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Olman County #1
Secrets in the Shadows
This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B003ES5S7U.
Book One in the Shadows Collection
After surviving a traumatic attack as a teenager, as well as a disastrous first marriage, Lauren Taylor Grant is content with her life. So what if she gets lonely from time to time? With a healthy, beautiful daughter, and a successful coffee shop-cafe, the divorced single mother convinces herself she doesn’t have time for love. When she gets her first glimpse at her parents’ handsome new neighbor, though, she starts reconsidering her stance. Once Charlie Clark begins breaking through her defensive walls, Lauren finds him hard to resist.
Just as Lauren is learning to let go of the past and embrace the future, her personal demons rear their ugly heads in the guise of a vandal hell-bent on destroying Lauren’s happiness. When another local businesswoman is brutally murdered, the investigation into the crime reveals an unexpected connection to Lauren’s past. The message is clear--the past has come calling, and it’s out for blood.
Note for Readers: This book does deal with the issues of incest and sexual abuse, more with the effects on the victims than the abuse itself. Reader Discretion Advised.
“Secrets in the Shadows” is the first book in the Shadows Collection, a series of novels set in small-town Indiana. Other titles include “Under the Moon's Shadow,” “Shadows from the Grave,” “Hidden in the Shadows,” "In the Heart's Shadow," and "Deception in the Shadows."
Book One in the Shadows Collection
After surviving a traumatic attack as a teenager, as well as a disastrous first marriage, Lauren Taylor Grant is content with her life. So what if she gets lonely from time to time? With a healthy, beautiful daughter, and a successful coffee shop-cafe, the divorced single mother convinces herself she doesn’t have time for love. When she gets her first glimpse at her parents’ handsome new neighbor, though, she starts reconsidering her stance. Once Charlie Clark begins breaking through her defensive walls, Lauren finds him hard to resist.
Just as Lauren is learning to let go of the past and embrace the future, her personal demons rear their ugly heads in the guise of a vandal hell-bent on destroying Lauren’s happiness. When another local businesswoman is brutally murdered, the investigation into the crime reveals an unexpected connection to Lauren’s past. The message is clear--the past has come calling, and it’s out for blood.
Note for Readers: This book does deal with the issues of incest and sexual abuse, more with the effects on the victims than the abuse itself. Reader Discretion Advised.
“Secrets in the Shadows” is the first book in the Shadows Collection, a series of novels set in small-town Indiana. Other titles include “Under the Moon's Shadow,” “Shadows from the Grave,” “Hidden in the Shadows,” "In the Heart's Shadow," and "Deception in the Shadows."
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2010
510 people are currently reading
2324 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Haddix
40 books229 followersT.L. Haddix is the author of the Firefly Hollow Series, women's fiction romances set in Eastern Kentucky, as well as numerous other projects under various pen names. She's a self-described eccentric, a somewhat reclusive stick in the mud who lives in Eastern Kentucky with her husband and their cat-children. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, reading, genealogy, casual bird-and-critter watching, and being short.
She writes books about characters who are flawed but who somehow still manage to overcome the challenges thrown in their paths and reach for happiness with their soul mates. And while she can't tell a joke in the real world to save her life, she tries to inject her characters' lives with quirky, unintentional humor that surprises readers at just the right moment.
She writes books about characters who are flawed but who somehow still manage to overcome the challenges thrown in their paths and reach for happiness with their soul mates. And while she can't tell a joke in the real world to save her life, she tries to inject her characters' lives with quirky, unintentional humor that surprises readers at just the right moment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
March 27, 2015
THIS IS CURRENTLY FREE ON AMAZON!
No matter how many horror stories I read, nothing frightens me as much as people do. I never find any creature of the dark nearly as monstrous as I do humans. And Secrets in the Shadows only served to drive that truth home.
Fair warning, this book is not for the faint of heart. This book is fucking heavy, man. Even though I can’t recommend it enough, I understand that the subject matter might be off-putting or triggering for some readers. Therefore, I suggest downloading the sample. The shit hits the fan in the very first pages, and your ability to stomach it will serve as a good indicator as to whether or not you’ll manage the rest.
I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to find a book that does justice to such strong themes, instead of using them as a bullshit plot device to keep the male and female leads apart. That is until their past trauma can be resolved through oftentimes violent “sexual healing”.
Goddamn New Adult abominations.
So, if you’re looking for a darker read filled with gripping suspense and solid, well-crafted characters, I suggest giving this a try.
October 13, 2017
“Homecoming” was previously released as “Secrets in the Shadows” by T.L. Haddix.
Lauren was traumatized by her best friend's father when she was 16 years old. Lauren went on to marry and have a daughter, but she was never comfortable around me, her husband included. They divorced after a few years, but have remained good friends. Their daughter is growing up in two loving homes.
Charlie Clark has had his own share of issues that need to be resolved... and to his credit, he is trying. Charlie is a private investigator and he's happy with that, but he wants more out of life. He wants a home, a loving wife, a family. Rumble the cat helps, but it's not enough.
When he meets Lauren, it's love at first sight. Not quite first sight for Lauren, but she definitely feels a pull. She's scared and excited, usually both at the same time. But Charlie is willing to be patient for as long as it takes for her to come to trust her.
When Lauren's past rears its ugly head, she has no choice but to turn to Charlie for professional help... even if it means telling him the entire truth about what happened years ago.
Someone has targeted Lauren and her bakery story and Charity Vaughn, an art galley owner. What is their connection and who would want to hurt ... or kill ... both of them?
This is the first of a series, and I confess .... I started with Book 2. I would highly recommend reading these books in order .. will make much more sense without any spoilers.
This is billed as a Romantic Suspense, but it reads more like a romance. The suspense is very low key, the suspect is identified early own, as well as the connection between Lauren and Charity. Most of the characters are very likable.
Many thanks to the author / Streetlight Graphics Publishing / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unsolicited, unbiased, and entirely my own.
Lauren was traumatized by her best friend's father when she was 16 years old. Lauren went on to marry and have a daughter, but she was never comfortable around me, her husband included. They divorced after a few years, but have remained good friends. Their daughter is growing up in two loving homes.
Charlie Clark has had his own share of issues that need to be resolved... and to his credit, he is trying. Charlie is a private investigator and he's happy with that, but he wants more out of life. He wants a home, a loving wife, a family. Rumble the cat helps, but it's not enough.
When he meets Lauren, it's love at first sight. Not quite first sight for Lauren, but she definitely feels a pull. She's scared and excited, usually both at the same time. But Charlie is willing to be patient for as long as it takes for her to come to trust her.
When Lauren's past rears its ugly head, she has no choice but to turn to Charlie for professional help... even if it means telling him the entire truth about what happened years ago.
