecilia (no last name needed - it's like Madonna or show more Rhianna) is a world-famous country singer. They have nothing in common except a shared past as foster children. Cecilia was the rebellious older "sister" who took care of shy, rule-abiding Robin, so when Cecilia asks Robin participate in a documentary she is making about the child welfare system, Robin agrees, although (or because) her time away from home will create serious work/family conflicts for Kris.

Filming the documentary requires both Robin and Cecilia to travel to the sites of their previous foster homes, which takes a major emotional toll on both women, causing long-held secrets to come to light. Will the truth strengthen their bond, or destroy it?

This is definitely not a light-hearted book. Through the sisters' recollections of their childhood,and through visits to several model child welfare facilities, Richards shows well-intentioned foster parents and case workers, as well as some who are mercenary, lazy or even evil. Interestingly, there are no flashback scenes; at each pivotal location, the two women recount their stories, perhaps to demonstrate the impact that the past still has on their behavior and relationships. It's hard to think of any reader who wouldn't come away from the novel with a desire to know more or to become involved in improving the system.

Richards beautifully portrays the complicated dynamics between Robin and Cecilia, especially Cecilia's mistakes as she makes decisions for Robin that aren't necessarily the right ones. While I guessed at some of the secrets the women withheld from each other, the final reveal was disturbing and surprising. The relationships both women have with the men in their lives are much more predictable. Both have been serious abandonment and trust issues, which spill over into their love lives. Robin, who was literally mute for several years of her childhood, has to learn to speak up and let Kris know about her unhappiness in their marriage; and Cecilia has to learn to believe that she is worthy of love and capable of loving someone.

At almost 500 pages, this is not an easy or quick read, but it is definitely worthwhile. Emilie Richards simply doesn't write anything that is less than very good, and When We Were Sisters is very, very good. show less

Emilie Richards' "Goddesses Anonymous" series has finally gotten around to highlighting Reverend Analiese Wagner, who has provided wise counsel and support to the characters from the previous three books. Richards, who is married to a minister, creates a memorable story that is very spiritual without moving into the "inspirational fiction" category.

Two simultaneous events create havoc in Reverend Ana's already hectic life. She finds a homeless family, the Fowlers, camping out in the church, show more and Isaiah, the Catholic priest she has loved silently for years, reappears in her life, wrestling with the final vows he has not yet taken.

Ana has seemed almost too perfect to be true in the previous Goddesses books, so it's almost a relief to learn that she has problematic relationships with her family, chronic issues with food, and frustrating run-ins with her church's leadership. Her efforts to help the Fowlers, especially their 14 year old daughter Shiloh, are controversial, and she has to deal with some congregants who don't think the church has any business sheltering them and others who try to help in a way that destroys the family's pride. There are no miracle solutions, but a strong sense of hope at the story's conclusion.

Ana's relationship with Isaiah is an unusual love triangle, with God in the middle. Without going into spoiler territory, I will say that this is not The Thorn Birds, with a priest doing Very Wrong Things. But Ana and Isaiah have to decide separately and together how they can love each other without completely sacrificing their respective callings, and frankly at times the relationship is more theological than romantic.

Shiloh's story is also realistically portrayed, as she gradually changes from the wary, scrappy de facto head of the family to a teenager who can rely on her parents and Ana when a trauma occurs late in the book.

The other goddesses, notably Harmony from One Mountain Away and Cristy from Somewhere Between Luck and Trust, welcome Shiloh and her family, and I suspect readers will be slightly lost if they haven't read the previous books, although Richards does provide some backstory. There are several goddesses who haven't yet had their chance to be front and center, so I hope Richards is planning more books in this deeply satisfying series.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less