': THE SWEENEY SISTERS by Lian Dolan Blog Tour with Guest post & #giveaway @JeanBookNerd @liandolan @TTCBooksandmore

Hardcover: 304 pages

Publisher: William Morrow (April 28, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0062909045

ISBN-13: 978-0062909046

Praise for THE SWEENEY SISTERS

"This is a big-hearted belly-laugh of a book, told with wit and poignancy. Family secrets, laughter and tears, shocking reveals, and an uplifting ending make this a story to savor--and share." —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of The Oysterville Sewing Circle

"Dolan uses her experience in podcasting with her own sisters to craft believable women characters who worry about real problems and use wry humor to push through dark moments . . . . A warmhearted portrait of love embracing true hearts." —Kirkus

An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel yet—a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA that combines the wit of Jonathan Tropper with the heart of Susan Wiggs.

Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother’s death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren’t quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature.

But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister.

When Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a childhood neighbor—Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems Serena’s chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney—one that has remained totally secret until now.

Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William’s literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he’s stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister—a blond among redheads—fit into their story?

By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration—a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family.

You can purchase The Sweeney Sisters at the following Retailers:

Ten facts about THE SWEENEY SISTERS

It’s not a true story, but it was inspired by Facebook post about a newly discovered sibling, thanks to an over-the-counter DNA test.
The Sweeney Sisters are not the Dolan sisters…
… but we did grow up in Southport, CT where the book is set. Real locations, but not real people, are sprinkled throughout the book.
Bill Sweeney was inspired by Robert Ludlum, the famous thriller writer, who lived nearby and walked on Southport Beach in black socks and sandals. Also, I once saw Kurt Vonnegut in the grocery store parking lot and I never forgot that moment. Writers used to be rock stars.
Like the Sweeney sisters, I had (unrequited) crushes on my tennis teacher, my sailing instructor and the lifeguard at the beach. Rite of passage.
The house on Willow Lane was inspired by a real house where my best friend lived. A big, beautiful rambling house with a rolling lawn down to the water and a trampoline where we bounced for hours. At some point in the last decade, it was torn-down and now a mega-mansion with high walls and security cameras sit on the property.
Dogs in Southport used to be able to roam the streets off leash. It was glorious. Our black lab Tor spent most days making the rounds from the firehouse to the butcher to the nice older lady who lived in the new condos. We only found out about his route after he died and people came to pay respects. I knew the book needed dogs.
Sisters are never a monolithic block. Just because you have the same parents doesn’t mean you have the same lives.
There is always one family member that is assigned wine or chocolate at Thanksgiving because they can’t cook. My sister Liz is that person in our family.
A sister can be your best friend and your worst roommate at the same time.

Photo Content from Lian Dolan

Lian Dolan is a writer and talker. She’s the author of two Los Angeles Times best-selling novels, Helen of Pasadena and Elizabeth the First Wife published by Prospect Park Books. Her next novel, The Sweeney Sisters, will be published in 2020 by William Morrow. She’s a regular humor columnist for Pasadena Magazine and has previously written monthly columns for O, The Oprah Magazine and Working Mother Magazine. She’s also written for TV, radio and websites.

Lian is the producer and host of Satellite Sisters, the award-winning talk show she created with her four real sisters. On Satellite Sisters, she’s interviewed everyone from Nora Ephron to Madeleine Albright to Big Bird. Satellite Sisters began life as a syndicated radio show and is now a top-rated podcast for women. The recent book by the Satellite Sisters, You’re the Best: A Celebration of Friendship, is popular with book clubs.

A popular speaker who combines humor and heart, Lian has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS Sunday Morning and The Today Show and many local TV stations. She’s been a featured speaker at the LA Times Festival of Books, the Santa Barbara Celebrity Authors Lunch, the Literary Guild of Orange County Festival of Women Authors and dozens of other events at libraries, book stores, schools and women’s organizations across the country. In 2020, she’ll be on the faculty of the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop.

Lian graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Classics. She lives in Pasadena, California with her husband, two sons and a big German shepherd.

WEBSITE: https://www.liandolan.com/

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