Someone has targeted Lauren and her bakery story and Charity Vaughn, an art galley owner. What is their connection and who would want to hurt ... or kill ... both of them?
This is the first of a series, and I confess .... I started with Book 2. I would highly recommend reading these books in order .. will make much more sense without any spoilers.
This is billed as a Romantic Suspense, but it reads more like a romance. The suspense is very low key, the suspect is identified early own, as well as the connection between Lauren and Charity. Most of the characters are very likable.
Many thanks to the author / Streetlight Graphics Publishing / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unsolicited, unbiased, and entirely my own.
December 11, 2017
Lauren Grant is a single divorced mom who owns a café in a small town Leroy in Indiana. She lives a quiet peaceful life near her parents and is best friends with her ex-husband and his wife . Due to a horrifying incident in her teenage years that left an impression on her she is unable to form a long lasting relationship in her life but then comes along her parents good looking ex-marine neighbor Charlie Clark and his cat Rumble. He is sweet, gentle, patient and finally Lauren believes that she might be able to have a happy ending but all that comes crashing down when somebody from her past returns and is seeking revenge
This is the first in the romantic suspense series with a lot of interesting characters introduced in the book . It’s not much of a suspense story as you know the suspect at the start itself but is a nice slow moving romance with a predictable end. Overall 3 ½ stars and am looking forward to reading about other characters in this series.
I would like to thank Streetlight Graphics Publishing & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
This is the first in the romantic suspense series with a lot of interesting characters introduced in the book . It’s not much of a suspense story as you know the suspect at the start itself but is a nice slow moving romance with a predictable end. Overall 3 ½ stars and am looking forward to reading about other characters in this series.
I would like to thank Streetlight Graphics Publishing & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
October 24, 2017
Where can I get a Charlie Clark with a side of Rumble?
Ahhh... Leroy, Indiana, the fictional little town that comes to life right off the page. The town that's so close to my own home town that I wish I had a Charlie Clark and Rumble living right next door. This was a fast paced read with a strong character development, with a somewhat convoluted storyline. At the heart of the novel is a blossoming romance that is so juvenile, but yet so mature that you can't help but gush.
Lauren Grant and Margie Vernon are cousins by marriage and are so close they might as well be sisters. Only Lauren soon learns that they weren't as close as they thought as Margie was keeping secrets from Lauren, secrets she never thought imaginable. One evening at the age of 16, Lauren wakes up to find her uncle Carl, Margie's father on top of her trying to take her clothes off. Lauren doesn't understand what is happening. The last thing she can remember was the milkshakes... the milkshakes that Margie had made for them. She remembers it tasted funny and only drinking a few sips and pouring the rest out without Margie looking, not wanting to hurt her feelings. Margie had drugged her, but why? Luckily, Margie's younger brother Rob has come to her rescue, and Lauren nearly escapes being sexually assaulted. Carl, his wife, and their youngest son flee in a panic from the law. Rob is sent to live with is oldest brother, Jacob and his wife. As for Margie, Lauren learns that in the middle of the night that Margie had stolen her car and her money and took off, never to be heard from again. Lauren is hurt and furious, how could Margie do this to her? As Lauren begins to learn more about Margie and her family, she begins to sympathize with Margie, she was a victim of sexual assault from her own father. All those years, and Lauren never knew, never suspected. In a way, Lauren blamed herself. If only she knew, she could have helped, she could have done something.
Fast forward eleven years, and Margie is now Charity Vaughn. She has changed her identity and her appearance and returned to Leroy, Indiana. She's come to keep an eye on Lauren. She needs to know that her and her daughter Ava are okay. Only, Charity is not the only one who has returned to Leroy, so have the Vernon's. Charity and Lauren are both at risk. When Lauren learns that the Vernon's are back in town she's concerned. She hires Charlie Clark, a private investigator, and her parent's next door neighbor to look into the Vernon's. This doesn't come as an easy decision for Lauren as she's come to fall for the man next door. Letting him in on her past... well... that might just send him running. Only this couldn't have been further from the truth.
"I'm not scared by what you've told me. I'm a little concerned that I'm as clumsy as a bull in a china shop and I'll make things awkward with my efforts to get things right, but nothing you've said makes me want to run away. If you're as curious about me as I am about you, why not see what we've got here? We can take it as slow as you want, or we can just be friends. That's entirely up to you. Please though, don't give up without giving us a chance."
Ugh! That Charlie Clark, that patience of a Saint, and a heart of gold. He had me gushing I tell you. I was falling for the man too!
"He was utterly adorable in his uncertainty and his sentiment, and she couldn't stand it."
I know what you mean Lauren! And let me also point out the man talks to his cat! That sucked me right in. I can trust a man that talks to his cat! That's a man after my own heart.
"When he'd first gotten the cat, he worried that if anyone overheard him talking to Rumble, they'd think he was nuts. Now, he no longer cared. Talking to the cat was part of what it meant to be Rumble's human."
Yes, if Charlie Clark were real I would be Facebook stalking him right now and checking out pictures of Rumble. I've been in the same relationship for 12 years now, and I've got to say, I've forgotten what's it's like, in the beginning, that shyness, the "firsts". I was living vicariously through Lauren in this novel on her blossoming romance. It was so genuine to me, it left me wishing and waiting as if I was the one in the romance.
I really enjoyed this novel, but in the end I decided to go with 4 stars instead of 5 because I was not overall pleased with the fate of the protagonist. He did not portray the villain I had conjured up in my mind. He's resentful and full of revenge, and for that, I was expecting much more than what the author gave the reader. I would say that this was more of a romance novel than a suspenseful romance novel as I had hoped. That said, the romance was very well done, and I enjoyed it.
I want to thank NetGalley, Streetlight Graphics Publishing, and T.L. Haddix (aka Alex Collins) for allowing me the chance to read this novel in exchange for my review.
Ahhh... Leroy, Indiana, the fictional little town that comes to life right off the page. The town that's so close to my own home town that I wish I had a Charlie Clark and Rumble living right next door. This was a fast paced read with a strong character development, with a somewhat convoluted storyline. At the heart of the novel is a blossoming romance that is so juvenile, but yet so mature that you can't help but gush.
