Helpful Score: 6
In a very moving story, the literate Susan Wiggs deftly develops the relationships among two sisters, "their" daughter, and the men in their lives. Jessie gives birth to a daughter she gives up to her sister Luz to raise, lying about the fact that she had had a fling with her husband Ian(before her sister had even met him), and that he is the father of this daughter. She even lies to Ian, telling him he is not the father, so he won't feel he needs to "make it right." Debilitating disease brings her back home after 16 years, and all the lies and problems finally have to be dealt with. Wonderful, warm story. So engrossing that it's difficult to finish it and not keep thinking about it.
Helpful Score: 3
Sixteen years after giving up her daughter to adoption to her sister, Jessie decides to come home and seek out Lila. This is a good story involving sisters, adoption and the hard years of a teenager.
Helpful Score: 3
This was a very touching, unexpected family story that I enjoyed throughly. The human compassion, anger, understanding and forgiveness was something that you want to see in people every day, but don't get to because people want to hide their emotions. None of Susan Wiggs' books have ever been a disappointment, but this one was one of my favorites of hers.
If you like "slice of life" and "real people" romance stories, you'll enjoy this book. Susan Wiggs never fails to entertain me. Sometimes the story can be a bit slow, but the emotions are deep and her books satisfy.
Helpful Score: 1
Photojournalist Jessie Ryder has never been able to travel far enough to escape the pain of giving her baby daughter away. Now, sixteen years later, she's decided to come home to seek out Lila, even if it means upsetting th eworld of Lil's adoptive mother...her very own sister, Luz As Jessie and Luz examine th true meaning of love, loyalty and family, they are drawn into and emotional tug of war filled with moments to unexpected humor, surprising sweetness and unbearable sadness. ANd as the pain, regrets and mistakes of the past slowly rise to the surface, a new picture emerges--a picture filled with hope and promise and the redeeming power of the human heart.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great read, very hard to put down!
Helpful Score: 1
a good read, love and loss
From Publishers Weekly
Jessie Ryder, the heroine of this latest novel from romance veteran Wiggs (Halfway to Heaven), returns to her Texas hometown after 16 years to visit Lila, the daughter she gave up for adoption to her older sister, Luz. Her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly from a rare disease, and soon she will no longer be able to continue her successful work as a photojournalist. She now wants to tell Lila the truth about her parentage, but Luz balks at the idea. Luz has chosen a starkly different lifestyle, making a home for her husband Ian, three boys and Lila, who's now a rebellious, out-of-control teenager. Both sisters are envious of the other's choices, and free-spirited Jessie's sudden arrival turns Luz's world-not as stable as it seems on the surface-upside down.
Jessie Ryder, the heroine of this latest novel from romance veteran Wiggs (Halfway to Heaven), returns to her Texas hometown after 16 years to visit Lila, the daughter she gave up for adoption to her older sister, Luz. Her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly from a rare disease, and soon she will no longer be able to continue her successful work as a photojournalist. She now wants to tell Lila the truth about her parentage, but Luz balks at the idea. Luz has chosen a starkly different lifestyle, making a home for her husband Ian, three boys and Lila, who's now a rebellious, out-of-control teenager. Both sisters are envious of the other's choices, and free-spirited Jessie's sudden arrival turns Luz's world-not as stable as it seems on the surface-upside down.
Helpful Score: 1
In her career as a photojournalist, free-spirited Jessie Ryder has seen the world through her camera lens. But she's never traveled far enough to escape a painful moment that has haunted her for the past sixteen years: the day she gave her baby daughter away. Now, facing a life-altering crisis, she's decided to fix the broken pieces of her heart and seek out Lila, even if it means she has to upset the world of Lila's adoptive motherher very own sister, Luz.
Like a Technicolor tornado bursting into Luz's picture-perfect life, Jessie returns to her Texas hometown with a shattering request. She wants to tell Lila the truth. As Luz and her husband struggle with what Jessie's return may mean to the rebellious Lila, their seemingly solid marriage falters. Old secrets are exposed. Then, just as Jessie comes to terms with the past, life's bittersweet irony plays its hand. She meets Dustin Matlock, a young father who has survived a devastating loss. And Jessie begins to see the hopeful possibilities that lie buried in the most wrenching tragedies.
Though she aches to reach out to those she loves, Jessie stands at the crossroads. She is leaving behind the only life she knows and leaping blindly into the unknown. Now the choice she makes will affect the life of her daughter and challenge the meaning of sisterhood. As Jessie and Luz examine the true meaning of love, loyalty and family, they are drawn into an emotional tug-of-war filled with moments of unexpected humor, surprising sweetness and unbearable sadness. But as the pain, regrets and mistakes of the past slowly rise to the surface, a new picture emerges a picture filled with hope and promise and the redeeming power of the human heart.
