Cathy Lamb Books In Order

Publication Order of The Deauville Street Families Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Anthologies

Cathy Lamb is best-selling American author born in Newport Beach, California. Her childhood was full of surprises and creativity each single day as she mastered the art of catching butterflies in a bottle, skateboarding, and riding her bicycle with no hands. At the age of ten Lamb was relocated to Oregon together with her brother, two sisters and two dogs before she could accomplish her dream of becoming a surfer’s bum.

The author then started her academic career and attained goods grades, ran wild with a couple of friends, spent a couple of moments daydreaming and finally landed a newspaper staff while in high school. When she saw her copy above an article about people having non-penetrative sex in the hallways of the high school, Lamb knew that she had found her true calling.

Lamb earned her bachelors and masters degree in education from the University of Oregon and became a fourth-grade teacher. Being a fourth-grade teacher was not an easy job for her, but she had to persevere to survive. The author met the love of her life on a blind date. He was an undercover operative busting drug dealers. She left her job as a teacher and began freelance writing where she wrote almost 200 articles for a local newspaper. Lamb became a published author in 2007 when her first novel Julia’s Chocolates was published. Since then more than ten books have been published under her name.

Julia’s Chocolates

Julia’s Chocolates is Lamb’s debut novel in the publishing world. In this book, the author introduces her main character, Julia Bennett, a single 34-year-old lady who is having a hell of a crisis. Her past is a troubled one, having grown up with an abusive mother who was an addict and slept around with different men. Her mom neglected all her duties and responsibilities towards her, and she would occasionally bring few of her boyfriends who would either abuse Julia physically or try to get intimate with her.

Julia would hang out at the park or the library occasionally spending nights out when things got out of hand back at home. Her teachers and well-wishers would buy her clothes and meals since her mother did not care about her at all. One of the brightest moments in Julia’s life was when she spent time with her aunt, Lydia in Oregon most summers. Her aunt tried several times to get custody of Julia but was unable to win the case since Julia’s mother did not want Lydia to raise Julia out of hatred.

Now that Julia is all grown up and luck hasn’t been on her side. She was involved with an abusive husband. At first, their romantic adventures were sweet and tender, but then he started giving her orders around and demanding that she stop seeing her friends, belittling her looks and weight and also calling her all sorts of bad nicknames. When her man got angry, Julia would get a beating of a lifetime.

In Robert’s eyes, Julia is someone who can do nothing right, she is a burden, and she would not go anywhere else because no man would want her. She is lucky that she is with him. Julia is so scared not only because of her husband to be but also because of her past with her abusive mother. So one night she decides to flee from her home to her aunt’s place leaving her abusive man behind and her wedding dress hanging on a tree.

Aunt Lydia welcomes Julia and seeing her niece battered face and black eye she vows to take care of her. She also makes an apology to Julia for not doing anything to liberate her from her abusive mother. Julia then meets her aunt’s friends who have their secrets, as well as Julia, finds out as she gets to know them. Julia soon gets a newspaper delivery job and gets involved with a man. But this time she is scared of getting too close to a man given her past with an abusive man, and she is afraid that Robert will come after her. However, Dean is supportive of her and urges her to be less fearful and more daring and proactive. Occasionally Julia helps her aunt with farm works such as taking care of farm animals and also makes chocolates for friends and family during her spare time. She is also experiencing panic attacks from her past experiences.

Julia lands another job at a local library where she meets two siblings Carrie and Shawn Lynn two siblings whom their home situation is a lot like hers with her mother. She helps them by bringing them clothes, food and calling social services who take no action until the day the two siblings get a beating of their life from one of their mother’s boyfriends.

Julia’s Chocolate is a novel that seeks to address a host of crucial issues in the society today, sexual, body image, emotional and physical abuse, homosexuality, alcoholism, stalking and domination through religion. The beauty of this narrative is the female spirit, even though the characters have their problems, are not perfect, they must confront all the issues that threaten their well-being. With the support and encouragement, each woman emerges out stronger and begins a journey of self-discovery. In a world where women rarely united to express their pride and solidarity in the female sex, Julia’s Chocolates is an inspiration. Through the various characters in the novel, the author illustrates to the readers the power and the beauty of the female spirit.

Henry Sisters

Ever since their childhood, the Bommarito sisters always received letters their mother River especially when there was something urgent to convey. This time the message they receive is urgent, and their mother requires an open-heart surgery. The sisters are needed back at home to run their family bakery and also take care of their ailing grandmother and brother.

Isabelle, one of the sisters, has worked up and down to leave Trillium River, Oregon to travel across the world taking beautiful photographs. It is not that she doesn’t love her family, in fact, she and her sisters Cecilia and Janie share a deep loving bond, and all of them love their brother Henry whose disability has hindered him from helping out at the bakery.

Working together to take care of their brother and save their bakery business, Isabelle and her sister’s start a quest to find the answers to the question they never knew existed. Funny, poignant, irresistible and delicious like one of the Bommarito’s cupcakes, Henry’s Sisters is a narrative about family and forgiveness, about daughters and mothers, and about gaining wisdom and gathering the courage to handle the future while still holding tightly to what matters the most.

2 Responses to “Cathy Lamb”

1. Judith Johnston: 4 months ago

   I love all your books and have them in my library.and wondered if you are going to write anymore. I love your sense of humour and really appreciate your characters. Happy to recommend you to my friends and share talking about which one we liked the best.

   Reply
2. Joey: 3 years ago

   OMG. I just read Whale Island and totally loved it!!!! Incredible writing. I’m now off to start reading everyone of your books, starting @ the beginning with Julia’s Chocolates. Thanks for being you! JOEY

   Reply