"DOUBLE DECEIT," by Stephanie Humphreys, Walnut Springs Press, $17.95, 292 pages (f)
In "Double Deceit," author Stephanie Humphreys tells the story of a young Mormon woman who returns to her childhood home for the first time in 10 years. Eliana, who is trying to recover from an abusive marriage, works to adjusts to living with her sister again and learns that they recently lost their mother, too.
Eliana, a young girl growing up in Canada, has a moment of bad luck when in a rebellious act she elopes with her high school boyfriend. She quickly realizes that things aren't always as they seem, and she soon finds herself living in a secluded area without access to a phone, money, car or even friends and neighbors. After almost 10 years of abuse, Eliana finally gains the courage to leave her husband and seek a divorce. During the divorce proceedings, her husband is killed in a car accident.
Ready for a fresh start, Eliana returns to her childhood home. Her sister greets her with open arms, having had no idea why they have been out of contact for so long. Slowly things seem to return to normal for Eliana. She gets a job, begins attending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints again at her sister's singles ward and even meets a returned missionary who becomes more than just a friend.
Just as life seems to be turning around, strange things begin to happen and no one seems to believe her. Her sister is too involved with a new boyfriend and her friends think she suffers from post-traumatic stress. But it's clear that someone is stalking Eliana and wants to keep her tragedies fresh in her mind.
"Double Deceit" will have you turning pages, sitting at the edge of your seat and holding back tears. Just when you think you know how the story will end, it twists again. As with most love stories, the relationships seem to develop at very quick pace, but the characters are endearing and plot is gripping.
Humphreys is a Utah-born author living in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and their combined family of six children. She is also the author of "Finding Rose."
Adam Thomas currently resides in Herriman, Utah, with his wife Kimberly and daughter Olivia.