Review: Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Published: April 5, 2016

Publisher: Berkley

Format: via author

Rating: 5/5

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Synopsis

After sixty years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows that all of us, from time to time, need to use our little white lies.

Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness, even though her grandfather’s declining health.

But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. And Lovey has to decide whether one more lie will make or break the ones she loves.

My Thoughts

Lies and Other Acts of Love is a multi-generational tale of love, loss and protecting those you love the most. We met Lovey who is trying to maintain the little independence that she has left while caring for her husband who isn’t great health-wise. She loves all her children and grandchildren but she has always had a special place in her heart for Annabelle. Annabelle has always done what is expected of her but when she ditches her fiancée and marries a man she hardly knows all she does is look for acceptance from her Lovey.

Told in alternating storylines by Lovey and Annabelle we see how these two are very much alike. Lovey tells her story of defying her parents when it came to traveling but especially when it came to her love life. She fell in love with her future husband when they were kids and always knew he was meant for her. No matter time nor distance she knew there wasn’t anyone who compared to him. While on the other hand Annabelle has always been the apple of her grandmothers eye, she was the one most like Lovey in more ways than not. We see Annabelle’s story and how she came to the decision to follow her heart and to do what she wanted instead of what the family expected. We see her marriage to a man who she barely knew and what becomes of it.

I’m a believer in everything happens for a reason. While everything might be picture perfect on the surface both Annabelle and Lovey have dealt with heartache and loss, and while Lovey has always wanted Annabelle to have the best she soon finds out that Annabelle has discovered a secret she never wanted anyone to know. We all tell white lies but sometimes they snowball into secrets that once discovered will rock a family to its core. So when Annabelle discovers Loveys lie, she soon thinks her Lovey isn’t who she has always built her up to be. And Lovey being who she is will take the brunt of it all just to maintain the imagine of those she loves the most.

Lies and Other Acts of Love is a touching tale that will linger way after the last page. It’s a story of family and how in the end you will protect the ones you love even if it means sacrificing oneself. Kristy Woodson Harvey continues to bring us wonderfully written Southern fiction that continues to touch the soul with characters that are unforgettable; this is another winner and one that should be read by all.

      ABOUT KRISTY

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina and Lies & Other Acts of Love. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodonsharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's school of journalism and holds a Master's in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son.