The Art of Going Home: A Romance Mystery (The Art of Living Book 1)

For the first time in a decade, Maddie Chandler returns to her small home due to the unexpected death of her surrogate mother, her beloved “Aunt” Ceci. To deal with her overwhelming grief she finds herself relying on the steadfast strength of her high school crush, local attorney Zac Redondo. Though she scolds herself for depending on him so much, she can’t seem to find the strength to resist their mutual attraction.

During her visit, Maddie is haunted by childhood memories of her twin sister Angeline, who was killed at the age of ten. She is persuaded to investigate the unsolved murder only because she fears refusal will threaten her very sanity. Her mother eventually succumbed to mental illness after Angeline’s death, and Maddie is terrified she will also be overcome by madness. Her inquiries into her sister’s case uncover years of deceptions that were maintained to safeguard her from the brutal truth. Not only is her life threatened by her pursuit of justice for her twin, it ultimately causes her world to shatter.

Sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, Maddie’s personal journey exposes her vulnerabilities as she struggles to accept the love of the man who holds the key to her future happiness. While coping with the hostilities of her estranged father she discovers the true meaning of family from a boisterous clan that is not linked to her by blood, and unwittingly strengthens the fragile bond with the one relative she was determined to say goodbye to forever.

This novel is intended for mature readers.