Secrets and Lies

The "Heart"Strings of Forgiveness

Secrets and Lies by Rhonda McKnight - ISBN 13:978-1-60162-940-1 ISBN 10: 1-60162-940-0 - 376 pages - published by Kensington Publishing/Urban Books LLC - Paperback - Reviewed by Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant, Literary Wonders! (www.literarywonders.com) December 29, 2009 - 5 Stars

Welcome newcomer and Christian fiction author, Rhonda McKnight with her freshman debut, Secrets and Lies. Mrs. McKnight's opening scene gives a thought provoking entry that is often rare with new authors.

The key players, Jonah and Faith Morgan, are faced with many trials throughout this page turner that will test and possibly end their ten year union.

Jonah is a lucrative cardiologist who is partner at Christian Brothers Family Health, where the main objective is to help patients who normally cannot afford healthcare. Jonah's work is his passion, and he's recently taken on the challenge of nine-year-old Amadi Lazarus. Dr. Morgan has taken a "special" interest in his new patient and within the confines of his reasoning lies a deep dark secret.

Faith, Jonah's wife and a stay at home mother, is involved with her church and its various activities, is starting to feel the strain of her husband's demanding career and becomes suspicious when she starts receiving mysterious phone calls. Her confidence is tested as she starts to wonder if the good doctor is cheating.

Jonah has given up on God and his relationship with his father. And just like his relationship with his father, he's tucked his past far, far away. So far, that he failed to tell his wife. Through warnings from his mother, God sends Jonah messages that he needs to utilize forgiveness or things are only going to get worse for him. And when Jonah starts to feel pressure at work, he feels the only thing he can turn to is alcohol.

Faith makes an attempt to try to save her marriage but is confronted with Jonah's past during a routine trip to the vital records office. Hurt and betrayal engulf her and she decides she will no longer roll over and cater to the needs of her husband.

Mrs. McKnight takes her readers on a rollercoaster of trials and tribulations, scripture, biblical and spiritual life lessons. In Secrets and Lies can Jonah and Faith find their way back to each other before it's too late? Can they both learn the true meaning of forgiveness before it destroys their family and those around them?

Secrets and Lies is an easy but powerful read that can be read in one sitting. The pages will have you turning and not wanting to put it down. Kudos to Mrs. McKnight, she truly knocked this one out the park.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome debut!

Secrets and Lies was compulsively readable. I kept wanting to see what would happen next. I loved how the author showed how bitterness can keep you from truly giving your heart to others and enjoying close relationships with them. I also loved how she showed that deep-set hurts going back to childhood can influence adults' lives in the present day until the past is dealt with and forgiveness occurs. That was very well done. And while not very edgy, I found the story very genuine and real. It's obvious the author understands relationships and human frailty.

I think I identified most with Jonah because I saw how he chose to ignore so many things that would bring him pain if he dealt with them. A lot of men are just like Jonah. They avoid issues rather than dealing with them head on. And like the Biblical Jonah, this poor guy had to be sucked into a nasty fish's belly full of life's troubles to realize just how bad he'd let things get. The relief he felt when he was finally spit up on the beach and given another chance to heal and make things right was truly moving. Same with the whole underlying story regarding Amadi.

Secrets and Lies made me cry real tears, which is why this story is making my best of 2009 list. I could not set the book aside and I had to finish it. Plus, the story moved my heart. Those are the two main qualities that make it an excellent novel to me. I highly recommend it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No more secrets, no more lies = a happy mortgage :-)

Secrets and Lies was a really good read. Jonah Morgan was the lead character in this book in my opinion. He overcame most of his demons but not without the help of his wife, Faith.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Clogged Arteries,

Faith is a mother, wife, daughter and friend. She uses her day to help uplift, motivate and encourage others. Along the lines, she feels as if something is missing. Seeking employment outside of the home just may be the answer to the numbness she's feeling, though Jonah, her husband of ten years, has made it clear that he makes more than enough money to support their household and a couple of others. Faith's hands may soon be filled with all types of impending drama.

