The Pearl Sister (The Seven Sisters #4) by Lucinda Riley: A Book Review

The Pearl Sister (The Seven Sisters #4)
Author: Lucinda Riley
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Atria
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Pages: 702
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: From the breathtaking beaches of Thailand to the barely tamed wilds of colonial Australia, The Pearl Sister is the next captivating story in New York Times bestselling author Lucinda Riley’s epic series about two women searching for a place to call home.

     CeCe D’Aplièse has always felt like an outcast. But following the death of her father—the reclusive billionaire affectionately called Pa Salt by the six daughters he adopted from around the globe—she finds herself more alone than ever. With nothing left to lose, CeCe delves into the mystery of her familial origins. The only clues she holds are a black and white photograph and the name of a female pioneer who once traversed the globe from Scotland to Australia.

     One hundred years earlier, Kitty McBride, a clergyman's daughter, abandoned her conservative upbringing to serve as the companion to a wealthy woman traveling from Edinburgh to Adelaide. Her ticket to a new land brings the adventure she dreamed of…and a love that she had never imagined.

     When CeCe reaches the searing heat and dusty plains of the Red Centre of Australia, something deep within her responds to the energy of the area and the ancient culture of the Aboriginal people, and her soul reawakens. As she comes closer to finding the truth of her ancestry, CeCe begins to believe that this untamed, vast continent could offer her what she’s always yearned for: a sense of belonging.

     My Review: After having a falling out with her sister, Star, CeCe decides to go to Australia to learn about her heritage. Because she is afraid of the poisonous spiders and snakes that Australia is known to have, CeCe postpones her plans in Australia and makes a trip to Thailand instead. There she meets a mysterious man named Ace. CeCe finally gains the courage to travel to Australia and learns the story of a 20th century business woman named Kitty McBride. She also learns about the aboriginal culture and awakens in her passion for art.

   It took me a long time to like Kitty. I found her to be an annoying and hypocritical character. She disapproves of her father’s womanizing ways, yet she follows in her father’s footsteps by committing adultery with her husband’s twin brother. Therefore, I thought that she was a very flighty and superficial individual. However, I started to admire her when she becomes an entrepreneur. She had the courage, guts, and wits to manage her own business and earn the respect of her male employees. Kitty McBride reminded me of Scarlet O’Hara. I loved her strength and determination. She was a woman who was married to her career, and I wanted to know her ending.

  In The Shadow Sister, CeCe was very overbearing and demanding. I did not like her in the novel, and I was a bit concerned if I would love her as much as I loved the other sisters. To my surprise and delight, CeCe became very dear to me as I understood her character more. She is a vulnerable character. She does not have much self-confidence and relies mostly on Star. CeCe is on a journey to find out who she is. Thus, while CeCe was very immature in The Shadow Sister, I loved watching her mature and become her own person in The Pearl Sister.

  Overall, this book is about family, friendship, and resilience. It is also about a woman’s quest for self-identity. The characters are very complex and realistic. The Pearl Sister was a perfect getaway book to read in the winter! It had the exotic settings of the beaches of Thailand and Australia that made me wish I was actually there! The Pearl Sister is lyrical, evocative, and magical! I also thought that it was unique that the book centered around the aboriginal culture and their art. It is rare to read a book about the aborigines, and I loved learning about their art techniques and mythologies. It is a great book to start out the new year! The only thing that I did not like about it was that I thought some of the side plots were a bit unnecessary. Still, The Pearl Sister is a gem of a novel that will absolutely take your breath away! I can’t wait to read the next book about the fifth sister, Tiggy, in The Moon Sister! The Seven Sisters is a stunning series that you do not want to miss! 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Here is a video of Lucinda Riley talking about her novel, The Pearl Sister: