The Language of Sisters

Toni is a crime reporter living a superficially idyllic existence on a houseboat in Portland, OR. Lamb (What I Remember Most) draws readers into the embrace of Toni's eccentric and loud extended family, who inject regular bouts of humor into the story while their love for one another is palpable. A colorful cast of characters, including droves of quirky cousins, aunts, uncles, and the crowd who share Toni's houseboat dock, add to the fun, while the love interest, Nick, is satisfyingly sexy, strong, gentle, and besotted with Toni. There are hints throughout of tragic and terrible secrets from Toni's childhood, and as the story unfolds we learn that the entire family escaped persecution and likely death in the Soviet Union. It becomes clear that they must face the past they want to keep hidden in order to find happiness in the future. A touch of magical realism is added: in extreme circumstances, Toni and her two sisters can hear one another's thoughts.