REVIEW: MOTHERS AND OTHER LIARS by Amy Bourret

When she was 19, Ruby Leander, on her way from Iowa to California, stopped at a gas station in Oklahoma and found a baby in a trash can. Assuming she has been abandoned, Ruby, with no experience in taking care of babies, nonetheless takes the baby who she named, Lark, and after a wrong turn, ends up settling in with her "daughter" in Santa Fe. After nine years she has made a life for the two of them, Ruby has a great boyfriend, a job, and Lark who has no idea that she isn't Ruby's biological daughter. Ruby is also pregnant with her first biological child and her boyfriend, Chaz, has asked her to marry him.

But it all is about to come crashing down on her when she reads an article about a baby who was kidnapped during a carjacking nine years before. There can be no mistake. The baby in the picture is definitely Lark. Everyone who is dear to her will soon know her entire life has been a big lie. Ruby's worst fears have become a reality.

Philip and Darla Tinsdale have been grief-stricken ever since the day nearly 10 years ago when they lost their daughter. Now the miracle they've prayed for has come – their daughter is to be returned to them. But things aren't going well at the Tinsdale house. Before one of the court appearances Ruby is able to see Lark for a short visit. As they are about to say goodbye, Lark whispers, "Do something." It's then that Ruby concocts a plan that will not only make the Tinsdale's happy but will bring Lark home.

I loved this book! Once I got into it I absolutely could not put it down until I finished at 3:45 early Sunday morning. There wasn't a slow spot in the book. I loved the short chapters (from one page to five or so each). It made it such an easy read. This was so well written I would never had believed it was a first novel. The characters were well-drawn, the plot unpredictable and the prose lyrical. Although my copy was an ARC and did not have the extras, including reader group questions I am glad to see that the finished copies will include these as this is the perfect reader's group selection. I can imagine it would lead to a rousing discussion.