The Secret Hour by Luanne Rice - Review

I first heard of the author Luanne Rice threw Lifetime Television. I kid you not. You know I'm a chick and I readily admit I watch Lifetime. Back in 2005 Lifetime was airing the mini series Beach Girls during the summer. Well, I watched it, really enjoyed it and sought out the book. I loved Beach Girls and decided to pick up another one of her books, Silver Bells. I enjoyed it, not as much as Beach Girls and thought I was about done with this author. Well, long story short, um well no not really. Okay, I was in Target one day desperately searching for something to read when I found The Secret Hour. I was intrigued by the synopsis and having read two of her other books decided why not. Got home, cracked open the novel and read it straight threw. (Speed reader, I just didn't lay there all day and night on the couch reading people, wasting a good day. I reserve that for the Lego games on Wii.) The Secret Hour made me love Luanne Rice and read some of her other work. I haven't read all her books, but I've enjoyed the ones I have. I can honestly say that from what I've read, The Secret Hour is my favorite of all her novels. It'll always be my favorite that's for sure.

The Secret Hour is a romance book of sorts. There's a romance brewing but it's also a suspense filled mystery, a thriller if you like. John O'Rourke is a lawyer with a high profile client, a murder case. His life is pretty much in shambles, his wife died, he's struggling to raise his two kids, Teddy and Maggie. To make it worse, the murder case he's on isn't sitting well with some folks. In fact, it's so bad a flying brick breaks his window.

Kate Harris is on her own mission. She's searching for her sister Willa, who's been missing for six months after a huge fight they had. (I so wanna spoil that fight for you, it's a page turner. But I won't, cause it's wrong.) She high tails it to New England and to John O'Rourke's doorstep. Does his client have something to do with her missing sister? Kate needs answers and John is one of the only people who can give it to her.

This story is about sisters and forgiveness. Kate is searching for Willa because she loves her and is desperate to make amends. She wants them to be close again, no matter what happened between them. It's also about loss and coming to grips with it, accepting it. John and his children have to realize that their life wasn't perfect and that his wife, their mother, is gone and is never coming back. The mystery of Willa's disappearance is gripping, with twists and turns that would do any fan of suspense/mystery stories proud. Also the budding feelings that Kate and John are feeling, both having painful relationships to get over, is slow burning but well worth it. Hey, what's a romance story without issues.

I love this story. It's, well for me, it was a page turner. I was at the edge of my seat for parts of this book. It's definitely worth a read. The characters are very relateable. Everybody has some of the issues and problems they are going threw. What I loved the most was all the weaving storylines. Willa's disappearance, Kate's search, John and his murder client, his family issues, Kate's past relationship issues. I mean it's all there and it's nicely tied together.