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Truth in Lies #1
A Family Affair
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! Included on my website is a Book Club Discussion Guide for A Family Affair. This story is filled with moral ambiguity, difficult choices, and second chances--all great topics for conversation and contemplation.
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
Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter (TBA)
Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise (TBA)
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! Included on my website is a Book Club Discussion Guide for A Family Affair. This story is filled with moral ambiguity, difficult choices, and second chances--all great topics for conversation and contemplation.
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
Book Six: A Family Affair: Winter (TBA)
Book Seven: A Family Affair: The Promise (TBA)
268 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
5821 people are currently reading
8156 people want to read
About the author
Mary Campisi
80 books419 followersMary Campisi is the author of over 40 emotion-packed novels that center around hope, redemption, and second chances.
Mary should have known she'd become a writer when at age thirteen she began changing the ending to all the books she read. It took several years and a number of jobs, including registered nurse, receptionist in a swanky hair salon, accounts payable clerk, and practice manager in an OB/GYN office, for her to rediscover writing. Enter a mouse-less computer, a floppy disk, and a dream large enough to fill a zip drive. The rest of the story lives on in every book she writes.
When she's not working on her craft or following the lives of five adult children, Mary's digging in the dirt with her flowers and herbs, cooking, reading, walking her rescue lab, Henry, or, on the perfect day, riding off into the sunset with her very own hero/husband on his Ultra Limited aka Harley.
If you would like to be notified when Mary has a new release, please sign up at http://www.marycampisi.com/book/book-...
website: marycampisi.com
e-mail: mary@marycampisi.com
blog: marycampisi.com/blog/
twitter: twitter.com/MaryCampisi
facebook: facebook.com/marycampisibooks
Instagram: instagram.com/marycampisiauthor/
Mary should have known she'd become a writer when at age thirteen she began changing the ending to all the books she read. It took several years and a number of jobs, including registered nurse, receptionist in a swanky hair salon, accounts payable clerk, and practice manager in an OB/GYN office, for her to rediscover writing. Enter a mouse-less computer, a floppy disk, and a dream large enough to fill a zip drive. The rest of the story lives on in every book she writes.
When she's not working on her craft or following the lives of five adult children, Mary's digging in the dirt with her flowers and herbs, cooking, reading, walking her rescue lab, Henry, or, on the perfect day, riding off into the sunset with her very own hero/husband on his Ultra Limited aka Harley.
If you would like to be notified when Mary has a new release, please sign up at http://www.marycampisi.com/book/book-...
website: marycampisi.com
e-mail: mary@marycampisi.com
blog: marycampisi.com/blog/
twitter: twitter.com/MaryCampisi
facebook: facebook.com/marycampisibooks
Instagram: instagram.com/marycampisiauthor/
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November 13, 2015
FREE on Amazon US today (11/12/2015)
Stand-alone book 1. Series is complete.
BLURB:
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. . .
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Affair-T...
FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day, I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 400 books)
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August 10, 2012
There was potential for a very good story and it was well written for the most part. I enjoyed reading it. My only complaint is that throughout the novel, so many family secrets were revealed and there wasn't much regarding how the characters dealt with them. Some of the revelations to Christine were quite shocking or at least, they should have been. I don't want to give anything away but her Uncle Harry reveals a pretty big family secret to Christine toward the end and there is nothing afterward. No mention of how she dealt with it or how her mother dealt with Christine being told the truth. The same happens with Nate. His mother reveals some things to him about his father in a pretty emotional scene. He storms out angry with the world and it's lies and then.....nothing. The next time we see him, he's confessing his love. There were several huge gaps in the story and a lot of unanswered questions.
d-n-f
October 6, 2013Just lost my review. Fuck you, Wi-Fi!
Here we go. This was a DNF for me for numerous reasons.
1. It was tedious. Page after page of back story that isn't necessary, followed by even more pages of fretting on Christina's part. After being told in countless different ways that she hero-worships her father, I get the fucking point. Move on already.
2. Unnecessary story. One chapter is about Christina, the next is about her Uncle Harry, then the next is about Christina again. Sorry, but I don't give a fuck about Uncle Harry. Each chapter is basically just reiterating that he's a hopeless schmuck that doesn't give a shit anymore. I FUCKING GOT IT AFTER THE FIRST SCENE. I dunno what the fuck he was doing, but it didn't seem to matter. At all.
3. Christine is a bitch. A total bitch. She hates the family her father hid from her, even though her father was the one at fault. Why is she so angry at the people who are just as much a victim as she is? And then she gets pissed off when she finds out that this family knew all about her. But she's the one knocking on their door day after day, demanding to see Lily. So Christine can demand to know all about Lily, but her father had "no right" to tell Lily about Christine? That makes not one lick of sense and is so unreasonable, I couldn't see myself enjoying a single moment of her story. And she's tactless and clueless enough to call somebody with Downs Syndrome "retarded"... psh! If anyone in this book is retarded, it's Christine.
4. Asshole Nate. Nate has a good reason to be pissed, but he's pissed at Christine when he should have been pissed at Christine's father and his own mother. Misplaced anger makes him mean and nasty - not something I'm attracted to or interested in.