Lauren Grant and Margie Vernon are cousins by marriage and are so close they might as well be sisters. Only Lauren soon learns that they weren't as close as they thought as Margie was keeping secrets from Lauren, secrets she never thought imaginable. One evening at the age of 16, Lauren wakes up to find her uncle Carl, Margie's father on top of her trying to take her clothes off. Lauren doesn't understand what is happening. The last thing she can remember was the milkshakes... the milkshakes that Margie had made for them. She remembers it tasted funny and only drinking a few sips and pouring the rest out without Margie looking, not wanting to hurt her feelings. Margie had drugged her, but why? Luckily, Margie's younger brother Rob has come to her rescue, and Lauren nearly escapes being sexually assaulted. Carl, his wife, and their youngest son flee in a panic from the law. Rob is sent to live with is oldest brother, Jacob and his wife. As for Margie, Lauren learns that in the middle of the night that Margie had stolen her car and her money and took off, never to be heard from again. Lauren is hurt and furious, how could Margie do this to her? As Lauren begins to learn more about Margie and her family, she begins to sympathize with Margie, she was a victim of sexual assault from her own father. All those years, and Lauren never knew, never suspected. In a way, Lauren blamed herself. If only she knew, she could have helped, she could have done something.
Fast forward eleven years, and Margie is now Charity Vaughn. She has changed her identity and her appearance and returned to Leroy, Indiana. She's come to keep an eye on Lauren. She needs to know that her and her daughter Ava are okay. Only, Charity is not the only one who has returned to Leroy, so have the Vernon's. Charity and Lauren are both at risk. When Lauren learns that the Vernon's are back in town she's concerned. She hires Charlie Clark, a private investigator, and her parent's next door neighbor to look into the Vernon's. This doesn't come as an easy decision for Lauren as she's come to fall for the man next door. Letting him in on her past... well... that might just send him running. Only this couldn't have been further from the truth.
"I'm not scared by what you've told me. I'm a little concerned that I'm as clumsy as a bull in a china shop and I'll make things awkward with my efforts to get things right, but nothing you've said makes me want to run away. If you're as curious about me as I am about you, why not see what we've got here? We can take it as slow as you want, or we can just be friends. That's entirely up to you. Please though, don't give up without giving us a chance."
Ugh! That Charlie Clark, that patience of a Saint, and a heart of gold. He had me gushing I tell you. I was falling for the man too!
"He was utterly adorable in his uncertainty and his sentiment, and she couldn't stand it."
I know what you mean Lauren! And let me also point out the man talks to his cat! That sucked me right in. I can trust a man that talks to his cat! That's a man after my own heart.
"When he'd first gotten the cat, he worried that if anyone overheard him talking to Rumble, they'd think he was nuts. Now, he no longer cared. Talking to the cat was part of what it meant to be Rumble's human."
Yes, if Charlie Clark were real I would be Facebook stalking him right now and checking out pictures of Rumble. I've been in the same relationship for 12 years now, and I've got to say, I've forgotten what's it's like, in the beginning, that shyness, the "firsts". I was living vicariously through Lauren in this novel on her blossoming romance. It was so genuine to me, it left me wishing and waiting as if I was the one in the romance.
I really enjoyed this novel, but in the end I decided to go with 4 stars instead of 5 because I was not overall pleased with the fate of the protagonist. He did not portray the villain I had conjured up in my mind. He's resentful and full of revenge, and for that, I was expecting much more than what the author gave the reader. I would say that this was more of a romance novel than a suspenseful romance novel as I had hoped. That said, the romance was very well done, and I enjoyed it.
I want to thank NetGalley, Streetlight Graphics Publishing, and T.L. Haddix (aka Alex Collins) for allowing me the chance to read this novel in exchange for my review.
October 27, 2011
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in reading stories about sexy supernatural beings, fairytale endings and demonic monsters, that we push aside the reality that you don't have to have supernatural abilities to be a real life monster. The monsters I am referring are like those found in the book one of the Leroy’s Sins series, Secrets in the Shadows by T. L. Haddix. These monsters can be your best friend, your next door neighbor, the guy who always smiles and says hello as you pass each other on the street, or even your closest family member. Living a seemingly normal life by day but lurking in the shadows at night, they leave a trail of emotional destruction where ever they go. In Secrets in the Shadows, such is true for cousins Margie and Lauren, as we follow their shared story and learn why sometimes people have to do the unthinkable just to be able to survive. T. L. Haddix covers some real life issues such as rape and abuse and how hard emotionally it is to overcome such terrible struggles, especially when there are unanswered questions preventing the healing process. The first couple of chapters are a little slow moving, but it quickly found its pace and moves along and keeps the reader intrigued and wanting to know what happens next! One thing that I particularly liked, was that T. L. Haddix doesn’t sugarcoat these issues and have the stereotypical fairytale ending, where everyone goes skipping off happily into the sunset. The reader feels the raw emotions and struggles that they character is facing and not everyone is lucky enough to make it out alive. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two of the Leroy’s Sins series, Under the Moon’s Shadows.
January 6, 2012
Growing up in a small town you learn a few things.
#1 Don’t lie to your mama she will always find out.
#2 If you plan on skipping school don’t forget that your principal lives across the street, and
#3 everyone has a dirty little secret they don’t want you to know.
Small towns tend to be much more complex than major metropolitan areas, they represent the stability of family life, while at the same time… turn into harbors for those looking for a fresh start, an escape, or more often than not…a hiding place.
The town of Leroy is no different.
Lauren Grant is the definition of “small town.” As the loved owner of a downtown cafe she has what everyone wants, home… family… and love, but what the rest of the town doesn’t know is that Lauren is trapped. With a past that starts to become the present, and ghosts (that she thought had long since disappeared) start popping back up, she has no choice but to face her demons. What she didn’t have in mind however, was that the demons would find her first… and consequently try and destroy her happy little abode. As her horrible past starts to come to light Lauren struggles to understand not only why these things happened to her so long ago, but how she can get past them. The biggest problem she has however, is trying to stay alive long enough to get her answers.
This book was wonderful. It was well written, well plotted, and sucked the reader in with numerous viewpoints. While the main and most important story was told through Lauren’s experiences and thoughts, several chapters were glimpses from the people around her, which only added depth to the emotional connection you felt for her. The pace of this book however is what kept me enthralled. To say it was bumpy would be a gross understatement. Just when the story would level off for the “expected” pages of explanation, Haddix would throw another curve ball, and knock her beloved characters right back into the mud. The “past offense” spoken of so often in the forefront of this novel is no secret, if you have a brain you can figure it out rather quickly, what is important, is not the act itself, but more the journey Lauren takes in explaining and reliving it.
There was romance, deception, moments of psychoticness, unforgivable memories, and just enough action to squash any hidden fight fetishes you may harbor.
Overall?? I say it was a winner, but more importantly it was a great all encompassing read.
Happy reading my fellow runaways and remember: Sometimes crazy just can’t be explained.
#1 Don’t lie to your mama she will always find out.
#2 If you plan on skipping school don’t forget that your principal lives across the street, and
#3 everyone has a dirty little secret they don’t want you to know.
Small towns tend to be much more complex than major metropolitan areas, they represent the stability of family life, while at the same time… turn into harbors for those looking for a fresh start, an escape, or more often than not…a hiding place.
