My Secret to Tell - Brossura

"Teen readers will find plenty of fun and plenty to relate to in this coming-of-age romance with an adrenaline rush." - --Kirkus

Emerson May works hard to be the daughter her parents expect her to be. Ever since her brother ran off, Emmie does whatever it takes to keep her mother, in particular, happy even if it means changing her career plans from marine biologist to lawyer and downplaying her feelings for her best friend, Chelsea s, troubled brother, Deacon. But when Deacon is suspected of assaulting his father, Emmie ignores the warnings of her parents, the sheriff, and just about everyone else in town to help prove Deacon s innocence. As she investigates, she uncovers secrets, learns that not everyone is who they seem to be, and realizes that some people should not be trusted. Richards has crafted an intriguing thriller with plenty of (tame) romance. As a character, Emmie is a bit unevenly drawn. Her sometimes willful blindness toward the whole truth in particular situations, such as why her brother left or Chelsea and Deacon s father s drug abuse, rings true, as do her reactions when the full truth is revealed. Richards spends a great deal of time developing Emmie as a character with compulsions regarding cleaning and organizing, hinting that she may have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; however, this is never fully developed and Emmie s constant desire to create order is treated as a quirk that she could simply stop doing and that occasionally annoys other characters. Still, readers who enjoy heavy doses of psychological and romantic tension will not be disappointed. --Bethany Martin

After years as a professional paper-pusher, NATALIE D. RICHARDS decided to trade in reality for a life writing YA fiction. She lives in Ohio (Go Bucks!) with her husband, three children, and a ridiculously furry dog named Yeti. This is her second novel. Visit her on Twitter @natdrichards or at www.nataliedrichards.com.