The Memory of Butterflies by Grace Greene ~ My Thoughts

The Memory of Butterflies

The Memory of Butterflies by Grace Greene
Paperback and e-book, 288 pages 
Expected publication: September 5th 2017 by Lake Union Publishing

To keep a devastating family secret from being revealed, a young mother’s desperate lies could end up destroying everything, and everyone, she loves. The Memory of Butterflies is a poignant story of family and forgiveness—of knowing when to let go and when to hold each other close.

Hannah Cooper’s daughter is leaving for college soon. The change is bittersweet. A single mother since the age of eighteen, Hannah isn’t eager to confront the pain of being alone, but she’s determined not to let her own hang-ups keep Ellen from the future she deserves. As Ellen’s high school graduation approaches, Hannah decides it’s time to return to her roots in Cooper’s Hollow along Virginia’s beautiful and rustic Cub Creek.

With the help of longtime friend Roger Westray, Hannah devotes her energies to building a new house on the site of the old family home, destroyed in a fire more than a decade ago. But Hannah’s entire adult life has revolved around one very big secret. And her new beginning comes with unanticipated risks that will cost her far more than she could have imagined—perhaps more than she can survive.

When a confrontation forces Hannah to expose her secret, the truth may destroy her beloved daughter. Hannah is prepared to sacrifice everything to protect her family, but can their lives and their bond withstand the seismic shift that’s coming?

My thoughts about The Memory of Butterflies ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"My daughter, Ellen will graduate from high school this year. The closer we get to graduation, the harder the past is coming at me, kicking like a living creature and forcing its way back into my life."

First of all, isn't this cover just so captivating? I love it and it definitely caught my eye. But then the author and her other books also appeal to me. I have loved every Grace Greene book I've read to this point so I was excited to start this one.

The Memory of Butterflies was a story that grabbed me from the first page. This line early in the book caught my attention and my curiosity—"the memory of how I lost my Ellen seventeen years ago, then found her again." I just had to find out what that meant. Little did I know that line was just the beginning of a journey of such ups and downs.

So many lies, so many secrets, for so many years. This is a story of  lies, secrets, isolation, happiness, sadness, love, anger, hurt, forgiveness and just about every other emotion you can imagine. And I loved every minute of it. I became emotionally wrapped up in Hannah and Ellen's lives and if that means that tears were shed, then so be it. I'll admit it and I love it when that happens to me when I am engrossed in a wonderful story. I highly recommend The Memory of Butterflies; it is am amazing, beautiful story of love and perseverance. 

I received a copy of The Memory of Butterflies from the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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About the author

Grace Greene writes women's fiction and contemporary romance with suspense ~ Stories of heart and hope ~ from the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge. A Virginia native, Grace has family ties to North Carolina. She writes books set in both locations ~ and in those beautiful landscapes in-between.

The Emerald Isle books, BEACH RENTAL and BEACH WINDS, are set in North Carolina where "It's always a good time for a love story and a trip to the beach."

Or travel down Virginia Country Roads in KINCAID'S HOPE, A STRANGER IN WYNNEDOWER, and CUB CREEK and "Take a trip to love, mystery and suspense." LEAVING CUB CREEK, is the sequel to CUB CREEK.

BEACH RENTAL, her debut novel, won the Booksellers Best contest in both the Traditional and Best First Book categories. BEACH RENTAL and BEACH WINDS were each awarded 4.5 stars, Top Pick by RT Book Reviews magazine. KINCAID'S HOPE received a 4 star review from that same magazine.
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2017 will be an amazing year for Grace in the book department. THE HAPPINESS IN BETWEEN (Women's Fiction with Lake Union) released January 31st and the second Lake Union Women's Fiction novel, THE MEMORY OF BUTTERFLIES, will release on September 5th. ~ and in-between those two releases I'm participating in a novella anthology that combines the best of summer: beach and brides. These twelve novellas are written by twelve New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and will release weekly throughout the summer. Grace's bride, Clair, was released on June 13. Grace is also working on another Emerald Isle, NC novel ~ the third in the Emerald Isle, NC series ~ this will be Maia's story.

Grace lives in central Virginia. Stay current with Grace's releases and appearances at www.GraceGreene.com and sign up for her newsletter. Grace loves to hear from readers.

Connect with Grace

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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