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    What Happened to Hannah: A Novel
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    What Happened to Hannah: A Novel
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    What Happened to Hannah: A Novel
    Ebook373 pages6 hours

    What Happened to Hannah: A Novel

    By Mary Kay McComas

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    “Blending poignancy with humor, crafting characters as real and recognizable as your next-door neighbor, Mary Kay McComas weaves stories that brighten the heart.”
    —Nora Roberts

    “I love Mary Kay McComas.”
    —Patricia Gaffney

    What Happened to Hannah? is a novel of love, hate, loss, and redemption; of a life full of unfinished business. New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay McComas weaves an unforgettable tale of a loner who is called back by tragedy to the home she ran away from years earlier, and finds herself the sole responsible party for a troubled teenage niece. Powerfully moving, deeply emotional, What Happened to Hannah? is superior contemporary woman’s fiction that fans of Kristin Hannah, Kristina Riggle, and Jennifer McMahon will take deeply into their hearts and hold there forever.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateFeb 7, 2012
    ISBN9780062084798
    Unavailable
    What Happened to Hannah: A Novel
    Author

    Mary Kay McComas

    Mary Kay McComas is an acclaimed romance novelist and the author of twenty-one short contemporary romances, five novellas, and two novels. McComas has received numerous honors and prizes for her work, including the Washington Romance Writers’ Outstanding Achievement Award and two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times (one for Best New Novel and another for Most Innovative Romance Series). She has recently contributed to Nora Roberts’s J. D. Robb fantasy anthologies, with highly praised paranormal romance stories. McComas and her family live in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.     

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    Reviews for What Happened to Hannah

