Before We Were Strangers

By: Brenda Novak

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 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 18, 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?

©2018 Brenda Novak, Inc. (P)2018 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

to much over explaining on basic info..

it was a decent story line, but I felt like I was being read to like a child. to much over explaining of emotions and why they felt this and that. not one of Novak's better books. to
much mush love story. maybe it was there to make the book longer. The story was good , but I could have done with less drawn out details. it was like it was written for a young adult but with more sex then would be in a book for teens.

sappy

not my cup of tea it was about a model whose dad was a psychopath and reunited with the man she was in love with her high school sweetheart and blah blah blah it was just terrible. .

Writing is so elementary!!!

So much over explanation from the author! We are not kids. No need to constantly over explain every statement, feeling etc. Also some of the characters are annoyingly perfect- feel fantasized by a teenage girl. Okay. Not best.

Wouldn’t recommend

The story line is less suspenseful than it is contrived.
The repetition of the author explaining what characters thought, how they felt and why they reacted/behaved a specific way was extremely annoying and condescending to the reader. I prefer writing that develops the character and allows the reader to infer some things.
I finished the book because I was interested in what Sloan would find out, but I am disappointed that I invested time in the book at all.

Powerful Story

When Sloane McBride returns to her hometown, she has a specific purpose. She wants to find what happened to her mother who disappeared twenty-three years ago after a fight with domineering husband. Sloan thinks that her father might have killed her? Now she's going to find the truth and find peace. Sloane can't escape the memories of that night. I sympathized with her. It would be terrible to be haunted by the past. I was impressed by her determination. She won't be stopped by the pressure from her father. To add to her stress she must deal with her first love, Micah. He's bitter. Sloane may have left him without warning, but she still cares for him. Can they put the past behind them? I liked Micah. He's willing to help her even though it puts his career at risk. I was impressed with his character. Even though he suffered when Sloane left. He's helping her. Their chemistry is amazing. Brenda Novak has written an powerful story. The plot is filled with so many unexpected twists that I was stunned. Her characters come alive with their powerful dialogue. I cared for Sloane and Micah. I wanted them to be successful. I just wasn't sure that they could get through the lies and deceit. Before We Were Strangers is a keeper. I bought this as an audiobook. I felt that the narration increased the tension. I

Repeats a lot.

This book could be good for someone that takes a long time to listen.

A must listen.. Amazing story

I loved this story. Brenda Novak sure knows how to pull her readers in from the get go. This is a romantic suspense novel with mystery that will keep you guessing. You will think you got it figured out then there is a twist that leaves you thinking damn I really thought I had it. This is one of my favorite stories by this authors and I have enjoyed everything I have read by her.

The narration was good. I personally prefer duo narration but this one was good. So either one click the ebook, the audio or grab the physical copy and be swept away into the world the author has created. I was not ready for this story to end!

Standalone Novel

Standalone Novel

After hearing an argument between her parents, Sloane McBride's mother disappears. Now that she has grown up, Sloane is determined to find out what happened that night. She is convinced that her father must have killed her and covered it up, but he's the mayor and no one will go against him. Micah Evans, Sloane's former boyfriend, has been divorced for a year and is shocked to find Sloane in Paige's house. Even after all these years, the two have chemistry. Micah begins to help Sloane with her investigation, but the mayor is set on destroying anyone who gets in his way.

If you're looking for a story where every character is suspect, this is the book for you!

An Amazing Suspenseful Book

Model Sloane McBride left home a decade ago to New York but Millcreek was always on her mind. She has memories or dreams that haunt her. She just has to find out what happened to her Mother. She remembers fighting, loud voices, and then a thump, then nothing no more yelling, just silence. Her father Ed is the Mayor and running for re-election. He doesn't want her questioning about her Mother's disappearance. You have to readto see the twists and turns to see how this story develops. You start to question if Ed did something to his wife or was it all in the mind of a five year old. This is a must read.

Well worth it

Excellent story line. Well written. Good character development. Nice twists in the plot up to the end.