Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Author: Karen White
Title: The Time Between
Release: June 4, 2013
Reviewer: Eowyn
Source: Publisher
Purchase: | Book Depository

Thirty-four-year-old Eleanor Murray is consumed with guilt for causing the accident that paralyzed her sister—and for falling in love with her sister’s husband. But when her boss offers her a part-time job caring for his elderly aunt, Helena, Eleanor accepts, hoping this good deed will help atone for her mistakes.

On the barrier island of Edisto, Eleanor bonds with Helena over their mutual love of music. Drawing the older woman out of her depression, Eleanor learns of her life in Hungary, with her sister, before and during World War II. She hears tales of passion and heartache, defiance and dangerous deception. And when the truth of Helena and her sister’s actions comes to light, Eleanor may finally allow herself to move past guilt and to embrace the song that lies deep in her heart…

“There is how we were before, and how we are now, and the time between is spent choosing which doors to open, and which to close.” These are such beautiful and heartwarming words from the book THE TIME BETWEEN by Karen White perfectly point out the story of life. I have read a few books by White in the past and greatly appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC from the publisher this time as well.

THE TIME BETWEEN is about sisters, it’s about family, the secrets we tell and the stories we tell ourselves as we grow up as well. Eleanor is not living the life that she had dreamed. Her days are spent working long hours and her evenings are spent working even more and taking care of her sister who is paralyzed from the waist down because Eleanor dared her to climb a tree as fast as she could resulting in her falling and changing their lives forever. Eleanor is atoning for the guilt she feels over her sisters accident as her sister is screaming inside wanting for herself and her sister to live again and longing for the days when Eleanor was so alive.

On the island where Eleanor and her sister Eve grew up there is an elderly woman Helena. She too sits all alone with nothing left but time to ponder the decisions she made during WWII, decisions that broke her sister’s heart. Long hours are left to ponder all she lost fleeing for her life in WWII and the love that still haunts her in her dreams all these years later.

When Eleanor’s boss asks her to take on the job of house sitting with Helena as she recuperates from being in the hospital the lives of these three women as well as her bosses daughter , a girl named Genevieve (Gigi), are about to change forever.

The result is a beautifully told story of the special bond between sisters and the things we tell ourselves that keep us stuck. As the relationship unfolds between Helena and Eleanor we begin to learn of Helena’s pain and the secrets she has kept to herself since arriving on American soil. Helena is still blaming herself for the difficult decisions she alone had to make to ensure her and her sister Bernadette made it out of their war torn country alive. Helena sees herself in Eleanor and she is determined to force Eleanor to confront her demons now while there is still time for happiness.

We get to hear the story from all three women which adds richness to the plot. This method serves to let us know what each is thinking and better understand the way they evolve throughout. As Helena pushes Eleanor we learn that her sister Eve is excited to see the spark back in Eleanor’s life. Eve has not only been grieving the loss of her mobility but the loss of the person her sister used to be as well.

While Eleanor begins to come to life again so does Eve. We learn that things are not always as they seem and sometimes the stories we tell ourselves are just that, stories. We perceive our siblings from childhood and our parents in one way but the reality is that their emotions and feelings are far more complicated and we just might be surprised to learn the truth. As all three women are set free to soar once again your heart will feel lighter and you will learn a tender tale of forgiveness between those you love the most.

This story touched my heart, the story of two sets of sister’s generations apart. There is nothing like the bond between sisters. I sat down White’s book and was extremely grateful that I too have a sister. Everyone should enjoy this beautifully written tale.

Steph (Eowyn) is a voracious reader who does not remember a time when she wasn’t engrossed in a book in fact she is often reading two or three. She enjoys a broad range of books including Fiction, Paranormal, Thrillers, Urban Fantasy, Women’s Issues, Historical and Spiritual Novels. Steph believes that reading changes lives and credits her love of books for success in her own life. Since she doesn’t know a stranger she enjoys discussing the latest novel she is reading with anyone who will listen. Steph dreams of writing her own novel in the future and speaking around the world on women’s issues. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and cat (Mirabelle).

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