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| Emerald Creek, Idaho – Present Day Fifteen years ago, two teenage sisters, Ava and Madison Howell, were rescued from an anti-government cult, though their rescue resulted in the death of their father and one of their rescuers. Madi wishes to leave the past in her rearview mirror, while Ava has done the unthinkable in her sister’s eyes. Ava has written a book about their experience, and it has become a national bestseller. The sisters were already estranged, and the book’s success has only widened the gap between them. Madi is a veterinarian’s assistant for her good friend, Dr. Luke Gentry, a widower with a teenage daughter. Meanwhile, Madi is about to quit her job and work full-time at the animal rescue refuge she has opened. Getting it this far has been helped by a recent anonymous donation. Then Ava arrives from Portland. Let’s just say Madi is not welcoming her sister with open arms. Ava’s marriage is in shambles after her husband read the book, he felt like she held back some of the dark secrets about what happened to her and Madi. The girls’ father had joined the cult after the death of their mother and brought his daughters with him. The girls were treated like chattels, even to the point of being forced to marry men thirty years older than them. They finally escaped and spent days and nights on the run in the mountains, until they stumbled into a camp occupied by Luke, his father, and others. Luke’s father was killed during the rescue, as was the girls’ father. Even after all these years, especially for Madi, it’s hard to talk publicly about what happened. The book reopens all the old wounds. Can the sisters heal and move on with their lives…finally? 15 SUMMERS LATER is an intense and intriguing tale about the aftermath of being a part of a cult. You will find yourself pulled into the drama and emotion as Madi makes it clear to Ava and others that she doesn’t want to talk about the past, while everywhere she goes, someone mentions the book to her. The arrival of Ava only intensifies the interest in the long-ago story. Ava wrote it for a bit of therapy and didn’t intend to submit it to a publisher. A trusted friend did it for her and it was a hit with publishers. It may even become a movie. Ava understands Madi’s pain but feels her sister can’t ignore the past because tackling it would help her heal, much like she did while writing the book. Meanwhile, Ava wonders if she has lost her husband. He is at a nearby dinosaur dig, ironically near the same lake where Ava and Madi were held. Is her return to Emerald Creek also a way for her to be close to her husband? Can her marriage be saved? Madi has worked closely with Luke, and she considers him to be someone she can rely on. He is protective of her and helps her out at the animal rescue. Deep down, Luke is attracted to Madi, though she hasn’t indicated to him that she returns the feelings. He doesn’t make a move because as a single father, he doesn’t feel like he is available. But with Madi needing him more now that Ava is back in town, will they grow closer? Close enough to realize their growing feelings for each other? Meanwhile, Madi and Ava soon begin to thaw their relationship. Will they again build that special friendship that is there between sisters? Will they have love or a broken heart by the end? A perfect read for your next summer vacation, don’t miss how the sisters’ lives begin to change in 15 SUMMERS LATER. Patti Fischer |
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15 SUMMERS LATER –RaeAnne Thayne