Synopses & Reviews
Award-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley, whose bestselling fiction “tackles some of life’s toughest situations” (
The Florida Times-Union), unravels the secrets in a mother’s past that turn her daughter’s life upside down—by revealing the family she never knew existed.
Her dream of studying dance at Juilliard is within reach, but Olivia Dawson turns down the opportunity, choosing instead to stay with her ailing mother in the Houston projects where they barely make ends meet. Lorraine Dawson is Olivia’s whole world, and now Olivia insists on being there for her. But when Lorraine learns Olivia is sacrificing college for her sake, her heartache triggers a series of shattering events that results in Olivia discovering her father, a man she was told had died years ago. But he is alive and well—and he’s the powerful CEO of one of the country’s richest corporations.
With her best friend urging her to claim a much-deserved chunk of Bernard Wells’s fortune, Olivia seeks out his Los Angeles mansion. But it’s not money she wants—it’s answers: Why did he abandon Lorraine when Olivia was three years old? Why did they suffer in poverty while he gave his “real” wife and son a life of luxury? Opening up the past, however, is more complicated than Olivia—or Bernard—expected, and the pain of yesterday’s sins must be confronted before true healing and a bright tomorrow can begin.
Synopsis
From the national Essence bestselling author comes an engaging tale about a family secret that sends one young woman scrambling to uncover the truth about her past.
Award-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley, whose bestselling fiction "tackles some of life's toughest situations" (The Florida Times-Union), unravels the secrets in a mother's past that turn her daughter's life upside down--by revealing the family she never knew existed.
Her dream of studying dance at Juilliard is within reach, but Olivia Dawson turns down the opportunity, choosing instead to stay with her ailing mother in the Houston projects where they barely make ends meet. Lorraine Dawson is Olivia's whole world, and now Olivia insists on being there for her. But when Lorraine learns Olivia is sacrificing college for her sake, her heartache triggers a series of shattering events that results in Olivia discovering her father, a man she was told had died years ago. But he is alive and well--and he's the powerful CEO of one of the country's richest corporations.
With her best friend urging her to claim a much-deserved chunk of Bernard Wells's fortune, Olivia seeks out his Los Angeles mansion. But it's not money she wants--it's answers: Why did he abandon Lorraine when Olivia was three years old? Why did they suffer in poverty while he gave his "real" wife and son a life of luxury? Opening up the past, however, is more complicated than Olivia--or Bernard--expected, and the pain of yesterday's sins must be confronted before true healing and a bright tomorrow can begin.
Synopsis
From the national Essence bestselling author comes an engaging tale about a family secret that sends one young woman scrambling to uncover the truth about her past.Olivia Dawson has watched her mother struggle her whole life. For as long as she could remember, it’s always been just the two of them, trying to make ends meet. When Olivia finally gets her big break—acceptance into Julliard—she chooses not to go because she would rather stay home to take care of her sickly mother and help pay the bills than chase after her dream.
When Olivia’s mother finds out about her abandoned dream, however, she reveals a shocking secret: Olivia’s father is alive and doing very well for himself. Olivia decides to track down the man that might be her father, and confront him about the lifelong deception.
Her father Bernard Wells is a wealthy business owner—his success is partly due to his marriage to a beautiful heiress and socialite. And predictably, he handles Olivia’s reentry into his life the same way he handles everything: by throwing money at the problem. But this tactic can only work for so long before the truth comes to light, bringing surprising revelations and healing for everyone.
About the Author
ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s #1 national bestselling novels include Let the Church Say Amen, I Know I’ve Been Changed, and Say Amen, Again, winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. Her collaboration with Victoria Christopher Murray has produced three hit novels, Sinners & Saints, Friends & Foes, and Fortune & Fame. Visit ReShondaTateBillingsley.com, meet the author on Facebook at ReShondaTateBillingsley, or follow her on Twitter @Reshondat.