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Perceptions of Glass #2
Hiding Cracked Glass
An ominous blackmail letter appears at an inopportune moment. The recipient’s name is accidentally blurred out upon arrival. Which member of the Glass family is the ruthless missive meant for?
In the powerful sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, Olivia is the first to read the nasty threat and assumes it’s meant for her. When the mysterious letter falls into the wrong hands and is read aloud, it throws the entire Glass family into an inescapable trajectory of self-question. Across the span of eight hours, Olivia and her sons contemplate whether to confess their hidden secrets or find a way to bury them forever. Some failed to learn an important lesson last time. Will they determine how to save themselves before it’s too late?
Each chapter’s focus alternates between the various family members and introduces several new and familiar faces with a vested interest in the outcome. As each hour ticks by, the remaining siblings and their mother gradually reveal what's happened to them in the preceding months, and when the blackmailer makes an appearance at Olivia’s birthday party, the truth brilliantly comes to light.
Although everyone seemed to embrace the healing process at the end of Watching Glass Shatter, there were hidden cracks in the Glass family that couldn’t be mended. Their lives are about to shatter into pieces once again, but this time, the stakes are even higher. Someone wants to teach them a permanent lesson and refuses to stop until success is achieved.
In the powerful sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, Olivia is the first to read the nasty threat and assumes it’s meant for her. When the mysterious letter falls into the wrong hands and is read aloud, it throws the entire Glass family into an inescapable trajectory of self-question. Across the span of eight hours, Olivia and her sons contemplate whether to confess their hidden secrets or find a way to bury them forever. Some failed to learn an important lesson last time. Will they determine how to save themselves before it’s too late?
Each chapter’s focus alternates between the various family members and introduces several new and familiar faces with a vested interest in the outcome. As each hour ticks by, the remaining siblings and their mother gradually reveal what's happened to them in the preceding months, and when the blackmailer makes an appearance at Olivia’s birthday party, the truth brilliantly comes to light.
Although everyone seemed to embrace the healing process at the end of Watching Glass Shatter, there were hidden cracks in the Glass family that couldn’t be mended. Their lives are about to shatter into pieces once again, but this time, the stakes are even higher. Someone wants to teach them a permanent lesson and refuses to stop until success is achieved.
275 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2020
About the author
James J. Cudney
20 books3,984 followersJames is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in Connecticut, but I've traveled all across the US and various parts of the world. After college, I accepted roles working in technology, program management, and business operations in the retail, sports, entertainment, and media industries. Although I enjoy my career, I began to focus on other passions in 2016: telling stories and connecting people through words. My debut novel is 'Watching Glass Shatter,' a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. From there, I've written other family dramas and an eight-book mystery series. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com
I'm an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have ~1800 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice, and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.
I'm an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have ~1800 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice, and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 15, 2021
Since this is my own book, I'm not going to write a review. I'm using this space to let you know when there are discounts or marketing promotions, as well as share some thoughts on how the book came to be.
Hiding Cracked Glass is the 2020 sequel to my debut novel from the fall of 2017. I love the Glass family and had to share more of their story... this time, rather than focus on the emotional devastation one feels from discovering a family secret, I've focused on the suspenseful drama one feels at keeping a secret and learning a blackmailer has found out about it. Curious which sibling is in trouble this time?
To buy this book, please visit Amazon where it's available for purchase as a Kindle, physical, or audio book. It's also available from Barnes and Noble as an order from their online system. If you're not convinced yet, check out the blog tour for this book where you can see each blogger's posts with author Q&A, special features, videos, and future release information. You can visit my author page for more details. Thank you for considering my work.
Hiding Cracked Glass is the 2020 sequel to my debut novel from the fall of 2017. I love the Glass family and had to share more of their story... this time, rather than focus on the emotional devastation one feels from discovering a family secret, I've focused on the suspenseful drama one feels at keeping a secret and learning a blackmailer has found out about it. Curious which sibling is in trouble this time?
To buy this book, please visit Amazon where it's available for purchase as a Kindle, physical, or audio book. It's also available from Barnes and Noble as an order from their online system. If you're not convinced yet, check out the blog tour for this book where you can see each blogger's posts with author Q&A, special features, videos, and future release information. You can visit my author page for more details. Thank you for considering my work.
October 10, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Pilar wasn’t fond of the woman, especially after Olivia scanned her from head to toe in petulant judgment the previous day. When Olivia traced a finger along the fireplace mantle and blew dust into the air, Pilar realized things would change drastically in the Glass home. She’d heard various stories while Olivia was away and researched the family many times before accepting the job. Experiencing Olivia Glass differed from hearing about Olivia Glass…
Caleb always hated having unreliable gaydar, as in Halley’s-Comet-once-every-seventy-five-years gaydar. It’d been a curse since he was a teenager and stuck in the closet with six different kinds of professional-grade locks. Mostly, he had wannabe gaydar, the kind where he wished every hot guy he saw was interested in jumping his bones. It rarely worked out. What happened in the movies and on television never occurred in reality. Well, almost never.
Hurry up, it’s as frigid outside as Leona Helmsley before she got herself incarcerated and consented to turn slightly nicer than a pit of vipers.
If you ever ask me that again, papi, the only handy you’ll get again is a vengeful nurse swabbing the cauterized wound where your manhood used to be.
Children aren’t an opportunity to fix your past. They’re a chance to improve the world’s future.
Emma had once suggested to Teddy that people were like clocks. They came in all different shapes and sizes. Some were wound up; others needed a source of powerful energy to keep them running. In the end, they all functioned for the same reason—a slow and careful passage of time…
My Review:
I am delighted to report that I continue to be impressed by this wily wordsmith, his latest tale involved several intriguing and well-paced storylines while also richly textured with compelling and prickly character development. His Glass family serves as a cautionary tale and puts a new spin on the definition of dysfunctional. After three years and with a staggering seven other novels in between, Mr. Cudney has produced a wry and clever sequel to his striking debut novel of Watching Glass Shatter. And as extraordinary and remarkable as his debut was, this follow-up was even better.
Pilar wasn’t fond of the woman, especially after Olivia scanned her from head to toe in petulant judgment the previous day. When Olivia traced a finger along the fireplace mantle and blew dust into the air, Pilar realized things would change drastically in the Glass home. She’d heard various stories while Olivia was away and researched the family many times before accepting the job. Experiencing Olivia Glass differed from hearing about Olivia Glass…
Caleb always hated having unreliable gaydar, as in Halley’s-Comet-once-every-seventy-five-years gaydar. It’d been a curse since he was a teenager and stuck in the closet with six different kinds of professional-grade locks. Mostly, he had wannabe gaydar, the kind where he wished every hot guy he saw was interested in jumping his bones. It rarely worked out. What happened in the movies and on television never occurred in reality. Well, almost never.
Hurry up, it’s as frigid outside as Leona Helmsley before she got herself incarcerated and consented to turn slightly nicer than a pit of vipers.
If you ever ask me that again, papi, the only handy you’ll get again is a vengeful nurse swabbing the cauterized wound where your manhood used to be.
Children aren’t an opportunity to fix your past. They’re a chance to improve the world’s future.
Emma had once suggested to Teddy that people were like clocks. They came in all different shapes and sizes. Some were wound up; others needed a source of powerful energy to keep them running. In the end, they all functioned for the same reason—a slow and careful passage of time…
My Review:
I am delighted to report that I continue to be impressed by this wily wordsmith, his latest tale involved several intriguing and well-paced storylines while also richly textured with compelling and prickly character development. His Glass family serves as a cautionary tale and puts a new spin on the definition of dysfunctional. After three years and with a staggering seven other novels in between, Mr. Cudney has produced a wry and clever sequel to his striking debut novel of Watching Glass Shatter. And as extraordinary and remarkable as his debut was, this follow-up was even better.
September 11, 2020
When I heard there was going to be a sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, I was super excited and ready to see what Cudney would bring to the table next! And! He did not disappoint!
As always, the writing was astounding, and it was a page-turner from beginning to end. It was good to be in the Glass members' heads again! I love that it is multiple POV, like the last book, so we can truly see what's going on! I'd say it's very character driven which is right up my alley, but there is also the perfect mystery and atmosphere as well!
I'm a big fan of secret letters too so when that came in to play, I was ready to find out what exactly was going on! And yes, there are twists, but that is expected from Cudney who seems to be a master at those! Overall, this was an excellent sequel and if you enjoyed Watching Glass Shatter, you will definitely be pleased!
As always, the writing was astounding, and it was a page-turner from beginning to end. It was good to be in the Glass members' heads again! I love that it is multiple POV, like the last book, so we can truly see what's going on! I'd say it's very character driven which is right up my alley, but there is also the perfect mystery and atmosphere as well!
I'm a big fan of secret letters too so when that came in to play, I was ready to find out what exactly was going on! And yes, there are twists, but that is expected from Cudney who seems to be a master at those! Overall, this was an excellent sequel and if you enjoyed Watching Glass Shatter, you will definitely be pleased!
