Secret of Little Bear Creek: Book One of the Bradley Chronicles

Hannah Bradley watches her father lowered into the earth, her family at her side. She tries to find some sadness for her loss but cannot. None of her three brothers are moved either. Something was terribly wrong with their upbringing. What follows is a heart-wrenching evolution while she struggles with their past, a tumultuous present, and a desperate future. To find herself, she must journey to Alabama in search of the roots of her father’s unspoken history. What she discovers forces her to face her own demons and a soul-releasing revelation deep in a dark family legacy. With that awareness, she finds the peace to live her own life with happiness and gratitude.

Praise for Little Bear Creek:
Don Houts - Men Reading Book Blog Review: “Secret of Little Bear Creek: As inferred by the title, it’s the three-generational story of pain and escape. After a dramatic incident, Hannah Bradley attempts to track her family history as a means of understanding. Her therapist suggests she take a journey to discover her family’s origins. To find out why her Grandfather abruptly moved the family to Michigan, her father migrated to California, completely cutting himself off from the family he left behind. As a psychiatrist, I thought this story captured exactly what I do with patients during a psychic archaeological dig. The goal is not to find someone to blame but to see patterns in the past so those patterns can be recognized in the present – and then managed differently. Matthews’s insights are remarkable!”

San Diego Publishers & Writers Association - “Amazing insightful, surprisingly touching, and filled with truth. A must read!”

Andrew McAllister - Amazon best-selling author: “Matthews generally grabs us with his thrillers and mysteries. Now he pulls into something new. Little Bear Creek does have thrills and mystery but immerses the reader in a tale of emotional strife and a journey to know oneself. Prepare yourself, this is a bumpy ride, and when you read the last line, I will suspect that you will reflect on your own life and take stock of who you are and where you came from. This is a must-read!”

“Secret of Little Bear Creek, takes the reader on a journey from California to Michigan to Alabama revealing family secrets that run through three generations. Matthews skillfully keeps the reader engaged with his tight plot and fully formed characters. The satisfactory conclusion may cause readers to wonder what mysteries might be lurking within their own families. Well done, Matthews!” — Pageturners Book Club