“Normalcy is a foreign concept, and every decision feels like a crossroads that could either lead us to healing or trigger the memories we’ve fought so hard to suppress.”

So reads the memoir of Ava Howell Brooks, who spills her deeply personal family history in "15 Summers Later" by RaeAnne Thayne. It has been 15 summers since Ava and her sister Madison lived through the unthinkable. Just when they thought they had left it behind, it all comes back to the surface with the release of "Ghost Lake," Ava’s memoir. Part romance and part mystery, "15 Summers Later" is a heartwrenching look at grief, forgiveness, family, and the different ways we heal from our pasts.

Madison Howell is just getting her no-kill animal sanctuary off the ground thanks to an anonymous donation when her life turns upside down — for the second time. Her sister Ava has released a revealing tell-all about their time held by the Ghost Lake Survival Coalition, a cult deep in the Sawtooth Mountains. When Madi was 14 and Ava was 16, the sisters were pulled into the survivalist cult by their father, delusional with grief over his wife’s passing years before.

“Life within the compound was a twisted dance of obedience, isolation and the constant fear of the charismatic leaders who wielded power like a weapon.” From Ava’s forced marriage to a man 30 years her senior, to constant threats of violence, to a daring multi-day escape that left Madi with a brain injury and permanent disability, together they survived the most horrific of traumas.

It’s a shame that Ava had to spill their life story to an audience that devoured it — now, Madi can’t even hide in plain sight. With a leg brace and a permanent half-smile, she already feels like people treat her differently or see her as weak. Now, the people she grew up with give her knowing looks and strangers and reporters expect her to talk about a history she’d rather leave in the past.

When Ava comes to stay with her grandmother in town, hiding from a troubled marriage and the national attention from her bestseller, things reach a breaking point between the sisters. Is forgiveness possible, when Ava has shared the most intimate details of their lives with the whole world?

Madi’s closest friend, veterinarian Dr. Luke Gentry, is the salve in her everyday life. As a single father who was widowed years ago, who also lost his father in the attempt to rescue Madi and Ava from the cult, Luke is one of the few people who understands the dept of Madi’s grief and history. That, and he doesn’t look at Madi any differently because of it.

But he does give her another look, something that suggests he may not see her as only a friend, especially as they start spending more time together… After an unforgettable kiss, both of them know there’s something deeper between them, something they can’t ignore.

When Ava asks Madi to make a last-minute drive into the mountains of Ghost Lake, their first return in 15 summers makes the memories fresh. Resentment turns to understanding as the darkness creeps back into their minds, as they realize the trauma dividing them is actually a uniquely bonding experience.

“The scars remain, but they are now badges of resilience, a testament to the strength we discovered within ourselves and the unbreakable bond between two sisters who defied the darkness,” writes Ava in Ghost Lake, in one of many excerpts that introduce each chapter. And the quote rings true, as two sisters acknowledge that the understanding between them goes deeper than blood or love. It is only by facing and accepting the past that they can truly move on — and welcome the love offered to them by the men they care about, who finally know the whole truth.

RaeAnne Thayne has crafted a touching, suspenseful and romantic story about the ways we struggle to heal, accept love into our lives, and build the future we never expected to live. From finding self-worth, to chasing dreams, to reconciling with the past, Madison and Ava Howell are a resilient pair of sisters. They found a way to escape from tragedy and fill their lives with love and generosity. The story calls to mind the real women and girls who have become victims of similarly oppressive and dangerous cults — and those who risked or lost their lives trying to escape.

"15 Summers Later" is an inspiring and powerful novel for fans of romantic suspense and family narratives. Harrowing and gentle, terrifying and romantic, the book takes readers on an emotional journey they won’t forget.