Sister's Choice

Shenandoah Album #5

by Emilie Richards

“This special book is one of the best women’s contemporary novels you might read this year, and one that you will recommend to all your friends.”— Fresh Fiction

Told with remarkable depth and warmth, this heartfelt story of sisters in transition reminds us that the choices we make are the real legacy we leave behind.

Kendra and Jamie were never storybook sisters. But after a long estrangement, Jamie has offered Kendra and her husband their ultimate dream—a child of their own.

Despite some lingering misgivings about her once-wayward younger sister, Kendra agrees, and Jamie, a promising architect and single mother, becomes a gestational surrogate for Kendra and Isaac. In addition to this amazing gift of life, Jamie designs a house for the couple on Isaac's ancestral property along the Shenandoah River. She hopes Kendra will finally see the woman she has become.

But when a medical crisis threatens Jamie's health and her budding relationship with Kendra's builder, the enigmatic Cash Rosslyn, Jamie learns that the most difficult choice in her life is still ahead, and its cost may be beyond calculation.

Previously published

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction, Audiobook, Quilting, Historical Fiction

544 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

I'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose.

I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.

I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.

Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.

Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.

Reviews

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last in a series of 5 books. Unfortunately the last I should say. I can recommend each and every one of the Shenandoah Album series. They are all terrific stories that do not shy away from the normal problems in life, but gives many ways of seeing things and puting it all in proper perspective. The author doesn't give easy answers, but more challenges the reader to see all different answers...

I loved all the characters and loved the location where they lived. Although Emilie Richards did satisfyingly tied up all the (obvious) loose ends, I still felt when finishing this last book as if I was moving away and losing all my friends...

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last (so far) in this series. As with all the Shenandoah books I enjoyed it very much. Great characters as usual that the reader grows to love.

Now rereading using the audiobook version by Blackstone Audio. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Loved the story of the two sisters, Kendra and Jamie and how they helped each other. I loved the story of Grace, grandmother of Cash, I loved going back to the war time and hearing her early story. Grace now has a big place in my heart just like Helen does from Book 1 in this series. So well narrated by Isabel Keating, she sure brings the characters alive.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this author earlier this month, and liked her writing. I gave the first two of her books 4 stars even though they were sappy (in a good way) and a little on the predictable side. So now this is my third book by her that I've read and it gets 3 stars. I liked this one, I just didn't feel as invested.

She creates characters in great detail and strings them along through her stories. I like the depth this creates, even when I can't identify with them. What I don't like, is the constant repetition of certain character traits. And I'm never a fan of characters who constantly berate themselves. It feels like a cheap trick because it looks an awful lot like info dumping especially when this is overused. I want to be shown not told (over and over again).

The story itself was interesting. She can certainly paint a pretty picture. It was about a woman who becomes a surrogate for her older sister. I also liked that there were subplots. I think I liked that the most because I'd have to relegate this to the Hallmark Movie bin, if it weren't for that. So overall, 3 stars.

manipulation

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister's Choice was a great addition to Emilie Richard's Shenandoah Album Series. I enjoyed reading the story of Jamie Dunkirk, sister to Kendra Taylor from Lover's Knot. It was also great to see the continuation of the story of Kendra and Isaac Taylor. This fifth book in the series was a novel of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and difficult choices.

After a very difficult adolescence, Jamie Dunkirk, single mother of two daughters, has finally gotten her life back on track. Studying to be an architect, she has reached a point in her life where she yearns for absolution for all that she feels she put her sister, Kendra Taylor, through years earlier. Although born into wealth and privilege, the sisters were sadly neglected, and when Kendra left home for college at seventeen, she took eleven year old Jamie with her. Kendra tried to raise her well, but Jamie was rebellious, ran away, and became addicted to drugs. After years of no contact with Kendra, Jamie has reappeared with her two young daughters. She has tried to mend the rift with her sister, but feels a deep lack of trust from Kendra. Jamie knows that Kendra's deepest desire is for a child that she cannot bear due to an incident years earlier. After serious soul searching, Jamie offers to be a surrogate and carry a child for Kendra and her husband Isaac Taylor. Kendra and Isaac worry about the emotional complications of surrogacy, but eventually give in to their yearning for a child and agree. Jamie decides to spend her pregnancy in her sister's unoccupied cabin in the Shenandoah Valley, overseeing the building of the Taylor's new home.

