Mysteries, family secrets, and the love of a true Father are found at the heart of this gripping novel from the bestselling author of Bringing Maggie HomeNewlyweds Sean Eagle and Meghan DeFord are no strangers to pain and loss. As cold-case detectives, they know intimately the anguish family members endure after the murder or disappearance of a loved one. But when a new case hits too close to … a new case hits too close to home, it threatens to pull loose the fragile cords of their young marriage.
Sheila Menke was just a girl when her father left for work and never returned. An investigation revealed he had embezzled enough to start a new life elsewhere, but Sheila could never accept the court’s criminalization of her father. Meghan reluctantly takes the case, secretly fearing it will stir up buried feelings about her own biological father. And while Sean investigates the mysterious death of two young brothers, he longs to start a family. But Meghan worries that with a negligent mother and an absentee father as her parenting examples, she might never be fit for motherhood.
As they delve deeper into the past, both Meghan and Sheila must choose to either stumble along the road of bitterness and resentment or walk the difficult path toward forgiveness and healing. When the cases begin to break wide open, these young women are poised to discover that while earthly fathers may fail, there is one in heaven who is a father to the fatherless.
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The author does a great job of keeping you guessing at what will happen next!
With family secrets and strange dynamics, you wonder if will ever work out – or if it should be left alone. But the author offers you enough along the way to make you try to think on your own as to what should happen or maybe even a time or two where you might think – “I know what I would say to that!”
This author always offers up terrific writing and a storyline that is realistic and full of faith – the doubts and strengths in the characters faith makes her stories very relatable and believable. And once again, she has delivered.
Disclaimer: I received a digit copy of this book through NetGalley from WaterBrook Multnomah publishing with no expectations in return. The thoughts above are my own and in my own words.
Sean and Meghan DeFord Eagle are cold case detectives in Arkansas. While they continue to work the case of twin boys who were murdered, they are called in on another case. Sean decides to continue with the case of the twin boys while Meghan is assigned the case of a missing father. The man was accused of embezzlement and was never found. This case is dear to Meghan as she has never met her own father who chose not to be a part of her life. Meghan knows the name of her biological father, should she attempt to contact him? Will Sean finally be able to find justice for the twin boys? A pleasant Christian mystery that rotates between the two cold cases that the detectives are trying to solve. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Thanks goes to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own and no one has influenced me.
Unveiling the Past is a well written Christian mystery with interesting characters and an involved plot. There are two mysteries, and two separate cases involving the two main characters. I felt like I was reading two novels at once. Personally, I found it distracting, other readers may not.
Meghan DeFord is the female lead. I have mixed feeling about her character. I believe it’s because there is so much going on in Unveiling the Past, it was hard to become fully vested in Meghan. Her back story is interesting though, but her emotions toward it are a bit weak.
Sean Eagle is the male lead. He is also an investigator of cold cases. I had a bit of a hard time becoming vested in his character as well. Again, because there is so many different directions in this book. From what I did see of his character, I liked.
The mysteries are involved and have a multitude of characters. Sheila Menke, the young girl involved in the case Meghan is working, her partner, Sean’s partner on his case, and the villains of this story. Again, It was like reading two books at once.
I don’t normally read many mysteries, so I may not be the best judge of Unveiling the Past since I am not well versed in this genre, especially one where there isn’t much romance. Nonetheless, I enjoyed Unveiling the Past. I loved the strong Christian message in it. If you enjoy whodunits with intricate plot lines, then Unveiling the Past may be the book for you. Happy reading!
“The past can knock on the door all it wants to. You don’t have to answer.”
This book has quite a few pasts that come knocking on the door and multiple subplots make for an interesting story with themes of forgiveness, coming to terms with the past, and restoration that can only be found through faith in God. There are several third person point of view voices in the story – Sean and Meghan who are a cold case detective couple, Diane who is Meghan’s mother, Kevin who is Meghan’s father whom she never knew, and Sheila who has a personal cold case that approaches Sean and Meghan’s team for help. Each character has a subplot, some more shrouded in cold case mystery than others, and all the characters and their stories converge as Sean and Meghan live out their lives dedicated to God. The author addresses some tough emotional issues like abandonment, alcoholism, and dysfunctional parent-child relationship with tenderness and understanding. There are flashbacks to fill in the gaps of the past and the transition between the past and the present is fluid and well-connected. The characters and their emotions are real, the plot moves at a good pace to unveil the details needed for the big finales of the two cold case pursuits, and the faith element provided by Sean and Meghan’s grandmother Hazel is phenomenal. If you enjoy a well-written contemporary women’s fiction with a dash of mystery, you will enjoy this book. It is book 2 in Bringing Maggie Home series but can be read as a stand-alone.
I received a copy of the book from WaterBrook & Multnomah and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
This read had several stories that we follow, and yes, answers are forthcoming on all, but we take it day by day until the end.
The author gives us a young Christian woman who is living her faith, but has stumbled as far as having children with her husband, and why? That is part of what this book contains, and we journey here for reasons and answers.
What an interesting job Meghan has along with her husband, she looks at Arkansas’s cold cases, and some that become personal to their supervisor. How many lives are changed here, and I loved that the author gave us some chance meetings!
From beginning to the end, I loved this book, and saw how God worked in the lives of believers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Waterbrook, and was not required to give a positive review.
One central theme in Kim Vogel Sawyer’s latest book, Unveiling the Past, really spoke to my heart, Even though Meghan’s (the main character) lived most of her life with the fact that her father wasn’t a presence in her life, she held on to the assurance that her heavenly Father always was and had always been. and enduring part of her world.
