Sign in with Facebook
293rd out of 355 books
—
416 voters
The Ninth Step
by
Barbara Taylor Sissel (Goodreads Author)
A novel of timeless love, loss, and family and the steps we must take for forgiveness.
Livie Saunders is fluent in the language of flowers; she taught the meanings to her fiancé, Cotton O'Dell, but then Cotton vanished without explanation on their wedding day forcing Livie to learn the language of desolation. Heartbroken, she buries her wedding gown beneath a garden pond an...more
Livie Saunders is fluent in the language of flowers; she taught the meanings to her fiancé, Cotton O'Dell, but then Cotton vanished without explanation on their wedding day forcing Livie to learn the language of desolation. Heartbroken, she buries her wedding gown beneath a garden pond an...more
Kindle Edition, 236 pages
Published
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
471)
Move over, Jodi Picoult, Barbara Delinsky, et al. There's a new women's fiction author in town, and her name is Barbara Taylor Sissel! I got my copy of THE NINTH STEP when it first came out and read it quickly because I couldn't put it down.
Fate intervened, much as it does in this book, and I didn't get a review posted until now. If you like fiction that hits all the right notes of heartbreak and redemption, while never sinking into melodrama or maudlin sentimentality, this book is for you.
Livie...more
Fate intervened, much as it does in this book, and I didn't get a review posted until now. If you like fiction that hits all the right notes of heartbreak and redemption, while never sinking into melodrama or maudlin sentimentality, this book is for you.
Livie...more
Dollycas's Thoughts
Barbara Taylor Sissel has written a very compelling story with some unexpected twists.
The character Cotton makes a split second decision that changes not only his life but the lives of others. It sends him into a downward spiral that lasts until he meets the right person to help him put his life back on track. Alcoholism is a terrible disease many people live with staying sober just "one day at a time". Part of Alcoholics Anonymous is their 12-step program. Step Nine is to "ma...more
Barbara Taylor Sissel has written a very compelling story with some unexpected twists.
The character Cotton makes a split second decision that changes not only his life but the lives of others. It sends him into a downward spiral that lasts until he meets the right person to help him put his life back on track. Alcoholism is a terrible disease many people live with staying sober just "one day at a time". Part of Alcoholics Anonymous is their 12-step program. Step Nine is to "ma...more
An opening scene with flowers, pleasant countryside and the company of enjoyable people draws the reader quickly in Barbara Taylor Sissel’s The Ninth Step. Hints of mystery and past hurts are subtly drawn, adding depth. And then the deadly spiral starts. By now the reader is hooked and those pages have to turn. No matter how bleak the prospects, somehow the writing holds a promise of hope, and an attachment to these very real and wounded characters keeps the reader seeking that hope.
The story co...more
The story co...more
Livie Saunders was left at the altar on the day of her wedding and has never recovered. She compensates by dressing up and spending the night with other lovers who are absolutely nothing to her. For the love of her life, Cotton O'Dell, is gone; and while she can't forgive him, she can't forget him as well, that is until the day he returns as quite a different young man.
As the novel proceeds, this reviewer realized the story was really about Cotton, a fact that leaves one with a a bit of confusio...more
As the novel proceeds, this reviewer realized the story was really about Cotton, a fact that leaves one with a a bit of confusio...more
Can a person make amends and ask forgiveness for the secrets, lies and bad choices made in their life, even if the ramifications deeply affected others? Can forgiveness and love still be found within peoples' hearts, when the one that has caused so much pain comes back to make amends? What if you have your own secrets, lies and had made bad choices, can you make amends and forgive yourself? These are the questions and dilemmas that face Livie Saunders and Cotton O'Dell in The Ninth Step.
Livie Sa...more
Livie Sa...more
My first time reading this author and I did so on a recommendation. I truely enjoyed her writing. I felt as if I came to know the characters in this story. I will say, the synopsis was a bit misleading, as you believed this would be Livies story...but I felt the strongest character was Cotton, and he totally captivated me. This was his journey.
That said, this is a story of secrets, failings, disappointment and making "amends". This novel makes you think about how important forgiveness and forg...more
That said, this is a story of secrets, failings, disappointment and making "amends". This novel makes you think about how important forgiveness and forg...more
This story is about forgiveness and redemption. We are all human and we make mistakes, big and small. There are so many decisions in our lives that affect so many people around us and spread out to affect more. It is a hard thing to forgive someone else but I think it is even harder to forgive yourself. The characters in this story are real and fully developed and the story is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and complete. It had me laughing and crying and was very thought provoking at the same time...more
"An incredibly touching story, The Ninth Step shows you what happens when alcoholism takes hold of your life and has the power to change it within the blink of an eye. Livie and Cotton are engaged to be married. They’re happy and content. That is until Cotton disappears. Years go by, and Livie is forced to try and move on after Cotton broke her heart. Just as she’s starting to move on, Cotton reappears, asking her to forgive him for his mistakes, revealing his reason for leaving, and hoping that...more
Anyone who has ever been involved with an alcoholic, or alcoholic recovery, will be familiar with the 9th Step:
[We] Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
It is one of the more difficult of the 12 steps, and is the underlying theme of this novel.
You see, 6 years ago, Cotton O'Dell left Olivia Saunders at the altar without a word. Oh, she did get a postcard, four days later: "Tell Livie it's not her fault. Tell her to forget me. Tell...more
[We] Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
It is one of the more difficult of the 12 steps, and is the underlying theme of this novel.
You see, 6 years ago, Cotton O'Dell left Olivia Saunders at the altar without a word. Oh, she did get a postcard, four days later: "Tell Livie it's not her fault. Tell her to forget me. Tell...more
I buy and grab free books for my Kindle all the time. Way more than I can find the time to read. So often, when I get around to reading the book, I don't remember what it was supposed to be about. With a real book, I'd flip it over to see what the summary/description said. I never do that on my Kindle, just start reading and know that I wouldn't have it if I didn't think it was going to be good.
I just finished The Ninth Step thinking it was a book I had borrowed from the library and amnow happy...more
I just finished The Ninth Step thinking it was a book I had borrowed from the library and amnow happy...more
view 2 comments
My Thoughts:
I requested this book from NetGalley, I thought it sounded interesting. I have to say it was not what I expected, not that that is a bad thing.
This book revolves around forgiveness; but it also deals with mistakes that people make some big some small. But the main focus is forgiveness. I am not sure that forgiveness is everything, personally I think that forgiveness is overrated. When I read this book I asked myself who I ever forgive a drunk driver who kills my mother or anyone clo...more
I requested this book from NetGalley, I thought it sounded interesting. I have to say it was not what I expected, not that that is a bad thing.
This book revolves around forgiveness; but it also deals with mistakes that people make some big some small. But the main focus is forgiveness. I am not sure that forgiveness is everything, personally I think that forgiveness is overrated. When I read this book I asked myself who I ever forgive a drunk driver who kills my mother or anyone clo...more
I enjoyed this novel of forgiveness, redemption, and moving ahead with life. The story kept me interested, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I cared abuot the characters and hoped for the best for all of them. I will be looking for more by this author.
Livie was left at the altar six years ago by the man she loved devotedly. She is stunned, and although life goes on, she can't let go of the past. In order to cope, Livie does things she is not proud of and hides them from th...more
Livie was left at the altar six years ago by the man she loved devotedly. She is stunned, and although life goes on, she can't let go of the past. In order to cope, Livie does things she is not proud of and hides them from th...more
Se qualcuno dovesse chiedermi perché ho scelto di richiedere “The ninth step” e perché l’ho letto, risponderei che non ne ho la più pallida idea. Non ricordavo neanche la trama e sono esterrefatta di essermelo ritrovata nelle cose da leggere, ma devo ammettere che è stata una lettura interessante.
