Quinn grew up in Butternut Lake, and now she has returned for a dedication of three students she went to school with, who died during their senior year. It was a tragic accident, these young men were out on the semi-frozen lake and their truck went in. One of the boys was Quinn's boyfriend, Jake.

As much as Quinn really didn't want to return home, she knew this was something that had to be done. While at the dedication she ran into Tanner, Jake's older brother, and his parents. They were all were nice to her, just like the old times. But would they still feel the same if they knew the truth? Quinn had broken up with Jake the night of the accident because she had caught Jake lying to her about where he had been on a certain night. She had caught him lying before, and had had enough. But did their breakup really cause Jake to lose control that night?

Quinn also runs into the families of the other two boys. One mother was very hard on Quinn and blamed her for the accident. Quinn also came home to find out why her best friend Gabriel doesn't want anything to do with her. They were best friends in high school, and Quinn is determined to make things right.

But the more time Quinn spends in Butternut Lake, the more confused she gets about the actual events of the night Jake and his friends died. Did she cause the accident? Or were other people involved that night?

I really enjoyed THE SECRETS WE CARRIED by Mary McNear. This is the first book I have read by her, but I am looking forward to more of the Butternut Lake series. The way that McNear draws you into the life of Quinn is fantastic. The guilt that Quinn has carried all these years is hard to imagine. I can also understand the pain that the parents went through having their sons die at such a young age. Of course, at times, you do have to blame someone for the mishap. McNear to me brought out the best and the worst of the characters in this book. Weather is getting cold; great book to cuddle up with a blanket and do nothing but read.