The town of Leroy is no different.
Lauren Grant is the definition of “small town.” As the loved owner of a downtown cafe she has what everyone wants, home… family… and love, but what the rest of the town doesn’t know is that Lauren is trapped. With a past that starts to become the present, and ghosts (that she thought had long since disappeared) start popping back up, she has no choice but to face her demons. What she didn’t have in mind however, was that the demons would find her first… and consequently try and destroy her happy little abode. As her horrible past starts to come to light Lauren struggles to understand not only why these things happened to her so long ago, but how she can get past them. The biggest problem she has however, is trying to stay alive long enough to get her answers.
This book was wonderful. It was well written, well plotted, and sucked the reader in with numerous viewpoints. While the main and most important story was told through Lauren’s experiences and thoughts, several chapters were glimpses from the people around her, which only added depth to the emotional connection you felt for her. The pace of this book however is what kept me enthralled. To say it was bumpy would be a gross understatement. Just when the story would level off for the “expected” pages of explanation, Haddix would throw another curve ball, and knock her beloved characters right back into the mud. The “past offense” spoken of so often in the forefront of this novel is no secret, if you have a brain you can figure it out rather quickly, what is important, is not the act itself, but more the journey Lauren takes in explaining and reliving it.
There was romance, deception, moments of psychoticness, unforgivable memories, and just enough action to squash any hidden fight fetishes you may harbor.
Overall?? I say it was a winner, but more importantly it was a great all encompassing read.
Happy reading my fellow runaways and remember: Sometimes crazy just can’t be explained.
March 14, 2014
3.5 stars- This book centers around various families and their relationships over a 13 year period. The book starts with Margie and where she is at as she leaves town at the age of 17. Margie is acting wild and crazy, driving off in a stolen car and leaving her life behind. We find out later that Margie is pregnant and was repeatedly raped by her father, who sets her up to drug her cousin so he can rap her too. Little does he know that the cousin, did not drink the full drink and get the drug and screamed bloody murder and saved herself. The remaining members of the family disappear the same night that Margie runs off.
Fast forward 13 years later and Lauren is a running a shop in town, being a mom to her daughter Ava and just trying to have a normal life. She has been divorced for years now but they have a great relationship as friends and Lauren even gets along with her ex's new wife. Lauren seems to have a lot going for her until she see's her aunt in the park on day. The same aunt who called her a whore and denied that her husband ever tried to rape Margie or Lauren. Lauren seeks the guidance of her ex husband and her parents new neighbor, Charlie who has an investigation company when Lauren is confronted by her aunt- Mary Magaret and her son Troy in her shop. Mysteriously the shop is later vandalized and then Charity the local art gallery owner is then found murdered. There are numerous things that weave together throughout the book and I don't want to give everything away.
This was a good read, there are a lot of characters to get your head around as two stories are really told, Margie and Lauren's with some other parts of families being thrown in, i.e. Charlie and Annie, etc.
Their is no sex in this book, but it does have a romance theme to it as Lauren tries to heal from her past and finds love when she wasn't looking for it. We find out earlier on who the killer is and I would have liked more suspense, but other secrets make up for that. Since there are a lot of characters there are several books in the series and I would find myself wanting to know more about some more of the people listed in this book.
*This honest review was provided in exchange for an ARC*
Fast forward 13 years later and Lauren is a running a shop in town, being a mom to her daughter Ava and just trying to have a normal life. She has been divorced for years now but they have a great relationship as friends and Lauren even gets along with her ex's new wife. Lauren seems to have a lot going for her until she see's her aunt in the park on day. The same aunt who called her a whore and denied that her husband ever tried to rape Margie or Lauren. Lauren seeks the guidance of her ex husband and her parents new neighbor, Charlie who has an investigation company when Lauren is confronted by her aunt- Mary Magaret and her son Troy in her shop. Mysteriously the shop is later vandalized and then Charity the local art gallery owner is then found murdered. There are numerous things that weave together throughout the book and I don't want to give everything away.
This was a good read, there are a lot of characters to get your head around as two stories are really told, Margie and Lauren's with some other parts of families being thrown in, i.e. Charlie and Annie, etc.
Their is no sex in this book, but it does have a romance theme to it as Lauren tries to heal from her past and finds love when she wasn't looking for it. We find out earlier on who the killer is and I would have liked more suspense, but other secrets make up for that. Since there are a lot of characters there are several books in the series and I would find myself wanting to know more about some more of the people listed in this book.
*This honest review was provided in exchange for an ARC*
March 16, 2014
Secrets In The Shadows was a very good read. The beginning takes place 13 years earlier and involves incest and rape. This was handled delicately and realistically, without a lot of gory details. The remainder of the book deals with ramifications of these acts. The characters were realistic and people you begin to care about. There are a couple of mysteries intertwined though out the book with some twists at the end. The writing styled flowed easily, with enough details without becoming wordy. I found myself totally engrossed in the story, wanting to know what would happen next. I would recommend this book to all mystery lovers and suspense/ romance lovers. This is the first in a long series and I plan to read them all.
December 11, 2015
4.5 stars
July 15, 2022
A dark romantic suspense story with strong characters. This is the first in a series about a small town. It introduced many characters and how they are intertwined. The description of the town was a highlight in the book. There were lots of secrets and the ending worked. Trigger warning for sexual abuse.
March 7, 2015
Interesting read
I liked the fact that the characters were flawed as it seemed more realistic that way. The development of the relationship was slow moving, which seems to be a more pragmatic approach instead of that instant attraction scenario. I do not recall what the genre this book was classified as but it is definitely not suspense. The bad guy was laid out pretty much from the character's introduction as well as the missing cousin, so no real surprise there. If someone has an issue with the topic of abuse, I would steer clear of this story. While it isn't graphic, it is the basis for much of the drama of the story. Overall a good read. Thank you.
I liked the fact that the characters were flawed as it seemed more realistic that way. The development of the relationship was slow moving, which seems to be a more pragmatic approach instead of that instant attraction scenario. I do not recall what the genre this book was classified as but it is definitely not suspense. The bad guy was laid out pretty much from the character's introduction as well as the missing cousin, so no real surprise there. If someone has an issue with the topic of abuse, I would steer clear of this story. While it isn't graphic, it is the basis for much of the drama of the story. Overall a good read. Thank you.
March 28, 2015
This book contains graphic material in the form of incest and sexual assault, with a direct focus on the victims as opposed to the actual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
Also, this review contains untagged SPOILERS. You are forewarned.
Summary:
Lauren Taylor Grant has not had it easy. An incident at the age of sixteen has helped set the groundwork for the rest of her life decisions, but she does not allow it to rule her anymore. After a failed marriage at a young age, Lauren is blessed with a wonderful little girl and an ex-husband who she was glad to rekindle a friendship with. Her parents are present and a vital part of her life and support system, as well as her many friends and coworkers in the small town of Leroy, Indiana.
