White Lies by Susan Barrett

Publisher:  Create Space (August 30, 2016)
Category: Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction; Contemporary Fiction; Family Saga
Tour Date: April/May, 2017
ISBN: 978-1536806847
Available in: Print & ebook,  164 Pages

The story is told from three perspectives: that of Beth, the natural mother of Tess, Liz, the adoptive mother, and Tess herself.  The reader’s sympathy is engaged with each woman in turn, as the intricacies of the plot demonstrate how nature and nurture interplay in the formation of personality.

Beth is a guest at a wedding. The bride is Tess, her natural daughter, who’d been adopted as a baby. During the moments leading up to the marriage ceremony, Beth remembers the lifetime events that have led to her present state of sick fear. Recent revelations have made her suspect that the bridegroom is the first child she’d given up for adoption, and therefore Tess’s half-brother. Will she speak of this impediment to matrimony, as invited by the priest, or forever hold her peace?

White Lies gives the answer in a way that reveals the complexities of truth-telling in the context of parenthood and adoption.  An entertaining page-turner, the novel also traces the social changes in family life over the last fifty years.

My Thoughts White Lies by Susan Barrett

Have you ever thought of adopting a child or were you an adopted child?  Have you ever wondered what it would be like for the birth mother, the adoptive mother, or the child who was adopted?  With the new television series that came out last year, ‘Long Lost Family’, we get a glimpse into those lives.  However, is a “reality” television show really reality?  What goes on behind the scenes or ends up on the cutting room floor?

Thought fiction, perhaps ‘White Lies’ will give a perspective.  It is written by a mother who has adopted.

‘White Lies’ is told from the perspective of the birth mother, Beth, Liz, the adoptive mother, and Tess, the adoptee.  Beth was invited to her birth daughter’s, Tess’s wedding.  Though she should be happy to have been invited and excited to see her daughter’s wedding, she is fearful.  Could the bridegroom be the first child she gave up for adoption? Should she speak up or let the ceremony go on?

Times have changed, it use to be that there was virtually no way of finding a birth parent or birth child.  It has been getting easier, especially with the invention of DNA testing, etc.  More and more people have developed more of an open mind and don’t scrutinize unwed mothers the way they use to.  Now a days, there are even women who decide to have a child without getting married and they don’t even have to wear a big scarlet letter “A”. LOL! 

No matter what you beliefs, if you have feelings, you can’t help having sympathy for all the parties involved in this book.  I certainly did.  Susan Barrett uses her art to cast a story about the experience of adoption from all sides.  She develops believable and sympathetic characters into an excellent story of love.

This is a beautifully written story of love and loss with even a dash of humor.  I highly recommend ‘White Lies’ to readers who love strong female characters and excellent story telling.

5/5

I received the print version for my honest review.

About Susan Barrett

Born in Plymouth, Devon in 1938, Susan Barrett began writing fiction in the 1960s while living on a Greek island.  Her first novel was published by Michael Joseph in 1969.  Film rights were sold and renewed over several years. She went on to write six more novels which were published with mainstream publishers in hardback and paperback in UK and USA.   A book on Greece’s landscapes, flora and fauna, illustrated in watercolours by her artist husband Peter Barrett, was published by Harrap Columbus in 1986.  They have also produced many children’s books together, published in the US.  In the 1990s she trained in humanistic counselling and gestalt psychotherapy and has practised as a counsellor for the last twenty years.  Her latest two novels and a work of non-fiction are available as ebooks and in paperback editions.

Website http://www.aliveinww2.com
Twitter @SusanBarrett192
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/writersreadersdirect
Google+ https://plus.google.com/107631556274786388597

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Giveaway White Lies by Susan Barrett

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and 6 ebook copies of ‘White Lies’, for a total of 8 winners. Print is open to Canada, UK, and the U.S. only however, ebook is open worldwide. This giveaway ends on June 1, 2017 at midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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