    3.5/5

    49 ratings19 reviews

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    • 4/5
      When we are growing up, and viewing life through young eyes, we often don't see the true reality of the world around us. Hurtful things may cause us to make our own reality. We may be looking and listening, but still not comprehending. Sometimes, it takes maturity and similar experiences in our later years to really grasp the full meaning of what we have seen and experienced. Life is a continual learning process, full of starts, stops, and restarts. The truth is always there, waiting. We just have to find it. It already knows exactly where to find us. In "What Happened to Hannah", by Mary Kay McComas, the truth comes home to Hannah Benson in a startling manner, and one phone call forever changes the path of her life. To escape the cycle of abuse, Hannah had left home at age sixteen and never looked back. In high school, Grady Steadman was Hannah's sweetheart. Years later when he calls her, he is the sheriff of their hometown, informing her that her mother has just passed away. He also tells her that her sister had died some time ago and left behind a young daughter. Hannah's return to her home place is bittersweet, and she is forced to deal with painful memories and haunting ghosts from her past. She must also find a way to make a new life for herself and for her niece, Anna. With Grady now again a visible presence, Hannah's heart remembers how they once felt about each other, and feelings long denied flicker back into flame. In order to grasp a chance at true happiness, Hannah must let go of the weight of the past and grab on to the future with all of her heart.Abuse has long -lasting, widespread effects-not just on the victim, but on those who care for the victim. All of us, whether we realize it or not, know someone who has been abused at some point in their life. The first reaction to abuse is denial. It's a subject which makes people uncomfortable, and the victims often linger in a very painful silence. Writing about it may encourage someone who is a victim to seek help. Acknowledgement is not only a first step, it's a giant leap!Book Copy Gratis Amazon Vine
    • 4/5
      It took me a long time to read this book, but once I started it, I could not put it down! McComas tells the story of Hannah Benson, a victim of child abuse whole fleas her abuser and starts a new life as a teenager. Twenty years later, she receives a call that her niece has been orphaned and needs a guardian. Hannah returns to the town where her abuse took place and memories come flooding back. We are taken along for the ride as Hannah relives the trauma, her first love and twenty years of family secrets. I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone as a quick read.
    • 4/5
      Hannah Benson escaped a childhood of horrific abuse by running away. Twenty years later she is called back when her mother's death leaves her niece, Anna, with no other living relatives. Hannah is less than excited about returning to the scene of her past miseries. Hannah and Anna have to go through an uncomfortable process of getting to know one another, and Hannah must decide if her life can handle any more disruption. McComas has crafted an engaging plot. The story of Hannah's past slowly unfolds, and we find out exactly what happened the night she ran away. I read the entire book in one sitting. That said, I found Anna's character to be largely unbelievable. The whole story works because Anna is basically perfect. But teenagers are infinitely more sneaky and complicated, and I got the feeling that everything worked out far too easily. At the end I'd enjoyed reading it, but I could have predicted much of it too.
    • 4/5
      This book is a good character driven novel. Those who enjoy stories of abused characters that have overcome their abuse will enjoy this book.Hannah escapes her family and abuse as a teenager. She is a successful adult who seems very well rounded when she receives a phone call telling her her mother has passed away and she is now the guardian of a teenage niece named Anna, that Hannah had no idea existed. She returns home to take care of her family's affairs and meet and care for Anna.As a reader, you know Hannah has been abused and she left her home but the mystery revolves around what happened to Hannah the fateful night she left. Hannah has not been back since. As Hannah cleans out her mother's home, she also cleans out the memories which seem to haunt her from that horrible night. The story goes back to when Hannah was a teenager which is intertwined with the present day story. Not to worry though. The storyline is easy to follow.There is a romantic storyline also. Hannah is reacquainted with Grady, her high school sweetheart. Hannah is not ready to welcome back anyone from her past as she has moved on and in her eyes has put the past behind her. Grady is sure Hannah is hiding something from her past that needs to come out. There is a tension between them but is it because they still have feelings for each other or is it because Grady is just doing his job as the local sheriff?I enjoyed reading about Hannah's life. She was a strong willed child and woman who did what she had to survive. She was an easy character to like. I felt bad that as a child, the community turned a blind eye to the abuse happening in her home. I'm sure this happens everyday but it sure was hard to stomach as I became involved with Hannah and her story.The story kept me reading and wanting more until I got to the satisfying ending. I would recommend this book to book clubs as there is much there to discuss. It's an excellent read for those who like to read about dysfunctional families and those who have overcome abusive situations.
    • 5/5
      Hannah is brutalized by her parents but also has a boy she loves. When things go terribly wrong at home one night, she decides to run away and never look back. She made a good life for herself but didn't let many close to her. She receives a call from her high school love that will send her back to the town of painful memories but will teach her to open up and fall in love with humankind once again.
    • 3/5