Livie, il diminutivo di Olivia, vive una vita tranquilla nei sobborghi di Houston (Texas) dove lavora come progettista di giardini insieme al suo vicino di casa Charlie. È stata abbandonata sull’altare...more
Livie, il diminutivo di Olivia, vive una vita tranquilla nei sobborghi di Houston (Texas) dove lavora come progettista di giardini insieme al suo vicino di casa Charlie. È stata abbandonata sull’altare...more
THE NINTH STEP by Barbara Taylor Sissel
Published by Author
ASIN: B005KDCOCE
At the request of the author, a digital edition was supplied, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon): Livie Saunders is fluent in the language of flowers; she taught the meanings to her fiancé, Cotton O'Dell, but then Cotton vanishes without explanation on their wedding day forcing Livie to learn the language of desolation. Heartbroken, she buries her wedding gown beneath a garden pond an...more
I reviewed this book for Netgalley. I gave this book a 4 star rating only because of the ending. I wanted something more.
Now onto my review:
The ninth step in the AA's 12 step program is: Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
That is the tricky part. How do you know when it will help and when it will be picking the scab off of a barely healed wound?
Cotton wants to make amends on his own terms. Sometimes that is the best way, sometim...more
Now onto my review:
The ninth step in the AA's 12 step program is: Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
That is the tricky part. How do you know when it will help and when it will be picking the scab off of a barely healed wound?
Cotton wants to make amends on his own terms. Sometimes that is the best way, sometim...more
Full of emotion.
I really hadn't expected to enjoy this as much as I did, but as soon as I began reading I knew that the author had a way with words that was going to make this book a pleasure to read.
Livie and Cotton were in love, a date had been fixed for the wedding. He was a true romantic, he left love notes tucked under a flowerpot or poked into the pocket of Livie's winter coat.
So why did he leave her standing at the altar on the day of her wedding?
As the story unfolds, we learn why he ran...more
I really hadn't expected to enjoy this as much as I did, but as soon as I began reading I knew that the author had a way with words that was going to make this book a pleasure to read.
Livie and Cotton were in love, a date had been fixed for the wedding. He was a true romantic, he left love notes tucked under a flowerpot or poked into the pocket of Livie's winter coat.
So why did he leave her standing at the altar on the day of her wedding?
As the story unfolds, we learn why he ran...more
Livie Saunders suffered heart break when Cotton O'Dell left her at the altar. She has suffered from torment when her self-esteem was so low that she would go out seeking pleasure and admiration from strangers. But Livie is no longer the lost person she once was; she has a good life, good friends, close family, and a good career as a landscaper. Livie may not have found love but she hasn't ruled it out. Just when she thinks she is beginning to move away from the past, it presents itself again wit...more
How does a reader decide whether to read a book? A strange way to start a review, I know, but it is an intregal part of my rating on this book. If an author is new or unknown to me and my reading buddies, often I will choose to read or not read a book based on its published synopsis. Such was the case with The Ninth Step by Barbara Taylor Sissel. I had never given much thought to the title of the book, but it was apparent early in the story that it referred the the ninth step in AA's 12 step pro...more
In the days since this young bride was left at the altar, Livie Saunders has worked hard to put her life back together, steeping herself in the language of flowers and the beauty of the world around her. But her facade has one big crack -- the "red dress nights" in which she falls into the arms of strangers--nights whose consequences are catching up with her just as the painful past comes crashing down. Her errant fiancé, Cotton O'Dell has returned, seeking forgiveness for the unforgivable, rede...more
This was a very emotional and thought provoking read about forgiveness. How do you forgive yourself? How do you forgive others? Are there times when forgiveness should not be given?
The story also highlighted how childhood traumas and experiences can impact a person throughtout their entire life. You never really outgrow your past, it is always there affecting you. Everyone in the story dealt with their experiences differently, even with the events were similar or the same. It is quite remarkable...more
The story also highlighted how childhood traumas and experiences can impact a person throughtout their entire life. You never really outgrow your past, it is always there affecting you. Everyone in the story dealt with their experiences differently, even with the events were similar or the same. It is quite remarkable...more
I read this ebook as a galley edition. The title of this novel comes from the AA step program as there are several characters in the book who suffer from alcohol addiction. Cotton, one of the main characters, is a recently recovering alcoholic who is going through the steps of the program as the book progresses. The reader finds early in the story that he has left his bride, Livie, literally standing at the altar on their wedding day. The reason he left is the main focus of the storyline. It is...more
On Cotton's wedding day, hungover and still drinking, he runs a stop sign, and hits a car carrying a woman and her daughter. Cotton stops long enough to call 911, see the child is unhurt, and talk to the woman as she dies. Then he flees - the scene, the state, the law. His fiance Livie is left at the altar, knowing only because Cotton sends a terse postcard later that he is not dead.
