A Family Affair: A Small Town Family Saga

Book 1: Truth In Lies

by Mary Campisi

Genres: General Fiction; Family Life; Women's Fiction; Contemporary Romance; Small-town Romance; Second Chance Romance; Family Saga; small town romance; enemies to lovers; second chances; secret family; opposites attract; sisters; getaway cabin

Synopsis

Real families aren't always the ones you know about...

A Family Affair is where it all began...Heartache, Betrayal, Forgiveness, Redemption...all wrapped up in the people you will love to love, and those you will love to hate!

When Christine Blacksworth's larger-than-life father is killed on an icy road in Magdalena, New York, a hundred miles from the 'getaway' cabin he visited every month, she discovers a secret that threatens everything she's always held to be true. Her father has another family which includes a mistress and a daughter.

Determined to uncover the truth behind her father's secret life, Christine heads to Magdalena, prepared to hate the people who have caused her to question everything she thought she knew about her father. But what she finds is a woman who understands her, a half sister who cherishes her, and a man who could love her if she'll let him. The longer she's around them, the more she questions which family is the real one. . .

Attention Book Clubs: A Family Affair is filled with moral ambiguity, difficult choices, and second chances - all great topics for conversation and contemplation. Go to marycampisi.com to get a printable list of questions for your discussion.

Truth in Lies Series:
Book One: A Family Affair
Book Two: A Family Affair: Spring
Book Three: A Family Affair: Summer
Book Four: A Family Affair: Fall
Book Five: A Family Affair: Christmas, a novella
Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter
Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise
Book Eight: A Family Affair: The Secret
Book Nine: A Family Affair: The Wish
Book Ten: A Family Affair: The Gift
Book Eleven: A Family Affair: The Weddings, a novella
Book Twelve: A Family Affair: The Cabin, a novella
Book Thirteen: A Family Affair: The Return
Book Fourteen: A Family Affair: The Choice
Book Fifteen: A Family Affair: The Proposal
Book Sixteen: A Family Affair: Bonus Scenes
Book Seventeen: A Family Affair: The Homecoming
Book Eighteen: A Family Affair: The Decision Book Nineteen: A Family Affair: The JourneyBook Twenty: A Family Affair: The List
Meals From Magdalena: A Family Affair Cookbook

Bonus Material: Included with this e-book is the first chapter of A Family Affair: Spring, Book 2 in the Truth in Lies series.

KEY THEMES: secret family, sisters, Catskills, perennial garden club, getaway cabin, bed and breakfast, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, second chances.

Release date: January 6, 2014

Publisher: Mary Campisi

Print pages: 270

Content advisory: Note: This book contains sexual content and profanity. While the author believes these situations are handled in good taste, she acknowledges some readers will choose to pass on this book.

Sample

The longer she’s around them, the more she questions which family is the real one. . .

In another week or so, he’d be able to get back to his own place, back to seclusion, where the loudest noise at night was a flip between a screech owl and a log crackling on the fire. Just the way he liked it. The majority of the human species was nothing but an annoying intrusion on his state of mind and, other than the times when he had to interact with them, he preferred to be alone. Of course, family didn’t fit into that category, just everyone else. His mother said he was afraid to open up after what happened three years ago. She was wrong; he didn’t care about Patrice anymore, didn’t even think about her, not since the day the sheriff delivered the divorce papers. Nate heard she was remarried to some bank president in Palm Springs, drove a Lexus now. Probably silver; she’d always had a fondness for silver. 

The doorbell rang again, twice, rapid staccato. “Hold on, hold on.” Damn intrusive busybodies. He reached the front door, preparing the same speech he told all the well-wishers. She’s fine… needs her rest… she’ll be in touch when she’s up to it. She’d be furious if she had an inkling that he was blowing off people like Father Reisanski and Judge Tommichelli, but hell, did she have to be best friends with half the town? 

He opened the door.  

It was her. 

“Hello. I’m looking for…” 

Her voice was softer than he’d imagined, more breathy… 

“…this is a bit awkward…” 

Her eyes were bluer than her picture…  

“Lily Desantro. Is she here?” 

That brought him around fast. “Who are you?” Stupid question, but damn if he’d let on he knew who she was. 

She hesitated, a split-second extra air exchange. “Christine Blacksworth. I’m… are you Nate Desantro?” He said nothing. Let her squirm. 

“Is Lily here?” 

“No.”  

“May I come in?” She tried to look around him, into the house, into their lives.  

He blocked the door. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”