It's a Thin Line Book

When Kimberla Lawson Roby burst onto the literary scene, her fresh, wise, and witty voice grabbed the attention of readers and critics everywhere. Now, with three Blackboard bestsellers to her credit, including the #1 Casting the First Stone, she is back with her most absorbing work yet It's a Thin Line.

Sydney, Gina, and Rick are siblings who have always shared a special bond, and yet their lives are as different as can be. Responsible eldest sister Sydney has everything she's ever wanted-a sexy husband, an adorable daughter, and fulfilling work. But, little by little, the demands of her writing career have mounted, leaving her little time or energy for family life. Meanwhile proud middle sister Gina is struggling to raise her eight-year-old twins-and protect them from the increasing fury of their volatile father. Impulsive brother Rick, the baby of the family, is living the high life-dodging commitment with his longtime girlfriend and wondering if the grass is greener somewhere else.

When their beloved mother Delores suffers a debilitating stroke, all three suddenly find the tenuous threads of their individual lives at a breaking point. A dark childhood secret threatens Sydney's secure world; Gina is swept into a maelstrom of domestic violence; and Rick comes to a dramatic crossroads in his relationship with his girlfriend.

Worst of all, the burden of caring for a parent is tearing the siblings apart, shattering their faith in one another. Now, as Sydney, Gina, and Rick struggle to overcome daunting obstacles and rebuild their lives, they will discover something they've never let themselves believe: that their most stable-and most cherished-relationships have always been with each other.

Once again, Kimberla Lawson Roby has woven a compelling saga that could come only from a genuine storyteller. Alternating between moments of poignancy and humor; filled with complex and recognizable characters, It's a Thin Line is sure to delight her faithful readers, and win countless new fans.

Publishers Weekly

The story of the private heartaches of three Chicago siblings before and after their mother's debilitating stroke drives this amiable family-and-faith-centered novel by Roby (Casting the First Stone). At 36, Sydney Taylor attempts to be dutiful daughter, eldest sister, loving wife, apprentice freelance journalist and pragmatic mother to a teenager. This general overcommitment has a dire effect on her sex life, causing caring husband Wesley's patience to wear thin. Middle sister Gina balances her top-level job, her twin girls and her jealous husband's physical and mental abuse, which finally proves too much for her to handle. The sisters' young brother, Rick, enjoys his job and his live-in fianc e, but her desire to set a wedding date and his fear of commitment are issues they must address. When the siblings' mother, Delores, suffers a stroke during her retirement party, all of their personal problems are put on hold. Delores undergoes surgery for a brain tumor and moves in with Sydney while she recovers. To Sydney, who's also dealing with a hefty secret relating to her sexual problems, it seems that she is caring for her mother alone, while her sister and brother return to their cloistered lives. But Sydney doesn't realize that Gina has resolved to take justice into her own hands and punish her brutal husband, and Rick is struggling to make a dramatic, life-altering decision about his relationship. More texture in the prose would take Roby's writing up a notch or two, but as it stands, this is an easy, satisfying beach read. Agent, Elaine Koster. (May) Forecast: Roby, a Blackboard bestselling author, won't expand her audience much with her latest, but fans will respond to her tried-and-true formula. 10-city author tour. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.