Holly Barrett is a young, single mother who lives in Birch
Point, a small Cape Cod town. Her family has had property
along the point for generations. After the death of both
her parents, Holly has only her grandfather, who lives just
down the road, to lean on for support and help with her
five-year-old daughter.
Never a popular girl, this quiet, reflective and somewhat
naive woman suddenly meets by chance an extraordinarily
handsome British man on a bus. Jack has just relocated to
her small town. In a matter of a few weeks, this dashing
man manages to catch Holly's eye and get her to marry him.
This whirlwind courtship would be romantic and exciting
except for the flickers of anger that seep out when Holly's
daughter cries or Holly does not agree with his wishes.
When little Katy's dad comes back to town to be acquainted
with his daughter, Jack takes ownership of little Katy and
demands Billy leave them alone. It seems that Jack has
everyone, including Holly's grandfather Henry, wrapped
around his pinky, everyone that is except Billy, who does
not trust the man at all.
Billy tries to convince Henry that they know nothing about
Jack and something is terribly wrong. Billy's intentions
start a horrific, probably destined turn of events. Events
that include death.
Brooke Morgan has created this psychological
thriller with believable characters who will engross you as
the plot moves forward. You will cringe as you read each
page, clues laid out, while Holly makes excuses for the man
she loves. TAINTED is a work of fiction, but it could be
every mother's nightmare. A great story.
In a dazzling tour de force of suspenseful storytelling,
first-time novelist Brooke Morgan ingeniously peels away
layers of artifice and deception to reveal the fears and
uncertainties that live in the hearts of us all.
Holly Barrett first saw Jack Dane early one morning—tall,
tan, and so heartbreakingly handsome he took her breath
away. He also seemed like the last person to disrupt her
quiet, uneventful days with her sensitive daughter, Katy.
But the charming, enigmatic Englishman has blown into her
small Cape Cod town like a brisk summer wind off the
bay.
He sweeps Holly off her feet, and is soon
touching the lives of everyone she deeply cares about. But
is Jack the considerate, concerned gentleman he appears to
be—or is there a very different creature lurking below the
surface? Has a monster entered her life . . . and how far
will Holly have to go to save the person she loves more than
anyone else in the world?