Like a Technicolor tornado bursting into Luz's picture-perfect life, Jessie returns to her Texas hometown with a shattering request. She wants to tell Lila the truth. As Luz and her husband struggle with what Jessie's return may mean to the rebellious Lila, their seemingly solid marriage falters. Old secrets are exposed. Then, just as Jessie comes to terms with the past, life's bittersweet irony plays its hand. She meets Dustin Matlock, a young father who has survived a devastating loss. And Jessie begins to see the hopeful possibilities that lie buried in the most wrenching tragedies.
Though she aches to reach out to those she loves, Jessie stands at the crossroads. She is leaving behind the only life she knows and leaping blindly into the unknown. Now the choice she makes will affect the life of her daughter and challenge the meaning of sisterhood. As Jessie and Luz examine the true meaning of love, loyalty and family, they are drawn into an emotional tug-of-war filled with moments of unexpected humor, surprising sweetness and unbearable sadness. But as the pain, regrets and mistakes of the past slowly rise to the surface, a new picture emerges a picture filled with hope and promise and the redeeming power of the human heart.
Family issues over the years finally come to a head when a sister returns home with a mission in mind before she goes blind. Great story, well-developed conflict, engaging characters - make a satisfying read.
Excellent book
Good reading
I love Susan Wiggs' books and this was great as well.. she's a great storyteller.
A moving novel about family, second chances and the healing of love. Jessie Ryder is a successful photojournalist and she decides to return to her Texas hometown and seek out the baby girl she gave up sixteen years ago, even it means she has to upset the world of Lila's adoptive mother.. her very own sister, Luz.
Excellent Story - I want to read more from this author.
Ok, I read fast, but this one I read particularly fast. I really enjoyed it.
I enjoy Susan Wiggs's books. I kept hearing how wonderful this book was, but I thought it was average.
Home Before Dark is a romantic story about the difficult choices we face in life and about family reconciliation. Filled with love, joy, and heartache, this is a book that simply cannot be put down.
When faced with impending blindness, Jessie Ryder returns home to her family to get to know the daughter she gave up to her sister. 16 years earlier her sister left college early to adopt Jessie's child, marry and raise a family, giving Jessie the opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming a photojournalist and traveling all over the world. Each, however, longs for the life of the other-Jessie envious of the secure family life her sister has had while Luz pines for the seemingly exotic and exciting life Jessie has led. Secrets abound, and a tragic accident makes this book a real heartwarming page-turner.
When faced with impending blindness, Jessie Ryder returns home to her family to get to know the daughter she gave up to her sister. 16 years earlier her sister left college early to adopt Jessie's child, marry and raise a family, giving Jessie the opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming a photojournalist and traveling all over the world. Each, however, longs for the life of the other-Jessie envious of the secure family life her sister has had while Luz pines for the seemingly exotic and exciting life Jessie has led. Secrets abound, and a tragic accident makes this book a real heartwarming page-turner.
This one was hard to put down and I read it in four days, including the birth of my 10th grand child! LOL! Loved it! Very effectively told, smoothly written, it grabs hold of you in the first chapter and doesn't let you go. I like her 'direct' storytelling.
Great story! A little surprizing!
Typical Susan Wiggs - I liked it but not as much as Passing Through Paradise. 400 pages and pretty small type so good for airport delays
very good book, I always enjoy reading her books
A good beach book with enough going on tokeep your interst to the very end.
Photojournalist Jessie Ryder has never been able to travel far enough to escape thepain of giving her baby daughter away. Now, sixteen years later, she's decided to come home to seek out Lila, even if it meansupsetting the world of Lila's adoptive mother..her very own sister. As teh pain, regrets and mistakes of the past slowly rise to the surface, a new picture emerges-a picture filled with hope and promise and the redeeming power of the human heart.
This was such a touching book. I really enjoyed it!
Photojournalist Jessie Ryder has never been able to travel far enough to escape the pain of giving her baby daughter away. Now, sixteen years later, she's decided to come home to seek out Lila, even if it means upsetting the world of Lila's adoptive mother... her very own sister, Luz. As Jessie and Luz examine the true meaning of love, loyalty and family, they are drawn into an emotional tug-of-war filled with moments of unexpected humor, surprising sweetness and unbearable sadness. And as the pain, regrets and mistakes of the past slowly rise to the surface, a new picture emerges--a picture filled with hope and promise and the redeeming power of the human heart.
Susan Wiggs is a good writer but if books were rated this one would have to be an "R" for language.
Susan Wiggs is a good writer but if books were rated this one would have to be an "R" for language.
When photographer Jessie Ryder is told she is losing her sight, she takes her doctors advice and goes to see the one thing she wants to see -- her daughter, given up at birth to be adopted by her sister.
This warm story of love and pain and reaching out to one another was touching and worth the time to read.
This warm story of love and pain and reaching out to one another was touching and worth the time to read.
A novel about families, pain of adoption, estranged sisters, difficult teens, family secrets.
Very cleverly woven tale.
Really touching. Another great story from Susan Wiggs.
great
