Judge’s Girls by Sharina Harris – a Review

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Description:
Three very different women. Only one thing in common. But when their family patriarch dies and they must share his estate, the truths they discover will test them–and everything they think they know about each other.

Beloved Georgia judge Joseph Donaldson was known for his unshakable fairness, his hard-won fortune–and a scandalous second marriage to his much-younger white secretary. Now he’s left a will with a stunning provision. In order to collect their inheritance, his lawyer daughter Maya, her stepmother Jeanie, and Jeanie’s teen daughter, Ryder, must live together at the family lake house. Maya and Jeanie don’t exactly get along, but they reluctantly agree to try an uneasy peace for as long as it takes…

But fragile ex-beauty queen Jeanie doesn’t know who she is beyond being a judge’s wife–and drinking away her insecurities has her in a dangerous downward spiral. Fed up with her mother’s humiliating behavior, Ryder tries to become popular at school in all the wrong ways. And when Maya attempts to help, she puts her successful career and her shaky love life at risk. Now with trouble they didn’t see coming–and secrets they can no longer hide–these women must somehow find the courage to admit their mistakes, see each other for who they really are–and slowly, perhaps even joyfully, discover everything they could be.

Review:

Judge’s Girls by Sharina Harris is a standalone novel.  The story focuses on three women who are part of the same family, and how their lives are affected by the death of the patriarch.  Joseph Donaldson, a well known and popular Judge in a town in Georgia, died and left his wife (second wife, Jeanie), daughter (Maya, in her twenties and successful lawyer), and step daughter (Ryder, who is 17), in total disarray.

Maya Donaldson, who is the main character, inherits the home her father left her, but with provisions to allow Jeanie to live there as long as she wants.  Maya is not happy, since she has never gotten along with Jeanie; but she loves Ryder as her little sister.  Maya, who is black, is a beautiful successful lawyer, and has always resented that her father married a white woman after her mother’s death.  All three women are having their own issues, with them deep in mourning.  Maya is up for a promotion to become a partner in the law firm she works with, and is devastated to find out she is being bypassed.  Her boyfriend, Roland, who professes to love her, is a partner at the firm, and she resents that he did not help her get the promotion.

Jeanie is totally spiraling out of control, unable to handle the change in her life.  She begins to drink, neglecting her daughter and causing problems for Maya at work.  This causes both Maya and Jeanie to be angrier with each other, and making life more difficult for Ryder. Ryder decides to befriend a group of wild friends, which brings Maya to try and stop her from ruining her life.  I thought that Maya was a great character, very smart and independent; except in recognizing her true feelings for Roland. I actually loved Maya and Ryder relationship and how close they were.  Wonderfully done by Harris.  Early on I was not crazy about Jeanie, as she let herself fall apart, not looking at the other two people suffering from their loss.

It is Maya who will step in to force Jeanie into rehab, which will change things for the better.  Jeanie learns how to deal with grief, get herself on the bandwagon with her Alcoholism and find a new friend, who teaches her how open up with new possibilities; which includes confidence in painting.  Maya also gives advice to Ryder, who enters a poetry class, and meets Alston. Once Jeanie comes home, her and Maya slowly begin to accept each other, with some help from Ryder, who was determined to bring them together.  It really was a wonderful last third of the book, as we watch all three women move on with their lives, and become a family again.  

Judge’s Girls was a wonderful, emotional story about broken families, grief, forgiveness, racial issues, alcoholism, love and obstacles.  Sharina Harris did a wonderful job writing this wonderful story line that had me totally engrossed into the lives of these three women. I wholly suggest you read this book, so very well done.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review