You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren

There are just some authors that hit it every time. The level of their storytelling makes me wonder why I try.

Susan May Warren is one of those authors. While I’ve only read 2 of the 6 Deep Haven series books, both My Foolish Heart and You Don’t Know Me have been stellar. And the small Minnesota town of Deep Haven itself is a pleasure to return to again and again.

The 2013 Christy award winner for contemporary series, it’s no surprise that You Don’t Know Me is a great story filled with great characters. Very real, especially after you read the author’s note and discover how the idea came about. It’s a story about truth and lies and secrets and hiding and love and forgiveness that every one can relate to, even if you haven’t experienced the extreme circumstances of the story.

Here’s the back cover copy:

To everyone who knows her, Annalise Decker is a model wife and mother. She’s a permanent member of the PTA, never misses her kids’ sporting events, and is constantly campaigning for her husband’s mayoral race.

No one knows that Annalise was once Deidre O’Reilly, a troubled young woman whose testimony put a dangerous criminal behind bars. Relocated through the Witness Security Program to the sleepy town of Deep Haven, Deidre got a new identity and a fresh start, which began when she fell in love with local real estate agent Nathan Decker. Twenty years later, Annalise couldn’t be more unprepared for her past to catch up with her. When Agent Frank Harrison arrives with news that the man she testified against is out on bail and out for revenge, Annalise is forced to face the consequences of her secrets. Will she run again, or will she finally find the grace to trust those she loves most with both her past and her future?