The Second Daughter – Reviews

Oh man, this book is a journey, August 10, 2013
By David Quint — Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of those books that sneaks up on you and makes a lasting impression. One of the best fiction books I’ve read in a while.

a debut treat, July 26, 2013
By Elissa Heil — Amazon Verified Purchase

     This novel is a complete delight. Even before I was finished, the intermingling of the viscerally poignant with the irony and laugh out loud humor is what made the novel so real, so interesting, and unique. The messages too, among them that there’s redemption in a broken relationship, are so awfully relevant. The growing relationship between Helen and Deb is so honestly done, and that maternal love transcends rifts. Helen’s character is beautifully drawn, with all its flaws. She’s remarkable, really, when you think about her struggles, struggles that Deb comes to appreciate.

     I found the story so compelling that technical weaknesses paled. A few things, though, that might frustrate some readers. I had a little trouble in the beginning getting a handle on narrative voice. It seemed dis-established until the story picked up momentum. Is the narrator completely omniscient (seems so at first), or is he limited omniscient (more evident as the story, by the end, focuses more on Helen and Deb). I was intrigued enough by the human drama (or should I say mammal drama) at hand that I did not get too bothered by the ambiguity of setting. However, I do think, on further reflection, that setting could be more tightly rendered. Some details posited us in time and space, which anchored some context, but I might think about a more tight setting, for setting (more time than place), I believe, would have a lot to do with Helen’s development and who she is (frustrated product of the 50’s?). She deferred so patiently to Theodore’s selfish desires and world view, which could be a result of her era. Also, teasing the reader with her big secret might have caused some frustration, for the secret didn’t get completely developed.

     All that said, I’m eager for the next one from J. Jeffrey.

impressive first novel, May 25, 2013
By Mara S — Amazon Verified Purchase

Once I got going, it was hard to put the book down. The characters wouldn’t let go of me – I just had to find out what happened to them! The dialogue was natural and believable. An impressive first novel.

Loved it, May 23, 2013
By Dgregg — Amazon Verified Purchase

I could not put it down. The story line is fantastic alone but the book is well written also. A must read!!

Captivating, May 2, 2013
By Derek T. Roebuck — Amazon Verified Purchase

We’ve all heard “I couldn’t put it down” when referring to a book. I was always skeptical…until “The Second Daughter.” I wasn’t quite sure what I was in for when I started reading it for a monthly book club selection. I tend to procrastinate, and was only about 1/4 of the way through on the Friday night before book club. I stayed up all night absolutely drawn into this book. The characters, their interaction, the humanity of the story completely gripped me. These are characters that I dare say we can all relate to. And I had the privilege of meeting the author at that very same book club for an amazing discussion that I will not soon forget. A must-read for anyone interested in the family dynamic, the things we do (or don’t do) for love, and the power of redemption.

Second Daughter, April 27, 2013
By Mary OBrien — Amazon Verified Purchase

Part of a book club selection. Takes me back to my own childhood memories. Interesting characters and connections throughout the book.

Well done!!!!, April 12, 2013
By Sam W. — Goodreads.com message

I can not explain how much I loved this book you are very talented. This book made me laugh and boy did it make me cry. I had to stop reading … at the end because I started feeling so emotional and it was late . The next day I started reading again and was in floods of tears I mean FLOODS!!! . This is due to your amazing writing and the fact that you feel like you know the characters so well. Such a beautiful relationship they shared in the end but so sad that they did not have it in the beginning . The end was so good I totally was not expecting that and it was so lovely … This book will stay with me for a long time which I feel is the test of a truly great book. Well done !!!!!!!! I loved it.

A great first novel!, April 8, 2013
By Rachel N. — Amazon Verified Purchase

     The Second Daughter is an interesting read. The author has a unique voice and writing style. Although the plot centers around one family and is thus largely a domestic tale, its message is universal. I really liked how J. Jeffrey left the setting and specific dates vague, while still providing a general context for what was occurring historically and culturally at the time. Rather than a distraction or taking away from the story, it added an unconventional element. As a reader, it provided perspective. In fact, perspective is what this entire novel is about. Who is telling this story? Why? Can any of us ever truly see things objectively and from another’s point of view?

       Also, for me, the relationships among the female relatives and how these relationships developed over time was most compelling.

    This book was an excellent first novel! It is a great balance of emotion and humor. J. Jeffrey also attended our book club meeting and shared an author’s perspective (there’s that word again!) and some wonderful background about the novel and the writing process. If you are questioning whether to read this novel, question no more! Truly, how can you beat a kindle price of $3.59? It is also a fast read and I highly recommend it.

Great read!, March 27, 2013
By Johannes Climacus — Amazon.com

I really enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow, but I quickly found myself wrapped up in the characters and their different struggles. Once I got rolling, I couldn’t put it down!

The Second Daughter, March 22, 2013
Rebecca Skane — Seacoastonline.com

     The Second Daughter is the first novel from the now award-winning author J. Jeffrey.  Only recently published, it managed to quickly lasso an Honorable Mention at the New England Book Festival.  After sinking my teeth into this fast read, I understand the favoritism …

     As the story continues, it appears to be laden with sadness, tragedy and bad luck.  But in the background, [a] love story develops.  The most unlikely of bonds is forged and truths are revealed.  And while your heart is screaming for justice, an honest love story emerges that is both believable, heart-warming and carefully hidden as a backdrop.  It isn’t exactly the happily ever after, or is it?

     This is a story that has staying power.  You’ll be thinking about it long after you closed the final chapter. You’ll also be desperately trying to figure out just who the heck this anonymous writer is … Jeffrey displays an uncanny ability to make you fall in love with a character only to leave you questioning your own judgment when the veil lifts.  At the same time, he creates the love of a lifetime using the ill-begotten leftovers of a failed relationship.  How did he do that and when did it happen?

relationships and redemption, March 20, 2013
By Gita Gould — Amazon Verified Purchase

I started reading this book on my lunch break. It started getting too hard to eat my lunch, so I stayed up all night and ravenously finished it. “The Second Daughter” is an honest following of the less than perfect- and therefore thoroughly realistic, relationship between a mother and her second favorite child. It is the empathetic companion, and seed of hope, for anyone not so lucky as to be the one who did everything “right”.

The Second Daughter, March 19, 2013
By Jeanne Mullaney — Amazon Verified Purchase

The characters in the Second Daughter come to life. While reading my emotions were engaged and vacillated for each character, which encouraged me to keep reading on — this kept my interest. The developing story is something, I could relate to — it is so believable. Excellent book.

