The Word Game
Kindle Edition, 222 pages
Published November 3rd 2015 by Lake Union Publishing
For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.
But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?
My thoughts about The Word Game ~~
(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 line.)
First line—"Friday night. In this moment, at the core of who she was and all she wanted to be, Alyson Ward was happy. Contented, even–for the first time in years."
I read The Word Game a while ago but I still find myself randomly thinking about it. This is a story about family secrets and stories that should have been told. One person's perspective about what happened way back when is not always the way it really happened. What is the cost to a family when things are covered up and ultimately not talked about?
It's a word game after all. Who's telling the truth?
Who's lying? Who's hiding something?
The Word Game will make you think about family dynamics and the secrets that are kept—maybe for the right reasons, maybe not. This was the first book of Steena's that I had read. I have since read other books by her and she always weaves such intriguing tales. I know I am in for a treat when I start one of her books.
I received The Word Game from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
About the author
Photo credit to Vanessa Pressacco Photography
I’m Steena Holmes. A wife, a mother of three daughters, and I live in Calgary, Alberta. I’m an author and a travelholic.
I love to read, write, bake and travel – not necessarily in that order either.
Welcome to my world of passions—chocolate and writing! Pull up a chair, fill your plate with sweet delicacies as we learn together how to become stronger writers. We’ll discuss books, indie publishing and passions—not always in that order!
Growing up as a small town Canadian girl, there wasn’t much to do but ride your bike, hang out with friends on the beach and daydream. I always wanted to write but never dreamed it was something I could do as a career. I love to travel and fell in love with the sheep covered hillside, old castles and romantic history of Scotland and England. I dream about waking up in Tuscany and touring small town shops in the south of France with my husband, of placing my toes in the ocean and experiencing history first hand. As a mother with three daughters, I’m learning that teaching them to pursue their dreams is a lasting legacy. I love to wake up to the Rocky Mountains, will forever enjoy the taste of coffee and chocolate and can’t imagine the day when a story doesn’t unfold in my heart. Living a life with passion and pursuing dreams is a life well lived. ~ from author's website
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