I did not read the first book in this series but you don’t need to to follow along. It was full of drama and unexpected events

This is the first book I have read by Cecilia Lyra, and I can say with certainty that I will be looking out for more books by thus wonderful author.
The way in which this book was written was beautiful and really brought the setting to life for the reader. The characters had depth and unique traits that really added to the flow of this story.
The way in which the author brings this engaging story to an end is perfection.
A definite must read for me.

3 for neutral. Did not realize this was a series and my ocd keeps me from reading out of order, will update when I’ve read both,

I loved this author’s previous book and was so excited to read this one. It absolutely didn’t disappoint.

It is part of a series, but is perfectly suitable as a standalone, the characters are different.

I found it a slow burn to begin with, getting to know the people in this unusual town. It’s not long, however, before you become totally consumed into the tangled web of family dynamics, secrets, and lies, and the gossip and politics of a very close knit community.

By the time the truth begins to reveal itself, I was heavily invested in each character and really didn’t know how it was all going to turn out.

This book is not only beautifully written, but its plot is so well woven, with characters that the reader will care about.

An all-consuming, compelling read that I really enjoyed, it’s one to settle in, relax and savour every page.

Ooooh … a small town that’s more or less run by an influential family, who are all shiny and squeaky clean. That’s lovely, picturesque Alma, not too far from New York City. And the family in question are the Dewars who own Alma Boots, one of the most successful companies in the country. It’s always been family owned and run, ever since it was founded and Alma basically revolves around the company.

Currently, Bobby Dewar is the company CEO (yes, Bobby … I did find a lot of Kennedy-esque similarities … there’s even a curse thrown in for good measure). His wife of 15 years is Gina and together they have a son, Calan who is a bit of a fly in Bobby’s ointment. Gina loves everything about living in Alma. She loves being a housewife, being a part of the ASC (a sort of Stepford Wives club that was created to keep boredom at bay for all the dutiful Alma housewives), even her mother in law, Tish, the Dewar matriarch.

Gina’s sister-in-law Alice, however is her polar opposite! She can’t wait to get out of small-town, small-minded Alma! Alice is married to Bobby’s brother Nick and they have a daughter, Allegra who is mostly cared for by her lovely young Swiss au pair, Malaika. Alice doesn’t really understand the whole family loyalty thing, and all the bowing and scraping to the shrine of Alma Boots and all that it stands for. She thinks the ASC is a pointless joke, and she can’t wait to get her family away from it all.

But then Bobby is accused of having an affair with a younger female employee. She alleges that he took advantage, that he’s a predator and that he should step down as CEO of a company that is built on strong family values. The entire town is thrown into turmoil. Such a thing has never happened in the history of Alma! The residents can’t even contemplate that it could be true!

Secrets, lies, loyalties, betrayals, trust and the #MeToo movement all play strong roles in this gripping story that had me hooked right from the start. I immediately pictured it as an addictive TV series! While the focus is on whether ‘whether he did or didn’t’, it’s the strong female characters who carry the story throughout. Their own individual layered stories and the nuances that each of these adds to their roles makes for intensely satisfying reading.

This is a 5-star read that I’d highly recommend. It’s absorbing and keeps up a good pace throughout.

This is the second book in The Sisterhood Series, but it is strong enough to stand alone. I had not read the first book and didn't feel that there was any missing backstory. I did enjoy the family drama - good and bad - but felt there was just a tad too much drama. It just kept coming and coming.... but overall it didn't take away from the wonderful writing. I look forward to the next book in the series and will go back and read book one.