Thank GOD I downloaded this for free, because I'd be furious if I had wasted money on this stupidity. As it is, I'm just frustrated that I wasted enough time to get as far as I did before realizing that enjoying it was futile.
Here we go. This was a DNF for me for numerous reasons.
1. It was tedious. Page after page of back story that isn't necessary, followed by even more pages of fretting on Christina's part. After being told in countless different ways that she hero-worships her father, I get the fucking point. Move on already.
2. Unnecessary story. One chapter is about Christina, the next is about her Uncle Harry, then the next is about Christina again. Sorry, but I don't give a fuck about Uncle Harry. Each chapter is basically just reiterating that he's a hopeless schmuck that doesn't give a shit anymore. I FUCKING GOT IT AFTER THE FIRST SCENE. I dunno what the fuck he was doing, but it didn't seem to matter. At all.
3. Christine is a bitch. A total bitch. She hates the family her father hid from her, even though her father was the one at fault. Why is she so angry at the people who are just as much a victim as she is? And then she gets pissed off when she finds out that this family knew all about her. But she's the one knocking on their door day after day, demanding to see Lily. So Christine can demand to know all about Lily, but her father had "no right" to tell Lily about Christine? That makes not one lick of sense and is so unreasonable, I couldn't see myself enjoying a single moment of her story. And she's tactless and clueless enough to call somebody with Downs Syndrome "retarded"... psh! If anyone in this book is retarded, it's Christine.
4. Asshole Nate. Nate has a good reason to be pissed, but he's pissed at Christine when he should have been pissed at Christine's father and his own mother. Misplaced anger makes him mean and nasty - not something I'm attracted to or interested in.
Thank GOD I downloaded this for free, because I'd be furious if I had wasted money on this stupidity. As it is, I'm just frustrated that I wasted enough time to get as far as I did before realizing that enjoying it was futile.
June 28, 2021
An undemanding, enjoyable soap opera with a feel-good ending. I especially liked the sweet relationship between Christine and Lily. I'd probably continue to read other books in the series.
February 9, 2018
אחת לחודש אביה של כריסטין נוסע לארבעה ימים לעיירה מגדלנה, עד שערב אחד שיחת טלפון הופכת את עולמה ומובילה לגילויים מטלטלים על חייו השניים של אביה.
כריסטין נוסעת למגדלנה שם היא פוגשת במשפחתו השניה (לא ספויילר בתחילת הספר המחברת מספרת על הנסיבות שהובילו אותה לכתוב את הספר וההשראה לסיפור). הפגישה הזו מעלה בכריסטין שאלות על אמת ושקר ועל החיים שאותם חייה עד כה.
הרעיון שעומד מאחורי הספר מצויין. יחד עם זאת הביצוע לא תמיד טוב והיא נכנסת לפיתולים מיותרים.
ספר נחמד שמספק קריאה קולחת למספר שעות.
כריסטין נוסעת למגדלנה שם היא פוגשת במשפחתו השניה (לא ספויילר בתחילת הספר המחברת מספרת על הנסיבות שהובילו אותה לכתוב את הספר וההשראה לסיפור). הפגישה הזו מעלה בכריסטין שאלות על אמת ושקר ועל החיים שאותם חייה עד כה.
הרעיון שעומד מאחורי הספר מצויין. יחד עם זאת הביצוע לא תמיד טוב והיא נכנסת לפיתולים מיותרים.
ספר נחמד שמספק קריאה קולחת למספר שעות.
March 31, 2014
The Secrets we hide.
I downloaded this sometime ago. I think I ran into Mary on an Amazon thread sometime back. I’m always looking for new works and genre to explore. This one fits that bill. I’m not going to say it’s my all time favorite, but it’s a good story.
A family’s deep secrets become revealed when the Patriarch, Charlie Blacksworth is involved in an accident, taking his life. What ensues is quite entertaining as his brother, Uncle Harry and wife Gloria can longer keep the heir apparent to Charlie’s empire, his daughter, Christine from uncovering where and why her father went to the cabin in Magdalene, New York once a month.
I enjoyed the fluid writing style. I kept trying to put a finger on it and then it dawned on me, it’s like reading a script from a soap opera. Because of the way Mary keeps recounting past events, you can set the book down for a week and pick-up where you left out without having to backtrack. For me, that was a strength and weakness. I know, being a male we just want to forge ahead where women enjoy the fluff and stuff.
Chronology: I’m a stickler for it and there were some scene changes with no warning or breaks in the action. Multiple times we went from New York to Chicago in the flash of an eye. That was a bit distracting.
I did find a few sentences that really stumped me. The one which stands out was when Lilly and the family went to go riding. I felt the name of the horse should have been highlighted. I know I read sentence five times before I realized this wasn’t a new character, but the name of the horse.
Men, it’s not a bad read. Three stars for us Alpha Males. Women, this is hands down, a five star work.
I downloaded this sometime ago. I think I ran into Mary on an Amazon thread sometime back. I’m always looking for new works and genre to explore. This one fits that bill. I’m not going to say it’s my all time favorite, but it’s a good story.
