The Last Camellia

Once again, Sarah Jio has captured my attention with her newest novel The Last Camellia (B+). This fascinating story spanning decades from WWII to present day is as enchanting as her previous novels.

Addison is married to Rex. While their marriage is a good one, Addison has been unable to be honest with him.  She lives with a secret. She fears that once Rex knows the truth about her; he won’t love her anymore.

Her husband’s family has just purchased Livingston Manor, an old estate in London. While there, Rex and Addison discover that the Livingston family has secrets too. Anna Livingston, a young wife and mother, died in her camellia orchard. The circumstances of her death have often been questioned. With renewed curiosity, Rex and Addison investigate this age-old mystery.  While doing so, long held secrets reveal themselves.

I love the way Sarah Jio tells a story. She captures the essence of characters and weaves an intricate tale that is a joy to read. She is an author always on my radar. With me, she has a life-long fan.

 

The Husband’s Secret

 

The Husband’s Secret (B) by Liane Moriarty is a novel about the power of secrets. They control the person who keeps them and can destroy those unaware. Cecilia, Tess and Rachel are victims of secrets.

Cecilia, a wife and mother, is organized to a fault. She is a multi-tasker and prepared for every eventuality.  Her world derails when she discovers a letter her husband wrote many years ago meant to be found upon his death. Once she opens his letter, the secret it contains changes her life forever.

Tess runs a successful advertising business with her husband and cousin. When Will and Felicity confess to Tess that they are “in love”; her world turns upside down.

And Rachel, the school secretary, seeks closure of the unsolved murder of her daughter. She is haunted by secrets she has harbored about that day and is determined that punishment be delivered to the man she believes killed Janie.

The details of their lives can sometimes become a bit confusing but the characters are strong enough to engage the reader. By the middle of the book, the secrets and their consequences drive the story until the conclusion.

I am glad that I won this advanced edition of The Husband’s Secret   I was unaware of Liane Moriarty before but now that the secret’s out I will investigate her further.