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Before The Storm #2
Secrets She Left Behind
One afternoon, single mother Sara Weston says that she's going to the store - and never returns. In her absence, she leaves her teenage son alone with his damaged past and a legacy of secrets.
Keith Weston nearly lost his life in an act of arson. He survived - but with devastating physical and emotional scars. Without his mother, he has no one to help him heal, no money, nothing to live for but the medications that numb his pain. Isolated and angry, his hatred has one tight focus: his half sister, Maggie Lockwood.
Nineteen-year-old Maggie Lockwood spent a year in prison for the acts that led up to the fire. Now she's back home. But her release cannot free her from the burden of guilt she carries. She grew up with Keith Weston, played with him as a child…and recently learned they share the same father.
Now the person Keith despises most is the closest thing he has to family - until Sara returns. If Sara returns….
490 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
784 people are currently reading
8903 people want to read
About the author
Diane Chamberlain
80 books15.1k followersDiane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 28 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed doctor’s appointment with nothing more than a pad, a pen, and an idea. She was instantly hooked.
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.
More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.
Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.
More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.
Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 758 reviews
July 20, 2020
Brilliant sequel to Before the Storm, which was an amazing book in itself but Secrets she left behind was equally amazing. A year after the fire we catch up with Maggie, Andy and Keith and how their lives have changed forever since the fire, the consequences of the actions and how and they deal with them.
This author always manages to draw me into a story, makes me feel like I'm there in the plot and makes me care about every single character.
If you've not read these two books and you enjoy women's fiction, id thoroughly recommend them.
This author always manages to draw me into a story, makes me feel like I'm there in the plot and makes me care about every single character.
If you've not read these two books and you enjoy women's fiction, id thoroughly recommend them.
November 7, 2016
Chamberlain has done a wonderful job in writing this follow-up, something which many authors struggle to do. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but is best enjoyed as a sequel to Before The Storm.
It was interesting to hear the story from new perspectives, and although some parts are repeated as per the first book, the writing flows well and it kept my attention successfully.
Like its predecessor, this is a relatively large book which makes the climax seem a long time coming. I felt this could have happened a little sooner, and the author dedicate more to 'after.' However do not let this deter you, because it's still a very good read.
As a loyal Chamberlain fan, this is a firm recommendation for lovers of fiction.
It was interesting to hear the story from new perspectives, and although some parts are repeated as per the first book, the writing flows well and it kept my attention successfully.
Like its predecessor, this is a relatively large book which makes the climax seem a long time coming. I felt this could have happened a little sooner, and the author dedicate more to 'after.' However do not let this deter you, because it's still a very good read.
As a loyal Chamberlain fan, this is a firm recommendation for lovers of fiction.
June 12, 2009
I don't agree with any of the reviews I've read. Don't get me wrong - I love Diane Chamberlain's books, but this one didn't do it for me. It was way too long and while it gives a back story to some of the events of "Before the Storm", honestly, who cares? We knew of all of this from the first book. Two thirds into the book, I was so tired of all the whiny characters. Most of the book is boring filler and didn't move me at all. I also feel that Jen should also have been given a voice so that I could have better understood her actions at the end. Why the tower? and why Andy? Most readers think that the author will revisit the Lockwoods in another book. I can't understand why and I'd likely pass.
April 2, 2010
Nothing is more annoying than when you are reading a book and you begin to suspect it is a sequel. You can always tell when the past histories of the side character's are a bit too complicated and keep getting thrown in as an aside. "Julie's cousin, whose husband had been murdered the previous year when she found out her three children were actually aliens, came over for super".
I don't know why they don't just write on the cover that it is a sequel. As soon as you find out, it ruins the current book because you realize you don't know the full story, and it also ruins the prequel because now you know the ending. Diane Chamberlain is a great author, but if you're going to read this one, find the first one (still not sure what the title is) and read it first.
I don't know why they don't just write on the cover that it is a sequel. As soon as you find out, it ruins the current book because you realize you don't know the full story, and it also ruins the prequel because now you know the ending. Diane Chamberlain is a great author, but if you're going to read this one, find the first one (still not sure what the title is) and read it first.
May 10, 2009
As a bookseller, I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of this novel, the sequel to BEFORE THE STORM. With the exception of a few books (such as Marisa de los Santos' BELONG TO ME), I am usually a bit disappointed with sequels. SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND is one of the few exceptions...I loved it!
SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND is full of new twists and secrets. I am afraid to write too much about the story for fear of giving something away. But I do highly recommend it to Diane Chamberlain fans. If you have not already read BEFORE THE STORM, please read it first and then read SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND. You will not be disappointed. I could barely put either of them down!
SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND is full of new twists and secrets. I am afraid to write too much about the story for fear of giving something away. But I do highly recommend it to Diane Chamberlain fans. If you have not already read BEFORE THE STORM, please read it first and then read SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND. You will not be disappointed. I could barely put either of them down!
May 10, 2024
Patiko gal net labiau nei pirmoji knyga.
Paslaptys, skausmas, pavydas, neapykanta, atleidimas.
Kiekvienas skyrius aprašomas vis kito veikėjo vardu, jo jausmai ir nuomonė.
Paslaptys, skausmas, pavydas, neapykanta, atleidimas.
Kiekvienas skyrius aprašomas vis kito veikėjo vardu, jo jausmai ir nuomonė.
March 25, 2019
I definitely enjoyed reading this and it was a page turner for me, but I would say that I liked the first book in the series more. Lots of drama, just like in the first book. Apparently I like that if it is well done. One big problem for me though involved the big climax at the end. The intended target didn't make sense, and it wasn't explained as to why. However, this author remains one of my favorites. I enjoy her Facebook posts as well.
August 13, 2016
I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. It was very repetitive. Once again I enjoyed Andy's chapters the best in this one too, but none of the others I'm afraid. I found many times that it was unbelievable. There were some events and conversations that were very unrealistic, especially those featuring Keith and his conversations, actions and response to the disappearance of Sara. Overall, I felt that the sequel was unnecessary and I really didn't see the point of it, the first book was enough.
May 17, 2019
This sequel to “Before the Storm” felt redundant and unnecessary. There were also times when my face physically scrunched up disgust, specifically detailed sex scenes about teenagers. I couldn’t wait for it to end.
November 29, 2014
Great sequel to Before the Storm. I only wish this was a longer series.
June 15, 2023
Knygos tęsinys "Prieš audrą". Man visada labai patinka, tęsiniai. Nors retai, kada būna įdomu,dažniausiai tik pirmą dalis. Bet čia, šitą knygą vertinčiau, net geriau. Dugiau nenuspėjamų įvykių, šeimos paslapčių. Taip pat labai puikiai aprašyti, kiekvieno veikėjo jausmai, mintis, ir požiūris, kiekviename skyriuje, vis kalba kitas veikėjas. Gražiai, gal liūdnokai baigėsi knyga.
June 20, 2024
Hmm…. Itraukė,bet nebuvo tokia stipri. Per daug prifantazuota šįkart.
September 1, 2017
I loved this sequel for so many reasons, there are so many parts to it, each really pulling you in to the characters world. it made me feel so many emotions and I didn't want to put it down!
January 18, 2014
Maggie is finally leaving prison. She had been behind bars for the last one year. Convicted for setting a fire that killed many children, and one that almost took her own brother’s life, she is in living hell. Her release from prison, sadly hasn’t released her from the prison of guilt.
Keith Wes has had his life turned upside down in the last year. He almost lost his life, by an act of arson. He has been terribly disfigured, and now the person responsible for it all is coming back from prison. He feels that Maggie had it easy. The fact that Maggie and he are half siblings has not helped, given the fact that he and his mother Sara live in half poverty, while Maggie and her family live in comparative opulence.
The day that Maggie is release, is already one full of tension for Keith and to add to that, his mother, goes out to the shops and doesn’t come back. Keith, is left alone, without any money or help, at a time when he needs it the most. His mother, a devoted mother would have never done something like this, so what exactly went wrong, is something Keith and others around him need to find out.
Meanwhile Maggie discovers how much people in her town hate her. Nothing prepares her for the hostility she faces. Nothing she does can ever make up for what she did, and she knows it better than anybody else. Life as she knew it has come to an end. Only the support she has from her family, her mother, uncle and brother keeps her going. But she can’t hide inside her house, she has to make an effort to build a life for herself.
