THE SECRET SIN

Author: Darlene Gardner ISBN: 9780373715800 8/2009 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARELQUIN

Annie Sublinski was sixteen when a brief encounter with Ryan Whitmore left her pregnant. Ryan stood by her decision to give up their baby for adoption. Now that child is here in Indigo Springs, forcing Annie to confront the man she's been avoiding all these years.... It seems she underestimated Ryan. He wants to get to know the daughter he thought he'd never see. And her mother. As old feelings resurface, Ryan surprises Annie with the intensity of his passion. He refuses to give up on her...on all of them. But Annie has to forgive herself for the past if she has any hope of building a future.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Darlene Gardner’s THE SECRET SIN is an absolute pleasure! I have to admit I am already enamored with the town of Indigo Springs, so returning to the idyllic spot was definitely no hardship! And as Ms. Gardner’s previous Indigo Springs books have been favorites of mine, it came as no surprise that I enjoyed this one as well.

Annie and Ryan have a long history but neither is aware that the secret from their past is about to hit them smack-dab between the eyes. They have not spoken in over a decade, and it looks like they won’t need to do so at all—that is, until the baby they gave up for adoption shows up unexpectedly to visit Annie’s father. Lindsey leaves home to visit “Uncle Frank” without telling anyone, so when she calls with the hopes of being picked up, Annie is not only surprised by the intrusion, she is intrigued. It doesn’t take long to figure out her father has kept a secret of his own, namely his relationship with Lindsey. It is fortunate for all that what Lindsey needs is precisely what Annie and Ryan can give—and vice versa.

While I love the twist on the secret baby plot, and the mystery surrounding the unraveling of this family’s past, I most enjoyed the realistic tone of this tale. Emotions, both positive and negative, have a place in the story. There aren’t any characters who feel contrived. Rather, they are so fully fleshed out that they are easily seen and heard. And, as usual, Indigo Springs is portrayed so vividly I’d love to put it on my vacation planner!

THE SECRET SIN is a feel-good tale about life, love and the consequences of secrets kept. I enjoyed it, and I believe others will, too.

Kay James