Something happened to her mother that night. Something no one wants to talk about. But she’s determined to uncover her family’s dark secrets, even if they bury her.Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn’t sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound—the ominous thump before all went quiet.In the morning, her … quiet.
In the morning, her mother was gone.
The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn’t sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn’t just difficult—he was deadly.
Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a small town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend, and a father and brother who’d rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn’t whether she can uncover what really happened that night…it’s what will remain of her family if she does?
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What a book! BEFORE WE WERE STRANGERS is dark and compelling, an excellent thriller with heart-pounding twists, full of secrets and lies, and all too real. This is Novak at her sweet and sinister best in a story that could be happening in the house next door. Who is telling the truth? You won’t know until the explosive end…
Full of intricate twists, unexpected turns, and the ever-present question of whom to trust, Before We Were Strangers is an addictive cocktail of dark family secrets and rekindled romance. I’m a fan of stories that take characters back home, and this one delivered in spades. I listened to the audio version read by Ann Marie Gideon, who did a fabulous job.
I loved every single thing about this book! Nostalgia, first love, the echo of heartbreak, the rocky road to where you were always meant to be — this book has everything and then some. You can’t help but be transported.
Saying anything about this story would give away spoilers AND I could never weave something so intricate, as Ms. Novak has done. Ultimately, BWWS is about Sloane McBride and her horrific childhood memories of losing her mother…and thinking her father killed her. Truly a simplistic overview. What I CAN tell you is that if you love mysteries delicately woven through families and old friends and old flames, this story is for you. Sloane comes back home after years away and she meets up with her former best friend…who married Micah, Sloane’s old boyfriend…and the fun begins.
Sloane has to deal with still having feelings for Micah. She has to deal with her friend Paige’s very odd reaction to (Sloane) her being back in town. Whenever she meets up with someone from her past, even her own brother, you start wondering if they are truly saying what they mean, acting out a part, and what will happen next. And don’t get me started on her father – Dad of the Year he is NOT. Kept me on the edge of my seat.
Highly recommend Before We Were Strangers, especially if you want a read that will keep you guessing. Or if you like gasping every time you read a page or two. Seriously!
Intense second chance romance with a great mystery. Sloane left her home and everyone she loved behind, building a successful career as a model. When a major part of that world dies, she realizes she needs to face the old demons she walked away from and returns home to find out what really happened to her mother when she was 5 years old. Being embraced by her old best friend Paige is unexpected. Paige married Micah, the man Sloane loved and left behind, but they are divorced. Seeing Micah again brings back all the old memories & feelings but Sloane works to keep her distance knowing she won’t stay. Micah is blown away when he sees Sloane again. He wants to hate her but can’t, that love never died, just laid dormant. Sloane’s task of solving her mother’s disappearance puts her in direct contention with her father and brother. This won’t be an easy road to unravel the mystery given that her father wields a lot of power in town. The complexity of the relationships adds another dimension to the mystery. I love that parts of the story are told from different characters letting us know each one’s true motivations. I got completely drawn into this story constantly wondering what really happened while wondering if love would really get a second chance. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This story had a different feel than other Brenda Novak stories. The writing is great and the story keeps you wondering until the end. Sloane left home when she finished High School and went on to make her own way in the world. Now years later she is ready to return home to face her father and her fear that he may have killed her mother. The story give you the chance to see how many people were impacted by Sloane’s decision to leave all those years. It was an interesting read. I received an advance copy for an honest review.
Brenda Novak really knows how to weave a great story! What would you do if you thought your Father had murdered your Mom? Sloane won’t stop until she finds out the truth of what happened on that night twenty three years ago. This book is full of twists and kept me turning the pages well into the night. It is full of mystery and suspense, but also a touch of romance. Full of richly detailed characters that are true to life. This book will definitely keep your interest throughout. Just when you think you have it all figured out, bam, a new revelation emerges. Incredible writing with believable dialogue. I loved this book!! I highly recommend this one!!
Secrets and family drama are at the heart of Brenda Novak’s Before We Were Strangers, in which a woman returns to her small Texas hometown determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance. Novak’s fans will devour this one, and the relentlessly twisty plot will win her some new fans, as well. This is the kind of book best swallowed in one sitting: suspenseful, surprising, and 100% addictive.
Once again Brenda has completely blown my mind. If I ever feel like I’m in a reading slump and just not interested in anything, Brenda turns everything around. Before We Were Strangers grabbed my attention from page one and captivated me. This is the quickest I’ve read a book since her last! There were so many twists it had my head spinning. This book was masterfully put together and a must read for anyone who likes a little mystery and suspense, mixed with romance. I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book and will read it again.
I’ve been a Brenda Novak fan for a long time and this book was on my TBR and than it was given to me as a gift..Thank you Monica!!!
