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Emilie Richards
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When We Were Sisters: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Emilie Richards (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,553 ratings
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A vow of sisterhood between foster children is put to the test many years later in this heartfelt novel of chosen family and painful secrets.

As children in foster care, Cecilia and Robin vowed to be the sisters they never had. While Cecilia went on to become a major pop star, Robin set aside her photojournalism career to have a family. But when she’s nearly killed in an accident, Cecilia drops everything to be with her.

When Cecilia asks Robin to be the photographer for a documentary on foster care, Robin agrees, even though her husband Kris will be forced to take charge of the household while she’s away. She gambles that Kris will finally prove that their family—and marriage—are a priority in his life.

Cecilia herself needs more than time with her sister. After a lifetime of lies, she hopes this documentary will tell the real story of their childhood. As traumatic memories return, the sisterhood they forged will help Cecilia and Robin move forward as the women they were always meant to be.
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  1. Print length
    499 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    MIRA
  5. Publication date
    May 31, 2016
  6. File size
    2496 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I emerged at the last page as a better and more thoughtful person." -Catherine Anderson, New York Times bestselling author, on When We Were Sisters

"Two sisters help each other face their troubled past in order to move into the future. A beautiful story." -Diane Chamberlain, international bestselling author, on When We Were Sisters

"Straightforward, honest, and uplifting."-New York Journal of Books on When We Were Sisters

"Emilie Richards is at the top of her game in this richly rewarding tale of love and family and the ties that bind us all. One Mountain Away is everything I want in a novel and more. A must-buy!"-Barbara Bretton, New York Times bestselling author

"Richards creates a heart-wrenching atmosphere that slowly builds to the final pages, and continues to echo after the book is finished."-Publishers Weekly on One Mountain Away

"This is emotional, suspenseful drama filled with hope and love."-Library Journal on No River Too Wide

"A juicy, sprawling beach read with a suspenseful twist."-Publishers Weekly on Fortunate Harbor

"A multi-layered plot, vivid descriptions and a keen sense of place and time."-Library Journal on Rising Tides

"Richards's ability to portray compelling characters who grapple with challenging family issues is laudable, and this well-crafted tale should score well with fans of Luanne Rice and Kristin Hannah."-Publishers Weekly on Fox River, starred review

About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author Emilie Richards has written more than seventy novels. She has appeared on national television and been quoted in Reader’s Digest, right between Oprah and Thomas Jefferson. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Richards has been married for more than forty years to her college sweetheart. She splits her time between Florida and Western New York, where she is currently plotting her next novel.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B016UGMVJU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MIRA; Original edition (May 31, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 31, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2496 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 499 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,553 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Emilie Richards

Emilie Richards

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Emilie Richards is the USA Today bestselling author of seventy plus novels in several different genres including romance, mystery and women's fiction. Published in more than twenty-one countries and sixteen languages, her most recent novel is The House Guests, a June 2021 trade paperback and hardcover release from Mira Books. She's won the RITA from Romance Writers of America and multiple awards from RT Book Reviews, including one for career achievement. Ten of her books have been made into television movies in Germany.

Emilie finds relationships of all kinds intriguing and perplexing, and exploring that great diversity of possibilities is her passion. Having lived in nine states and briefly in Australia, she's also determined to discover how the places we live help make us the people we are.

Right now Emilie divides her time between Sarasota, Florida and Chautauqua, New York, when she and her husband aren't visiting their four children and grandchildren.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,553 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Becca72
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
I'm not one to write reviews but this book was phenomenal. Heart wrenching. Thought provoking. You don't want to miss this.
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Valerie L
4.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful New Novel
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2016
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4 out of 5 stars

I recently finished reading "When We Were Sisters" by Emilie Richards, a very powerful novel about sisters, family, childhood secrets, forgiveness and love. Powerful enough that I had to take this novel a little slower than most novels.

When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. Looking back at that, I think it was my own battles with depression and anxiety that made me feel like that. I get extra anxious when there's a lot of conflict in my life. There's a decent amount of conflict at the beginning of the book, especially passive-aggressive conflict which is my least favorite and combining with the anxiety I was already experiencing at that time, it was a little too much for me.

I took a breather for a few weeks, read more, took another breather for a week, and carried that pattern for the rest of the book. It really helped me keep things in perspective and enjoy the book a LOT more.

The characters in this book were fairly well-rounded. At first, they seemed a little chaotic to me. By that I mean that it wasn't until we got further into the backstory that I finally understood some of why Robin and Cecelia (and Kris to a lighter degree) reacted the ways they did, but it wasn't a necessarily a bad chaotic. I enjoyed seeing the changes that each character underwent as things from the past were revealed and new connections & understandings were made.

The plot moved along at a steady pace. There were a couple of times I felt it was a little slow moving, but the majority of the book moved at a good rate.

The setting descriptions were the erfect type for me, not too wordy but enough detail so I can see them in my head, from Kris & Robin's house in Virginia to Ceceila's early childhood home to the dusty old barn in Florida.

There were several parts of the book that made me tear up and some that made me laugh out loud. There were things that made me angry, really angry and things that made me so happy for the characters.

The only thing that I really didn't like is that Ceceila goes by CeCe. I absolutely loved "Beaches", both the book and the movie. I've read the book numerous times and I've seen the movie even more. To have this CeCe be a singer and actress made it hard for me to keep the two characters separate in my mind. If you're not a "Beaches" fan (or have never even heard of it!), this little factor won't color your opinion like it did mine and probably won't even phase you.

All in all, for the most part, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly. I'm happy to see my library has bought a few copies and they're checked out. But, word to the wise, read it with a box of tissues!
10 people found this helpful
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Jenny Giannaros
5.0 out of 5 stars insightful and Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
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A story that may be true and told with such joy, pain and love it’s hard to put down. It will,open your eyes to what is hidden in plain sight.
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annie
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2023
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This is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. I recommend it to anyone with a love of family, and blessed to have them.
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Karen
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2023
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My daughter is fostering to adopt an 11 year old boy. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I could not read it straight through but often had to pause and reflect. It is well written and reveals both the good and the bad about our system to care for these children. I recommend it, even with all of its poetic license. As I look at my new grandson, I know there is a story I need to hear.
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D. Pohl
4.0 out of 5 stars great story
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
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A little drawn out, but the story was about friendships, relationships, kids, and about the main characters facing their pasts.
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Janice M Richardson
5.0 out of 5 stars just like sister
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2023
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Great read. Very sensitive and well done. Made me sad but definitely moments of joy. Survival is the theme of this story!
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Susan Feige
3.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2017
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When We Were Sisters explores the foster care system complete with the good and th he bad. It was an interesting book if somewhat predictable. It was interesting how the author wrote from the various character's perspectives.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Mandy Westbrook l
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2017
Verified Purchase
Has left a beautiful warm glow in my heart as a sister myself . This is the first book by Emilie I have read . Thank you
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stormygale
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For All
Reviewed in Canada on June 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
I have really enjoyed all of Emilie Richards books. As good as most of her other books were, this book is head and tails above the rest. I couldn't put it down. The ever changing plot kept me wondering from start to finish.
2 people found this helpful
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Non53
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
A very informative narrative behind the main story for this book, but just a tiny bit too long and drawn out for me. There were two stories going on throughout and it might have been better split into two books, so that each sister had her 'moment in the sun' so to speak.
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Mary Martin
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2016
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liked it
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Tina Vandelaak
5.0 out of 5 stars I like it
Reviewed in Canada on April 17, 2020
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It’s a very good read
One person found this helpful
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