Customer Reviews

Family Secrets, Lies & Alibis

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It's hard enough dealing with the loss of a family member, but when unimaginable secrets come out as a result of the death it can become almost too much to deal with. Darell Q. Mince is a grown man that finds out after 30 years that contrary to his belief his parents aren't married. Distraught and upset at their betrayal, Darrell moves from his parents' home in VA to his own place in Maryland. Just prior to his relocation Darell meets the attractive Deshai who he maintains contact with while in Maryland. Two years after his move Darell must return home for the reading of his father's will. Upon his return to Virginia Darell decides to re-examine his long distance relationship with longtime girlfriend Monique and get to know the irresistible Dershai better. Just when his love life is taking a turn for the better, all other aspects of his life seem to be unraveling at the seams. Shocking revelations about his family tree threaten his budding relationship and result in Darell keeping secrets of his own. Can Darell maintain his sanity throughout the madness that has entered his life?

Nanette Buchanan has concocted one helluva dramatic story! It's nothing new that some men have secrets lives, but the way this story was penned and the spins put on certain situations made this book my guilty pleasure for two days. There were several editing issues that undeniably became a nuisance; however the story in itself was great. I went from rooting for one character to being totally pissed with another in a matter of moments. Yes, this book is certainly a roller coaster ride. I can't even fathom how things turn out in the sequel. Terrific!

Englishruler
ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating 4.5 Stars

Family, Secrets, Lies and Alibis by Nanette Buchanan introduces us to D.Q., a man with two families. For over thirty years he takes care of his wife, Tonya, and their children. At the same time he is providing for his mistress, Nikki, and their son Rell, while actually living in both households. Rell is under the impression that his dad walks on water and can do no wrong. His dad has been there all his life, only missing when he was working at night. An argument Rell overhears in his early twenties exposes his father's double life, causing Rell to relocate to get away from the lies. The family he always thought he had was nothing but hidden secrets.

When D.Q dies, Rell, as the executor of the will, is summoned home. Nikki was separated from D.Q for years but remained in contact with him. Tonya, on the other hand stayed married to D.Q. even with the knowledge of Nikki and Rell and feels that the death of her estranged husband will be her comeuppance. His money should be there for her in ways her husband never was. What she does not know is that D.Q. has surprises for all of them, especially Rell.

Rell's discovery of all of the lies and skeletons sends him on a path to discovery, while at the same time causing him to create secrets and alibis of his own. Family, Secrets, Lies and Alibis is a face-paced read full of interesting story lines. Occasionally the story seems improbable but does not stop the book from being interesting and entertaining. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy contemporary fiction filled with drama.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

FAMILY...SECRETS, LIES & ALIBIS by Nanette M. Buchanan is the story of Darrell Quincy Mince, affectionately called Rell. Rell's life is turned upside down when he finds out about a thirty-year-old secret his parents never told him and another secret that his father never told his mother. Saddened by the turn of events, Rell finds solace in his girlfriend Monique and tells her his plans of leaving Virginia and moving to Maryland.

Dershai, a tall bronze-colored beauty always had a hard time with relationships. Once the men found out who her father was they wanted to see how much money they could get from her. But one day her eyes locked with Rell's and they become attracted to each other. Knowing that he is leaving for Virginia, Rell and Dershai remain in contact with each other.

Two years later Rell must return to Virginia for the reading of his father's will. Well, we all know what happens with family during funerals and reading of wills -- DRAMA!! When Rell returns home, more family secrets unfold while all those involved are anxious to find out what they will inherit. In the meantime, Rell starts his own secrets which could jeopardize his career and family life. What will Rell do to keep his secrets and at what cost?

FAMILY...SECRETS, LIES & ALIBIS is a novel many people will easily relate to. When families get together for funerals, skeletons sometimes come out of the closets and wreak havoc, and if there's money involved it can go to a whole new level. In this novel, you will find some humor, a few spiritual moments, romance and suspense that will make you want to get to the end of the book.