But the past has a way of coming back to haunt. When an old nightmare resurfaces in the area, it is all Lauren can do to cling to her sanity, and the life she has made. Her parents' new neighbor, Charlie Clark, adds a new kind of support in this situation. Just when Lauren thinks things might just pass her by, her business is vandalized and another local woman winds up murdered.
It doesn't take long for everyone to realize that this is personal, and it all revolves around two girls and one summer thirteen years ago. The summer Margie Vernon disappeared.
Characters:
Margie Vernon was a seventeen year old with the most perverted chip on her shoulder ever: she was her daddy's plaything. As a girl with a dream of becoming a teacher, she knew to keep quiet about her ambitions and not make waves, since her parents didn't think a daughter was worth anything other than wife material. Those ambitions were all ripped to shreds a few months after she turned sixteen and Carl Vernon decided he'd waited long enough to have her. It left the young teenager with one ambition left: escape. And she was willing to do any heinous thing that allowed her the chance to run. Even betray her best friend.
Lauren Taylor Grant is a grown woman with a nice business, beautiful daughter, friendly ex-husband, incredibly supportive parents, and a dark mark in her past that she just can't escape. The night Margie Vernon stole her car and money was the night her uncle, Carl, tried to rape her. And all she has to thank for saving herself from that fate is the laced milkshake she poured down the drain. But the memories are still there, and her confidence in herself isn't always what she hopes it was.
Despite that, Lauren has a good life for herself. She has a wonderful support group of friends and family, and a life she truly enjoys. Of course, the entire town is still under the impression that she is missing a man to complete the perfect picture. And while she's none too short of admirers, it's her parents' new neighbor, Charlie Clark, who evokes the lust that has long been wanting in her relationships. And when his kindness, patience, and understanding are revealed, it doesn't take long for it to grow into a steady, heady kind of love. They just … spark.
To be real, Lauren has her demons, but she deals with them. This is a woman who has been through some rough shit and gets back on her feet every time. She's strong-willed, but is perfectly willing to accept the help she needs. Not too proud, but not a doormat, she is a decent enough character to hang around with. (I still liked her parents better.)
*Not going into a lot of characters here, because there was just too damn many. Suffice it to say: everyone has their scars, their vices, and a lot of virtues to go around. And believe me, all of the Leroy town gossip will give you plenty to know about everyone. Now, how much you actually get to know them… That's a different story.*
Plot & Setting:
Small town in Indiana. Yep, I can believe it. Why? Because all these people do is gossip and try to play match-maker. Are you freaking serious? Since I've never been to Indiana, I can't even tell if this is an accurate portrayal. But I really hope not, for the sake of people living in small towns anywhere.
The plot--what there was of it--was all over the damn place. This is mostly due to the free-hand head-hopping that goes on. So that several characters literally take you all over the damn place.
From the publisher-provided blurb, a reader might deduce that there is a murder mystery within this book and that is the focus of the story. The blurb is lying. What you get in this novel is nothing short of some personal demons and the activities of a small town. That's it. There is also a slow-moving romance that I was fairly okay with, but was so obvious in its occurrence that you have literally no surprises here. And I mean that. In this entire book, the reader is given a snapshot into everything through the various forms of narration that you are not at all surprised when things happen. Which, for me, did not lead to an enjoyable reading experience.
Writing Style:
I hated it. And I should have loved it.
My favorite style to read is Third Person Limited. This means you are outside of the heads of the characters, but you sort of get one narrator at a time. Unlike when you get what everyone is doing at once, it focuses on one person.
Well, technically speaking, that's exactly what this book was: Third Person Limited. Well, I guess that means I should define the narrative style I love to Third Person Intimate, because TPL in this book did not allow me to connect to a single character.
It felt like all telling and no showing to me. We didn't see anything through any of the characters' eyes, only were told how they interacted with their environment. And that made for a jarring reading experience that I really didn't like.
Of course, what really got me as far as the writing was the head-hopping. Too many narrators! Every time I turned around, it seemed like, another insignificant person was taking the lead and taking us around on a daily routine that was both pointless and uninformative. (Especially when the entire bloody town is more concerned with playing match-maker over everything else--including a murder.) There was a lot of filler in here that just irritated. Granted, I can see why some scenes were done that way, but all in all, there were several other ways to do it without introducing us to three more narrators that we couldn't give a crap about.
End rant.
Overall Opinion:
There are some books and readers who just do not gel. This book and I did not gel. Whether because of the head-hopping or the characters themselves, I'm not sure. Neither did themselves any favors and the writing was very 'tell, not show' for me. While I found it a solid 'okay' read, it wasn't anything that I'd like to reread.
But there were a few aspects of it that I liked, and this is probably going to be a bit of a spoiler (you're forewarned): Charity/Margie turned her life around. Knowing what this type of abuse does to a person--especially in a private setting--I really loved that it showed the victim coming out of the experience more aware, with her own goals and dreams, and becoming an independent individual who is relatively normal, given the circumstances. Charity is a far cry from the victim she once was, and that makes all the difference to someone who knows what incest/assault can do to the psyche of someone you love.
Another thing I have to admire this book for is that it doesn't shy away from giving you the cold hard facts. Judging on my own small pool of knowledge, I'm sickened to say that I believe assault by family members happens a lot more often than society believes or even wants to admit. But it does happen, and it is harmful. It causes a lifetime of self-percieved inadequacies to build up in an individual, yet that doesn't mean they can't go on to have a completely normal life. Which, perhaps, is why it does shock most people when they learn someone they've known for years was molested as a child, because they don't appear to be a stereotypical victim. The weight of their experience, while lending heavily to the person they've become, has not controlled every aspect of their life. People do break free of the 'victim stigma' and go on to lead lives that are relatively normal--even without therapy.
The thing this book does, though, is give you a look at only two separate possibilities as far reactions to this type of thing. And I'm glad it did. I'm glad that it shows you that certain people handle this in certain ways, and a lot of that has to do with the support system the victim experiences. Whether their call for help is met with denial--which, sadly, it so often is--or whether they have the support of those around them and they get the help they need. It is surprising how even the smallest things can have the biggest effect on a person, and sometimes the best help they receive occurs years after the abuse has stopped. Basically, the realism of the subject matter are what really made me respect this book.
*Fun fact, I wrote all of this from end to beginning.*
Also, this review contains untagged SPOILERS. You are forewarned.
Summary:
Lauren Taylor Grant has not had it easy. An incident at the age of sixteen has helped set the groundwork for the rest of her life decisions, but she does not allow it to rule her anymore. After a failed marriage at a young age, Lauren is blessed with a wonderful little girl and an ex-husband who she was glad to rekindle a friendship with. Her parents are present and a vital part of her life and support system, as well as her many friends and coworkers in the small town of Leroy, Indiana.
But the past has a way of coming back to haunt. When an old nightmare resurfaces in the area, it is all Lauren can do to cling to her sanity, and the life she has made. Her parents' new neighbor, Charlie Clark, adds a new kind of support in this situation. Just when Lauren thinks things might just pass her by, her business is vandalized and another local woman winds up murdered.
It doesn't take long for everyone to realize that this is personal, and it all revolves around two girls and one summer thirteen years ago. The summer Margie Vernon disappeared.
Characters:
Margie Vernon was a seventeen year old with the most perverted chip on her shoulder ever: she was her daddy's plaything. As a girl with a dream of becoming a teacher, she knew to keep quiet about her ambitions and not make waves, since her parents didn't think a daughter was worth anything other than wife material. Those ambitions were all ripped to shreds a few months after she turned sixteen and Carl Vernon decided he'd waited long enough to have her. It left the young teenager with one ambition left: escape. And she was willing to do any heinous thing that allowed her the chance to run. Even betray her best friend.
Lauren Taylor Grant is a grown woman with a nice business, beautiful daughter, friendly ex-husband, incredibly supportive parents, and a dark mark in her past that she just can't escape. The night Margie Vernon stole her car and money was the night her uncle, Carl, tried to rape her. And all she has to thank for saving herself from that fate is the laced milkshake she poured down the drain. But the memories are still there, and her confidence in herself isn't always what she hopes it was.
Despite that, Lauren has a good life for herself. She has a wonderful support group of friends and family, and a life she truly enjoys. Of course, the entire town is still under the impression that she is missing a man to complete the perfect picture. And while she's none too short of admirers, it's her parents' new neighbor, Charlie Clark, who evokes the lust that has long been wanting in her relationships. And when his kindness, patience, and understanding are revealed, it doesn't take long for it to grow into a steady, heady kind of love. They just … spark.
To be real, Lauren has her demons, but she deals with them. This is a woman who has been through some rough shit and gets back on her feet every time. She's strong-willed, but is perfectly willing to accept the help she needs. Not too proud, but not a doormat, she is a decent enough character to hang around with. (I still liked her parents better.)
*Not going into a lot of characters here, because there was just too damn many. Suffice it to say: everyone has their scars, their vices, and a lot of virtues to go around. And believe me, all of the Leroy town gossip will give you plenty to know about everyone. Now, how much you actually get to know them… That's a different story.*
Plot & Setting:
Small town in Indiana. Yep, I can believe it. Why? Because all these people do is gossip and try to play match-maker. Are you freaking serious? Since I've never been to Indiana, I can't even tell if this is an accurate portrayal. But I really hope not, for the sake of people living in small towns anywhere.
The plot--what there was of it--was all over the damn place. This is mostly due to the free-hand head-hopping that goes on. So that several characters literally take you all over the damn place.
From the publisher-provided blurb, a reader might deduce that there is a murder mystery within this book and that is the focus of the story. The blurb is lying. What you get in this novel is nothing short of some personal demons and the activities of a small town. That's it. There is also a slow-moving romance that I was fairly okay with, but was so obvious in its occurrence that you have literally no surprises here. And I mean that. In this entire book, the reader is given a snapshot into everything through the various forms of narration that you are not at all surprised when things happen. Which, for me, did not lead to an enjoyable reading experience.
Writing Style:
I hated it. And I should have loved it.
My favorite style to read is Third Person Limited. This means you are outside of the heads of the characters, but you sort of get one narrator at a time. Unlike when you get what everyone is doing at once, it focuses on one person.
Well, technically speaking, that's exactly what this book was: Third Person Limited. Well, I guess that means I should define the narrative style I love to Third Person Intimate, because TPL in this book did not allow me to connect to a single character.
It felt like all telling and no showing to me. We didn't see anything through any of the characters' eyes, only were told how they interacted with their environment. And that made for a jarring reading experience that I really didn't like.
Of course, what really got me as far as the writing was the head-hopping. Too many narrators! Every time I turned around, it seemed like, another insignificant person was taking the lead and taking us around on a daily routine that was both pointless and uninformative. (Especially when the entire bloody town is more concerned with playing match-maker over everything else--including a murder.) There was a lot of filler in here that just irritated. Granted, I can see why some scenes were done that way, but all in all, there were several other ways to do it without introducing us to three more narrators that we couldn't give a crap about.
End rant.
Overall Opinion:
There are some books and readers who just do not gel. This book and I did not gel. Whether because of the head-hopping or the characters themselves, I'm not sure. Neither did themselves any favors and the writing was very 'tell, not show' for me. While I found it a solid 'okay' read, it wasn't anything that I'd like to reread.
But there were a few aspects of it that I liked, and this is probably going to be a bit of a spoiler (you're forewarned): Charity/Margie turned her life around. Knowing what this type of abuse does to a person--especially in a private setting--I really loved that it showed the victim coming out of the experience more aware, with her own goals and dreams, and becoming an independent individual who is relatively normal, given the circumstances. Charity is a far cry from the victim she once was, and that makes all the difference to someone who knows what incest/assault can do to the psyche of someone you love.
Another thing I have to admire this book for is that it doesn't shy away from giving you the cold hard facts. Judging on my own small pool of knowledge, I'm sickened to say that I believe assault by family members happens a lot more often than society believes or even wants to admit. But it does happen, and it is harmful. It causes a lifetime of self-percieved inadequacies to build up in an individual, yet that doesn't mean they can't go on to have a completely normal life. Which, perhaps, is why it does shock most people when they learn someone they've known for years was molested as a child, because they don't appear to be a stereotypical victim. The weight of their experience, while lending heavily to the person they've become, has not controlled every aspect of their life. People do break free of the 'victim stigma' and go on to lead lives that are relatively normal--even without therapy.
The thing this book does, though, is give you a look at only two separate possibilities as far reactions to this type of thing. And I'm glad it did. I'm glad that it shows you that certain people handle this in certain ways, and a lot of that has to do with the support system the victim experiences. Whether their call for help is met with denial--which, sadly, it so often is--or whether they have the support of those around them and they get the help they need. It is surprising how even the smallest things can have the biggest effect on a person, and sometimes the best help they receive occurs years after the abuse has stopped. Basically, the realism of the subject matter are what really made me respect this book.
*Fun fact, I wrote all of this from end to beginning.*
March 20, 2015
"I do, you know. I do love you. Even if you don’t return my feelings, I wanted you to know. " - Charlie Clark
OK, yes, I do enjoy romantic suspense. In fact, I love it! But there are times when I feel like there's something missing, and in this book's case, this was one of those times...
