Customer Reviews

If Truth Be Told (Five Star Expressions)

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4 star:		(1)
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It's hard to resist a story in which the protagonist engages you from the first page. Christie O'Kelley, the 14-year-old heroine of Lynda Fitzgerald's novel, If Truth Be Told, has all the attitude and intelligence that I wish I had possessed at that age. Inhabiting a home with a mother and two "pretty" older sisters she can't relate to, and whom she feels don't understand her or even really love her, Christie clings to her relationship with her beloved uncle and his new wife, Carly. Her spunk and wit also attract the interest of Carly's 18-year-old son, Todd. Christie falls head over heels, and Todd eventually accepts his own undeniable feelings for Christie.

But then Todd breaks her heart, and Christie is forced to walk her path to adulthood without him. This heartbreak molds her into an even more cynical adult, but she doesn't lose her spunk or her wit. When Todd reappears in her life many years later, she refuses to forgive him. Then when tragedy befalls her uncle and his wife, her thirst for the truth drives her to alienate those she loves best. Ultimately, the truth Christie finds is inside herself--her pride and inability to forgive have always stood in the way of her happiness. She learns to forgive the people that have hurt her and to accept human frailties, even her own.

I loved If Truth Be Told. Ms. Fitzgerald is an engaging writer who creates real characters--some loveable, some infuriating, but all immensely enjoyable. And I felt emotionally invested in Christie's happiness. I wasn't anticipating the final outcome of the story, and being an avid reader, I enjoy being surprised. Kudos to Ms. Fitzgerald for a wonderful story. I look forward to her next novel!

Linda Fitzgerald has written an outstanding first novel which has been categorized as 'romance' by some, but be warned. 'If Truth Be Told' is more than a light-hearted romance.

Fitzgerald explores serious issues of life in her novel. Should we approach 'truth' in colors of only black and white with no shades of gray? What about the issue of betrayal? Can we allow a betrayal to destroy the rest of our lives? The author deals with these issues through the lives of her charming characters and handles them with compassion and understanding. Her mastery of story-telling is to be admired, and I am sure we shall be reading more of her work.


Sanchona

Fitzgerald puts her captivating characters in the dilemma of how to forgive when the offense feels unforgiveable. By treating real-life issues with empathy and compassion, Fitzgerald sheds light on how we can cope with family tragedies. She writes believably about poor communication, about the quandaries that surround a family member who develops Parkinson's, about sibling rivalry, about mother/daughter conflict. This is a story to savor, for Fitzgerald has learned the art of quiet unfolding.

Lynda Fitzgerald invites fiction readers to step into the life of a young girl and grow as she grows. The author delivers such compelling dialogue the reader feels the emotion with the same depth and conviction as the characters-, love and hate, disappointment and elation, it's all here, in vivid, alluring detail. If Truth Be Told is the perfect modern day mix of Cinderella and 10 Things I Hate About You.

At the tender and impressionable age of 14, Christie O'Kelly attends her uncle's wedding and meets the man of her dreams, Todd. Having endured a life devoid of love, support and kindness with her wicked sisters and uncaring mother, Christie finds solace and sanctuary in her Uncle Jack's home. His new wife Carly is everything her own family was not and so, not surprisingly she spends a great deal of time with them. Trading her teddy bear for the comfort of Todd's love, she is devastated when a letter arrives announcing he has married.

When her uncle falls ill, Todd returns home to help care for him, forcing Christie to deal with her anger, frustration and broken heart face to face. Now divorced and convinced he made the biggest mistake of his life, he tries to win Christie back, but is met with the stern rebuff of a deeply wounded heart.

What follows is a realistic look beyond the surface fluff, into the very soul of the characters as they must overcome their own misgivings, find a way to forgive and move forward with their lives. Chock-full of wit, overflowing with attitude and heart, If Truth Be Told, breathes new life into the coming of age - first love stories that have touched so many readers over the years. Fitzgerald's unique style, three dimensional characters and true-to-life scenarios take the reader on a memorable journey that covers a wide spectrum of emotions-from innocent first love, to jaded heart-break, to self-discovery and forgiveness and ultimately to accept the shortcomings of others, as well as, yourself.

There are so many unexpected twists throughout this novel that bring the reader deeper into the lives and hearts of the characters you can't help but feel each and every ounce of the emotion that obviously flowed so freely from Fitzgerald's pen. It's almost impossible to place a category or label on this story, except to simply say "exceptional!" I recommend "If Truth Be Told" to anyone that enjoys reading!

Happy Reading!
-RJ

WOW, I loved this book. This is an emotional story that touched me so deeply. What a great read.

The story is told through Christie's eyes. The story begins in August of 1961 and takes place between Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach, Florida. Christie is the youngest of the three O'Kelly sisters, and is 14 years old when she meets the boy of her dreams. His name is Todd, soon to be her step cousin. Her Uncle Jack is marrying Carly, Todd's mother. After falling for Todd she decides to put away her teddy bear, which she takes back out of her closet from time to time for comfort. After four years of dreaming about her future with Todd, she is devastated from a letter to her aunt and uncle revealing that Todd is married.

