A lifetime of lies, and a truth too painful to tell. When Suzanna Duff was ten years old, she lost her mama, and that’s when the lies began. At first, they were just harmless little fibs, a way to hide her unbearable loneliness and the truth about a daddy who came home rip-roaring drunk every night. But in time, the lies grew bigger and now, when she is a grown woman with a daughter of her own, … woman with a daughter of her own, they threaten to destroy everything she loves.
The irony of this situation is that Suzanna never planned to stay in Georgia, she was simply passing through, looking for a fresh start in New Jersey. Attending that wake with her daughter Annie, was a fluke. An opportunity to enjoy a free meal. It should have entailed nothing more than a solemn nod and a brief expression of sympathy but, Ida Parker, the grieving widow mistook her for her the granddaughter who was carried off as an infant. Too embarrassed to do anything else, Suzanna played along. What harm was there in pretending to be someone else for a few hours? Hours turned into days and days into weeks; strangers became friends, love happened, and before long a year had flown by.
Now the past is standing on her doorstep and Suzanna must decide to leave here and disappear as she has done before, or tell the truth and break the hearts of those she loves most.
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Bette Lee Crosby is one of those authors who writes books that you know you’re going to love even before you read the first page. Her characters are always well written and they all change and grow throughout the story. The plot is a feel-good story but there is always some laughter and tears – not sad tears but happy tears. I’ve read most of her books and A Million Little Lies is my new favorite.
This story is lovely – the relationship between Ida and Suzanna and Annie is so sweet and they really depend on each other. There is a lot of tension around whether Suzanna will tell the truth or continue her lie – whether she will disappear as she has in the past or tell the truth and accept the consequences. Both Ida and Suzanna are well written characters and I was hoping for the best in their relationship. They will tug at your heart and I promise, there will be happy tears as they both learn that family isn’t just what you’ve been born into but more importantly, it is made up of people you love that you want to spend time with. Thank you Better Lee Crosby for another book with characters that I won’t soon forget.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Bette Lee Crosby’s books never disappoint me. This books starts with the first of the “Little lies” when ten year old Suzannas momma dies. Her life is rough growing up and the “little lies” just seem to smooth the way.Fast forward to being an unwed Mom in a abusive relationship. With no family or friends, Suzanna decides to take her daughter and run away. How this story evolves, the twists, turns and things she goes thru will make you want to cry,laugh,be angry, shake her, hug her,cheer for her and so much more. Most of all just be glad you got to read another great Bette Lee Crosby story.
If you are looking for a good southern fiction novel, look no further than this book. I think I have read everything by this author and I have yet to be disappointed.
What happens when you start a new life based on lies? Can you keep up with the lies you have told so you don’t get caught? That is what Suzanna is having to face and it doesn’t help when you have a young child that doesn’t understand what needs to be kept secret and what you can say to others. Add on to that the woman that has taken in her in believing that she is her granddaughter. Is it Ida’s desire to not be alone that has her convinced, or is there more to the situation?
This book is set in the 1960s which allowed Suzanna to get away with more than you probably could today. No social media, no cell phones, no internet, none of the modern technology that we have today. In fact, when she gets a job there is no checking social security numbers to make sure you have the right person working for you.
As I read this book, I could feel empathy for Suzanna and what she endured when she discovered she was pregnant, the father walking out on her and not taking responsibility, the way her own father kicked her out of the house because of her situation, and ending up with someone that didn’t treat her well. But I applaud her pluckiness in getting out of the situation she was in and off to find something better for her and her daughter.
Despite many positive characters in the book, it wouldn’t be complete without a few antagonists. Earl and Bobby and not the kind of people you want to inhabit your life. Earl is a drunk and Bobby is something of a misogynist. Bobby doesn’t hate women, he just believes no woman can resist him. Talk about your ego! But I have to give Bobby props near the end when he actually does something that benefits someone else. You’ll have to read the book to find out what exactly he does right.
There is romance in this book for Suzanna which allows her to see what a real relationship should look like and how women should be treated.
