Emma's Secret

A Novel (Finding Emma, Book 2)

De: Steena Holmes

Narrado por: Kate Rudd

For two years, Megan, Peter, and their two older daughters, Alexis and Hannah, dream of nothing but being reunited with the family’s youngest child, Emma, who was kidnapped just before her third birthday. When Emma is miraculously found living with an elderly couple just miles from the family’s home, they are hopeful that her return will heal the wounds her disappearance created.

But Emma is vastly different from the sunny toddler they remember. She barely remembers her parents or her older sisters. She is quiet and withdrawn, and, worst of all, longs for the very people who kidnapped her.

Megan is consumed with bitterness, while Peter works later and later nights in the company of his gorgeous business partner. And in the middle of everything, Megan’s best friend has become suddenly distant and secretive.

Then a chance encounter in town leads to a secret that changes everything again for Emma. And Peter must decide between the happiness of his youngest daughter and the trust of his family.

©2013 Steena Holmes (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

love this book!

wo derfull story.worth the time. and , you will love the story and the message it gives,

Engaging story that challenged my thinking.

What did you love best about Emma's Secret?

I got this book on sale and did not know it was book 2 of a series. I took a few days to decide if I should continue before reading Finding Emma and I did (though I will read Finding Emma). The story took turns that I did not expect and really challeged how I wanted to feel about the characters.

What about Kate Rudd’s performance did you like?

The performance was ok. Not great but not the worst I've heard. She did try to change her performance for different characters but it sometimes came off poorly. However, it was consistent.

If you could take any character from Emma's Secret out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Gosh, that is a hard one. I guess I would have to say Jack. He is a character I'd like to explore more fully. I'd like to know more about his life, the thoughts he had during Emma's disappearance and things like that.

Any additional comments?

I was pleasantly surprised with the story overall. I was frustrated how my feelings towards Papa and Dottie were changed through the story. I felt very close to Megan and expected I would have been much like her. I cried more than once but especially at the end.

Emma's Secret

Would you listen to Emma's Secret again? Why?

Yes, it was a relaxing interesting book that I didn't want to stop. A story that was enjoyable and written very well.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All the characters intrigued me. Each one brought life and harmony. It would be difficult to name one character. Peter was very calm and sensible usually making good decisions for Emma. All made the book excellent.

What does Kate Rudd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Life..I felt as though I was right in the middle of the scene. The voices were superb. I could not have found that in the book. I enjoyed each voice of the character which made me not want to turn off the audible. To me the book would have been more boring without hearing each character. I thought she was amazing!

If you could rename Emma's Secret, what would you call it?

I don't know I would rename. The title is what grabbed me as I bought the book first.

Any additional comments?

Excellent writing by the author! An awesome put together story drawing in friends and community. It was real! I never rate a book a 5 but this one deserved a 5.

The Aftermath of a Miracle

After Finding Emma left my heart in pieces, I had to know what came next—and Emma’s Secret delivered. It’s not just about what happens after the unthinkable. It’s about what happens when the miracle you prayed for arrives... but nothing is as simple as you hoped.

This book dives into the emotional fallout of getting Emma back—because reunion doesn’t erase trauma, and healing isn’t a straight line. As a mom, watching Megan navigate the messy, fragile space between joy and guilt, connection and confusion, was both painful and powerful.

Steena Holmes doesn’t flinch from the hard stuff—she leans into it with grace. I ached for every character, even when they made mistakes, because every emotion felt so painfully human. The tension is quieter this time, but the stakes are just as high—emotionally speaking.

If Finding Emma shattered me, Emma’s Secret reminded me that putting the pieces back together can be just as complicated—and just as compelling.

Loved This Book!

I loved the series although I wish I would have found Finding Emma 2 before reading this one. Great listen!

Loved, Loved, Loved

I loved this series (except book 2 - boring), I am looking forward to the other 2 books to come out on Audible.

Great story but...

Siri would have done a better reading this, it sounded like a robot. I finished just because the story was good.

Deja vu

The story was good but the story line was extremely similar to another book that I have read. I couldn't help but wonder which story was written first. Overall, the story kept your interest and was pretty good. I would recommend.

OMG! It can happen to any FAMILY with toddlers

What made the experience of listening to Emma's Secret the most enjoyable?

Having a daughter and knowing that FEAR to keep your babies safe

What did you like best about this story?

Finding out that Emma's 5 years away from her FAMILY was happy and loving.
Relating to her mother's feelings.
Knowing that is every mother's worst nightmare.
The siblings individual reactions to the entire series of events from start to finish because of their ages. How their lives were impacted.

Have you listened to any of Kate Rudd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No sure, but my focus is always on the story and the clarity of the readers.

Who was the most memorable character of Emma's Secret and why?

The innocent Grandpa, who loved his wife and accepted her story about Emma,
He lost the love of his life and his granddaughter at the same time. Plus, lived with the stigma of "kidnapping" allocation. His guilt of not asking better questions when his wife came home with this child.

Any additional comments?

In the end, Emma was able to see her Grandpa, and the family was able to forgive and be grateful that their story was not tragic, like so many other families that deal with these circumstances every day.

Book 2 Completed the Original Story Nicely

I'm glad the author wrote a second book, because there was more of the story to be told. It delivered for the most part, although it got a bit tedious and redundant toward the end. Ultimately, the ending paid off, and I was satisfied. It's a good read/listen.