Full of twists and turns, Secrets She Left Behind is a page turner. Family secrets that come tumbling out, secrets that made people behave in ways they might not have, unexpected twists that change the course of the story. What made Sara walk out and not return? Who is Jen, the mysterious girl who befriends both Keith and Maggie. I couldn’t put it down. Narrated by each of the characters, it gives an insight into each of their thoughts. Maggie’s remorse and guilt, Keith’s torment, the rest of Maggie’s family’s lives and experiences and how each of them add interesting facets to the story. A sequel to Before the Storm, I think I enjoyed it even more than the first book. Or is it that I can’t remember it as clearly, I don’t know. What I can say for sure, is that this book was a wonderful read. A quick, exciting page turner, it was un-put-downable.
Keith Wes has had his life turned upside down in the last year. He almost lost his life, by an act of arson. He has been terribly disfigured, and now the person responsible for it all is coming back from prison. He feels that Maggie had it easy. The fact that Maggie and he are half siblings has not helped, given the fact that he and his mother Sara live in half poverty, while Maggie and her family live in comparative opulence.
The day that Maggie is release, is already one full of tension for Keith and to add to that, his mother, goes out to the shops and doesn’t come back. Keith, is left alone, without any money or help, at a time when he needs it the most. His mother, a devoted mother would have never done something like this, so what exactly went wrong, is something Keith and others around him need to find out.
Meanwhile Maggie discovers how much people in her town hate her. Nothing prepares her for the hostility she faces. Nothing she does can ever make up for what she did, and she knows it better than anybody else. Life as she knew it has come to an end. Only the support she has from her family, her mother, uncle and brother keeps her going. But she can’t hide inside her house, she has to make an effort to build a life for herself.
Full of twists and turns, Secrets She Left Behind is a page turner. Family secrets that come tumbling out, secrets that made people behave in ways they might not have, unexpected twists that change the course of the story. What made Sara walk out and not return? Who is Jen, the mysterious girl who befriends both Keith and Maggie. I couldn’t put it down. Narrated by each of the characters, it gives an insight into each of their thoughts. Maggie’s remorse and guilt, Keith’s torment, the rest of Maggie’s family’s lives and experiences and how each of them add interesting facets to the story. A sequel to Before the Storm, I think I enjoyed it even more than the first book. Or is it that I can’t remember it as clearly, I don’t know. What I can say for sure, is that this book was a wonderful read. A quick, exciting page turner, it was un-put-downable.
December 14, 2009
I have become an avid reader of Diane Chamberlain's books. After reading, "The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes," I was anxious to dive into another book and picked up a copy of, "Before the Storm" at the library. As a warning, this book is a sequel to "Before the Storm," and I would definitely skip reading the reviews if you haven't read the first novel yet.
We rejoin the Lockwood family in this sequel following Maggie's prison sentence for the arson that she committed to a community church. She rejoins society only to be welcomed with great anger from the families of those that were lost or injured and finds it is more difficult to return to society than she could ever imagine. Even simple things like volunteering her time to charity becomes difficult because no one wants to be associated with her. She deals with the guilt for the wrong she has done and is faced with learning to try and love herself again. She is happily surprised when she meets a new girl in town who befriends her and seems to look past her faults. Will this friendship help Maggie love herself again?
In the meantime, Keith, Sara's son, discovers that his mother has disappeared without a trace. He is now left alone with the burns from the fire, the emotional and physical pain that he now has to endure alone, and his anger towards Maggie for what she has done. Abandoned by his mother, he is forced to get help from the Lockwood family to help him survive the day-to-day expenses. Luckily, he meets a girl who makes him feel somewhat whole again and can look past his scars to the person he is.
The plot thickens as Sara's past is told through her eyes, Keith and Maggie finally see each other after her time in jail, Maggie tries to find a way to forgive herself, Keith deals with the abandonment of his mom, and a surprising twist occurs at the end that will take the reader by surprise.
I found this to be a really satisfying read especially since I was so disappointed with the abrupt ending of the first book. I was able to read this in just a few nights and would love for the story of the Lockwoods to continue!
While some sequels can be read without reading the first book, this is one that you really need to read the first book to really get all of the family drama. It is a twisted family tree and reading the first book will provide reference to just how tangled those branches are!