A family’s deep secrets become revealed when the Patriarch, Charlie Blacksworth is involved in an accident, taking his life. What ensues is quite entertaining as his brother, Uncle Harry and wife Gloria can longer keep the heir apparent to Charlie’s empire, his daughter, Christine from uncovering where and why her father went to the cabin in Magdalene, New York once a month.
I enjoyed the fluid writing style. I kept trying to put a finger on it and then it dawned on me, it’s like reading a script from a soap opera. Because of the way Mary keeps recounting past events, you can set the book down for a week and pick-up where you left out without having to backtrack. For me, that was a strength and weakness. I know, being a male we just want to forge ahead where women enjoy the fluff and stuff.
Chronology: I’m a stickler for it and there were some scene changes with no warning or breaks in the action. Multiple times we went from New York to Chicago in the flash of an eye. That was a bit distracting.
I did find a few sentences that really stumped me. The one which stands out was when Lilly and the family went to go riding. I felt the name of the horse should have been highlighted. I know I read sentence five times before I realized this wasn’t a new character, but the name of the horse.
Men, it’s not a bad read. Three stars for us Alpha Males. Women, this is hands down, a five star work.
August 8, 2012
A Family Affair is my first Mary Campisi book. I was blown away. This book elicited so much emotion in me that I literally found myself sad as I was turning the pages.
Christine Blacksworth's life has been irrevocably changed with just one phone call. The call that delivered the news that her beloved father had been in a car accident, on his way home from the cabin that he goes to for 4 days a month, every month, and didn't survive. Upon finding out that her father has left a third of his estate to a Lily Desantro, Christine decides to go to his cabin and do some investigating of her own. The money isn't the issue, Christine is rich and very succesful in her own right, she wants to know who this woman is and what she meant to her father.
She finds that her father has another family, complete with girlfriend and 13 year old daughter. Their is also, Nate Desantro Miriam's son from her first marriage, who hated Christine's dad for not choosing between his 2 families. What kind of man could allow his mom to put her life on hold waiting for him to return for only 4 days a month?
Christine finds herself relating to the new family and feeling more at home with them than she has ever with her own mother. It's a completely different life without the trappings of wealth and ladder climbing.
This book definitely offers a different take on what you imagine when you hear of a man having more than one family.
This book has it all..romance, betrayal, secrets, blackmail and even forgiveness and understanding.
Christine Blacksworth's life has been irrevocably changed with just one phone call. The call that delivered the news that her beloved father had been in a car accident, on his way home from the cabin that he goes to for 4 days a month, every month, and didn't survive. Upon finding out that her father has left a third of his estate to a Lily Desantro, Christine decides to go to his cabin and do some investigating of her own. The money isn't the issue, Christine is rich and very succesful in her own right, she wants to know who this woman is and what she meant to her father.
She finds that her father has another family, complete with girlfriend and 13 year old daughter. Their is also, Nate Desantro Miriam's son from her first marriage, who hated Christine's dad for not choosing between his 2 families. What kind of man could allow his mom to put her life on hold waiting for him to return for only 4 days a month?
Christine finds herself relating to the new family and feeling more at home with them than she has ever with her own mother. It's a completely different life without the trappings of wealth and ladder climbing.
This book definitely offers a different take on what you imagine when you hear of a man having more than one family.
This book has it all..romance, betrayal, secrets, blackmail and even forgiveness and understanding.
July 31, 2012
The strength of this story was in the characters. Uncle Harry was degenerate, immoral, and at times, disgusting. Yet somehow, the author made me like him and want to see him clean up his act. Gloria was perfectly horrible. I hated her from the beginning to the end. But Nate Desantro and Christine Blacksworth were the stars for me. They made a great couple. The plot was at times predictable, though the secret behind Uncle Harry and Gloria was a bit of a surprise. The ending I saw coming. However, I liked the characters enough not to care. A story doesn't need to always be page after page of surprise. Sometimes the comfort in reading comes because you knew what would happen and it did. The only drawback to the tale was a bit too much sexual content for my taste. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.
July 26, 2015
This was an okay read. There were a lot of times where I felt like nothing was really going on and I got bored, so I ended up skimming more than actually reading in certain areas.
Questions/Comments:
When Christine arrives at her fathers cabin, she ends up leaving the headlights of her car on. Yet, once she's inside, she's looking around eventually falls asleep. What happened to the car lights?
So her father had another family. Throughout Christine is wondering if her father really loved her. I didn't really get that part though. I mean he did everything for her, so why would she be second guessing all that? Yes, he had another family but that doesn't mean he didn't love her. As for her mother, well it would have been obvious to me that he mainly had that other family because of her. She was a woman that was just to cold and full of herself.
Christine's first response regarding Lily is that "she's retarded." Seriously? What year is this story suppose to be taking place in? Christine is suppose to be all smart and everything, yet uses that term so nonchalantly and when referring to her half sister? Makes me wonder if this were a real situation and someone else referred to Lily in that way, if Christine would say anything? I have a feeling she wouldn't.
Why did it seem as though whenever Christine is at the cabin, she's sleeping?
At one point Christine's mother is having the works done, eye lashes included. Do people really get their eyelashes dyed?
One night Christine, Lily and Nate are at his place. He's playing the piano for them. When he finishes, Lily praising him and he ends up sitting on the piano bench with her on his lap. Yet 2 seconds later, Nate's getting up and Lily's magically on the couch now, getting up too. ?