      Hannah has spent the past twenty years trying to forget her past, specifically the emotional, verbal and physical abuse from her father. The only good she left behind was her sister, Ruth, and her boyfriend, Grady. It wasn't easy, but Hannah has made something of herself with the help of her surrogate father, Joe Levitz. Joe was her father, mentor and friend and it was with his help that she became an insurance agent and agency owner. Now the time has come for Hannah to face her past and return home to the memories left behind and a niece she's never known.Grady Steadman, indeed, the entire town, knew that Karl Benson and his family were different. The adults suspected abuse, but nothing was ever done. As a result, Hannah often went to school with bruises from "falls" and even broken bones. Most of the town had assumed that Karl had killed Hannah as she disappeared on the night of the worst beating yet, but since a body had never been found again nothing was done. But Karl is dead, Ruth is dead, even Hannah's mother is dead and there's no family member left to take care of fifteen-year-old Anna but her aunt. Hannah's return is anything but triumphant and she can't wait to leave Clearfield once again. She doesn't know the first thing about being a parent, even a surrogate parent and isn't sure her niece will even like her. Fortunately Hannah, and her niece Anna, learn to like, respect then love one another. Misunderstanding and mistakes are made but they both have much to learn about each other.What Happened to Hannah discusses some weighty issues, such as child abuse, spousal abuse, and even the possibility of child molestation. Ms. McComas doesn't gloss over these issues and treats them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Although Hannah and Grady have feelings for one another, Grady knows that Hannah is still hiding something. Until she can trust him fully, he isn't willing to turn custody of Anna over to her. I found all of the characters, especially Hannah, Anna, and Grady's daughter Lucy to be likeable, if not lovable, and all too realistic. Grady and Joe provide the much needed male counterparts to these strong females. They aren't overly protective or domineering and seemed to provide the masculine perspective and counterpoint of view. What Happened to Hannah has romance, drama, as well as teenage and adult angst tempered with humor and sensitivity. This may not be an easy read for some because of the issues discussed, but it is definitely worth reading.
    • 3/5
      The novel What Happened to Hannah is a enjoyable enough "women's fiction" story but there was a little too much romancey description and detail in parts of it. When Hannah returns to the small town she had run from twenty years previously, she had to face the choices she had made and the impact it had on others but she also had enough courage to work through these feelings and challenges. I liked the book-I didnt love it.
    • 4/5
      Hannah ran away from home when she was 16 years old and never looked back. Now she learns that her mother and sister are dead, leaving behind her 15 year old niece, whom she's never met. Hannah returns to her hometown to meet her niece, face Grady, her boyfriend from all those years ago, and deal with the memories of her tragic past.This is a bittersweet story of love, loss and family. It's easy to identify with the story and characters. I was sorry when it ended because I wanted to know more about them.
    • 3/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed "What Happened to Hannah". This book had me eagerly turning the pages, this is a tale about abuse and the effects it has on a family. Through Hannah's memory, we learn about her past & its heartwrenching . Then we have Grady an old friend of Hannah's and the town's sheriff,
    • 4/5
      I Loved this book, the characters will stay with me for a long while! It is a book about finding inner strength and the courage to face a past filled with demons, and allowing yourself forgiveness. Hannah has run from a volatile past and swore never to go back to her hometown. This all changes when , Grady, the one person from her past that she trusts, calls to tell her to come home and care for her neice. As painful as the thought is, she does whats right and returns to find Anna, who becomes the best part of her life. Hannah comes to terms with her past and gives Grady the trust he deserves, which frees her in a way she never was before. Great read, could not put this book down!
    • 3/5
      Sometimes, you have no choice but to go home again. Hannah Benson left her hometown 20 years earlier due to a tragedy that she has not yet moved past. However, when she receives a call from her old flame letting her know that her mother and sister have passed away and she is now the guardian for a niece she has never met, Hannah takes a deep breath and prepares herself for what is coming. Hannah has her reasons for not returning, Grady among them, but her niece, Anna, is there and she feels responsible for making sure Anna is cared for, which is more than anyone ever did for Hannah.What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas is the story of what can happen when we allow ourselves to let our guard down and try to move beyond our past hurts. More so, it is a story of what happens when we forgive ourselves and allow ourselves the understanding of the people around us and why they make the choices they do. What Hannah discovers about mercy, compassion and love will fill your spirit as well.As a character, Hannah is endlessly complex and completely frustrating. The entire book is spent talking her down from a ledge of her own making. But isn’t this what we all do? We spend so much time making up drama in our heads and then dealing with the upset from that that the real life issues we have are minuscule in comparison. Hannah moves through the story keeping secrets not only from the other characters, but from us, the readers. It was frustrating to have a clear understanding of why she was doing what she was doing until the end of the book, but the tension was not altogether unpleasant.Other characters in the novel were pleasantly involved, but I found Grady to be a little too supportive. He showed so little emotion and the end felt inauthentic. I wanted more of Grady’s story and to know what Grady was doing when he was going home at night. Or what he was thinking, feeling or doing at work. How was Hannah’s pulling away really affecting him? There is a little of this in there, but I could have used more insight into both him and Anna.Out of all of the characters, Biscuit was probably my favorite and I can’t tell you why without giving away some key details of the novel. If you read it, just know that I appreciate his wisdom beyond his age and his ability to truly see people as they are. I enjoyed the addition of Biscuit to the novel.What Happened to Hannah is not a difficult read, though it may be for those that have abuse in their histories. The story is an interesting one, though there were some turns that I would have expected to be explored more fully (Jim). Either way, this is one that is a take it or leave it, but if I had the choice again, I’d probably take it.Note: I was given a free copy of this novel in order to review it. Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion.