We rejoin the Lockwood family in this sequel following Maggie's prison sentence for the arson that she committed to a community church. She rejoins society only to be welcomed with great anger from the families of those that were lost or injured and finds it is more difficult to return to society than she could ever imagine. Even simple things like volunteering her time to charity becomes difficult because no one wants to be associated with her. She deals with the guilt for the wrong she has done and is faced with learning to try and love herself again. She is happily surprised when she meets a new girl in town who befriends her and seems to look past her faults. Will this friendship help Maggie love herself again?
In the meantime, Keith, Sara's son, discovers that his mother has disappeared without a trace. He is now left alone with the burns from the fire, the emotional and physical pain that he now has to endure alone, and his anger towards Maggie for what she has done. Abandoned by his mother, he is forced to get help from the Lockwood family to help him survive the day-to-day expenses. Luckily, he meets a girl who makes him feel somewhat whole again and can look past his scars to the person he is.
The plot thickens as Sara's past is told through her eyes, Keith and Maggie finally see each other after her time in jail, Maggie tries to find a way to forgive herself, Keith deals with the abandonment of his mom, and a surprising twist occurs at the end that will take the reader by surprise.
I found this to be a really satisfying read especially since I was so disappointed with the abrupt ending of the first book. I was able to read this in just a few nights and would love for the story of the Lockwoods to continue!
While some sequels can be read without reading the first book, this is one that you really need to read the first book to really get all of the family drama. It is a twisted family tree and reading the first book will provide reference to just how tangled those branches are!
March 19, 2019
Well... I LOVED THIS! I didn't think it was possible to love a story as much I loved this one yet here I am tearing up about it when I finished it, like, four days ago. Oh look, I've got goosebumps! LOL. What a wonderful story, the pace and characters so beautifully crafted that I just read and read and never wanted it to stop. It was quite an interesting scenario, with Maggie going to prison and being released after a year, and Keith being her brother but also a victim from the fire. One thing that resonated with me was everyone's emotions. They were so raw and real, so much so that I found myself tearing up, or talking out aloud, or cursing at or with them. It was that easy to lose yourself among the characters. I didn't care for Sara at all I'm afraid. It goes without saying that Jamie was a twat, not matter how hard he tried to justify himself, but I didn't care for Sara's constant manipulation of the situation. She knowingly entered that afraid knowing that he was married, that's wrong. Period. It added to the story though, and let's be honest that's how things happen in real life anyway, so I'm glad it was in there but I do have very strong opinions on that topic.
Jen was a very interesting character in this story. I knew something was up with here but I couldn't put my finger on it and I didn't see the twist coming! I think twists are always expected in thriller/suspense type novels, so much so, that when you read something like this you don't necessarily expect them. So when you get one, I think it's the sign of a pretty spectacular, beautifully written, all consuming work of art. I couldn't recommend this story more.
Jen was a very interesting character in this story. I knew something was up with here but I couldn't put my finger on it and I didn't see the twist coming! I think twists are always expected in thriller/suspense type novels, so much so, that when you read something like this you don't necessarily expect them. So when you get one, I think it's the sign of a pretty spectacular, beautifully written, all consuming work of art. I couldn't recommend this story more.
June 15, 2014
4.5 stars
Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Us humans are such complex characters and I think Secrets She Left Behind really shows that.
This is the sequel to Before the Storm and although it mostly tells the same story this book looks into each characters thoughts and behaviours much more than Before The Storm does.
I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about each characters and why they felt and did what they did.
I found Maggie to be quite a righteous person who was very self centred. Although she had a lot of guilt to contend with and I suppose ultimately I can understand her behaviour.
I liked Keiths character a lot more in the book and really found myself feeling for him and wanting him to be happy again.
I do wish there was more of a scandal around Jen; I knew something was up with her and I kept coming up with scenarios whilst I was reading and although I do think her ending worked I did find myself wanting it to all be a bit more dramatic.
This book just goes to show that even the closest families and communities can be flawed and that those people you look at and think have a charmed life could be paddling a lot harder than you would think under the surface.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Us humans are such complex characters and I think Secrets She Left Behind really shows that.
This is the sequel to Before the Storm and although it mostly tells the same story this book looks into each characters thoughts and behaviours much more than Before The Storm does.
I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about each characters and why they felt and did what they did.
I found Maggie to be quite a righteous person who was very self centred. Although she had a lot of guilt to contend with and I suppose ultimately I can understand her behaviour.
I liked Keiths character a lot more in the book and really found myself feeling for him and wanting him to be happy again.