Why was Christine visiting Magdelena the same way as her father? Going on the same four days he'd go. I didn't get that.
At another point Lily wants to make a card for Christine when she finds out that Christine's mother was hurt and in the hospital. Miriam tells Lily that she can make the card, but they won't be able to send it. Why? She should have been able to send the card to Christine. It's not like Christine and her mother still lived in the same house.
I have to say that I'm tired of reading stories where the main character is doing something to get their parent/s happy. As in something that makes them miserable. Like with Christine's mother wanting her to marry the one guy...I forgot what his name was? Christine's an adult, she should have learned sooner to act like one.
Questions/Comments:
When Christine arrives at her fathers cabin, she ends up leaving the headlights of her car on. Yet, once she's inside, she's looking around eventually falls asleep. What happened to the car lights?
So her father had another family. Throughout Christine is wondering if her father really loved her. I didn't really get that part though. I mean he did everything for her, so why would she be second guessing all that? Yes, he had another family but that doesn't mean he didn't love her. As for her mother, well it would have been obvious to me that he mainly had that other family because of her. She was a woman that was just to cold and full of herself.
Christine's first response regarding Lily is that "she's retarded." Seriously? What year is this story suppose to be taking place in? Christine is suppose to be all smart and everything, yet uses that term so nonchalantly and when referring to her half sister? Makes me wonder if this were a real situation and someone else referred to Lily in that way, if Christine would say anything? I have a feeling she wouldn't.
Why did it seem as though whenever Christine is at the cabin, she's sleeping?
At one point Christine's mother is having the works done, eye lashes included. Do people really get their eyelashes dyed?
One night Christine, Lily and Nate are at his place. He's playing the piano for them. When he finishes, Lily praising him and he ends up sitting on the piano bench with her on his lap. Yet 2 seconds later, Nate's getting up and Lily's magically on the couch now, getting up too. ?
Why was Christine visiting Magdelena the same way as her father? Going on the same four days he'd go. I didn't get that.
At another point Lily wants to make a card for Christine when she finds out that Christine's mother was hurt and in the hospital. Miriam tells Lily that she can make the card, but they won't be able to send it. Why? She should have been able to send the card to Christine. It's not like Christine and her mother still lived in the same house.
I have to say that I'm tired of reading stories where the main character is doing something to get their parent/s happy. As in something that makes them miserable. Like with Christine's mother wanting her to marry the one guy...I forgot what his name was? Christine's an adult, she should have learned sooner to act like one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2016
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Contemporary Romance I guess you could call it. Appropriate for ages 18+.Imagine the conflicting emotions of a daughter finding out that her deceased father had a whole other family. How would you deal with that? The potential for emotions in this book was high. I could already feel my head whirling with all the feelings I was going to go through in preparation for this read.
The parallels between Nate and Charlie were not lost on me. He stood out the most in the book to me. Nate’s internal conflict was wonderfully written, his hatred of Charlie and his emotional transfer to Christine were great. I think that Miriam (the other woman) had a nice contrast to Christine’s mother Gloria. Miriam had a very giving and maternal persona. Gloria was, in my opinion, a devil woman. She was selfish, condescending and manipulative, even to her own daughter. Always looking out for number one and even though she was the villain, she was still one of my favorite characters in the book. The author did a really good job of making me hate her.
Uncle Harry was a great character. He had the most well rounded personality out of everyone in the book. He knew who he was, he was aware of his indiscretions and his feelings towards himself. He knew what needed to be done and I really liked that about him.
But for me the MC was plain old vanilla, she didn’t really cause anything to happen in the book, it was really more of her just floating through the aftermath of her father’s death without any direction. I didn’t really connect with her really well.
Lilly was a good character, she was cute, innocent and forgiving and she was definitely the glue of the whole story. Without her the story would have been nothing. Her part in the story was very subtle though. It was really nice because for her tiny role to have that much impact on everyone else in the book just shows the authors talent in my eyes.
Contemporary Romance I guess you could call it. Appropriate for ages 18+.Imagine the conflicting emotions of a daughter finding out that her deceased father had a whole other family. How would you deal with that? The potential for emotions in this book was high. I could already feel my head whirling with all the feelings I was going to go through in preparation for this read.
The parallels between Nate and Charlie were not lost on me. He stood out the most in the book to me. Nate’s internal conflict was wonderfully written, his hatred of Charlie and his emotional transfer to Christine were great. I think that Miriam (the other woman) had a nice contrast to Christine’s mother Gloria. Miriam had a very giving and maternal persona. Gloria was, in my opinion, a devil woman. She was selfish, condescending and manipulative, even to her own daughter. Always looking out for number one and even though she was the villain, she was still one of my favorite characters in the book. The author did a really good job of making me hate her.
Uncle Harry was a great character. He had the most well rounded personality out of everyone in the book. He knew who he was, he was aware of his indiscretions and his feelings towards himself. He knew what needed to be done and I really liked that about him.
But for me the MC was plain old vanilla, she didn’t really cause anything to happen in the book, it was really more of her just floating through the aftermath of her father’s death without any direction. I didn’t really connect with her really well.