The Dewars own Alma Boots, an all American family business that has created its own township and community. But the society and family are devastated by claims that CEO Bobby Dewar has had an affair. His wife Gina doesn't know if she can trust him but soon other family secrets risk being made public too...
The Faithfuls was a family saga that pulled me in straight away with high levels of drama from the very beginning. It seemed like every member of the family was harbouring a secret and I felt an emotional connection to each person. Bobby and NIck have been pitted against each other their whole lives. Gina and Alice both gave up their careers to support their husbands.
The chapters each focus on a perspective of one of the main characters or are interviews with various townsfolk. Image versus reality, small town gossip versus big business, truth and lies: these are all cleverly evoked by the format of the interviews. There were so many possible solutions running through my head and I had no idea what revelations would appear next.
There is an undertone of politics, especially gender relations, which is really topical and well developed in the book. The characters all had a natural feel to them and their responses to events in the book seemed realistic which drew me in even further. Sibling rivalry, parental favouritism, the tricky relationship with in laws, are all relatable concepts too.
Overall, The Faithfuls was hugely enjoyable. The plot developed at a reasonable pace whilst still providing enough time to make the reader think about the potential outcomes as well as the underlying themes.
Nick and Alice Dewar's therapist is mentioned a few times and she featured in Cecilia Lyra's other book The Sunset Sisters which I have previously reviewed.

I’m not going to lie, I had very mixed feelings about this book. I ultimately chose to look at it as a book about family secrets, even though there were some aspects that drew my focus (more on that later).

I do want to start by saying that I absolutely loved the first book in this series, The Sunset Sisters. The characters were strong, the story was plausible, and there were several heartwarming moments. I was hoping for the same from this one.

I did get a story of intrigue and family secrets. I liked the premise of a small town built around a factory. And I definitely did not see a few of the twists coming.

I thought the style of writing was effective, especially how the author used “interviews” interspersed among the chapters to give the reader commentary on actions that are in the past, but have yet to be told in the plot. They served as a Greek Chorus and were effective.

The action also shifts between multiple perspectives, which works well. It’s never confusing, and the different points of view give a more holistic view of the events at hand. It also gives the reader more insight into the characters.

I liked Gina. She was the most level-headed character in the entire book. In spite of everything she went through, she still remained relatively strong. I also liked her son, Calan, and Malaika. They were interesting characters, and their journey was a bit touching.

I did not like Alice. In fact, I think she is one of the ugliest characters I have ever “met” and that goes for serial killers and psychotic kidnappers. Every time she had a chapter, I had to keep myself from skipping through, because she annoyed me that much.

I couldn’t decide whether the author was writing her to be representative and make a statement or as a commentary on her particular point of view. There were times that I felt like I was being yelled at rather than enjoying a story, as some of the “opinions” were heavy-handed. I was disappointed in how Alice’s story ended. I don’t think it was deserved, and there was nothing uplifting or motivating about it.

I wish there had been more of a tie to the first book with more similar characters. The connection tying the two books together was tenuous at best and seemed more contrived than realistic.

All of that being said, though, it was still a decent book and was a great illustration of how secrets can work from the inside to destroy, but how a little faith and trust can go a long way.

The Dewar family is like royalty to Alma's people. Everyone in town loves and worships them with the same intensity that they need to know and talk about their most sacred secrets.
It's in that scenario where some news come out and kick the peace out of town. Bobby Dewar, Gina's beloved husband is accused of having an affair. The existence of the whole family implodes, pushing a considerable amount of secrets out, ready to be seen. All the members of the Dewar's will be affected by the bomb, each one of them in a very particular way.
There are two characters in my opinion, Gina and Alice, bringing a spectacularly developed balance to the whole story. They sound simple and lacking in ambition at the beginning, but they grow to be the richest in the end. Although I find them to be the main characters, there are several support ones helping the reader to build the story in full splendor.
I found the beginning a bit slow, but the pace picked up after a few chapters. Once that happened, it was not easy to put down the book until the last page. The story's structure is organized and the epilogue arrives sailing through a very well accomplished equilibrium about extremely sensitive subjects, in times when it's not a task usually easy to conquer.
I liked this story very much, and I hope to read more from this author.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Author Cecilia Lyra is simply brilliant. Omg!! I couldn’t believe some of the secrets that came from Dewar Family, the owner of the all American company, Alma Boots.