Engaging, funny and touching, March 17, 2013
By SuzeB — Amazon Verified Purchase

A wonderful read. The second daughter is an engaging character study with richly developed characters and a compelling story line. A sympathetic look at some very complex family relationships, told with warmth and humour. I highly recommend this book!

Surprisingly Great!!!, March 15, 2013
By David Sheer — Amazon.com

I really liked this book!! So much so that I bought several copies for friends and co-workers!!!! I thought it was funny, quirky, emotional and I found it somewhat Updikeesque. I don’t think that is a word but it reminded me of a John Updike novel and he is one of my favorite authors!!! I would not be interested in reading “the first daughter”, as a novel about piercings and abortions is not really my thing, but I would be thrilled to read another novel by J. Jeffries!!! Oh, most importantly it was an easy quick read. I was engaged, entertained and had trouble putting it down!! Looking forward to more from this author.

Great read!, March 12, 2013
By Pen Name — Amazon.com

Overall an excellent read. A little slow to begin with but it became a page turner once the story took off. The family dynamics is what really makes it fascinating. There are so many dysfunctional families in today’s society but you never really see the story from beginning to end. The characters really do evolve in a believable way. It also provided an interesting look at a narcissistic personality.

FANTASTIC book!!, March 10, 2013
By Jessie G. — Amazon.com

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. The author depicts the characters so strongly that I felt as if they were real people. My book club read this book recently, and it lent itself to a great discussion. We spoke for about 90 minutes and stopped due to time…we really could have kept talking for another hour, I am sure! 🙂

A slow start but it revs up and you can’t put it down!, March 10, 2013
By Susan — Amazon.com

I must admit that I was worried that The Second Daughter by J. Jeffrey would not hold my interest but by the time the second daughter, Debra was born, things picked up. I actually couldn’t put it down. It is one of those books where some of the characters are so flawed that they are frustrating and I found myself talking out loud AT the characters willing them to “get it together! I felt so sorry for Debra that I wanted to pull her from that family and give her the love that she so deserved. I enjoyed the book mostly because I was cheering on Debra and was eager to see what happens with her. I was not disappointed in the end.

Original, gritty and funny, March 9, 2013
By R. Thibodeau — Amazon Verified Purchase

Like another reviewer, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book. The story is well paced, its threads woven intricately without being a chore to follow. I found the characters varied and engaging, intimately drawn, and at times infuriating. This family is an ugly tangle, yet somehow each character and event is layered and real enough that most of us can relate to it. I loved the humour in this book as well — witty and astute without trying too hard to be clever like so many writers today. Highly recommended.

Redeeming of relationships, March 5, 2013
By Kristen Filipic — Amazon Verified Purchase

Debra Gale begins life with the odds stacked against her. The fissures in her parents’ relationship begin emerging a few years into their marriage — right about the time Debra is born. A sweet little only child who is used to swallowing up all the adult attention now becomes an older sister and has to share. She doesn’t care for this development. It is far too easy for everyone to blame all this strain on little Debra, and they do. And yet that isn’t the end of the story. In this tender, sad, yet ultimately hopeful novel we see a story of healing, growth, and the rebuilding of love.

Reflect on the Meaning of Love- Read this book!, March 1, 2013
By Dana S Cantelmo — Amazon Verified Purchase

       How are we, a generation of cynics, to understand family and love?

    From the first well crafted paragraph of The Second Daughter I knew I was in for a lesson in just that understanding. And after the last beautiful and moving chapter (truly this small tight novel’s best) I came to accept that dysfunctional is normal and to search for love is our familial purpose. Through his writing of this family’s events, J. Jeffrey asks what is family other than the people you are tied to through sick and through hurt and to love at their most undeserving in order to find in ourselves what love is. Each of us, as normal as we may think we are can see our own dysfunction in the Gale Family and I hope we are as successful in overcoming and growing and in loving as was this second daughter. Written with great humor so we can appreciate even the most detestable characters and with deep empathy so we can come to understand each person’s impact on who another becomes and how with choice each of us can continue to grow even with dysfunctional, detestable beginnings. All of us and our families should read this book.

Great Read, February 25, 2013
By Mandi Chayce Thran — Amazon Verified Purchase

This story grips you by the heartstrings from the moment your eyes meet the first page. The characters were beautifully, yet believably crafted. A highly recommended novel.

An enjoyable reading experience, February 24, 2013
By jreflex –Amazon Verified Purchase

J Jeffrey did a fabulous job in developing the characters in this book and I enjoyed following their plight throughout the book. I particularly liked the way their relationships had so many twists and turns which made it hard to put the book down. It was a great story and I believe every reader can identify with something in the book, the author gives you many things to think about. Appearances can be deceiving, be careful what you wish for, to mention a few. What an excellent job for the J Jeffrey’s first novel I cannot wait for his next one.

A must-read!, February 24, 2013
By BookClubGirl — Amazon.com

I am the organizer of a book club, so I am always reading, but this book was one of the best I’ve read in a long time. From the beginning I couldn’t put it down and was instantly drawn into the story. Great story and wonderful character development. Also, I loved the voice–even at times when things were hard for Helen (the main character), the author manages to weave in some humor–this kept a good balance. I highly recommend this book.

Hungry for more, February 18, 2013
By Robert McCutcheon — Amazon Verified Purchase

The best novels swallow you in, and change the way you look at life. If you are lucky, you were entertained along the way. J Jeffrey’s first novel, The Second Daughter succeeds on both counts. Sometimes dark, often light-hearted, but always insightful, the author takes you on a family journey both foreign and familiar. The dysfunction of the Gales shines a light on the dynamics of our own families, and the pages seemingly turn themselves. I can’t wait for the next book, and I can’t stop thinking about this one.

major publishing house?, February 17, 2013
By Lord of Books — Amazon Verified Purchase

     The most interesting thing about J Jeffrey’s “The Second Daughter” is that it wasn’t published by a major New York house. There are plenty of possible reasons, but I could easily see “The Second Daughter” getting major attention. At times heartbreaking, defiantly witty and always compelling, “The Second Daughter” is the story, told over several years, of the disintegratingly dysfunctional Gale family — the doing-her-best mother, Helen; the once-charming scoundrel father, Ted; and their daughters, Regina and the titular Debra.

