Customer Reviews

Secrets Never Told

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Morgana and Franklin are a very successful African-American couple who allowed success to bridge a gap in their marriage. Upon learning of her husband's infidelity and her mother's death,in the same evening, she flees back to her hometown in the South. There, through her mother's diaries, Morgana finds secrets never told.

After the funeral, Morgana's stays to sort out her mother's business. While there, she meets a young artist and drifts into an affair.

In reading this book, there was no clear defintion as to why Morgana began the affair. It seemed tasteless with no purpose.
For Ms. Alers to suggest Morgana's affair, which was not based on passion or love, but convenience, could be compared to her mother's love affair with Julian was absolutely ridiculous.

In reading her mother's diaries, she suddenly sees the light for forgiveness was unexplainable. This could have been developed more. It made no sense. There was no discussion, screaming, no, I am sorry, nothing between Morgana and Frankllin about hsi affair. I couldn't get pass it.

When Franklin realizes Morgana had an affair, he seemed relieved because he would not have explain his affairs through the years or what made him seek other women. He accepted her affair and said, "Now we are even."

What makes an affair even. Explain this to me.

I recommend if you don't want explainations and willing accept as is, then read it. However, if you want a book with depth and strength, look somewhere else.

The book leaves you hanging. It seems as if Franklin will continue to have affairs because it was a very powerful aphrodisiac to him.

This was an excellent book! I hated to see it end. Ms. Alers has done it again. This was a very believable story and it makes you wonder what kind of "secrets never told" are in your family history. This book also makes you realize that no one, no situation is perfect, and that in the blink of an eye, your world can come crashing down. It also teaches you that you don't have to let situations dictate the rest of your life. Morgana could've bemoaned her fate, and let it affect her life in a negative manner, but she didn't. She grieved, she suffered, she grew, she forgave, and she moved on.

I highly recommend this book to current Rochelle Alers fans, and to those who have never read any of her work, pick up this book. It's a great read! Kudos Ms. Alers on another outstanding novel.

The story revolves around Morgana Johnson-Wells, co-owner of an elegant gift shop, mother of two children, and wife to Washington, D.C.'s most celebrated African-American criminal attorney. Morgana is shaken to the core when her mother dies unexpectedly. Calling her husbands uptown apartment to share her grief, she receives another shock as a female answers the phone.

In turmoil over the loss of her mother and her husband's adultery, she heads home to Salvation, Georgia. With the help of her uncle, she put her mother's affairs in order. Packing away memories of the past, she stumbles onto her mother's diary, which brings to life secrets from the past. As Morgana reads the diary, her life is turned upside down. Soon Morgana must answer the same question her mother asked: Is her marriage worth fighting for?

I enjoyed the novel as a whole, but I did not think it was one of Rochelle's best works. The character of Morgana and especially her husband could have been developed more. At times moving between and present was a bit confusing. The ending was somewhat predictable and could have been developed more. I would recommend the book for the marvelously mature audience.

Sylvia

Rochelle Alers continues her tradition of great storytelling with her venture into mainstream fiction in her offering, Secrets Never Told. Known for writing romance, her Hideaway series being the most prominent, she offers her readers a delightful novel.

In 1945 Salvation, Georgia, Randolph Johnson is a self-made wealthy young man, respected and powerful in his community. Yet he holds malice towards the "talented tenth" population of the town, most especially Edward Graham, who comes from generations of privilege and wealth. By hook and crook he manages to literally win the hand of Edward's daughter, Katherine, in marriage. He has won the prize and will now command the respect he is obsessed with having.

Fast forward to present day, Chevy Chase, Maryland where Randolph's daughter, Morgana Wells, receives a double blow when within minutes of being told by her beloved uncle Julian, that her mother, Katherine has suddenly died, she discovers that her husband of almost thirty years is having an affair. Devastated, she flees Maryland to go home to Salvation, to not only bury her mother, but perhaps also to lay her marriage to rest. The next few days, amidst making arrangements for the burial, she never lets on to her two adult children, Justin and Sandra, that she is considering leaving their father. Filled with bitterness she sends her husband back home telling him she needs time to settle her mother's affairs and to meditate on the fate of their marriage.

It is at the lake where Morgana goes for solitude that she encounters an attractive dread locked man, Erick, who is a photographer/artist in-residence in nearby Savannah. He wants to photograph and paint Morgana. A man who has his own baggage, he is just the breath of fresh air she needs to bring back the passion missing from her life. But it is in the attic of the mansion where she grew up that she finds a set of her mother's journals that will forever change her life. In these pages, Katherine recounts her young married life in Salvation and makes revelations that in a few days threaten everything that Morgana holds sacred.

Evenly paced, this novel explores issues that are commonplace in black literature; intra-racial prejudice, classicism in the black South and how mixed-blood, issues of self-worth and self-hate, sin and redemption are intrinsically intertwined with family tradition and long-kept secrets. Furthermore, Ms. Alers is able to give her characters a humanity that defies pointing fingers of blame for a disintegrating marriage, allowing internal examinations of both Morgana and Franklin. Readers are also treated to the imagery and flavor of the Low-Country area of Georgia, making this yet another fulfilling southern novel of which this reviewer has been consuming for the last few months. Ms. Alers continues her tradition of fine storytelling that will delight her fans.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub

I simply loved this book, classic Alers. Morgana's world is tilted in one day, making her realize that all is not perfect in her world. The death of her mother takes her to her childhood home where she works through problems in her marriage and discovers through her mother's journals, what type of life she really lived. Morgana finds the strength to look beyond the surface and rediscovers who she really is and who her mother was. Bravo Ms. Alers, this is a must read, that should be read at least twice. Get the tissue

Once again, this was another page turner by Rochelle. This was a story well written and quite captivating. From the moment I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. What I found most interesting was Katherine's Journal. Also, the way the story ended kind of left somethings to the reader's imagination. Especially Uncle Julian's so called secret.

For a moment I was hoping for a sequel. I immediately changed my mind and felt that the book lived well up to it's title. End of story.

My girlfriend recommended this book to me and boy I'm glad that she did. I finished this book in two days! I liked the way that Ms. Alers jumped back and forth from the present to the past which is not an easy task for a writer. Morgana goes home to bury her mother and discoveries these wonderful diaries which gives her a glimpse into another side of her mother. These diaries also helped Morgana to come to terms with her own marriage to Franklin. Morgana meets a young man named Erick while in Salvation who helps her come alive again and in the process, Morgana realizes that everyone makes mistakes and that forgiveness is the key to heal open wounds. Which is not an easy task when one is confronted with infidelity!

I loved this story. Secrets Never Told is one of the most wonderful stories that I have ever read. It's filled with intriguing characters that are so real, they walk right off the page and into your heart. You can't forget them.

The plot flowed in a unique and exciting manner that kept me turning the pages. And then I was always greeted with a surprise or twist. Reading this outstanding novel is like watching a movie. You can't wait to see what happens next.

Morgana was an unforgettable heroine, as was her mother, Katherine. I feel like I know them both so well. Uncle Julian stole my heart, too, reminding me of one of my uncles. If you want to read a GOOD book, read this one by the super-talented, Rochelle Alers!

Rochelle Alers has done it again. This was a fantastic read. The story was well developed, The characters made you wonder and made you care. And I can not wait for this authors next book.

Let me start off by saying that I love the book. When you think about relationships, you have to realize that relationships are not going to be perfect. And i think that the approach that Ms. Alers took addressing this topic was superb. I will derfinitely recommend this book to any and everybody I know. Good read..