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Home Before Dark
Home Before Dark
Author: Susan Wiggs
She left her child behind, but couldn't let her go — As an irresponsible young mother, Jessie Ryder knew she'd never be able to give her newborn the stable family that her older sister could, and the security her child deserved. So Luz a...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780778312482
ISBN-10: 0778312488
Publication Date: 8/30/2011
Pages: 432
Edition: Original
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 20

4.4 stars, based on 20 ratings
Publisher: Mira
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Home Before Dark on + 111 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
In a very moving story, the literate Susan Wiggs deftly develops the relationships among two sisters, "their" daughter, and the men in their lives. Jessie gives birth to a daughter she gives up to her sister Luz to raise, lying about the fact that she had had a fling with her husband Ian(before her sister had even met him), and that he is the father of this daughter. She even lies to Ian, telling him he is not the father, so he won't feel he needs to "make it right." Debilitating disease brings her back home after 16 years, and all the lies and problems finally have to be dealt with. Wonderful, warm story. So engrossing that it's difficult to finish it and not keep thinking about it.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 70 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Sixteen years after giving up her daughter to adoption to her sister, Jessie decides to come home and seek out Lila. This is a good story involving sisters, adoption and the hard years of a teenager.
BookLady avatar reviewed Home Before Dark on
Helpful Score: 3
If you like "slice of life" and "real people" romance stories, you'll enjoy this book. Susan Wiggs never fails to entertain me. Sometimes the story can be a bit slow, but the emotions are deep and her books satisfy.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This was a very touching, unexpected family story that I enjoyed throughly. The human compassion, anger, understanding and forgiveness was something that you want to see in people every day, but don't get to because people want to hide their emotions. None of Susan Wiggs' books have ever been a disappointment, but this one was one of my favorites of hers.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 74 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
In her career as a photojournalist, free-spirited Jessie Ryder has seen the world through her camera lens. But she's never traveled far enough to escape a painful moment that has haunted her for the past sixteen years: the day she gave her baby daughter away. Now, facing a life-altering crisis, she's decided to fix the broken pieces of her heart and seek out Lila, even if it means she has to upset the world of Lila's adoptive motherher very own sister, Luz.

Like a Technicolor tornado bursting into Luz's picture-perfect life, Jessie returns to her Texas hometown with a shattering request. She wants to tell Lila the truth. As Luz and her husband struggle with what Jessie's return may mean to the rebellious Lila, their seemingly solid marriage falters. Old secrets are exposed. Then, just as Jessie comes to terms with the past, life's bittersweet irony plays its hand. She meets Dustin Matlock, a young father who has survived a devastating loss. And Jessie begins to see the hopeful possibilities that lie buried in the most wrenching tragedies.

Though she aches to reach out to those she loves, Jessie stands at the crossroads. She is leaving behind the only life she knows and leaping blindly into the unknown. Now the choice she makes will affect the life of her daughter and challenge the meaning of sisterhood. As Jessie and Luz examine the true meaning of love, loyalty and family, they are drawn into an emotional tug-of-war filled with moments of unexpected humor, surprising sweetness and unbearable sadness. But as the pain, regrets and mistakes of the past slowly rise to the surface, a new picture emerges a picture filled with hope and promise and the redeeming power of the human heart.
Read All 33 Book Reviews of "Home Before Dark"

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crz4books avatar reviewed Home Before Dark on + 12 more book reviews
This one was hard to put down and I read it in four days, including the birth of my 10th grand child! LOL! Loved it! Very effectively told, smoothly written, it grabs hold of you in the first chapter and doesn't let you go. I like her 'direct' storytelling.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 6 more book reviews
love it .
tonyac7478 avatar reviewed Home Before Dark on + 46 more book reviews
Home Before Dark is a romantic story about the difficult choices we face in life and about family reconciliation. Filled with love, joy, and heartache, this is a book that simply cannot be put down.

When faced with impending blindness, Jessie Ryder returns home to her family to get to know the daughter she gave up to her sister. 16 years earlier her sister left college early to adopt Jessie's child, marry and raise a family, giving Jessie the opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming a photojournalist and traveling all over the world. Each, however, longs for the life of the other-Jessie envious of the secure family life her sister has had while Luz pines for the seemingly exotic and exciting life Jessie has led. Secrets abound, and a tragic accident makes this book a real heartwarming page-turner.
reviewed Home Before Dark on
I love Susan Wiggs' books and this was great as well.. she's a great storyteller.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 82 more book reviews
Excellent book
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 50 more book reviews
A moving novel about family, second chances and the healing of love. Jessie Ryder is a successful photojournalist and she decides to return to her Texas hometown and seek out the baby girl she gave up sixteen years ago, even it means she has to upset the world of Lila's adoptive mother.. her very own sister, Luz.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 19 more book reviews
Excellent Story - I want to read more from this author.
reviewed Home Before Dark on + 21 more book reviews
Really touching. Another great story from Susan Wiggs.


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