Lauren Grant will never forget that one fateful summer that changed her life and showed her how cruel the world can really be. But she's willing to fight for her happiness. Several years later, divorced with an adorable daughter, Lauren owns a cafe and is living life the way she always wanted - minus the husband. Yet all this changes when an act of vandalism destroys her shop, and brings her closer to her parents' new, charming neighbour, Charlie Clark. Can Lauren and Charlie find who's behind the hateful acts that target her in time? And how will Charlie convince her to give love and intimacy a second chance?
I enjoyed this story up to a certain point. I'm a sucker for small, cozy towns, and love heroines who don't mind trying their hardest to work things out in their life, instead of acting like poor, helpless victims. Lauren was a sweetheart, and Charlie's courting was too freaking adorable to survive at times.
I'll admit there wasn't much sexiness in this one, but hey, I think it made the book more realistic that way! Lauren still had that trauma to overcome, so it makes sense for her to be hesitant upon close contact with a male.
What brought the rating down was the suspense. Either I'm getting so damn good at guessing what's going to happen next because of all those books I've read, or the story was predictable. If there was some other element to take my mind off of it - sex, action, I don't know - it wouldn't have seemed so glaringly obvious to me. As it was, though, it took away the fun and the thrill books like this are supposed to give the reader...
"I wasn’t expecting it, wasn’t looking for it, but it happened, and I’m here. It scares me to death to admit, even to myself, but I love you, too, Charlie Clark." - Lauren Taylor Grant
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
OK, yes, I do enjoy romantic suspense. In fact, I love it! But there are times when I feel like there's something missing, and in this book's case, this was one of those times...
Lauren Grant will never forget that one fateful summer that changed her life and showed her how cruel the world can really be. But she's willing to fight for her happiness. Several years later, divorced with an adorable daughter, Lauren owns a cafe and is living life the way she always wanted - minus the husband. Yet all this changes when an act of vandalism destroys her shop, and brings her closer to her parents' new, charming neighbour, Charlie Clark. Can Lauren and Charlie find who's behind the hateful acts that target her in time? And how will Charlie convince her to give love and intimacy a second chance?
I enjoyed this story up to a certain point. I'm a sucker for small, cozy towns, and love heroines who don't mind trying their hardest to work things out in their life, instead of acting like poor, helpless victims. Lauren was a sweetheart, and Charlie's courting was too freaking adorable to survive at times.
I'll admit there wasn't much sexiness in this one, but hey, I think it made the book more realistic that way! Lauren still had that trauma to overcome, so it makes sense for her to be hesitant upon close contact with a male.
What brought the rating down was the suspense. Either I'm getting so damn good at guessing what's going to happen next because of all those books I've read, or the story was predictable. If there was some other element to take my mind off of it - sex, action, I don't know - it wouldn't have seemed so glaringly obvious to me. As it was, though, it took away the fun and the thrill books like this are supposed to give the reader...
"I wasn’t expecting it, wasn’t looking for it, but it happened, and I’m here. It scares me to death to admit, even to myself, but I love you, too, Charlie Clark." - Lauren Taylor Grant
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
Want to read
July 8, 2013Free iBook.
December 26, 2015
Great story
Great Book can't wait to read more of TL's stories!!
The story really takes you into the heart of this small town and the people's lives who live there!
Great Book can't wait to read more of TL's stories!!
The story really takes you into the heart of this small town and the people's lives who live there!
December 20, 2023
I love T. L. Haddix books! And this is another winner!
I have never been a fan of contemporary fiction. I do read it on occasion but my passion has always been historical fiction. I love history and I love historical romance. I read my first historical romance at fifteen, more than (eeek) forty years ago! (thank you Kathleen Woodiwiss).
Anyway, T. L. Haddix is my favorite exception.
Both of my parents are from Appalachia, different parts, so I was hooked as soon as I read Firefly Hollow! I adore that series. They are my go to when life has beaten me up to the point that I need to restore my faith in human beings. I have read that series at lead half a dozen times, likely more. The first eight at least, she snuck the rest in when I was not looking!
Homecoming was a treat. I love romantic suspense as well but have a hard time finding ones that i really like, let alone a series. This was was a winner. Haddix is a master at making her characters come to life for me. I can picture them clearly in my head as if they are standing in front of me. The story was great, I had no idea what to expect I never seen this series before or read anything about them, so it literally unfolded before me.
The plot was complex without being too complicated to follow and I really enjoyed the plot twists that had me gasping aloud. I don't want to give anything away so I am going to leave it at this.
Pardon my shout out to T. L. Haddix, I don't get the chance to leave a lot of reviews so I wanted to kill two birds with one stone.
I have never been a fan of contemporary fiction. I do read it on occasion but my passion has always been historical fiction. I love history and I love historical romance. I read my first historical romance at fifteen, more than (eeek) forty years ago! (thank you Kathleen Woodiwiss).
Anyway, T. L. Haddix is my favorite exception.
Both of my parents are from Appalachia, different parts, so I was hooked as soon as I read Firefly Hollow! I adore that series. They are my go to when life has beaten me up to the point that I need to restore my faith in human beings. I have read that series at lead half a dozen times, likely more. The first eight at least, she snuck the rest in when I was not looking!
Homecoming was a treat. I love romantic suspense as well but have a hard time finding ones that i really like, let alone a series. This was was a winner. Haddix is a master at making her characters come to life for me. I can picture them clearly in my head as if they are standing in front of me. The story was great, I had no idea what to expect I never seen this series before or read anything about them, so it literally unfolded before me.
The plot was complex without being too complicated to follow and I really enjoyed the plot twists that had me gasping aloud. I don't want to give anything away so I am going to leave it at this.
Pardon my shout out to T. L. Haddix, I don't get the chance to leave a lot of reviews so I wanted to kill two birds with one stone.
November 30, 2017
I enjoyed this book. Enough to suggest that other people should check it out as well.
But my main problem is that... I have no idea what genre that this book is trying to be. Is it romance? Healing? Murder mystery?
There was way too much stuff that was going on here, and it left me a little confused, and at times, irritated. It's fine to have multiple stuff going on... I've read murder mysteries and legal dramas with the steamy sex in them.
But the problem was... I sort of got the feeling that the author didn't know what she was going for.
And there were so many different POV switches! As a general rule, I am against them. Especially when it comes to things like... murder mysteries and such. It sort of ruins the fun when you immediately know the “who what when where why and how” right off the bat.
That being said, the story did come together in the end, and it was highly enjoyable. I felt connected to the characters, and cried a bit during the funeral thing at the end.
But my main problem is that... I have no idea what genre that this book is trying to be. Is it romance? Healing? Murder mystery?
