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lemanley's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
lastpaige111's review
4.0
When you're in the mood for romance with a little bit more, Novak's a great choice! Loved it.
paulabrandon's review
3.0
I thought this was going to be a mystery, but it was more a romance, with a lot of family drama, and just a little bit of mystery thrown in. But it wasn't a total loss. I thought main character Maisey Lazarow was very well developed. She returns to the island of Fairham, which she left ten years ago, to assist her brother Keith after an attempted suicide. She is still recovering from a divorce and the loss of her daughter two years ago (she was only six weeks old and died of SIDS).
Maisey is a bit of a mess, but she's very believably rendered. This was why I could accept her to and fro with Rafe Romero, who she lost her virginity to when she was 16. He's doing up the cottages on her mother's estate. As she's still recovering from her divorce, she is wary of making decisions around other men, especially one she finds so attractive.
Maisey and Keith have a very complex relationship with their mother Josephine. Keith is a drug addict. Maisey and Josephine became estranged after she disapproved of Maisey's marriage. So Maisey's relationship with her mother is at risk of getting even more strained when Rafe brings Maisey some photographs he found between the walls of one of the bungalows he's doing up. The photographs show a girl with their family. She starts to have memories of a possible older sister - as does Keith. But digging up the past is not something that Josephine will appreciate, as she very much likes to keep up appearances.
This was quite slow-paced (the photographs don't show up until past the 50% point), but works on a mildly interesting soap opera level. And like I said, I thought Maisey was a well-constructed character, not always making very good decisions, but at least you can understand why she would be that way, and it's not as if she's a bad person.
Of course, this book exists because the characters simply can't have a rational conversation about anything, and the mystery is pretty thin and weak, but I read it in a day and didn't have any other major qualms with it. Plus it was only $1 from the op shop. Goodreads indicates that there's a second book after this one, but all plot strands in this particular book are wrapped up, so there are no cliffhangers.
Maisey is a bit of a mess, but she's very believably rendered. This was why I could accept her to and fro with Rafe Romero, who she lost her virginity to when she was 16. He's doing up the cottages on her mother's estate. As she's still recovering from her divorce, she is wary of making decisions around other men, especially one she finds so attractive.
Maisey and Keith have a very complex relationship with their mother Josephine. Keith is a drug addict. Maisey and Josephine became estranged after she disapproved of Maisey's marriage. So Maisey's relationship with her mother is at risk of getting even more strained when Rafe brings Maisey some photographs he found between the walls of one of the bungalows he's doing up. The photographs show a girl with their family. She starts to have memories of a possible older sister - as does Keith. But digging up the past is not something that Josephine will appreciate, as she very much likes to keep up appearances.
This was quite slow-paced (the photographs don't show up until past the 50% point), but works on a mildly interesting soap opera level. And like I said, I thought Maisey was a well-constructed character, not always making very good decisions, but at least you can understand why she would be that way, and it's not as if she's a bad person.
Of course, this book exists because the characters simply can't have a rational conversation about anything, and the mystery is pretty thin and weak, but I read it in a day and didn't have any other major qualms with it. Plus it was only $1 from the op shop. Goodreads indicates that there's a second book after this one, but all plot strands in this particular book are wrapped up, so there are no cliffhangers.
alwaysbooking's review
4.0
This book was definitely a change from my normal Brenda Novak books like Whiskey Creek.
The Secret Sister is exactly how the title describes it. Maisey has returned home after 2 years of hardship. Of course being home isn't exactly the best place to be either. Her brother has never been quite right and has abused drugs. Her mother is distant and looks at both her children with disdain. While trying to lick her wounds and over come many obstacles she runs into someone she never thought she would see again..Rafe. A blast from her past Rafe has grown into a great man from the wild boy he used to be. Maisey doesn't think she is ready for a relationship but Rafe has other plans... plus there's the whole mystery of who is the extra child in the pictures??