September 27, 2020
I'm a huge fan of Cudney so when I discovered there would be a sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, I was delighted! The Glass family has always harbored secrets but the extent to which they overlap each other's lives is eerily fascinating. In this novel a blackmail letter arrives and matriarch Olivia is the first to read it. It's not enough that they've already lost their father, but now someone is seeking revenge and all the siblings have something to hide. Who is behind it and what repercussions will it have on the family dynamic? They have eight hours to unravel the mystery and there are dire consequences. Fortunately, lessons are learned and redemption is possible. While you don't need to have read the first book, I'd recommend reading them both as Cudney is a wildly talented writer whose pacing is break-neck speed and whose plots are always multi-layered! Enjoy!
October 10, 2020
I read the first book in the series Watching Glass Shatter a while ago and would recommend reading these books in order, because a secret that is revealed in book one plays a role in book two. This is more complex than your average crime novel, and I am a big fan of family dramas with an element of mystery. Hiding Cracked Glass is very much about each member of the Glass family trying to hide the cracks in their lives and relationships. The characters, as in Cudney's previous book, seemed very real, each distinctive, and the dialogue as clever as the plotting. There is something about this book that reminded me almost of a Golden Age mystery, with the way the plot unfolded and each character has something to hide, which built an atmosphere of tension throughout the book. Hiding Cracked Glass is both an intelligent mystery and an examination of how people act under enormous strain, how secrets can eat away at you and how even powerful families have vulnerabilities. If this becomes a trilogy, you'll get no complaints from me! Recommended!
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
April 30, 2023
What a beautiful sequel to Watching Glass Shatter. The writing is eloquent, not many authors can turn a phrase as beautifully as James J. Cudney. Example: "When Ethan expelled his last breath, Emma's heart burst into jagged shards as though Cupid's arrow had permanently destroyed its union. Each portion persistently refused to recognize the other or mend the fiery incision, even if the repair would leave only the slightest of visible scars."
The story is full of twists and turns, each character believing something different than the other about a family situation. It is intense as each person struggles with their secrets. Over the course of a few days, each character is featured and their thoughts dissected, leaving the reader pushing through the story, eager to read more. Family members, staff and relatives have their secrets exposed as they face reality. The final pages bring redemption, enlightenment and change to the family dynamics.
If I, as a reader, could give more than five stars, this book would have earned it.
The story is full of twists and turns, each character believing something different than the other about a family situation. It is intense as each person struggles with their secrets. Over the course of a few days, each character is featured and their thoughts dissected, leaving the reader pushing through the story, eager to read more. Family members, staff and relatives have their secrets exposed as they face reality. The final pages bring redemption, enlightenment and change to the family dynamics.
If I, as a reader, could give more than five stars, this book would have earned it.
Want to read
August 19, 2020Coming soon!!!! Get the first book while you can so you can be all caught up and start on book 2!
I’m 😜 excited! Aren’t you guys. James (J) just keeps on writing good books and I love them. He has some well earned, well deserved success and I wanna help. He’s always helping others.
Pick up;
“Watching Glass Shatter “today and get ready for the new book in the series!
#2 “Hiding Cracked Glass”
I really like his cozy series myself. But I’m ready to dive into these.
Also ... Blog Tour coming up!
About to start my James J. Cudney readathon in support of his new book — join me?!
@Shalini_G26
@jamescudney4
I’m 😜 excited! Aren’t you guys. James (J) just keeps on writing good books and I love them. He has some well earned, well deserved success and I wanna help. He’s always helping others.
Pick up;
“Watching Glass Shatter “today and get ready for the new book in the series!
#2 “Hiding Cracked Glass”
I really like his cozy series myself. But I’m ready to dive into these.
Also ... Blog Tour coming up!
About to start my James J. Cudney readathon in support of his new book — join me?!
@Shalini_G26
@jamescudney4
October 5, 2020
Hiding Cracked Glass is the second book in the Perception of Glass Series, by James J. Cudney. I loved the first novel and was excited when I learned the book is now a series. The second book did not disappoint. Mr. Cudney has honed his craft as a writer of contemporary family drama and whodunnit style mystery wielding it well in Hiding Cracked glass. Clever and fitting, the title alludes to more chaos in an already fractured family.
The story told in multiple POVs, with alternating chapters of each family member, disclosing the why and how's of their burdensome secrets. Mr. Cudney tosses in a few new and suspicious characters that keep you pondering their intentions. How many more secrets lurk beneath the Glass' facade? Is it enough to tear the family asunder or shatter an already fragile family?
A blackmail letter arrives at the Glass home hours before the family assembles to celebrate the matriarch of the Glass Family, Olivia’s, birthday. Unfortunately, the recipient’s name is indecipherable, soiled during hand delivery.
When family members learn about the blackmail, the tenuous façade of normalcy crack, each member believes the letter is for them. Who is that darn letter for, Olivia? Zachary? Matthew? Caleb? Diane? Teddy? Most importantly, who is the blackmailer? Who wants to harm the family?
“Upon learning the package had been delivered, the individual cackled at great length and noted assuredly, “You deserve every bit of my revenge. Only one of us will win this battle, and in the end, you’ll beg for mercy. Once a brittle and feeble glass begins to crack, it can never be repaired again.”
Can the glass family handle more devastating secrets so soon after the death of a husband and father, son and brother, and a newborn child?
“This isn’t the universe trying to tell us we did something wrong. Accidents happen. If this were a game, we’re the team who’s down. We lost Dad, Ethan, Teddy’s baby… Nathaniel only lost his son.” Matt felt remorse for comparing the deaths and not recognizing the common pain they all shared.”
Tensions heighten as the family gathers in the home. Arguments and a melee explode as well as a gun, thrusting the family into yet another fatal tragedy.
“Everyone’s ears experienced an unimaginable ringing from the blast’s reverberation and the victim’s piercing scream. Someone had definitely been hit the second time, but no one knew whom. No one except the stunned victim who gasped for air and fell backward onto the plush carpet.”
Wow! What a ride! I applaud Mr. Cudney for writing another emotionally charged page-turner that kept me guessing at every turn. I suspect there are more secrets to be told in the Glass family, and I'm looking forward to book three of the Perception of Glass Series. Mr. Cudney, thank you for the thrilling read!
https://edenisebillups.com/
The story told in multiple POVs, with alternating chapters of each family member, disclosing the why and how's of their burdensome secrets. Mr. Cudney tosses in a few new and suspicious characters that keep you pondering their intentions. How many more secrets lurk beneath the Glass' facade? Is it enough to tear the family asunder or shatter an already fragile family?
A blackmail letter arrives at the Glass home hours before the family assembles to celebrate the matriarch of the Glass Family, Olivia’s, birthday. Unfortunately, the recipient’s name is indecipherable, soiled during hand delivery.
When family members learn about the blackmail, the tenuous façade of normalcy crack, each member believes the letter is for them. Who is that darn letter for, Olivia? Zachary? Matthew? Caleb? Diane? Teddy? Most importantly, who is the blackmailer? Who wants to harm the family?
“Upon learning the package had been delivered, the individual cackled at great length and noted assuredly, “You deserve every bit of my revenge. Only one of us will win this battle, and in the end, you’ll beg for mercy. Once a brittle and feeble glass begins to crack, it can never be repaired again.”
Can the glass family handle more devastating secrets so soon after the death of a husband and father, son and brother, and a newborn child?
“This isn’t the universe trying to tell us we did something wrong. Accidents happen. If this were a game, we’re the team who’s down. We lost Dad, Ethan, Teddy’s baby… Nathaniel only lost his son.” Matt felt remorse for comparing the deaths and not recognizing the common pain they all shared.”
Tensions heighten as the family gathers in the home. Arguments and a melee explode as well as a gun, thrusting the family into yet another fatal tragedy.
“Everyone’s ears experienced an unimaginable ringing from the blast’s reverberation and the victim’s piercing scream. Someone had definitely been hit the second time, but no one knew whom. No one except the stunned victim who gasped for air and fell backward onto the plush carpet.”
Wow! What a ride! I applaud Mr. Cudney for writing another emotionally charged page-turner that kept me guessing at every turn. I suspect there are more secrets to be told in the Glass family, and I'm looking forward to book three of the Perception of Glass Series. Mr. Cudney, thank you for the thrilling read!
https://edenisebillups.com/
August 2, 2020
Without Care, Glass Does Break
Hiding Cracked Glass is a book I’d hoped to see written. This story follows the Glass family from the first book, Watching Glass Shatter. The author, James Cudney, creates believable characters, true to life in their personas. Their experiences and how they react to traumas and changes that affect the family made me feel I was there in that large home, a mansion really, living through all the life-threatening changes this family endured.
In the first book, a secret remains a secret, though the reader knows. Now, in the second story, a letter is delivered that threatens to rip the family apart. Each family member has their own set of problems and private lives, even as they are a cohesive family. But will the contents of that letter shred any desire to remain close-knit? After reading Watching Glass Shatter, I had hoped for a follow up story to learn how this family, with their true-to-life existence as a whole would keep from falling apart.
Cudney has the ability to create characters so real I felt I could speak to them. Each family member has a distinct personality while disagreeing, yet holding to family values. Almost. The character of Olivia Glass, the matriarch, is incredibly structured and complex. She must relinquish her role as head of her now grown family if they are to make meaningful lives for themselves. Likewise, Olivia must make a new life for herself, all the while being concerned for her four remaining sons and their significant others, and hoping the criminal element doesn’t seep to deep among them. This is not a simple family saga. Far from it. The criminal element enters their lives, threatens the family’s very foundation, and left this reader on the edge of the chair.
