Summer Reading Challenge: The Witch of Bourbon Street by Suzanne Palmieri

This summer, members of the Vise Library are participating in a Summer Reading Challenge. We have received copies of several books from publishers for honest reviews. We hope that you enjoy these reviews (and books)!

This week's book is The Witch of Bourbon Street by Suzanne Palmieri.

About the book:

Situated deep in the Louisiana bayou is the formerly opulent Sorrow Estate. Once home to a magical family-the Sorrows-it now sits in ruins, ever since a series of murders in 1902 shocked the entire community. Now the ghosts of girls in white dresses shift in and out of view, stuck in time as they live out the past on repeat.

When Frances Green Sorrow is born carrying the "signs" of the so-called chosen one, it is believed she will bring her family back from the brink of obscurity, finally resurrecting the glory of what it once was and setting the Sorrows ghosts free.

But Frances is no savior.

Fleeing from heartbreak, she seeks solace in the seductive chaos of New Orleans, only to end up married too young in an attempt to live an ordinary life. When her marriage falls apart shortly after having a son, she returns home again-alone-just out of reach from the prying eyes of her family. But when her son disappears, she is forced to rejoin the world she left behind, exposing her darkest secret in order to find him and discovering the truth of what really happened that fateful year in the process.

Set amidst the colorful charm of The French Quarter and remote bayous of Tivoli Parish, Louisiana, Suzanne Palmieri's The Witch of Bourbon Street is a story of family, redemption, and forgiveness. Because sometimes, the most important person you have to forgive.... is yourself.

This book is set in the deep south in the bayou of Louisiana.  This book has two different story lines: one is in the past that involves murders at the Sorrow Estate and the other story line is set in present day.   The events of the past affects the present day.  Frances Green Sorrow hasn't left this area in years.  Frances has lost faith in herself and has really isolated herself.  Even though she has contact with her ex-husband (Danny) and her son Jack, she left them (you find out why later on).   Frances must leave the confines of her home to go looking for her son who has gone missing.  From here Frances learns about family secrets of the past (& present!) and what to do about them.  You learn who really brought the tragedy to the Sorrow family and you learn about Frances' big secret.  This book has so many elements to it: secrets, magic, redemption, forgiveness (Frances has to forgive not only her family but herself as well!), family and love.  

Buy the book:

     Amazon

       Barnes and Noble
      Parnassus Books

About the author:

I've always wanted to be a writer, but life got in the way. At 22, I was a struggling, unwed mother on welfare who moonlighted as a cocktail waitress. My daughter and I collected food stamps and other social entitlements for several years. There never seemed to be enough money, and knowing I had to finish college I hustled to make ends meet. Education, and writing whatever I could, saved me.

I wrote everywhere: in journals, on napkins, on the inside of matchbook covers. After graduating from college, (walking across the stage with my baby on my hip!), I was awarded a Presidential Scholarship to Fordham; this scholarship allowed me to exit the welfare system for good. Also, being a single mother living alone in the Bronx would become the impetus for my debut novel THE WITCH OF LITTLE ITALY, which hit shelves in March 2013. I am also the co-author of I'LL BE SEEING YOU (writing as Suzanne Hayes). 

Connect with the author:

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