Latest news with #familysecrets
Associated Press
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Book Review: A diary sends a woman on a quest to solve the cold case of 6 missing Black girls
At age 13, Sydney Singleton discovered an old photograph tucked away in a drawer in her paternal grandmother's guest room. It was a portrait of a Black girl just entering her teen years — a girl who looked a lot like Sydney. Next morning, Sydney asked her grandmother about it. The woman, her voice 'firm as the oak tree on her front lawn,' would say only this: 'We don't talk about Carol.' Two decades later, Sydney, now a married woman in her mid-30s, flies from her Los Angeles home to Raleigh, North Carolina, to help prepare her late grandmother's home for sale. There, she and her younger sister, Sasha, find the photograph again. They also find Carol's diary concealed above a ceiling panel in the guest room closet. So begins Kristen L. Berry's fine debut novel, 'We Don't Talk About Carol,' a tale that is at once an exploration of family secrets, a 60-year-old cold case investigation and a damning indictment of the short shrift missing Black girls get from both the authorities and the media. Carol, it turns out, was Sydney's late father's older sister. Her diary, written when she was about 16, reveals that she had an older boyfriend, aspired to be a singer and planned to run away to Detroit to try out with Motown. Carol's family, believing the child had run off, never filed a missing person report. So Sydney, a former investigative reporter, feels compelled to discover what happened to the aunt she never knew existed. Before long, she learns that Carol was one of six Black teenage girls who disappeared from the same Raleigh neighborhood 60 years ago and were dismissed as runaways by the police. Sydney's investigation promptly turns into a quest to learn the fates of all of them. Along the way, she finds allies among the missing girls' families, cold crime podcast enthusiasts and a Raleigh homicide detective. The result is a well-written, emotionally wrenching tale about the generational consequences of evil, the meaning of family and what a single dedicated woman can accomplish. After the diary is discovered, the plot unfolds slowly as the author introduces us to Sydney's suicidal father, her emotionally distant mother and her struggle to conceive a baby with her loving husband, Malik. The pace could lead some readers to abandon the book, but don't. The tale soon picks up speed, taking readers through propulsive a series of revelations, the most sunning of which involves Carol's fate. ___ Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including 'The Dread Line.' ___ AP book reviews:
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Michael Strahan reveals his parents did the unthinkable to his beloved childhood pet
You'd think that when your family decides to eat your childhood pet, they'd at least give you a heads-up. But apparently, that memo never made it to Michael Strahan. The Good Morning America co-host and former NFL star recently discovered a jaw-dropping truth about his childhood pet pig - and yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. During a special segment on The Weekend View, Michael's former GMA co-anchor Sara Haines revealed that his parents, Gene and Louise Strahan, had once spilled the secret to her in a pre-recorded interview before Gene's passing in 2020. 'I went to shoot with his parents before his father died,' Haines explained. 'I wanted to give him time with his parents, as one of five children, where they just talked about him.' But during that sweet little trip down memory lane, things took a dark turn. 'They shared with me that they ate the pig,' Haines revealed. And it turns out that Michael, now 53, had absolutely no idea. 'I come back and I'm giving Michael a hard time, as one would, and I joked about the pig,' Haines said. 'And he's like, "What are you talking about?" He didn't know. He didn't know 'cause they were all young.' Understandably shocked, Michael called his mom right away for clarification. 'He was like, "I had no idea,"' Haines said, laughing nervously. 'And I was like, "I didn't mean to betray the family trust! I just thought you told him!"' Despite the plot twist, Michael has never doubted how much his parents supported him growing up. 'I never knew I could accomplish so much, but my parents never act surprised,' he told People back in 2016. 'They look at me as if there's no limit. That helped me feel like there's no limit.' These days, the Strahan household is strictly a dog zone - no pigs allowed. Michael is a proud dog dad to Enzo and Zuma, introducing his latest pup to fans in 2023. 'Everyone meet Zuma Strahan' he captioned a sweet Instagram video. 'New puppy so Enzo has a sister!! Welcome home!' So while Michael may still be emotionally processing the fate of his childhood pig, at least he's made space for some new pets.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
How Sam and Billie Faiers eclipsed ‘sinister' family life rife with abuse, drugs, guns and prison and family secrets
