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judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
A special thank you to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Elaine Hussey’s THE OLEANDER SISTERS, is a heartfelt story—a book of hope and courage of women, and the strong bonds of sisterhood, set in the Deep South—one of triumph, over tragedy.
The Blake family struggle takes place in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1969, in the midst of two historical events. Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon, and the devastating hurricane Camille.
THE OLEANDER SISTERS, a strong group of women Sis, Sweet Mama, Beulah, and Emily. Told in alternating perspectives from Sis, Emily and Sweet Mama.
Emily and Jim, tragically lost their parents in a car accident when Sis was 14 years old. Now Jim is back from the Vietnam, with one leg facing his own demons. Emily is engaged to Larry and wants to provide her 5-yr. old son with a father. She makes poor choices and the sisterhood is there to support her.
Sweet Mama is a colorful woman with a checkered past, eccentric with a strong voice. Sis, the strong one in the family wants to stop the wedding when they begin suspecting Larry’s abuse and violence.
Both Sis and Emily work at their grandmother’s café named “Sweet Mama's Café along with her grandmother’s best friend Beulah handling the baking. As they work together trying to stop this madness, another storm is approaching.
There are metaphors and takeaways from this heartwarming story— from strong family bond to helping one overcome abuse, to finding hope in the midst of heartache; as the town rallies together to help rebuild the town after the hurricane. A story of courage, love, sacrifice.
A story of one small boy who never lost hope—building a ship to take them all to the moon, as everything else was being swept out into the Gulf—a symbol of hope.
If you like southern women’s fiction, sipping tea, sisterhood, strong family bonds, and southern cooking—you will enjoy THE ORLEANDER SISTERS.
Elaine Hussey’s THE OLEANDER SISTERS, is a heartfelt story—a book of hope and courage of women, and the strong bonds of sisterhood, set in the Deep South—one of triumph, over tragedy.
The Blake family struggle takes place in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1969, in the midst of two historical events. Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon, and the devastating hurricane Camille.
THE OLEANDER SISTERS, a strong group of women Sis, Sweet Mama, Beulah, and Emily. Told in alternating perspectives from Sis, Emily and Sweet Mama.
Emily and Jim, tragically lost their parents in a car accident when Sis was 14 years old. Now Jim is back from the Vietnam, with one leg facing his own demons. Emily is engaged to Larry and wants to provide her 5-yr. old son with a father. She makes poor choices and the sisterhood is there to support her.
Sweet Mama is a colorful woman with a checkered past, eccentric with a strong voice. Sis, the strong one in the family wants to stop the wedding when they begin suspecting Larry’s abuse and violence.
Both Sis and Emily work at their grandmother’s café named “Sweet Mama's Café along with her grandmother’s best friend Beulah handling the baking. As they work together trying to stop this madness, another storm is approaching.
There are metaphors and takeaways from this heartwarming story— from strong family bond to helping one overcome abuse, to finding hope in the midst of heartache; as the town rallies together to help rebuild the town after the hurricane. A story of courage, love, sacrifice.
A story of one small boy who never lost hope—building a ship to take them all to the moon, as everything else was being swept out into the Gulf—a symbol of hope.
If you like southern women’s fiction, sipping tea, sisterhood, strong family bonds, and southern cooking—you will enjoy THE ORLEANDER SISTERS.
cnridgway's review against another edition
I struggled from the beginning getting into this book. I think the story would be good..but didn’t enjoy the writing at all.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
The Oleander Sisters by Elaine Hussey is a truly amazing novel that is heartwarming, poignant and ultimately, uplifting. Taking place in Mississippi during late summer in 1969, the Blake's are a close-knit family whose lives are becoming frayed around the edges in the weeks leading up and immediately following sister Emily's wedding.
The Oleander Sisters takes place between two unforgettable events in American history. Beginning with Neil Armstrong's exciting moon landing, the Blake family is thrilled with their brother Jim's safe return from Vietnam but there are mixed emotions about Emily's upcoming wedding. Oldest sister Beth (who is mainly addressed as "Sis") does not like or trust Emily's fiancé but Emily refuses to heed her sister's warnings. Jim may be back in Mississippi but he cannot escape the ravages of war and he suffers from bouts of PTSD. The family's matriarch, grandmother Sweet Mama, is losing her battle with dementia and she is no longer able to hide her failing memory but luckily she can count on her lifelong friend, Beulah, to fill in the gaps.
In the weeks leading up to Hurricane Camille, the Blake family continues to deteriorate. During preparations for Emily's garden wedding, Sis uncovers a bewildering secret that no one is willing to discuss. Immediately following her wedding, Emily quickly realizes she has made a terrible mistake but will she escape her marriage unscathed? Sis has gladly shouldered responsibility for her family, but she is only now feeling the weight of her own unrealized dream of having a husband and kids of her own.