The story progresses through eight years. Christie comes home to find that Todd had been to her place looking for her. Todd is determined to win Christie back, but Christie wants no part of being hurt and lied to again. Todd offers to be there for her as a friend due to her uncle's illness. She does not believe him and calls her uncle, and learns it is true that he is sick.

They are thrown together time and again due to her uncle's series of medical conditions. Todd is persistent and they become engaged. Then suddenly her uncle dies.

Christie is confused as she thought he was doing better, and Carly's behavior and actions around her are very different, almost as if she feels guilty about something. Christie is determined to find out the truth, as she does not believe her uncle's death was natural. So she begins asking questions, prodding for the truth, but is afraid this will be the end to her relationship with the man of her dreams.

The author mixes romance and a touch of mystery. The plot is intriguing, the characters are believable, and the story has vivid details. The story will tug at your heart and will bring tears to your eyes.

A fascinating read, I could not put this one down--highly recommended,

Armchair Interviews says: A definite 5-star read.

Where mystery meets romance, If Truth Be Told is a poignant and thought-provoking story of Christie and her search for the two things that matter most to her - love and truth. But when the two collide, she has to find her own balance between them and ultimately decide which matters more.

I have to say that I truly loved this book! Ms. Fitzgerald writes the character of Christie so well that I could almost believe she really exists. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough!

In 1961 when Christie O'Kelly was fourteen her beloved Uncle Jack, who serves as her male role model after her dad died, remarried. At the ceremony, Christie and her older sisters meet their new Aunt Carly's son Todd. Christie thinks he is a hunk, but he ignores her. Over the next four years as she trades bobby sox for stockings, Christie finds she still wants Todd until he marries someone else.

In 1973, a divorced Todd realizes Christie is the one for him, but she rejects his advances. When her beloved Uncle Jack becomes ill, she goes to help Aunt Carly nurse him. Todd uses this time to try to re-win the heart he tossed aside when he thought she was too young for him.

This is a fascinating look at a girl becoming a woman as Lynda Fitzgerald takes readers through the major events shaping the life of her likable lead female. Thus the story line feels more like a series of vignettes in the life of Christie rather than a novel. This technique enables the audience to see deeply into what made her the adult she is, but lacks sustained action built from previous events as each occurrence is somewhat a stand alone. Fans of deep character studies of whom and what turned a teenage girl into the woman she is will appreciate Ms. Fitzgerald discerning tale.

Harriet Klausner

Lynda Fitzgerald has reached out and touched my heart with this book. There are parts where I look back and relive those wonderful tender feelings of my first love, my first heartbreak and then cry because of the lost of a father figure. You will too when you read this book. The author has such a way with words that you will find yourself bursting with laughter at Christie's sense of humor then turn around and cry at the heartbreak of losing her favorite uncle to a fatal disease. You will hold your breath when Christie realizes that there may be more to his death and the truth may cause her to lose so very much more. I just love this book.

Christie and Todd were clearly destined to be together, but they sure have to take a long and twisted path to get there. This is a wonderful story of what people will do for love, and how appearances can deceive. I loved the development of Christie's character from oppressed child to fully defined woman. And Todd--well, Todd is to die for :) I just love this book!

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (2/07)



"If Truth Be Told" is an incredibly written fictional story. The author, Lynda Fitzgerald, incorporates romance, suspense, and mystery into an excellent plot. The story begins with Christie O'Kelly at the age of fourteen. In addition to the typical teenage angst that most of us experience, she is also dealing with being treated like an outsider by her mother and sisters. This pushes her closer to her uncle and his new wife Carly. When she meets her uncle's stepson, Todd, it is love at first sight.

Carly takes Christie under her wing and while she is teaching her about hair and makeup, she also instructs her on life and why people act the way that they do. This new perspective helps Christie become more compassionate towards her siblings and her mother. When Todd falls for Christie, he tries to do the right thing by not taking advantage of her. In the long run, he makes some very poor choices and manages to break her heart.

Years later they meet again. Christie is still angry at Todd for hurting her. When her uncle becomes ill, it forces them together and, in time, allows many of their issues to be resolved. Her uncle's illness causes Carly to change. After he passes, she clings on Todd and does not want Christie around. Christie begins to suspect foul play in her uncle's death. This drives a wedge between herself and Todd. She has to work harder than ever to try to overcome this.

I really loved "If Truth Be Told." Because there are no slow moments in the story, I had a hard time putting it down. Fitzgerald has a talent of wrapping you up in the story so that you start to feel like Christie's family and her issues are your own. Fitzgerald also impressed me with her ability to have Christie develop emotionally as she is growing up. Her transition from teenager to adulthood and her lessons learned along the way are so perfect for who she becomes. Her friends and family are also going through their own issues especially in regards to relationships. Everything that is happening seems so real, I felt more like this was an autobiography.

"If Truth Be Told" really touched my heart. Not having Ms. Fitzgerald's talent for words, I cannot give this book the kind of review that it best deserves; I can only tell you that you should not miss out on the chance to read it. This is a great choice for a women's reader group.

Received book free of charge.