Becoming the Talbot Sisters: A Novel of Two Sisters and the Courage that Unites Them | Rachel Linden
Sisters Waverly Ross and Charlie Talbot have spent all of their adult lives on separate continents pursuing their very different dreams and dealing with life’s hurdles independent of each other. But when the aunt who raised them passes away, they come together again only to realize how desperately they need each other. Celebrity chef Waverly Ross has built a successful career with her home entertaining show Simply Perfect, but she and her husband have never been able to realize the true desire of Waverly’s heart: to become a mother. In the midst of grief over losing their Aunt Mae, Waverly opens up to Charlie about her inability to have children and is caught off guard when her twin sister offers the selfless gift of surrogacy. Charlie Talbot is an international aid worker living in Budapest, Hungary, away from what little family she has left, until her aunt’s death brings her back to the small town of Watley, Ohio. After years spent in an occupation helping others, she realizes she’s done little to build a life of her own and is struck by the intense desire to mend the brokenness between herself and her sister. When a pregnant Charlie returns to Budapest, she finds that circumstances at work have shifted, and she is in danger of losing her job. She’s forced to try to hide her pregnancy from her boss and an unsettlingly attractive colleague, Dr. Johan Kruger. Meanwhile Waverly discovers that Simply Perfect is in danger of cancellation unless she can find a way to boost ratings. When Waverly shows up unexpectedly in Budapest with a plan to rescue Simply Perfect, the sisters embark on an adventure that could save them both from occupational hazards, but their trip takes a surprising detour. Waverly and Charlie haven’t had to rely on each other since they were kids, but on an unforeseen journey across Central Europe they must come together to face their fears, find their courage, and fight for what they love.