Two Daughters

Abrupt transitions and stilted dialogue mar Marlene Fanta Shyer's (Second Chances) Two Daughters. The Ehrlichs lead an idyllic life Libby runs an antiques business; her husband Peter is a distinguished cardiac surgeon; and their daughters, 16-year-old Claudia and 13-year-old Ellery, are seemingly well-adjusted. When Libby and Peter return from a trip to Prague to learn that Ellery is pregnant with the baby of Claudia's much older boyfriend, the Ehrlichs are forced to come to terms with each other and their past. Shyer's narrative flashes from one scene to another like an out of control slide projector, leaving the reader with only vague impressions of her characters. Although several side stories pad this sluggish tale, the plot's many twists are insufficient fodder for readers hungry for fresh insights.