I received this advance reading copy as a part of the Waterbrook and Multnomah launch team for an honest review.
Unlike Meghan, I grew up with a wonderful man for a father in my life who was present for my first 37 years, but upon losing him I felt bereft, that I was suddenly abandoned, but my faith and knowledge that though I had lost my earthly father to the ravages of cancer, my heavenly Father would always be with me, and never leave me, and this honest truth has always given me great comfort. I think that is one reason Sawyer’s novel really spoke to my soul.
While reading Sawyer’s book, I felt such comfort and joy in the story of Meghan. She grows up as an only child, raised by her single-parent mother, later joined and encouraged by her spunky and wise grandmother, finding her true love Sean and eventually meeting her absentee father Kevin and building a relationship that will enrich all their lives. She is a cold-case detective and through her work, she learns to tackle her anxieties about motherhood, and parenting as she befriends and cares for a young woman whose father went suddenly missing in the past. The end result is a richer life for everyone.
There were so many layers of love and support in Vogel’s story. I love the way she weaves real-life struggles into her character’s stories and supports it all with God’s unfailing love and grace. It feels so natural to follow the plot and live vicariously for a short period of time in the lives of her characters.
I have never been disappointed by any of Sawyer’s books and enthusiastically recommend Unveiling the Past to anyone in search of a heartwarming story.
This book was just so amazingly good! The characters just came alive as they lived their faith out. I loved watching them naturally share their faith and impact the people around them. This book is a sequel and the story seems to pick up just a short time (couple of years) from when the last one (Bringing Maggie Home) left off, but the focus is more on Meghan and her husband Sean as she learns about her father, and less on her grandmother and mother. I am afraid to tell too much because I do not want to spoil any of the twists the book takes. But you really do want to read it since it is so very good. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.
‘Even warriors get weary when the battle doesn’t end.’
Kim Vogel Sawyer brings us a wonderful story of forgiveness, repentance and perseverance in Unveiling the Past. Drawing on two cold cases, detectives Meghan and her husband Sean are involved in some situations that reveal much about themselves and their ability to forgive and minister to others. There is so much here that will touch your heart and we learn how God can use even the most painful and also the most minute things to reach people for His good. I was in tears in several places. It made my heart smile. Recommended.
*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Unveiling the Past centers around the lives of Meghan and Sean Eagle, cold case detectives for the state of Arkansas, as they investigate two cold cases with new partners while dealing with marital conflicts; and the lives of Meghan’s mother Diane DeFord and Meghan’s father Kevin Harrison who selfishly abandoned Diane before Meghan was born. The characters in this compelling story are well-developed and believable. I especially appreciate the deeper than usual insight into the secondary characters.
The plot flows at a fitting pace. For me, this well-crafted plot with multiple storylines which are skillfully woven together is secondary to the spiritual truths and faith message which either sustain or bring changes and reconciliation in the lives of all the characters. The prevailing theme of the story is forgiveness and redemption. This is Christian fiction at its best. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
First off I’m going to have to agree with Sheila on not being a big fan of modern day reading. Historical is more my thing.
But Kim has outdone herself on this novel. But anything she does is excellent. She’s that type that can draw you into a story no matter what it’s about.
I didn’t realize that this was the second book in the Bringing Maggie home series! Oh my! I always knew that Meghan had a story to tell.
She is a favorite of mine and I’ve said time and time again you really don’t have to connect with the characters in order to enjoy the story.
I always try not to miss any of Sawyers books because well, her writing is amazing! I love how she draws people into her stories from the get go.
Guys and Gals, I’m going to say this and then I’m going on to other things.
The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. He is the Way, Truth and Life. Let no man come to the Father except through me. I believe that with all my heart do you?
I didn’t connect with either Sean or Meghan but they were delightful people to get to know. They’re also an awesome husband and wife team. I thought it was awesome that they could work together like that. And folks, it can be done. My husband and I worked together at McDonald’s and we were an awesome team. I guess not many could really say that. Anything I had to say or disagree with him I saved it until we got home.
There’s a lot of mystery, family secrets and redemption in this book.
I think it doesn’t do any good to keep secrets because they only end up hurting the person or people that are involved and it could change their whole outlook in life. Best to be up front if you can.
I didn’t want to leave Sean and Meghan behind when the book was finished but I can always revisit them again.
Sean sort of reminds me of my husband. I can ask him to do something and he just goes to bed when he gets home. He doesn’t do anything except work and go to bed. To be perfectly honest it’s really annoying!! I thoroughly it takes two to make a marriage not just one of us. Makes me so mad sometimes!!!
This is a book where you will think about the characters long after their story is finished. I know I’m still thinking about it.
I think I”m going to have to reread Bringing Maggie home. That was such a good story and it too will keep you guessing.
I do like the cover of the book. I can picture myself walking down whatever road this person is on and looking at the scenery before me.
I give this book 5 stars because the book held my attention from beginning to end and I like the messages the author has to offer here.
A great story that I heartily recommend!
I’ve also asked my library to order so that other people can enjoy it also. Sawyer’s book are always well received at both my libraries.
I love how Sawyer leaves us with a hopeful ending in this story with more to come!
I think my most favorite book from Kim was the one about Mammoth cave Kentucky. I only live about two hours away.
My thanks to Netgalley. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.
Another great book by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Meghan and Sean are cold case investigators. They are married and work side by side. When a case comes in that they need a women detective Sean and Meghan are split to solve the cases and get different partners. Meghan is also struggling because Sean wants to have children and she feels she would not be a good parent due to her father abandon her mother when he found out she was pregnant when they were in college. Great book and kept me wanting to finish the book to find out the ending. I read this book for NetGalley for my honest review.