Tallie Brown’s life has never made sense. Raised in isolation by her mother, Julia, Tallie was dragged suddenly and without explanation from one third-world outpost to another until life normalized seven years ago when Julia took a position on a mountaintop in the Pacific northwest. But when Julia unexpectedly dies, Tallie uncovers clues suggesting that Julia had a secret life. Journalistic phenom Jackson James is still recovering from the devastating mistake that flatlined his promising career. Now he’s paying the price, working as the editor of a syrupy community rag in a posh D.C. suburb. But when the very man who destroyed him drops a tantalizing lead about a potential D.C. scandal, the reporter sees his chance for redemption and sets off to chase the story. Jackson’s investigation leads him to Cutler’s Ridge, a dying Virginia coal town, and directly into the path of the mysterious and beautiful Tallie. As these two mistrustful loners follow their leads, their stories begin to intertwine until they reach an alarming conclusion – something terrible happened in Cutler’s Ridge. As they doggedly pursue the story, the town’s cold reception spirals into threats and danger, proving that there are those who will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden forever –because secrets never die.
Laurie (L.C.) Lewis will always be a Marylander at heart—a weather-whining lover of crabs, American history, and the sea. She admits to being craft-challenged, particularly lethal with a glue gun, and a devotee of sappy movies. Secrets Never Die is Laurie’s twelfth published novel.
Her women’s fiction/romance novels include Love on the Line, (2019), Awakening Avery, (2018), Love on a Limb, (2017), Sweet Water, (2017), The Dragons of Alsace Farm (2016), and
Unspoken (2004), written as Laurie Lewis. Using the pen name L.C. Lewis, she wrote the five volumes of her award-winning FREE MEN and DREAMERS historical romance series, set against the backdrop of the War of 1812: Dark Sky at Dawn (2007), Twilight’s Last Gleaming
(2008), Dawn’s Early Light (2009), Oh, Say Can You See? (2010), and In God is Our Trust, (2011).
Laurie Lewis is a RONE Award Winner (The Dragons of Alsace Farm) and was twice
named a New Apple Literary Award winner in 2017 (The Dragons of Alsace Farm), and in 2018, winning Best New Fiction (Love on a Limb.) She is also a BRAGG Medallion honoree, and she was twice named a Whitney Awards and USA Best Books Awards finalist.
Laurie loves to hear from readers, and she invites you to join her VIP Readers’ Club, or contact her at any of these locations.
Her women’s fiction/romance novels include Love on the Line, (2019), Awakening Avery, (2018), Love on a Limb, (2017), Sweet Water, (2017), The Dragons of Alsace Farm (2016), andUnspoken (2004), written as Laurie Lewis. Using the pen name L.C. Lewis, she wrote the five volumes of her award-winning FREE MEN and DREAMERS historical romance series, set against the backdrop of the War of 1812: Dark Sky at Dawn (2007), Twilight’s Last Gleaming
(2008), Dawn’s Early Light (2009), Oh, Say Can You See? (2010), and In God is Our Trust, (2011).
Laurie Lewis is a RONE Award Winner (The Dragons of Alsace Farm) and was twice
named a New Apple Literary Award winner in 2017 (The Dragons of Alsace Farm), and in 2018, winning Best New Fiction (Love on a Limb.) She is also a BRAGG Medallion honoree, and she was twice named a Whitney Awards and USA Best Books Awards finalist.
Laurie loves to hear from readers, and she invites you to join her VIP Readers’ Club, or contact her at any of these locations.
Julia heard the pleading in his voice, and finally she understood what her choices
had cost this man. As the casualties had mounted over the years, she had wondered if
protecting these secrets would all be worth the cost. Now she would never know. She
took a deep breath in preparation for another step, feeling another violent lurch as the
frayed lower rope broke free. Julia clenched the remaining upper rope, determined to
hold on, while dancing her feet along the remaining lower line in the hopes of finding
some support there. There was a momentary calm as she hung by a literal thread
above the jagged trees in the gorge. Looking at her horrified former colleague, she
quietly said, “Go. There’s nothing you can do. If you get caught here, it will all have
been for nothing.”
She watched a sorrowful acceptance slacken his face. His outstretched hand
lowered as he offered a few words of comfort. “I’ll watch out for Tallie.”
Julia jerked her head right, gesturing for him to go and leave her alone.
With a final nod, he turned and walked away without looking back.
had cost this man. As the casualties had mounted over the years, she had wondered if
protecting these secrets would all be worth the cost. Now she would never know. She
took a deep breath in preparation for another step, feeling another violent lurch as the
frayed lower rope broke free. Julia clenched the remaining upper rope, determined to
hold on, while dancing her feet along the remaining lower line in the hopes of finding
some support there. There was a momentary calm as she hung by a literal thread
above the jagged trees in the gorge. Looking at her horrified former colleague, she
quietly said, “Go. There’s nothing you can do. If you get caught here, it will all have
been for nothing.”
She watched a sorrowful acceptance slacken his face. His outstretched hand
lowered as he offered a few words of comfort. “I’ll watch out for Tallie.”
Julia jerked her head right, gesturing for him to go and leave her alone.
With a final nod, he turned and walked away without looking back.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Margaret Margaret