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Secret Lives
 
 

Secret Lives [Kindle Edition]

Diane Chamberlain
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Product Description

Actress Eden Riley's decision to make a film about her mother plunges her into a shattering confrontation with her own past, irrevocably altering her life and the lives of those she loves. Her mother, Katherine Swift, was a renowned children's author who died when Eden was very young. Now Eden, recovering from a divorce and disillusioned with her glamorous life, returns to the childhood home of the mother she barely knew. She moves in with her uncle, archaeologist Kyle Swift and his wife, Louise.

Eden gets more than she bargained for when Kyle gives her the journal her mother had kept from the age of thirteen until her death. Eden is spellbound by the powerfully written, intimate diary that chronicles a life of hardship, madness and tragedy. But her fascination turns to horror when she discovers the shocking truth about her mother's life.

Eden turns for comfort to Ben Alexander, Kyle's colleague, not knowing that Ben has a secret of his own that could ruin Eden and her career. Now Eden must make a heartbreaking decision as she struggles to lay the ghosts of the past to rest and come to terms with her own future.

Shifting gracefully between Eden's world and Katherine's, Secret Lives seduces with the power of its images and the lyricism of its prose.

Synopsis

A Virginia-born actress discovers the truth about her dead mother's unhappy life and must come to terms with the uncle who adopted her and her rebellious, painful adolescence.

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Diane Chamberlain
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Amazing 14 Jan 2011
Format:Kindle Edition
What an amazing book!

The stories going on within the book are complex but riveting. You really feel for the characters and long to find out how things work out for them.

I thought the sections in the book written in the style of Eden's mothers journal entries were an inspired idea. It really helps with the flow of the book and fits seamlessly even though it is jumping between different times.

The twists are excellent and I found myself attached to the characters and felt their emotions. I couldn't put the book down, I was constantly waiting to see what new revelations were waiting for me. I have only discovered Diane Chamberlain's books in the last fortnight and this is the 3rd book of hers I have read. She now definately on my list of must read authors.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Couldn't put it down! 19 Jun 2011
Format:Kindle Edition
I wasn't sure if i would like this book since it was from 1991 and my experiences of reprinted books in the past have not been good. So far Diane Chamberlains have been the exception I read Reflection and really enjoyed it and i thought Secret Lives was brilliant i did not want to put it down, when i finished it i had a moment of sadness that i HAD finished it! Time to download my next Diane Chamberlain!
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
There's a little introduction to this edition stating that the book is no longer in print, but thanks to the invention of downloadable books it's once more available. This shows how cut-throat and competitive the world of publishing is, because this is a beautifully written and highly accomplished story which deserves to be available to a wider audience.

It's written in a format which I always enjoy: a current third person narrative interspersed with a sub-plot written in the first person. All of the main characters keep their secrets and the gradual and sometimes painful revelations are what keep turning the pages. I'd guessed pretty early on a couple of these secrets, but I started to care so much about the characters that I wanted to find out how things would pan out for them. Of course, for one of them, the enigmatic and elusive Kate Swift, we know right from the start that she has died young and follow her daughter's attempts to understand her life and discover what happened. But we want so much for the past to be healed and an optimistic future for all involved.

Along the way, whilst carrying her own demons, Eden Riley meets and falls in love with a man who also has demons of his own. Ultimately, we learn that we are all victims of victims in some way.

The author very bravely - and fairly graphically - touches on the subject of child abuse. It's enough to make you feel deeply uncomfortable, but doesn't go too far.

It's all about a web of human relationships, each person carrying their own burden and intrinsically linking together. The only minor criticism I have is that as fully rounded and empathetic as Kate's character is, I find her unconvincing in the capacity of a successful children's book author. That is only a little niggle and doesn't detract from the story.

The ending ties things together very nicely, is happy and poignant in equal measures and I'm sure will stay with me for a long time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
secret Lives
Just an absolutely fabulous book.I got so involved with the characters and I couldnt wait to open it up each day. A great read and I would definately recommend it.
Published 28 days ago by bruce
A story of trust and the lack of it..
This book, brilliantly written, is about an actress who researches her famous authoress mother's life.... and discovers that she is not the only "actress" in the family. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pippa
Glued!
This is my second Diane Chamberlain book (the first being "Breaking the Silence") and I was totally glued to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by KJV Ms
Fabulously captivating.
What a terrific book. I admit that I found it a bit slow to start, but once I got into it, it roared along at breakneck speed. Read more
Published 1 month ago by LM WOOD
Another Amazing Book by Diane Chamberlain
This book was absolutely amazing . It took me all of a day to read as i couldnt put i down. On to the next Diane Chamberlain book. I'm fast becoming a fan of her writing.
Published 3 months ago by dellie1981
loved it
another great book, couldn't put it down. i spent a few nights staying up reading late in to the night. Read more
Published 4 months ago by melissa s burgess
GREAT READ
I just loved this book from start to finish- alas the latter happened before I realised/wanted it to. Such indepth feelings/emotions/real-life situations. Highly recommended.
Published 4 months ago by minniep
Wonderful
What a wonderful and heartwarming book. Very easy going compared to the likes of "The Lost Daughter" but just as compelling and Spellbinding. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jbuz
Secret Lives
I have read many Diane Chamberlain books and have enjoyed them all without exception. This was no different. Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. Horn
None
another fab read from Diane Chamberlain, this is the 4th book of hers that i've read since discovering her books in sept. Read more
Published 6 months ago by zeb
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