As Jamie and her daughters settle into life in the small community of Tom's Brook, she develops a friendship with builder Cash Rosslyn. As a young man, Cash suffered a tragedy which has caused him to shy away from committment, preferring to cultivate a footloose, "good ole boy" persona. Friendship with Cash brings Jamie into contact with his grandmother, Grace Cashel. Jamie and her daughters are drawn to Grace, and they all become very important to one another. As they become close, Grace tells Jamie the touching story of her life as a young wife. While she rebuilds her relationship with Kendra and develops new ones in the Shenandoah Valley, Jamie enjoys carrying her sister's twins. Everything changes when Jamie is faced with a health crisis and has to make the most difficult decision of her life. Her determination to face the situation alone places her relationships with Kendra and Cash, as well as her very life, in danger.

Sister's Choice was an engrossing and emotional novel. It was very enjoyable and had a few mildly humorous scenes, but overall was not a lighthearted book. It dealt with some serious and difficult issues. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships that developed between them. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Shenandoah Album series, and this book was one of the best.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here is my truth, I don't know if I had READ this, rather than listened to it, I would have liked it better. The subplot was much better than the main story. The most annoying part was that the main character- Jamie has 2 little girls who -based on the reader- totally bugged and more than once had me considering just stopping, rather than finish the story. The story is based on 2 sisters. One who made a mess of her life early on and to redeem herself, acts as a surrogate for her sister (who helped raise her) and is unable to carry children in her own womb. It's a restitution story... with very annoying children included. Much of it was predictable and other parts were unbelievable... but if you're knitting, or scrubbing floors it was tolerable... but to be read only when desperate for sappy- except of course, for the subplot... which was great food for thought.

[Gloria ~ mzglorybe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. After reading Lovers Knot I wanted to know more about Jamie, as her relationship with her sister Kendra was not fully developed in that novel. I was so glad there was a sequel, picking up their relationship later on, when Jamie gets to give her sister the gift of motherhood. Sisters Choice is a quilting pattern, but also a very appropriate title for this story of surrogatae motherhood. Kendra is childless, but doesn't want to be. She practically raised Jamie, her younger sister, most of her young life. Now Jamie offers to be the "incubator" for her twins and carry them to term for her sister and brother in law, with a few twists and turns through her pregnancy. All the characters, quilters, sisters, brothers, and all the people of the town are endearing and you feel bonded to them by the end of the novel and want more.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't quite pin what it is about that book that prevented me from really enjoying it. I liked it, I loved this series, and I'm sad that this is how it finished. Partly it felt like they just weren't that tied into Toms Brooks. Jamie just never really interested me as a character, despite the interesting storyline. And it did bother me that labor and snowstorms seem to be an inevitable combination in books... Something that has also bothered me throughout this series is a lot of gender stereotyping (though Jamie did give voice to that for one short second) in regards to "girls doing each others hair and boys watching football" and men not being good at sharing feelings and Cash always being so surprising in his understanding and romance. It was great to see Kendra again, along with Elisa and Sam. Would have liked to see more of Helen and Gayle.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 to 3.5 stars. I listened to this book and at first, there was something about the narrator (Isabel Keating) that I just didn't like. Her voice reminded me of Tina Fey's (which was distracting) and some of her accents were a bit to exaggerated for my taste. I almost didn't last past the first hour, but I persevered and I'm glad I did. It was an interesting story of family (the sisters surrogacy story line was interesting), friends (I loved grandma Grace), and the sense of place (an apple orchard in VA) was lovely. The quilting was a minor side line and I enjoyed it. I could have done without the twist near the end, but other than that, I thought it was a nice, interesting story. As a side note the audio production was filled with some very long pauses that were irritating to say the least.