     While this sounds like a reasonable set up for any contemporary story of “women’s fiction” or a family saga a la Nicholas Sparks, and while Jeffrey clearly cares about his characters and understands the family dynamic, he also makes plenty of often cynical observations about society in the latter part of the 20th century. It’s as though Jonathan Franzen and Jodi Picoult set out together to invent a new literary cocktail — and it’s not only delicious, it’s damned intoxicating. These are fully drawn and flawed characters — some more redeemable than others, but your heart will go out to Helen and Debra, and you’ll laugh a great deal at the tired old world we live in. Jeffrey makes it all the more endurable.

     I should think, at some point, this book WILL attract the attention of a major publisher. It deserves it — and, at that point, the few flaws can be eliminated…

Memorable and Engaging, February 15, 2013
By Melissa Morris — Amazon.com

     I have to admit that I’m not typically a fan of fiction and the first few pages were hard to get through. I could tell very quickly that the voice and style was not “typical” for this genre.

     I quickly found the back-and-forth (and in some ways “messy”) story-telling to be reflective of real-life experiences and memories. The characters were as rounded and realistic as the writing style. This wasn’t a static-character novel with predictable (and always happy) endings. This could just as easily be a biography of a “normal” family.

     I’m glad I stuck through reading the book – once I finally got going, it was hard to stop! The descriptions and events in this novel constantly brought out memories of my own experiences growing up in a similar era. I liked the fact that the women were ambitious and capable, yet there was a balance between all characters. You could really get into the story and not have the breaks from reality that usually make me put down other modern fiction.

     This is a great book for anyone looking for fiction that isn’t just a modern fairy-tale.

Thoughtful, Intriguing Book, February 9, 2013
By Ruth A. Hill — Amazon.com

     This is one of those books that is well-written, full of true-to-life characters, and has a good share of twists and turns. I would say that this book definitely would have widespread appeal, and there is probably something for everyone. You will find history, romance, a little bit of intrigue, some humor, tragedy, and psychological introspection. There were many times I wanted to shake some sense into the characters, and I also discussed several of the issues with my mom. I realize that sibling rivalry and parental favoritism are real issues, and this book does an excellent job of dealing with that situation as well as other issues.

     I did have a few issues with the book. I grew very tired of the profanity … but this has no bearing on the rating for me since this is an adult book … References to sex were rather toned down, so I appreciated that. I was not too keen on the way the book jumped around between the years. [I actually think the novel does this very minimally and is almost entirely chronologically ordered; hm! –J. Jeffrey] … I also would have liked to have had an actual date before the end of the book. I found myself trying to guess the time period, but maybe that was what the author intended.

     The thing I appreciated the most about the book was the humor! So often when serious issues are covered in modern books, I struggle to find humor. And this author brings it! Sometimes at the strangest times, but I greatly appreciate it. I do especially love the animal stories. But I will not give away any more details. If you are interested, read it for yourself!

Awesome, February 5, 2013
By Peter S. Stack — Amazon Verified Purchase

     This is an amazing read. The Second Daughter is a book of charm and wit but ultimately, it shows us great emotional depth too. Its characters were very well drawn. The author does an exceptional job of making readers empathize and care for a set of people who (with one exception) are not really likable or empathetic – at least in a conventional way. The initial love story pairs a classic odd couple of opposites and yet you can see how they come together and their relationship never seems implausible. The narrative makes the reader take the same emotional journey as the characters and introduces us to a wonderful cast of unique individuals.

     While the plot is a familiar well-worn journey, as told here, it is an intimate journey nevertheless. The anticipation of predictable events adds to the engagement with the reader – “I know what’s coming, I dread what’s coming, I have to read what’s coming next…”

     The author’s writing style is really engaging and readable. While it is funny and light, it still succeeds in painting detailed portraits. This book is so accessible in all the best ways – not insipid at all – but it never runs the risk of losing a reader by appearing to be written over someone’s head.

     Finally the author’s subject and mastery of displaying the intimate connections that we make in families and screw up and regret and redeem against all odds is truly exceptional. This author writes so well about women and relationships, establishing such strong empathy that this book while “chick-flickesque” in its subject matter, is a very good read for men or women alike.

     Buy this book. You won’t regret it.

Great for a book club!, February 1, 2013
By Danielle (Long Beach, CA) — Amazon.com

     The subject of “family” is so vast and complex, it gives authors endless material to explore and weave into stories for readers to consume. Large personalities alone are sufficient subjects for great novels; but when an author is able to examine the intricacies of familial relationships and uncover the layers of emotions coexisting on tipping scales between a cast of characters, that is where I am most impressed, intrigued and enriched as a reader. Furthermore, when a novel about family is well executed, all of the characters exhibit large enough personalities to entertain and carry a story because of their transparency and vulnerability as illustrated through their family experience. J. Jeffrey’s novel The Second Daughter is a wonderful example of such a novel.

     As with most novels about family, it’s not big twists and turns that make them impressive, it’s the attention to detail the author pays to the nuances and emotions that make up each character’s individual experience. In The Second Daughter, every character (major and minor) exhibit large personalities because of the nuances Jeffrey develops through their experiences with each other. Parents Helen and Theodore jump off the page as a real couple because readers experience the simple, relatable details of their courtship and their relationship offers a transparent view into their individual psyches. The separate defining experiences of sisters Regina and Debra are stunning in their simplicity and capable of making the reader feel rage and sadness within a single page. Stories of sibling rivalry are some of the oldest ever told, but Jeffrey rejuvenates this novel with his layers of perfectly placed details, ideas, emotions and effects of another character’s actions. At the end of the story you not only see how vividly the Gale family is painted, but you feel their experience.

     While this novel is everything described in the above synopsis, it is also so much more. I feel that The Second Daughter can be broken into two parts: before Debra finds her place in her family and after. Without spoiling too much of the story, I was most entertained by Theodore, the father. I can’t say he was my “favorite” character because almost everything he did made me angry and boiled my blood (In fact, the phrase, “He boils my blood!!” appears more than once in my reading notes). But it was because Theodore elicited so many emotions from me as a reader that caused me appreciate him so much as a character. Aside from him literally being the largest personality in the book, his ability to convince himself of his own self righteousness was as fascinating as it was appalling. (I must note, Theodore reminds me so much of my own father that I may have somewhat of a bias when relating to him.)

