Based off of the synopsis, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the newest Diane Chamberlain. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised! And dare I say...this may be her best work yet!⁣
⁣
This beautifully woven story was a delight to read! The dual timelines flowed seamlessly and both storylines are well crafted. I was completely caught up as the mystery unfolded and the truth came to light. Big Lies in a Small Town hooked me at the beginning and kept me captivated until the final reveal. 4⭐️ Thank you @stmartinspress for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Diane Chamberlain is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Her newest story, Big Lies in a Small Town, features dual timelines that are equally fascinating. The ties binding the two together are interwoven perfectly throughout the story. It also features a mystery that will keep you turning the pages! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is a story that is unlike anything I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twists, and how it all came together in the end.
The book follows the lives of two young women in two different time periods. Anna is a young artist in the early 1900s, and Morgan is an artist who is hired to restore oe of Anna's old murals. Both women are working to overcome troubles in their lives, in one way or another, and both of them are growing up and maturing as artists. In the end they both meet people that change their lives, both in good ways and in bad; and both women find a way to persevere through all life's challenges.
I have read other books by this author, and she always seems to give an easy read with a good plot attached. I will definitely read more!

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain is a split time novel set in North Carolina in the 1940‘s and 2018. What a story of art, mystery, secrets, lies, racial strife, life and love. It is a story of how lives are changed and restored. The characters influence each life they touch for good or evil. There is so much depth to this book and what comes to light in the end is unbelievable. I think it will touch most hearts.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

Diane Chamberlin sucks me in everytime. As soon as I heard the terms of Morgan’s release from prison, I had to know why she was given this opportunity. Although at times I felt the story revealed itself slowly, it may have been my impatience to connect all the dots. Morgan and Anna were both compelling characters and I really enjoyed each of their storylines. Perhaps a sequel to learn more about Anna’s life after she left town?

Oh, this is good!
I’m not usually a fan of books that jump back and forth in time, but this is done so well and so easily that I enjoyed it.
The characters in both eras are so well done. The story is something i didn’t expect, but thoroughly enjoyed.
And that twist at the end? I did not see that coming!

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain is a light, entertaining story. Although the writing is fast-paced and easy to read, there are meaningful concepts and important ideas about self-forgiveness and the power of hope to change lives. Big Lies in a Small Town would appeal to most female young-adult and adult readers. I would definitely recommend this title.

I thought this was a fantastic book by Diane Chamberlain. I love her books and this was no exception. Both women who were the focus of the book were very well written. Morgan's story takes place in 2018. She is in prison for a crime she didn't commit and she is confused when she is approached about receiving an early parole for restoring an old mural. She was an art major in school, but has no experience with art restoration, so she feels she is in over her head. I loved how much she grew over the course of those months while restoring the mural and how much she was willing to take responsibility for the mistakes she did make in her youth. She becomes obsessed with the artist of the mural, Anna Denton. The mural has some oddities that makes it seem as though she was starting to lose her mind.

Anna Dale is the other character that Chamberlain focuses on throughout the story. Anna Denton comes to a small town, Edenton, in 1940 so that she can work on a mural for the city's post office. She encountered sexism because no one can possibly believe that a girl artist could be better than the main artist of the town. There is racism as well when she allows a young black man who is an aspiring artist to help her out. There were so many small minds she encountered, as well as some generosity. I became so invested in finding out what happened to Anna Dale and why she started making such drastic and unusual changes to the mural. The author did a good job if both timelines and the buildup to what happened was wonderfully done and the secret was one I could not have guessed.

This was yet another great read from this author and I highly recommend it.

When a famous painter dictates an unusual demand in his will, a decades old mystery involving a missing painting, a young convict and years of secrets will be uncovered in this fascinating and unique tale from Diane Chamberlain. BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN is told through two seemingly unrelated timelines as a web of deceit, hatred, fear, love and friendship are unraveled before our eyes through a mastery of words and vivid imagination!

Young Morgan Christopher was serving time for a crime she didn’t commit when she is told she can commute her time if she restores a mysterious painting to its original glory within a certain time frame. The young art student’s ability to do so will impact the artist’s daughter, her inheritance and uncover hidden truths from years ago. Even as Morgan discovers more about herself, she will link two timelines and two artists to the old mural where clues are unveiled and a nightmare is revealed.

Like a patchwork puzzle, Ms. Chamberlain’s tale comes to life in pieces that begin to paint their own picture of the events of long ago. Brilliant writing, creative and well-told, this tale is filled with boldly drawn characters, intense and emotional scenes all capped off by an ending that is both unique and amazingly satisfying!