[Tammy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite many references to the fact that Kendra cannot have children and the book being based around the fact that her sister was a surrogate for her, it was NEVER explained WHY she couldn't have a child of her own. I think it was mentioned that she was too "light" (whatever that means). I understand this must be part of a series and I haven't read the other books but with the surrogacy being the basis of the entire book I think it's reasonable to expect an explanation as to why the surrogacy is needed. I would have given this another star if this one question had been answered. Would still love to know the answer.........

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was a great idea, but I think it could have been told better. I wish the ending would have been written out more. It's all this detail and character building for the first 3/4 of the book, then the ending is rushed and leaves too much unfinished at the end...in my opnion. Pretty good read, but won't read it again.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have now read 4 books of hers in this particular series. Each book I felt was better than the last. I have enjoyed how each book concentrates on different individuals of this little community, making you feel a part of the community as you get to know your neighbors.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Shenandoah Album titles, this story focuses on two sisters, Kendra and Jamie, whose relationship when they were growing up was less than helpful for either of them. Their experiences then have followed them into adulthood and continue to infuse their interactions. Kendra can't have children, but Jamie has had no problems getting pregnant. Her two daughters are testament to that, but Jamie's descent into drug use and other acting out has scarred her sister as surely as it has scarred Jamie, even though that part of her past is long gone.

Jamie decides to give her sister what she wants but can't have: children. How? By acting as a surrogate. After convincing Kendra and her husband, Isaac, two embryos are transferred and Jamie soon realizes that the pregnancy--begin in a petrie dish--has taken. She's now pregnant with TWO babies. So far so good. Right? Maybe.

In order to enable Kendra to watch over Jamie during the next several months, Jamie moves into a little cabin with her girls while the house she has designed (she's an architecture student) that Kendra and Isaac will call their own. The man overseeing the construction is Cash Rosslyn, a man who watched his wife decline and die, and he makes clear that he's never going to settle. Why else would he live in a decrepit trailer his grandmother wouldn't allow any hired man to occupy? To Jamie's surprise, she likes Cash and he can't help himself. He likes her, too, and is undaunted by her gradually burgeoning pregnancy.

But what should have gone smoothly is fraught with physical issues as well as mental and emotional ones. Complications also arise when Cash learns something about Isaac he never would have guessed--until his taciturn father, who claims to have once known Isaac's mother--tells the men what he suspects. Then there's Grace, Cash's grandmother, and her long-standing feud with Helen, one of the celebrated quilters in the community.

As if this wasn't enough to keep a reader turning pages, Jamie discovers a lump in her breast that threatens her life and those of the babies she's carrying. She can't tell Kendra. What she decides to do and why informs the rest of the story to its crisis-ridden end. In doing so, both sisters become closer and Cash throws off the chains of his fears about death and dying.

A story guaranteed to illustrate the multiple complexities of family relationships in all its tangled elements.

[Karen Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard's books are always richly textured, with lots of depth and characters you grow to love.
This book is right up there with the best. Family dynamics are very authentic, true-to-life relationships and dialogue without being predictable in any way. I very much enjoyed the story-within-the-story portraying the life of an elderly but vibrant woman being shared with the main character, who is involved with her grandson. The lives both women live - past and present- are tightly intertwined with their sisters, and the meshing of the stories complement and do not detract from the storytelling. This is a book I will keep to share with friends, and read again.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a genre I usually read (romance/family relationships) so my review may differ from another reader's opinion. The storytelling was good, although a bit long in places, and the characters were interesting even if they were somewhat formulaic and predictable. The story is about a sister being a surrogate for the sister who raised her and the dynamics of the rest of the family, including some flashbacks to earlier generations. There are a few complications along the way but a typical ending (unfortunately). It is the last book in a series (which I haven't read) but works as a stand-alone. 3.25/5 stars.