     My favorite part of the book is when Helen tells her young daughter Debra, regarding bringing home animals, “You are not capable of caring for them. Loving something is not the same as taking care of it” (87). This is one of my favorite examples of Jeffrey’s skill as a writer because Helen shows a lack of love for Debra. In contrast to Debra and her animals, Helen shows an incapacity to love her daughter and caring for her is not the same as loving her. I think it’s a much more understandable point made if you read the novel, but it was too beautiful of a line in the story to omit in this review. 😉

     What pushed this novel from a 4 star to a 5 star for me was the Postscript by the author. While I can’t explain why it made the book so much more enjoyable for me without spoiling the book altogether, I can say that this book is definitely worth reading!

     Bottom Line: If you love books about family dynamics and psychology of personality in relation to family, I think you will truly love this one! Even if you don’t ordinarily care for family themed novels, this is a great story overall!

Wonderful Story!, January 30, 2013
By Amanda — Amazon.com

     I have to admit, The Second Daughter didn’t immediately draw me in. It started out as kind of a slow read for me. I had already read the synopsis, and knew that the story was going to be a good one, so I read on. After a chapter or two, I couldn’t put it down. There was so much going on in this small family’s life that I had to keep reading to see what happened next.

     J. Jeffrey does a great job of creating a complex story that creates a wide range of emotions for the reader. You swoon over their love story, and get annoyed when Theodore shrugs off something important to Helen. You love their new baby, Regina, then feel bad for poor little Deb. You get angry at Regina for constantly getting Deb in trouble, then you are happy when Deb and Helen become best friends. So many things happen in this book that the reader cannot possibly predict what will happen next. Theodore’s character is completely irresponsible and unpredictable, while Helen is proper and organized. They seem to be one of those `opposites attract’ couples, but their relationship (and eventually lack thereof) is the source of only half of the family drama.

     Regina is a calculating, conniving little girl. She is very jealous of her younger sister and frequently conspires ways to get her in trouble. Her personality is more like Helen’s, whereas Deb is more like Theodore. Because of the differences in their personalities, the girls’ parents never believe Deb when she tries to tell them that Regina has done something on purpose to get her in trouble. Their sibling rivalry lasted into adulthood, and is the other half of the family drama.

     I absolutely recommend this book. One of the qualities I look for in a book is that it completely submerses me into the story. J.Jeffrey did a fabulous job of that. He incorporated just enough drama, romance and conflict into the story to keep me glued to my kindle and wish there was more to read at the end!

A Second Chance … Finally, January 30, 2013
By E. Jamie Mack — Amazon.com.

     Helen Gale believes her life has been crippled by two monumental mistakes.

     But she’s only half right.

     It is hard to imagine her choosing a poorer partner. Theodore Gale is a gluttonous dreamer, and a catastrophic failure as a father and husband. Theodore is an absentee parent even when he’s at home, and he is nothing but a burden in his wife’s life, even before he begins cheating on her.

     Helen’s second bad choice is her second daughter, Debra, who is nothing like her older sister. Regina is the ideal daughter, and a real delight … until Debra comes along. As second siblings do, Debra steals a lot of the spotlight. Regina is even forced to share her birthday with this interloper, as little Debra arrives on the very day Regina should have been blowing out the candles on her second cake.

     To make matters worse, Debra is not an easy child. She enters the world crying a blue streak, and she continues this practice throughout her childhood. Hyper-sensitive to a fault, she is ready to blubber at the drop of a hat. Debra’s arrival brings post-partum depression to her mother and sets her sister on the path to a lifetime of vindictiveness. At the age of eight, Debra sits out of sight on the stairs and listens as a fed-up Helen upbraids Theodore for not wearing a condom, and by this oversight allowing Debra to make her way into the world and ruin three lives. The reader’s heart breaks along with the little girl’s.

     But life goes on.

     Eventually, Helen’s first mistake leaves, abandoning the family he was never really part of anyway. And after Regina heads off to college, Helen is left alone with her second mistake – and expectations are grim.

     And that’s why you should read The Second Daughter – to have your expectations shattered.

     This funny, poignant novel is really an unorthodox love story – between a mother and a daughter. And you will love the tale of Helen and Debra, even when it makes you cry. Left alone, they find each other; and each discovers herself, in the eyes of the other.

     Helen learns how wrong she was about her second daughter.

     Debra didn’t ruin her life – she saved it … just not literally.

     Cue the tragedy.

     I highly recommend this book.

Entertaining and Lively, January 28, 2013
By Alistair Syntax — Amazon.com

I enjoyed the Second Daughter. It was lively, well-written, and filled with action. The plot and characters developed in unexpected ways; definitely not a book where the reader has a sense of what is to follow. Money to buy it is well-spent, and the time reading it is well-spent.

Such an awesome book!, January 28, 2013
By Sage Adderley (WA) — Amazon.com

     Young couple, Helen and Theodore Gale are quite opposites, but maintain a magnetic attraction to each other. What one lacks in the relationship, the other one more than compensates for. After their first daughter, Regina, is born, everything seems to be falling into place for the Gales. That is until their second daughter, Debra, arrives. Life is turned upside down. The family encounters jealousy, death, and financial woes.

     While growing up, Debra is aware that she is blamed for her family’s misfortunes and treated differently than her sister. It isn’t until their father abandons the family for another woman, that Debra begins to build a strong connection with her mother.

     I long for stories that carry me away and do not bring me back to reality until the last word is read. J. Jeffrey did just that with The Second Daughter. From the start, I was wrapped up in Helen and Theodore’s sweet and unusual romance. I followed along as Theodore was the doting father to Regina and loving husband to Helen. Then, Jeffrey spun the table rapidly when Debra came into the picture. The mood quickly changed, and I felt the emotional turmoil the family, mostly Helen, was dealing with.

     The Second Daughter gave me everything I want and need from a book. I connected to characters, I easily visualized them, and I felt for them. This story contains many ups and downs, but it reveals hope in the most bleak situations. Jeffrey shares the unique story between a mother and her two daughters, and the competitive relationship between the sisters.

Long Journey Between Mother & Daughter, January 27, 2013
By B. Price “Bookworm Brandee” (Denver, CO) — Amazon.com

     This book will break your heart. Make sure to have a box of tissues handy when you sit down with it – you’ll need it.

     J. Jeffrey has written such a charmingly engaging and heartbreaking tale in The Second Daughter. It is a superbly rendered blend of love, joy, and humor along with sadness and regret. At its heart, it’s a story of life.