This is a story that will touch your heart but might also leave you a bit nervous at times when it comes to some tense situations regarding Earl and Bobby.
We give this 5 paws up.
Simply charming. Bettie Lee Crosby carries us back to a simpler time when family matters most. A Million Little Lies is a heartwarming novel of happenstance, fate, and lasting relationships. Her endearing characters will stay with you long after you’ve read the last word.
Bette Lee Crosby has delivered another southern winner! My bags are packed and I’m ready to move to Cousins, GA. The descriptions in the storytelling are truly amazing. I have lived in Georgia for all of my 50+ years and she has me seeing and smelling things I’ve not seen or smelled before. This book is full of twists and turns, loss and love. Ms. Crosby takes you on a journey of emotions all in one story. This is a story of finding one’s self and the difficult decisions one must make as a single parent. The love of a mama bear for her daughter. What extremes would you go to and ensure your child has the love and shelter of a family? A Million Little Lies will make you think and ponder the answer to that question. Fall in love with Cousins, GA and those that live within this beautiful little town. Thank you to NetGalley for requested ARC. All thoughts in this review are all mine.
My Review
Suzanne, learns lies come Easy.
As Easy as a con man.
Losing her momma at a young age.
Starting out with small lies putting her Daddy’s name on her report card.
The lies Just grow like weeds from then on.
Life moves on…Time goes on..
Then one Day ..she wants to get away from the live in Boyfriend whose a Drunk..
Wanted to move onto.find the Past. Bobby….. Bobby being Annie her Daughters Dad…
Traveling by hitchhiking,
Not always the best. But sometimes you do what you have to…planning on going to your Friends place…
Ending up in a place called cousin’s.
Well it’s one lie after another..
But in the End . finding what really Means the Most .
I Truly Enjoyed this Story.
Thank you Bette Lee Crosby.
Little lies turn into bigger lies, and can destroy our wellbeing. Suzanna leaves a bad situation hoping to make a better life for her and her daughter, Annie. She stops in a quaint little southern town and there is a case of mistaken identity. She plays along thinking she’ll leave the next day. But, sometimes life takes a turn we don’t expect.
What a feel good story that will have you rooting for Suzanna from the beginning. This was an easy, heart warming read. Characters are likeable and endearing. Writing is easy and flows nicely. Quick read. Was happy with the way Ms. Crosby handled one situation particularly. Righting a wrong for sure. During these times with so much nastiness, this is a perfect light, just the right amount of drama read!
Thanks to Ms. Crosby, Bent Pine Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
The problem with lying is that you tell one, then others follow to prevent that first lie from coming out. This is what happens to Suzanne Duff. She began lying after her mother dies, to cover up the miserable life she has with her father and the lies become bigger as she grows.
As usual, Bettie Lee Crosby can create a tale that journeys through loss, heartache, struggle, a search for stability and love, and come out of it with opportunities, friendships, security, trust and love.
You will follow Suzanne’s journey from unwed mother, a disappointing relationship, a flight to save herself and Annie. Using her skill for lying, she finds the perfect life, only to have it put in jeopardy, when her past comes back to threaten her security.
A beautiful ending, as Suzanne finds that love, forgiveness and truth, are much better ingredients for a happy life. My thanks to #NetGalley and Bent Pine Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own. I loved this story and guarantee it’s a 5
Have you ever tried to reinvent yourself? Would you want to? Suzanna has certainly not had an easy life. I think you have to admire her for her focus being on taking care of and doing the best she could for Annie. Does this make it right? This book is a great read. I could feel the anxiety that Suzanna was feeling and I could feel the love that Ida had for Bill, Darla Sue, and Annie. I do enjoy it when I feel like I’m right there with the characters. Loved the story and loved these characters! I received an ARC copy through NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Another great by Bette Lee Crosby.
Each book I read by this author gets better and better. This is a very heartwarming story of love, sadness, lies, childhood and forgiveness.
My favorite line from this book: Over the years, Suzanna had told a million little lies and not once had she stopped to look back at the damage they might have done.
