Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Book Review: You Don't Know Me

Any time I have a chance to review a book by Susan May Warren, I take it.  Especially when it involves her Deep Haven novels.  I have not been taking on a lot of fiction lately, but I will always absolutely make an exception for her.

The latest Deep Haven novel is You Don't Know Me.  It did not take place in Minneapolis at all, so no mention of Big Ten.  (I reviewed The Shadow of Your Smile at the beginning of this year, and I'm still desperately wanting a Big Ten sub!)

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. Warren's books always do.

From the publisher:
Sometimes the secrets we keep to protect ourselves can be our undoing.

To all who know her, Annalise Decker is a model wife and mother. She’s a permanent member of the PTA, never misses a sporting event, and is constantly campaigning for her husband’s mayoral race.

No one knows that Annalise was once Deidre O’Reilly, a troubled young woman whose testimony put a dangerous criminal behind bars. Relocated through the Witness Security Program to the quaint harbor town of Deep Haven, Deidre received a new identity and a fresh start, which began when she fell in love with local real estate agent Nathan Decker.

Twenty years later, Annalise couldn’t be more unprepared for her past to catch up with her. When Agent Frank Harrison arrives with news that the man she testified against is out on parole and out for revenge, Annalise is forced to face the consequences of her secrets. Will she run again, or will she finally find the courage to trust those she loves most with both her past and her future?
The book opens and closes with Deidre's mother. Yeah, that got me.  Can you even imagine what that is like?  Your adult child being "killed" as she enters the witness protection program, and you know she is out there somewhere.  Or you hope she is, anyway.  You and your husband are basically the only people who know she didn't actually die, but that she is living as someone else now.

The bulk of the book is about Annalise, her husband, her kids, her mother-in-law, and all the people Annalise has built into her new life over the last twenty years.

As always, the characters are flawed and intriguing.  It's easy to sit there and think how you'd like to slap some sense into them at one point, and how amazing it would be to have someone like them in the next scene.

As always, there isn't a picture-perfect happily-ever-after ending.  It is a real ending, and you know the characters are going to continue to have struggles and issues and a real life even after the book is closed.  That's probably one of my favorite things about these books. 

You can see what other people had to say about You Don't Know Me at the LitFuse Blog page!


Welcome to the campaign launch for Susan May Warren’s latest offering in her beloved Deep Haven series, You Don’t Know Me. Susan is celebrating with a $200 Weekend Getaway Giveaway and hosting a fun video Author Chat Party!



One fortunate winner will receive:

  • A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to catch up with a loved one and “Get to Know” your spouse, friend, sister, mom…whomever!)
  • The entire set of Deep Haven Books
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 22nd. Winner will be announced at the ”You Don’t Know Me” Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/23. Connect with Susan for an evening of book chat, Deep Haven trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be info about Susan’s BookShout read-along and a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!


So grab your copy of You Don’t Know Me and join Susan on the evening of the October 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the books – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!


Disclaimer:  I received this ebook through LitFuse.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

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