First line: When Jones Cooper was younger, he didn’t believe in mistakes.
From the inside cover: Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint,charming town outside of New York City. It’s a place where neighbors keep an eye on one another’s kids, where people say hello in the grocery story, and where high school cliques and antics are never quite forgotten. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollow’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insight into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case – and also dangerous.
Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene’s disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager. The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely. Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn. In a small town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion, not even a son in the eyes of his father.
“I know how a moment can spiral out of control,” Jones says to a shocked Maggie as he searches Rick’s room for incriminating evidence. “How the consequences of one careless action can cost you everything.”
As she tries to reassure him that Rick embodies his father in all of the important ways, Maggie realizes this might be exactly what Jones fears most. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie pursues her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret – one that could destroy everything she holds dear. This thrilling novel about one community’s intricate yet fragile bonds will leave readers asking How well do I know the people I love? and How far would I go to protect them?
My thoughts: This the is first book I have read by Lisa Unger and I really enjoyed it. Told by multiple points of view, we are able to hear the innermost thoughts of the characters as they deal with not only a missing child today but the memories of a missing girl from 20+ years ago. Set in a small town where everyone knows everyone, it is hard to have any secrets, but those that are kept have serious consequences on those involved. I loved the way the theme of fragility was woven throughout the story as it related to the characters, their secrets, their relationships and even their lives.
As a fan of picture books, I was pleasantly surprised to see a reference to one of my favorite ones, Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna, which is based on a 300 year old Ukrainian story. The lesson in the picture book, which Lisa Unger refers to in Fragile is so powerful – the power of words and their potential to cause harm to others. If you are not familiar with the story you will might miss it.
This book touches on many different areas, marriage, secrets, deception, parent/child relationships, abuse, and forgiveness to name a few. Whether you grew up in a small town or or a large city, you will feel a part of The Hollows in this emotionally complex story.
About the author: Lisa Unger is an award winning New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her novels have been published in over 26 countries around the world.
She was born in New Haven, Connecticut (1970) but grew up in the Netherlands, England and New Jersey. A graduate of the New School for Social Research, Lisa spent many years living and working in New York City. She then left a career in publicity to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time author. She now lives in Florida with her husband and daughter.
I received a complimentary copy of Fragile by Lisa Unger from Crystal BookSparks PR to review.
GIVEAWAY RULES:
Crystal at BookSparks PR has provided one copy of this awesome book for readers of this blog!
Rules:
- US/Canada only
- No PO Boxes please
- Must include email address to enter
- Book will be mailed out by publicist
To enter (required entry): Leave me a comment letting me know that you want to win Fragile. Please include your e-mail address in your comment, so that I have a way to contact you if you win. No e-mail= no entry!
Bonus Entry (+1) Become a follower of this blog on Google Friend Connect. Please leave me a separate comment letting me know that you follow. Current followers are eligible as well – just leave a separate comment letting me know that you already do! Not a separate entry = no entry!
Bonus Entry (+2) As I mentioned in my review, Lisa Unger refers to a favorite picture book of mine. Tell me what yours is, if you have one, and why! Be sure to leave your email address and it must be a separate entry to count. Not a separate entry = no entry!
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
GIVEAWAY ENDS
AT 6 PM, EST, AUGUST 27th
This book sounds like a good read. Please enter me! emilyjoymitchell at gmail dot com.
I follow via GFC. emilyjoymitchell at gmail dot com.
The story sounds intriguing, would love to wint this book.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I am a GFC follower of this blog.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
My favorite picture is of my mothers' whole family back in the Depression. She was the eleventh of twevle children. Everyone is standing very stiffly but her. She is at the end of the row with a big smile on her face and her arms and legs akimbo. My aunt is holding on to her in case she runs off? LOL Love that picture.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
please count me in…thanks 🙂
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
i'm a follower 😉
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Great contest! Enter please 🙂
Follower too!
PelicanJL[at]hotmail.com
Unger is one of my favorite authors! Please enter me….
bunnymom1970 at aol dot com
I am already a follower via GFC
bunnymom1970 at aol dot com
Hmmmm……my favorite would have to be Cookie Monster And The Cookie Tree. My youngest son used to LOVE that story and it brings back such fond memories!
bunnymom1970 at aol dot com
This sounds like a really good one! I've never read Lisa Unger before so this would be a great way to start! Lori – queenofthevbs@aol.com
I'm already a follower of your blog! Lori – queenofthevbs@aol.com
My favorite picture book would have to be The Little Engine That Could. It was even better when the kids would read it to me, since they had it memorized!
Lori – queenofthevbs@aol.com
I would like a chance to win this book. Thank you
Kathy
kathy at dassaro dot net
I am already a follower with google reader.
Kathy
Kathy at dassaro dot net
My favorite picture book is The Dot by Peter Reynolds. I read it to my oldest daughter, and now I am reading it to her little sister. Such a great book with a wonderful message.
Kathy at dassaro dot net
Thanks for a chance to win this!
thewindowseatreader (at) yahoo (dot) com
I follow via GFC – thewidowseatreader (AT) yahoo (dot) com
I would certainly love to win!
ruthaw_1974[at]yahoo.com
new follower via gfc
ruthaw_1974[at]yahoo.com
My favorite picture book–I guess is would have to be "And to Think That I saw It On Mulberry street" by Dr. Seuss.
ruthaw_1974[at]yahoo.com
I really love Lisa Unger's books. i read her mysteries!
I would love to be entered!
michwerm[at]gmail.com
I am a follower already.
michwerm[at]gmail.com
One of my favorite pictures books is Love You Forever by Robert Munson. Gets me every time.
Please enter me! This really sounds like a book I'd enjoy. I enjoy books that take place in small towns and explore family dynamics. Even more, I've been really enjoying mysteries more and more lately and the mystery aspect of this story also interests me.
lesnick.jennifer[at]gmail.com
I have read a couple of Unger's books, and I'd love to win this one.
lsj6458@sbcglobal.net
my favourite picture book is any cookbook by susan branch…i love her artwork and writing 🙂
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Wow great Book
Follower
vidisha
vidishamun[at]gmail.com
Wow. This book sounds like a good one! I would love to read this book. Please include me in this giveaway.
patelmona0113[at]gmail.com
Thanks!
Follower.
patelmona0113[at]gmail.com
Thanks!
hhmm. Picture Book.. I like the picture of mine when i was just 8 years old and was staring at my dad with anger saying pls don't take my picture, i am in my school uniform..
patelmona0113[at]gmail.com
Thanks!
I have not read here book but after reading the excerpt of this book, it reminds me of Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerristen. Lisa Unger's books are in by TBR list. Please include me in this giveaway.
patelmona0113[at]gmail.com
Thanks!
would love to win; sounds like a perfect beach read
ewhatley at embarqmail dot com