EVERY family has its secrets - the skeletons in the closet they don't want to ever let out. And multi-millionaire reality TV star sisters Sam and Billie Faiers, who rose to fame on The Only Way Is Essex, are no different. 15 15 15 15 While the siblings have forged out impressive careers in the spotlight after years of hard-work - with Billie, 35, worth an estimated £4M and younger sister Sam, 34, a whopping £9M - their family has been shrouded in controversy. Over the last 15 years, many of The Sun's showbiz journalists have interviewed the sisters countless times. They are always very professional, extremely driven, down-to-earth and chatty which makes them a lovely interview. But there's always one topic which is strictly off limits with journalists when they're eagerly promoting their wholesome mummy brands, or starring on their popular TV show The Mummy Diaries. And that is the criminal legacy of both their violent biological father Lee Faiers, and their stepdad, Dave Chatwood. If you dig deep enough you find an East End family tree, rooted in abuse, drugs, guns, crime and prison time, the details of which would be better suited to an ITV drama than an episode of the Mummy Diaries. The closest either sister got to revealing the full tale was in Sam's autobiography. She said of her biological father, Lee: "He became volatile and awful to live with." The star also addressed stepdad Dave's criminal past, writing: "Dave was convicted for possessing large quantities of drugs and firearms." And there's a line on how the star was affected by it all, which reads: "The trauma from her father's abuse and the subsequent family turmoil had a significant impact on Sam's mental health." Mummy Diaries spoilers - Sam and Billie Faiers furious as their step dad admits to drinking an entire bottle of wine before getting chucked off flight before wedding But according to insiders, her book, Secrets & Lies: The Truth Behind The Headlines, barely touched the surface. A source said: "The real truth about the Faiers' family history is still very much OFF the table. "It is something they really avoid talking about publicly at all costs. 'They have made a pact that somethings are too private and personal to ever be put out for public consumption.' 15 15 15 Sam was just 19 when she shot to fame on the brand new scripted reality show TOWIE back in 2010. But while Sam and older sister Billie were becoming TV stars alongside Amy Childs, 34, Gemma Collins, 44, and Mark Wright, 38, their biological father, Lee Faiers, was hitting the headlines for darker reasons. In 2011, just as their TOWIE fame was peaking, Lee was convicted of assaulting his partner June Simmons. He was given a community service order and told to attend a domestic violence programme. Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse. 'They have made a pack that somethings are too private and personal to ever be put out for public consumption.' Sources close to the sisters at the time said: 'They are ashamed of him and they think he has behaved appallingly but he is not a part of their life.' Later it was revealed brave mum Suzanna Wells, 56, had walked out on Lee when Sam was just two-years-old, after becoming a victim of domestic violence. The sisters - who have been a huge support to their mum - have had little contact with Lee since. Opening up in her autobiography Sam revealed Lee "half strangled our mum and beat her up so badly she had to go to hospital". But while dad Lee was very publicly disowned, stepdad Dave has remained very much a part of the family despite his criminal past. When Billie was 12 and Sam 11, Dave was jailed for 12 years over drug supply and firearms offences, leaving Suzie to bring up the girls alone. Police caught him with 140,000 ecstasy tablets, 130 kilograms of cannabis, and two pistols, with ammunition. Then in 2012, Sam sat in court, alongside then boyfriend Joey Essex, to see Dave sentenced to four years for his part in £1.1 million bullion robbery. Opening up about Dave's life of crime in her book, Sam said: "We even had to spend five years in Spain sort of hiding out with him." Sam had to acknowledge both men's dodgy pasts in her supposedly 'tell-all' book. But it's not the only controversy surrounding the celebrity sisters. Night club attack Just a couple of weeks before the court case, Sam and Billie, then aged 21 and 20, were attacked by a girl gang in a night club, and rushed to hospital for brain scans. Sam needed a brain scan after two attacks on the same night in 2011 during which she was brutally punched and kicked unconscious. Showing The Sun two black eyes, a split nose, lumps and bruises and scratches down her back, she recalled at the time: 'I really thought I was going to die. 'They just came at me like a herd of elephants. 'It's just a blur. I was being so violently attacked by so many girls there was nothing I could do but curl up into a ball. Then I passed out.' 15 15 We told how the beauties were first set on when they went to a nightclub early on a Sunday. The pair were kicked, stamped on with high heels and clawed by the wild-eyed thugs. Billie said: 'I was surrounded by at least ten girls on the dance floor. Sam was nearby. Then, in a split second, I'm on the ground and there is blood coming out of my leg. 'I had been hit with a glass or a bottle.' Sam was also knocked to the ground at the Jet Black club in central London. The violent assault continued outside as crowds gathered to watch. Billie was repeatedly beaten to the ground. She went on to say at the time: 'I was in shock. They were calling me a slag. I kept screaming, 'Why, why', but they wouldn't stop. 