Suzanna left a bad relationship with her seven year old daughter for a better life. At least that is what she was hoping for when she left Earl. She had got pregnant while in high school only to be left alone by Bobby, the father of her baby. Earl took her in after her dad kicked her out. Earl was not a good man. He was a drunk and a bit abusive. Suzanna wanted more for herself and her daughter, Annie.
Suzanna ended up in Cousins, GA where she met Ida Parks and thus her new life began. Ida is a widow and looking for someone to make her feel like living. That is where Darla Jean enters the story. Ida Parks thinks Suzanna is Darla Jean, her deceased husbands long lost granddaughter. The relationship born from this is one of much love, laughter, happiness and a few tears. This is a family even though there is no blood relationship there at all. Darla Jean goes through a lot of ups and downs but eventually she accepts that she has to tell a few more lies for a little while to make Ida feel happy again. She intends to move on soon. Ida does not make it easy on Suzanna/Darla Jean though.
This is a great story told from Suzanna, Ida Parks and Earls points of view. It’s set in the 50s and has that small town charm going on that will capture your heart from the start. Throw in a man named Gregg and then you have a love story on top of everything else. This book is a great read that will keep you turning the pages. Keep you wanting more. Keep you rooting for everything to work out. You will want to smack Bobby and Earl a few times but will give you faith in humanity in ways too.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #BetteLeeCrosby, #BentPinePublishing for this ARC. This is my own true honest review.
A big 5 stars from me and a very high recommendation.
Thank you Net Galley and Bent Pine Publishing for an early copy of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
What’s in a name?
One name is a life with a continuation of abuse, loneliness and despair.
Another name comes with a home, friends and loving relationships.
Which name would you choose?
Lies with just enough of the truth make up the life of Suzanna Duff. As she and her daughter run away from an abusive relationship, Suzanna hopes to finally find a good life for her and her daughter.
Travel along with Suzanna as she chooses a name that will change the life of her and her daughter. But it is all built around a lie…a lie once told that continues to build and build until only finally telling the truth can a real relationships be formed and a family found. Bette Lee Crosby has written another book that tugs at your heart and makes the reader believe in a name can mean everything.
Bette Lee Crosby has crafted another compelling, thought-provoking story. For Suzanna, a young woman who is facing some of her darkest moments, a way out presents itself. One little lie is all it takes and then, everything changes. A complex and relatable character, Suzanna’s struggles tug at the heart as she fights to survive, and protect her daughter. The choice she makes will prompt readers to ask themselves, what would I do? A beautifully written and uplifting story.
WOW! I love everything about Bette Lee Crosby’s new book “A Million Little Lies”. Especially in these times, Bette Lee Crosby has written a novel that is “Heart wrenching and Heartwarming, a novel to satisfy your soul and leave your heart feeling happier.”
Bette Lee Crosby has written a captivating, intriguing, emotional, and thought-provoking novel. The time-line for the story is set in the 1960s and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. This mostly takes place in Georgia. The author describes her colorful and dramatic cast of characters as complex, and complicated. Some are good-natured and likable. The southern feel and atmosphere is delightful.
Bette Lee Crosby is quite a talented and natural storyteller. I love the way she vividly describes her characters, events, scenery, and landscape. I appreciate that Bette Lee Crosby discusses the importance of family, friends, forgiveness, second chances. love and hope.
“Darla Sue” has had a difficult life, no fault of her own, and to cope started telling little lies. She is now responsible for her daughter and wants to make sure that she has a job to support her daughter Annie, and can take care of her. “Darla Sue” basically has a good heart and wants to make the people in her life happy. Her omissions of the truth and lies were her way of surviving, with really no bad intent.
According to Wikipedia, “a white lie” is a harmless or trivial lie, especially one in order to be polite or avoid hurting someone’s feelings or stopping them from being upset from the truth.”
Circumstances bring “Darla Sue” and Annie with an older woman Ida, and wonderful home. Yet circumstances might occur that take it away and reveal the secrets and lies.
I have recommended this amazing and memorable story to several friends to get from NetGalley since it is the perfect book to read during our quarantine. I also highly recommend this novel to all readers. Bette Lee Crosby has me laughing and crying at the same time. Happy Reading!!!
