Guest post by Sheri Leimkuhler
Dear readers,
Thank you for joining me on this reading adventure. My USA Today Bestselling novel, What’s Left Untold, is a story about secrets, loss and betrayal, but also friendship, love and forgiveness. It has been described as a “domestic noir,” and its shocking, controversial ending makes it an excellent choice for inspiring lively book club discussions.
What’s Left Untold is written in flashback format–spanning 30 years in the protagonist’s life–and tells the story of a woman who reunites with her estranged best friend and uncovers a devastating secret that threatens to destroy the life she’s built with her husband and daughters.
Though the characters venture to Gulf Shores and Mobile, Alabama; Sedona, Arizona; and Athens, Ohio; the story is primarily set in my home state of Maryland, which is not only near and dear to my heart, but also offers so much to see and do that it makes for an exciting travel destination!
I love Maryland for the diversity of its landscape, terrain, and weather. In Maryland, we experience four distinct seasons (though spring does sometimes quickly blend into the heat and humidity of summer) and enjoy the outdoors year-round. The western part of the state is home to beautiful rolling hills and mountains, and several local ski resorts, including Wisp Ski Resort in McHenry, Maryland. When the snow melts, visitors flock to nearby Oakland, Maryland to enjoy boating, fishing and swimming at Deep Creek Lake–the state’s largest inland body of water–and hiking at Swallow Falls State Park, which features Muddy Creek Falls, the highest waterfall in Maryland. In the fall, the changing leaves create a breathtaking tapestry of color!
Spring and fall are both great times to visit Central Maryland, which is home to Baltimore City (and will be featured in my second book!). Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is the primary destination for tourists and is home to the Maryland Science Center; the National Aquarium; The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, the Top of the World Observation Level, which offers sweeping views of the city; and Power Plant Live!, a bustling complex of bars, restaurants and live music venues. In the spring you can catch a Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards, and football fans can tailgate and cheer on the Ravens in the fall. But no visit to the city would be complete without spending time in one of its quirky, eclectic neighborhoods, such as Federal Hill (don’t miss Fort McHenry and Cross Street Market), Fells Point (stroll along the cobblestones, pop into one of its many hip bars along the waterfront, enjoy oysters on the half shell from a street vendor), trendy Canton (a lively waterside promenade, wine and food festivals, O’Donnell Square Park and Canton Waterfront Park, and the Korean War Memorial), Little Italy (a close-knit ethnic enclave and scrumptious food), and Charles Village (a laid-back student-oriented area which borders Johns Hopkins University and offers casual eateries, beer bars, indie music, Wyman Park Dell, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.)
After leaving Annapolis, you will travel east along the iconic Chesapeake Bay Bridge, which links Maryland’s Western and Eastern shores. There are many worthwhile sights to see and charming towns to visit once you cross the bridge (Kent Island and Kent Narrows, Easton, Chesapeake City, Chestertown, Rock Hall, St. Michaels, Tilghman Island, Smith Island, Oxford, Salisbury, and Crisfield), but the ultimate destination is Ocean City. With 10 miles of beachfront along the Atlantic, Ocean City is a thriving beach town filled with amusement parks, arcades, miniature golf courses, restaurants, night clubs, shopping, and its infamous three-mile boardwalk.
For those who prefer a more low-key beach experience, nearby Assateague Island National Seashore is the place to be. Home to more than 300 wild ponies, Assateague allows camping but offers no hotels, and is the perfect place for bird watching, seashell collecting, swimming, surf fishing, beach hiking, and simply relaxing.
2. Anna’s bout with secondary infertility and miscarriage throws her into a deep depression. Have you or anyone you’ve known experienced post-partum depression, suffered miscarriages, or struggled with conception-related issues? How were these problems addressed? What are some helpful ways to heal and move forward?
3. Despite Jack’s assurances otherwise, Anna is convinced Jack desperately wishes to have a son. Why do you think she believes this? Do you think she is right? What parts of the story support and/or disprove Anna’s certainty on this subject?
4. In the book, Jack is portrayed as the “ideal” man, a loving and supportive husband and father. Do you agree with this statement? What, if any, flaws do you perceive in Jack’s character? Discuss his reactions to stressful situations and shocking information. Do you agree or disagree with his actions and decisions and how he handles these situations?
5. Anna considers Faith to be the first true female friend she’s had in decades. Why do you think Anna has had so much trouble trusting women and making female friendships? Do you feel Faith’s friendship with Anna is appropriate? What are your thoughts on how Anna and Faith’s relationship evolves from professional to personal?
6. Knowing that Anna has been betrayed in the past and struggles to trust women, do you think it is okay for Faith to have kept her health situation a secret? Do you believe she owed it to Anna to tell her the truth, or was she justified in keeping this information private? When Anna realizes Faith is not feeling well, does she show an appropriate level of care and concern for her friend? What, if anything, would you have done differently?
7. Though Anna and Lia are complete opposites, they quickly become best friends in high school. Discuss the dynamics of this friendship and how Anna and Lia’s personalities both complement and conflict one another’s. Do you believe Lia is a true friend to Anna, or is Lia using Anna to fill the gaps in her own life? As a teenager, would you have related more to Anna or Lia? Discuss why and how.
8. Lia has a complex relationship with her mother, Rose. Do you view Rose as a villain or a victim? Do you believe Rose is a negligent mother or simply a free spirit? When Lia shares a heartbreaking betrayal by Rose, Anna rises to Lia’s defense and criticizes Rose, which makes Lia angry. Why would Lia feel compelled to defend the person who’s hurt her so deeply? Can you empathize with this reaction?
9. Lia has been harboring a secret for decades. When Anna finally uncovers the truth she is devastated, but ultimately decides to forgive Lia. Do you agree with how Anna handles this situation? What would you have done if you were Anna? Would you have been willing to forgive Lia? Do you believe Lia’s actions were more altruistic or selfish? Why do you think Anna makes the choice to keep this secret from Jack? Do you agree with this choice?
10. Anna has dedicated most of her adult life to being a mother. But as her children grow older, Anna realizes the mistake of having neglected her own interests. Can you relate to this experience? What suggestions do you have for avoiding this transitional pitfall?
11. When Anna’s oldest daughter, Kathryn, leaves for college, Anna struggles with the beginnings of an empty nest, how to let go, and how to integrate a newly independent adult back into family life. Discuss the dynamics of this situation and of Anna and Kathryn’s relationship. Do you think Anna is too controlling and overbearing? Is Kathryn behaving appropriately for her age, or is she acting disrespectful and entitled? How does falling in love change Kathryn? How does this impact her relationship with her mother?
12. Like a snowball pushed downhill, perpetuating this decades-old secret causes it to grow, resulting in far-reaching and unintended consequences. What are your thoughts on the shocking, controversial ending? Do you agree with the ultimate decision the characters make? Why or why not? What are the pros and cons of this decision? What would you have done differently? Do you think the taboo surrounding consanguineous relationships is justified? Why or why not? Discuss this taboo under the guise of social, moral, ethical, and scientific considerations.
Sherri Leimkuhler has written professionally for more than twenty years but is a Jill of many trades, with experience in sales, marketing, public relations, event planning, aviation, and yoga instruction. Her health-and-fitness column, “For the Fun of Fit,” appeared bi-weekly in the Carroll County Times for a decade.
A competitive triathlete and two-time Ironman finisher, Sherri also enjoys reading, hiking, paddleboarding, trail running, traveling, and wine tasting.
Sherri lives in Maryland with her husband, three daughters, and two Labrador retriever
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