Jonah is a father, son, and pediatric cardiologist. While he may be something spectacular in his field, he's pretty absent in his home. When the past is drudged up, Jonah finds himself seeking the bottle rather than allowing God's will to flourish. With secrets, unresolved issues and regret looming, Jonah finds himself caught up in a huge mess and alone.

While the Morgans have been married for ten years, there is still a lot that they both need to learn about themselves as well as the other. When their faith is tested, bond is broken and their love compromised, it's up to the two of them to submit and allow God to renew them. Are they ready to deal with this battle?

Newcomer, Rhonda McKnight, has penned a wonderful, encouraging and uplifting story about forgiveness, love and understanding. I loved the characters, the story and love that easily flows from each page. Definitely a book worthy of a recommendation!


Reviewed by: Crystal

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Great Read

It's been awhile since I've enjoyed reading a book this much. Not only were the characters believable, their personal struggles were ones many people can relate to--busy schedules, the need to succeed in the business world, balancing family and work life, feeling unappreciated, doubt, family secrets, and keeping a family and marriage together. As each page submerged me more into Faith and Jonah's story I found myself rooting for them and wanting them to figure out a way to work things out. Ms. McKnight did an excellent job of tackling the subject of sexual harassment from the angle of the accuser and the accused. Great storytelling!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Secrets and Lies

Secrets and Lies is the emotional story of a marriage falling apart. Jonah Morgan is a pediatric cardiologist who works too hard, drinks too much, and shares too little with his spouse.
His wife Faith is trying to walk in the word and live up to her name. But when her husband's drunken rage threatens to hurt her son, she takes the kids and moves out.

There was a lot of bitterness and resentment on both Faith and Jonah's parts. The author does an excellent job portraying those emotions, because I felt as if I were going through this separation with them. Since the destruction of their marriage seemed so authentic, I found this a tough read.

But the author gives us breaks of levity in this novel- sparks of snarky humor that revolve around Jonah's gold digging coworker, Samaria, whose breasts could have been a main character.

I dog-eared some of my favorite lines:

p. 114 "Faith...watched Samaria pull on the sides of her bra. Samaria was wasting her time. Those babies weren't getting back in there."

p. 128 "With each step she took, her huge breasts were closing the space between them. If they could talk, they would be chanting, "Touch us."

Mcknight is a solid writer and I can honestly say I liked the book. She did an effective job of telling Faith and Jonah's story which ultimately has a happy ending. My taste leans more toward 'sweep you off your feet' romance though, and this novel did not fall into that category.

LIES NEVER STAY SECRETS FOR LONG

I ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK. MCNIGHT TAKES US INSIDE OF A TROUBLE MARRIAGE. WHEN JONAH CAN SEE NOTHING BUT HIS WORK, HE STARTS TO NEGLECT & FORGET ABOUT HIS FAMILY. JONAH HAS ALSO BEEN KEEPING A SECRET FROM HIS PAST THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SHARE WITH HIS WIFE FAITH. BUT WHEN THIS SECRET REELS IT'S UGLY HEAD, IT THREATENS TO DESTROY THE MORGAN'S MARRIAGE. IN READING THIS STORY YOU LEARN THAT NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM KEEPING SECRETS, ESPECIALLY FROM THE PEOPLE YOU CLAIM TO LOVE. A REAL PAGE TURNER.

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

Secrets and Lies by debut author Rhonda McKnight is a reminder of what kept secrets and lies can do to not only you, but to others as well.

Jonah and Faith Morgan are living what most would consider to be the American Dream. But like most dreams, you must wake up. This couple will awaken to share the reality of the private hells they have been living. That reality will bring them face to face with what must be done in order to destroy the nightmare that threatens the future of their family.

Author McKnight opens our eyes to the realties of what can happen when unresolved issues are left to fester and the devastation of the unbridled tongue.

Reviewed by Dr. Linda F. Beed
On Assignment Reviews @ http://letusbearfruit.blogspot.com