Author Kimerla Lawson Roby takes a taboo subject and handles it with thoughtful sensitivity. A mother marries, a stepfather abuses his five-year-old stepdaughter, and the daughter grows up, fearing and loathing him. He manipulates her physically and mentally, and the only thing that keeps her going is her desire to protect her younger sister from her stepfather’s advances. Not an easy story to read, it becomes even less so when you realize that this fictional story is sadly a factual one in too many homes. Kudos to Ms. Roby for drawing attention to this too often unmentioned subject. ( )

A Deep Dark Secret is a disturbing novel about a young girl who is being molested by her step-father. The molestation begins when she is seven on the night her baby sister is born. Now Jillian is twelve and the abuse has escalated between her father.

Jillian's father has threatened her if she breaks her silence. Jillian is quite convinced his threats will come true so she remains quiet and continues to live her life as normal as she can. Jillian's facade starts to slip when she begins a relationship with a boy at her school, Kyle. Also her best friend Nikki is dating a popular boy at school and will do just about anything to remain his girlfriend.

A Deep Dark Secret is a short novel, with 179 pages, but is difficult to read. The abusive scenes are quite graphic and the reader's heart breaks as Jillian is forced to perform these acts with her step-father. My only issue was it was hard to know the author's target audience. The main character is a twelve-year-old girl, however the book is listed as adult contemporary African-American Fiction. ( )

Definitely not what I had expected from Kimberla Lawson Roby. But it also wasn't that bad of a read.

If you are a Kimberla Lawson Roby fan and you're used to reading her Curtis Black series, you may be disappointed because A Deep Dark Secret is nothing like that.

However, this book is a good read for anyone who has ever experienced or knows someone who has experienced sexual abuse.

A great story about two friends who are/have experienced sexual abuse and how they handle it, how it effects their lives and the lives of those around them. ( )

Once again, Kimberla has written a real life story in the context of a novel. Most would have frowned on the subject, but I can truly say that this well written novel was captivating from start to finish. I am a die hard fan of Mrs. Roby ( Curtis Black Series) but, this novel shed light on a topic that is often swept under the carpet . Adults and children of this horrific act are left to cope with the events that have shattered their childhood/pre-adulthood for life. Thank you Mrs. Roby for writing a novel to uncover the events that destroy childhoods and create cyclical abuse.