Brea Brown

Jayne Greer wasn't the looker or the comedian in her family; she was the thinker and the writer. And ultimately, she was the survivor. When a deadly house fire claimed the lives of her parents and sisters just hours after her high school graduation, Jayne was left virtually alone in the world. Writing down her tale of grief began as therapy, but she came to hope the resulting book could lead into the publishing world... and back into life. If only. Twelve years later, Jayne finds herself in Boston and completely out of her element. Her continual missteps have her ready to scrap her dream and run back to Indianapolis. Her ill-tempered editor wants Jayne to change her book. Who cares how attractive he is? Jayne has no intention of putting up with his arrogance. And even if she were willing (which she's not), she can't-she's suffering the worst case of writer's block ever. A writer's retreat in Marblehead is her last hope, but it could cost her the last shred of control she has over her life.

Whitney Faelhaber is a strong, independent woman. Just ask her, and she'll tell you. Over and over again. But when her favorite aunt passes away and leaves her Velvet Printing, Whitney's strength and independence are challenged in unexpected ways. On paper, it sounds easy-all she needs to do is spend a few weeks in a small town in Maine and put this small business in order so she can return to her career in academia in sophisticated Boston. But the print shop comes with some difficult characters and a crumbling infrastructure, and she keeps crossing paths with the socially awkward yet intriguing (and handsome) guy who works at-of all places-the funeral parlor. To make things odder, it seems he had some sort of connection to her aunt-but nobody wants to talk about exactly what it was; least of all him. And then where is the missing $50,000?The Family Plot explores connections to work, family, love, life, death, and life again. Because maybe what changes your ability to cope with death is learning how to truly live.

Librarian Kendall Dickinson is overdue for a do-over. Unfortunately, she's clueless about who she really is or who she even wants to be. One thing she's certain about: she doesn't want anyone to know she's back in her small hometown in North Carolina because she failed miserably at her first grown-up job and relationship. When she's offered a job as a school librarian, surrounded by two of her least favorite things-kids and noise-she reasons, well, how hard can it be?She's about to find out. In addition to a precocious, feline-obsessed kindergartner, a walking jukebox of a music teacher, a birdbrained principal, a sardonic secretary, and a fourth grade teacher who missed her calling as a prison warden, the cast of characters at Whitehall Elementary includes a cocky teacher who knows exactly who he is and what he wants from life. Which isn't this; but family obligations keep him stuck in his second-choice career. The last thing Kendall needs is a bored man to screw things up for her-again-but he's a page-turner she just can't put down. If only she could sort out her feelings and priorities, Kendall might be able to discover the person she's meant to be. All she needs is a little quiet, please

Nate Bingham's career as a pediatric nurse provides plenty of personal satisfaction, but at the end of the day, he comes home to an empty house. When his obnoxiously perfect older brother, Nick, announces his engagement, Nate decides he's ready to do whatever it takes to secure his own happily-ever-after.But he has no idea how wacky "whatever it takes" can get. Before he knows it, his next blind date has helped herself to his photo, his gender, and details of his life to fuel a wild scheme-and he finds himself falling into it. After all, if his own life is a bust, why not try on someone else's? What could possibly go wrong?"An irresistible tale about finding love where you least expect it."

Team Knox's two star players, Jet and Maura, have found their rhythm in the NFL, where their life revolves around the four seasons: pre-, regular-, post-, and off-. To increase their home field advantage, Maura decides to retire while she's at the top of her job counseling game. It's time to pursue her true calling-as soon as she figures out what that is.Jet's no help. He's too busy negotiating a new contract, dealing with injuries, and proving his critics wrong. Why can't Maura find a favorite charity and spend her days shopping and redecorating the house, like a "normal" NFL wife? He has records to break and autographs to sign.Maura might be uncertain about what her next play is, but she knows what it isn't: motherhood. Unfortunately, nobody gave a copy of that playbook to her mother-in-law, who wants another grandchild more than Jet wants another Super Bowl ring.With so many competing interests, someone's going to walk away disappointed. Who will rise victorious, and who will limp to the locker room to play another day? In real life, not everyone gets a trophy.

Maura Richards can organize a job fair like nobody's business, but weddings are a different story-especially the Kansas City social event of the year, her marriage to local hero and NFL superstar Jet Knox. Handing that responsibility to Gloria, her formidable future mother-in-law, Maura focuses on her career, her fianc , football... and not losing her nerve.The closer she gets to tying the knot, the more her wedding-and her future-tie her stomach in knots. But standing up to a master manipulator like Gloria Knox hardly seems like the best way to blend in with her new family. So Maura tastes cakes, talks centerpieces, and poses for photos, despite her mounting panic.If football has taught her anything, it's that the best offense is a good defense, but she's running out of plays and may need to call on the quarterback to launch a Hail Mary. The question is, will Maura show up in the end zone to catch his pass?

