ABOUT THE BOOK
She vanished without a word for decades. This time, it might cost her life.
Hannah Holt was the girl of my dreams and the love of my life—until she walked away without warning, leaving our infant daughter behind. Thirty years later, she’s a Hollywood icon, beloved by millions … and a stranger to me.
I built a life in the military, forging a path I thought would give us a future. Instead, it seemed to be something that drove a wedge between us. Now, on my fiftieth birthday, she’s back—haunted, elusive, and still holding onto secrets.
She says her silence wasn’t abandonment, it was protection. She can’t say more, not until she has sufficient evidence in hand. Then, just as suddenly as she returned, Hannah vanishes again.
Only this time, she can’t be found.
Her agent is panicked. Her closest friend hasn’t heard from her. Her parents have no details. And the more I dig, the more it looks like Hannah was never running from me, but from something darker. Something that still wants her silence.
I have the training, the contacts, and the determination. Now I need the truth—before the woman I’ve never stopped loving disappears for good.
MY REVIEW
If you haven’t picked up a book by Erin FitzGerald yet, you’re missing out on a raw glimpse into love and life. Levi and Hannah’s story is beautifully imperfect. This story will tug at your heartstrings while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Thirty years ago, Hannah decided to leave Levi and their daughter to follow her dream of becoming an actress. She stopped talking to them completely, leaving Levi to handle everything by himself. That’s a big deal, especially with a child involved. I wasn’t sure I could even like Hannah, but when she returns, feeling regret and wanting to fix what she’d done to protect her family, I started to see her differently.
Levi is understandably shocked to see Hannah after so many years. He has spent years raising their daughter and guarding his feelings. But he still loves Hannah. However, he is not going to forgive her easily. He has good reasons not to trust her, and he wants to know if she will stay this time. When secrets come out and things get more dangerous, Levi and Hannah have to deal with their past. The unexpected turn in the story broke my heart for both of them, since they had spent so many years apart.
Hannah and Levi feel like real people. The tension and slow-building connection between them is easy to feel. I couldn’t help but hope they would get back together! But, as always with an Erin FitzGerald book, what I liked most was how the sadness was mixed with funny moments and the caring, sometimes nosy actions of the Benson family and friends. Can the Bensons adopt me? This family is so loyal and loving.
What makes second-chance love so interesting is that people can relate to it. FitzGerald never fails to show how relationships can be messy and confusing, and even when love goes really wrong, it can still turn into something amazing when things finally work out.
Thank you to Ms. FitzGerald for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Colson Creek Series
2 The Greatest of These (2025) – my review
3 The Wages of Silence (2025)
4 The Weight of Ashes (2026)
5 The Price of Vengeance (2026)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erin loves a strong, snarky heroine and a gooey cinnamon roll hero. You’ll find some grumpy/sunshines, dominant alphas, teddy bears, courage, strength, and grit. Her characters have seen a bit of life and carry their burdens, and their real-to-life struggles require happily-ever-afters, since real life has enough sorrow.
Follow Erin on her website, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter.
