HER MOTHER'S SHADOW

Keeper of the Light Series, Book 3

Diane Chamberlain

Mira Books

ISBN 0-7783-2017-0

February 2004

Women's Fiction

Lacey O'Neill has been trying to deal with the tragedy of her mother's untimely death since she was still a child. Now she finds herself with the daughter of a childhood friend, trying to help her deal with the death of her mother. Lacey isn't prepared to be a mother to Mackenzie, an 11 year-old girl, or anyone else for that matter. She has enough to do trying to put her past behind her and start her life over.

Mackenzie doesn't want Lacey in her life. Nor does she want to move to Kiss River, North Carolina. She hates North Carolina and all that her new life entails. As time passes, Mackenzie and Lacey learn to deal with each other, but can Mackenzie come to terms with her anger and resentment enough to let Lacey help her?

As Lacey struggles with her past and present, a friend returns to her life, as well as a stranger. But which one will ultimately be good for her? Can Lacey come to terms with her past and help Mackenzie find peace with her future?

HER MOTHER'S SHADOW is a story about finding peace within ourselves, as well as coming to terms with our past. Ms. Chamberlain's characters are truly fresh and true-to-life. Living in North Carolina myself, I found it easy to relate to the setting and put myself right in the middle of the story. There are romantic elements within the book, but they take a back seat to the main theme of learning to let go of the past. If you want a story that will grab hold and keep you guessing, then you need to pick up HER MOTHER'S SHADOW.

While this is the third and final story in the KEEPER OF THE LIGHT trilogy, I had no trouble with it being a stand-alone novel. You will however want to read the first two stories, KEEPER OF THE LIGHT and KISS RIVER.