Growing up in the small town was a nightmare. When the end nears, can five grieving siblings forgive the abuse of the past?

Tessa Whitley dreads going home. Faced with moving an abusive father into memory care, the pragmatic forty-something reunites with her siblings to begin the arduous task of helping an angry man who barely remembers them.

But even as his dementia causes his mind and behavior to deteriorate, the shy woman finds strength when her estranged elder sister makes a surprise visit.

Reliving the days when the family prodigal was her sole protector, Tessa struggles to balance the years of resentment with her need for peace.

And when her addled parent reveals tragic hidden truths about the past, the hardworking caretaker wonders if old wounds can ever truly be healed?

Can Tessa embrace this bittersweet second chance without losing herself?

With frank honesty and tender insight, Teresa Holman weaves a spellbinding tale of grief and closure.

In a complex narrative of deep emotion and a touch of magical realism, Holman offers a revealing look at the toll abuse and neglect take and how to come to terms with trauma.

The Essence of Secrets is a heartwarming work of women’s fiction. If you like tight-knit sisterhoods, hints of the supernatural, and stories that fearlessly tackle love and loss, then you’ll adore Teresa Holman’s gutsy confrontation.

Buy The Essence of Secrets and experience an extraordinary tale of sibling solidarity and reconciliation.