Lorena Morgan had always been close to her sister InaMae. They shared the family farm, and even married best friends. Lorena married Carl, and InaMae married Marcel McCann. While Lorena had been blessed with five healthy boisterous boys, for InaMae children never came. When Lorena finds herself pregnant once again, she reminds herself that this child will belong to InaMae, but as the pregnancy progresses she finds herself having doubts as to how, and if, she can give up her baby. A true test of love for a sister. Will Lorena and Carl be able to give InaMae the baby when it is born?

While the meat of this story was the choice that Lorena and Carl made to give the ultimate gift of a child to Lorena's sister, I found the antics of the five Morgan boys really keeping this story moving along. They were always getting into something that provided a few laughs. Ms. Sisco's unique way with words where these children were concerned made their antics come to life. I found myself laughing until I cried on more than one occasion. The descriptive scenes were really better than watching a movie, because the author's selective way with words had my imagination in overdrive! The historical feel of "My Sister My Friend" along with the small town setting of the story was another thing that endeared this story to me. I found myself envisioning a simpler time, where boys romped and played outside, and the love of a dog meant everything. Ms. Sisco allows the reader to share the feelings Lorena felt as she made such a hard decision. I thought the quilting group added another layer to the story. The group was filled with wonderful ladies, and Granny Nelson was one of my favorites! Anyone who enjoys a clean, wholesome story, that takes place during a simpler time, that allows glimpses of what sisterly love really means, will certainly enjoy "My Sister My Friend." Be prepared to laugh out loud at the shenanigans of the Morgan boys, but also have your heart touched by the story of one sister's sacrifice for another! I hope this is a series that the author intends to continue because I would love to see what happens to the characters.

“My Sister My Friend” by Joann Ellen Sisco is a sweet story offering the reader a lovely dose of sisterly love and sacrifice. Carl and Lorena Morgan have five young rambunctious boys and believe that their family is complete. I held my breath as the boys got into situation after situation that had the potential for disaster but usually ended fairly well. InaMae is Lorena’s sister and the girls have been extremely close all of their lives. Marcel McCann is InaMae’s husband and Carl’s best friend. The two families live side by side and work together well. InaMae wants nothing more in life than a child but it is not to be. Lorena, loving her sister very much, offers to have a baby and give it to InaMae to raise as her own. It is a long nine months for Lorena as she contemplates giving up the baby she is so lovingly carrying.

Joann Ellen Sisco has written a book about love, family and the ultimate Christmas gift. I found myself emotionally attached to the women and being captivated by the five little mischievous boys. The story was warm and fuzzy and left me feeling good inside. “My Sister My Friend” will make you laugh, cry, smile and wish you had a sister like Lorena. I believe all women, young, old and in-between, will really enjoy reading this book and highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of Joann Ellen Sisco’s books and would like nothing better than seeing this book made into a TV movie. Don’t miss this read – you won’t be disappointed.

The novel starts with an accident where young Stanley Morgan falls over the bluff and into the river while on a little wagon. Stanley escapes rather unharmed and his parents Carl and Lorena are relieved. Lorena proceeds into ruminations about her children – five boys, highly energetic little children. She had wished to have a girl she wanted to name Mary Lorena, but one boy after another was born to them. After the fifth one, the couple had decided that having five boys was enough. However, now another one is underway, and Lorena is confused about this sixth child – a gift to her sister InaMae who could not bear children of her own. Will she and Carl be able to make the right decision, and pull through it?

Females can be tough as nails, and this novel proves that to be true. "My Sister, My Friend" paints a beautiful and vivid picture of country life, and the strength of women when bound together through hard times. The sisterly love shared between Lorena and InaMae is remarkable. Even other minor characters are hard not to like, what with them being well-structured, giving them depth. The conversations between the young boys are highly amusing so that it makes them all the more endearing. Just as well, the act of kindness shown by the women of the town in response to this highly unusual situation is absolutely heartwarming. This book – definitely a precious find for book lovers – is not just for mothers, but for women everywhere.

"My Sister My Friend" is set in a more innocent and simpler time in American history. It tells of the tight bonds that sisters can have and what a sister will sacrifice for another sister. Lorena has five beautiful, healthy, rambunctious boys with her husband, but her younger sister, InaMae, cannot have any children. Lorena decides to give InaMae the ultimate gift and sacrifice – her next unborn child. It is a gift that no one can give InaMae, a baby of her own blood, except her own sister. Lorena has to carry the baby full term while taking care of her five boys who get into constant mischief.

Author Joann Ellen Sisco writes her story with warmth and captures the innocence of early America accurately. The hi-jinks that Lorena’s five boys get into are often humorous and harebrained, and can turn any reader's hair white. The book can also be aptly named, “My Brothers, My Partner in Crime”, as it also lovingly captures the close relationship a group of young brothers can develop while growing up in wild America. The reader gets a real insight into what it must be like raising five spirited boys that cannot keep out of trouble. A very warm, well-written story about the closeness of family and how wonderful siblings can be in an individual’s life. There were many chuckles and moans when the five boys got into sticky situations that made the readers say “oh no- not again!”