The author tickled my gossipy senses as she made me a voyeur to the inner happenings of this family. The prim and propah matriarch, Tish, and husband, Charlie, along with two sons Bobby, the CEO of the company, and Nick and their spouses, Gina and Alice, made up this family.

The queen reigned over the town of Alma and the two daughter-in-laws towed to her commands. Most times. But there was an interloper, Eva, who claimed to have an affair with Bobby, that he denied vehemently. Who was lying?

The drama this family brought proved to be the perfect entertainment in lieu of a television. I enjoyed the scenes that unfurled in front of me like the episodes of a series. Some parts did seem slow, but the ending more than made up for it.

It is always fun when the author makes her characters squirm when hard truths hit them. Cecilia did the same here. I loved how the red herrings were thrown quick and fast right up to the end. The characters had some wicked zingers, one was more shocking than the rest. Go Dewars!! They sure had some evil moves.

This was a fast read over the afternoon where the author hit all the right notes with me in most of the book. Complete fun. Can I say it reminded me of Dallas? Anyone remember that?

Cecilia Lyra writes intense family dramas that are highly involving, deliciously readable and thought-provoking and she is back with a spellbinding new novel of family, friendships, relationships and betrayal: The Faithfuls.

When fifteen years ago, Gina had married her husband, Bobby, she had been forced to make the difficult decision of turning her back on people whom she loved. Although this was not an easy decision to make, Gina had been head over heels in love with Bobby and had been prepared to make this sacrifice. As she threw herself in her new life in the company town of Alma, Gina was kept busy being a wife to Bobby, raising their son and being the secretary of the Alma Social Club. Gina’s life is as close to perfect as it is possible to get, but the rug is well and truly pulled out from under her feet when Bobby is publicly accused of having an affair. With the whole town having witnessed her humiliation, Gina is completely and utterly distraught and broken-hearted, but little does she realise that help is going to come from the most unexpected of quarters…

Gina’s sister in law Alice is her polar opposite. While Gina seemed to revel in the old-fashioned values and constraints of Alma, Alice rebelled against it. Alice has never cared much for people’s opinions nor has she ever given much thought to whether she was liked or not by the community. She has never had much in common with Gina, but with Bobby’s devastating betrayal, Alice realises that her sister in law needs a friend and a shoulder to cry on. Offering all the help and support she can brings her and Gina closer together and makes them realise that they might not be so different after all.

However, when Gina decides to take Bobby back for the sake of her family after confessing his innocence, she wonders whether she has made the right decision or whether she will live to regret this selfless act for the sake of her loved ones. Until she hears that Bobby’s supposed mistress is pregnant with his baby…

With her marriage continuing to unravel, Gina needs her friend more than ever. Can Alice’s friendship provide her with the strength and courage to follow her heart and make the right choice for herself? Or will Gina continue to put herself last and let other people’s lies condemn her to a lonely future?

Cecelia Lyra’s The Faithfuls remined me of one of my all-time favourite novels by the late, great and much-missed Maeve Binchy, Tara Road. Similar to the wonderful Irish storyteller, Cecilia Lyra has a superb gift for creating complex characters, emotionally resonant plotlines and dramatic tension that leaves readers absorbed in a realistic, engrossing and heart-warming women’s fiction novel that they will want to tell all their friends about.

The Faithfuls is a story of survival, picking yourself up when all seems lost and triumphing over adversity that is hopeful and honest from a fast-rising star: Cecilia Lyra.

