Amazon QueenWriter Category:  Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Publish America ISBN-10:  1424141052 Type: Fiction Pages: 229 Copyright: Mar 30, 2006 Cruel Past© is an incredible, captivating end to Cruel Whispers©. After being harassed, stalked, kidnapped and almost killed by her ex-husband in California as portrayed in Cruel Whispers©, Salina tries to begin a new life as Salina Garlin Rey. In a small town in New York, Salina, along with her husband Stuart, try to pick up the pieces of their shattered, tormented lives they previously led in California. By taking in four abused and neglected children at Rey’s Care Center for Children, Salina attempts to seek atonement for past sins. The Reys begin to find a little peace and happiness in their new lives; that is, until things begin to go wrong. The children are attacked and begin to disappear. FBI agents are looking at Salina as a suspect in the children’s disappearance. Even the children begin to think that Salina may be guilty. As evidence against Salina is unearthed, a child most in need of Salina’s care wants revenge. Revenge against the one person he blames for his long-suffering, cruel life in foster homes. Please join Salina in her new life in New York and see through her eyes how one person’s past sins can reappear and present a world of regret, guilt, murder, and revenge. She ran for all she was worth. She ran to that meadow of her nightmares. Someone had been right behind her, chasing her. She told Salina about that meadow. She confided in her about waking up in a sweat; fear making her heart beat erratically. Salina knew that she was afraid. Salina owned the land on which the meadow sat. Could she? Could Salina really have been the one to do this? Was Salina the one that attacked her and left her for dead in the forest? Did Salina do something to Frankie? Is that why no one could find her? What about Ben? Did Ben just leave or did Salina have something to do with that too? Had Salina been worried that Lynne would leave and go back to her father? She had, after all, admitted to Salina that she missed her father and had wanted to call him. Did Salina think that if she couldn’t have her that her father didn’t deserve to have her either? Frankie had been in an argument with Salina the day before she disappeared. Frankie had expressed a desire to meet other people. Salina didn’t want her to. Why? Why didn’t Salina want them to make friends? She herself made a friend in Brandon and Salina hadn’t objected. Was it because she didn’t want to shed unnecessary suspicion on herself, since she had already tried to harm Lynne, and didn’t want to draw skepticism on herself by objecting to Brandon being a friend? What about Ben? Ben was just as upset as Paul was when Lynne disappeared and Salina didn’t show too much worry. Did Ben become suspicious, look around and find something out about Salina he shouldn’t have? Is that why Ben was gone now too? All of these questions ran through Lynne’s mind. It made her more scared by the minute. Paul was just as upset, if not more, and mad at Salina for not doing anything when Lynne had been missing. Paul told her the entire story. What if Paul was next? What if it was her again? Lynne started to break out into a sweat. Excerpt The last in the sequel of Salina Garlin. Latest review quoted, "a fantastic, bewitching end that is incredible!"

Starr Reina’s, “Cruel Past” is an amazing work of literary genius!
She takes you on a ride of intrigue, murder, kidnapping, fear and excitement in this hypnotic page-turner. From the children’s beginnings, to their finding a real home with Salina and Stuart, to the fear that begins to grip and choke their lives, you are held captive in your seat, waiting and wanting to see what happens next.
Starr manages to make us feel what her characters are feeling, and through this book, you are transported to a place filled with every emotion imaginable in a spellbinding mystery such as hers.
So many times, we all see where a sequel just doesn’t quite reach the level of the first; I’m here to tell you that does not happen here. “Cruel Whispers” was a great read, and one I enjoyed thoroughly, but “Cruel Past” brings it all around to a fantastic, bewitching end that is incredible!
This is an amazing work of art, and I am exceptionally honored and proud to be amongst a literary great such as Starr. I give “Cruel Past” five bright, shining stars. Do yourself a favor and pick up your copy today. You won’t be able to put it down.
Terri Ann Armstrong, Editor/Author of “My Soul Has Spoken” and “Where Do I Begin?” www.terrisheart.com, www.freewebs.com/rteditingservices/