    • 3/5
      Hannah Benson left home as a teenager, turning her back to the family and town she grow up in; never to return. Twenty years later she receives a c all from Grady Steadman; her high-school boyfriend, now the town sheriff. He tells her that her mother has died. So, let her sister deal with the estate. What? Her sister died five years earlier and left behind a daughter. Now Hannah has to come back to town to take custody of her fifteen year old niece and deal with the secret she left behind. An interesting story about family and the bonds that tie them together or break them apart. Hannah’s secret was not so secret as I figured it out early in the story but enjoyed the way she bonded with her niece and had to make some life altering decisions. A light and easy read.
    • 4/5
      I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book which managed to stay realistic and engaging while dealing with a complicated and potentially far-fetched plot. Out of the blue Hannah gets a call from Grady (her high-school sweetheart turned town sherriff) calling her back to the town she ran away from when she was seventeen years old. Her mother and sister are dead, and she has a teenage niece who needs a guardian now that the rest of her family is gone. The book tells the story of Hannah's return to her hometown and the house she grew up in, and also slowly reveals the story of her childhood and the eventful night when she finally escaped.The book was excellent- in fact I would have given it 5 stars if not for the way the relationship between Grady and Hannah develops (no spoilers but I didn't like the power play he made or her response to it). Hannah herself is a well-drawn character who carries the novel, though her niece Anna is a quiet rock who helps anchor the story. It is impossible not to feel for these two girls forced to adapt to the realities of a life no one would choose; watching their relationship develop is the best part of the book.
    • 4/5
      Hannah has to return home to her hometown after the death of her mother. She has to care for her niece. She also meets up with her former boyfriend the sheriff Grady Steadman. Hannah has to deal with all the things that happened to her in her childhood and reconcile it with the adult she is now. It doesn't hurt that she finds love again along the way. Good chick lit read.
    • 5/5
      I LOVED this book! It had me hooked from the very beginning. The only thing that kept me from giving it five stars was the ending. I hate when authors work hard to write an excellent book and then try to wrap the whole thing up in one or two pages. I also felt like Grady was a little pushy for someone who didn't even know if Hannah was alive for so long. I would have liked to see a little bit more romance between Grady and Hannah, but that could be the fact that I am a romance reader at heart!I actually enjoyed the story. Some of the backflashes were a little hard to read but were essential to the story. I will definately recomment this to friends.
    • 4/5
      This book grabbed me from the first page. I thought the characters were beleivable and interacted well with each other. This would have been a 5 star book for me except for the ending which I thought was a little weak. I may need to check out more by this author. I will recommend this book to others.
    • 4/5
      Hannah Benson is woman with a lot of secrets. She ran away from home to escape them and has led a successful life since then. Then one day she receives a phone call that will draw her back to her hometown and back to these secrets. It also draws her back to an old flame, Grady. This book is about what happens to Hannah after that.I liked this book overall, but some things bothered me. It was very slow in parts and the lagging pace was frustrating. I also found Grady's insistence that Hannah tell him her secrets or else he would withhold something very important to her to be rather appalling. It was hard to root for the romance between them with him doing something so underhanded and unethical. She didn't owe him her secrets! It made me not like him so much.Other than the above, the writing was good and the story was interesting. Parts of it were quite funny. The horror of child abuse was realistically portrayed, but I also liked the hopefulness that it is possible, with help, to escape the past and live a rewarding and successful life in spite of what's happened. Ultimately this is a hopeful, uplifting story of family redemtion and second chances and even with the problems mentioned above I enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      I really liked this book. This is something I would have picked on my own to read for sure. It was a light read, though the content was serious. I read it very quickly even though I work 2 jobs and am a full time stay at home mom. The characters were extremely likeable. Very enjoyable read that wasnt the normal fluff. :)
    • 5/5
      I was captivated by this story. As a child, Hannah suffered abuse that most of us can't even imagine. She escapes and, despite the odds, becomes a successful adult. But the past never quite leaves her. When she gets a phone call telling her she's the only living relative left to care for a niece she's never met, Hannah has to go back and face the ghosts of her past. While learning to let go, she also learns to trust and truly love.This story has many layers, at the core of which is courage, trust, and the kind of love that endures and enriches. Well-written and engaging, this is a book I highly recommend.** I received this book as an ARC through Amazon Vine. **