This book has something for everyone!!! Murder, Revenge, Twists and Turns, Hot sex, some awesome characters and some just NO!!! Its a page turner with an ending you won’t see coming.
If you haven’t read any of Brenda’s books your missing some great reads and you should do yourself a favor and go check out her books. If your looking for a great online facebook book club please check out Brenda Novak’s Book Group.
While I read Before We Were Strangers I realized again how much I enjoy romantic suspense. Especially when the story feels like a real mystery that keeps me on my toes throughout the entire book.
Besides the slow burn and second chance romance that wound its way through the novel, and made my romance reader heart happy, the exciting and suspenseful search for answers was the main attraction of this story.
From the very beginning the author pretty much served the main suspect on a silver platter. But don’t fear!! The author leads the reader on a fascinating quest to solve a cold murder. With more than enough twists and turns to keep me from getting bored Brenda Novak delivered a solid performance, and a truly thrilling story.
The supporting cast was a kaleidoscope of interesting and flawed characters that gave the story a very realistic feel. Everyone had an agenda, and the author did a wonderful job of weaving it all together.
At this point all I can say is, if you love romantic suspense, a strong cast and a fascinating and thrilling plot give this book a try. It felt to me like how a romantic suspense novel is supposed to be written. A mystery that keeps the reader involved until the very END!!
A riveting, deeply entrenching read! I was hooked immediately! We get to know Sloane little by little before she reveals why she is returning home after all these years and what’s she’s hoping to find there. The story takes many unexpected turns, and even when you think you know what happened, you will be shocked once again. Really great book filled with richly built characters, in depth development of past events and a captivating delve into the current life spinning on it’s axle around her. Loved it!
Model Sloane McBride might have left home to head to the bright lights of New York a decade ago, but some parts of Millcreek would never leave her mind. Like the memories and dreams that continue to haunt her. She’s not so sure she wants to know the answers, but the churning fear in her gut won’t be silenced any longer. She has to find out what happened to her mother that night. She might have only been five years old, but she remembers things. Voices, fighting, things that were said, a loud thump, then silence … and the next morning Mom was gone … forever.
The return to town is just as volatile as she expects. Her high school best friend is trying to act like no time has passed, her ex-boyfriend still holds an obvious grudge for her leaving, her father tries to run her out of town before she even gets there, and her brother is making it clear he has no wish to dredge up the past alongside her. It seems like everyone is against her … but she’s determined to bring her mother peace once and for all, regardless of the danger that starts to swirl!
One of the best books.I’ve read i. Love Brenda Novak books.
This is likely the best book I’ve ever read by Brenda Novak. I do not say that lightly as I have read most, if not all, of her books. It is a page turner and one that I only took breaks reading because life got in the way. The answer will surprise you without a doubt
Omg!! Another winner, I didn’t think I could enjoy another one of Brenda’s books as much as I do the Evelyn Talbot series but this book was simply amazing. So riveting, with twists and turns when you think you finally have all the answers them boom you find out you were wrong. I loved, loved, loved this book. I would certainly recommend it to everyone. I would give it much more than a 5 if possible.
Before We Were Strangers is electrifying romantic suspense that had this reader reading until the middle of the night. Sloan McBride returns to the town where she grew up to investigate what she has always expected, her father killed her mother. Sloan, soon finds herself embroiled in her used to be best friend Paige’s drama with her divorced husband Micah who also happens to be Sloan’s former boyfriend. Meanwhile, Sloan’s father Ed is throwing monkey wrenches into her ability to find a place to rent and warning her not to look into her mother’s disappearance. Throw in her estranged brother and fearful sister-in-law and you have a whopper full of twists that might have you up past midnight reading just like me.
What a incredible read!
WOW, another major hit by Brenda! I keep thinking her books just can’t get any better and then she comes out with a new one that’s better than all the rest. This one is such an exciting thriller that I know you will love it too! Hurry and get your copy so you can kick back and enjoy a great read too! Thanks Brenda!
Mysterious and suspenseful! Sloane’s mom disappeared when she was just a small child. Her father said she ran off and being an important and influential man in their small town, the investigation was closed. However, Sloane has never been able to let go of the suspicion that something terrible happened to her mother. She left town and everyone she loved as soon as she could. Now, 10 years later she comes back to get answers.
As with every Brenda Novak book I have read so far I was drawn in by the end of the first chapter and couldn’t put the book down! When it comes to suspense, she has you second guessing how you think the story will turn out all the way to the end. Just when you think “I got it!” – BAM…. no you don’t. Jaw dropping twists and turns with a second-chance romance mixed in. Definitely another must-read by Brenda Novak!
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Hope there are more like this!