Breaking The Silence (Love Inspired) Chamberlain, Diane

Review A dying father's last wish. A husband's shocking suicide. A daughter's inexplicable muteness. Laura Brandon finds herself plunged into a nightmare she doesn't understand. Laura promised her dying father that she would take care of a woman she had never heard him mention before. The woman is Sarah Tolley, she lives in a retirement home and suffers from Alzheimer's disease so she can't even tell Laura how she knew Laura's father. Laura's promise to her father upsets and infuriates her chronically depressed husband Ray. Laura never would have believed Ray would commit suicide over such an innocent act as visiting an elderly woman. But now Ray is gone and Laura's young daughter Emma has slipped into a silent world. At the suggestion of a therapist, Laura contacts the one person who may be able to help Emma- Emma's birth father. Though she only spent one night with the man, Laura hopes that he can somehow help Emma. Dylan Greer is a confirmed bachelor tormented by a tragic incident in his past. He doesn't want a daughter, but now that he has one he can't turn his back on her. As Laura and Dylan try to unlock the secret to breaking Emma's silence, Laura begins to unravel the mystery of Sarah Tolley and the secrets of her past. Diane Chamberlain has written a wonderful, heart-wrenching novel. Readers will be drawn into the lives of her memorable characters. Sarah Tolley is an especially poignant character and her story will haunt you. Ms. Chamberlain deserves the highest praise for writing this emotionally compelling story of secrets and silence, love and lies. Diane Chamberlain is a marvelously gifted author! Every book she writes is a real gem. Breaking the Silence is as real and emotional as a novel can be. A powerful story you won't forget! Readers who have been waiting anxiously for Diane Chamberlain's newest book will be electrified by this touching story. This is a book you won't want to miss. Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1999 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times Product Description Visiting an elderly stranger to fulfill a deathbed promise to her father, Laura Brandon's life is violently disrupted when her own husband commits suicide and their five-year-old daughter, who witnessed the suicide, stops speaking. Original. From Publishers Weekly Chamberlain (The Escape Artist) explores psychiatric tensions in this disturbing story of dark secrets and redemption. Before astronomer Laura Brandon's father dies, he asks her to visit Sarah Tolley, an elderly woman he's never before mentioned. This seemingly simple request sets off a series of alarming events, most dramatically the suicide of Laura's husband, Ray, and the subsequent emotional withdrawal of her five-year-old daughter, Emma. Laura tries to help her daughter by contacting Emma's birth father, Dylan Geer. Laura and Dylan's affair had been short-lived, and Dylan never knew he had a child. A bond is formed when the three get together, and Dylan decides to help Laura solve the mysteries. Despite minor flaws (the connection between Sarah and Laura's husband is obvious early on), the story offers relentless suspense and intriguing psychological insight (Chamberlain is a former psychotherapist) as well as a satisfying love story. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.