Published: February 13, 2018
Kiersten Modglin

Kiersten Modglin is a suspense author who enjoys dabbling in all the sub-genres. A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes super-fan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book. More than anything, she loves reading & creating life-changing stories.

“I never want you to feel like you have to hide any part of who you are or how you feel.”

Peighton has a full life. She is the wife of a senator, a busy mom, and she is surrounded by love and support. Or so she thinks. One morning, her intuition keeps nagging at her, so Peighton picks her teenage son up from a friend's house and drives home. What they find will be the beginning of a sordid tale, filled with secrets, twists, turns, and lies. When everyone has a motive- who can you trust?

Whoa, nelly. Was this ever a doozy. We meet Peighton right away, and immediately we discover that she is pretty much the epitome of selfless love. She is such a genuinely compassionate character, and it is evident in every interaction she has throughout this book. Her character radiates unconditional love: self-sacrifice, selflessness, and loyalty.

I wasn’t sure about Clay at first. Because I know how these things go in a KMod book... you truly never know who you should trust or who is a “good” guy. And the breadcrumbs leading me to think Clay had ulterior motives were all there.

I enjoyed this book. It is an emotional story, driven by loyalty, love, acceptance, and truth. Losing someone you love, tragically and unexpectedly, is devastating in a way that truly has no words. Kiersten captured that feeling in such a raw, vulnerable, catastrophic way. You feel the characters breaking. You feel their raw, rough emotions. That isn’t easy to do, and it’s even harder to do well.

The emotional elements of this book are on point. And as every secret starts to be revealed, the hurt and despair begin to give way to anger... Kiersten takes us through all five stages of grief. KMod brilliantly delivers all five stages of the grieving process through each of the characters, and it is such an intricate dance that unwinds throughout this book.

The twists, turns, and the truth are so unexpected. There are so many bombshell moments that left me with my jaw on the floor. And so many lovely moments that are so beautifully written I had to take a moment to compose myself. Peighton is such a simple character. But she is also such a complex presence. She has a strength that no one realizes; she is smart, she is capable, she is giving, and she is willing to take less for herself if it means those she loves to have more.

This is a story about finding yourself, forgiveness, love, acceptance, and understanding that some secrets are just better left as secrets. ( )