Both of the stories in this series could be likened to a modern-day Agatha Christie, with all the attendant mind-numbing mystery and suspense that keeps the reader gasping and turning pages. Where Christie’s setting may include rooms full of antiques, heavy velvet drapes and vintage clothing, Cudney’s stories include a mansion replete with all the modern-day trappings, including servants. (No, the butler didn’t do it.)
Hiding Cracked Glass rewarded me with a peek at how this family put itself back together following one tragedy after another. But there is yet more that I would love to see follow up with another story. I would encourage that since Hiding Cracked Glass in only the second story in the series, the reader jumps in from the beginning and first reads Watching Glass Shatter. While both are stand-alone stories, the two stories mesh seamlessly.
Hiding Cracked Glass is a book I’d hoped to see written. This story follows the Glass family from the first book, Watching Glass Shatter. The author, James Cudney, creates believable characters, true to life in their personas. Their experiences and how they react to traumas and changes that affect the family made me feel I was there in that large home, a mansion really, living through all the life-threatening changes this family endured.
In the first book, a secret remains a secret, though the reader knows. Now, in the second story, a letter is delivered that threatens to rip the family apart. Each family member has their own set of problems and private lives, even as they are a cohesive family. But will the contents of that letter shred any desire to remain close-knit? After reading Watching Glass Shatter, I had hoped for a follow up story to learn how this family, with their true-to-life existence as a whole would keep from falling apart.
Cudney has the ability to create characters so real I felt I could speak to them. Each family member has a distinct personality while disagreeing, yet holding to family values. Almost. The character of Olivia Glass, the matriarch, is incredibly structured and complex. She must relinquish her role as head of her now grown family if they are to make meaningful lives for themselves. Likewise, Olivia must make a new life for herself, all the while being concerned for her four remaining sons and their significant others, and hoping the criminal element doesn’t seep to deep among them. This is not a simple family saga. Far from it. The criminal element enters their lives, threatens the family’s very foundation, and left this reader on the edge of the chair.
Both of the stories in this series could be likened to a modern-day Agatha Christie, with all the attendant mind-numbing mystery and suspense that keeps the reader gasping and turning pages. Where Christie’s setting may include rooms full of antiques, heavy velvet drapes and vintage clothing, Cudney’s stories include a mansion replete with all the modern-day trappings, including servants. (No, the butler didn’t do it.)
Hiding Cracked Glass rewarded me with a peek at how this family put itself back together following one tragedy after another. But there is yet more that I would love to see follow up with another story. I would encourage that since Hiding Cracked Glass in only the second story in the series, the reader jumps in from the beginning and first reads Watching Glass Shatter. While both are stand-alone stories, the two stories mesh seamlessly.
October 9, 2020
Hiding Cracked Glass (2020) is an amazing read. It is the second installment in the Perception of Glass series and follows on brilliantly from the first book Watching Glass Shatter. What is really great about this series is the variety of characters and how they all interact with each other. The Glass family are definitely a family with drama and secrets which always works well in stories especially mysteries. Because there is so many different types of characters within the family alone, most readers will not identify or like the same characters and I think that makes things interesting.
The plot is really interesting and well-thought out. The family has gathered for mother Olivia’s birthday but the celebrations are somewhat dampened when a blackmail letter comes before. The name of who the letter is for is unreadable which kind of reminded of something Agatha Christie might do actually so I thought that was cool. The family all believe the letter was meant for them and believe themselves to be in danger which means they set about finding out more. Very intriguing plot idea. This novel has some great red herrings throughout to keep you guessing and is really a very gripping read. Sometimes it is hard to put down to be honest.
Great drama. Great mystery. Great read.
The plot is really interesting and well-thought out. The family has gathered for mother Olivia’s birthday but the celebrations are somewhat dampened when a blackmail letter comes before. The name of who the letter is for is unreadable which kind of reminded of something Agatha Christie might do actually so I thought that was cool. The family all believe the letter was meant for them and believe themselves to be in danger which means they set about finding out more. Very intriguing plot idea. This novel has some great red herrings throughout to keep you guessing and is really a very gripping read. Sometimes it is hard to put down to be honest.
Great drama. Great mystery. Great read.
October 9, 2020
Hiding Cracked Glass (Perceptions of GHiding Cracked Glass (Perceptions of Glass #2)
by James J. Cudney
I was privileged to get a sneak peak at this mystery book The story reveals how everyone has a secret. The Glass family is confronted with a personal dilemma that affects each member of the family. A blackmail letter arrived at the Glass home. The letter was addressed to a member of the Glass family, but a series of unfortunate events whom the letter was addressed to was obscured. This spirals the family to look into each of their own personal problems. The confluence of events every member of the family has something that will cause them to be blackmailed. Only opening up to their own problems and facing them is the only solution. I found it a compelling story with great character development. Many readers can connect with various characters in the book. The characters are dynamic and I found them worthwhile.
lass #2)
by James J. Cudney
I was privilaged to get a seek peak at
by James J. Cudney
I was privileged to get a sneak peak at this mystery book The story reveals how everyone has a secret. The Glass family is confronted with a personal dilemma that affects each member of the family. A blackmail letter arrived at the Glass home. The letter was addressed to a member of the Glass family, but a series of unfortunate events whom the letter was addressed to was obscured. This spirals the family to look into each of their own personal problems. The confluence of events every member of the family has something that will cause them to be blackmailed. Only opening up to their own problems and facing them is the only solution. I found it a compelling story with great character development. Many readers can connect with various characters in the book. The characters are dynamic and I found them worthwhile.
lass #2)
by James J. Cudney
I was privilaged to get a seek peak at
October 18, 2020
Fascinatingly delightful book. James J. Cudney did a fantastic job in morphing a big family drama full of suspense, mystery and intrigue into a warm, gentle, kind, and loving story. I’m amazed.
I loved Watching Glass Shatter. I loved Hiding Cracked Glass a crack of shattered Glass even more.
Eager and impatient to read the third book in Perceptions of Glass series. Jay, please hurry!
BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Follow me on Twitter.
Bernard Jan
I loved Watching Glass Shatter. I loved Hiding Cracked Glass a crack of shattered Glass even more.
Eager and impatient to read the third book in Perceptions of Glass series. Jay, please hurry!
BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Follow me on Twitter.
Bernard Jan
April 1, 2022
This was a good read, but not as enjoyable as the first book. I was just overwhelmed with all the secrets being revealed, one after the other. Maybe I was too invested in this family but I had to skip the flashback chapters, I had enough of the secret revelations. The ending was satisfying and I must say I liked Teddy more this time around.
James Cudney is a very good author, because there were times I felt like I couldn't breathe.
James Cudney is a very good author, because there were times I felt like I couldn't breathe.
October 5, 2020
I absolutely loved Watching Glass Shatter. In fact, it was and is still my all time favorite debut!! That said, it’s no big surprise just how much I loved this second book involving the Glass family. Loved it!! I’ve been a giant fan of James’ writing for years now, probably since the first few months he started blogging. So, when he approached me last year with a few ideas he’d been kicking around, we didn’t waste any time on jumping into a co-written novel. I was smitten with these ideas, and to be honest a bit beside myself with the fact that he actually wanted to write with me! James J Cudney’s books are unbelievably well-written, crafty, annnnnnd just flat out genius really. I seriously don’t know how he finds the time. I’ve given both Glass books, Father Figure, and even all six Braxton Campus novels five star reviews. That says a lot!!
Olivia Glass, the mother of the one of a kind Glass family, still has a bit of an edge to her, although she’s really come quite a ways from the uppity, disconnected woman that she was in the start of Watching Glass Shatter. In this second installment, Hiding Cracked Glass, Olivia must once again do her best to hold her family together despite the drama that seems to have shown up with a vengeance! Most of the Glass family secrets came to the surface in book one, the big ones anyway, BUT it seems there’s a second round of hidden agendas and shocking twists, just around the corner.
One thing I love about this book is the pace. It’s a really quick engaging read with the majority of it all happening in one night. There’s a celebration a-foot. One that winds up tainted right out the gate. When an ominous and extremely dangerous letter arrives on the doorstep, there’s no responsible adult to manage the situation. Instead a couple kids accept the delivery and wind up spilling, smudging, and ultimately erasing the most important resource needed to solve the mystery. THE NAME of who it’s from. So, when this letter is found and read by Olivia and later the rest of the family, everyone automatically assumes the worst about their own personal lives. They speculate at their own possible responsibility, and no one knows who to talk to or trust.
The dynamics of the Glass family are complicated. Olivia’s sons each live a unique life, and the world building by Cudney is impeccable. I feel connected to each and every one of them. There’s financial struggles, drug problems, marriage/devorce troubles, children troubles. These characters feel real, down to earth, and exactly like a modern American family IS!
So, when this ransom situation comes up the Glass family has little time to work out their issues, dragging skeletons from the closet tooth and nail, in order to resolve the sudden danger ahead. The twists are perfect! I can’t really say much else without giving anything away, so you’ll have to read it yourself! 5 stars!! Congrats James on another exciting release!!!
Olivia Glass, the mother of the one of a kind Glass family, still has a bit of an edge to her, although she’s really come quite a ways from the uppity, disconnected woman that she was in the start of Watching Glass Shatter. In this second installment, Hiding Cracked Glass, Olivia must once again do her best to hold her family together despite the drama that seems to have shown up with a vengeance! Most of the Glass family secrets came to the surface in book one, the big ones anyway, BUT it seems there’s a second round of hidden agendas and shocking twists, just around the corner.
