From the back of the book..."Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family business; the other followed a dream and traveled the world. But when their beloved father falls ill, these two estranged sisters will find themselves together again, standing alongside their icy and enigmatic mother, Anya, who even now offers no comfort to her daughters. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise of his wife: Anya will tell her daughters a story; it is a fairy tale she began years ago and never finished. This time she will tell it all the way to the end."

The "fairy tale" that Anya tells is really her story. I enjoyed the unfolding of Anya's story. I felt that the mother's willingness to finally tell her daughter's her entire story and her complete change of character was contrived to move the book along. Overall, I found the book hard to put down.

Reserved for the General Literature VBB.

Not chosen so removing from the General Literature VBB.

Chosen from the VBB. Sent to rhythmbiscuit in CO.

I released this book as part of the First Sentences Wrap It Up Bookbox.

“On the banks of the mighty Columbia River, in this icy season when every breath became visible, the orchard called Belye Nochi was quiet.”

Choosing this from the First Sentence Wrap It Up Bookbox. Thinking I may have this one already, but am not sure.