Prayers and Lies

You know that feeling that you get when you first start reading a book and you quickly fall in love with the main character? You hang on to their every word and feel the same emotions that they are feeling? That's how it was between me and Bethany Wylie. Bethany and her parents and her three sisters spent every summer on the Coal River in West Virginia. Her parents were born and raised there, so they had numerous aunts, uncles and cousins to visit with. Bethany formed a special bond with one of her cousins when she was seven years old. Reana Mae was six, and they became sisters and soul mates. What transpires over the next decade between the two of them ranges from poetic to painful...unimaginable and unbelievable. They almost become show more enemies. Their friendship bond struggles to hold strong, as well as their families struggle to remain in control, and keep things together.
I was in Wendy's yesterday, eating a salad while reading this book, and my mouth literally dropped open during one chapter. I lost a little lettuce and blue cheese, but I tell you, it was well worth it.
Prayers and Lies made me laugh, cry, and yearn to crawl into the pages to be with Bethany and Reana Mae, to hug them and tell them that everything will be okay.
Sherri Wood Emmons has written a beautiful coming - of - age novel that has now earned a spot in my favorite Top Ten Reads ever. I certainly hope that she is working on her next novel...I'll be waiting for it~ show less

Review: Prayers and Lies by Sherri Wood Emmons.

This was quite an emotional rollercoaster story. It was such a riveting tale that I could not put it down. There are very few mild moments throughout the book as one tragedy follows another not giving the reader time to catch their breath to embrace what just happened. It’s about a dysfunctional family that endures a lot of tragic events because of years of secrets, lies and what they call bad blood.

The story starts off with two eleven year old girls Bethany and her cousin Reana Mae who are really like soul sisters. Bethany was childlike and innocent. Reana Mae was completely the opposite. As the girls got older one of them always seemed to get in trouble more then the other. They would show more spend their summers together and than one day Bethany noticed a change in Reana Mae but Bethany wasn’t giving up her friendship with Reane. They both grew up in different environments, had different family values and life styles. Their characters were so different but they were also good for each other (most of the time). Then their lives started changing and Bethany’s whole life started crashing down around her while Reane Mae took everything in stride.

Did I mention Bethany had a sister a few years older then her and Reane? Well, you’re going to meet Tracy who has a behavior problem……

Sherri Emmons created a mastermind of well developed characters. The plot was well thought out and the city and back woods setting brings out the different characters behaviors and relates the time span through generations with an easy explanation near the end of the story of when the bad blood started and how it got so out of hand by holding back family secrets until one day a horrible tragedy traumatized the family to finally unveil those years of secrets and lies…. show less

I really enjoyed this story. It wasn't as predictable as I thought it was going to be. I wish that the author had portrayed Bethy and Reana Mae
as a year or two older which I would have found more believable. This was a five star read for me until the convoluted ending explaining family ties. It just seemed silly to me. Other than a couple of pages near the end a well written book I would recommend.

This is a very appropriate, thought-provoking title for this book. Sherri Wood Emmons is a new voice in fiction, and one well-worth listening to.

Most families are held together with ties that bind, and often are prayers and lies. Such is the family of this narrator, Bethany and her cousin Reana Mae.

Every summer, Bethany's family goes home to the Coal River Valley of West Virginia. She and her cousin Reana Mae, both "misfits" develop a "sisterhood". As they grow through adolescence, the shocking realities of family secrets, lies, and "bad blood" brings them closer, yet threatens to tear the entire family apart.

Bethany's own sheltered life "up north" eventually becomes jeopardized by Reana Mae's everyday life and the devastating horror of show more it, down in Coal River.

The sister-cousins cling to each other through it all, as they learn about life, the different kinds of love, family, and their rightful place in the world.

This is an excellent book from an excellent author. show less

This is a very appropriate, thought-provoking title for this book. Sherri Wood Emmons is a new voice in fiction, and one well-worth listening to.

Most families are held together with ties that bind, and often are prayers and lies. Such is the family of this narrator, Bethany and her cousin Reana Mae.

Every summer, Bethany’s family goes home to the Coal River Valley of West Virginia. She and her cousin Reana Mae, both “misfits” develop a “sisterhood”. As they grow through adolescence, the shocking realities of family secrets, lies, and “bad blood” brings them closer, yet threatens to tear the entire family apart.

Bethany’s own sheltered life “up north” eventually becomes jeopardized by Reana Mae’s everyday life and show more the devastating horror of it, down in Coal River.

The sister-cousins cling to each other through it all, as they learn about life, the different kinds of love, family, and their rightful place in the world.

This is an excellent book from an excellent new author. show less

This was a very believable story of a mixed up family. People alway think they are doing the right thing by keeping secrets, but the truth always comes out. The truth never is as bad as we think.

Oh I loved this book. What an amazing tale. This book immediately became one of my favorites. I would highly recommend.