If Truth Be Told (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After meeting the boy of her dreams, Christie O'Kelly must overcome obstacles both personal and familial before realizing her happily ever after in this predictable 1970s-set Floridian love story from first-time novelist Fitzgerald. At 14, Christie, running a "bad third" to her older sisters' "picture-book" beauty, encounters Todd Harrington, the college-bound object of her affections-and soon-to-be step-cousin-at her uncle Jack's wedding to Todd's mother, Carly. The attraction isn't mutual, or so it seems, until Todd breathlessly declares his love for Christie during a summer visit home. But a few months later, Todd writes home and announces he's eloped with a girl from school, and Christie develops a grudge against him that will last eight years. Christie, having come into her own as a devoted aunt and journalist, next encounters Todd when he appears at her door and tells Christie that Uncle Jack is sick, and that he is moving back home to help out. Forced by circumstance to interact with Todd, Christie must deal with her uncle's Parkinson's and her own stubborn pride. While Christie inspiringly plays the independent woman card throughout, Fitzgerald fails to deliver nuance or suspense in a plot that never strays from the formula.
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Review

IF TRUTH BE TOLD is a complex, compelling tale that spans fourteen years...Family, love, and forgiveness are the central themes of IF TRUTH BE TOLD, and the author creates interesting, realistic characters. A poignant page-turner, I highly recommend IF TRUTH BE TOLD. -- Romance Reviews Today, July 2007

This is a great choice for a women's reader group. -- Reader Views, June 2007

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 390 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (June 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594145687
• ISBN-13: 978-1594145681
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #517,197 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Touching Love Story, June 20, 2007

By	Sanchona "Sanchona" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews

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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unforgettable heroine!!, June 20, 2007

By	H. J. Bier "HJB" (Central Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fitzgerald Understands Parkinson's, June 20, 2007

By	Fran Stewart "franstewart.com" (Hog Mountain, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.