he Faithfuls by Cecilia Lyra is the second book in The Sisterhood series but it is easily read as a standalone. I really enjoyed The Sunset sisters and am really happy to have been given a spot on this blog tour as well. The Faithfuls is just a good as The Sunset sisters. Again Cecilia has brought her characters to life in the town of Alma this time.
Gina's husband Bobby is accused of having an affair. Bobby happens to be a CEO of the towns biggest employer Alma Boots and is a family business that started from the American Dream.This accusation begins the unravelling of the secrets a family can keep from each other. Will they be able to withstand the fallout, or will this ruin the family and the family business that has been being built for decades?
The story is told from mutiple viewpoints so you really get to know all the characters well. The female characters are all loyal, strong and confident which I did like, although all the characters where very well developed amd fleshed out. I found I felt like I could have been in Alma with them.We get to learn that every family has its secrets and even the rich Dewars are going to prove how much can be hidden! A story of lies, deceit, betrayal and love.
Again, I loved this book, Cecilia has written another fantastic story that had me hooked from the first paragraph.I had my favourites out of the characters, Calan and I thought Malaika a lovely young woman. Gina, I enjoyed until the end of the story, you will see why, I am not giving the story away, just read it! A very topical book in the #MeToo movement of today. I was cheering at the end of the story after certain decisions where made, it put a smile on my face anyway.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy of the book for todays review. Loved it! Can't wait for Cecilia Lyra to write the next.

I had never heard of Cecilia Lyra before I saw this book on NetGalley, but I will definitely bee looking for her next book. The pacing of this book was perfect; the author got right into the nitty-gritty. I could clearly picture all the characters and I I could picture the town of Alma. Alice sort of got on my nerves with her whining, but it turned out okay in the end. Definitely a book that

This is the second book from Cecelia Lyra I have read. It has a bigger cast but nevertheless is a compelling read. Alma is a community near New York. It's famous for AlmaBoots, a company established by the Dewar family. Currently matriarch Tish Dewar holds sway, organising committees and social events within the town. Here everyone knows everyone else. The Dewars are well respected. Tish's husband Charles has retired and handed over the reins of the company to one of his twin sons, Bobby. His other son Nick has recently returned from a twelve year absence abroad and has taken up his place within the organisation. Bobby and his wife Gina have a solid marriage, but Nick's wife Alice hates small town life and longs for the city. She is currently plotting a way out.
Then a bombshell is dropped on this small community. Bobby, the solid family man is accused of having an affair. The news not only affects his relationship with Gina and his family, but also has wider repercussions for the company. Is he innocent as he claims, or maybe not the man everyone thought he was?

Once again Cecelia Lyra has created some unforgettable characters. The women are all strong.. They have challenges in their lives. Written from multi-character viewpoints, Gina takes on the larger part of the narration. She, after all, is in the centre of this maelstrom. But we also hear the views of the towns people, who add their slant to events. It's clear some of those within the family are keeping secrets and this is cleverly drip fed as the story progresses. It's a thought provoking read, one which I highly recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, I want to thank Cecilia Lyra, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

By looking at Cecilia Lyra’s newest cover The Faithfuls you would think it was a sweet and easy read. Oh how I learned not to judge a book by its cover. Cecilia wrote a very powerful and intense book that is current with today's world.

Ceclila’s main theme in this book comes from the #MeToo movement. This is one movement I feel passionate about and have read many books around it. In this book you see how one incident can have an impact on so many lives around it.

Besides the #MeToo movement bullying is also a hot topic as Calan (the son) has been bullied in school.

The Faithfuls is packed with so many life messages. One that stuck with me the most is always go with your first gut instinct.

Cecilia started out this story one way and I was totally shocked and dumbfounded to see the turn of events at the end

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

… when Alice met Gina, she had been utterly unprepared for her new sister-in-law’s chirpy disposition and never-ending energy. Gina had seemed like the type of person who only existed in cartoons, carrying herself in a way that makes one envisage woodland animals talking to her.

There’s no word for what they are, and even if there was, Gina wouldn’t want to use it. She prefers her situation to remain nameless. Nameless things aren’t real.

Lies. The things we tell to protect the ones we love. To give us a fighting chance in an unpredictable world. To allow us to start over.



My Review:

This family had created and lived in quite an entangled, torn, and mangled web of deceit, power, love, privilege, familial bonds, and avarice. There were numerous betrayals, infidelities, scandals, and everybody lied. And I mean e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y! Even the Mormon lady, who was holding on to one of the biggest whoppers of all. And when I say lies, I don’t mean little white lies, omissions, misrepresentations, or even the current occupant’s self-aggrandizing “Alternative Facts.” I’m talking black-hearted and treacherous deceptions.