There was way too much stuff that was going on here, and it left me a little confused, and at times, irritated. It's fine to have multiple stuff going on... I've read murder mysteries and legal dramas with the steamy sex in them.
But the problem was... I sort of got the feeling that the author didn't know what she was going for.
And there were so many different POV switches! As a general rule, I am against them. Especially when it comes to things like... murder mysteries and such. It sort of ruins the fun when you immediately know the “who what when where why and how” right off the bat.
That being said, the story did come together in the end, and it was highly enjoyable. I felt connected to the characters, and cried a bit during the funeral thing at the end.
October 5, 2017
This is, I presume the first of a series. I enjoyed being introduced to all the characters and would be interested in their stories.
This story was based on the romance between Lauren Grant, a single Mum, and Charlie Clark a newcomer. You also have Charity Vaughn who is somehow linked to Lauren.
Someone is coming after Charity and Lauren who is linked to their shared past. Can Charlie keep Lauren safe?
I liked the characters and how this was written but the conclusion was a let down nd appeared rushed as if the author had reached their word limit.
I would read another book by this author but it would definately not be on the top of the pile.
Thank you to net galley and T L Haddix for an ARC
This story was based on the romance between Lauren Grant, a single Mum, and Charlie Clark a newcomer. You also have Charity Vaughn who is somehow linked to Lauren.
Someone is coming after Charity and Lauren who is linked to their shared past. Can Charlie keep Lauren safe?
I liked the characters and how this was written but the conclusion was a let down nd appeared rushed as if the author had reached their word limit.
I would read another book by this author but it would definately not be on the top of the pile.
Thank you to net galley and T L Haddix for an ARC
January 15, 2023
This book was intriguing and kept me reading until the end, but there was way too many side characters for my liking. It almost seemed like she crammed half the small town's people into this story and it got confusing figuring out who's who and who was related to who. Our main characters are Lauren, Charlie, and I'm going to include Charity as well because she played a big part in this story. Lauren and Charlie's romance felt like it got pushed to the back burner with everything else happening. I don't understand Charity's motives for doing what she did to Lauren when they were teenagers. Why would you want your best friend to go through the same trauma you have?? It wasn't an awful book, but there were things about it that could have been better.
October 4, 2017
As you read this book you learn the importance of forgiveness, family, and love. Charity and Lauren are at different points in their lives, both searching for closure and family; what happens when everything that you once believed changed in a blink of an eye? This was a book that kept the reading at the edge of their seat until the last page. If you could be anyone you wanted to be would it really help erase the past? Thank you NetGalley and T.L.Haddix for allowing me to read this ARC and write a honest review.
October 10, 2017
So this book is listed under Romance Suspense. Yes this book does have romance but I really didn't find it suspenseful. You know who the bad guy is early on in the book and you pretty much wait to see what he does. I am not saying the book is bad, I did enjoy it. I just didn't find it suspenseful. I was intrigued by the all the characters in the book and do wonder what happens with everyone else you meet. I believe there is another book after this one that I will be reading.
*Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*
*Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion*
February 15, 2023
A good believable storyline with characters that aren't over done. Dealing with issues that make you cringe & angry & how years later they still affect the people involved. The story slowly takes shape giving you a feeling that something awful is about to happen, then suddenly it's over. The guilty party in a blink of an eye abruptly end the story. Shame it was so quick, I would have liked to see them suffer much more for what they did.
August 21, 2023
romantic and suspenseful
Lauren is getting her new business established and overcoming her past and her fears of the Vernon family. Charity Vaughn is moving back to the county with a new identity and a new business. And unknown to everyone, the Vernon’s are back in town and Troy Vernon is just waiting to start some trouble. But handsome Charlie Clark is also there and available to try to stop it.
Lauren is getting her new business established and overcoming her past and her fears of the Vernon family. Charity Vaughn is moving back to the county with a new identity and a new business. And unknown to everyone, the Vernon’s are back in town and Troy Vernon is just waiting to start some trouble. But handsome Charlie Clark is also there and available to try to stop it.
December 16, 2023
Excellent Read!
Homecoming, written by T.L. Harris as Alex Collins, is the first book in the Olman County romantic suspense novel series. This is also the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. The story is well written, fast paced, filled with excellent world building and interesting characters. There is suspense, secrets, drama, danger, friendships, family and love. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Homecoming, written by T.L. Harris as Alex Collins, is the first book in the Olman County romantic suspense novel series. This is also the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. The story is well written, fast paced, filled with excellent world building and interesting characters. There is suspense, secrets, drama, danger, friendships, family and love. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
January 21, 2018
I obtained this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. I DNF this book, after reading 17% I was so confused with the introduction of so many characters some with an alias that I gave up the ship. There was a chapter that was out of sequence I felt it should have been the instruction chapter instead of later in the book , may be it would have helped a little.
February 23, 2025
An easy romance with guts
I loved the characters from the start. Sometimes it’s hard to really,like them. But not in this story. The ins and outs were light but serious in their own way and they really had outcomes that could turn their lives around and not in a good way. Looking forward to book 2 in this Olman County series. Would recommend this book to all!
I loved the characters from the start. Sometimes it’s hard to really,like them. But not in this story. The ins and outs were light but serious in their own way and they really had outcomes that could turn their lives around and not in a good way. Looking forward to book 2 in this Olman County series. Would recommend this book to all!
July 1, 2018
Blown away.
Words cannot express what this book stirred in me. That things happen like this in so many families is appalling but true. The best part is that healing occurs and strengthens each person.
Words cannot express what this book stirred in me. That things happen like this in so many families is appalling but true. The best part is that healing occurs and strengthens each person.
June 10, 2022
Homecoming by TL Haddix writing as Alex Collins.
Olman County Book One.
Two girls, best friends torn apart as teenagers by a sick and twisted sexual assault. Two women, strangers now, both with...
A slow read. I only liked Lauren character. Slow but readable. 3*.
Olman County Book One.
Two girls, best friends torn apart as teenagers by a sick and twisted sexual assault. Two women, strangers now, both with...
A slow read. I only liked Lauren character. Slow but readable. 3*.
January 22, 2023
Great story
This story has a lot of danger,attraction, suspense and keep you sitting on the edge and turning the pages to see what happens next, looking forward to reading more books from this author
This story has a lot of danger,attraction, suspense and keep you sitting on the edge and turning the pages to see what happens next, looking forward to reading more books from this author
March 8, 2024
Captivating
The writer has a way of pulling you into the story, not just as an observer but as a participant. I enjoyed that she made it a romance without all the descriptions. This was a truly enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next book!
The writer has a way of pulling you into the story, not just as an observer but as a participant. I enjoyed that she made it a romance without all the descriptions. This was a truly enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next book!
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