I do wish there was more of a scandal around Jen; I knew something was up with her and I kept coming up with scenarios whilst I was reading and although I do think her ending worked I did find myself wanting it to all be a bit more dramatic.
This book just goes to show that even the closest families and communities can be flawed and that those people you look at and think have a charmed life could be paddling a lot harder than you would think under the surface.
July 27, 2009
This is a wonderful followup to the characters and stories introduced in BEFORE THE STORM. It left me a bit puzzled on some of the plotlines, though, considering that we are in the times of cell phones and the Internet. With that being said, this is a wonderful story of hope and redemption. The author grabs you from page one and doesn't let go until the final word! I loved these characters so much that I am hoping for a third book about the Lockwoods! The author creates such a realistic portrayal of each character that I was envisioning this book as a movie or tv show as I read it! Although it probably isn't necessary, I do recommend reading the first book, BEFORE THE STORM, before reading this one. You will get a better sense of the entire family and delve a bit deeper into the characters presented in the first book. Some of the major plotlines are told from a different perspective in this book, which I loved! It was a really intriguing way of telling the story and it worked really well in these books. Recommended!
June 14, 2016
I always enjoy Diane Chamberlain and this didn't disappoint. This is the follow on from 'Before the Storm' which I loved. I always seem to read her books reasonably quickly. She writes such gripping storylines and great characters. It could probably be read on its own, but I think reading the first would help, understanding the plot and how the characters link.
There are lots of truths and family relationships brought unexpectedly to the fore....I like when these kind of things pop up, and you go 'omg...wasn't expecting that'.
This was a worthy follow on read and recommend it. Each chapter is narrated by one of the characters. Sometimes this can be annoying but never so with Diane Chamberlain's writing I find. There have been lots of mixed reviews for this book, but I think you just have to go ahead and read it and make up your own mind...especially if you have read the 'Before the Storm.
And thank you Hayley again for sending this on to me... :)
There are lots of truths and family relationships brought unexpectedly to the fore....I like when these kind of things pop up, and you go 'omg...wasn't expecting that'.
This was a worthy follow on read and recommend it. Each chapter is narrated by one of the characters. Sometimes this can be annoying but never so with Diane Chamberlain's writing I find. There have been lots of mixed reviews for this book, but I think you just have to go ahead and read it and make up your own mind...especially if you have read the 'Before the Storm.
And thank you Hayley again for sending this on to me... :)
May 13, 2010
This is a sequel to Before The Storm, which I read about a year ago. I couldn't remember all the family details, so I think it is better if you read both books together. This book deals with Maggie, a teenager who went to prison for 1 year after setting a fire where 3 people were killed and one seriously scarred. The people she has to face and the hatred from the small community make this an interesting book to read. Jen's character was not very well developed and I had a lot of questions regarding her actions. Also Sara's accident--what caused it? Was it truly an accident? I don't want to give too much away, because it really is a book worth reading. There was some crude language that I didn't think was necessary.
February 16, 2022
Secrets She Left Behind is a sequel to Before the Storm. I enjoyed it just as much as I did Before the Storm. In this novel, Maggie gets released after serving a year in prison for her part in the fire at a church which killed 3 people and seriously injured others, including Keith Weston. Keith's mother, Sara, disappears and it takes weeks before she is found. Keith is filled with anger and bitterness over his condition of a badly scarred face along with other burns requiring physical therapy. In the meantime, both Keith and Maggie are deceived by a young woman who calls herself Jen Parker. Maggie is required to do community service but many people in the community are unhappy with her short prison term and make it nearly impossible for her to find a place to serve even though she likes her work at a hospital.
There is a lot of drama in this novel for both Keith and Maggie. Maggie struggles with guilt and shame in addition to the anger and resentment from others. Keith is not only filled with anger but desperate for his mother to be found.
The novel goes back and forth between the present day and the past, The past is Sara's story and the present is told in Maggie and Keith's stories. The story definitely keep me riveted wanting to find out what had happened to Sara and what the real story behind Jen Parker is.
There is a lot of drama in this novel for both Keith and Maggie. Maggie struggles with guilt and shame in addition to the anger and resentment from others. Keith is not only filled with anger but desperate for his mother to be found.