'They were punching me and hitting me with their high heels when I was on the ground. They pulled my hair and dragged me along the street.' Her £1,500 Mulberry handbag was taken in the attack — containing her house keys and mobile phone. She also lost a bracelet, earrings and her shoes. 'I was surrounded by at least ten girls on the dance floor. Sam was nearby. Then, in a split second, I'm on the ground and there is blood coming out of my leg." Billie Faiers But a source said: 'Sam and Billie's family history has always been somewhat of a black cloud hanging over their too good to be true family image. "There's a lot more family secrets they could have talked about but they never will. "It is a PR nightmare for the sisters' image. "Some reality stars would want to cash in on their family's criminal past but both sisters would prefer it was never mentioned again." While neither Billie, Sam or mum Suzie has ever been involved in anything illegal themselves, the Faiers' family name has long had rumoured links to former East End gangs, which much of Essex is infamously built on. Insiders claim it's inevitable their early family life will have been touched by the criminal dealings of their family in some way. 'People forget Sam and Billie didn't grow up in a life of luxury,' one insider told The Sun Online. 'There were tough times. There were people around them who made money in all sorts of ways. 'Their troubled childhood resulted in both sisters' being determined to build a better future for their own kids.' Sam is now engaged to property developer Paul Knightley, 36. The pair met in 2014 and have three children; Paul Jr., Rosie, and baby Edward. While Paul is notoriously private and often refused to film for The Mummy Diaries, he's played a steady role in Sam's life. Fans have often criticised his grumpy on-screen manner and traditional views, but Sam has always stood by her man. Despite never marrying, the couple live a quiet family life in Hertfordshire — with frequent breaks to Dubai, the Maldives and Mallorca. Billie, on the other hand, is married to long-term partner Greg Shepherd, 40. "There's a lot more family secrets they could have talked about but they never will." Greg became a reality star in his own right, often stealing scenes in The Mummy Diaries with his dad-jokes. They tied the knot in a lavish Maldives wedding in 2019. Biological dad Lee was noticeably absent, with the girls staying estranged from him since he and their mother Suzie split. Billie was instead walked down the aisle by step-dad Dave, who is also now separated from their mum. The married couple also have three children; Nelly, Arthur and baby Margot. They recently moved into a sprawling £1.4million mansion. Both their lives are now a far cry from their troubled beginnings. 15 15 15 15
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Kasalaini Sauvou's 'Secrets of Karolina' Delivers Suspenseful Italian Drama
Gripping narrative unravels family secrets and an enthralling journey through love, secrets, in the tangled vines of Sicily. YORBA LINDA, CA, UNITED STATES, May 12, 2025 / / -- In ' Secrets of Karolina ', Kasalaini Sauvou presents a suspenseful novel set against the backdrop of Italy's lush vineyards. The story follows Savana, a young American woman whose search for love leads her into the complex web of secrets surrounding Karolina, a wealthy matriarch. As Savana becomes entangled in the dark undercurrents of Karolina's family, she faces the challenge of uncovering hidden truths that threaten to disrupt her quest for happiness, and of unraveling the darkness that lies beneath the idyllic surface of Sicily's vineyards. The novel has received positive feedback from readers. AliReads, an Amazon reader who awarded the book a five-star rating, commended its compelling writing and noted that 'it is very well written and not always as sweet as you'd hope a story to be'. This review highlights the book's engaging narrative and its skillful balance of suspense and drama. Michele Klawitter, another enthusiastic reviewer, praised the book with a five-star rating, stating, 'Couldn't put it down!' Klawitter appreciated the book's atmospheric setting and the immersive quality of its storytelling, which drives the complex relationships and secrets within the plot. S.J. Main's review also reflects the novel's effectiveness in building suspense. Main described the book as having a 'wonderfully drafted' premise, noting, 'The suspense and its premise are wonderfully drafted. You cannot see what is to happen next.' Kasalaini Sauvou, originally from the Fiji Islands, combines her diverse experiences in government, business, and art with a deep understanding of human relationships and cultural contexts. Her previous work, 'Love Me Forever', explored themes of love from spiritual and personal perspectives. 'Secrets of Karolina' continues this exploration by delving into themes of secrecy and manipulation. For those who want to grab a copy and immerse in a story where secrets and desires intertwine in a breathtaking Italian setting, 'Secrets of Karolina' is available for purchase on Amazon in both paperback and eBook formats. About Inks & Bindings: Launching brilliant stars into the spotlight! Inks & Bindings is set to broaden horizons, revamp to perfection, and produce a masterpiece through the power of books. Inks and Bindings is a premier self-publishing company located at the heart of the Golden State. Aptly based where fashion, entertainment, and culture thrive, the team goes all out in bringing independent authors into the sweet California spotlight. JORELOU GABATO Inks and Bindings, LLC 7142022464 ext. email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