[Sarah Oboda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a comparable title to the Surrogate novel I drafted in NaNoWriMo last November. The novel seemed to be lengthy. It also involves what I'd call "nice country boy romance," which isn't my style. The characters and plot were intriguing enough, with decent twists, and a satisfying ending. I feel like I learned some things about quilting culture and architecture, but having a background in either. If you like complex family drama, soft country romance, or quilting, this may be your type of book.

[Pam Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Emilie Richards.
I enjoy reading series; I like the continuation of a story and enjoy "getting to know" the characters. I was disappointed to learn after reading Sister's Choice that it was the fifth book in the series, wish I had read the others first but that didn't prevent me from enjoying this book.

I think I liked Granny Grace's story more than I liked Jamie's story.
I found the ending rather predictable but all in all I really enjoyed the story.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely liked Grace's backstory much more than the Jamie/Kendra story. Did anyone also think that the dialogue was too old-fashioned for the year it was written in? I can't picture a 20-something having some of the conversations Jamie did, being interested in quilting, and wanting to go through with a surrogate pregnancy. Also, I didn't particularly "like" any of the characters, except for the backstory's Grace...and did not enjoy the plot twist at the end.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the historic story in this one (so far all of the Shenandoah stories I've read by this author include past and present stories) but both stories tugged at me. The solutions were creative, although a little fantastic. In general, she writes good people! Again, this was especially effective for me because the locations are all near home.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this was a good book, although I didn't enjoy it quite as much as books 3 and 4 in the series (Endless Chain & Lover's Knot).
As in other books in this series, Emilie Richards combines a compelling contemporary story with a very interesting historical story that takes place in the same region of the Shenendoahs.

[Door]

Des rebondissements digne d'un roman feuilleton du XIXe, ce qui m'a fait m'interroger sur la façon dont c'est publié mais avec un vocabulaire moins élevé. Le dénouement reste prévisible . Néanmoins, l'autrice dépeint la vallée de la Shenandoah avec bcp d'amour et écrit les enfants avec une justesse qui fait rire et s'attendrir. Une bonne lecture pour un fin d'été si on a besoin de douceur

[Susan Belau · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story of a young single mom who becomes the surrogate mom for her sister's twins. Good story, nice character development, interesting people and stories. Includes quilting. Audio book at the gym

[Sarah Schott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Richards! This one, however, fell a tad flatter than her other novels. There were places I wished the plot had been expanded and lessened upon. That being said, it is still a wonderful book!

[Frincu Stefania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo è il secondo libro che leggo di Emilie Richards ma sto iniziando ad amare molto questa autrice. Il suo stile narrativo e i continui colpi di scena catturano l'attenzione in un modo molto piacevole. Molto gradevoli, ovviamente, i lieto fine.

[Shelly Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister's Choice is the last book of the Shenandoah series: "Wedding Ring," "Endless Chain," "Lovers Knot," "Touching Stars," and "Sisters Choice," all excellent reads. Emilie Richards is an excellent storyteller as she manages to weave the people through each book. Just loved this!💖

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy peasy page turner. Guilty pleasure. This is the first book I've read by this author and I will read anything she writes. Very well written. Good light book for vacation reading.

[Teri Pre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad to see the series end.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this last installment in the Shenandoah series - I was hoping for something better. This one is very predictable and clichéd. I just did not love this book.

[Annette Bracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though it was a little predictable. It is a story that has stayed with me longer than most. Well told.

[Lorraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get interested in this book. Started reading and read the end. I would confuse Kendra and Jamie. Which one was who, and nothing exciting was happening. Boring

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction. Kendra offers to be a gestational surrogate for her sister and her husband.