Praise and Reviews for Prayers and Lies

Emmons makes a strong debut with the story of Bethany Wylie, whose coming-of-age is rocked by revelations that could up-end her family. Bethany cherishes summers spent in West Virginia's Coal River Valley with her cousin Reana Mae, who is closer to her than her real sisters. Her childhood is innocent, despite the alcoholism, violence, and secrets swirling just out of her grasp, but as she grows up, she becomes more attuned to the cracks in her family's idyllic facade. Reana Mae, meanwhile, grows up faster than Bethany could imagine, and the dark secrets of their family's past, once revealed, could rip them apart. Emmons has a rich voice that pairs well with the earthy setting, and she handles Bethany's education with an easy hand.

- Publishers Weekly

With haunting prose, Sherri Wood Emmons captures childhood in a small southern town. Bethany and Reana Mae, no longer children but not yet women, are tied together by bonds of friendship and kinship that help them survive challenges they don't understand. 'Prayers and Lies' is a rich story of th...e triumph of love and decency.

-- Sandra Dallas, author of 'Prayers for Sale'

Prepare to stay up all night reading! Sherri Wood Emmons perfectly captures the devastating impact of family secrets in her beautifully written--and ultimately hopeful--debut novel. With its evocative setting and realistically crafted characters, Prayers and Lies is a must-read for fans of rich family drama.

-- Diane Chamberlain

... the voice was so genuine, so sincere, I felt like Bethany was standing right before me, barefoot, earnestly telling me her story. ... I was on the edge of my seat, listening, every scene coming in to full, bright, Technicolor detail as one prayer was heard, one lie was shattered, one family’s raw, haunting life laid bare.

-- Cathy Lamb, author of Such A Pretty Face

Prayer and Lies is the story of a family that knows how to love and forgive and get on with life.

-- Drusilla Campbell, author of The Good Sister

Prayer and Lies is a touching examination of all the different kinds of love: between friends, between sisters, and above all, for one’s family.

-- T. Greenswood, author of The Hungry Season

Prayer and Lies is a sweet, revealing tale of family, friendship, long-held secrets and includes the all-important ingredients of forgiveness and love.

-- Kris Radish, author of The Shortest Distance Between Two Women