The Secrets We Carried - by Mary McNear (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Quinn LaPointe grew up on beautiful Butternut Lake, safe, secure, sure of her future. But after a high school tragedy, she left for college and never looked back. Becoming a successful writer in Chicago, she worked to keep out the dark memories of an accident that upended her life. But now, after ten years, she's finally returned home. Butternut is the same, and yet everything is changed. Gabriel Shipp, once her very best friend, doesn't want anything to do with her. ... Tanner Lightman, the seductive brother of her late boyfriend, wants her to stick around. Annika Bergstrom, an old classmate who once hated Quinn, is now friendly. Everyone, it seems, has a secret"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Readers who love Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery will adore New York Times bestselling author Mary McNear newest novel. A young woman travels home to Butternut Lake, confronting her past and the tragedy she and her friends have silently carried with them for over a decade while also facing an unknown future.

Butternut Lake is an idyllic place--but for one woman, her return to the lake town she once called home is bittersweet...

Sometimes life changes in an instant.

Quinn LaPointe grew up on beautiful Butternut Lake, safe, secure, sure of her future. But after a high school tragedy, she left for college and never looked back. Becoming a successful writer in Chicago, she worked to keep out the dark memories of an accident that upended her life. But now, after ten years, she's finally returned home.

Butternut is the same, and yet everything is changed. Gabriel Shipp, once her very best friend, doesn't want anything to do with her. The charming guy she remembers is now brooding and withdrawn. Tanner Lightman, the seductive brother of her late boyfriend, wants her to stick around. Annika Bergstrom, an old classmate who once hated Quinn, is now friendly. Everyone, it seems, has a secret.

Determined to come to terms with the tragedy and rebuild old relationships, Quinn settles into Loon Bay Cabins, a rustic but cozy lakeside resort, where she begins writing down her memories of the year before the accident. Her journey though the past leads her to some surprising discoveries about the present. As secrets are revealed and a new love emerges, Quinn finds that understanding the past is the key to the future.

Review Quotes

"...The sixth book of the Butternut Lake series is a great pick for anyone looking for an engaging, warm-hearted summer read, especially one with a beautiful midwestern setting." -- Booklist

"Mary McNear writes with emotion and compassion." -- Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Lighthouse Beach

"This is the first of Mary McNear's books that I have read and it won't be the last...The Secrets We Carried is a transformative story you won't forget about grief, guilt, healing and hope." -- Patricia Harman, USA Today bestselling author

"Butternut Lake is so beautifully rendered, you'll wish it was real." -- Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A great, emotional read for every woman who must face the past before moving forward." -- Sherryl Woods, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A delicious setting and a heroine to cheer for, Moonlight on Butternut Lake is my favorite kind of book, one that treads that pleasurable line between romance and women's fiction. Enjoy! " -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"The Space Between Sisters explores the complex relationship between sisters, their differences, their mirrored history, their love and support of one another. This triumphant story had me reading until the wee hours of the morning." -- Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"The first in a homey, feel-good series, McNear's small-town tale offers lakeside views and likable characters. [...] McNear has admirably crafted people worth following." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Well-written with realistic characters...this novel is one that you will find yourself wanting to finish in one sitting...Readers who enjoy this story will rejoice at the thought of more novels in the future set in this charming little town." -- San Francisco Book Review

"If you're packing your lakeside tote and hefting the canoe to the top of your vehicle, you might want to take along Up at Butternut Lake." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Praise for UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE: "Mary McNear takes the reader on an emotional journey with this story of second chances, starting over, and the healing power of love. A book to relax, enjoy and savor any time of year, but especially during the long, lazy days of summer." -- Susan Wiggs

"[Mary McNear] has mastered the art of the quiet romance. With funny characters, a charming Minnesotan setting...Readers looking forward to making some summer reading memories of their own, or eager to reminisce about the golden summers of their youth, need look no further than The Space Between Sisters." -- Shelf Awareness