"Family Dynamics at its Best"
Reviewed by Sharon Salituro
Posted February 4, 2013
Contemporary Women's Fiction | Women's Fiction
THE GOOD DAUGHTER is the second book in the Brennen
Sisters Trilogy.
The story revolves around an Irish Catholic Family named
Brennen. The father Tom, 4th generation firefighter, his
wife Marilyn who is dying from cancer. Kit is a teacher at
a Catholic school, single, and has a hard time keeping a
relationship. Her twin Brae is a nurse and working out of
the United States. They both have a secret, but Kit has a
hard time remembering why and what happened to her as a
child. She has two other sisters, Meg who is married to
Jack and has 3 children. Sarah is married to Boone; he is a
professional baseball player. Kit has 2 close friends that also teach with her at the
school. There is Fiona who is married to Chase and has 3
stepchildren. There are problems in their marriage because
the step children do not like Fiona. Polly is single, does
what she wants and doesn't feel she has to answer to anyone. For ten years, Kit was in a relationship with Richard. She
thought that they would get married, but Richard didn't want
to get married and Kit finally had enough and left him.
Kit tried dating several times, even joined an on line
dating service. But all just leads to is going out with one
man who turned out to be completely different than what he
profile stated. Kit decided that she had had enough of
men. Kit also wanted to have a family, but not necessarily
a man. The next step would be adoption so she fills out
the application. Polly thinks that this is the wrong move
to make as she was raised by a single mother and knows how
hard it can be. Kit's mom believes that a marriage should
come first and than a family. Kit knows that her time for having a child is running out as
she is turning forty soon.
Her two good friends meet after work to have a quick drink.
There Kit meets Richard who is a friend of Polly's ex-
boyfriend. Richard claims that he has just moved to town. The three good friends leave to go on the weekend out of
town to the family's cottage.
While they are there Kit meets a leather long hair man named
Jude. It's a quick meet and Kit feels she will never see
him again. When she gets back she receives a call from Richard. He
would like to take her out and a date and she agrees.
While on this date she finds out that he is still married to
Meg and has a step-daughter Delilah. Kit tells him that
she can't date someone who is still married and she leaves
it at that. We come to find out that Richard is really Howard and that
he doesn't take no for an answer. So he decides that his
Delilah should attend the school that Kit teaches at.
Kit is shocked to find out the truth about Richard -- Howard.
Not only is he lying about his name but many other things.
She starts to get close to Delilah, find out more things
by reading her English assignments. We also find out the
the long hair leather jacket Jude is also Delilah's neighbor
and he has a secret also. Kit's life is in turmoil as she everything in her life is
going down hill. Not only is trying to help Delilah, but,
taking care of her mom, is taking a toll on her. The entire
Brennen family is suppose to go on a cruise to celebrate the
twins birthday, but mom is to sick to go, so Kit stays home
to care for her as she just gets weaker and weaker. She
comes to rely on Jude, even though she knows her family will
not accept him. Jude is having a had time living next door to Richard-Howard
as he know what is going on in the house. In time, Kit and Jude find that they can be more than
friends. Things seem to work out for Delilah, but not the
way that she hopes. Jane Porter's THE GOOD DAUGHTER kept me interested, I hated
to put the book
down and really hated when it ended.
SUMMARY
Love was given to all, except
herself . . . Kit Brennan has always been the most grounded of her
sisters. A Catholic school English teacher for seventeen
years and a constant giver, her decisions have been
sound—just not very satisfying. Her fortieth birthday is
right around the corner, causing Kit to consider some wilder
notions, like skipping right past the love and marriage to
raising a child all by herself. A girls’ weekend away is just the reprieve Kit needs from
school, Mr. Wrongs, and life-changing decisions. It’s there
that she meets a man who’s dangerous; a man who challenges
who she thought she was, or rather should be. Kit
wants to indulge herself this once, but with one of her
students in crisis and the weight of her family’s burdens
weighing heavy on her heart, Kit isn’t sure if now is the
time to let her own desires take flight.
ExcerptCrouching on the curb, Kit raised her camera to capture
the burnt orange bike parked in front of Bluewater
Steakhouse, the big bike's huge ape hangers reflected in
the restaurant's frosted glass window as fog swirled around
the body and wheels.
Working swiftly, she snapped another half dozen
shots. First of the front tire, and a close up of the
stark handle bars and then another of the dark brown
leather seat with its image of a sexy half naked woman
wrapped in the embrace of one scary snake.
She was still snapping the intricate leatherwork
when a faded denim clad leg swung over the seat, hiding it.
Kit jerked her head up and lowered the camera just
in time to get a glimpse of long black hair, bronze skin,
dark eyes and the slash of a high cheekbone before a black
helmet came down, obscuring his face.
Impulsively she raised the camera, snapped another
photo even as he turned his head and looked directly at her.
Gorgeous, she thought. Dangerous, she thought in a
more logical part. He looked like trouble. Tough. Hard.
Physical.
Sexual.
And then he started his bike. It sputtered once,
twice, before roaring to life, low, rough, loud.
Kit bit into her bottom lip even as the bike
lurched forward and then did a quick spin, turning in the
middle of the quiet street to come straight at her.
She stumbled backwards, thinking the rider had lost
control but then he stopped the bike mere inches from her
ankle and tugged off his helmet.
"You took a picture of me," he said, looking into
her eyes, his voice nearly as deep as the engine's growl.
She opened her mouth and then shut it.
"Why?" he demanded.
Her brows tugged, and her shoulders twisted. "I
liked your bike. Thought it'd make an interesting picture."
His dark eyes narrowed and his head tilted, glossy
black hair sliding over prominent cheekbones. "You a cop?"
She nearly laughed. "No."
"What do you do then?"
"I'm a teacher."
"And what do you teach?"
"High school English."
He sat back on his seat. "Then why are you taking
pictures?"
"It's a hobby. Gives me something to do when I'm
not grading papers."
He looked at her a long moment, expression
shuttered and impossible to read. "How do I know you're
really a teacher?"
"Why would I lie?"
"People do all the time."
"Well, not me. I'm a Catholic School teacher," she
said, emphasizing Catholic. "I have to be moral. It's my
job."
"You took a vow of morality to teach English?"
She wondered about his background. He was very
dark, and hard, and altogether too intimidating. "No. But
what kind of example would I set if I went through life
lying, stealing and cheating?"
"I didn't know women like you still existed."
"The world is full of good women."
"I haven't met any."
"Then you're hanging around with the wrong crowd."
"You don't like me."
"I don't know you."
What do you think about this review?
Comments
No comments posted.
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
|
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy