Secret Place

by Leslie J. Sherrod

When desperation leads to homicide, can healing, freedom - and faith - be found?


A Sunday school teacher hides a dark secret. Charisma Joel's family has been plagued by mental illness for years, leaving her in denial and too ashamed to get help. Desperate and angry with God, she turns to cocky, womanizing Dr. Miles Logan for solace. But when a homicide occurs and more dark secrets are exposed, Charisma is left to wonder if she will ever find the relief and freedom she desires for herself and her family.


Secret Place is a story that reveals the devastation mental illness can cause within families, while offering solid hope and inspiration along the way.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Leslie J. Sherrod is the author of eight faith-based novels speaking to the hopes and dreams of diverse women. She is also a contributor to multiple other publications, including inspirational devotionals and a short story anthology. A writer and a social worker, Leslie draws on raw emotions to bring messages of hope and healing through page-turning, satisfying suspense and heartwarming humor. Her books have been welcomed at literary events around the country and featured in various outlets, including Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library Writers LIVE! Series. Learn more about her work and writing at www.LeslieJSherrod.com.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Secret Place" is a Christian general fiction about a family dealing with mental illness. It seemed like most of the characters were at least slightly mentally ill, which was almost overdoing the topic, but it also made for a couple of quirky characters. I liked how the author brought the Miles-and-girlfriend plot-line into collision with the Charisma-and-husband plot-line, but the extent to which she further tied everyone together strained my willingness to believe.

The characters were complex and realistic. I understood why they acted the way they did, and they faced realistic struggles and temptations. I loved Pepperdine, the friend who's so earnest in her desire to help but who doesn't know what's wrong. The story was fast-paced. The suspense was created by all the decisions--both well-intentioned and bad--making things worse.

Many of the main characters were Christians, though several tried to run their life their own way. There was some prayer, sermons, and such, but they never came across like a lecture. Mostly, it was Charisma thinking about how the Sunday school lessons that she's teaching or a memorized Scripture is related to her situation. However, she didn't always act on what she knew Scripture was telling her to do. She struggled with why God wasn't handling things the way she wanted Him to.

For those curious, Charisma and her husband did believe in miracle healing but also that God can use medicine and doctors to help heal people. There was no explicit sex. There was a minor amount of "he cussed" style bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful, interesting novel.


I received this book as a review copy from the author.

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leslie J. Sherrod touched on a subject that carries a heavy stigma: mental illness. Why are we more prone to address every issue except for those rooted in mental health? Why are some races much more at ease talking about such issues as oppose to others? With National Mental Health Awareness Month now on the calendar, it is my hope that such stigmas will soon be erased.

Each character in Secret Place, in more ways than one, had issues. They helped to illustrate that when mental health issues plague a family...it plagues not only the one with the diagnosis but all of the family. Gideon described his depression as a dark fog. His yo-yo behavior and the shame that he felt had a serious impact on his family and his occupation. Charisma and Madelyn was well acquainted with mental illness because it plagued their respective families. Other members attempted to dismiss it as something insignificant.

This book was a slow read and at various intervals it appeared disjointed. I loved that it wasn't preachy and that there were the use of scripture. The author was able to depict the characters seeking refuge in order to get through. She also incorporated the importance of medical personnel. Incorporating the importance of medical personnel does not diminish or mean that those affected don't believe in God. Self care can best be administered when a clear diagnosis and knowledge is known.

[OOSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Other Place

Charisma is happily married to Gideon Joel, a world renowned psychiatrist known for his work with mental illness. They have one daughter, April. From the outside looking in, life is good for the Joel family.

Unfortunately, for the Joels, their life changes. Gideon is depressed, on a medical leave and never leaves the house. Charisma and April find themselves having to tiptoe around him all the while trying to keep what's going on in their home private. Soon the demands on Charisma are too much. When she seeks help from Dr. Logan, her husband's replacement, things become more complicated.

"Secret Place" by Leslie J. Sherrod is a very good book. Mental illness is rarely a topic, if ever, touched upon in African American communities and should not be continuously looked over as it is not prone to just other races. "Secret Place" is such a powerful read, I'm at a loss for words. At times the book does read a little slow, but when it picks up, it's magnificent. I especially enjoyed the bible scriptures.

"Secret Place" is an excellent read that I highly recommend!

Reviewed by: Carmen

[Dyannah]

It took me forever to read this book, only because I would never really get started. lol. Anywho, it was great and an even more wonderful thing is that I found out that May (when I finally finished reading the book) was National Mental Health Month. Very appropriate and I could not have planned it if I'd tried. The book was title appropriately because it was a secret for all of them. Madalyn was horrible and in so much denial. She really needed help herself. One day she will have to face the awful truth (If the book were real. I really did not figure out how April caused the accident I know it was a dark basement and all but did she drop the glass and Miles fell on it? I am very glad Gideon finally decided to get some help and not continue to try and do it on his own and faith. I am not downing faith by any means but sometimes God will use other means such as doctors and medicine. I think it was more his pride, he did not want to go the the Dr. for fear that the psychiatric community would find out. Anyway it was an awesome read.

[Krystal Esmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the story, but I didn't really like the plot. I like the fact that mental illness was addressed in this book since it is a very real issue, even in the Christian community. I did not like that fact that the series of events in the story were too outlandish to be relatable. It also seemed to me that most of the characters in the story were a little "touched". I like how the story ended, all was well.

[Bookwurm637 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good so far. Main characters Charisma and Dr. Gideon are married. he was once an esteemed psychologist. but now he suffering from severe depression. They both suffer because he refuses to get treatment. Both claim to have Faith but seem to deny all help He sends them. I'm half way through. I think it would be a better story if the author would stick to just their story. but she adds too much drama with other off the wall characters.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charisma is married to Gideon Joel, a psychiatrist known for his work with mental illness. Gideon becomes depressed and takes a medical leave from his job and stays in the house. Charisma and their daughter April is nervous being around Gideon. Charisma seeks her from an old colleague of Gideon’s, and things began to fall apart. Mental illness is a topic that people don’t want to talk about, but it is real. Secret Place is an awesome read…

[T.A. Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Place by Leslie Sherrod gives readers a glimpes into a family dealing with mental illness. The main characters not only dealt with it in her past but it seemed to following her in her marriage. Depression happens to many individuals, some get help and some do not know how to reach out for help. Secret Place can be a lesson for everyone. I recommend this book to others.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a series of events just waiting for disaster to strike, thanks to the prologue. The struggles are very real. The ending was sort of abrupt with no real explanation or follow-through on some of the issues. If you're going to do a happily-ever-after, please show us the process of getting there. That was the main thing this book was lacking.

[Phano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mental illiness, unfaithful husband

[Latanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read!

[Laveda Culver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome Read