Francine Siéty Books

How do you learn to trust again? Denise Hilton, a young single mother, is driving through Edenton, North Carolina, when her car skids off the road during a storm. With her is her four-year-old son, Kyle, a boy with severe learning disabilities for whom she has sacrificed everything. When volunteer fireman Taylor McAden finds her she is unconscious and bleeding, but when she wakes an even more chilling truth becomes clear: Kyle is gone. When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, Taylor feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives, and the search for Kyle is no exception. But there is one leap of faith Taylor cannot bring himself to make - to commit to a relationship. Will this chance meeting with Denise prove any different?

Miles Ryan's life shattered when his wife, Missy, was killed in a hit-and-run two years ago. As a deputy in New Bern, North Carolina, he not only mourns her loss but also seeks justice against the unknown driver. His world shifts when he meets Sarah Andrews, Jonah's second-grade teacher, who has relocated from Baltimore after a difficult divorce. Sensitive to the pain in Jonah and Miles, Sarah tentatively connects with them. As they share laughter and slowly fall in love, they remain unaware of a shocking secret that intertwines their lives. This revelation will challenge their beliefs and lead to a heartbreaking choice that alters their futures. The narrative captures life's bitter turns and sweet moments, offering an affirming message about human imperfections, the mistakes we make, and the joy found in love. The author conveys this with luminous intensity, highlighting the transformative power of connection and the resilience of the human spirit. Did you know the final draft was 30,000 words shorter than the first? Most locations in the story are real, and the main character's name honors the author's two oldest sons, Miles and Ryan?