One thing I love about this book is the pace. It’s a really quick engaging read with the majority of it all happening in one night. There’s a celebration a-foot. One that winds up tainted right out the gate. When an ominous and extremely dangerous letter arrives on the doorstep, there’s no responsible adult to manage the situation. Instead a couple kids accept the delivery and wind up spilling, smudging, and ultimately erasing the most important resource needed to solve the mystery. THE NAME of who it’s from. So, when this letter is found and read by Olivia and later the rest of the family, everyone automatically assumes the worst about their own personal lives. They speculate at their own possible responsibility, and no one knows who to talk to or trust.
The dynamics of the Glass family are complicated. Olivia’s sons each live a unique life, and the world building by Cudney is impeccable. I feel connected to each and every one of them. There’s financial struggles, drug problems, marriage/devorce troubles, children troubles. These characters feel real, down to earth, and exactly like a modern American family IS!
So, when this ransom situation comes up the Glass family has little time to work out their issues, dragging skeletons from the closet tooth and nail, in order to resolve the sudden danger ahead. The twists are perfect! I can’t really say much else without giving anything away, so you’ll have to read it yourself! 5 stars!! Congrats James on another exciting release!!!
October 5, 2020
https://mjmallon.com/2020/10/05/hidin...
I received an ARC from the blog tour organiser.
This is a brilliant sequel to the first in this series: Watching Glass Shatter. Both books can be read as standalone novels but I would recommend reading Watching Glass Shatter first before Hiding Cracked Glass. It is clear from reading the second book how confident a writer James Cudney is. He introduces the characters and the storyline from book one in an effortless way – I was really impressed. Particularly, as I know how difficult it is to write a series (I am currently in the process of doing this myself and finding it mighty hard!)
The second book has a different feel to the first. The emotion I experienced when I read about the death of the father in book one was intense. Here, the tone is slightly lighter to begin with and more focused on the threat of a blackmail note, secrets, and the possible parties who may be involved. Various possible scenarios are eked out about who the blackmailer might be and with all the secrets in the Glass family it’s not surprising that many are feeling vulnerable and worried.
As with the first book in the series, the strength of the writing lies in James Cudney’s ability to create great characters complete with flaws and weaknesses.
This is why these two books truly do grip you. The characters are so believable, engaging and authentic. I love character driven stories and the mystery aspect completes the story in such an engaging way.
My rating 5 stars. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from the blog tour organiser.
This is a brilliant sequel to the first in this series: Watching Glass Shatter. Both books can be read as standalone novels but I would recommend reading Watching Glass Shatter first before Hiding Cracked Glass. It is clear from reading the second book how confident a writer James Cudney is. He introduces the characters and the storyline from book one in an effortless way – I was really impressed. Particularly, as I know how difficult it is to write a series (I am currently in the process of doing this myself and finding it mighty hard!)
The second book has a different feel to the first. The emotion I experienced when I read about the death of the father in book one was intense. Here, the tone is slightly lighter to begin with and more focused on the threat of a blackmail note, secrets, and the possible parties who may be involved. Various possible scenarios are eked out about who the blackmailer might be and with all the secrets in the Glass family it’s not surprising that many are feeling vulnerable and worried.
As with the first book in the series, the strength of the writing lies in James Cudney’s ability to create great characters complete with flaws and weaknesses.
This is why these two books truly do grip you. The characters are so believable, engaging and authentic. I love character driven stories and the mystery aspect completes the story in such an engaging way.
My rating 5 stars. Highly recommended.
October 8, 2020
James J. Cudney is a brilliant author who has yet to pen a novel I could justify giving less than five stars to. Watching Glass Shatter was such an amazing read, that I wasn’t sure it could get better. Well, guess what? In comes Hiding Cracked Glass. I’m really getting tired of this five star rating system, because this book deserves ALL the stars!
I love the mixture of contemporary family drama and mystery. I recommend reading these books in order to get everything you can out of the books. I am obsessed with how clever the mystery in this novel is.
Told in multiple POVs, the normal concern is that stories like this are hard to follow. Not the case with Hiding Cracked Glass. The characters are so well-developed, that at this point, I’m convinced they are real and James J. Cudney is actually writing a true story.
Page-turner, emotionally charged, mystery with family drama all packaged into a perfect novel. I loved it so much. Highly, highly recommended!!!!!!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Digital Reads Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
I love the mixture of contemporary family drama and mystery. I recommend reading these books in order to get everything you can out of the books. I am obsessed with how clever the mystery in this novel is.
Told in multiple POVs, the normal concern is that stories like this are hard to follow. Not the case with Hiding Cracked Glass. The characters are so well-developed, that at this point, I’m convinced they are real and James J. Cudney is actually writing a true story.
Page-turner, emotionally charged, mystery with family drama all packaged into a perfect novel. I loved it so much. Highly, highly recommended!!!!!!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Digital Reads Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
October 9, 2020
I received the Advance Review Copy of this Book from Digital Reads Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Shalini for making me a part of this incredible Mega Blog Tour, I enjoyed each and very second of this process and Thank you James J Cudney for writing this amazing series and thanks for being the most friendliest and sweetest author!!
Review
Hiding Cracked Glass by James J Cudney is the second book in the Perceptions of Glass series. The first book Watching Glass Shatter was exceptionally good that it raised the expectations of the readers by multiple folds for its sequel. And like quenching the thirst of the readers the author had efficiently come up with the befitting sequel which is even more better than it’s prequel. It seems like the author has some extraordinary super-power in not disappointing the readers, so you can pick up the book confidently without any second thoughts because it is going to be one of the best reads you’re gonna encounter ever.
So the story starts from some three months after the end of Book 1 – Watching Glass Shatter. If you are someone who haven’t already read the first book, and if you want, you can simply start reading the second book, as the author had precisely told about everything that has happened in the book 1. But I would advise against it because I’m so attached to the Glass family and there are plenty of good characters worth reading about and also it has a very good plot. Reading the first book will help you get a lot of insights about the Glass family and the way their family functions. If you’re not going to read Watching Glass Shatter then I would say you’re missing out a lot of good stuffs.
Hiding Cracked Glass is not just a Family Drama because this time the author had incorporated an eerie air of suspense and mystery into it successfully. The suspense and mystery was so vividly palpable and that’s what had made this book very interesting and lot more ahead of the first book. These elements will keep the readers engaged and active till the very end.
The characters has been beautifully developed in this book too, the author had shown every character from different dimensions and shades without losing the core personality of the characters. Generally when it comes to book series, most of the times the authors tend to change the core dynamics of the characters unintentionally but nothing of that sort happened in this book which undoubtedly means that James J Cudney just knows his characters too very well to make any blunders. This is the second thing I liked about this book.
The third thing that I liked about this book is, all the characters learnt something from their mistakes and continuously thrived to become a better personalities with each incidents. This made me realize, nobody is perfect and it’s never too late to rectify your mistakes. And many minor characters in Book 1 also made their appearance in this book and the author gave an insight about their life and their personalities even more elaborately.
This time too every character had some ghastly secrets to hide and all of them were eccentric and dreadful as in the previous book. The author provided the readers with a lot of possibilities and space to predict the climax of the book but I’m telling you, you will never succeed in predicting this book. It was quite unpredictable and had some very interesting and unexpected twists and turns. Isn’t this the next success of this book ?
The book was quite heartbreaking but I wouldn’t say it was as heartbreaking as the previous one, thankfully the heartbreak was okay-ish-ly manageable (Shalini and James I think I slightly rubbed off this habit from you guys 😛 ) Perceptions of Glass series continuously resonates “Not to keep any secrets within family” and this series is all about the consequences of keeping/hiding things from one’s own family. That’s the key take away from this book and I really hope we readers learn our lessons from Glass Family’s life and mistakes.
The writing and the narrative style of the author was as good as the first one, in fact he had conquered his talent with this book. I would say James has this unique way of telling stories in an interesting manner and the vocabulary of the author has heightened by many times but that doesn’t mean you have to refer your dictionary very now and then. He had visible improved the vocabulary of the book without reducing the readability or affecting his trademark smooth storytelling flow. That’s extremely appreciable and made the whole reading process completely enjoyable.
My Views
I don’t know if I had ever said this before, I usually like big families with lot of siblings, cousins and kids, and Glass family just gave me that wholesome satisfaction. Whenever the Glass brothers are chatting and goofing around with each other just like their childhood days, it makes my heart swell in happiness. That was very fulfilling.
So to talk about my favorite characters, Olivia will always rule on top of my list, so she is kind of my constant favorite from the series. In this book I loved Teddy so much, I loved him for the man he had become, he made me feel proud, happy and emotional at many instances. Zach was cool, charming and funny as always, and I have always loved his relationship with his daughter Anastasia and his friend Tressa. He is a guy with a vibe and I liked him from book 1. Caleb and Jake, they be the best, they both are so adorable and I can’t stop admiring them both and their relationship. So as of this book Teddy, Zach and Caleb are my favorite sons and Matt is yet to make a solid impression on me so let’s hope he will do that in the next book. And Diane was a total sweet heart. Okay my list goes one, am I simply allowed to say I love everybody in the Glass family ? And of course I consider myself one among the Glass Family, so it’s no big deal!! I love them all!!
My rating for this book would be 4.7 out of 5 stars (Extra marks for suspense factor)
I would recommend this book to all Family Drama and suspense lovers, the blend of family drama with suspense and mystery was mind-blowing-ly amazing. This is an unusual combination which I haven’t read prior to this series, it was anew and I liked it so much. And I also recommend this book to people who love to read books from different perspectives and multiple possibilities to solve a mystery kinda books. You people will enjoy this book undoubtedly.
Thank you Digital Reads Book Tours and Shalini once again for this wonderful opportunity, I had so much fun doing this Blog Tour. Shalini you made my first Blog Tour unbelievably amazing and memorable. You are the best. This entire Blog Tour Opportunity happened to me by chance and I’m so happy I found out about DRBT at the right time. And finally thanks for tolerating me, you’re nothing but an angel!!
Happy Reading Folks!!!
~ Meenu
Thank you Shalini for making me a part of this incredible Mega Blog Tour, I enjoyed each and very second of this process and Thank you James J Cudney for writing this amazing series and thanks for being the most friendliest and sweetest author!!
Review
Hiding Cracked Glass by James J Cudney is the second book in the Perceptions of Glass series. The first book Watching Glass Shatter was exceptionally good that it raised the expectations of the readers by multiple folds for its sequel. And like quenching the thirst of the readers the author had efficiently come up with the befitting sequel which is even more better than it’s prequel. It seems like the author has some extraordinary super-power in not disappointing the readers, so you can pick up the book confidently without any second thoughts because it is going to be one of the best reads you’re gonna encounter ever.
So the story starts from some three months after the end of Book 1 – Watching Glass Shatter. If you are someone who haven’t already read the first book, and if you want, you can simply start reading the second book, as the author had precisely told about everything that has happened in the book 1. But I would advise against it because I’m so attached to the Glass family and there are plenty of good characters worth reading about and also it has a very good plot. Reading the first book will help you get a lot of insights about the Glass family and the way their family functions. If you’re not going to read Watching Glass Shatter then I would say you’re missing out a lot of good stuffs.
Hiding Cracked Glass is not just a Family Drama because this time the author had incorporated an eerie air of suspense and mystery into it successfully. The suspense and mystery was so vividly palpable and that’s what had made this book very interesting and lot more ahead of the first book. These elements will keep the readers engaged and active till the very end.
The characters has been beautifully developed in this book too, the author had shown every character from different dimensions and shades without losing the core personality of the characters. Generally when it comes to book series, most of the times the authors tend to change the core dynamics of the characters unintentionally but nothing of that sort happened in this book which undoubtedly means that James J Cudney just knows his characters too very well to make any blunders. This is the second thing I liked about this book.
The third thing that I liked about this book is, all the characters learnt something from their mistakes and continuously thrived to become a better personalities with each incidents. This made me realize, nobody is perfect and it’s never too late to rectify your mistakes. And many minor characters in Book 1 also made their appearance in this book and the author gave an insight about their life and their personalities even more elaborately.
This time too every character had some ghastly secrets to hide and all of them were eccentric and dreadful as in the previous book. The author provided the readers with a lot of possibilities and space to predict the climax of the book but I’m telling you, you will never succeed in predicting this book. It was quite unpredictable and had some very interesting and unexpected twists and turns. Isn’t this the next success of this book ?
The book was quite heartbreaking but I wouldn’t say it was as heartbreaking as the previous one, thankfully the heartbreak was okay-ish-ly manageable (Shalini and James I think I slightly rubbed off this habit from you guys 😛 ) Perceptions of Glass series continuously resonates “Not to keep any secrets within family” and this series is all about the consequences of keeping/hiding things from one’s own family. That’s the key take away from this book and I really hope we readers learn our lessons from Glass Family’s life and mistakes.
The writing and the narrative style of the author was as good as the first one, in fact he had conquered his talent with this book. I would say James has this unique way of telling stories in an interesting manner and the vocabulary of the author has heightened by many times but that doesn’t mean you have to refer your dictionary very now and then. He had visible improved the vocabulary of the book without reducing the readability or affecting his trademark smooth storytelling flow. That’s extremely appreciable and made the whole reading process completely enjoyable.
My Views
I don’t know if I had ever said this before, I usually like big families with lot of siblings, cousins and kids, and Glass family just gave me that wholesome satisfaction. Whenever the Glass brothers are chatting and goofing around with each other just like their childhood days, it makes my heart swell in happiness. That was very fulfilling.
So to talk about my favorite characters, Olivia will always rule on top of my list, so she is kind of my constant favorite from the series. In this book I loved Teddy so much, I loved him for the man he had become, he made me feel proud, happy and emotional at many instances. Zach was cool, charming and funny as always, and I have always loved his relationship with his daughter Anastasia and his friend Tressa. He is a guy with a vibe and I liked him from book 1. Caleb and Jake, they be the best, they both are so adorable and I can’t stop admiring them both and their relationship. So as of this book Teddy, Zach and Caleb are my favorite sons and Matt is yet to make a solid impression on me so let’s hope he will do that in the next book. And Diane was a total sweet heart. Okay my list goes one, am I simply allowed to say I love everybody in the Glass family ? And of course I consider myself one among the Glass Family, so it’s no big deal!! I love them all!!
My rating for this book would be 4.7 out of 5 stars (Extra marks for suspense factor)
I would recommend this book to all Family Drama and suspense lovers, the blend of family drama with suspense and mystery was mind-blowing-ly amazing. This is an unusual combination which I haven’t read prior to this series, it was anew and I liked it so much. And I also recommend this book to people who love to read books from different perspectives and multiple possibilities to solve a mystery kinda books. You people will enjoy this book undoubtedly.
Thank you Digital Reads Book Tours and Shalini once again for this wonderful opportunity, I had so much fun doing this Blog Tour. Shalini you made my first Blog Tour unbelievably amazing and memorable. You are the best. This entire Blog Tour Opportunity happened to me by chance and I’m so happy I found out about DRBT at the right time. And finally thanks for tolerating me, you’re nothing but an angel!!
Happy Reading Folks!!!
~ Meenu
October 17, 2020
A dysfunctional family that functions beautifully
Matriarch Olivia Glass’s orderly life was upended in Book I (“Watching Glass Shatter”) by a secret that her husband, Ben, kept from her for decades, and only revealed upon his death in a devastating letter. If you haven’t read Book I, I will not spoil it for you. Suffice it to say that Olivia now, months after Ben’s death in a fatal car accident, is still working on forgiveness, coping with the unintended consequences of that revelation, and pondering her life, behavior, decisions, and failings as a mother.
Book II focuses on Olivia’s birthday celebration when the entire family (four boys and their extended families) will gather for her party. There is a lot to digest in this story with multiple characters, diverse lifestyles, the ups, downs and heartaches of the surviving four Glass sons. All of them in their own way are coming to terms with their father’s death and the loss of their younger brother Ethan (the major player in Ben’s shocking secret), and each brother has his own secret as well as quite observable personal imperfections that they anguish over.
Early in the story, we learn an important fact: prior to Olivia’s impending birthday celebration, the boys know nothing of the secret that their father kept from them and their mother for decades, and that their mother still keeps under wraps. But a new letter - one sent by a blackmailer - makes it imperative that Olivia reveal the truth. She racks her brain to try and deduce who would want to extort money from her and why. The Glass family is very well to do. Inheritances are in the millions and someone wants his or her share. But only a few people knew Ben’s secret, and it seems unlikely that one of them is an extortionist.
In a shrewd plot device, the name on the blackmailing envelope delivered to the house on Birthday morning is smudged - no first name is legible, and the last name of Glass is all that gives a clue. Soon paranoia infects a few of the boys who believe that they are the targets of the extortionist, and not necessarily Olivia. What transpires during what was to be a happy celebration is akin to an Agatha Christie whodunit - or if you prefer film references, a “Knives Out” family intrigue.
There is warm emotion in this book, as well as a lot of soul searching and desires for redemption on the part of the characters. There are also some surprise elements about who is involved in the extortion plot, but no bombshell revelations that make you go “Wow.” Instead, all the pieces fit neatly together and there is a coming together of empathy, compassion, and good deeds that make this family drama endearing.
Cudney, a prolific writer and fiction craftsman, lays out the story in hourly increments, heightening the suspense, and deepening the mystery. He also employs Flashbacks that give us important details about each character’s place in the story and that flesh out all of the complexities of their lives. This sequel is good as a stand alone, so if you haven’t read “Watching Glass Shatter” you will not feel uninformed or left with unanswered questions. More likely, you will want to read Book I, Watching Glass Shatter, and look forward to another book in the Perceptions of Glass family saga.
Matriarch Olivia Glass’s orderly life was upended in Book I (“Watching Glass Shatter”) by a secret that her husband, Ben, kept from her for decades, and only revealed upon his death in a devastating letter. If you haven’t read Book I, I will not spoil it for you. Suffice it to say that Olivia now, months after Ben’s death in a fatal car accident, is still working on forgiveness, coping with the unintended consequences of that revelation, and pondering her life, behavior, decisions, and failings as a mother.