     Helen Faire Gale is a woman who needs her life to be orderly and tidy in all aspects. She leads her life in this manner while preparing for her “long journey to the promised land.” Then she meets Theodore Gale – a man who couldn’t be further from neat and tidy if he tried. But something about Theodore’s lack of order and his spontaneity appeals to her. And somehow this pair of opposites ends up married.

     Within their first year of marriage, they have Regina, the perfectly tempered first daughter. Exactly two years after Regina’s birth, the second daughter, Debra, comes along. And Helen and Theodore’s seemingly perfect world begins to crumble.

     Regina is seen as the quiet, tidy, obedient and smart daughter. She makes a point of living up to those expectations, in between doing everything to torture her younger sister and/or make her appear as the reason the Gales’ life isn’t going smoothly.

     Debra is seen as the loud, clumsy, untidy, disobedient and not smart daughter. She, too, does her best to wear those shoes…in between trying to love her sister and/or defend herself against her sister’s antics.

     There is much about this story that I found personally relatable. That may be why I found this story so moving. One element of particular interest this novel illuminates is the difference in people’s perception of events – even between those living through the same event. One of the most touching elements of this story for me is the journey Helen and Debra undertake from the moment of Debra’s birth. That Helen goes from blaming all her woes on her youngest child – what iffing Debra’s existence to her epiphany: “All I ever really wanted, Dub, was to have a long, meaningful journey somewhere. And it turns out I had one, right here, with you…”

     This is a truly unique love story. Oh, there is love between husband and wife, between parents and children but it’s the love between a mother and her second daughter that’s the highlight here. And it’s achingly sad in its beauty.

An enjoyable read, January 26, 2013
By Paul B. — Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an engaging novel with characters for whom you develop a fondness and a story that grabs you. The narrative moves quite quickly, and this book features a nice balance of plot development with a study of its main characters. Relationships among women are primary in this book (sisters, daughters & mothers, father and daughters), so female readers who have struggled to find their place in the family hierarchy might be particularly drawn to this novel, but men and readers of all kinds will enjoy it.

LOVED IT!, January 25, 2013
By Laurence — Amazon.com

The second daughter is a novel in which you come to feel you know the characters and their relationships well. You are pulled in to caring about them and relate to how relationships can change. It is easy to identify with the characters and events as you feel their hopes, joys and frustrations. I would highly recommend this beautifully crafted novel.

Still thinking about it, January 23, 2013
By Melissa Hardy — Amazon.com

     I wasn’t feeling this book at first, but I’m not one to stop reading anything so I continued. I’m so happy that I did. I am so in love with this book. It brought out many emotions in me. One minute I was bored, the next I was happy then I was so pissed! Then I went back to happy and yet mad again, lol. No more boredom after I got into the story. I didn’t want to stop reading and I really didn’t want it to end.

     I enjoyed the way historical events were thrown into the story line. The sex revolution, women’s liberation, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson…. it really added to the story and … made me feel like I was part of the book.

     It’s not really any type of romance genre, which is what I normally read, yet I still found myself drawn into the story. There are romantic gestures in the book, but it’s not mainly a romance, I don’t know what you would call it … I just call it excellent, heart warming and heart wrenching all at the same time …..

     As the children grow older, and the parents grow farther and farther apart a beautiful story develops. A story between a mother and daughter and no one else. They need no one, they can take care of themselves and can learn to be happy together even after all of the lies and betrayal of Dub’s childhood.

     This story branches out in many different ways. Like I said there is heart felt moments, but there is also heartache. Many cases of lies and deceit are unfolded in the story and in the end a strong woman emerges. I would recommend this book to anyone. Even if you normally follow the romance genre, this is still well worth the time to read.

A Great Read!, January 22, 2013
By Christopher Holmes — Amazon Verified Purchase

An emotional Rollercoaster watching the Gale Family “grow up”. Once I reached the halfway point I could not put the book down, how would this all turn out. A surprising twist at the end. A Great Read. After finishing the book I bought it for all the Women in my family.

A most wonderful book, January 19, 2013
By Kosher Chef — Amazon Verified Purchase

When I began reading The Second Daughter, I must admit I was skeptical. After all, a man writing a book about a woman. The more I read, the more I realized that this was an insightful journey through a woman’s life. I read it in no time, not wanting to put it down. It was captivating. I did identify with the character. I would like to see more from this author. Bravo!

January 13, 2013
Jessica — Goodreads.com

I really enjoyed reading this book and it sure was hard to put down once I started getting into it. I love books like these only because they are more true to read about everyday problems people deal with. I would like to read other books written by this author.

Much more than your average story, January 10, 2013
By MissRead13 — Amazon.com

     Readers will instantaneously get sucked into this most peculiar love story just like a brand new Hoover. As the author states, it’s a tale of, “family, lies and betrayal”, and he captures the characters sentiments to a tee …

     It’s a harrowing roller coaster ride of emotions and it is not the book to be read late at night lounging next to your spouse. I even found it difficult to read at work as it was balancing between my knees while I answered phone calls from nasty customers and typed up spreadsheets that will probably wind up in the shredder anyway. Expect to chuckle, cry, feel your heart swell and even yell out a few wtf’s and omg’s. It is way more than just fiction, it is journey through a reading experience I have never witnessed before and will never forget. I found myself awake at night thinking what could possibly happen next as the book glared at me glistening through a sliver of moonlight atop my bedstand. Then, I made the story stand still in time and waited a whole day until I gobbled up the last few chapters because I was so engrossed in the wonderment of it all. I didn’t want it to end…or, did I?

     Now excuse me while I have a cigarette, check my freezer for the last of the “iced” cream and drop a few shekels into my piggy bank so I can actually take that trip to the promised land I’ve been saving up for before it’s too late.

January 7, 2013
Terri S. — Goodreads.com

     This book is for any mother, daughter, or sister to read. I could see parts of myself in each of the characters. The harried, exhausted, frustrated new mother. The big sister who just cannot understand why this “thing” has come into their lives. And especially the younger sister, wondering “Just what did I do to make her hate me so much?”

     The writing is excellent, and the story isn’t just following a formula; it has fresh ideas, vivid character descriptions, laugh and cry moments.

Only after reading the summary did I decide this was the book for me, as the cover leaves a lot to be desired, and I would have not chosen it.

We all judge books by the cover, and this book should only be judged after reading it!

A Wonderful Read!, January 7, 2013
By Marie78783 — Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a really insightful novel about family relationships. I developed very strong feelings about the characters and really wanted to know what would happen to them. This is an excellent first novel.