Lilly was a good character, she was cute, innocent and forgiving and she was definitely the glue of the whole story. Without her the story would have been nothing. Her part in the story was very subtle though. It was really nice because for her tiny role to have that much impact on everyone else in the book just shows the authors talent in my eyes.
March 11, 2013
A Family Affair was an ok read. I'm sad to say it didn't really grip me even though the story had great potential.
Lots of secrets are revealed within the story but none were really a great surprise to me and the characters did not move me with there reactions to the situations.
The narration skipped between too many people which for me hindered the character development and my emotional attachment to them.
I wanted more romance and passion from this story; maybe it just doesn't suit me. x
Lots of secrets are revealed within the story but none were really a great surprise to me and the characters did not move me with there reactions to the situations.
The narration skipped between too many people which for me hindered the character development and my emotional attachment to them.
I wanted more romance and passion from this story; maybe it just doesn't suit me. x
December 15, 2017
I'm not sure if my 4 stars are a result of a great story or the fact that the past few books I've read have not exactly been fulfilling. Regardless, this was a short read but long on emotion and story.
Imagine you are a single 26-year old female, working in the family business, money and travel are limitless. Imagine that your father, who runs the investment company, takes a weekend a month to go off by himself to "re-group" as he says -- a routine that has a 14-year history with him. Then imagine you get a phone call that your father has been in a car accident that took his life -- and he wasn't alone in the car and the passenger was a female.
Christine, an only child and now without a father, must come to terms with the life of a man she thought she knew, but perhaps didn't. Like anyone who finds themselves in an arena filled with deception, shadows and unspoken truths, it stands to reason that someone is going to get hurt.
Most of the players in this story lived by the rule that what you don't know, won't hurt you -- when in reality they should have been using the playbook called "and the truth will set you free". Life disappoints sometimes, but if you are strong enough and want it bad enough, you can find something positive in even the darkest of situations. This was a story of removing blinders and opening your heart to the true meaning of happiness, throwing caution to the wind and following your dreams.
A little bit romance, a little bit family drama with a touch of mystery and a lot just an enjoyable and insightful read.
Imagine you are a single 26-year old female, working in the family business, money and travel are limitless. Imagine that your father, who runs the investment company, takes a weekend a month to go off by himself to "re-group" as he says -- a routine that has a 14-year history with him. Then imagine you get a phone call that your father has been in a car accident that took his life -- and he wasn't alone in the car and the passenger was a female.
Christine, an only child and now without a father, must come to terms with the life of a man she thought she knew, but perhaps didn't. Like anyone who finds themselves in an arena filled with deception, shadows and unspoken truths, it stands to reason that someone is going to get hurt.
Most of the players in this story lived by the rule that what you don't know, won't hurt you -- when in reality they should have been using the playbook called "and the truth will set you free". Life disappoints sometimes, but if you are strong enough and want it bad enough, you can find something positive in even the darkest of situations. This was a story of removing blinders and opening your heart to the true meaning of happiness, throwing caution to the wind and following your dreams.
A little bit romance, a little bit family drama with a touch of mystery and a lot just an enjoyable and insightful read.
June 12, 2013
I truly enjoyed this story and was reluctant when the time came that I finished the story. I wanted to read more about these characters' lives and would gladly do so should a sequel be written.
I liked Christine from the beginning and shared her determination to learn the answers to the mystery surrounding her father's death. In her position, I would have done the same - stopped for no one or nothing until my mind was settled - but that's just it. Christine learned something which didn't settle her mind at all. Instead, it opened a can of worms she didn't expect.
We were led into the lives of various characters, some likable and others not. I found myself beginning to love the "other family," - wishing Christine had grown up in that environment instead of the one in which she was raised.
I could not judge her father's actions - remaining married while having a family on the side -because, regardless of what laws may dictate, I felt he was most suited to his second family - the family of his heart. I'm sure, had he found a way to bring Christine into his confidence, he would have lived a happy life and filed for a divorce which would have brought his mind some much-needed peace.
This was a story that could have me writing a manuscript solely on my thoughts and feelings about the various aspects brought forth. Even now, weeks after reading the last page, I still have questions and I know I will read this story again.
I liked Christine from the beginning and shared her determination to learn the answers to the mystery surrounding her father's death. In her position, I would have done the same - stopped for no one or nothing until my mind was settled - but that's just it. Christine learned something which didn't settle her mind at all. Instead, it opened a can of worms she didn't expect.
We were led into the lives of various characters, some likable and others not. I found myself beginning to love the "other family," - wishing Christine had grown up in that environment instead of the one in which she was raised.
I could not judge her father's actions - remaining married while having a family on the side -because, regardless of what laws may dictate, I felt he was most suited to his second family - the family of his heart. I'm sure, had he found a way to bring Christine into his confidence, he would have lived a happy life and filed for a divorce which would have brought his mind some much-needed peace.
This was a story that could have me writing a manuscript solely on my thoughts and feelings about the various aspects brought forth. Even now, weeks after reading the last page, I still have questions and I know I will read this story again.
