We forgive murderers, not pedophiles.

Not since Lionel Shriver brought us We Need to Talk About Kevin has a writer delved into the complexities of a disturbed mother/son relationship. Until now.

Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center.

His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son?

Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders. It will keep you up at night long after you’ve read the last page, questioning beliefs you once thought were true.

So like usual, I didn’t read the blurb for this book and I’m glad I didn’t. I’d rather go in surprised and I definitely was.

Lucinda took a very tough subject and wrote it in a way that makes you question. What would you do in this situation? Would you help your child and give them what they want even though you would lose them in the process? Would you still love them even though they did something absolutely horrible and disgusting? It would definitely be a hard pill to swallow.

This book is about a 17 year old who is a pedophile. While his mother still loved him through it all, his father, not so much. We eventually find out why and like most of Lucinda’s books, I wasn’t expecting the twist. But it all makes sense now.

I don’t want to give too much away and like normal, I do suggest going into this book completely blind. It’s about a mother’s love and what she would do to help her child and give them what they want even though it hurts at the same time and would leave a gaping hole in its place.

This story was rough and it’s definitely a tough subject, so if you have triggers, please read with caution. I think the person I felt sorry for the most was Noah’s sister. She was completely innocent in all of this.

Now that I’ve finally caught up and read every Lucinda Berry book, I really can’t wait for her next release.

Secrets never stay buried…

Growing up abandoned by her father and raised by a single mother, Celeste was determined to create the perfect family but even perfect families have secrets. Celeste’s days are filled with a rewarding career, a devoted husband, and her four-year-old daughter. Only Celeste knows the precarious house of cards her family is built upon until the day her daughter falls critically ill. Celeste’s world quickly spirals out of control as her secret threatens to destroy her marriage, family, reputation, and sanity. She’ll go to any lengths to protect her family—take any risk, break any law—anything except tell the truth.

“A natural fit for fans of Gone Girl-style narrators and fast moving plots— Closer Weekly

“A gripping psychological thriller…Read it in one sitting—Bookish Girl

Ok, so I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. Like normal, I just one-clicked and went in blind and man, am I ever glad I did. So first thing, IF you decide to read this book, I do suggest not reading the blurb and just diving right in. The ride and experience it took me on, was on a whole other level. I read one chapter yesterday and read the rest today. I haven’t done that in years. I haven’t WANTED to do that in years. It felt nice. Really really nice.

Now for the review.

We meet Celeste and David, who have a daughter named Rori. They’re a loving family but you can almost right away tell that something isn’t quite right. Celeste goes on about That Night and some of the thoughts she has toward her daughter, made me wonder what the heck was going on and why she would think those things toward her own flesh and blood.

Unfortunately, Rori ends up getting sick, really sick actually, and the doctors need to run some tests. And both of the parents. I had a feeling about one of the secrets that came out right away and I was right. I didn’t want to be right but I was.

Once those test results come back, things escalate from there. Rori is still extremely sick and things aren’t going too well for her parents either.

Something happens with Celeste and she ends up leaving. Now her reasoning for leaving completely makes sense. Did I want her to just man up and face the consequences? Yes. But I never actually thought that until now because again, I got it. It was frustrating to say the least but again, I understood. People can make rash decisions when trouble arises, especially if they think they committed a crime.

Celeste ends up moving to a new State and town and meets some amazing people. Fast forward a bit and she realizes she has to go home and come clean. So she does and man, I did not see it coming how this book ends. As a romance reader, it hurts, but as a psycholigical thriller reader, I get it. Do I like it? No. Not one bit. But one of the other things that come out, I predicted and I felt so bad for Celeste. Ugh my heart hurts just thinking about it.

Bottom line, I do highly suggest this book. It’s hands down my favourite of Lucinda Berry’s. Now on to the next one!

Dangerously addictive, The Secrets of Us is a pulse-pounding exploration of a disturbed psyche and the bond between two sisters desperate to escape a troubled past.

Foster sisters Krystal and Nichole have always been there for each other, so when Nichole is committed to a psychiatric hospital after trying to kill her husband, Krystal drops everything to defend her.

Scarred by a hard upbringing, Nichole and Krystal managed to construct comfortable lives for themselves. Krystal became a respected lawyer, and Nichole was happily married to an architect—until Nichole starts raving that her husband isn’t her husband, believing that he’s an imposter.

Driven by fierce loyalty, Krystal starts asking questions, but she’s not sure she can bear the answers. Her investigation leads to the sisters’ dark shared past…to a horrible tragedy and a well-guarded lie that cemented their sisterly bond.

But that lie can’t kill the truth—the battered, gasping, clawing truth that’s coming for them both. Now Krystal and Nichole must both fight for the lives they’ve built before they’re consumed by the one they left behind.

First, I really can’t thank Twinsie Tenise for introducing me to this author. Her books are like nothing I’ve ever read before and I’m slowly making my way through her back list.

The Secrets Of Us was my first 2022 read and what a way to start the year!

We meet foster sisters Nichole and Krystal who unfortunately didn’t have such a wonderful childhood. With an overbearing foster mom with strict rules and another foster sister who made life difficult for them, Krystal and Nichole realized rather quickly that they only had each other.

The book starts out with Krystal finding out her sister Nichole was in the hospital after a tragic accident happened involving both her and her husband. We learn that it wasn’t an accident and was completely intentional but what we don’t know, is why.

This book is filled with twists and turns, the usual Lucinda Berry way, and I was chomping at the bit trying to figure out what was what. It’s a who dunnit type story and we can’t figure out who is telling the truth or not.

One of the things I love about Lucinda’s books, is trying to figure out if my theory is right and usually, I’m wrong. Which makes it even more exciting when the truth comes out.

As per normal, I don’t want to give too much away and I do recommend going into this book completely blind. I didn’t read the blurb. Just saw the cover and that it was by Lucinda and dove in. I suggest doing the same!

What a wonderful way to start a new year of reading.

The sisters went through so much and while Krystal was trying her hardest to protect Nichole, it almost cost her her life in the end. But why? Read the book to find out more as I don’t want to give anything anyway. Just know, that like most of Lucinda’s books, if you think you know, you probably don’t.