Introduction

Exciting, emotional, intense. The thrilling follow-up to New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak's highly acclaimed The Secret Sister. The things that happen in families are always surprising and sometimes shocking! 

The rich and powerful Josephine Lazarow, matriarch of Fairham Island, is dead. The police say it's suicide, but Keith, her estranged son, doesn't believe it. 

Keith bears scars—both physical and emotional—from his childhood, but he's worked hard to overcome the past. After walking away from his mother and her controlling ways five years ago, he's built a new life in LA. He's also accumulated a fortune of his own. But as soon as he learns of his mother's death, he returns to Fairham. He feels he owes it to his grandfather to put the family empire together again—and he's determined to find his mother's killer. 

Problem is…coming home to Fairham puts him back in contact with Nancy Dellinger, the woman he hurt so badly when he left before. And digging that deep into his mother's final days and hours entails a very real risk. 

Because the person who killed her could be someone he loves…

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Excerpt

Every family has its secrets and Josephine Lazarow, the rich and powerful matriarch of Fairham Island has more than her share. You learned of one big secret in THE SECRET SISTER, which came out last summer (that was a douzy!). Now the rest of Josephine’s secrets will be revealed in THE SECRET SHE KEPT—and believe me, she’s got a few more.

I hope you enjoy this short excerpt designed to give you a sneak peek of the novel, which just came out today:

Of all the people to offer her a ride, it had to be Keith and his sister, Maisey Lazarow. Although Keith hadn’t said anything since she climbed in, Nancy could see his stunning blue-green eyes in the rearview mirror as he eased into traffic. She still dreamed about those eyes...

Only because she hadn’t found the guy she was going to fall in love with, she quickly told herself. She was working on that; it was just a matter of time. At least ten new prospects from her online dating site had left her a message over the weekend. And more were coming in every day....

“Why were you carrying Simba?” Maisey held her seatbelt away from her body so she could turn around and pet Nancy’s dog.

“He cut his front paw. The vet just cleaned and dressed the wound.”

“You were trying not to let him down until you could get him home?”

“I didn’t see any reason to get his bandage dirty, not with it being so wet out.”

“He’s too big to carry,” Maisey said with a chuckle and settled back into her seat.

Nancy refused to let her gaze shift back to that rearview mirror and what little it revealed of Keith. She could smell his cologne, which was bad enough. “I do it all the time—pick him up and carry him over to the couch so he’ll sit with me, or to the tub out back for his bath. He’d never voluntarily get in the tub. But I’ve never tried to haul him several blocks. The distance makes a difference.”

“I bet,” she agreed. “I’m glad we came upon you.”

“So am I,” Nancy lied and turned her face toward the window so that Keith wouldn’t be able to get a good look at her even if he happened to try.

“How’s business at the flower shop?” he asked.

She cleared her throat. “Better than ever.” They made some small talk about the woman who worked when she didn’t and how the business and grown. Then she said, “I’m sorry about your mother. I...” She wasn’t sure what to add. She knew how he’d felt about Josephine. She also knew that some of his problems revolved around the fact that he couldn’t completely hate her, couldn’t completely turn away from the woman who’d raised him.

Or had he somehow come to terms with cutting Josephine off? Maybe that was why he was doing so much better. “I was shocked and saddened,” she finished.

“Thank you.”

His response was polite, nothing that provided any clue as to how deeply he was hurting. But they’d arrived at her house. There wasn’t any need to make more conversation.

As soon as he came to a full stop, she reached for her dog, but he spoke before she could gather Simba into her arms.

“Did my mom ever say anything to you that sounded like she might be contemplating suicide?”

“No. Gave me no indication whatsoever.”

“Would you say she was acting the same?”

Mrs. Lazarow had been as highly irritable and caustic as ever. But Nancy couldn’t say that. Keith and Maisey had to be mourning no matter how they’d felt about their mother. “I got the impression she was in good spirits. So I’m as stunned as everyone else.”

Simba’s collar jingled as she climbed out. “Thanks for the ride,” she called and managed to close the door with her hip.

Unfortunately, Keith got out, too—and hurried around the car. “Here, I’ll take Simba,” he said. “You go unlock the door.”

She wished Simba would growl or refuse to be touched, but he was the friendliest Chow on the planet. Even if he hadn’t remembered Keith, he wouldn’t have balked. He lowered his ears and wagged his tail in greeting while Keith took him from her.

Traitor. Cursing herself for ever going out of the house this morning, Nancy hurried up the walkway ahead of them--and nearly dropped her keys she was in such a hurry to open the door.

“Go ahead and set him inside.” She watched as Keith put Simba down, at which point Simba limped off to curl up in his bed by the couch.

“Thanks again.” She thought that was it, that she’d soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief and congratulate herself on not melting at the sight of her former lover. But Keith put a hand on the door. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

1. Some people handle adversity better than others. Why do you think that’s the case? What makes the difference? How can one person thrive in spite of their difficulties while others get crushed beneath them?

2. At times, we suffer from the bad decisions of those we love. It often doesn’t seem fair and can cause quite a bit of resentment. What are the dangers of harboring resentment? What’s one way you believe we can overcome resentment?

3. Most people believe that, to a greater or lesser degree, forgiveness should be part of everyone’s life experience. But is there a line beyond which we are justified in holding a grudge? Do you feel that certain characters in this story crossed that line? If so, which one(s)? Would you be able to forgive that person if you were in the same situation?

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