Secrets. Secrets breed more secrets. Yet, what happens when long buried secrets are revealed? They may be freeing but they may also lead to discord and conflict. Is silence really golden? Are secrets best left secret?
What secrets does best-selling romance novelist Catherine Swift have to reveal? Or, should silence prevail? On the surface, Catherine's life may appear charmed. That image is false. Considering she's a romance novelist one would expect that aspect of her life to be the most successful aspect and she'd be joyously happy. One would be wrong. She's about to embark on her fourth marriage. She doesn't even reveal the groom's name in the invitation to her daughters, a bit of a mystery to be sure.
Adeline and Cassie couldn't be much more unalike and it shows in their reactions. Adeline is buttoned-up, cool, and keeps a tight rein on her emotions and initially throws the invitation in the trash. Cassie, on the other hand, is bubbly, instantly likable, and adores her mother. Adeline, not even close. She felt abandoned by her mother. Cassie and she are not even close although Cassie wishes they were close and is delighted by her mother's announcement. Both are vulnerable yet strong, as is Catherine, if that makes sense.
Morgan is one of my go-to authors. An author that I'll drop whatever else I'm reading to read. She had me from the first page with this one. The characters are wonderfully developed with their strengths and weaknesses shown by actions, not simply description. The became instantly real to me. All are far more complicated and needy than it might at first appear, of each other and others, but I won't detail the plot further. I'm sure others have done a far better job of it than I might. Let's just say, no surprise, love and acceptance are key needs. Catherine's memory of a former teacher's words are haunting, reminding us how easily mere words can both wound and drive us, I will note. Dysfunctional or not, this family needs not just each other but others. How they get there and what they find, secrets or not, is a captivating story. You won't regret reading this or any of Sarah Morgan's work.
Thanks #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing - #CanaryStreetPress , not to mention #SarahMorgan and her wonderful assistant Judie for introducing me to the Swift Family. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and look forward to whatever comes next from Morgan.
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