Steena Holmes Livres

When Brian finds out that his wife, Diane, is pregnant, he is elated. He's been patiently waiting for twelve years to become a father. But Diane has always been nervous about having children because of her family's dark past. The timing of the pregnancy also isn't ideal - Diane has just been promoted, and Brian is being called away to open a new London office for his company. Fast-forward one year: being a mother has brought Diane a sense of joy that she'd never imagined and she's head over heels for her new baby, Grace. But things are far from perfect: Brian has still not returned from London, and Diane fears leaving the baby for even a moment. As unsettling changes in those around Diane began to emerge, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. A woman's dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.

A mother's near-obsessive devotion to her missing daughter threatens to destroy more than one family. Megan is the harried but happy stay-at-home mother of three little girls living in a small town. Her life implodes when her youngest daughter, Emma, disappears on her third birthday. Two years later, Megan is preparing to commemorate Emma's birthday and the anniversary of her kidnapping, compelled to keep her name alive in the minds of her community and her family. Her commitment to Emma, however, borderlines on obsession as she follows the families of little girls who look like the daughter she lost. Her obsession with finding Emma has distanced Megan from both friends and family. Her two older daughters are resentful of her relentless and fruitless search for their sister, and her husband pleads with her to accept that Emma is gone so that the family can move on with their lives. Meanwhile, in the same small town, Jack is beginning to question his wife's secrecy about their adored granddaughter, Emmie. As Dottie slips into dementia and becomes increasingly protective over Emmie, he can't help but wonder if there could be a dark secret that Dottie is keeping from him. Jack and Megan's worlds finally intersect at the town carnival, when Megan snaps a photograph of a little girl on her grandfather's shoulders.

"After losing her son in an elementary school shooting that devastates the tight-knit community of Stillwater Bay, Jennifer Crowne finds herself unable to settle back into her role of perfect stay-at-home mom and committee organizer. Meanwhile, her best friend, Mayor Charlotte Stone, struggles to keep the town together, and Charlotte's husband, the school principal, may not be the hero everyone thinks him to be. As they try to heal from this irrevocable trauma, Jenn and Charlotte find themselves at a crossroads--within the town and within their friendship. For Jenn, broken and grieving, there is no going back, and she demands that the school be closed so that she can bury the past. Yet Charlotte is equally desperate to hold the town together, fighting the school closure and helping the shooter's mother regain her place in the community. Jenn and Charlotte's relationship is put to the ultimate test as each weighs her own interests against the bonds of their friendship"--Page [4] of cover.

A therapist must face her own worst fear--one of her patients is a serial killer. Danielle Rycroft suspects someone close to her has a dark secret. In the confidential setting of therapy, her patients share their anxieties and fears. Now, with a string of murders in town putting her on edge, Danielle's own worries come close to eclipsing her patients'. In each case, the pattern is the same: parents killed while their children sleep blissfully unaware in their beds. Her best friend, Detective Tami Sloan, is the only person she has confided in. Danielle believes that there's still a secret one patient has yet to share. But which one? Behind a familiar face is a stranger who'll do anything to hide their worst compulsions. The anxiety brings Danielle to her own therapist's office, seeking counsel and comfort. But what is she willing to risk, and how much closer must she get, to stop them?

USA Best Book Award Winner in General Fiction For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it's a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin's house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe. But Alyson's sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?

The bond between twin brothers is tested when one reveals a significant secret that could change everything. After the death of their father, the narrator believed they were finally free from danger, only to learn that Bryce has been concealing a truth that could threaten their relationship and safety. This revelation sets the stage for a gripping exploration of trust, loyalty, and the complexities of familial ties.

In a small town facing decline, the community bands together to seek a miracle to revitalize their home. With the warmth of hot cocoa and cookies, they embark on a heartfelt journey filled with hope and determination. As they navigate challenges, the story highlights the power of unity and the importance of simple joys in bringing people together.

In a small town called Halfway, family holiday traditions play a crucial role in shaping relationships and community bonds. As residents navigate the joys and challenges of their customs, the story explores the significance of these traditions in their lives, highlighting the connections formed through shared experiences and celebrations. The narrative delves into how these rituals impact personal growth and the dynamics within families, making it a heartwarming tale of love, belonging, and the spirit of togetherness.

A spellbinding novel about an unspeakable secret that could destroy a family, from the New York Times bestselling author of Finding Emma. Elle is a survivor. She's managed to piece together a solid life from a childhood of broken memories and fairy tales her mom told her to explain away bad dreams. But weekly visits to her mother still fill Elle with a paralyzing fear she can't explain. It's just another of so many unanswered questions she grew up with in a family estranged by silence and secrets. Elle's world turns upside down when she receives a deathbed request from her grandfather, a man she was told had died years ago. Racked by grief, regrets, and a haunted conscience, he has a tale of his own to tell Elle: about her mother, an imaginary friend, and two strangers who came to the house one night and never left. As Elle's past unfolds, so does the truth--if she can believe it. She must face the reasons for her inexplicable dread. As dark as they are, Elle must listen...before her grandfather's death buries the family's secrets forever.

Warmherzig und ergreifend erzählt Bestseller-Autorin Steena Holmes eine unvergessliche Geschichte über die Liebe einer Mutter zu ihrem Kind. Eigentlich könnten Josh und Claire Turner glücklich sein: Sie führen eine wunderbare Ehe und schreiben zusammen erfolgreiche Kinderbücher. Doch die beiden wünschen sich nichts mehr als eine eigene Familie. Auf einer ausgedehnten Europareise geschieht dann schließlich doch das Wunder, mit dem sie nicht mehr gerechnet hatten: Nach langem Warten ist Claire endlich schwanger. Die ersten Wochen der Schwangerschaft vergehen für die beiden in reinem Glück. Aber dann leidet Claire plötzlich unter starken Kopfschmerzen und wird kurz darauf mit einer erschütternden Diagnose konfrontiert. Das Paar muss eine unmögliche Entscheidung treffen – zwischen Claires Gesundheit und dem Leben ihres ungeborenen Kindes.