Rachel sat at the kitchen table, trying to take everything in. She still couldn’t believe what her father had done. Clutching a faded photograph and a necklace in her hands, all she knew was that in her mother’s final days, she would do anything to protect her.The call came on a seemingly ordinary day. But as soon as Rachel heard the pain in her sister’s voice, she had to face the fact that life as she knew it was about to be shattered: “It’s mum. She’s not well. She doesn’t have much time.”Though her heart breaks to leave her husband and children behind, Rachel knows the right thing is to return home to care for her mother Janet. Their relationship has been strained for years. This may be the last chance for them both to heal.Walking up to the front gate of her childhood home, Rachel is overwhelmed with memories: of hazy summers playing with her sister, of laughter ringing through the house, of the accident which cost their father his life. After that day, Rachel’s relationship with her mother changed forever.Rachel has never forgiven herself for what happened and it is clear Janet hasn’t either. Determined to make amends, Rachel begins to get her mother’s house in order. But hidden in the cellar, Rachel unearths a devastating secret. A faded photograph and a tarnished necklace are the only clues to unravelling a secret that should have remained hidden.Can Rachel unravel the mystery when it has the power to destroy her family? And when she finally discovers the truth, will it destroy everything she has ever known?
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Review
Parents and children. The relationship between them should be the most relaxing and easiest of all relationships, but unfortunately it’s not always the case. There are lots of them who are on the best of terms. Some children like their father best, others their mother and some like neither of them a lot. Parents have favourites too and treat them better than the rest.
What is love though? Is giving material things loving someone? In a way it is, yes, but opening your wallet is not enough. That’s more like taking the easy way out. Love is an all consuming emotion that runs a lot deeper than that.
Feeling guilty and seeing the effect your action has on someone, makes you put distance between you. One day you realise it’s time to reconnect, before time runs out. That’s what is happening to Rachel.
She returns to your childhood home. She could never have imagined the kind of nightmare she would find herself in.
Rachel thought she knew it all. It seems like she knew nothing at all…
You can live under the same roof for years and find out you never saw through them. You never thought they would be capable of this.
This is an amazing story. I would advise you to keep a few tissues handy, because the emotions run high. I would also advise you to clear your schedule, because you will be unable to put this book down.
I loved all the characters… in the beginning. 😉 Afterwards there was one person I could have slapped around the face a few times.
A great read. 5 stars.
Thank you
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About the author
Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a master’s in journalism, she soon realised she preferred anything other than reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in London and returned to writing… fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running and visiting historic houses with her husband and their son.
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Author Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahmercerauthor/ @leahmercerauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeahMercer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeahMercerBooks @leahmercerbooks
Website: www.leahmercer.com
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Book Link
https://geni.us/B0B46NDKQFsocial
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