The Secret Stones (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A deeply moving story of love and loss and what it means to be a family. -- Barbara Bretton

Masterful...[The Caleb Trees] will join The Deep End of the Ocean on my bookshelf. -- Deborah Smith

Product Description

As her teenage daughter lies in a coma after a car accident, Mattie begins to question things she has always believed-about her daughter...her husband...and herself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (April 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425179249
• ISBN-13: 978-0425179246
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,016,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful relationship drama, April 5, 2001

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The car accident leaves Arlis Petcher dead and Jessica Caulfied in a coma. The teens failed to use seat belts and were thrown from the vehicle. Beer cans were found inside the car and Arlis's mother accuses Jessica of stealing her vehicle and killing her baby. Jessica's parents, six months divorced, are stunned by the accusations. Even more shocking to Mattie and Stephen is that their daughter Jessica was pregnant, the baby dying in the crash.

Stephen begins to provide comfort to his former wife and their other daughter. He wants to reconcile, but though Mattie has turned to him for solace, she has other needs too. She needs to know the truth including any other secrets Jessica hid from them.

THE SECRET STONES is a powerful relationship drama that leaves the reader in awe of author Dee Holmes while digesting disturbing thoughts about loved ones. The well written, angst-laden plot belongs to the prime characters especially Jessica and the comatose Mattie. Elementary, Dr. Watson, anyone who relishes a complex realistic soul searching novel will want to read Ms. Holmes latest gut wrencher.

Harriet Klausner

3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't like the ending, March 6, 2006

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

While her daughter Jessica lies in a coma after a car accident that killed her friend, Mattie begins to question the affects that her recent divorce has had on her daughters. Discovering that Jessica was pregnant, Mattie tries to discover when her daughter's transformation happened, as she tries to learn who fathered the baby

Once the perfect family, Mattie and husband Stephen grew apart when his high tech firm downsized leaving him out in the cold and Mattie a member of the work force. It has been six months since the ink dried, and she has managed to build up her business (a growing antique store she took over from her retired parents), and has a new man in her life. Stephen, on the other hand, has not moved on and is still holding out for reconciliation.

As Jessica lingers in the coma for weeks, and other daughter Hannah literally blossoms as she emerges from her sisters shadow, Stephen campaigns hard that they belong together as a family, and has her parents singing back up for him. About the only joy left in her life is the stolen moments of passion she and lover Wyatt manage to find.

When pressure to reconcile becomes too much to bear, Mattie must decide if she will sacrifice her personal happiness to make her family whole again.

Overwrought with emotion, readers will be hooked to find out Mattie's decision, as well as the paternity of the child. Despite the many red herrings thrown out - it will be a huge surprise - one with devastating effects on all involved. This is not a light and fluffy romance novel - it is at times sad and disturbing.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Secret HEAVY Stones, April 17, 2004

By A Customer

I agree wholeheartedly with the H.Klaussner review. This book was intense but I found that I couldn't put it down. The story will draw you in and put you in the midst of the drama. It took me two tries to get going on this book as I was afraid the story would be gruesome and sad but it wasn't at all. The emphasis was placed more on the discovery of the problems within the Caulfield family. It was serious and very definitely a message storyline meant to give courage and insight to victims of abuse and manipulation. If you love a good drama that is well written this should satisfy.