The novel goes back and forth between the present day and the past, The past is Sara's story and the present is told in Maggie and Keith's stories. The story definitely keep me riveted wanting to find out what had happened to Sara and what the real story behind Jen Parker is.
August 14, 2021
I’m going to review this after I read the first book in what I didn’t realize was a series. Having read both books now I think the plot would work better as a single book. As others have said in their reviews, there’s a lot of overlapping plot points between the two. I did like this one, but I wish Sara hadn’t died, it seemed extraneous. There were enough twists and dysfunction already.
Jen’s story was not fleshed out, I had trouble connecting her to the girl Andy knew from the church. I don’t think she would have changed so much, Jen didn’t seem to have the limitations that the girl from the fire did. Can’t remember her name.
These books didn’t have the flow and the detailed connections between some of the characters that her other books of hers I have read. 3 1/2 stars
Jen’s story was not fleshed out, I had trouble connecting her to the girl Andy knew from the church. I don’t think she would have changed so much, Jen didn’t seem to have the limitations that the girl from the fire did. Can’t remember her name.
These books didn’t have the flow and the detailed connections between some of the characters that her other books of hers I have read. 3 1/2 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
Absolutnie uwielbiam Diane Chamberlain i jej książki i choć łapię się czasem na myśli, że czytam je zdecydowanie za rzadko, to jednak jest to zabieg zamierzony - nie chcę, żeby zbyt szybko się skończyły.
I choć ta książka absolutnie skradła moje serce i skończyłam ją ze łzami w oczach, to jednak skłamię, jeśli nie powiem, że była zdecydowanie zbyt długa. Te prawie 600 stron nie było koniecznie, bo momentami wpadała nudę i zaczynała się dłużyć - było to dostrzegalne zwłaszcza pod koniec. Mimo tych małych wpadek jest świetnym zakończeniem wątków rozpoczętych w pierwszym tomie i kończy się idealnie w punkt, zostawiając czytelnika w poczuciu głębokiego spełnienia.
I choć ta książka absolutnie skradła moje serce i skończyłam ją ze łzami w oczach, to jednak skłamię, jeśli nie powiem, że była zdecydowanie zbyt długa. Te prawie 600 stron nie było koniecznie, bo momentami wpadała nudę i zaczynała się dłużyć - było to dostrzegalne zwłaszcza pod koniec. Mimo tych małych wpadek jest świetnym zakończeniem wątków rozpoczętych w pierwszym tomie i kończy się idealnie w punkt, zostawiając czytelnika w poczuciu głębokiego spełnienia.
February 9, 2020
I read the first book, Before the Storm, in 2009 and, despite having this book on my shelf since that time, have been sidetracked repeatedly and have just finished Secrets She Left Behind. I was able to finish it without difficulty and could recall some of the scenes from the first book. Seven people, all flawed, attempt to exist after the fire without hurting each other and it's very difficult. Secrets, misinformation and lies are rampant but make for a good story.
May 25, 2020
Another great book by Diane Chamberlain! I read the first book in the two book series, “Before the Storm” just a few days prior so it was very fresh in my memory. The author did a nice job telling the events of the first book through the point of view of Keith and his Mother Sarah. My personal takeaway from this book is the importance of empathy and forgiveness and I plan to ask myself each week “Where did I find God?”
November 13, 2020
A very good book about love and loss, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, temporary insanity and much more. An amazing look into the cruelty of people, when someone is just trying to do something good, even tho they had done something bad before!
I enjoy this author's books a lot. Her characters are well drawn and strong, even when they are caught up in their own self-destruction.
I enjoy this author's books a lot. Her characters are well drawn and strong, even when they are caught up in their own self-destruction.
February 27, 2021
I loved this 2 part series. I got very attached to the characters and there was mystery throughout the 2 books, between the 2 book, almost 1,000 pages and I read them in a week's time, you could easily get through these books because they were that good.
March 12, 2023
This is one of Diane Chamberlain's older books, which I picked up at an Elgin Library Book Sale. It's been on the shelf for awhile, which is a shame, because it was a really good read! At times, I read 40-60 pages a night because I wanted to know what was going to happen next!
January 6, 2020
Bad decisions that touched a family .The lives are painfully interwoven but, seem to love each other.
August 24, 2020
This was a good conclusion to this two-part series. I enjoyed hearing what became of these characters and I liked that the two books could have been read independently, if necessary.
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