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Silencing Sarah

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Madison Owens has had her fair share of issues in life, but she's finally come of age. Playfully referred to by her family as "the prodigal daughter," she returns home after an extended venture into the world at-large. Among other things, she can now add "bestselling author" as a notch on her belt of accomplishments, and she begins to look homeward for what she deems her next greatest achievement: moving into the old family cabin on the outskirts of town, reinvigorating the blissful memories of her childhood.

Much to her chagrin, though, she soon discovers that her parents have long ago sold the family land. What's worse: they've turned it over to none other than the town pariah himself, Will McGomery, a tragic figure who long ago removed himself from public view ever since his wife's suicide closely followed the mysterious death of Sarah, a young woman he was rumored to have been involved with. Undaunted, Madison approaches Will in order to convince him to return the land to her; naturally, she feels it's her duty, as she's convinced that the property is her birthright.

What Madison doesn't count on, though, is that she and Will will soon begin a dangerous affair - dangerous because of the warning signs that continue to emerge the deeper with him she becomes involved. Despite the objections of her family and various townfolk, Madison can't help succumbing to her powerful attraction to Will, and she soon finds herself delving deeper into the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of both Sarah and his wife, which only fuel her curiosity to learn more...

Everyone knows the infamous saying about curiosity, though, and it may prove to be just as instrumental in silencing Madison's inquiries as it was Sarah's...

An engrossing page-turner, Silencing Sarah is a taut suspense thriller from a seasoned veteran of the genre. In it, M.L. Cordle seamlessly weaves an eclectic cast of characters throughout a tapestry of all-encompassing mystery. Devoid of typically predictable plot twists and faux surprise, Cordle's narrative truly engages the reader in the unfolding of a suspenseful tale that does not have to work hard to hold the interest. Superbly crafted, Silencing Sarah is an even blend of action and exposition sure to keep the reader at rapt attention until the final page of this fast-paced thriller is turned. Highly recommended.

This book was fantastic! It was full of romance and suspenseful twists and turns, with a surprising end. I look forward to seeing more novels by M L Cordle, she is a very talented author!

J M Perkins

And she shouldn't ever be silenced. ML Cordle is a great new talent and this book had me spellbound from the very beginning. I was so caught up in the characters and their story that even at the end, I was begging for more. There is a twist in this story that will absolutely take your breath away and having you in tears. What an amazing writer, and what an absolutely incredible read.

I love this book! It has everything... murder, mystery, suspense, love, loss, ghosts, and more!

M.L. Cordle did an amazing job writing this novel. It has enough twists and turns to please any mystery/suspense reader, plenty of chilling supernatural events for the paranormal/horror fan, and the relationship between the hero and heroine is sizzling, which will more than satisfy any romance lover.

The story is about an author named Madison Owens, a woman who returns to her rural hometown after a painful divorce. She has plans to renovate her grandparent's rustic cabin, a place that as a child, she had found comfort and sanctuary.

But to Madison's horror, she discovers that her parents have sold the cabin (and the parcel of land it's on) to a man named Will McGomery.

Will is a man haunted by his past... literally. He bought the old Owens family cabin with the hopes of living out the rest his life in solitude, and away from the decade old scandal involving him, the suicide of his wife, and the drowning of a local girl named Sarah Chambers.

As Madison sets out to convice the recluse to sell her back "her" land, she finds herself extremely drawn to the mysterious man and the puzzling circumstances that surround his life.

Will is equally attracted to the nosy Madison. And though he would like nothing more than to silence the ghostly whispers that haunt him, he also knows that some things are better left buried in the past.

I highly recommend that you experience this thrilling literary ride for yourself. Pick up a copy of Silencing Sarah so you can join these characters as they embark on their dangerous search for the truth, and discover the many shocking consequences they have to endure, all in their quest to silence Sarah.

Madison Owens returns to Virginia like a prodigal daughter only to discover that Will McGomery now has possession of her grandparents' land and cabin, a place she had hoped to call her own. Determined to undo this wrong and get him to sell her the property, she keeps visiting. Maddie feels a powerful attraction to Will despite the horrible rumors and the cloud of suspicion of his connection to the suspicious drowning of Sarah Chambers and his wife's suicide. Will wants nothing more than the peace of solitude. The cabin is the perfect sanctuary to escape the town's rumors and the deep secrets of the past that haunt him. When Maddie arrives on his doorstep, persistently asking questions, Will attempts to warn her about the dangers of bringing the past to light. Maddie cannot resist her growing attraction to this recluse. Everyone blames him for Sarah's murder. When he hears the voice of Sarah herself, Will knows that he must act. Inconsistencies and personal relationships among the townspeople lead Maddie to believe that Will might be innocent despite the rumors, but his strange behavior also adds to the suspicion. Mystery, silence and innuendo surrounds all those involved with Sarah Chambers, that the truth may lie hidden in the hearts of a whole town. Can Will face the past? Can Maddie uncover the truth and stay alive? Can love speak across the divide between life and death and cry out for justice, not only for those wronged but for the future?

Madison's journey home to Virginia opens up a can of worms! Suddenly all the secrets and underground sexual liaisons that an entire town has kept below the surface now seethe and simmer in full view. From the first pages, the reader hears all the voices and the gossip directly in dialogged as family and townspeople the townspeople discusses Will and Maddie and the case of Sarah, speculating but not giving straight answers. The author extensive use of dialogged to set the story adds to the Southern setting, creating a location where people get together and talk and tell stories. As speculation about Maddie and Will heightens, so does the suspense as gossip unveils the personal liaisons and emotional attachments behind the enigmatic Sarah. Alongside Maddie, the reader starts to realize that something darker lies behind the town's more public stance on Sarah's drowning. As Will reveals the tortured past, can he find peace or forgiveness? As the author's portrait of Will deepens, the reader feels the contrast between the dialogged of gossip and the voice of Sarah haunting Will, a voice of truth that stands out amongst the gossip and destructive relationships. Sarah's voice speaks quickly, warning with an unusual directness and urgency. As the author moves into the narration of dreams and the supernatural, the language takes a more lyrical tone, creating a richness that contrasts with the dialogged. As the suspense heightens, Sarah's voice creates a spiritual dimension breaks through to a kind of justice beyond what the law might achieve.

SILENCING SARAH has a different tone than the standard fare in romantic suspense, a tone that kept drawing me deeper and deeper into her story. Although it might be a little less polished than some of the more vetted works in the genre, the author also takes more exciting chances, truly surprising the reader as the path to the truth narrows. SILENCING SARAH is unique, more cutting edge than the typical bestsellers, and quite refreshing to readers looking for variety within the genre. This book might not appeal to those who want a more simple distracting read or something that complies with stricter genre definitions, but to readers, like myself, who enjoy exploring the more eclectic, and finding something unexpected, SILENCING SARAH appeals precisely because it defies easy definitions. M.L Cordle creates an exciting mix of romance, suspense and the paranormal with a gratifying depth of spirituality coming out of the twisted past. M.L. Cordle takes risks in the narrative style that worked for me, making SILENCING SARAH more meaningful. I loved SILENCING SARAH because it is the kind of book where I followed the book versus a book that followed my expectations.

Accurately portraying small town life, M.L. Cordle shows the social death and emotional turmoil that is caused by choosing to support a man accused of murder instead of siding with family and friends. Blending, mixing and sporadically revealing details in small doses build the suspense that keeps the reader anxious to see the outcome of this conflict. M.L. Cordle mixes the right balance of the paranormal, romance and suspense that will satisfy fans of all three genres of books.