Highly recommended reading, just be sure to block off uninterrupted “me” time for this one!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 14, 2020)
Publication Date: January 14, 2020
Genre: Women's Saga
Print Length: 400 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A stunning and magnificent piece of literary work. The story is told in the present from two vastly different eras. The author chronicles the life of Anna and Morgan through there challenges. It is a journey of actions and consequences and how they can affect generations to come. It mixes history, mystery and love to form a perfect mosaic. The depth of emotions tied in with the characters stories as they discover all the things they didn’t know about themselves or other connected to them is tangible. This will definitely a book you want on your bookshelf to read several times.

This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and it was enjoyable, but I didn't love it. It started off slow and took me awhile to get into it .There are many issues that are addressed including racism and drunk driving. This was an interesting mystery. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Diane Chamberlain for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and while I didn't love it, I was not scared away. I will be reading other books by her. It started off very slowly and stayed that way for a long time. Unfortunately the payoff, when it finally came, was just not enough for me. I had too many questions in the end that didn't get answered and some why is this even in the story questions. And some parts felt way too rushed at the end. It was just an okay read.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on Jan 14, 2019

I received the ARC Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and this is my fair and honest review.

This is my second book read from this author. This was truly an amazing book, although I am not a huge fan when a book moves back and forth between time periods with one than one main character but in this instance it actually wasn't to bad. Once I actually got started reading the book it was very hard to put it down. The storyline is compelling and very well written. I would certainly recommend this book to others.

Well, that is some mighty fine, creative writing here by one of my favourite authors. I loved this one!!

Big Lies is a Small Town did start off a little slow for me and I was feeling a bit worried that I wasn't quite getting where the story was going here by almost halfway. I was intrigued but at first, felt like I was being strung along a bit. Then I reminded myself that I have nothing to worry about because this is Diane Chamberlain. Well, well my patience was rewarded and around the middle of the book, the pace took off me and things started falling into place. I started piecing together this well-layered story and flew through the second half.

After reading so many books, things can get a little boring at times and I seem to lose my groove a lot and it is getting harder to find that one that is creative and a bit different from the rest. Diane Chamberlain creates a very unique and compelling story here. She brilliantly weaves the two timelines here with our main character Morgan and Anna. I was so pleased with the way everything wrapped up in the end so perfectly for me. After reading this one, I was marching around the house cheering with excitement for finding another one that kept me in my groove. I highly recommend it.

This story!!!! I loved it so much. Dual timelines are my favorite and as always, her books leave you more in love with her storytelling than before. Each book gets better and better. I think I’ll reread it again. I loved it. Thank you!

Big lies in a small town will pull you in to this story. The era and the characters are so defined by the times. You'll learn about history from the people and also get an art lesson. Paths of people cross and you'll understand how things work out.

It took me a while to get into this one, but eventually I became invested in both protagonists (dual timelines). The ending was satisfying.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Yep, yep, yep, yeppers.

This authors books I’ve been reading like......forever.

I’m so intrigued with this plot. I’ve read books that peel away layers and layers revealing things slowly like an onion, but to see a painting being restored and cleaned and revelations being revealed, I was glued.

As most (if not all) Diane Chamberlain’s fans know, she’s a talent to be reckoned with as she can take a reader into her story and we don’t come out to breath until the final page has been read. That’s how I felt about this book.

It’s suspense.
It’s a mystery.
It’s a great plot with fabulous characters, lovely ones to the grumpy stressed ones.
You will be in tune with them all, each for different reasons.

There’s even romance......finally.

The title says it all.

Big Lies In A Small Town.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!

The ending was just 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝.

I just loved it.

I just have to say that this may be one of the best Diane Chamberlain books I've ever read.
This one grab me from the cover and once opened it did not disappoint. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. The ending deserves 20 stars. I feel like I'm closing out 2019 with the best book of 2020.


I would like to thank St. Martins Press for sending me a physical copy and NetGalley, for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.



Synopsis

North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher's life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women's Correctional Center. Her dream of a career in art is put on hold—until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small town secrets.

North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts. But what she doesn't expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors, and where the price of being different might just end in murder.

What happened to Anna Dale? Are the clues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?

I have to admit to being a bit hesitant to read this book for review. I have not "loved" some of Diane Chamberlain's books in the past. However, I have to eat my words with this book! It was wonderful, insightful and just plain great!

The author tells the story of a mural in a small town told by Anna from the past and Morgan from the present. The mural is what holds the secrets of this small southern town. Anna won the opportunity to create this mural and Morgan is tasked with restoring it.

The characters of Anna and Morgan are well-drawn. I could actually see them in my mind. The author draws us into the story using by alternating between the past and the present. It was so amazing to see the characters and the mural come to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. It is not one I will forget!