The Secret of Us [Paperback]

Roxanne Henke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2007

Bestselling author of the Coming Home to Brewster fiction series (more than 84,000 copies sold) Roxanne Henke introduces a standalone novel about a woman waking up to uncertainty in her life and discovering which path leads to hope.

Housewife Laura Dunn and her workaholic husband, advertising executive Donnie Dunn, have been married for 23 years. As Donnie’s business thrives and their daughter, Stasha, plans her wedding, Laura longs for new possibilities. Could the dreams God planted in her heart years ago—like to become an artist—still be part of her purpose? Is there a new life of faith on the other side of this struggle?

This story about a woman’s longing for meaning will resonate with readers of all ages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736917012
• ISBN-13: 978-0736917018
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,162,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a small-town 'girl.' (Rural North Dakota to be exact.)

It's a good place to write from, distractions--like coffee shops and bookstores--are at a minimum. So are stop lights and shopping malls. All that adds up to more time to write.

My life-long dream was to write ONE book...I never dreamt about a second book, much less a third, fourth, or fifth! Just goes to show God can dream much bigger than we can.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Secret of Us Receives Novel Reviews Highest Recommendation, January 15, 2007

By 

Novel Reviews "www.novelreviews.blogspot.com" (Every City, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret of Us (Paperback)

The Secret of Us is a story of longing--a story of life. Laura had learned not to voice her longings but hid them behind childrearing and her husband's efforts to build a business. Over the years, she and Donnie had stopped communicating their dreams. Written from each perspective, Henke presents the struggles of more than just Laura. Donnie can't understand why he's feeling guilty. He has no reason to. Yet ... it's so much easier to leave things be--don't "open Pandora's Box."

Henke draws her reader into the Dunn's lives from page one. Henke breaks all the rules and does it with a distinctive flair. Deep characterization, rich descriptions and a storyline that resonates, all add up to a sterling read--one you'll be sorry to see end.

I won't spoil The Secret of Us by revealing the ending, but it's a poignant reminder to keep our dreams and love alive. The Secret of Us receives Novel Reviews' highest recommendation - 5 stars.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
[...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marriage under fire, March 6, 2007

By 

Laney (Big Canoe, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret of Us (Paperback)

Roxanne Henke blows away naysayers who rate Christian fiction as sub-par. This story was not mindless entertainment: its sometimes difficult scenes serve as a serious warning to those who allow their marriage to slip right out of their hands and then say, "What happened?". Each partner in two generations of couples must take a hard look at what they have done to contribute to their strife, and begin seeking God for strength to amend their ways before it's too late. In these days where marriage is not championed by many, we need an honest story to help us see why it is worth saving.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, July 30, 2009

By 

Pamela Dowd (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret of Us (Paperback)

In trademark Henke style, three distinct points of view--a newly married daughter and her parents in an empty marriage--interlace their perceptions and stories, chapter by chapter in alternating first person. When the daughter and her fiancé marry, they struggle to find wedded bliss while her parents experience a lengthy dry spell destined for divorce. Readers will identify with the individual concerns and everyday distractions, but the Spirit's leading--spelled out in recognizable thoughts and perfectly scripted--sets this book apart. The precise word pictures are never melodramatic or preachy. As the relationships are tested, the reader glimpses the power of married love from multiple perspectives: God's, male and female, newlywed and established. Well done and thought provoking. Couples and women in particular--young and old--will find the revelations regarding over commitment to "good things," role expectations, and miscommunication insightful. It's possible to recapture love. Conversation Questions included.