I fell right into this juicy and complex tale of family drama with no hesitation or struggle despite not having read the first in the series, although the characters from the initial book only briefly carried over in passing. The plot was multi-layered and tightly wound with considerable second-guessing, intrigue, and compelling and untrustworthy characters. But which liar is currently lying and which one isn’t this time? The gossip was rabid and even worse the actual events. Ah, small-town living, I remember it well - and not at all fondly.

The book was full of twists and turns and everyone seemed to have had a secret to hide. There were many themes in this story – dysfunctional families, small towns that thrive on gossip, sexual abuse of women at the work place, parenting, love and relationships.

There were several characters in the story and the story was told from various POVs. I was absolutely riveted by the story, wanting to know how it would end, what choices the characters would make and how various issues would resolve themselves.

Since there are no sisters in the story, I was wondering why the author chose this to be a part of her sisterhood series. And then it all became clear to me. It wasn’t about sisters but the sisterhood of women and that was the central theme in this story. How putting aside their personal differences, women like Gina and Alice and even their mother-in-law, Tish, stood up to the patriarchy that was rife in the town and made choices for what was best for the Company and for themselves.

The Faithfuls is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of women’s fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

BOOK REVIEW

I couldn't wait to read this one. I read the first book in this series and loved it. With themes of sisterhood and these special relationship, these books are emotional and filled with a different type of love that a typical romance book.

My sister, Angela, is so special to me. She was my German exchange student in high school and we have been tight ever since... so I can online imagine if we'd have been bonded since birth!

I love how the two sisters in this book stick together despite their differences, facing tough challenges. I think this is something Cecilia Lyra is excellent at getting across to her readers.

I recommend both the first book of the series as well as this one to anyone looking for an emotional read. This book will hook you and you'll fall in love with every page.

Thank you Netgalley and @Bookouture for allowing me to read this and be a tour stop! I can't wait to see how the series progresses!

@CeciliaLyra #TheFaithfuls #CeciliaLyra #SisterhoodSeries #ReadingASeries #HeartfeltBook #Sisterhood #Bookouture #ARC #TBRPile #BookRecommendation #BookRec #WednesdayMood #BookTourStop #ReadingFiction #FictionFind #FictionisFantastic #WhatToRead #ReadThis #BooksYoullLove #BooksAreLife #ReadingIsLife #BookishladiesClub #ReadABook

The Faithfuls was my second book by Cecilia Lyra having also read The Sunset Sisters, and I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

In The Faithfuls, Gina Dewar has always lived in the smalltown of Alma in New York, even after marrying her college sweetheart, Bobby, fifteen years ago. Bobby is the CEO of Alma Boots, a highly successful, renowned boot making company. The happy couple have a son, Calan, but when Bobby is accused of having an affair, Gina's contented life crumbles around her, as scandal and doubt erupt all around. Alice, Gina's sister-in-law has never conformed to the ways of Alma in the same vein as Gina, or tried very hard to fit in with the neighbours, so she could be the ideal person to help Gina in these challenging times...

Mainly told from the perspectives of Gina and Alice, the story is brimming with family emotions, friendship, and traditions of the Dewar clan. The Faithfuls lured me in straight away and the excitement, anticipation and occurrences kept me turning pages until the end, with a large part of the story incorporating the #MeToo movement. Cecilia Lyra's great cast of characters really helped to make this a delightfully compelling, warm and intense story and I loved the numerous twists. This is first-class high drama and I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Everyone in the Dewar family has a secret and they all begin to spill out when Bobby is accused of sexual harassment. Bobby has always been the most golden of the Dewar family which lords it over everyone else in Alma, New York. His wife Gina has a choice- and she also has a secret. No spoilers from me but this is a family full of drama. You might find you have strong opinions about various characters in this topical novel- and that's a good thing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Well done.