People Are Sharing The Family Secrets They Kept From Their Kids Until They Were Adults, And I'm Speechless
We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what secrets their families kept from them until they were adults. Here are their most shocking stories: 1."Found out my very religious uncle, who was married and had six children with my precious aunt, also had two illegitimate children. They were born in the 1940s. One was born before my uncle married my aunt, and one was born after! My aunt knew about them and agreed that they needed to help their mother financially. My aunt was a freakin saint." —Anonymous 2."My parents apparently had a little girl between my little brother and me. I was raised by my grandma for a while because my mom was sick. The baby was born but only lived for a few hours. Now, after my dad got a little bit too much alcohol in him one night, he told my brother and me. It makes so much sense looking back." —Anonymous 3."My dad is a triple-Trumper, church going, hyper republican who watches Fox News 24/7. He has always acted holier than thou and looked down on anyone (including my siblings and me) for what he considers 'unchristian' behavior. Welp, turns out he all but made my mom have two abortions, one before and one after marriage, because 'he wasn't ready to be a dad.' My mom told me over MANY drinks one evening. Now, every time he hops on his Christian soapbox. I smile, thinking what a hypocrite he is." —Anonymous 4."I learned my parents had been swingers our entire lives." —Anonymous, 5."Turns out my mom is a felon for embezzlement. Everyone kept it a secret until my dad forced my mom to tell me a month before I was to graduate with a bachelor's in criminal justice and psychology." —Anonymous 6."Both of my parents were married to other people before they married one another. I didn't find out until I was 16. Mind blown." —Anonymous 7."My dad donated sperm when he was younger. My sister did one of those DNA tests recently. Turns out we have about 10 half-siblings that we know of." —Anonymous 8."I was 24 in 1981 when I found out in the most shocking way that my dad was gay! I was married and was about to start my second year of teaching while my then-husband was in graduate school. Teachers get paid at the end of the month. He'd overdrawn our account again, and I threw a fit. I demanded that I take charge of the finances, and for the first time ever, had to go to my parents to borrow money. It was about a week to payday, and I figured out the smallest amount of money possible to make it until the end of the month. My parents always said I never needed to call first before coming over, so I went around 4 p.m. before Mom came home from work and I didn't call. I went in through the garage and yelled, 'Hello? Is there anyone home?' with no reply. Dad was on a health kick at the time and was doing a lot of walking, so I sat at the kitchen table reading the paper until he came back, dreading what I was going to ask him." "Shortly, a tall blonde man with glasses came down the hall buttoning up a white dress shirt. That's all he was wearing, and he was in a certain…condition. He stopped when he saw me, about the same time I looked up. My brain went numb, and I automatically said, 'Hello.' He turned around, went back into Dad's bedroom, and said, 'I think your daughter's here.' A couple of minutes later, Dad came out—thankfully fully dressed—and we chatted small talk for about 30 seconds before my 'fight or flight' kicked in. I blurted out, 'Dad, I need forty dollars.' I didn't bother to explain why; he wrote me a check, and I left." —Anonymous Related: 15 Random Trivia Questions Every Adult Should Know The Answers To 9."My dad had a brain aneurysm when I was in high school. He'd been in the hospital for a few weeks, and my mom, sister, and I would visit every day while he was in a coma. One day, we were walking in when a nurse asked us to wait because his wife and son were just finishing up their visit. My dad's old secretary and a 5-year-old who looked just like my dad walked out of his room. That's when we all learned about my younger half-brother." —Anonymous 10."I always knew that my parents divorced due to my mother's infidelity, but it wasn't until I was in my 30s that I learned that my dad isn't my biological father. I tried to confront my mother, but she wouldn't discuss it with me at all. I have no idea if my dad knows the truth." —Anonymous 11."I found out that my aunt and uncle were once step-siblings as teenagers, but a few years after their parents' divorce, they got together and have been with each other for over 35 years now. Only the aunts, uncles, and my nana know, but none of the children except me do." —silverwings713 12."I found my parents' marriage certificate online and was shocked to find out my mother was four months pregnant with me when she got married. Maybe not that big a deal, but for a young, devoutly Catholic woman in 1958, it must have been a difficult time for her." —Anonymous 13."When I was 14, I liked this guy who I met at my mom's friend's daughter's birthday party. Word got out that he and I were hanging out, and that was a problem to people. I was told my