Thicker than Blood

November 16, 2009
Darlington, a debut author and winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest, enters the evangelical Christian publishing arena with a story that deals in antique bookselling and unresolved interpersonal relationships. Orphaned sisters Christy and May Williams have chosen very different paths after the sudden death of their parents 15 years earlier. Christy retreats into alcohol and abusive relationships, while younger sister May tries her hand at running a ranch. When the death of a close relative brings the two estranged sisters together, internal pain resurfaces that cannot be ignored by either one. Slowly, amid violence and false accusations, Christy moves toward May, emotionally and spiritually, as both young women discover the possibility of second chances. Darlington's setting in the fascinating world of antiquarian bookselling is clever; unfortunately much of the story is too formulaic to provide what could have been a compelling reading excursion.

January 1, 2010
Two sisters are on totally different paths. Christy left home at an early age, and now works at a bookstore specializing in rare and first editions. She has fallen for a man who shares her bibliopassion. However, Christy soon finds out that the love of her life is cheating her bossand friendout of valuable volumes. And then he blackmails her into helping him. Sister May, on the other hand, stays on the ranch, following the religious tenets of her beloved aunt Edna. Life is bleak for Christy as an unwilling accomplice. But things arent going well for May either. Aunt Edna has died, and May cant afford to keep the ranch. Fans of faith-based novels will enjoy Darlingtons modern twist on the parable of the Prodigal Son.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)