Becoming the Talbot Sisters: A Novel by Rachel Linden

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Twin sisters Waverly and Charlie Talbot have drifted far apart as they pursue opposite dreams of stardom and service to the poor. On an astonishing journey across Central Europe, they must come together to face their fears, find their courage and fight for what they love.

Celebrity chef Waverly Ross has built a successful career with her home-entertaining show Simply Perfect. Yet she and her husband, Andrew, have never been able to realize the true desire of Waverly’s heart: to become a mother. Meanwhile Waverly’s twin sister, Charlie Talbot, buries her bitter disappointment and shattered idealism beneath a life spent serving others as an international aid worked in Budapest, Hungary.

When the beloved aunt who raised them passes away, Waverly and Charlie come together in their grief after living years on separate continents. Struck by a fierce desire to bridge the distance between them, Charlie offers Waverly and her husband the selfless gift of surrogacy.

But soon the sisters find they are each in danger of losing their jobs, seemingly putting their dreams on hold once again. When Waverly shows up unannounced in Budapest with a plan to rescue Simply Perfect, the sisters embark on an adventure across Central Europe that could save them both from occupational hazards. Though the twins haven’t had to rely on each other since childhood, an unforeseen dangerous turn in their journey across Europe forces them to stand together to save their careers, the baby, and each other.

my thoughts:

Waverly and Charlie are twin sisters who lose their parents in a plane crash.  They are sent to live with their Aunt Mae who provides them with the stability and care they desperately need.  When the two sisters turn eighteen, they are able to access their trust funds.  Waverly uses her money for culinary school, while Charlie travels to Africa (the country where their parents died) to find out more about the work their parents were obsessed with.  As the two sisters grow up, they grow apart.  It isn't until their Aunt Mae passes away that they are brought together.  As they grieve over their loss, they find themselves longing to form a close bond.  Sharing secrets and stories about their lives, the two sisters reconnect and soon find themselves closer than ever.  Especially, after Charlie offers to be Waverly's surrogate.  Waverly has always wanted to be a mother, but has miscarried with each of her pregnancies.  So, when her sister offers this generous gift, her only hope is that her husband is on board. And that is all I will write about the story.  You need to read it to find out whether or not being a surrogate to her sister will bring them even closer or drive them further apart.  Plus, getting to know Charlie and Waverly, their relationships, their careers, their lives makes for such a fun and fascinating story. You won't want to put the book down for anything!

I absolutely LOVED Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden. What a great story! I really enjoyed Charlie and Waverly - what a pair! Their family drama was deep and palpable.  The setting was terrific - central Europe!  And Linden's writing was top notch - the exploration of sisterhood, plus the way she weaved in hot topics like human trafficking and politics was gripping. I just loved this book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Becoming the Talbot Sisters

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!