Reasons Why

When Bad Things Happen #5

by Sharon A. Mitchell

What would make a mother sell her children? Sally made choices - choices you might not agree with, like sacrificing her kids to give herself a better life. But what if she truly believed that was the best thing for her daughter and sons? The Sally on the book cover has two sides - one warmed by the sun's rays, the other buffeted by storms. Doesn't that happen to all of us? Which side dominates our world view? Do we have a choice? Do life's events shape us, or do they just show us who we really were all along? This is Sally's story. See what made Sally the woman she is today. Read Book 5, a stand-alone novel in the series When Bad Things Happen.

244 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2021

About the author

Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell lives on a farm, with her nearest neighbor several miles away. Doesn't that seem like the ideal setting to spark the imagination? She takes long walks with her hundred-pound German Shepherd dogs, Pickles and Dill. (She didn't name them - don't blame her).

Her newest work are clean, contemporary, western romances in The Farmers of Goodrich County series.

She's working on her eighth psychological thriller novel for the When Bad Things Happen series.

Besidestfive short stories tied to that series, she's written six novels, each featuring an autistic child or young adult. Two nonfiction books accompany that autism series.

Sharon's been a teacher, counselor, psychologist and consultant for decades and continues to teach university classes to soon--to-be teachers and administrators.

Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell is author of the psychological thriller series When Bad Things Happen:
·GONE
·TRUST
·SELFISH
- INSTINCT
-REASONS WHY
-MINE
-SANCTUM
·YOUNG ANNA (a short story)
·Anything for Her Son (prequel short story)

Western Romances:
- The Farmer Takes a Wife
-The Farmer Says I Do
- The Farmer's Christmas Duty
- In Case of Rain

She's also written a series of six novels, each featuring a child or young adult on the autism spectrum:
·Autism Goes to School
·Autism Runs Away
·Autism Belongs
·Autism Talks and Talks
·Autism Grows Up
·Autism Goes to College
·Autism Box Set- Books 1-3

In addition, there are two nonfiction books:
·Autism Questions Parents Ask & the Answers They Seek
·Autism Questions Teachers Ask & the Answers They Seek

Reviews

[Dee Hough]

I have become a huge fan of Sharon's work.
Her characters are carved out of love, hate, longing, more hate and the misdirection of children raising children along with adults that just don't give a s###.
This book hones in, one of my less liked characters, she can cast a very thin line between love, hate and despair, depending on whether she is getting what she wants. That is until I read REASONS WHY.
Sharon, you certainly blew me away with this book.
I would strap yourself in for a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, I gasped, I took a Sharp intake of breath, I cried happy, then I cried sad tears, then I just cried some more. This story leads you by the hand, through Sally's life. A life lived by so many today. The inner strength, is never seen, yet we are far too quick to judge. I'm certainly not anymore.

[Anna B]

Reasons Why is a sad tale of one woman’s choices defining her life and those of her children.
Twelve year old Sally is a girl carrying the weight of adult responsibility. Will she break or will she rise above her circumstances? Her journey is heartbreaking. Will the chain of despair stop with her daughter, or will it destroy another generation.
This book reaches deep into the human condition and raises the question, “Does a toxic environment and emotional distress form the basis for our choices, or do our choices bring about emotional distress and a toxic environment?
A great thought provoking book.

[Kim]

I really thought I would finish this series, but I'm throwing the towel in. I struggled with the first four books because of the inconsistencies and the idiotic behavior of the characters, it was very hard to see them as real people. I made it 25% through this book before I had enough. The adult Sally's character has been developed by this point...she's a sociopath. She hates children and has even sold her own. So it's absolute nonsense to write the child Sally as the caretaker and protector of her sisters. That motherly instinct and human empathy is not just a switch you can flip off, not enough to sell your own kids into human trafficking and who knows what kind of abuse. Ridiculous.

[Billie]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Morgan Burnham]

Loved the back story here.

This falls in line with the "When bad things happen" books. But this is a look into the life of one of the newer main characters. And why they are who they are.

You feel for her in ways you don't expect.
It makes you question upbringing and motherhood.
It makes you question why or why not we are owed anything for our actions.

Great book

[Debbie]

not for me

I stopped at page 20. NO WAY. It will haunt me. I could not bear to read any further. Not for me. If I could’ve made that star a faint outline on the left side of it, I would’ve. Won’t accept the review without it.

[Tabatha Robinson]

Absolutely Amazing!

This series is awesome! And this book helped me to understand a character I didn't care for... And the ending... Wow! Didn't see this other character returning! So excited to start the next book!!

[Don]

In this book one learns how Sally became the way she was. She traces her from a youngster to her present status and you get to see what she went through. It also explains why Lily is so mute. It was an interesting story and Mitchell is a good writer.

[Carolyn Strong]

Another in the series

This book backs up and focuses on Sally from her childhood, to bearing three children to present time. Sally is initially conscientious and driven but eventually becomes more like her mother Izzy.

[Teresa Tignola]

Diciamo che questo più che un continuo delle altre storie con i personaggi che conosciamo è la storia di Sally.
Ci viene presentata come una bambina con una madre alcolizzata e due sorelle più piccole che si cresce praticamente da sola.

Dopo aver finito il libro ho pensato che forse, tutto sommato, un po' la capisco. Certo, negli altri libri ci è stata presentata in maniera diversa, ma lei nella sua mente si è sempre sentita nel giusto.
Abbandonare i tre figli con diverse famiglie non l'ha toccata minimamente ma solo perché voleva dare loro una vita migliore.
Rimane comunque sbagliato, come anche il fatto che per un po' di tempo abbia deciso di lavorare con Alejandro, ma nella sua semplicità lei pensava di essere giusta.
Ancora una volta, quindi, la Dr.Mitchell ci presenta una condizione mentale che non è semplice da gestire. Come gli altri, è stato molto interessante leggerlo.

[Darcy Sander]

Great in-depth character development. Helps the reader understand why Sally made the choices that she did. Well done!

[Jackie]

Heart wrenching story of one woman’s choice regarding her children. It’s a short book, but one that takes you on a journey. Outstanding.

[Rainbow Unicorn]

DNF