But there also glimpses of hope and happiness interspersed with the family's crises. Emily's son Andy is delightfully innocent and he remains mostly untouched by the drama surrounding him. An old family friend returns to town and a romance begins to bloom for Sis. Jim is rock solid in the face of danger and with his help, they emerge from tragedy stronger than ever.
The Oleander Sisters is wonderful novel of love, strength and devotion. Elaine Hussey brings the Mississippi coast and the characters vibrantly to life. It is a realistic and gritty portrayal of strong Southern women who will do anything to protect their family. An absolutely riveting novel that I highly recommend.
The Oleander Sisters by Elaine Hussey is a truly amazing novel that is heartwarming, poignant and ultimately, uplifting. Taking place in Mississippi during late summer in 1969, the Blake's are a close-knit family whose lives are becoming frayed around the edges in the weeks leading up and immediately following sister Emily's wedding.
The Oleander Sisters takes place between two unforgettable events in American history. Beginning with Neil Armstrong's exciting moon landing, the Blake family is thrilled with their brother Jim's safe return from Vietnam but there are mixed emotions about Emily's upcoming wedding. Oldest sister Beth (who is mainly addressed as "Sis") does not like or trust Emily's fiancé but Emily refuses to heed her sister's warnings. Jim may be back in Mississippi but he cannot escape the ravages of war and he suffers from bouts of PTSD. The family's matriarch, grandmother Sweet Mama, is losing her battle with dementia and she is no longer able to hide her failing memory but luckily she can count on her lifelong friend, Beulah, to fill in the gaps.
In the weeks leading up to Hurricane Camille, the Blake family continues to deteriorate. During preparations for Emily's garden wedding, Sis uncovers a bewildering secret that no one is willing to discuss. Immediately following her wedding, Emily quickly realizes she has made a terrible mistake but will she escape her marriage unscathed? Sis has gladly shouldered responsibility for her family, but she is only now feeling the weight of her own unrealized dream of having a husband and kids of her own.
But there also glimpses of hope and happiness interspersed with the family's crises. Emily's son Andy is delightfully innocent and he remains mostly untouched by the drama surrounding him. An old family friend returns to town and a romance begins to bloom for Sis. Jim is rock solid in the face of danger and with his help, they emerge from tragedy stronger than ever.
The Oleander Sisters is wonderful novel of love, strength and devotion. Elaine Hussey brings the Mississippi coast and the characters vibrantly to life. It is a realistic and gritty portrayal of strong Southern women who will do anything to protect their family. An absolutely riveting novel that I highly recommend.
mkm01's review against another edition
4.0
I won this novel through Goodreads First-Reads.
At first I was unsure about this book but after a few chapters I found that I couldn't put it down! Each character is so distinct and colourful. The book intertwines each character and their stories perfectly. Though the novel comes across as just being a story about two sisters, it encompasses so much more. The author tackles many serious issues that made the story far more interesting and exciting than just reading about the bond between sisters. I highly recommend it!
At first I was unsure about this book but after a few chapters I found that I couldn't put it down! Each character is so distinct and colourful. The book intertwines each character and their stories perfectly. Though the novel comes across as just being a story about two sisters, it encompasses so much more. The author tackles many serious issues that made the story far more interesting and exciting than just reading about the bond between sisters. I highly recommend it!
shell74's review against another edition
5.0
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
‘Yesterday if you’d asked her how far she’d go to save somebody she loved, she wouldn’t have had any idea. Tonight she was as clear on the subject as if she’d earned her Ph.D.’
The Oleander Sisters is a powerful novel about a family in crisis. Set in 1969, a year that changed the world when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, the Blake family’s world also changed when several events tested their close-knit bond.
I will warn readers that this is women’s fiction in its truest form. It is honest, raw, sweet, heartbreaking, and inspiring.
Read More
‘Yesterday if you’d asked her how far she’d go to save somebody she loved, she wouldn’t have had any idea. Tonight she was as clear on the subject as if she’d earned her Ph.D.’
The Oleander Sisters is a powerful novel about a family in crisis. Set in 1969, a year that changed the world when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, the Blake family’s world also changed when several events tested their close-knit bond.
I will warn readers that this is women’s fiction in its truest form. It is honest, raw, sweet, heartbreaking, and inspiring.
Read More
kat2112's review
4.0
ARC received from the publisher.
I liked this book. Mid-20th century settings are a favorite, and I liked the idea of a story set in the time before Hurricane Camille with the tempestuous weather complementing the struggles of the Blake family. The style and characterizations reminded me of Fannie Flagg's earlier works, and like Flagg's formula I had an idea of how the story would progress as I read on. However, the strong characters like Sis and Sweet Mama made the book worth reading.
I liked this book. Mid-20th century settings are a favorite, and I liked the idea of a story set in the time before Hurricane Camille with the tempestuous weather complementing the struggles of the Blake family. The style and characterizations reminded me of Fannie Flagg's earlier works, and like Flagg's formula I had an idea of how the story would progress as I read on. However, the strong characters like Sis and Sweet Mama made the book worth reading.
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