Cypress Point

Joelle's best friend is in a coma. Joelle becomes pregnant by her husband. But this book is about far more than that. The blurb on the cover gives no hint that this book is really about a healer called Carlynn. I was quite annoyed that there was no hint of this and I'd been led somewhere I didn't really want to go, but stuck with it. There continues to be twists, and the end result was one I could agree with - healing comes in many guises.
All in all an enjoyable book, if totally different to what the blurb suggests.

This is such a good book. Chamberlain is a master of twists and turns where least expect ed. To the reader's surprise, the title of this book has changed to The Shadow Wife at some point in time. After reading this book, that is an appropriate title also. This is the story of twins and how their lives evolve. Their mother only has room in her life and heart for one child, but the girls remain loyal and true to each other no matter what situation they have to deal with. It is also the story of three really close friends and how they become connected to the twins. It is a story filled with challenges and various levels of emotions for the characters. I highly recommend this book no matter which title a person chooses to read.

I am a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain as trying to get to all her older books. Loved this book, as Diane has a way of bringing a number of different stories into her novels, connecting characters, and moving back and forth seamlessly between generations and times, filling in the blanks, and always some exciting twists and turns, making it difficult to put it down. I loved the setting, the characters, and the way she tied similar circumstances between (Joelle/Liam/Mara) and (Lisbeth/Gabriel/Carlynn). There was a lot of love in this book and as some of the reviews referenced, even though the characters do bad things sometimes which are unethical, you fall in love with them anyway despite their faults and sympathize with their show more circumstances! A beautiful story! show less

Joelle D'Angelo's best friend, Mara, is left with irreversible brain damage after she suffers an aneurysm during the delivery of her son. Alone and grieving, Joelle turns to the only other person who understands her pain: Mara's husband, Liam. And what originally starts out as simply two friends finding comfort in each other's company gradually becomes something more. Something undeniable.

Torn by guilt and the impossibility of her feelings for Liam, Joelle seeks help from someone she's not even sure she believes in - a healer named Carlynn Kling Shire. Joelle sets out to find Carlynn, knowing that Mara needs something which conventional medicine can't supply. And hoping that when Mara recovers, Joelle's feelings for Liam will end.

Her show more search leads her to a mansion in Monterey, California, and into the life of a woman shrouded in mystery. And as Joelle is guided down an unfamiliar path by a woman who is clearly keeping her own secrets, she discovers that some love is doomed, while some love can survive anything.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was drawn into the story through the characters and a very intriguing plot. I give Cypress Point by Diane Chamberlain a definite A+! I have read only one of Diane Chamberlain's books perhaps a decade or so ago, and enjoyed that one as well. Although I have only read two books by Diane Chamberlain so far, I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. show less

You can also read my review here: http://www.turningthepages.ca/2012/01/review-shadow-wife.html

It was one of my worst fears, suffering an irreversible injury during childbirth. Luckily, nothing happened to me (other than an irreversible muffin top) but reading about in The Shadow Wife was very emotional.

Once again, I found myself really enjoying the format of this novel. While everything about Joelle, Mara and Liam dealt with present issues, when it came to Carlynn Shire, the story jumped throughout her past and present life. Being able to understand everything that she had gone through in her life, including the death of her twin sister, made me feel so connected to her.

The Shadow Wife deals with so many issues and yet it didn't feel show more like a political style book. There were inter-racial relationships (in a time when it was unheard of), 'healers' (when they were considered kooks), fertility problems and affairs of the heart.

Overall, this was a well thought-out and enjoyable book. With a twist of an ending that leaves you speechless, I would say this is a book that you will want to read. show less

Boy. The ending can really make or break a book, can't it? The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because while, it was a good, easy, entertaining read I don't like that best part was all told in the last 10%. Give me a little something to chew on through out the book, not just the end. With that said, I'd give it 4.5 stars.

Mara suffers from brain damage, the result of a brain aneurysm that she endured during child birth. Her husband, Liam and best friend, Joelle (aka Shanti Joy) visit daily but after a year things are strained and one thing leads to another which leads Joelle to find the healer that once saved her own life to try and help Mara. Carylnn, the healer, agrees to help but she's not saving who they think she's show more saving.

Good book. show less

New author to me, heard so many plaudits about her books, so this is a debut read. All about family, relationships and social issues, which had me gripped from the start. The twist at the end was totally unexpected. Good, enjoyable read.