Trail of Secrets

Trail of Secrets by Eileen Goudge is 2011 Open Road Integrated Media publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books originally published in the mid- 1990's and reissued in digital format, so that is something you want to keep in mind before starting this one.

Ellie, a young single mother suffers a parent's worst nightmare. Her infant daughter is kidnapped and Ellie must go forward with her life never knowing what happened to her child.
A world away, Kate and Will are raising their beautiful adopted daughter, Skyler and living the good life. A freak horse riding accident brings them in contact with a young doctor named Ellie. A brief connection show more occurs between Kate and Ellie, one that will haunt Kate for years to come.
As time passes, Ellie struggles to conceive a child, has issues with her marriage, and seeks alternative solutions to her childlessness which includes adoption.
An unbelievable turn of events puts Kate, Will, and Skyler in direct contact with Ellie in a heart wrenching scenario that will leave you gasping for air.

While this book is very typical of the style of women's fiction written during this time period, and it is obvious in many ways, it is also a book that can still withstand that age factor and maintain it's incredible power over the reader.
This would make a very good book club read since I can imagine the storyline would evoke some really strong emotions in some people. The book starts off in the 1970's and goes up to through the 90's. Attitudes in those days of out of wedlock pregnancy were vastly different. Ellie chose to raise her child alone, which was a very brave decision on her part. Also, for someone like Kate, not being able to have children was an even larger frustration than it would be today. Adoption was pretty much her only choice.

A couple who can not have children is given the gift of a precious daughter, while another woman loses her only child, and that child grows up struggling with the unknowns regarding her parentage, and is lead to believe she was abandoned by her mother, and as a young adult must deal with a situation in her own life that mirrors that of her mother and and adoptive parents.

The plausibility factor was stretched to the max in some places, but it made for some pretty crazy twist in the story. The odds of this actually taking place are infinitesimal and created some melodrama that almost got a little out of hand. I don't know if it would work in a more modern day contemporary novel, which is why it is important to remember heavier drama was common in this time period in women's fiction. If you overlook some of that, the book still packs an emotional punch.

The complexities of marriage, relationships between parent and child are examined and the effect the choices made so many years ago can come back to haunt you. Did Kate do the right thing by keeping Skyler in the dark about her heritage? As a mother, Kate worried about how this information would effect her daughter, but she was also worried about losing her, which was the reason she kept quiet I think. I sympathized with Kate, but also felt angry with her. I could understand Skylar's attitudes at times, and at others I was truly mystified. She was a confused young woman in many ways and while I wanted to like her, at times she just left me feeling frustrated. The one person I felt the most compassion for was Ellie and while she may not have had the happy ever after she had envisioned, she does get much needed closure and a chance to be a mother, just not in a way she would ever have dreamed.
In the end, despite all the drama and secrets, and lies, the families begin to put forth an effort to right wrongs and strive for forgiveness. Things will never be the same, but a tentative step in the right direction left me with a good feeling. It will take work, commitment, and lots of patience and forgiveness for these characters to make it things work, but I have faith they will. 3.5 rounded to 4 show less

I really don't know how to review this book without giving up some of the "secrets", so beware spoilers ahead!

Ellie Nightingale, is now a respected psychologist, but life hasn't always been good. At 18, Ellie gave birth to a little girl and was ostracized from her family. She ended up in New York with her older sister, Nadine who also was ostracized by their family. Ellie worked to care for her child and make ends meet, but it wasn't enough, in the end. Through circumstances surrounding her sister, her sweet little girl is kidnapped. The police search, but never find the little girl.

Will and Kate Sutton adopt a beautiful little girl, they name Skylar, after an accident that leaves Kate unable to carry a child. When Skylar turns 22, show more she finds herself pregnant with a baby that she is unsure she can properly care for. In her search for doing what she feel is right for her child she finds, Ellie Nightingale. Eliie has always wanted a child and has also never stopped loving or looking for the daughter kidnapped from her many years ago. As things in life usually do, things come full circle, when Ellie adopts Skylar's child only to find out that Skylar is the child taken from her long ago. show less

Trail of Secrets by Eileen Goudge should be renamed "Trail of Lies". The book was alright for some fun light reading, but the fun quickly grew old and became tiring as the pages flew by. Thankfully it was a quick read and the oppressive web of lies were quickly read through. I would recommend this book only to a select few, if any.