Believable and interesting portrayal of a family and their relationships, January 6, 2013 By Heather F. — Amazon Verified Purchase

     “Mummy,” Deb said as Helen finished, “is that the most wonderful story I’ve ever heard or the most horrible?” “Such a fine line,” Helen said.

     This bit of dialogue from The Second Daughter well characterizes much of the book, which is often bittersweet and touching, horrible and funny, sometimes all at once. This is a book about a family and their relationships, and its strength lies in the realistic portrayal of characters that are flawed, complex and believable. I would find myself nodding in recognition at say, the way the sisters when they were young wanted everything absolutely even/the same so neither got better than the other, or how the characters develop little phrases (sew your buttons) and nicknames (Dubs, the Jerk, Big Red) that they use over and over with the people they are close to. As I read about the way Helen fell in love with Theodore for his spontaneity and the way he would ignore the usual rules, then later how she found him difficult to live with for the same reasons, or the way he just can’t seem to understand what upsets the female Gales so much about him, I thought “Yep, I know people like that” or “Yeah, I’ve seen that kind of thing happen.”.

     But while the characters are relatable and have recognizable traits, they still feel like real unique people and not just types, and the way they and their relationships with one another change, even including some rather dramatic shifts over time, were presented in a believable, organic way.

     There were some minor things here and there that didn’t work for me … but these are more than made up for by some memorable little details (there’s a hilarious bit regarding a nose ring) and some great lines such as: “Theodore loved tall, dark-haired women who were by themselves at bars.” and “It’s the way she refuses to speak to me. It’s different from the way she used to refuse to speak to me.” and “Good for a second wind. Slight breeze, anyway.”

     Overall impressive first novel and well worth the read.

“The cover of the card was one of their favorite paintings, Monet’s Woman with a Parasol in the Garden at Argenteuil.”, January 5, 2013 By The Kindle Book Review (TOP 500 REVIEWER) — Amazon.com  

     As you might have guessed from the title, The Second Daughter is a generational book. Alden and Edna, Benny and Dottie, come and go, and then the next generation starts its inexorable passage into history. And that next generation was the one born in the 1950s, one with a unique set of events and beliefs about the present and the future, pulling away from the prior one with its peculiar sensibilities.

     Back when women wore color-coordinated outfits: “And there, at the corner of Seventeenth and Waterhouse, at one of the payphones, was a delicate woman in a shiny pink rain jacket with matching pink boots and umbrella. She was cradling the phone against her slender neck while holding a cigarette in her left hand and her little pink umbrella in her right.”

     Back when people had standards: “Before having to live up to the impossibly demanding standards of a wife who thought too much and maybe really did live too little.”

     Back when people had rotary phones: “She removed the phone from its cradle on the wall and pulled it, with its long cord, to the kitchen table. Acting as cool as she could she stuck her fingers into the appropriate holes and dialed the number.”

     Back when people smoked cigarettes to be fashionable, or thin, or cool: …”Super Eddie, the handsome rock star with the gorgeous smile who played the electric guitar; who wore his sunglasses indoors; who went shirtless pretty much all the time; who had the thick gelled hair; who made cigarette smoking so unbelievably cool;”

     J. Jeffrey keeps his readers apprised of background events: “Gasoline tankers were exploding, the forgotten war was being remembered, and a spectacular late November sunset welcomed in the eve of The Very Busy Day.”

     J. Jeffrey also gives us a dose of philosophy. His characters construct systems of thought and then assume that these match reality: they behave “as if” the world matches their models. But they also ask “what if” from time to time, so they are surprisingly self-aware. “What if” the second daughter had never been born? “What if” I had left the Cozzen’s Cafe a few seconds earlier? “What if” you lived up to your responsibilities?

     His is a bemused omniscient narrator, occasionally making fun of his own characters, many of whom remind me of characters in The Corrections or sometimes those written by Charles Dickens. Another reviewer has noted the unusual voice in this novel.

     It is a tale of the malingering Theodore Gale (a/k/a Enoch Pnkl), perpetually in pursuit of his Ph.D. …

     Then there’s Jane Nepean, the serial bride, who loves ’em and leaves ’em, taking their fortunes with her. Jeffrey has written a novel primarily about women, a brave undertaking. In putting words in the mouths of two teenaged girls and a prim, proper almost-buyer for a modest import company, he has managed to get it right most of the time.

  It is a tale of the long-suffering Helen Faire … and of the mathematically correct Regina Gale; and of the tender-hearted “Dub” (the second daughter); and of Marvin Marvin, the problematic pooch; and of Attorney Bilker (the evil attorney); Doctor Scold and Melvin (the good attorney); and Maxey the menacing financier – oh and of Eddie Love.

     Helen, however, is a most interesting character in that she can make a Sauerbraten or a Mackerel soufflé, leave the kitchen spotless, birth two children, review and critique her errant husband’s academic papers, minister to a sick dog and a sick father-in-law, work part-time and still have time to do the crossword puzzle. She is an unusual ’50s woman …

     But after all the humor and caricature, there is tenderness in this book as a mother and daughter learn to love and respect each other, the daughter gradually becoming a less pink copy of her mother, and the mother deciding that even after all the disappointments, her life had meaning … It is about the buffeting of the Gale family by the winds of deliberate action and of circumstance; it is about having hope; it is about dreaming of the Promised Land.

     This was a very good book.

Gifted Writer, January 4, 2013
By Vi — Amazon.com

A gifted writer who has done an exceptional job of making the characters so real in this story it will draw you into their lives and their issues.

The Second Daughter, January 3, 2013
By Dawn R — Amazon.com

I thought The Second Daughter was great. I also could not put it down and read it in two days! I’m hoping for more from this author in the future. Thanks for the tears and laughter.

Intriguing, great language, January 2, 2013
By Anna — Amazon Verified Purchase

This novel was beautifully written and the language is unique and fun to read. It was hard (painful) for me to read in some points, but I think that is what made it stand out and drew me in. It’s a book that stays with me even though I’ve finished it. I would recommend this to others as a thought-provoking, and fun narrative.

not your run-of-the-mill dysfunctional family, January 1, 2013
By Brian Tesar — Amazon Verified Purchase

Being a psychiatrist and a skeptic, I often have difficulty getting through any fiction that purports to be `real life’ (forget about fantasy). I finished this one, and I enjoyed it. The characters are convincing and interesting, and despite my not identifying with any of them, I wanted to read more about them. The novel has a few outcomes that are anticipated early, which had the effect of making me eager to see how it would all play out. Much of the story hinges on an unusual (and uncommon, hopefully) sibling dynamic and its effect on the parents, putting their failings and virtues in relief. The language is not overdone or flowery, and it has a good balance of action, description, and reflection, and it is often funny. And there is a surprise at the end. All in all a very good effort from Mr. Jeffrey (his first, I believe).