Libby Foster is 28 years old and never been kissed. Nor has she ever... well, you know. But so what? She has a job, a cat, and an active imagination. And in Libby's Fantasy World, her love life is perfect.Enter Jude Weatherington, fresh off the plane from England. While Libby would never dream of talking to him, she does dream of him. Fantasy Jude is refined, romantic, and completely wrapped up in Libby. There's just one problem: he's not real. Real Jude's no slouch, either. He's quirky and clever, and easy to talk to. His strange vocabulary and sexy accent keep things interesting, too. There's just one problem: he's not a fantasy. The more Libby gets to know Real Jude, the more he starts to pull ahead of the fantasy version. But Jude hates secrets. And if he knew the truth about her, it would no longer be a mystery to him-or anyone-why she's still single. He'd run away as fast as he could. Or maybe not.A girl can dream, right?

Married life is anything but dull-or stable. The lives of Peyton, Brice, and those close to them swirl with new friends, new homes, new marriages, new kids, new careers, and new opportunities. Yet Peyton is holding on to some of the old as well-old fears, old resentments, and her old bad habit of keeping secrets. When tragedy strikes a friend, and then comes for Peyton herself, she feels herself losing her grip, both on her emotional stability and her relationships with those she loves.With her insecurity at an all-time high, Peyton must heal her raw wounds-both old and fresh-and uncover one more secret before she can be fulfilled at last.

There was a time when everyone told Peyton Stratford their secrets. And that was stressful. Now it seems that nobody's confiding in her-and that's stressful too Is she being sidelined as a trusted friend and confidant because she's now a wife and mother?It even seems her husband has been keeping information from her. Who would have thought Pastor Brice could have a 'past'? Or that this recently divorced past might still have designs on his present... and future?It's a secret that Peyton's been keeping for Jen, however, that is her biggest concern. Of course, it's not Peyton's secret to tell; plus she promised she never would. After all, telling it could have some serious consequences-for more than just Jen. But is it wrong to keep silent about something so significant? What's more important-friendship or truth?It's time for Peyton to learn to let go. But if she does, will anyone be there to catch her?

Life is perfect. Sure, Peyton has her hands full with the addition of rambunctious twins, but she's settling in to life in Springfield, the church has been rebuilt after the tornado, and even her and Brice's nemesis, Pastor Long, makes a surprise announcement that would have Peyton breaking out in a fist pump if she weren't working on self-control.But suddenly Brice is struck down-literally-and Peyton finds herself fighting for both his recovery and her ability to cope. On top of that, the arrival of a handsome stranger arouses some unwelcome but undeniable feelings. And even Pastor Long isn't done with surprises-and this one isn't nearly so pleasant.How did Peyton's perfect life go so wrong? And what, if anything, can she do to protect her family? When outside forces threaten all she holds dear, it's time for Peyton to rise to the challenges-and hold on for all she's worth.

It's no secret that having a new baby is exhausting. And it's no secret that Peyton is so sleep-deprived she's practically walking into walls. But it's no secret that she loves her son-and her husband.So when Brice wants to move from Chicago-away from Peyton's family and job and friends and familiar home-she says yes, because she knows how much it will mean to his career and how much he wants this change.But now Peyton is keeping a secret about their new life: she hates it.Then there's the secret she's keeping, or at least trying to keep, from her new town and new church--that she's just no good at this 'pastor's wife' thing. At least they don't know about her past. And there's no way that secret could ever get out, is there?

Peyton Stratford is her family's unofficial keeper of all things secret, from the petty and mundane to the potentially life-changing. But Peyton is keeping a secret of her own. And it's a doozy.Pastor Brice Northam is used to hearing secrets. After all, it's part of his job description. But he's about to hear one that's going to challenge him almost as much as his feelings for the person confessing.Peyton needs some serious help from Brice, but how much does she dare tell him? And what, exactly, is Brice hiding from Peyton-and himself? Clearly they both have some serious soul-searching to do. But maybe, just maybe, the answer to secrets isn't silence. Or more secrets. Maybe it's love.* * *Note: While the Secret Keeper series does feature some characters who are Christian (the hero is a pastor, so that's a dead giveaway), it is not a Christian romance in the traditional sense, and some characters find themselves in adult situations and using strong language. Not that the pastor approves But he's fallen in love with a complex, modern woman whose life is anything but predictable. If you think you could too, then dive in. Bring your sense of humor and your compassion, and then hold on for the emotional ride of your life