How and when do we know who we really are? Alex Rucker has searched all her life for this answer and still isn't sure. She is returning to Wilton, Ohio, for her mother's funeral after being away for 10 years. Her mother committed suicide right after her father had a massive stroke, and he is now in a coma. Alex's mom leaves a note for her simply stating: "Cat, he isn't who you think he is. Love, Mom." She is puzzled at who the "he" in this note might be.

Returning to Wilton dredges up memories for Alex of an abusive father, a mother who turned her head, a family who pretended it wasn't all that bad and the house from which she escaped all that time ago. Ashamed of her past, Alex thinks of how lonely she was growing up and still is today. She now depends heavily on the bottle to drown the memory of the tragedies of the past from which she is still running

Addison Watkins steps back into Alex's life and brings back a flood of both harsh and intimate memories, memories she has spent the past 10 years trying to suppress. Reconnecting with her brother and sister also causes old hurts and fears to rise again, and Alex feels the need to run once more. However, there are secrets she discovers on this return trip that tug at her heart to stay this time, secrets that may answer the question of who the "he" is in her mom's suicide note. Will Alex learn that we are not just a product of the worst of our relatives, but also the best of them?

Teri Coyne's debut novel, THE LAST BRIDGE, will tug at your heart with the turn of every page. She has masterfully woven a story of hopelessness, suspense and love. You will not be able to put this one down.