March 15, 2015
I really liked this book. If you like "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty, then you will probably like this book. The premise is a common one. Rich society husband dies in a car accident leaving behind a wife a daughter and a secret mistress/daughter combo. But the author spins a dose of originality into the mix by involving other family members, outside love interests, and by blurring the lines between victims and villains.
A Family Affair is the first book in the Truth in Lies series. Although I really enjoyed this book, I may not continue with the series. The first book ended quite enjoyably for me so I am loathe to have my happy ending usurped by the angst that is sure to prevail in subsequent books. I read a teaser preview for book #2 that gave me cause for concern. But then again, curiosity may get the better of me...
A Family Affair is the first book in the Truth in Lies series. Although I really enjoyed this book, I may not continue with the series. The first book ended quite enjoyably for me so I am loathe to have my happy ending usurped by the angst that is sure to prevail in subsequent books. I read a teaser preview for book #2 that gave me cause for concern. But then again, curiosity may get the better of me...
September 12, 2015
Well, we ARE warned about some scenes on the author's Amazon page but seeing as nothing really bothers me too much I proceeded. However, there was too much unneccessary crudity in it, I found. It made the character of Harry absolutely repulsive, it was really needless and I'd read enough only 18% in.
I didn't like how he referred to Gloria, either. There was clearly history there I never got to but it was a real underlying nastiness we could've done without, I thought.
I was a little confused about Nate's parentage and how he and Chrissie were related as well.
The story sounded like it would be intriguing but the crassness did for me.
I didn't like how he referred to Gloria, either. There was clearly history there I never got to but it was a real underlying nastiness we could've done without, I thought.
I was a little confused about Nate's parentage and how he and Chrissie were related as well.
The story sounded like it would be intriguing but the crassness did for me.
April 1, 2017
I thought this was a good story but it was too sexually descriptive for me.
January 14, 2016
Very well done. Good characters. Solid story.
November 9, 2024
Another new to me author with a very large family series!!! Starting here with book 1 ~ A family affair.
This book sets the stage with the main character Christine finding out after her father is killed in an accident that he has been leading a double life with another family in another state. Lots of misc great characters, heart warming moments of healing and of course drama. Reminds me a bit of the old Dallas, Knots landing type shows from the 80's LOL. I'm not sure why it has that vibe...but I'm here for it!!! great audio too!
I feel like this book is setting the stage for various characters and possible back stories - I'm not sure. sounds like next I read a bunch of short stories that pertain to these misc characters?!? I'm still trying to wrap my head around what this whole series entails. I will try my best to lay out my opinion on an order as I read future books. I try not to read to much ahead with the descriptions of future books so as not to spoil it for myself. so onto the shorts boxed set!!
This book sets the stage with the main character Christine finding out after her father is killed in an accident that he has been leading a double life with another family in another state. Lots of misc great characters, heart warming moments of healing and of course drama. Reminds me a bit of the old Dallas, Knots landing type shows from the 80's LOL. I'm not sure why it has that vibe...but I'm here for it!!! great audio too!
I feel like this book is setting the stage for various characters and possible back stories - I'm not sure. sounds like next I read a bunch of short stories that pertain to these misc characters?!? I'm still trying to wrap my head around what this whole series entails. I will try my best to lay out my opinion on an order as I read future books. I try not to read to much ahead with the descriptions of future books so as not to spoil it for myself. so onto the shorts boxed set!!
September 14, 2012
Christine Blacksworth lives for success, just like her father. The stock market and her clients take top priority but she’s very careful to make sure to put in an appearance at family events her mother deems important. To not do so would incite her mother’s wrath and that wouldn’t be pleasant for anyone. One such event is the welcome home dinner for her father which signifies his return home from his ‘getaway’ cabin every month. Only one month he doesn’t arrive home – and his unexpected death, more than a hundred miles from the cabin triggers questions Christine is determined to have answered.
Nothing about Christine’s father’s death feels right. Why was he on a road so far from his cabin? Who was the young man who called to deliver the news of his death? And after talking with Charles’ attorney and learning that a portion of his bequests goes to a mysterious person named Lily; Christine decides to travel to the cabin her dad visited monthly. Then she makes the trip to meet Lily. Christine’s operating under the assumption that her father was having an affair and Lily was his lover, but once she reaches Magdalena, New York, she realizes that her father wasn’t just having an affair; he had a whole other life – which included a mistress and a daughter.
Christine’s prepared to hate the Desantro family. In fact, what she really wants is physical proof of her father’s betrayal, that way her anger is completely justified. What she doesn’t expect is to be denied access to Lily by Nate Desantro or the unexpected shock of learning that she has a sister. She certainly didn’t anticipate feeling a sense of belonging amongst the Desantro family or a strong attraction to Nate. When it comes right down to it, Christine discovers there’s a whole different side to her father that she never knew about – one that liked a simpler life, something her mother avoided at all costs.
Christine and Nate are at odds over almost everything pertaining to her father. She’s extremely angry with her dad and Nate just flat out hated Charles. They have serious resentment issues to overcome and if it wasn’t for Lily, Christine might not have bothered, but something about her half-sister keeps drawing her back to Magdalena – and helps open her heart to the possibilities of a different life than what she’s living now.
