Julie’s Review: The Word Game by Steena Holmes

The Word Game
written by Steena Holmes
published by Lake Union Publishing, 2015

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks (audio), Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange  for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book: Yes, for the most part. Holmes’s writing style is not my favorite, but the plot was enough to keep me turning pages. I was anxious to learn if Lyla’s testimony was true, as I felt concern for the abused child in question. It was a quick and easy novel–it took me only three days to read it.

Would I recommend it: Probably. It would be a good beach book. I would not, however, recommend it to my fellow book snobs. I found the character development lacking and the writing a bit terse.

About the book – from Goodreads: For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.

But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?