A haunting, emotional romantic suspense about surviving the past, trusting love, and uncovering the truth that changes everything... from bestselling author SM Stryker.
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Some scars don't fade. Some truths don't stay buried.

And some love stories were never meant to be easy.

From the outside, Samantha Montgomery looked like any other girl. But the truth? Her childhood was a lie -- stitched together with secrets, silenced with shame, and masked by forced smiles. The day her mother remarried was the day her world fractured. Her new stepbrother wore charm like a disguise and used silence like a weapon.
What he stole from her would never be forgotten.

She learned to keep her head down. To survive.

Until Oliver.

Older. Quiet. Unattainable.

He wasn't just a boy from her past -- he was her safe place, her secret solace, the one constant in a world that never stopped shifting beneath her feet. He made her feel seen when she was desperate to disappear. But he also held secrets of his own. Dangerous ones.

Years later, just when she thinks she's finally outrun the ghosts that haunted her, the past crashes into the present -- with a name she hasn't spoken in years, and the man she never wanted to see again.

Oliver was always there to protect her in the shadows.

But what happens when the man you trust and love, becomes the one who breaks you?

With one revelation, everything unravels. The lies. The silence. The bond they thought couldn't be broken. Now, Samantha is forced to question everything -- especially the love she thought was unshakable.

Enemies are closing in. The past is clawing its way to the surface. And the only person who's ever truly seen her is the one holding the truth that could destroy them both.

This isn't a story about happily ever after.

It's about surviving the storm -- and choosing love even when it hurts.

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For readers who crave emotionally intense romance, gripping suspense, and a love that refuses to let go -- The Sins of a Child is a soul-deep, slow-burning journey of healing, betrayal, and redemption.

If you've ever loved the one person you shouldn't, if you've ever felt broken but kept fighting anyway -- this story is for you.
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Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of sexual abuse, physical violence, emotional manipulation, and trauma. Reader discretion is strongly advised. Intended for readers 18+ due to content and mature themes.

***This story has been lovingly revised and thoughtfully expanded, shaped by my own growth as both a writer and a person. What began as a simple draft has evolved into something far more layered, emotional, and true to the characters' journey -- and mine. Previously published as The Locket

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• Publication Date: May 15, 2019
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 552 Pages
• File Size: 39 KB