Six years later, Cotton sets out to make amends. But are some actions too awful to be forgiven? Can love lost eve...more
Six years later, Cotton sets out to make amends. But are some actions too awful to be forgiven? Can love lost eve...more
I have to say this is another one where the cover did not do the story justice at all! One could easily pass right by this one and miss a hidden gem. The angst that Livie feels from the devastating day when her fiance, Cotton, up and disappeared on her is so palpable, you can taste it. I’m not quite sure how Sissel managed to make me feel sorry for Livie without pitying her at the same time. The idea that Cotton could actually try to walk back into Livie’s life paired with the fact that she migh...more
There are two main characters in The Ninth Step, Livie Saunders, who was left at the altar six years ago and Cotton O’Dell, the man who ditched her, and we get to hear each of their stories firsthand.
Livie, who’s still reeling, has a mother with a bit of a man obsession and is tempted into finding comfort in the arms of strangers in her ‘red dress nights’. Cotton’s story is even more devastating, having committed a terrible crime on the morning of their wedding. When he returns with the purpose...more
Livie, who’s still reeling, has a mother with a bit of a man obsession and is tempted into finding comfort in the arms of strangers in her ‘red dress nights’. Cotton’s story is even more devastating, having committed a terrible crime on the morning of their wedding. When he returns with the purpose...more
Really liked this book. The author hooks you into the story of Cotton and Olivia, who they were, who they are now. The impacts of their pasts. What they each need to do to be able to look into the mirror. This should be on every one’s to-be-read shelf. The ninth step in programs is to make direct amends to others, unless to do so would injure them or others. Find redemption. Haven’t we all done something, big or small, that we know hurt someone? Then either tried to figure out a way to apologize...more
The book was fast moving and the story kept me captivated. It goes to show how many people's lives are affected by one mistake. Even when you go back and try and rectify the situation, it is sometimes too late.
It's not always true that you get what you pay for. Sometimes you get more! I got this as a Kindle freebie on Amazon, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I'll just mention two things I liked about the story; first, I really enjoy a book where it's not completely obvious which "love interest" the main character is going to end up with. This story kept me guessing until the very end! I also liked how the author handled the ethical dilemmas--no "preachy" style a la Jodi Picoult, whose novels I can...more
This book really irked me. The writing is at a fourth grade level, simplistic and child like. I found myself literally groaning at the characters. I feel like the story itself had potential but was executed poorly.
First time I have read anything by this author and it was really pretty good. I would look for another of her books to read in the future.
The Ninth Step is a realistic, engrossing and thought provoking novel about love, loss and forgiveness.
The story is based on the Ninth Step of AA's 12 Step Program. It is to make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
This authors writing skills created believable characters that made me feel as if I was standing there watching their lives unfold. They dealt with addiction, abuse, coming to terms with their tragic pasts and making amends....more
The story is based on the Ninth Step of AA's 12 Step Program. It is to make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
This authors writing skills created believable characters that made me feel as if I was standing there watching their lives unfold. They dealt with addiction, abuse, coming to terms with their tragic pasts and making amends....more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sisterhood of the...: The Ninth Step by Barbara Taylor Sisselclear | 1 | 8 | Jan 14, 2013 02:02pm |
I am an author, a book reviewer, a freelance writer and an editor and the mother of two great sons. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up at various locations, mostly in the Midwest. I've always loved stories, the ones my big sister told to me and my younger brother, and the wild tales I invented for anyone who would listen that often left my mother perplexed. She knew they were too crazy to...more
More about Barbara Taylor Sissel...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
