Lying on Sunday

If you're going to pick a day of the week to lie, Sunday is not it. Robert "Trey" Torrington had shut down his heart from God and from his wife, and he'd been telling a lot of lies on Sundays. But now, he's dead and his secrets have gone with him. Well, mostly. Sharon drew me right into this story and never let up. This is a chunky novel, both for length, but also themes: betrayal, grief, family dynamics, self-esteem, secrets and truth. And it's well worth the time invested. Indeed, I could barely put it down. Like her first novel ("Every Good and Perfect Gift") Sharon wasn't timid about tackling those tough issues. Sharon created a very complex character--Abigail Torrington--gave her an untrustworthy husband, killed him, then explored Abbie's myriad emotions after the fact. Those emotions were only heightened by the fact that divorce papers arrived within an hour after she learned her secret-toting husband was dead. You spend most of the book wondering if Trey (Robert A. Torrington, III) was truly the scalawag you guess he is. For the sake of hope, though, in the midst of the rest of chaos, Sharon weaved together threads of truth: the relationship truths between the leading characters, and truths about the Lord, and injected those bits at various well-calculated moments. What I loved best about the novel was how Abbie grew as a person. Without becoming unlikable, Abbie learned how to stand up for herself and speak the truth, even when those around her wouldn't like what she had to say. In her newfound victory, she took on the arch nemesis of all "push-overs" and prevailed!! (Read the book to see what I mean.) I cheered and read the end of that scene again! Though Sharon tackled some tough topics. I was entertained but not burdened. I cheered for this great heroine and pondered some fantastic prose and insightful phrases every now and then. I highly recommend this novel!

Sharon K. Souza's "Lying on Sunday" broke my heart! I was thrust into the horror of the main character, Abbie, dealing with the death of her husband at the same time she discovered his infidelity. This novel was both heartbreaking and inspiring, as well as beautifully written. I laughed and cried and invested in and loved these characters right to the final page and beyond. This was a difficult journey, but this author has a God-given gift for dealing with difficult circumstances and all of the tiny details that go along with it. The book made me think quite a bit about how I deal with tragedy and how I would like to deal with it in the future.

What if your husband died in another woman's bed while supposedly on a business trip to a different place? Moments later you are served with divorce papers. You never had a clue he was unfaithful or wanted to end the marriage. Your college age daughters, mom and dad are on their way to celebrate a family birthday, and you have to tell them something, but not that. Not what they'd never believe in a million Sunday's. This is the powerful start to Lying on Sunday. There's more to heal in Abbie Torrington's new life than lying infidelity. Author Sharon K. Souza presents a flawless and triumphant study in the fine art of friendship and how to unravel the difficult mother daughter relationships weaving through three generations. As for forgiving her husband's betrayal and looking for the other woman . . . Souza skillfully mixes in unexpected revelations, a sassy best friend, a man of growing interest and a fictional author's life story to create a swirling story batter that's deeply satisfying. Lying on Sunday will tug at your heart, make you laugh, sigh, exclaim, and even weep for joy. Well done and highly recommended.

When I read Sharon Souza's first novel, Every Good and Perfect Gift, I was so drawn in with feelings of empathy for Gabby and DeeDee that I felt they were my personal friends. Sharon has done it again in her second novel, Lying on Sunday. My heart broke for Abbie Torrington and all that she was called to endure. Her hurt and feelings of betrayal mixed with the frustration of forced secrecy were so real I wanted to call her or write her a note to offer moral support. Through this sometimes agonizing, but notably humorous and uplifting story, Sharon reminds her readers that no matter how deep the hurt or how intense the betrayal, healing is possible and treasure can be claimed from trash. Lying on Sunday is a compelling read.

Abbie Torrington thought she had it all. The "perfect" life turned out to be the perfect lie. In one day she is served with divorce papers and within hours is notified of her husbands death under less than ideal circumstances. Everything she had thought was true, was not. As her life begins to unravel and she desperately tries to shield her two daughters from the truth, Abbie slowly and painfully peels back the layers of her life and begins to reclaim her confidence and inner strength. She realizes that she was living for her husband and children and had lost herself somewhere along the way. She had given in and given up, happy with the status quo. Abbie begins a quest to find out who she is, what she wants out of life and what she really believes, about God, healing, trust and forgiveness. She learns the true meaning of friendship and grows in her relationship with her daughters and her God. I highly recommend this book. It was an inspirational and powerful read all about how "the truth shall set you free". Sharon Souza did a wonderful job of tapping into the raw emotion and frailty that every woman feels who has been disappointed and even betrayed. Her prose flowed with emotion and if I wasn't laughing, I was near tears or biting my nails to see what would happen next. The ending was just right. It was filled with hope and left me wondering how Abbie would go forward. Pick up your copy today. You won't be disappointed.