A FAMILY AFFAIR takes your traditional family ideals and twists it about so that you can’t help but admit that family is determined by more than DNA. Mary Campisi draws the reader into this story by invoking a variety of emotions, everything from fury and disappointment to genuine love and acceptance and incorporating enough suspenseful elements that I read the entire story in one sitting. The tension between Nate and Christine is completely understandable since he’s trying to protect his family and Christine is doing the same for hers. One of the things that unite them is Lily and her easy acceptance of them. I really hadn’t expected this story to be such an emotional journey and honestly I think a lot of its appeal has to do with Lily and the innocent way she views life and the people around her.
The whole time Christine’s trying to come to grips with her father’s death and the reality of another family, there’s a whole other drama unfolding in her normal life. And I don’t say drama lightly because it seems her mother really likes to be theatrical when it comes to manipulating her family. Fortunately Uncle Harry sees right through her and isn’t above using a bit of blackmail to keep her in line.
Mary Campisi’s A FAMILY AFFAIR is a delightful story that pulls at the heartstrings with its intriguing characters, stunning revelations, and an emotional rollercoaster as the two halves of Charles’ life collide in a ferocious upheaval. Of course, he’s deceased so isn’t there to witness the havoc his decisions have caused.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
Nothing about Christine’s father’s death feels right. Why was he on a road so far from his cabin? Who was the young man who called to deliver the news of his death? And after talking with Charles’ attorney and learning that a portion of his bequests goes to a mysterious person named Lily; Christine decides to travel to the cabin her dad visited monthly. Then she makes the trip to meet Lily. Christine’s operating under the assumption that her father was having an affair and Lily was his lover, but once she reaches Magdalena, New York, she realizes that her father wasn’t just having an affair; he had a whole other life – which included a mistress and a daughter.
Christine’s prepared to hate the Desantro family. In fact, what she really wants is physical proof of her father’s betrayal, that way her anger is completely justified. What she doesn’t expect is to be denied access to Lily by Nate Desantro or the unexpected shock of learning that she has a sister. She certainly didn’t anticipate feeling a sense of belonging amongst the Desantro family or a strong attraction to Nate. When it comes right down to it, Christine discovers there’s a whole different side to her father that she never knew about – one that liked a simpler life, something her mother avoided at all costs.
Christine and Nate are at odds over almost everything pertaining to her father. She’s extremely angry with her dad and Nate just flat out hated Charles. They have serious resentment issues to overcome and if it wasn’t for Lily, Christine might not have bothered, but something about her half-sister keeps drawing her back to Magdalena – and helps open her heart to the possibilities of a different life than what she’s living now.
A FAMILY AFFAIR takes your traditional family ideals and twists it about so that you can’t help but admit that family is determined by more than DNA. Mary Campisi draws the reader into this story by invoking a variety of emotions, everything from fury and disappointment to genuine love and acceptance and incorporating enough suspenseful elements that I read the entire story in one sitting. The tension between Nate and Christine is completely understandable since he’s trying to protect his family and Christine is doing the same for hers. One of the things that unite them is Lily and her easy acceptance of them. I really hadn’t expected this story to be such an emotional journey and honestly I think a lot of its appeal has to do with Lily and the innocent way she views life and the people around her.
The whole time Christine’s trying to come to grips with her father’s death and the reality of another family, there’s a whole other drama unfolding in her normal life. And I don’t say drama lightly because it seems her mother really likes to be theatrical when it comes to manipulating her family. Fortunately Uncle Harry sees right through her and isn’t above using a bit of blackmail to keep her in line.
Mary Campisi’s A FAMILY AFFAIR is a delightful story that pulls at the heartstrings with its intriguing characters, stunning revelations, and an emotional rollercoaster as the two halves of Charles’ life collide in a ferocious upheaval. Of course, he’s deceased so isn’t there to witness the havoc his decisions have caused.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
July 30, 2012
Christine Blasksworth's father died on a stretch of icy road he had traveled hundreds of times, leaving her family at a loss. Upon the reading of his will, she finds that there may be more to his trips than originally thought. Deciding to do a little investigating of her own, Christine finds herself in Magdalena, New York, face-to-face with his dirty little secret: another woman and an illegitimate child. Naturally, she is furious, with the woman, the child, her father. Then, as she starts to learn more about this family and the small town they live in, she starts to wonder: who was the real family, hers, or theirs?
This one really caught me off guard. I loved the premise, which is what brought me to read it, and when I opened it, I can't say that I was sucked right in, but I wanted to see where it was going and how it would all play out. Plus, the writing was solid, the characters well-developed and each with a distinct personality that I found intriguing.
Once I got into it, I discovered a story that was heartfelt. The author has a way of telling something seemingly so simple, but infusing each moment with passion, tenderness, and a caring so deep that it had me a little choked up at times. I could see it, feel it, and that is what really makes a story shine at the end of the day. I wanted to hate the father, but in the end, could only see it from a perspective of, if not right, then not totally wrong either. I could sense the struggle of all parties involved to live the life they had, surrounded by lies and treachery, but bound by love, devotion, and duty. The ending wasn't neat and tidy, cleaning up all the loose ends, and I felt that it was more true to life that way. Not everything could be wrapped up and smoothed overnight. It would take work, but for the moment, with the way it did end, it left me with the feeling that things were falling into place and that, no matter what Christine had to face tomorrow, she had found her slice of happiness that her father had been struggling to obtain, without all the messy strings and unanswered questions.
