The Secret

In THE SECRET by Shirley Hailstock, Stephanie Hunter is carrying a secret that may have her looking like a gold digger. She has known since the death of her parents that something wasn't quite right. A chance glance at some old documents gives her a clue and eventually puts her on the path to finding her true identity. Stephanie's investigation leads her to the Clayton family where she is immediately drawn into a family crisis when their mom collapses in the restroom and needs medical assistance. Pulled in by her desire to know as much as she can, Stephanie stays around the fringes of the family trying not to be discovered. When a happy client puts her name out there for her superb interior decorating skills, she finds herself propelled into a business venture with the very attractive Owen Clayton who has a reputation as the local Don Juan. Although she is determined only to get to know Owen as a person, Stephanie's feelings begin to get deeper and her secret hangs like an albatross around her neck. For Owen, Stephanie is a woman he cannot get out of his mind. As he succumbs to her spell, doubt begins to set in when her secret is revealed. Will they be able to get past it all? Shirley Hailstock tells a very endearing story about one woman's desire to belong and finding love along the way. With a style of writing that seems to flow effortlessly, Ms. Hailstock continues to focus on the Clayton family with Owen's story in THE SECRET. I enjoyed how she uses the characters to turn a tragedy into not only a sweet love story but a burning awareness of adoption and its benefits. Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers