Did she once have a sister? Has her mother lied all these years?
After a painful divorce, Maisey Lazarow returns to Fairham, the small island off the South Carolina coast where she grew up. She goes there to heal—and to help her brother, Keith, a deeply troubled man who's asked her to come home. But she refuses to stay in the family house. The last person she wants to see is the wealthy, controlling mother she escaped years ago.
Instead, she finds herself living next door to someone else she'd prefer to avoid—Rafe Romero, the wild, reckless boy to whom she lost her virginity at sixteen. He's back on the island, and to her surprise, he's raising a young daughter alone. Maisey's still attracted to him, but her heart's too broken to risk…
Then something even more disturbing happens. She discovers a box of photographs that evoke distant memories of a little girl, a child Keith remembers, too. Maisey believes the girl must've been their sister, but their mother claims there was no sister.
Maisey is convinced that child existed. So where is she now?
**
Review
"This emotional novel showcases Novak's exceptional talent at creating genuine characters and real-life situations we sometimes try to dodge. The power of family is strong, and the element of mystery is stable throughout this romance.... Completely engrossing with a twist at the end you wouldn't dare dream of!" -RT Book Reviews, Top Pick
"The Secret Sister is...a great book that romance readers and fans of general fiction are bound to enjoy." -Portland Book Review
"Skillful plotting, well-developed characters (a blind little girl is adorable), a delightful romance, toxic family dynamics, and a puzzling mystery make this story a rewarding read that will appeal to both romance and women's fiction fans." -Library Journal
"In her latest, Novak (This Heart of Mine, 2015) neatly entwines contemporary romance and women's fiction by delivering the emotionally compelling romance readers expect while at the same time thoughtfully exploring the other relationships every woman has in her life. Add a gothic-tinged plot, and you have a book with wide reader appeal." -Booklist
"The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak is indeed the best romantic thriller I have read... Brenda Novak has a raw talent for bringing her novels to life. Realistic, suspenseful, and an edge of your seat romance that will have readers coming back for more." -The San Francisco Book Review
"The Secret Sister highly suggests some sort of sinister end to the missing member of their family. Brenda Novak leads us along with the characters on a path to discovery.... Candidly, the ending will surprise and that is of course Novak's brilliant intent. So put on your investigator cap and join the fun." -Fresh Fiction
"While this was a good romance, it was also a mystery. Did Maisey have an older sister that she did remember? Did she die? What happened to her? The reader will love following this mystery to its resolution. Great book. Highly recommended!" -MysteriesEtc.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has penned over 45 novels. A two-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best, The Bookbuyer's Best and many other awards. She runs an annual online auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $2 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.
Description:
Did she once have a sister? Has her mother lied all these years?
After a painful divorce, Maisey Lazarow returns to Fairham, the small island off the South Carolina coast where she grew up. She goes there to heal—and to help her brother, Keith, a deeply troubled man who's asked her to come home. But she refuses to stay in the family house. The last person she wants to see is the wealthy, controlling mother she escaped years ago.
Instead, she finds herself living next door to someone else she'd prefer to avoid—Rafe Romero, the wild, reckless boy to whom she lost her virginity at sixteen. He's back on the island, and to her surprise, he's raising a young daughter alone. Maisey's still attracted to him, but her heart's too broken to risk…
Then something even more disturbing happens. She discovers a box of photographs that evoke distant memories of a little girl, a child Keith remembers, too. Maisey believes the girl must've been their sister, but their mother claims there was no sister.
Maisey is convinced that child existed. So where is she now?
**
Review
"This emotional novel showcases Novak's exceptional talent at creating genuine characters and real-life situations we sometimes try to dodge. The power of family is strong, and the element of mystery is stable throughout this romance.... Completely engrossing with a twist at the end you wouldn't dare dream of!" -RT Book Reviews, Top Pick
"The Secret Sister is...a great book that romance readers and fans of general fiction are bound to enjoy." -Portland Book Review
"Skillful plotting, well-developed characters (a blind little girl is adorable), a delightful romance, toxic family dynamics, and a puzzling mystery make this story a rewarding read that will appeal to both romance and women's fiction fans." -Library Journal
"In her latest, Novak (This Heart of Mine, 2015) neatly entwines contemporary romance and women's fiction by delivering the emotionally compelling romance readers expect while at the same time thoughtfully exploring the other relationships every woman has in her life. Add a gothic-tinged plot, and you have a book with wide reader appeal." -Booklist
"The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak is indeed the best romantic thriller I have read... Brenda Novak has a raw talent for bringing her novels to life. Realistic, suspenseful, and an edge of your seat romance that will have readers coming back for more." -The San Francisco Book Review
"The Secret Sister highly suggests some sort of sinister end to the missing member of their family. Brenda Novak leads us along with the characters on a path to discovery.... Candidly, the ending will surprise and that is of course Novak's brilliant intent. So put on your investigator cap and join the fun." -Fresh Fiction
"While this was a good romance, it was also a mystery. Did Maisey have an older sister that she did remember? Did she die? What happened to her? The reader will love following this mystery to its resolution. Great book. Highly recommended!" -MysteriesEtc.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has penned over 45 novels. A two-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best, The Bookbuyer's Best and many other awards. She runs an annual online auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $2 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.