This one really caught me off guard. I loved the premise, which is what brought me to read it, and when I opened it, I can't say that I was sucked right in, but I wanted to see where it was going and how it would all play out. Plus, the writing was solid, the characters well-developed and each with a distinct personality that I found intriguing.
Once I got into it, I discovered a story that was heartfelt. The author has a way of telling something seemingly so simple, but infusing each moment with passion, tenderness, and a caring so deep that it had me a little choked up at times. I could see it, feel it, and that is what really makes a story shine at the end of the day. I wanted to hate the father, but in the end, could only see it from a perspective of, if not right, then not totally wrong either. I could sense the struggle of all parties involved to live the life they had, surrounded by lies and treachery, but bound by love, devotion, and duty. The ending wasn't neat and tidy, cleaning up all the loose ends, and I felt that it was more true to life that way. Not everything could be wrapped up and smoothed overnight. It would take work, but for the moment, with the way it did end, it left me with the feeling that things were falling into place and that, no matter what Christine had to face tomorrow, she had found her slice of happiness that her father had been struggling to obtain, without all the messy strings and unanswered questions.
January 18, 2018
After Nicole harassing me for weeks about this book, I finally read it. It was a good light read - family drama, romance, hot lumberjack. It would make a good made-for-TV movie.
April 22, 2021
Who is lying to whom? And why? Even though this sounds like it, this is not a mystery story, but a story of a death, which changes everything for a family.
When Christine Blacksworth and her mother Gloria receive news that her father and her husband respectively has been killed in a car accident, their lives will never be the same.
Christine is in for a shock when an unknown name (Lily Desantro) is one of the heirs named in Charles Blackworth's will. Trying to contact Lily will lead to real changes in her life, that is, if she only locate the person.
A real different kind of story with a few twists and turns, but some seem unsurprising while others were. This is the first in a series that brings together two families, but within the pages there are love and betrayal. redemption and renewal. Overall, a pretty decent read.
When Christine Blacksworth and her mother Gloria receive news that her father and her husband respectively has been killed in a car accident, their lives will never be the same.
Christine is in for a shock when an unknown name (Lily Desantro) is one of the heirs named in Charles Blackworth's will. Trying to contact Lily will lead to real changes in her life, that is, if she only locate the person.
A real different kind of story with a few twists and turns, but some seem unsurprising while others were. This is the first in a series that brings together two families, but within the pages there are love and betrayal. redemption and renewal. Overall, a pretty decent read.
October 24, 2012
Girl thought she was an only child... Dad disappears monthly for fourteen years for down time and she never thought anything of it until tragedy strikes and there's a reading of his will. She heads to a small town to confront a woman and turns out, her dad had another family.
I loved the twists and turns in this story. Disliked her stodgy mother. Loved the son of her dad's mistress and loved, loved, loved the half sister that kept her coming back to that little town.
I loved the twists and turns in this story. Disliked her stodgy mother. Loved the son of her dad's mistress and loved, loved, loved the half sister that kept her coming back to that little town.
June 20, 2013
Worst book since Irene Iddesleigh! Predictable, melodramatic, unbelievable, trite nonsense written in bad bad prose with one dimensional characters. Ridiculously bad.
May 3, 2015
Great book, a very enjoyable!e read getting to watch these characters develop. Did not want it to end.
November 30, 2015
Just awful.
November 6, 2021
Mary Campisi is a new to be author and this won't be the last book I read of hers.
The story is set in contrasts of two locations, two families all linked but a special needs girl, Lily who's joy leaps off the page and melts your heart.
When Christine learns of her father's other life and world it changes not only her present but her future.
I'm looking forward to reading about these characters in subsequent books.
The story is set in contrasts of two locations, two families all linked but a special needs girl, Lily who's joy leaps off the page and melts your heart.
When Christine learns of her father's other life and world it changes not only her present but her future.
I'm looking forward to reading about these characters in subsequent books.
June 14, 2018
My Musings
Wow! What a great start for a series. I can't wait to read more about these engaging characters. Lily stole my heart, along with Christine and Nate. Uncle Harry is intriguing as well. Glad I found this book and series. Happy ☺reading 📚!
Wow! What a great start for a series. I can't wait to read more about these engaging characters. Lily stole my heart, along with Christine and Nate. Uncle Harry is intriguing as well. Glad I found this book and series. Happy ☺reading 📚!
July 24, 2019
A quick, mindless read with some pleasant quotes and a few plot twists, though most were to be expected. I personally found the descriptions a little cheesy, particularly the similar choices, but hey, I couldn’t help whispering “Aaaw” at the happy ending.
March 28, 2023
A Family Affair was an interesting read and centred around a man's ability to keep two families going. But when he dies the truth comes out. The story flowed and there were some interesting characters. I quite liked Christine and was interested in her interaction with her second family. I particularly enjoyed the fact her half-sister had Down's Syndrome, since this added a dimension to the story that was unexpected. A nice read for those interested in family affairs.
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