Review: You Don't Know Me by Susan May Warren

Everyone in Deep Haven thinks that Annalise and Nathan Decker have a perfect life with their three children, Jason, Colleen and Henry. Nathan's a successful real estate agent who's running for mayor, she's a soccer mom to three children who volunteers at Goodwill and bakes perfect cookies. But everything is not what it seems. Nathan's business is in the red, he’s spent Jason’s college fund on his mayoral campaign and Annalise has just had a visitor from the past--Frank Harrison, who was responsible for rescuing drug addict Deidre O'Reilly twenty years ago, as part of a witness security programme, and relocating her to Deep Haven.

And Annalise hasn't told her husband that Jason has auditioned for the lead in the school play instead of getting a job like Nathan wanted, that Colleen is dating a bad boy and Henry wants to quit soccer. And she hasn't told him that Uncle Frank isn't really her uncle, but is here to warn her that Garcia is out of prison and wants to make good on his threat to murder her for putting him inside for the last twenty years.

The Deep Haven stories have gradually changed from new love and romance with an element of suspense to romantic suspense featuring married couples with children and teenagers. Yes, there is still a Happy-Ever-After, but the focus has changed (and I'm still waiting for Lisa from the first book to get her HEA). While part of me really enjoyed the young love stories, it’s good to see an author whose stories and characters are staying true to the readership and growing with us. It makes the stories relevant in a different way, as we see characters struggling in their lives and marriages, yet finding a way to forgive and stay true to their marriage vows.

As with the previous Deep Haven novels, You Don't Know Me is well written, with engaging characters facing problems we can relate to (well, keeping secrets and things not always being what they seem, if not the part about being an ex-drug addict in a witness security programme), and a clear but understated Christian element. The book was inspired by a real-life situation, which makes it all the more poignant. An enjoyable read.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. You can find out more about Susan May Warren at her website.