There was no mystery. Liked some of the characters. Sweet love story ( )

Upping to 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Chick Lit Central and the author for this book.

I love family drama and dysfunctional family books and this definitely was in all senses of the word.

The characters were well thought out and some of the characters names were different from the usual.

Vale and Blythe were half sisters who never got along growing up and didn't have any contact with her or her mother or step-father after moving out at 18 to live in Pittsburgh with her father. Vale's mother wasn't a loving mother and she coddled Blythe who she had with her second husband. Vale's father was Bo and they owned a bar in Pittsburgh. She went home to Philadelphia with her tail between her legs after the bar burned down. Iris may have been in her 80s (I think) but she was a sprite with purple streaks in her hair and owned part of a greenery shop with her best friend Deeta. Deeta was a little bit too nosy for me in Vale's life but that's the way she was. Vale learned that Blythe was living there too apart from her baseball pro husband. The arguments between Vale and Blythe were legendary and the words that spewed from their mouths were unbelievable. Iris tried to be a intermediary but with no luck usually.

Thank goodness love prevailed and Vale and Blythe finally found sisterly love in all manners.

Again, an open ending which I hope will be a sequel. ( )

Vale Lightner is like so many others, in that she doesn't feel that she quite fits in with her family. She is also constantly struggling to "fit in" various work environments. Vale is estranged from her mother, stepfather, and half-sister. The only "family" she currently has a relationship with is her father and maternal grandmother, but she strives to maintain those relationships no matter what. Sadly, Vale's relationship with her father is tottering on the edge as they deal with their jointly-owned bar burning down. Vale isn't quite sure what she wants to do with her life at this point, but owning another bar and returning to Philadelphia isn't it. Vale is forced to accommodate her grandmother, who seems to be dealing with a major health issue. Returning to Philadelphia isn't her first, second, or third choice, but she is used to starting over. This time around, she has to do it with her half-sister watching. As Vale begins to deal with the memories of her past, she comes to realize that there is a thin line between what we remember and what actually happened. Is it possible her relationship with her mother, stepfather, and half-sister were built on misperceptions? Is it possible for her to craft a new relationship with her sister? Vale has to decide if she's willing to start over with her family. Can she forgive them as she seeks forgiveness for her own mistakes and start anew?

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Tolstoy

I found A Brighter Flame by Christine Nolfi to be a fast-paced and engrossing read. Vale was all-too-familiar in that she doesn't feel like she quite fits in with her family. Vale is struggling on so many levels. She has to contend with the idea that her father is irresponsible and will never quite grow up and be the parent she wants. She is tormented by the idea that her mother didn't really want to keep her but refused to give up custody to an irresponsible parent. She worries that her grandmother might be seriously ill. Vale also comes to the realization that her sister is dealing with just as many issues as she is and the only way to rebuild that relationship is by being the "big sister" her younger sister wants and needs. I won't even get into the whole budding romance with her neighborhood pharmacist. I thought all of the characters were not only realistic but realistically flawed. Some were idealistic, others were pessimistic, and others were realistic with a touch of idealism. There aren't any "bad guys" in this story, just a family filled with flawed individuals trying to make a way the best way they know how.

I have a huge list of "favorite" authors but only a handful that I will buy any and everything they write. Christine Nolfi is in both categories. A Brighter Flame is a multi-faceted multigenerational story that portrays relationships with all of their flaws. Each character is struggling with something major and it is only when they voice their struggles and fears that they are capable of moving forward with the help of family and friends. A Brighter Flame is not just about family or second chances, it is also about forgiveness, acceptance, and growth. If you can't tell, I enjoyed A Brighter Flame. Even though I was afforded the opportunity to read this early via a digital review copy, I pre-ordered a digital copy for my personal library and a print copy for my 87-y.o. mother (she loves reading Christine Nolfi books almost as much as I do). If you're interested in reading a well-written contemporary story about family, hope, love, and second chances, then I strongly encourage you to go and get a copy of A Brighter Flame for yourself (I can't wait to reread this one!).

Happy Reading, y'all!

This review originally posted on 09/27/2022 at https://thebookdivasreads.com/2022/09/27/book-review-a-brighter-flame-by-christi... ( )

Family dynamics can be tough. What we remember in our minds, isn’t necessarily what really happened.

Vale has had a tough life. Estranged from her Mother and step sister, owns a bar with her Father. Until life and unexpected circumstances step in. She returns home to Philadelphia and her much loved grandmother to try to figure things out, only to find her stepsister there with her own set of problems. Can they help each other? Can they become a family again? Loved the characters, even thru their issues, watching their hard exteriors crack was satisfying. Adored Nana…a matriarch every family should have. Dysfunctional family facing the truth and changing the dynamics.

Thanks to Ms Nolfi, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone. ( )

FROM SECRETS TO A SENSE OF BELONGING!

Author Christine Nolfi has a way of getting to the heart of the matter with her writing. Her latest release, A Brighter Flame, is an excellent example of this! She has written this moving plot that tells of a family that finds a way to move from being full of secrets into a sense of belonging. Each member of the family has their secrets; none are exempt. The problem is they are finally reaching a crisis point for all of them. There is a chance for a reunion but it will require a lot of truth, a lot of “little deaths” from past behaviors from each of them to bring about healing and the hope of belonging. Nolfi knows how to write about a family coming back together!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence. ( )