Book II focuses on Olivia’s birthday celebration when the entire family (four boys and their extended families) will gather for her party. There is a lot to digest in this story with multiple characters, diverse lifestyles, the ups, downs and heartaches of the surviving four Glass sons. All of them in their own way are coming to terms with their father’s death and the loss of their younger brother Ethan (the major player in Ben’s shocking secret), and each brother has his own secret as well as quite observable personal imperfections that they anguish over.
Early in the story, we learn an important fact: prior to Olivia’s impending birthday celebration, the boys know nothing of the secret that their father kept from them and their mother for decades, and that their mother still keeps under wraps. But a new letter - one sent by a blackmailer - makes it imperative that Olivia reveal the truth. She racks her brain to try and deduce who would want to extort money from her and why. The Glass family is very well to do. Inheritances are in the millions and someone wants his or her share. But only a few people knew Ben’s secret, and it seems unlikely that one of them is an extortionist.
In a shrewd plot device, the name on the blackmailing envelope delivered to the house on Birthday morning is smudged - no first name is legible, and the last name of Glass is all that gives a clue. Soon paranoia infects a few of the boys who believe that they are the targets of the extortionist, and not necessarily Olivia. What transpires during what was to be a happy celebration is akin to an Agatha Christie whodunit - or if you prefer film references, a “Knives Out” family intrigue.
There is warm emotion in this book, as well as a lot of soul searching and desires for redemption on the part of the characters. There are also some surprise elements about who is involved in the extortion plot, but no bombshell revelations that make you go “Wow.” Instead, all the pieces fit neatly together and there is a coming together of empathy, compassion, and good deeds that make this family drama endearing.
Cudney, a prolific writer and fiction craftsman, lays out the story in hourly increments, heightening the suspense, and deepening the mystery. He also employs Flashbacks that give us important details about each character’s place in the story and that flesh out all of the complexities of their lives. This sequel is good as a stand alone, so if you haven’t read “Watching Glass Shatter” you will not feel uninformed or left with unanswered questions. More likely, you will want to read Book I, Watching Glass Shatter, and look forward to another book in the Perceptions of Glass family saga.
January 15, 2021
3.5/5. I must say that a few things kept going through my head as I read this book. First, these people are a mess and have way too much drama going on. Second, real communication as you go along would solve a lot of these problems before they become an endless drama. Third, the eight hours that this book covers are the longest eight hours of the characters lives. Sixth, that was worst birthday for a parent ever!! And lastly, I was glad to read that the characters seemed to be getting their stuff together at the end. It’s about bloody time! 🤣🤣
The book was good. I looked forward to reading this next chapter in the story (no pun intended) and overall I enjoyed it. And again, I look forward to reading the next book.
The book was good. I looked forward to reading this next chapter in the story (no pun intended) and overall I enjoyed it. And again, I look forward to reading the next book.
October 5, 2020
4.5 Stars
Olivia Glass has lost her husband and a son in a short space of time while also holding onto a secret her husband left behind. Now someone is using a hidden secret to blackmail the Glass family for money, but Olivia isn’t the only one with a secret.
You can read my full review here.
I loved that this book showed how each character had grown as individuals, how they all grew as a family, and how they worked together to handle the blackmail situation.
Olivia Glass has lost her husband and a son in a short space of time while also holding onto a secret her husband left behind. Now someone is using a hidden secret to blackmail the Glass family for money, but Olivia isn’t the only one with a secret.
You can read my full review here.
I loved that this book showed how each character had grown as individuals, how they all grew as a family, and how they worked together to handle the blackmail situation.
January 16, 2021
Wow! There sure was a lot going on in this sequel to Watching Glass Shatter. I got lost a few times but then got sucked in and wanted to see how it would play out.
January 23, 2021
As one would expect, a return of the multitude of characters from the first book.
The Glass family revealing a ton more of those hidden secrets creating another noteworthy exploration into the human condition, family style.
It still surprises me how Mr. Cudney himself is able to keep all of these characters straight himself, and seamlessly.
Credit where credit is due here.
Highly recommended.
The Glass family revealing a ton more of those hidden secrets creating another noteworthy exploration into the human condition, family style.
It still surprises me how Mr. Cudney himself is able to keep all of these characters straight himself, and seamlessly.
Credit where credit is due here.
Highly recommended.
September 20, 2020
Amazing, amazing, amazing! Just an amazing follow-up to James Cudney’s first published book, Watching Glass Shatter. We meet back up with the Glass family several months after the events of the first book conclude, ready to celebrate Olivia’s birthday. But, once again, a letter throws the Glasses into turmoil, threatening to reveal another secret. And, also like last time, each Glass thinks that the letter must be for/about them. I won’t spoil any of the twists and turns the story takes us on but will just say that this is a book you need to read. If you need to catch up on the first one before delving into this sequel, take the opportunity this September, and get ready for an explosive instalment of the Perceptions of Glass.
October 6, 2020
Hiding Cracked Glass by James J. Cudney is a brilliant sequel to Watching Glass Shatter – the saga of Glass family, each member a complex human being yet realistic and benevolent. All of them are flawed, with secrets that they carry within their hearts but guilt gnaws at them the moment they try to introspect. None of them find life a swinging delight.
Olivia, the grieving widow of Benjamin William Glass buries the secret of her husband in her heart and chooses escapism. She goes to Italy on an extended vacation that had been planned with Ben but his sudden death had convoluted her life. When she returns, another turbulence strikes Glass estate in the form of a letter that becomes the center of discussion. Who has sent this threatening letter and for whom? True to his style, Cudney has created a plot within the plot to keep you guessing by pulling in each member of the family who thinks that the letter is for him or her.
A character driven story, it flows at a steady pace till it hits the boulder of past events, which have been narrated together. They bring the story to standstill and fail to blend in the present. The element of curiosity drowns in the details that each character shares from his POV. None of the characters could evoke my sympathy except Emma, the young sensitive girl who rides the roller coaster of emotions. Matt is still struggling to overcome the roadblocks that had haunted him. Olivia is intuitive enough to dislike the new housekeeper, the moment she sets her eyes on her. Cold, indifferent and haughty Olivia mellows down in this book and takes some sane decisions.
I marvel at the way such a large cast of well-defined characters has been handled to create a gripping story. Thanks to James for providing an ARC to me even before the official release of the book. An enjoyable read.
Olivia, the grieving widow of Benjamin William Glass buries the secret of her husband in her heart and chooses escapism. She goes to Italy on an extended vacation that had been planned with Ben but his sudden death had convoluted her life. When she returns, another turbulence strikes Glass estate in the form of a letter that becomes the center of discussion. Who has sent this threatening letter and for whom? True to his style, Cudney has created a plot within the plot to keep you guessing by pulling in each member of the family who thinks that the letter is for him or her.
A character driven story, it flows at a steady pace till it hits the boulder of past events, which have been narrated together. They bring the story to standstill and fail to blend in the present. The element of curiosity drowns in the details that each character shares from his POV. None of the characters could evoke my sympathy except Emma, the young sensitive girl who rides the roller coaster of emotions. Matt is still struggling to overcome the roadblocks that had haunted him. Olivia is intuitive enough to dislike the new housekeeper, the moment she sets her eyes on her. Cold, indifferent and haughty Olivia mellows down in this book and takes some sane decisions.
I marvel at the way such a large cast of well-defined characters has been handled to create a gripping story. Thanks to James for providing an ARC to me even before the official release of the book. An enjoyable read.
October 6, 2020
It has been awhile since I read Watching Glass Shatter, so it was fun to visit with the Glass family again. This is one dysfunctional family. From the blurb you can tell that keeping secrets is still causing problems with this family and that they are about to bubble to the surface. Olivia is really trying to be a good matriarch and bring the family back together. I do like her character (much better than I did the first book) but until she comes clean, there are going to be problems. I enjoy how Diane is trying to keep her sister on an even keel. The brothers are trying to get along, but there is still anger, mistrust, jealousy and fear getting in the way. There were times I wanted to reach into the book and smack them upside the head.
The story is told from multiple POVs and includes some flashbacks that fill in situations between what is happening and what brought them to this point. When six different characters all have reason to believe that someone is threatening or blackmailing them, you know this is a family that needs some honesty and a lot of healing.
The writing is wonderful as I have come to expect from James Cudney, and the characters were very well developed. I was not sure what was going to happen next until the final scenes unfolded. A family drama that added much to the Glass story that began in Watching Glass Shatter. If you enjoy family dramas with secrets and dysfunction, then pick this one up, it will have you quickly turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
The story is told from multiple POVs and includes some flashbacks that fill in situations between what is happening and what brought them to this point. When six different characters all have reason to believe that someone is threatening or blackmailing them, you know this is a family that needs some honesty and a lot of healing.
The writing is wonderful as I have come to expect from James Cudney, and the characters were very well developed. I was not sure what was going to happen next until the final scenes unfolded. A family drama that added much to the Glass story that began in Watching Glass Shatter. If you enjoy family dramas with secrets and dysfunction, then pick this one up, it will have you quickly turning the pages to see what is going to happen next. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
October 8, 2020
Surprise letters always frighten me, it has been my experience they never carry good news, otherwise, why would they keep secrets? Hiding Cracked Glass is made of many characters, all members, one way or another of the wealthy Glass family and every one holds a secret. In the beginning. I felt a bit overwhelmed keeping up with all the personages and all their secrets, but author James Cudney IV, makes them real, their turmoil and family drama are not too far from what people experience in real life. I sympathized with Diane, Olivia Glass’s sister. She helps Olivia overcoming the death of her husband by stirring memories of a trip made to Italy together.
