Tangle of Strings

Written by Ashley Farley

Narrated by Digital Voice Mike G

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.

Discover the gripping saga of a family on the brink. For generations, the Sweeneys have been a fortress of love and forgiveness—until now. A crisis erupts, threatening to shatter the very foundation that has always kept them united.

At the eye of the storm is sixteen-year-old Annie Bethune and her boyfriend, Cooper. Their youthful dreams for the future spark a family-wide debate that leaves no one on the sidelines. As opinions clash and loyalties are tested, Annie feels like a puppet in a drama she didn't write.

But when those strings snap and a family feud explodes, Annie makes a drastic choice: she runs. She doesn’t realize she’s running straight into the arms of danger.

Dive into this compelling drama where family bonds are stretched to their limits, dreams hang in the balance, and one young woman’s choice could either save the Sweeneys or fracture them forever. A pulse-pounding tale that explores the complexities of love, judgement, and sacrifice, you won't be able to put it down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AHF Publishing
• Release date: Dec 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781956684476

Ashley Farley

Ashley Farley is the bestselling author of the Sweeney Sisters series as well as the stand-alone novels Sweet Tea Tuesdays, Magnolia Nights, Beyond the Garden, and other books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life situations, and her goal is to keep readers turning pages with stories that resonate long after the last word. In addition to writing, she is an amateur photographer, an exercise junkie, and a wife and mother. While she has lived in Richmond, Virginia, for more than two decades, part of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry where she grew up. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folks with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information on the author and her work, visit www.ashleyfarley.com.

Reviews for Tangle of Strings

[veeshee-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea that this novel was a part of a series, but it became fairly obvious after the first few pages. Nevertheless, I decided to read this novel and base my opinions on only this one story.

The Sweeneys have had their fair share of conflicts, but they have always managed to come together because of their sense of family, their love for each other, and their willingness to forgive. But the latest crisis may be the one that undoes them.

At the heart of the matter are 16-year-old Annie Bethune, who is the ward of Faith and Mike Sweeney, and her boyfriend, Cooper. When Annie discovers that she is pregnant, she has to make a decision about what she is going to do. And while she appreciates everyone's support, she soon begins to feel like a puppet with everyone telling her what to do. As a family feud develops, Annie is unable to handle the pressure, and runs away ... right into the arms of danger.

Most of the story is about Annie and the pregnancy. We hear each character's opinion on what they think she should, and we also see what motivates each characters' opinion. For instance, Faith has never been able to conceive so she wants Annie to keep the child. Cooper's mother, Jackie, wants Annie to have an abortion because she doesn't want Cooper's future to be ruined. The list goes on and on. While the story definitely explores all of the different viewpoints at length, many parts of this novel didn't work for me.

Since I read this book out of order from the rest of the series, I was extremely confused by all of the family ties. Jackie is Faith's sister, and there's someone named Eli who is connected in some other way, and then ... oh, it was just a lot to keep straight in my head! Maybe it is better explained in the previous novels, but I was getting lost a lot on these details and that took away my focus from the story itself. I also found that there were way too many subplots and motivations going on, and it made the story more convoluted instead of complex. There really wasn't much of a focus throughout the story, and it made everything so muddled. Because of all of this, I felt like the seriousness of the issue being discussed in this novel wasn't handled well; the way the characters were dealing with it and talking about the consequences was really childish and tactless. Even the way in which the characters spoke was unbelievable and immature. In the end, this novel let me down because it didn't handle the gravity of the situation well and came off as being very immature.

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is book 4 of the Sweeney Sisters series. This is such a convulated family that you really need to read this series in order to lessen the confusion. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.This is another wonderful book about the Sweeney sisters but this time it's the story of 16 year old Annie. Her mother abandoned her as a baby and has just come back into her life and wants to develop a relationship with her. Since Annie is under the guardianship of the family, this creates turmoil for them. As the book begins, Annie (driving too fast on main street) is in a bad accident and ends up in the hospital. The ER doctor, also part of the Sweeney family, has to ask her if there is any chance she is pregnant. The answer incites a huge family uproar as they try to make a decision about what Annie and Cooper (her estranged boyfriend) should do. They don't stop to realize that the decision really belong to Annie and Cooper. Along with the family drama, there is a sub-plot that is very intense.I loved this book and these characters. I hope that there are future books to this series because I enjoyed reading about the lives of the Sweeney family members. There is so much love and drama in this family that the author should be able to add more books to the series. This is book 4 of the Sweeney Sisters series. This is such a convulated family that you really need to read this series in order to lessen the confusion. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[anne_rightler-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tangle of Strings, by Ashley Farley, is a story about family loyalty, love, and pulling apart and together in stressful times. Although fourth in the Sweeney Sisters series, the book can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The author does a good job of filling in enough of the back stories that one does not get lost in missing details. The focus in this book is on the teenagers of the family, Annie and Cooper, and the decisions that need to be made, the dreams that need to be considered and why can't the adults just let them find their way? So many opinions and which one is right? Will there be a family feud or will love and reason prevail? The story is face paced with real-life situations that Farley infuses with drama and emotional tension. The characters are true-to-life and evocative--readers will get caught up in their lives. Family dilemmas covered by a whole lot of love and loyalty.I received a copy of the book from the author. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own.