The Lies That Bind

How far would a mother go to regain control?

Vivien is a master manipulator. She inherited the behavior from her own mother, Joyce, who endured a problematic childhood creating emotional issues that grew stronger and more challenging as she aged.

Vivien had always been desperate to escape her mother's controlling ways and explosive temper. She pictured herself better, living a life created in her fruitful imagination. She never anticipated that she would end up mirroring those same extreme traits with her own daughter, Rosemary.

Now, coarsely shaped by generations of parental control and emotional abuse, young Rosemary must find her way to break that cycle and make peace with both the life she's been forced to lead and the questionable choices and behaviour of the women who came before her. A hidden truth helps her find peace and some sort of understanding, as she unravels the lies that bind.

Author Katja J. Ritchie fulfills a lifelong desire with the debut of her first novel. She moved from Finland to Canada at the age of nine, experiencing the nuances and seclusion of communication without a shared language, which sparked a curiosity for human interaction and behavior. Books became her refuge. With a dictionary in hand, she delved into her new language and found mentors and direction within the pages. Written words became a solace, and writing was a natural progression that began with her first chapter book at age 10. Her passion for writing led to a career in corporate communications and a bachelor's degree in applied communications from Royal Roads University.

Katja lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, is a proud stepmom to his adult children, and cherishes her two incredible granddaughters.