Diane sounds much like all my 5 loved aunts, always very supportive, always ready to help out in moments of needs, always generous with their time, their love, and little less generous with their money. My aunts were the glue that kept the family together, very much like Diane does in the Glass family. I have enjoyed reading about this character.
The twists and turns of the Glass Family’s vicissitudes are interesting and mysterious enough to keep the readers turning to the next page and find out what happens. I felt I was there, in that house, with all the members. The author did a great job to keep me reading all the way to the end.
I am a practical person, who doesn’t read many family dramas, therefore the author succeeded. His writing is clear and his voice strong. If this is going to be a sequel, I look forward to the next story. I recommend this book, it’s a true gem. So glad you crossed my path James.
Diane sounds much like all my 5 loved aunts, always very supportive, always ready to help out in moments of needs, always generous with their time, their love, and little less generous with their money. My aunts were the glue that kept the family together, very much like Diane does in the Glass family. I have enjoyed reading about this character.
The twists and turns of the Glass Family’s vicissitudes are interesting and mysterious enough to keep the readers turning to the next page and find out what happens. I felt I was there, in that house, with all the members. The author did a great job to keep me reading all the way to the end.
I am a practical person, who doesn’t read many family dramas, therefore the author succeeded. His writing is clear and his voice strong. If this is going to be a sequel, I look forward to the next story. I recommend this book, it’s a true gem. So glad you crossed my path James.
March 15, 2021
Hiding Cracked Glass is the second book in the Perceptions of Glass series. I have read the first book and while you can read and enjoy this book as a standalone novel, having the background to the characters and the deaths of Ben, the patriarchal figure, and Ethan, the youngest and most loving and loved brother of the five Glass sons, is helpful.
Olivia returns home after a trip to Italy with her sister, Diana. Her plans are to continue to disengage from the family home which is now occupied by her son, Matthew, his wife and four daughters. Matthew and his family have settled in and even employed a housekeeper, who is hugely unsuitable in Olivia's opinion. Pilar is far to attractive and also inexperienced for the position. Will Olivia be proved correct?
Diana has recently separated from her husband of many years and met an attractive man on holiday, which is, in Olivia's view, a good thing for her. Diana's divorce has not, however, as yet been agreed to by George who is being exceptionally greedy and wants half of her inheritance from Ben's estate.
Olivia and Diana plan to move in together and have great plans for the future, but first Olivia must celebrate her birthday with her family. Her four surviving sons will all gather for the evening; Caleb, his husband, Jake, and their new baby, Teddy and his wife, Sarah, whose baby's birth is imminent, Zach, who has recently won custody of his daughter from his drug addict ex-girlfriend, and Matthew, who is still recovering from drug addiction and the loss of his job due to corporate theft.
A letter arrives during the course of the afternoon of the birthday but the addressee is obscured. Olivia receives the letter and plans to keep it to herself, believing its blackmailing message is for her, but the letter is accidentally read out with the birthday messages and every member of the Glass family believes it is addressed to them. Who is the foul message really for?
Olivia is just as cold and self absorbed in this book as she was previously. The loss of her husband and son did result in her taking an inventory of her life and those of her sons and reaching out to try to reunite and heal her broken family, but this hasn't changed her innate nature. Olivia is not a person who is loving and giving, everything she does is considered and planned. She is wracked with guilt about her perceived failings as a mother, but she struggles to move on and truly right the wrongs of the past.
Diana is a lovely woman who made an unfortunate marriage. It is lovely seeing Diana coming into her own in this book and the ultimate outcome of her negative engagements with her husband are very satisfying. Diana is the person who the Glass boys turn to for comfort and support, especially Teddy.
Teddy is my favourite of the Glass sons. He is the oldest of five sons and his father was a successful, self made man. I have met men like this during my corporate working life and I always feel empathy for the burden such men carry. They feel driven to step up and perform and to at a minimum follow in their father's illustrious footsteps. Teddy has spent his whole life proving to the world that he is worthy to be his father's heir and is able to carry the mantle of leadership. Although Teddy faces some new traumas in this book, he is able to make peace with his life and I am hoping to see him move on to better and more positive things in a future book.
Zach is attracted to his dead brother's wife, Emma. This is an impossible situation and the author handles this in the only real possible way. Zach is pulling his life together and is a good dad to his lovely daughter. Zach is also a great character and I look forward to reading more about him in the future.
Caleb finds his new role as a father a bit of a struggle and is distracted by the allure of sexy men who offer a glimpse of his old, pre-baby life. Caleb needs to thrash out what he really wants from life and who is important to him.
Matthew is my least favourite character as I find him spoiled and selfish. He seeks to blame others for the hash he's made of his life and doesn't want to face up to his mistakes. I felt sorry for his wife who has four young children to raise and also needs to offer endless support to her husband and keep him on the straight and narrow. Matt does improve over the course of the book and also start to realise that no-one is entitled to anything in life that they haven't proved themselves worthy of having. It will be interesting to see if Matt can keep on the straight and narrow as this series progresses.
Hiding Cracked Glass is a compelling family drama with a strong central story line and many interesting threads that all weave together in the end to form a detailed and fascinating story.
Olivia returns home after a trip to Italy with her sister, Diana. Her plans are to continue to disengage from the family home which is now occupied by her son, Matthew, his wife and four daughters. Matthew and his family have settled in and even employed a housekeeper, who is hugely unsuitable in Olivia's opinion. Pilar is far to attractive and also inexperienced for the position. Will Olivia be proved correct?
Diana has recently separated from her husband of many years and met an attractive man on holiday, which is, in Olivia's view, a good thing for her. Diana's divorce has not, however, as yet been agreed to by George who is being exceptionally greedy and wants half of her inheritance from Ben's estate.
Olivia and Diana plan to move in together and have great plans for the future, but first Olivia must celebrate her birthday with her family. Her four surviving sons will all gather for the evening; Caleb, his husband, Jake, and their new baby, Teddy and his wife, Sarah, whose baby's birth is imminent, Zach, who has recently won custody of his daughter from his drug addict ex-girlfriend, and Matthew, who is still recovering from drug addiction and the loss of his job due to corporate theft.
A letter arrives during the course of the afternoon of the birthday but the addressee is obscured. Olivia receives the letter and plans to keep it to herself, believing its blackmailing message is for her, but the letter is accidentally read out with the birthday messages and every member of the Glass family believes it is addressed to them. Who is the foul message really for?
Olivia is just as cold and self absorbed in this book as she was previously. The loss of her husband and son did result in her taking an inventory of her life and those of her sons and reaching out to try to reunite and heal her broken family, but this hasn't changed her innate nature. Olivia is not a person who is loving and giving, everything she does is considered and planned. She is wracked with guilt about her perceived failings as a mother, but she struggles to move on and truly right the wrongs of the past.
Diana is a lovely woman who made an unfortunate marriage. It is lovely seeing Diana coming into her own in this book and the ultimate outcome of her negative engagements with her husband are very satisfying. Diana is the person who the Glass boys turn to for comfort and support, especially Teddy.
Teddy is my favourite of the Glass sons. He is the oldest of five sons and his father was a successful, self made man. I have met men like this during my corporate working life and I always feel empathy for the burden such men carry. They feel driven to step up and perform and to at a minimum follow in their father's illustrious footsteps. Teddy has spent his whole life proving to the world that he is worthy to be his father's heir and is able to carry the mantle of leadership. Although Teddy faces some new traumas in this book, he is able to make peace with his life and I am hoping to see him move on to better and more positive things in a future book.
Zach is attracted to his dead brother's wife, Emma. This is an impossible situation and the author handles this in the only real possible way. Zach is pulling his life together and is a good dad to his lovely daughter. Zach is also a great character and I look forward to reading more about him in the future.
Caleb finds his new role as a father a bit of a struggle and is distracted by the allure of sexy men who offer a glimpse of his old, pre-baby life. Caleb needs to thrash out what he really wants from life and who is important to him.
Matthew is my least favourite character as I find him spoiled and selfish. He seeks to blame others for the hash he's made of his life and doesn't want to face up to his mistakes. I felt sorry for his wife who has four young children to raise and also needs to offer endless support to her husband and keep him on the straight and narrow. Matt does improve over the course of the book and also start to realise that no-one is entitled to anything in life that they haven't proved themselves worthy of having. It will be interesting to see if Matt can keep on the straight and narrow as this series progresses.
Hiding Cracked Glass is a compelling family drama with a strong central story line and many interesting threads that all weave together in the end to form a detailed and fascinating story.
October 9, 2020
4.5 stars
I read and reviewed Watching Glass Shatter few days ago and in my review, I gushed about how amazing the author’s writing is and how I enjoyed the book despite it having a trope that I’m not a fan of. That said, I was excited to read the sequel. I’m happy to say that I was right to be excited because Hiding Cracked Glass is even better than book 1.
First of all, let me just point out how witty the titles are. Titling is one of the things the author is really good at. His other series has the wittiest titles as well.
So the book…Hiding Cracked Glass takes place eight months after Ben Glass died and the events of book 1. Olivia is back from Italy and is ready to be the best matriarch to the Glass family but new conflicts arose when a mysterious letter arrives and the recipient’s name is accidentally erased. I loved the tension that arose once it’s known that someone wants to harm the family. In book 1, lots of secrets of the family were revealed but it turns out, the Glass family are still hiding something from one another.
