The Secrets Sisters Keep by Sinead Moriarty

The Devlin sisters rely on each other - but some things are just too painful to share, even when your sisters are your best friends ...

Mum-of-four Julie thought that if her family had more money, life would be easier. But now that they've inherited a fortune, her problems are only starting.

Lawyer Louise is used to having life go exactly as she wants it to. So accepting that she cannot control everything in her world is beyond her.

And former model Sophie can just about cope with getting older - that's until her ex-husband finds a younger model.

All three women think that some battles are best fought alone. Maybe they need to think again ...

The Secrets Sisters Keep by Sinead Moriarty was published by Penguin on 26 February 2015, and is the author's tenth novel. I reviewed This Child of Mine by the same author, here on Random Things in October 2013. The Secrets Sisters Keep is the sequel to Me and My Sisters which was published in April 2012, and although the same characters are featured in this latest novel, if you haven't already read the first book, don't worry as the author includes more than enough background detail for the reader to enjoy this story as a standalone novel.

The three Devlin sisters; Julie, Louise and Sophie are very close, yet have very different lives and personalities. Despite the closeness of their relationships, each one of them has their own secret. These secrets form the backbone of this warm, witty and at times, pretty emotional story.

Julie is mother to four boys, including nine-year-old triplets. In the past she's had to scrimp and save to make ends meet, but life was always good. Being rich was something that Julie dreamt of, she was sure that it would make life even better. Be careful what you wish for, because as Julie has found out, inheriting millions does not equal happiness. The large house, the flash car, the designer clothes and the private education means nothing if your husband is spending all of his free time on the golf course with his new rich friends.

Sophie did have it all. A successful modelling career, a handsome husband, a beautiful daughter; money was no object. When her husband made a bad investment and lost everything, Sophie's world crumbled. She's spent the last few years putting herself back together again, running a business, being a single mother. When her small daughter Jess falls under the spell of her ex husband's new, younger, slimmer partner, Sophie is heartbroken.

Louise is in control. She's a hard-nosed lawyer, her employees fear her. Her daughter Clara is exceptionally bright. Clara can read and write, she knows everything about birds, she is polite, she's just a little shy.

Sinead Moriarty takes the reader on each sister's journey as she deals with her secret. The chapters are narrated by either Julie, Sophie or Louise, and this brings the sisters to life, allowing the reader to learn more about each of them, than even their sisters knows.

Packed with colourful characters, The Secrets Sisters Keep is charming and frank. This is not a light fluffy read and deals with some pretty serious issues, yet at times it is wonderfully funny and will have the reader roaring with laughter. The author has a real knack for creating characters that the reader can both relate to and love, and others that are despicable, yet all are very realistic.

Dealing with family relationships and bond between siblings, and not just sisters, there is a brother; Gavin, who I defy anyone not to fall just a little in love with.

I enjoyed The Secrets Sisters Keep very much. Sinead Moriarty is a great author with the knack of combining humour and sadness together in one story. Her writing is warm and witty and very entertaining.

My thanks to Catherine from Penguin who sent my copy for review.

Sinead Moriarty lives with her family in Dublin. 

Her previous titles are: The Baby Trail; A Perfect Match; From Here to Maternity; In My Sister's Shoes; Keeping It In the Family (also titled Whose Life is it Anyway?); Pieces of My Heart; Me and My Sisters; This Child of Mine and Mad About You.

For more information, visit her website www.sineadmoriarty.com
Find her author page on Facebook
Follow her on Twitter @sinead_moriarty