whole life the guy my mother was married to was my father (he had passed away when I was a year and a half old). But actually, he wasn't; my father was a guy my mom had an affair with during her marriage. That's when I was told that the guy I'd been seeing was my cousin. His uncle was my biological father." —anonymous Related: Most Americans Are So Bad At Geography, I Bet They Couldn't Pass This Middle School Quiz 14."All of my sisters and I (four of us total) had our firstborn sons by someone other than our current husbands. We kept it from all of our kids until recently. It wasn't something to hide; we were just content with our husbands and how they took our boys in like their own. No one even cared, and only one of my sisters reconnected with her ex. The rest of us and our sons could care less about their absent biological fathers." —anonymous 15."So, I did not learn this until I was 26, but apparently, my dad was a murderer. And get this, nobody figured out he was the killer. He killed a few people and got away with it. He is currently serving life in prison all alone because none of the family will go visit him; they can't believe he would do such a thing." —anonymous 16."My daughter has a half-sister she doesn't know about. My daughter went to live with her father because he and I were getting a divorce, and his household was the more stable one. About 10 years later, I got pregnant via a boyfriend I lived with at the time. My boyfriend and I agreed it would be better to put the child up for adoption. I have lost track of the adopting parents and will probably never tell my daughter." —anonymous 17."So, I had been a 'single' mom, but I had been dating several of my kids' friends' dads without their knowledge. But I ended up marrying one of them when she turned 19. I couldn't hold my love back anymore!" —anonymous 18."My mother had a much older sister who she had to care for. My mother helped care for this sister until my mom was in college. Around that time, her sister had a blocked intestine. She died during surgery for it. I didn't know about my mom's sister at all until I was 12. Then, when I was 19, I found out that my mom's uncle was the surgeon, and he had apparently been drunk during the surgery which is probably why my aunt died." —Anonymous 19."My parents divorced when I was 8 or 9. I found out in my early 20s that it was actually their second divorce. Apparently, my dad was going to be deployed overseas when I was a baby, so my parents divorced and had all relatives tell the military that they wouldn't take me in. I don't know how quickly my parents remarried after that stunt, but when they divorced the second time, there was split custody." —Anonymous 20."My parents got pregnant very young, and in a very catholic family. I found out at 22 that I was supposed to be put up for adoption, but my grandparents wouldn't allow it. I was a little pissed for finding out but also happy." —Anonymous 21."My mom was 16 when she had me, and we don't know who the father is. But when she was in labor, her stepdad refused to let her go to the hospital. Her mom was sick at the time, so my 16-year-old mother had to give birth alone in the back of the car while trying to drive herself to the hospital. A year ago, we found out that her stepdad was accused of stealing drugs at that very hospital. They found a stash in his bag, along with his name. He's now in jail." —Anonymous 22."I kept it a secret from my kids that I'd been married five times and that I had another kid. I had told them my other kid was their 'cousin' who was being taken care of by my sister." —anonymous 23."We all found out that my grandparents were divorced in 1978 and never told anyone, but continued to live together. To this day, we have no earthly idea why, as my grandpa still made sure that everything went to my grandma when he died." —morgan_le_slay finally, "My ex remarried a few years after we divorced. At first, things were fine, but then, his wife began causing problems for my daughter. When my daughter was 14, she and her stepmother really got into it while she was there for visitation, so she called and asked me to come get her. I spoke to her dad and asked if she could come home and not go for visitation for a month or two to let things cool down. He agreed, but then, his wife insisted he move all of my daughter's belongings out of their house, so she never went back." "Shortly after, my daughter's dad and the stepmom wrote horrible letters to her and mailed them to my house in her name. When I saw the mail, I opened it, and I could not believe the things they wrote. The stepmother told my daughter she, a teenager, was abusive and causing problems in their marriage and that she was going to turn out to be a terrible person. I put that letter away and just gave it to her last year when she was 30." —elizabethg20 Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. What's a family secret you didn't learn until you were an adult? Tell us in the comments or use the anonymous form below. Also in BuzzFeed: People Are Sharing The Seemingly "Insignificant" Moments That Completely Ruined Their Relationship Also in BuzzFeed: This Prom Dress Generator Will Help You Design Your Actual Dream Dress, And I'm Sort Of Obsessed With It Also in BuzzFeed: Doctors Are Sharing The Most Rare And Interesting Cases They've Ever Encountered, And I Didn't Even Know These Things Were Possible