As she skillfully crafts the surprises of this story in her inimitable style, Bette Lee Crosby explores the meaning of family and how choice may be a defining factor. This is a quietly powerful story, of relationships, trust, truth, lies, and the possibilities of forgiveness, that builds to an unforgettable ending. A five-star read in every way.
Now I see why Bette Lee Crosby has so many devoted followers. Her writing is heartfelt and relatable, and she creates characters that tug on our heartstrings. Her characters aren’t perfect, but we love them anyway. Or maybe their imperfections are why we love them/
Suzanna Duff didn’t mean to deceive Ida. She just wanted a family and a good life for her seven-year-old daughter Annie. But one little lie led to another and another and…
When Ida Parker mistakenly assumed Suzanna was her late husband’s long-lost granddaughter Darla Jean, Suzanna did not see the harm in going along with her. It was just for one day, and then Suzanna and Annie would go on their way. But when she saw how happy Ida made Annie, she didn’t see the harm in staying a bit longer. And when she realized how happy Ida was to have Annie in her life, Suzanna thought they could stay a little longer. And so, the lies continued to build.
This is a beautiful story of women supporting each other and becoming stronger individuals because of that support. It’s a story of learning what love is. And it is a story of finding and making a family. “There’s all kinds of families…Some are born into belonging to one another…But there’s another kind of family, one created by people who love each other and are willing to hold on to what they’ve found.”
Need something to lift your spirits, make you smile, and warm your heart? Then I highly recommend this book.
I read this book start to finish in one sitting as could not put down. I will be reading more books from this author as this was my first.
this book is fabulous! filled with interesting and complex characters and story that will tug at your heart! I could not put it down! This author pulls you into the book at the very first page and you feel as if you are with the characters every step of the way! A wonderful story, will make you laugh and cry and be overjoyed with hope. I cannot wait to read more by this author! She is a true storyteller!
Surprising at times with good characters.
A beautifully written story, full of family, secrets, and the pursuit of a better life. Embracing readers in warmth, love and family drama, there is no better way to settle into the fall than with this heartwarming drama.
Suzanna hasn’t had an easy upbringing, or loving family. This story quickly opens with the uprooting of her life to escape an abusive alcoholic and protect her young daughter. Suzanna wanders into a funeral reception in a strange town with hopes of quickly feeding her daughter and continuing to New Jersey. However, despite her attempts at anonymity the widower spots her. From that point forward, the lies that stem from a simple attempt to feed her daughter determine the direction of her life thereon out. But, will she be able to keep it all straight? And what if her past catches up to her?
Suzanna makes for an intricate main character as author Bette Lee Crosby, gives us an inside view of her internal dialogue, insulating readers from the dark past she runs from while providing just enough glimpses of her childhood and love life to make us understand the need to suddenly disappear. Straight out of a movie, this book flows beautifully, breaking between the men she’s escaping and the lies she’s trying to lead. The complexity in Suzanna’s relationships stem from this internal struggle, adding layers to an otherwise fairytale story.
Dropping salacious newcomers and malicious ex-flames, Crosby shows readers that family isn’t always blood and certainly isn’t always easy. “A Million Little Lies” gives us an enjoyably unreliable narrator and several haunting villains from varying backgrounds as Suzanna attempts to settle into her new reality. The days quickly turn to months as Suzanna sinks deeper into the lies she’s woven.
Suspenseful, dramatic, romantic and above all captivating. Readers will fly through the pages in this tale of family in unexpected places and the power of real love, providing the perfect escape from our current realities. A beautiful story of a courageous mother, doing what she thinks is best for her daughter. There is no better tale of family.
Omg this book was so heart warming! It is story about family! This is the first book I have read by Bette Lee Crosby and I am so hooked on her!
Suzanne told a million lies and all just to get a better life for her daughter, she didn’t want anything for her.
It is an easy read and you are so drawn into loving the main characters! People make mistakes but you can get a second chance.
If you have not read this book I would recommend it!