This book surprised me. It was nothing like I had expected. I thought this would be a suspenseful read, but instead I got a story about an elderly woman’s journey into paths unknown. In no way was I disappointed with what I discovered. This book taught me that when opportunities arises, I should not allow fear of the unknown, prevent me from ceasing every moment.
Stepping out of your comfort zone can reap unimaginable benefits. Challenges will arise but it would be a journey worth taking as the main character in this story will discover.
They Can Never Know introduces Cleota a 79-year-old widow. She recently lost her husband and what should have been a period of mourning was a celebration of freedom from 50 years of abuse. A celebration, which did not mean much as she has been diagnosed with skin cancer and faced threats of being placed in a nursing home by her stepsons. However, an unexpected but welcome discovery in her basement would change her life in ways she could never imagine. Armed with the rewards from her discovery Coleta set out on a journey, which would lead to her reinvention.
I admired Coleta for her boldness amidst the fears. She lived a life of solitude, fear and abuse for fifty years. Now she was free she decided to live what was left of her life to the fullest. Fear of the unknown and sickness would not stop her, friendly meetings would not divert her and hostile encounters would not derail her.
Coleta’s journey took her on an adventure she never in her wildest dreams could have imagined. Her encounter with a diverse range of individuals from young to old would change her perspective on how she viewed life. She stole my heart with her courage and high spirits and it’s understandable why most persons she encountered were drawn to her. Once you meet her, you cannot help but fall in love with her.I enjoyed spending time with the secondary characters. They helped to propel the story along. They played a pivotal role in assisting Coleta on her journey of self actualization.
Conclusion/Recommendation
They Can Never Know delivers a captivating story about friendships, family, love and healing. Meshal created a wonderful and lovable character who will steal your and a story that will forever stay with you.
“Hugely enchanting…reading Sheri Meshal is like listening to a favorite aunt who just happens to be a phenomenal storyteller.” ~ Anton Lee Richards, author Blueberry Pancakes
“Sheri Meshal has a gift for creating characters you’re going to want to spend time with. Cleota is a touching and provocative story. Go for the ride.” ~ Jim Wormington, author Under Different Suns
“A heartwarming story of a journey of self-discovery and renewal. In They Can Never Know, Sheri Meshal paints a portrait of a character you won’t soon forget.” ~ Ed Pionke, screenwriter, director, producer, Mother’s Milk
More books from the author
Swallowtail
Chicago wife, mother and finance executive Claire Cummings, arrives at work one morning to discover her friend Julia has embezzled millions and vanished.Blindsided and devastated by the betrayal, she’s sent home pending further investigation. Claire’s bizarre death the following day sends everyone reeling, guessing and looking for her in all the wrong places. In no time she’s addicted to an enchanting menagerie of tricks and techniques for getting the living’s attention, but most people are harder to reach than she’d ever dreamed and even harder to set free.
This debut from a thought-provoking new voice in fiction begs the question… what would you do if all the rules changed, and you were suddenly bestowed powers beyond your greatest imagination?
Forty-one year old Dana Quinn, a closet writer, career waitress and three-time psych ward patient has just lost her last family member.
For Dana to go on, she must create a life meaningful enough to answer her eternal question: why did she alone survive the tour bus crash that killed her family? That’s a tall order for someone who’s barely managed to exist.
Never married, in and out of an institution where only her writing saved her, Dana works a dismal job with a few friends she’s managed to keep at a safe distance.
Feeling lost and hopeless in the weeks following Aunt Irma’s unexpected death, Dana discovers a letter and takes her aunt’s advice to simply walk away from her life in Queens and return to her family farm to write herself well one more time. For over thirty years Dana’s believed the farm was sold and did her best to forget it. But what if everything in the house is frozen in time exactly the way they left it? Nothing can stop her from walking through that door.
On the road she adopts a one-eared dog and finds a new best friend in Iowan-turned-New Yorker, Stu, who’s given up designing off-Broadway sets to care for his ailing mother back in his tiny hometown.
Chokecherry, her father’s beloved farm, is not at all what Dana expects and far more than she bargains for. By firelight, Malcolm reveals the cryptic history buried in the tunnel, and why the big barn strikes fear in the hearts of those who enter it. Despite its tragic past, the farm also possesses an undeniable capacity to heal the broken heart of anyone who embraces it. In fact, it seems to be a magnet for broken hearts. Just as Dana and her friends form a tight bond and rise to the challenge of helping Chokecherry realize its true potential, a supernatural ability she’s failed to repress for years, nearly kills her. Dana’s forced to fight for a life she wants—a life that finally answers her eternal question in ways she never could’ve imagined.
About Sheri Meshal
Sheri Meshal spent most of her childhood on an old farm in Iowa. She loves dogs, neuroscience, reading and mini-triathlons. When she isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her nieces and nephews every chance she gets. She currently lives in Chicago with her boyfriend, Gabe and her dog, Jessica.
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