Rafael raped his sister Carmen. Esme is their daughter—a child of incest. For fifteen years, Carmen stays silent, believing it will protect her. Rosa believes her imprisoned son deserves family. She arranges the connection. Carmen tried to shield Esme by telling her nothing. Rosa filled the silence with access to Rafael. Rafael filled Esme's void with stories. And Esme filled her womb with his children.
A brother and sister, in late blossom, get to spend a week alone down in Florida. There's some young stuff as a side story, but not that young, and as always handled in a very Losgudian manner. The endnote is worth reading.
Lauren graduates from school and takes a job as governess of two teens in South America. It is a job for which she is poorly qualified. Her lack of control over the teens and her need for sex result in temptation and submission in the house. A local war between the army and rebels makes them temporarily homeless, but even that shows how Lauren is willing to trade her body for temporary safety. Will they make it back home safely and will Lauren find the strength to do her job properly?