I think the plot is brilliant and really clever. It’s layered and it’s like the drama is unending. And the way things unfold, slowly unfold, as I read is a very enjoyable ride. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed it even more is because I loved the characters so much. I’m still very invested in each one of them because I just read book 1. I’m still very familiar with their personalities which I loved, including their flaws. The author really created such realistic characters. They feel so human to me and that is why it is so easy to get invested in their stories and care for them. It is also very apparent that they all went through some development. In book 1, I said I have no favorite but in this one I think Olivia really stood out. She’s one incredible, unforgettable character.
Once again, I liked how and where the story went. The mystery kept me invested till the end. I liked that we get to know more about the side characters in book 1. The resolution is very realistic as well. The thing about this series is I always have an idea on how it will end but just like in book 1, I was wrong. LOL. And then after reading I realized that it makes sense that the story went that way.
Finally, the writing style changed a bit too. Compared to book 1, Hiding Cracked Glass has more parts that are almost lyrical. It’s obvious right from the very start. This kind of writing is not common in this genre so I love it. 🙂
This is indeed a powerful sequel and it will be a shame not to be read by many. Also, it is of course better to read book 1 BUT if you have an amazing comprehension ability (LOL) I think you can read this without reading book 1. Olivia basically summarized book 1 in chapter 1. Still I highly recommend reading book 1. It’s a very enjoyable read.
I read and reviewed Watching Glass Shatter few days ago and in my review, I gushed about how amazing the author’s writing is and how I enjoyed the book despite it having a trope that I’m not a fan of. That said, I was excited to read the sequel. I’m happy to say that I was right to be excited because Hiding Cracked Glass is even better than book 1.
First of all, let me just point out how witty the titles are. Titling is one of the things the author is really good at. His other series has the wittiest titles as well.
So the book…Hiding Cracked Glass takes place eight months after Ben Glass died and the events of book 1. Olivia is back from Italy and is ready to be the best matriarch to the Glass family but new conflicts arose when a mysterious letter arrives and the recipient’s name is accidentally erased. I loved the tension that arose once it’s known that someone wants to harm the family. In book 1, lots of secrets of the family were revealed but it turns out, the Glass family are still hiding something from one another.
I think the plot is brilliant and really clever. It’s layered and it’s like the drama is unending. And the way things unfold, slowly unfold, as I read is a very enjoyable ride. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed it even more is because I loved the characters so much. I’m still very invested in each one of them because I just read book 1. I’m still very familiar with their personalities which I loved, including their flaws. The author really created such realistic characters. They feel so human to me and that is why it is so easy to get invested in their stories and care for them. It is also very apparent that they all went through some development. In book 1, I said I have no favorite but in this one I think Olivia really stood out. She’s one incredible, unforgettable character.
Once again, I liked how and where the story went. The mystery kept me invested till the end. I liked that we get to know more about the side characters in book 1. The resolution is very realistic as well. The thing about this series is I always have an idea on how it will end but just like in book 1, I was wrong. LOL. And then after reading I realized that it makes sense that the story went that way.
Finally, the writing style changed a bit too. Compared to book 1, Hiding Cracked Glass has more parts that are almost lyrical. It’s obvious right from the very start. This kind of writing is not common in this genre so I love it. 🙂
This is indeed a powerful sequel and it will be a shame not to be read by many. Also, it is of course better to read book 1 BUT if you have an amazing comprehension ability (LOL) I think you can read this without reading book 1. Olivia basically summarized book 1 in chapter 1. Still I highly recommend reading book 1. It’s a very enjoyable read.
December 24, 2020
Hiding Cracked Glass is second in James J Cudney's Perceptions of Glass series. Following right after Olivia and her sister return from their much needed trip to Italy, the Glass family is once again plunged into drama and intrigue. A blackmail letter is delivered to the Glass household on the morning of Olivia's birthday. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the first name is blotted out, and the letter is vague enough that it could refer to any of the family, as it turns out.
The story jumps between the family members' perspectives, as well as important secondary characters, illustrating just how close the hidden cracks in the Glass' facades are to shattering each. They all still have unfinished business, from Olivia still holding Ethan's secret to Teddy's devastating loss, from Matt and Caleb's shared instigator to Zach's crazy ex, and from Emma's bittersweet news to Diane's crazy husband. Yet, when the true blackmailer is revealed, none are prepared. Yet the incident serves as powerful emotional kintsugi, repairing the damaged Glass family with the liminal glow of soul gold. The powerful alchemy began in Watching Glass Shatter continues transforming the family for the better.
This family! All that drama exhausted me just reading it! I couldn't put it down though. I had to see how each story played out, the threads coming together at the end, bound more tightly than I expected. The true culprit was an utter surprise, as was the culmination of that encounter. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Glass' grow from this, and to know if they ever learn one particularly devastating secret left hidden from all except the reader at the end. The person whose story hit me hardest was Jake's. While I never experienced physical abuse of that caliber from my family just because I was (am) different, I did get a fair bit of emotional abuse for being pagan, and far more open-minded than the majority of my family.
Recommended, though be sure to read the series in order.
***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Digital Reads Book Tours.
The story jumps between the family members' perspectives, as well as important secondary characters, illustrating just how close the hidden cracks in the Glass' facades are to shattering each. They all still have unfinished business, from Olivia still holding Ethan's secret to Teddy's devastating loss, from Matt and Caleb's shared instigator to Zach's crazy ex, and from Emma's bittersweet news to Diane's crazy husband. Yet, when the true blackmailer is revealed, none are prepared. Yet the incident serves as powerful emotional kintsugi, repairing the damaged Glass family with the liminal glow of soul gold. The powerful alchemy began in Watching Glass Shatter continues transforming the family for the better.
This family! All that drama exhausted me just reading it! I couldn't put it down though. I had to see how each story played out, the threads coming together at the end, bound more tightly than I expected. The true culprit was an utter surprise, as was the culmination of that encounter. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Glass' grow from this, and to know if they ever learn one particularly devastating secret left hidden from all except the reader at the end. The person whose story hit me hardest was Jake's. While I never experienced physical abuse of that caliber from my family just because I was (am) different, I did get a fair bit of emotional abuse for being pagan, and far more open-minded than the majority of my family.
Recommended, though be sure to read the series in order.
***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Digital Reads Book Tours.
October 9, 2020
The hushed euphoria attained in the first of the series quietly evaporated in this instalment of the Perceptions of Glass series.
Olivia is back, now with her remaining four sons after having a retreat to Italy following the loss of both her husband and youngest son. There were life-changing secrets revealed in that earlier narrative, many shared; some not.
Olivia is going to celebrate a birthday and having returned to the family fold happy to be back until she receives a blackmail letter. Unfortunately, several events occurred prior to her seeing the letter, which she immediately assumed was hers. But the way it is revealed has the rest of the family reeling with assurance that perhaps it was intended for one of them.
There are the men and their mates, along with relatively new faces, along with Diane, Olivia’s sister. In the ensuing hours, the POV is switched from brother to brother, as well as Olivia, along with flash backs that fills in the back story.
Each of the offspring has their own foibles and are working on their interpersonal relationships. Olivia tends to remain emotionally elusive until it’s too late. The characters are well developed and as monied privilege tend to exhibit narcissistic tendencies and I had difficulty with all of them. My heart went out to Emma, both she and Diane—the most sympathetic--but the mantra continues to hammer family…family…family. Even with the level of dysfunction, the theme doesn’t relax.
As each member is dissected as possibly being the blackmail target, more secrets are laid open, exposed. Can these family members ever find peace?
The well-plotted novel navigates through several twists and pulls into a tragic conclusion that has your heart sinking into the depths. A story of family dramas, secrets, misguided intentions, selected equitable solutions.
I was gifted a digital copy for the occasion of the blog tour and these are my unbiased opinions.
Read my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
Olivia is back, now with her remaining four sons after having a retreat to Italy following the loss of both her husband and youngest son. There were life-changing secrets revealed in that earlier narrative, many shared; some not.
Olivia is going to celebrate a birthday and having returned to the family fold happy to be back until she receives a blackmail letter. Unfortunately, several events occurred prior to her seeing the letter, which she immediately assumed was hers. But the way it is revealed has the rest of the family reeling with assurance that perhaps it was intended for one of them.
There are the men and their mates, along with relatively new faces, along with Diane, Olivia’s sister. In the ensuing hours, the POV is switched from brother to brother, as well as Olivia, along with flash backs that fills in the back story.
Each of the offspring has their own foibles and are working on their interpersonal relationships. Olivia tends to remain emotionally elusive until it’s too late. The characters are well developed and as monied privilege tend to exhibit narcissistic tendencies and I had difficulty with all of them. My heart went out to Emma, both she and Diane—the most sympathetic--but the mantra continues to hammer family…family…family. Even with the level of dysfunction, the theme doesn’t relax.
As each member is dissected as possibly being the blackmail target, more secrets are laid open, exposed. Can these family members ever find peace?
The well-plotted novel navigates through several twists and pulls into a tragic conclusion that has your heart sinking into the depths. A story of family dramas, secrets, misguided intentions, selected equitable solutions.
I was gifted a digital copy for the occasion of the blog tour and these are my unbiased opinions.
Read my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
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