While debut author Buchanan did a great with the plot and characterization, there were a few editing issues and it took too long to reveal the secrets.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

As a member of the "Reading is What We Do Book Club", the book Family Secrets, Lies and Alibis by Nanette M. Buchanan is full of drama galore as well as long buried secrets that are finally revealed, only to set in motion stunning events that will forever impact many people's lives!! For those readers seeking all of this and then some, this could be the book for you. I must say, reading this book presented many reading challenges for me. Although the author did a great job with characterization, I felt the plot and story line went too far with the continuation of a certain relationship between two of the characters. Also, it took a little too long for the secrets to be revealed and there were editing issues as well. However, I wish only the very best to Nanette in her future endeavors as an author.

DQ Mince may have passed on, but he has left quite a bit of disorder behind. Although he took great care to assure that his family would be provided for financially in the event of his untimely passing, he left them in the dark as to how to handle the results of his indiscretions while he was living. DQ's oldest son Rell has been left as the executor of his estate, unbeknownst to Derek, who has been led to believe throughout his entire life that he was DQ's ONLY son! The information is being kept confidential until the reading of the will, but that is not stopping everyone from trying to find out who's getting what. Darryl, DQ's gambling brother, needs Rell to help him re-establish money he lost in his company, but he doesn't neccesarily want him to know that. Tonya, the deceitful wife, not only wants to know what DQ left her, but has been doing some detective work to try to find out what, if anything, was left to Rell's mother, Nikki, the true love of DQ's life. Nana, the matriarch of the family, is doing her best to hold it all together and keep everybody in check, but there's only so much she can control. The secrets that DQ kept begin stirring up a storm that will soon reach the point of no return!

Nanette M. Buchanan has a page-turner on her hands for sure with this spicy, intriguing novel. She has found a way to connect with her readers using the most personal element possible- FAMILY! This book definitely takes family drama to the next level. I highly recommend this book for purchase, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. The excerpt looks great!

DQ Mince is a sophisticated and prosperous man. What woman wouldn't want that? However, DQ is married to Tonya. Even so, he doesn't let that hinder his relationship with Nikki. Both women have learned to accept the infidelity and their relationships eventually progress over time, producing children: Rell, Dershai, and Derek. The children grow up never knowing about one another, until...death strikes.

DQ's death leaves his son Rell executor of his estate. Little does Rell know of all the secrets, lies, and alibis that were created by his father. Grandmother Nana is the only one that really knows the truth. Will Nana's news be too unbearable for the family? Will it destroy what is left of the family?

"Family...Secrets, Lies & Alibis" is the best drama I've read in 2008! Nanette M. Buchanan really did a good job - enjoyed every page! It's a page-turner! This novel reminds me of the drama within my own family, and I'm sure others will relate as well. If you like drama, you'll love this book! I'm looking forward to reading more books in the future from Nanette M. Buchanan.

Reviewed by: Tekisha

D.Q. Mince was everything a woman could want in a man. He was handsome and successful; his downfall- he was also very secretive. For thirty long years he carried on an affair with Nikki, all the while married to the money hungry Tonya. The women eventually found out about each other but sadly, their kids never got to know each other prior to D.Q.'s untimely death. What a mess he left behind for his kids, Rell, Derek, and Shai.

Mama Mince and the rest of the family are caught in the middle of all the drama that unravels after D.Q.'s death. They have to face the people he deceived with his secrets, lies, and alibis, while he rests in peace!

Even though the novel is set around the death of D.Q. Mince, there is light humor that keeps you entertained throughout the book. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a long read, with a winding plot filled with drama and chaos.

You fell deeply in love with this women or men that you just couldn't live with out? You two had so much in common that it was just unbelieveable that your soul mate that you search for years and years turns out to be....

This is where Darrell comes in at to find that his father dies before he could tell him that he was living a double. D.Q had all the money a wife and mistress. The wife and mistress know about each other but his kids didn't know about each other until the reading of the will.

The author brings out the family...Mrs. Mince,Darlene,Dershai,Tony, Mr. Simpson,Derek,Darryl,Nikki and Darrell. The secrets...that had been locked up for years. The lies...that D.Q had left for his mother to deal with after his passing. The Alibis...the he had to use for all them years to cover up his where abouts to keep everyone happy. Family Secrets, Lies & Alibis