Review: Soap-opera trope that'll have you riveted!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2013
I went into this book not anticipating what the 'extraordinary twist of fate' would be. To me, Secret Sister sounded like a regular women's fiction story with an unfortunate love triangle.Boy, was I to be surprised! The book is that, and so much more!I literally devoured this story. Thanks to my crazy schedule, I didn't get a chance to pick this book until yesterday morning, believing I would push everything else to the wayside so I could focus on this and give it its due. I didn't even need to 'slug' my way through it; I drank this story in steadily from start to finish, in under 24 hours. The writing flows and captures you in a way that gets you entranced in the read.Of course, there are some little jarring aspects. The fact that the point-of-view jumps from chapter to chapter is a tad unnerving, like you have to force your brain to recall who this "I" happens to be in this chapter, and then after the accident, I felt like the part where Roxanne is coming to terms with her amnesia dragged too much; we're at the halfway mark in the book when something finally happens.But from there on, the read picks up. If you haven't read any reviews that include spoilers, you're in for a mighty "Oh My God!" moment when this revelation comes to Roxanne. I admit I was stunned; I did not see that coming.Ms. Gamble wrote a whopper of a story there. It reminded me of a soap opera trope-style tale, and for a former soap junkie like me, this was all the more welcome.Nick's acceptance of the 'reality' at the end left me feeling a little let down - it's like everything is building towards this moment, but when it happens, it's almost anti-climatic... Or maybe I was expecting more...Still, this is one engaging read you simply have to get your hands on! I loved it, and like I mentioned above, devoured it! As an avid reader, it is hard for me to come across a book I want to drink in from start to finish, and Secret Sister provided me with that high and boost.If you love emotional stories with a bit of an over-the-top (yet 'realistic') soapie vibe, then this is the book for you. Perfect summer read material!