Release Date: August 26 2014
Pages: 416
Source: Review copy from publisher
Josie has just fled to the little town of Mill River, Vermont. after she escaped out of New York. She is divorced and has taken her two young daughters Rosie and Emily with her. She is going to live in the house of Ivy, the only relative she has left and who she never known. Ivy owns the bookstore in town. In Mill River, they try to leave their tragic past (what that is is left quite a mystery) behind and build up a new life and where Rosie builds up a career as a real estate agent.
The book alternates in chapters between the past and the present day. In the present, it seems that Josie has passed away and has left them her will, which states thay they both will inherit a house and In her will she also explains that the sisters, who are not on speaking terms with each other anymore, have to work together to locate a hidden key to a safe-deposit box containing their inheritance. Both their sisters move back to Mill River to work on their mothers last will, but things are still complicated between them. Rose is an alcoholic, and this leads in the end to a tragic accident involving her son.But during this project they find out their mother's most important inheritance to them is that she wanted them to reconciliate, and that their mother has even a bigger secret to tell them..
The story of The Mill River Redemption started out very promising. It made me very curious to find out why Josie, Rose and Emily had to leave New York for Mill River. Then the story started to alternate between past and present. It is there that the story becomes a bit unfocused, especially because it is at some parts not noted that a time change between a part is happening, very confusing for the reader as he has to find it out for himself.
The story was okay but it would be better if some parts where worked or cleared out more.
Till the end the tragic past of Josie and her daughers is unclear for the reader. Then it is again not clear why Rosie and Emily are in a fight with each other. and it isn't until about 3/4 through we learn what caused the rift between Rose and Emily. A tragic accident separates them and another accident is what brings them together in the end. But the moest unusual thing was that altough it seems for the biggest part of the book that Josie has passed away, she is alive in the end and just made up everything just to make the two stop fighting. That was something I truly didn't saw coming and which came at quite and odd point and made the story you've read before looking quite odd. There where also a few side characters who are somehow linked to Emily or Rosie, but don't have any impact on the story, and I wondered why they where in it in the first place.
Overall, I had high expectations of The Mill River Redemption. I think it was an okay read, but if some parts had been worked out better I would have liked it more.
Author Interview with Darcie Chan
In writing The Mill River Redemption where did you start? Where did you find inspiration for the characters and the story? I knew from the outset that both my second and third books would be set in the fictional village of Mill River and feature some of the characters from my first novel. Those things gave me a very comforting, familiar foundation -- sort of a "jump start," really -- because I wasn't really beginning from scratch. The story in The Mill River Redemption, though, revolves around a handful of new characters, and for both, I looked to my own family for inspiration. The character of Ivy Collard, for instance, is modeled on my late maternal grandmother, who was just as loving as Ivy and had a similar bawdy streak. And, a story involving sisters was interesting to me because I have two younger sisters myself. The three of us are very close, and we've never had to deal with a tragedy the likes of which the characters Rose and Emily faced, but I thought it would be challenging to explore the strength of a sisterly bond in such a situation.
What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological and logistical) in bringing the book to life?
It took me nearly 2.5 years to write my first novel, The Mill River Recluse, although at the time, I had a full-time day job and was writing only in the evenings after work. The Mill River Redemption flew onto the screen by comparison. In fact, the whole story in Redemption came together in my mind very quickly, and when I was writing, there were several days where I was shocked at how easily and cohesively the story was emerging. Even the research I did (on various topics, as required by the narrative), seemed painless.
The real challenge in writing my second book was not wanting to disappoint my readers after my first novel had been received so well. I suppose this is a common sentiment among writers -- wanting second and subsequent novels to be at least as good as, or better than, those that came earlier -- but it sat heavily in the back of my mind throughout the entire writing and editing process. The hopes and expectations of the many people that have patiently waited for this second novel really inspired me to put everything I had into it.
What was the timeline from spark to publication, and what were the significant highlights along the way?
As I described in the previous question, the writing of this book came fairly easily. I don't start writing until I've figured out how a story begins, how it will end, and a few things that will happen in between. Once I had that framework established for The Mill River Redemption, it took about six months of solid writing to finish a first draft.
I would say that the highlight of writing Redemption was the editing process. I'd never worked with an experienced fiction editor to develop a story before this book, and it was wonderful to see how the suggestions made by my editor, Kara Cesare, helped to shape and strengthen the story. Kara is simply brilliant and a delightful person to boot, and I learned a great deal from her!
What do you want people to take away from reading The Mill River Redemption?
I'd love for people to gain a new sense of appreciation for their families and friends. Life is so unpredictable. People can be taken from your life, and important relationships irrevocably altered, with absolutely no warning. It's so important to live in the present, to treasure each day and all that you have and love.
What is your next project?
I've finished the first draft of the third Mill River book, so soon, it'll be back to editing! I've also got a few promotional trips coming up for The Mill River Redemption. I'm so looking forward to meeting and connecting with lots of my readers!
