Review of a Thought Provoking , Wonderful Book "Reclaiming Lily"
By Patti Lacy
How do I describe this marvellous work of art???? AND that is what this book is!!
Patti has accomplished what only the best can do- write a moving story that has a theme of loss, healing and most importantly LOVE!
" A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Chang meet in a Ft. Worth hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, the daughter Gloria adopted from China and the sister Kai hopes to reclaim. Kai is a doctor who had to give up her little sister during the Cultural Revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.
Gloria's relationship with her daughter is tattered and strained, and the arrival of Kai, despite the woman's apparent good intentions, makes Gloria fearful. Gloria longs to restore her relationship with Lily, but in the wake of this potentially devastating diagnosis, is Kai an answer to prayer--or will her arrival force Gloria to sacrifice more than she ever imagined?"
(taken from info from LitFuse)
The subject of adoption, being near and dear to my heart, as we adopted a mixed race child, immediately caught my attention, however, that is NOT what kept me reading. When Lily, the adopted child from China, is discovered by her biological sister, you actually feel the stress of the adoptive parents. Why is she here? Are we going to lose the daughter we have had since she was ten years old?
Patti Lacy has the ability to draw you into the story and make you feel the pain, the hurts, the confusion of each of the characters.
Will the biological sister , who is now an prestigious M.D. in Boston change the feelings of Lily? This occurs at a point in Lily's rebellious teenaged years, where she is opposed to all of her pastor father 's beliefs. Gloria, her shy mom, is struggling to hold herself together , and wonders if the finding of a biological relative will be helpful to her teen's questions . You can feel the tornado whirl, as Kai calls the family for very specific reasons, not just to find her sibling. Medical issues are a completely new complication for this family and the shock to learn of them are unbelievable. I , myself , had never heard of this disease or what it involves, so this book , also becomes a tool of learning.
Are these two women, Gloria and Kai, able to come to terms , as they differ in culture and beliefs? The one thing they have in common, is their intense love for Lily! When a medical emergency occurs, can faith in God carry them through? - especially when Kai does not share Gloria's strong faith. Is Kai able to share her worries with her sister's mom? Joy does a complete turnabout and becomes the strong one in the family. Surprises abound.
There are so many twists and turns in this book, I am unable to describe any more without giving spoilers.
Patti Lacy is an extremely talented author who can draw you into the story and the family's confusion and heartbreak. You can not help but be moved and inspired by this book!!! A change in all of the characters leaves the reader changed, as well!
It is definitely a book NOT to be missed.
Patty , you have kept me up nights and made me leave my work incomplete, but you have CHANGED how I believe. A real book to savour!!
This book was provided by LitFuse in exchange for a review.
About Patti:
The subject of adoption, being near and dear to my heart, as we adopted a mixed race child, immediately caught my attention, however, that is NOT what kept me reading. When Lily, the adopted child from China, is discovered by her biological sister, you actually feel the stress of the adoptive parents. Why is she here? Are we going to lose the daughter we have had since she was ten years old?
Patti Lacy has the ability to draw you into the story and make you feel the pain, the hurts, the confusion of each of the characters.
Will the biological sister , who is now an prestigious M.D. in Boston change the feelings of Lily? This occurs at a point in Lily's rebellious teenaged years, where she is opposed to all of her pastor father 's beliefs. Gloria, her shy mom, is struggling to hold herself together , and wonders if the finding of a biological relative will be helpful to her teen's questions . You can feel the tornado whirl, as Kai calls the family for very specific reasons, not just to find her sibling. Medical issues are a completely new complication for this family and the shock to learn of them are unbelievable. I , myself , had never heard of this disease or what it involves, so this book , also becomes a tool of learning.
Are these two women, Gloria and Kai, able to come to terms , as they differ in culture and beliefs? The one thing they have in common, is their intense love for Lily! When a medical emergency occurs, can faith in God carry them through? - especially when Kai does not share Gloria's strong faith. Is Kai able to share her worries with her sister's mom? Joy does a complete turnabout and becomes the strong one in the family. Surprises abound.
There are so many twists and turns in this book, I am unable to describe any more without giving spoilers.
Patti Lacy is an extremely talented author who can draw you into the story and the family's confusion and heartbreak. You can not help but be moved and inspired by this book!!! A change in all of the characters leaves the reader changed, as well!
It is definitely a book NOT to be missed.
Patty , you have kept me up nights and made me leave my work incomplete, but you have CHANGED how I believe. A real book to savour!!
This book was provided by LitFuse in exchange for a review.About Patti:
Patti Lacy graduated from Baylor University with a BS in education and completed master's-level courses in English at Indiana State University. She taught at Heartland Community College until May 2006, when she resigned to pursue her passion of writing. The author of three previous novels, Patti is the mother of two grown children and lives with her husband in Normal, Illinois.
For more about Patti and her other books, visit her website at www.pattilacy.com.
Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0764209418/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0764209418&adid=1MB65JFDXDHGZD977R7D
Patti Lacy is celebrating the release of her latest book, Reclaiming Lily, with a KindleTouch Giveaway, blog tour and FB Book Chat Party!
Patti and her publisher, Bethany House, are giving away a Reclaiming Lily prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!!
Enter the Reclaiming Lily Giveaway and you could win:
- A brand new just released KindleTouch with Wi-Fi
- $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com
But, wait there’s more!
Enter today by clicking the icon in the bar to the right of this review. Giveaway ends on 10/19! Patti will be announcing the winner of the Reclaiming Lily Giveaway at her Party on Facebook October 20th! She’ll be hosting a book club chat of Reclaiming Lily (it's okay if you haven't read it - you could win a copy!) and giving away other fun prizes! (signed copies of her books and gift certificates to Amazon.com, Starbucks, & iTunes!). Don’t miss the fun at Patti’s FB Author Page on 10/20/11 at 5pm PST ( 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, & 8 pm EST)! RSVP today!
Blog tour schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13431458)
Karla,
ReplyDeleteYour review has zipped into my agent's e-mail "in" box and also into a few other select cyber locales!
Thank you again for investing in my work!!!