Perky waitress Crystal Cartwright meets handsome Detective Jack Dunlevy after she makes the gruesome discovery of the body of Manny, a dead homeless man who hangs around in front of her building.  Adding to her woes, Dave Erickson, her one-time boyfriend and shady neighbor, has disappeared, leaving his two young sons, Mark and Devon, in Crystal’s care.  Crystal becomes increasingly desperate, although she is aided by her kindly employer, Moe, who makes sure she and the boys eat every day, and turns to Jack for help in locating Dave.  After both Dave’s and Crystal’s apartments are ransacked, Jack decides to take the intriguing Crystal and the boys into protective custody at his house.  Crystal and Jack are increasingly attracted to each other, but the danger to Crystal and the boys is paramount in Jack’s mind before he can yield to his desires.  Will the hidden FAMILY SECRETS derail this relationship before it even has a chance to begin?

Chock full of surprises, twists and turns, FAMILY SECRETS is a roller coaster ride of a story that doesn’t let go until the very end.  Crystal and Jack are perfect examples of flawed characters who are painfully in need of healing, acceptance and love.  Ms. Hill has done a wonderful job of portraying their vulnerabilities without them losing the strength that was necessary to endure all of the hard knocks life has dealt them.  Ms. Hill also wrote the boys very well and true to life, especially for children who have survived an abusive situation.  This reviewer was sucked in from the very beginning of this well-written suspense and was left guessing throughout, which is the hallmark of superb romantic suspense.  The sexual tension is thick, and readers should be pleased with the steamy romantic scenes.  This was this reviewer’s first story by Ms. Hill, but it certainly will not be her last!  All lovers of romantic suspense should flock to get this stunner of a tale!

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