January 1, 2013
By Michael Rothschild “Mike” (USA) — Amazon.com

“The Second Daughter” is terrific, weaving the stories of four compelling, flawed and very real family members into an ultimately hopeful and beautifully written parable. A wonderful story of love, betrayal and redemption. Lots of funny details and fascinating supporting characters as well… it really is hard to put down! I loved it.

I highly recommend it!, January 1, 2013
By Doreen Smith — Amazon Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – it is the assigned book for the month of January in my book club. I look forward to discussing it with the other members – I feel it truly reflects family dynamics and the ups and downs of every day life.

December 27, 2012
Gerri W. — Goodreads.com

A journey of a family, the good (rare), the bad (often), that cleverly draws you in. The hardship of a family, a mother who was alone with her children too much and a father absent most of the time. Two daughters who are opposite in most every way. The surprising outcome was an emotional tribute to the love that survives. Well done.

December 26, 2012
Carrie M. — Goodreads.com

The plot itself is quite thrilling, but the ironic narrator makes it worth even more. It´s quite a job finding a good novel of domestic drama. You have best seller authors as Danielle Steel, Janet Daily and Nora Roberts, but they sell millions and communicate nearly nothing. Their narrative lacks a keen eye, something more subtle, which this book, on the other hand, is able to provide. What if Jane Austen was still alive in 1960 and has been able to write Revolutionary Road instead of Yates? That´s what we read in this amazing novel.

The Second Daughter, December 25, 2012
By Knowles — Amazon.com

…This is a wonderful book; I had no trouble following the lives of the Gale family through all the ups and downs of life. The author told a beautiful story of a true American family with great perspective. Most interesting to me was just the normal everyday lives of the rich characters. I figure most women would relate closely to the mother-daughter dynamic since both daughters are so different. You could probably say that you were one of the daughters at some point in your life … Overall though the book was very moving and a very heartwarming story.

Engrossing … December 20, 2012
By juniperSun — LibraryThing.com

After Helen says “Darkness. Deep. Packed. All the way down.” I wanted to know her secret. The characters change, or become more themselves, as the story progresses. Theodore, merely self-confident and roguish yet sensitive at the beginning, seems quite asinine by the end. Helen, responsible for keeping the family together, goes thru a harsh and angry period. The time frame is fluid, shifting from present, to a new perspective on a past event, to a future perspective. The narrator may intimate future changes or bring our attention to what’s going on. Jeffrey is skilled enough to make it all work. As a second daughter, I looked for resonances, and found them … The “what if” section is hilarious and a good lesson to all of us longing for what we don’t have …The one part of the book that threw me was trying to figure out what era it was set in. Dates are never mentioned yet there are enough cultural cues that makes me believe it starts in the 1960’s … I’m so curious I’ll have to research–when was the Barracuda popular? When were personal computers first proposed?

Absorbing – I left my bag behind…, December 18, 2012
By J. Allen  — Amazon Verified Purchase

This book may have cost me my backpack. And the clothes inside, and my shoes. Also my electric razor, so I haven’t shaved in a few days. You see, I was totally absorbed in this novel, embedded deep within the characters’ journey of misery, redemption, collapse, and triumph. I forgot my own life for awhile. I forgot I was on a train. I forgot I had my backpack above me. As the train came to rest, I was empathizing with the second daughter. I was feeling her anguish and her sorrow and eventually, happiness. At least until, as I climbed into the taxi without my bag, I realized what it had cost me. But maybe, just maybe, it was worth it … I suggest this novel to anyone, really. It’s not just for women, or for men, or for young or old. It’s for you if you want to be lost awhile, and see a fresh perspective on everyday life. It might scare you because it feels too close. Or it might feel far away. But whatever else, it will make you feel, and deeply at that.

Father’s “girlie” makes good, finds truth, December 16, 2012
By The Mayor (Town, Country)  — Amazon Verified Purchase

This hidden gem of a novel is wonderful — warm funny intelligent moving — about a little girl Helen, her father’s “girlie,” who’s left behind when her father dies young on her, but blossoms into a beautiful young woman and eventually finds her own handsome prince charming, Theodore. OK (to borrow a trope from the novel), the prince starts out as royalty but pretty soon declines to court jester and then just the common fool, while it becomes apparent that Helen is harboring some deeply problematic secrets about her past we only maybe get to glimpse at the end. Meanwhile the young couple churns out a first daughter, and everything seems grand on the surface; they are complete, a family. And then they have the second daughter, and everything changes. People, relationships, dynamics — everything seems to go to pot. But perhaps it was meant to go that way. Those relationships were charades. The real relationship, between Helen and her second daughter, is born from the ruins of the first false relationships, which served as necessary means for the truth to arise and for her long suppressed secrets, eventually, to come to light. An intelligent but moving, unusual but beautiful love story indeed — will have you laughing through the pain but weeping with the joy, and quite surprised when you find out just which love story it is at the end. An excellent read from start to finish.

Witty page turner, December 16, 2012
By Abby Taylor — Amazon Verified Purchase

Jeffrey’s book is a rare example of a page turner that also analyses with delicacy the complex dynamics of a family – husband and wife; husband and wife with first child; husband, wife, and first child (as a unit and individually) contending with the second daughter. The story is told with wit and irony (and the dialogue in it is often witty and mordant) – which makes the reading fun, but also intensifies the pathos of the reality that they are living. It is not a grand drama of heroes and heroines. It is a domestic drama of everyday people whose lives are shaped by their own personal histories and who seem compelled to inflict some of their pain on each other and on their own children. We are all part of a web, which is often spun out of our own entrails. The humour and the wit keep this book from being too depressing and there is more than a hint of a way out – the possibility of escape from the web.

Loved it, December 15, 2012
By  A. Gift For You “ZBmom” — Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow – this book is intense, funny, sad, gut-wrenching and heart-warming all at the same time. I couldn’t put it down and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it. I was compelled to learn more about this dysfunctional family torn apart by the one man’s incredibly immature behavior. I kept thinking “did that really just happen?!” and I had to know what would happen next. Is a heavy subject but written with a good dose of humor/irony which made me smile often and want to know more about these characters. It is a truly captivating story.

Not Your Typical Voice, December 14, 2012
By duckierose “Ex DJ” — Amazon Verified Purchase

This is not your typical novel. The plot is interesting, and the story is well told, but what stands out is the voice, the writing style. It caught me off guard. It was playful and personal without coming off as forced. It’s hard to describe without reading the novel yourself, and it takes a few pages to get used to reading sentences phrased as though someone were speaking them (I feel even that isn’t an accurate description). Once I got used to the writing style, though, I was hooked. I was no longer reading a book. Instead, my eyes were transferring a story into my brain as rapidly as I could through them across each page. Once I hit this point, it was a battle between “just one more chapter” and “I am really tired.” This isn’t going to be the next Davinci Code. But it’s an interesting story, told in an engaging way, and is worth reading.

Memorable characters, December 14, 2012
By Heather O. — Amazon.com

…The characters are still fresh in my mind. In them, Jeffrey has adroitly captured the essences of real people familiar to any reader, distilling their foibles, tics, and fundamental responses to life into the actors of this story, which is both amusing and bittersweet. What parent cannot relate to how their relationships change after the birth of each child? This novel is an exploration of that change, moving from the passionate early love of two mismatched people to the decidedly different relationship between the parents of two grown daughters. It is the arrival of the “second daughter” that seems to catalyze the irreversible alterations in the relationships around her. Despite her role, the second daughter is a redeemer, hurt but not tainted by others’ responses to her very existence. The novel follows her from birth to young adulthood, restoring the reader’s faith in the resilience of people and their capacity for change. A worthy read.

WOW!, December 9, 2012
By Jerry W (Florida) — Amazon.com

The talented author of this first novel probes – with sensitivity and considerable insight – the painful subject of a family victimized and rendered dysfunctional over time by an immature, self-indulgent father. Fortunately J. Jeffrey lightens the emotional load very skillfully with ironical humor and a fast-paced story line. Ultimately, the story brightens considerably and the conclusion alludes to hope. Actually, I finished The Second Daughter in a single, dedicated effort broken only by two cups of morning coffee and a brief breakfast interlude. Just kept on goin’. WOW!

Incredibly Engaging, December 6, 2012
By Radha S — Amazon.com

As soon as I started reading the Second Daughter, I couldn’t put it down! I could really relate to the characters, the parenting, and the sibling rivalry. It was almost like the author was writing about people I knew all too well! I love the way Dr. J is alluded to throughout the book and finally we discover who he is at the end. I love that there is both a surprising and happy ending. The writing style is melodious and pleasing to read. Yes I want a sequel!

Strong Women Characters, November 30, 2012
By M. Rothman — Amazon.com

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t know what to expect, but since I’m a second daughter, I was interested. I found the story interesting and the telling vivid. The females were strong characters, and I like strong women… and “characters” too. All in all, I recommend this book.

A story everyone will relate to, November 28, 2012
By Anita G — Amazon Verified Purchase

I took this book with me on vacation and could not put it down. Artfully written, from several of the masterfully created characters’ perspectives, it has something for everyone: a story about family, falling in love, loss, sibling rivalry, and the ways we each pursue happiness. I related to the mother/daughter relationship most and found myself both laughing out loud and sobbing at times … Really hoping that J. Jeffrey will grace us with a sequel so we can find out how “Dub” fares in this pursuit.

Fiction with a whole lot of truth to it!, November 25, 2012
By Julia M Usher “Julie” — Amazon Verified Purchase

Whether you’re a second daughter, first daughter, mother, father, wife, husband, lover or other, you’ll thoroughly enjoy J. Jeffrey’s debut novel. It’s hard to know if Jeffrey is male or female, or young or old, because all of his/her characters are equally well developed, and the family dynamics s/he describes resonate on so many levels, from so many points of view. The manner in which the story unfolds kept me turning the pages until the very end….

Wonderful book! November 24, 2012
By Alisa — Amazon Verified Purchase

I was going on vacation and wanted a book that would be a great read. This was recommended to me and I’m so glad it was! I was engaged in the book from the beginning, but soon felt a deep connection with the characters. It was such an emotional journey – but also funny and smart – and filled with twists and turns that you just can’t imagine. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get to know this intense family as well as this incredible writer.

A thoughtful, entertaining first novel, November 19, 2012
By C. Green — Amazon Verified Purchase

This wonderful first novel is a great look at family relationships, sibling rivalry, and the consequences of falling in love with the wrong person. An enjoyable, thoughtful read, it’s full of both funny and poignant moments. By the end I wanted to know what happened to the title character, if she overcomes the trauma of her life experiences and finds happiness. The Second Daughter will make you laugh, cry, and shake your head over the dramas that emerge in most families.

A great read November 10, 2012
By Harold S. — Amazon Verified Purchase

I highly recommend “The Second Daughter”. It is a very cleverly constructed novel – beautiful, funny, touching and, ultimately, very satisfying. It will provoke you, it will have you angry at some of the characters and will bring a few tears. The novel is fast paced and I found it hard to put down as I became more and more enmeshed with the main characters. The author either has a wonderful imagination or has known some very unusual people since he populates this novel with many very memorable characters.

A must read! November 8, 2012
By Stephanie Wasserman — Amazon.com

This beautifully written account of the Gale family, with all its ups and downs, kept me riveted until the very last page. The characters are well drawn and believable, making me want to laugh and cry with each of them. I recommend this book to everyone who has ever known a dysfunctional family and dealt with all its complexities. My guess is that the author is a very sensitive, compassionate man with a terrific sense of humor.

A Most Unusual Book October 30, 2012
By Leah Tchack — Amazon.com

A blurb on the back cover says, “You’ll laugh. You’ll cry.” Even though the blurb is fictional, both are true. J. Jeffrey’s first novel is an emotional roller coaster that will take you up and down with the Gale family and its friends. Jeffrey has a gift for comedy and an empathic understanding of sadness, and he/she? juggles both with literate dexterity. The principal characters are portrayed in realistic depth, and, in addition, a few unforgettable secondary players flesh out the cast … The writing is clear and always on track, and the plot is a human comedy/drama, just like most of our lives. To paraphrase Theodore Gale, “Read it, right now, right this minute.”

October 25, 2012 By Rachelle T.
The Second Daughter page, Facebook

Amazing story, beautifully told. This is one to keep and re-read.