‘Each time my mother laid a finger on me... it was another step into the jaws of hell. Her abuse, more so than any other, destroyed me. It was the ultimate betrayal.’

It's a beautiful day for a wedding. White roses scent the air and the summer sunlight streams in. A spoon chimes against a champagne flute and the room falls silent. And there he is - my husband - getting to his feet to propose a toast. He's still handsome. His new wife is next to him, gazing upwards, oblivious. I'm not supposed to be here. All these years in the same town and I had no idea until I saw his name on the seating plan. He lived with me, once. Loved me. Small-town memories are long, but the people in this room don't want to remember. They say the healing is in letting go, but after what he did, he needs to know we haven't gone away just because he's shut his eyes. So I take Daisy by the hand and step forward from the shadows. He notices us and his eyes widen. The champagne glass falls from his hand and smashes. Then he sags forward, making a terrible sound - a sort of strangled scream... A powerfully emotional novel with a dark secret at its heart. This family drama will keep you hooked until the very last page. Perfect for fans of The Silent Wife, Kate Hewitt and Jodi Picoult. What readers are saying about His Secret Family 'Absolutely fantastic, had me gripped!!! Loved it! Can't wait for more from this author. Storyline was great, characters were easy to connect with.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow, this novel packed a lot more "feels" that I expected!... A quick read for me because I HAD to see how this emotional read would end... There was great character development... twists and turns that took me by surprise! I am looking forward to reading more from Ali Mercer in the future!' Steph and Chris's Book Review 'A book that grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go. It is well written and full of emotions. This is a "Must Read"!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Absolutely brilliant and had me gripped from cover to cover! I found the writing style to be very captivating and the characters to be immaculately developed... Would highly recommend!' NetGalley Reviewer 'Compelling. Heart-breaking. The character development was superb. It was an emotional read... an evocative story that left its imprint. I highly recommend this book.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'Ali Mercer writes with heart and soul... well written, true-to-life... Each character is lovingly developed and all-so-human. Secrets abound and the reader won't know them all until the end. A definite for your TBR list!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'This is a powerful family domestic drama filled with emotion and secrets. The story is well developed with lovable "real" characters that you find yourself very invested in. A captivating story that kept me hooked until the end.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

Forensic scientist Charlie Warrens dreams had come true: she had met and married David Stone, an American detective who adored her. She had found a life in America as the district medical examiner in the small New York town of Compton. She and her husband were now travelling to Great Britain, where Charlie would receive a knighthood and other honors. Everything was wonderful ... or so it seemed.

Like most seven year olds, Rene Gaithers primary concern is playing games and watching cartoons. Her mother, father, grandmother and siblings are the center of her world. She is the lovingly spoiled youngest child and her world is perfect. But when Yo Mama jokes start a school yard fight, awareness sinks in that there is something wrong with her treasured family. The truth is eventually revealed. Through her teenage years and into adulthood, Rene struggles with a sense of inadequacy and shame of being an illegitimate daughter in a Secret Family. Renes dream is to have a real family. Despite using her parents examples of want not to do, her relationships fail. Even her steadfast friendship with Kenny Sherman turns sour when they take things to the next level. Rene is left devastated by Kennys unimaginable betrayal. Does true love really exist? If so, is she worthy enough to receive it or will the sins of her mother destroy any chance of happiness? Secret Family is based in part on the authors life.

Roles. They define our rights, obligations, responsibilities, beliefs, and even who we are. How well do we each understand our respective roles? How do we teach our children about proper roles? How would the problems children and parents face change if they better understood roles? Aren't parents - whether aggressive, passive or assertive - always defining roles anyway? How do roles affect business relationships? Why do we see the roles in today's world wrapped around so much confusion and debate when it's impossible to escape roles? This book makes roles easier to understand, and it shows how to strengthen roles and empower ourselves and those we live and work with to reach our full potential.

In The Secrets of Happy Families, New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler has drawn up a blueprint for modern families — a new approach to family dynamics, inspired by cutting-edge techniques gathered from experts in the disciplines of science, business, sports, and the military. Don't worry about family dinner. Let your kids pick their punishments. Ditch the sex talk. Cancel date night. These are just a few of the surprising innovations in this bold first-of-its-kind playbook for today's families. Bestselling author and New York Times family columnist Bruce Feiler found himself squeezed between caring for aging parents and raising his children. So he set out on a three-year journey to find the smartest solutions and the most cutting-edge research about families. Instead of the usual family "experts," he sought out the most creative minds—from Silicon Valley to the set of Modern Family, from the country's top negotiators to the Green Berets—and asked them what team-building exercises and problem-solving techniques they use with their families. Feiler then tested these ideas with his wife and kids. The result is a fun, original look at how families can draw closer together, complete with 200 never-before-seen best practices. Feiler's life-changing discoveries include a radical plan to reshape your family in twenty minutes a week, Warren Buffett's guide for setting an allowance, and the Harvard handbook for resolving conflict. The Secrets of Happy Families is a timely, counterintuitive book that answers the questions countless parents are asking: How do we manage the chaos of our lives? How do we teach our kids values? How do we make our family happier? Written in a charming, accessible style, The Secrets of Happy Families is smart, funny, and fresh, and will forever change how your family lives every day.

“Nobody’s messing with my baby.” When Nick wakes up in a hospital room with a case of amnesia – and a beautiful woman at his bedside, he can only remember being held captive for five gruelling years. Surely he wouldn’t forget someone as easy on the eyes as Laura. But Laura assures him that she and their son are very real.