"A powerful story of love and forgiveness"

Do you remember the last time you started a book at 9:00 PM and read all night until you finished? I thought I was too old to do that anymore, that surely no matter how good a book was that I would fall asleep before long. I was wrong. Last night at about 9:00 PM I went into the bedroom to watching Trading Spaces (hubby was watching TV out in the living room) and started HER MOTHER'S SHADOW by Diane Chamberlain. Eight hours, three cans of Diet Pepsi and a bag of microwave popcorn later, I finally turned the last page (#380) and turned off the light. I would have read faster but I did watch quite a bit of TS and SNL. I can't for the life of me figure out why Diane Chamberlain's books aren't regulars on the bestseller lists (she is the second author I think this about, the other being Emilie Richards). She is definitely on par with Kristin Hannah, Barbara Delinsky, et al.

HER MOTHER'S SHADOW concludes the "Kiss River Trilogy" that began with KEEPER OF THE LIGHT in the early 90s (reissued last year) and continued with KISS RIVER last year. As much as I loved KOTL, I think I liked this one even more. For those of you unfamiliar with this series, KOTL has one of the most powerful opening chapters I have ever read where Olivia is called to the ER to try to save the life of a woman who has been shot. She is shocked to find that the woman is Annie O'Neill -- the woman her husband has been having an affair with; a woman who does so much good in the community she is referred to as 'Saint Anne.' So that is really Olivia's story. When I heard Chamberlain was writing a sequel, I thought sure the second book would be Lacey's story -- the daughter of Annie who witnessed her murder and began a downward spiral of self-destructive behavior told in KoTL. But KISS RIVER instead brought in a new character, Gina, who although new to Kiss River, had family ties there. I was thrilled to know though that the third book in the trilogy would indeed be Lacey's book.

In HER MOTHER'S SHADOW, Lacey's story is interwoven with the story of Faye Collier, a nurse in San Diego. Her connection with Lacey and Kiss River isn't known right away but her story is very interesting as she helps a successful physician overcome the grief of losing his wife. Of course, Faye has a secret, one that is not revealed until much later in the book. There are two main story lines in HMS, one of Lacey's mother's killer coming up for parole, and the one of Lacey's childhood best friend being killed in an auto accident and inexplicably putting in her will that Lacey is to be 11-year-old Mackenzie's guardian.

I am trying so hard to avoid spoilers here! As in her other books, suffice to say there are rather shocking secrets, family relationships, and romance. We also have appearances by characters in the other two books of the trilogy. All of this combine for a book that is absolutely unputdownable!

Reviewed by Maudeen Wachsmith
Posted February 22, 2004