While this is no Whiskey Creek it was still very intriguing. I liked seeing how Maisey's character came into her own independence. She struggled as you would expect with her relationships with everyone involved. It was nice to see her stand on her own two feet little by little.
The Secret Sister is exactly how the title describes it. Maisey has returned home after 2 years of hardship. Of course being home isn't exactly the best place to be either. Her brother has never been quite right and has abused drugs. Her mother is distant and looks at both her children with disdain. While trying to lick her wounds and over come many obstacles she runs into someone she never thought she would see again..Rafe. A blast from her past Rafe has grown into a great man from the wild boy he used to be. Maisey doesn't think she is ready for a relationship but Rafe has other plans... plus there's the whole mystery of who is the extra child in the pictures??
While this is no Whiskey Creek it was still very intriguing. I liked seeing how Maisey's character came into her own independence. She struggled as you would expect with her relationships with everyone involved. It was nice to see her stand on her own two feet little by little.
labwa_0712's review
2.0
This book cannot be technically classified as romantic suspense. There's no mystery or suspense. It's a relatively monotonous book narrating the story of a divorced woman who came back to her hometown where she rekindles a relationship with an old flame. There was a lot of push and pull and mostly a slow-paced romance. As for the mystery part, the only aspect of it is revealed around 70% I think. It wasn't much interesting but it didn't feel so bad as an audiobook. I probably would have hated it if I read it.
ashleysilver7's review
3.0
This book would have received more stars if it weren't quite so predictable. Maisey moves back to here hometown, Fairham Island, where her family has a reputation. Her mother, Josephine, inherited a fortune and owns half the island; furthermore, she has a reputation for being formidable.
There is more to the family: Maisey is recovering from grief and a divorce, and Keith, her older brother, is an addict who is trying to turn his life around. Add to that the fact that Maisey is living next to someone she used to date (and to whom she lost her virginity at age 16). To make matters more interesting, Maisey discovers she may have had an older sister, and she tries to find out what happened to her (assuming she did exist).
Again, I figured out where it was going to go pretty easily, but it was an entertaining read, and I am going to continue reading Novak's Fairham Island series.
There is more to the family: Maisey is recovering from grief and a divorce, and Keith, her older brother, is an addict who is trying to turn his life around. Add to that the fact that Maisey is living next to someone she used to date (and to whom she lost her virginity at age 16). To make matters more interesting, Maisey discovers she may have had an older sister, and she tries to find out what happened to her (assuming she did exist).
Again, I figured out where it was going to go pretty easily, but it was an entertaining read, and I am going to continue reading Novak's Fairham Island series.
ilaurin's review
4.0
Enjoyed this mystery combined with a love story. The hero was very sweet, a stud taking care of his special need daughter. The heroine was quite messed up having lost her daughter and gotten divorced after her husband cheated on her. She also had a difficult childhood. Overall I enjoyed the story quite a bit even though the ending was a bit lame.
jbarr5's review
4.0
The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak
Book starts out with Maisey and her brother Keith has summoned her to come back home to help with their mother.
She arrives and will be staying at her father's bungalows, the contractor is refurbishing them after the last big storm. Nobody gets along with their mother Josephine. Maisey has also been divorced for a year and had a daughter died from SIDS but her mother always, blamed her.
Raef is the one to find the box while doing carpentry work and brings it to Massey and she does recall the taller child but she's not sure who it is. Mysteries and secrets from many as she tries to patch things with her mother, help clean the bungalow and work at the family floral shop.
Liked the romance, sex, helping blind child, talk of flowers, braiding hair from the book she wrote and to find out about the girl in the photo and blackmail money...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Book starts out with Maisey and her brother Keith has summoned her to come back home to help with their mother.
She arrives and will be staying at her father's bungalows, the contractor is refurbishing them after the last big storm. Nobody gets along with their mother Josephine. Maisey has also been divorced for a year and had a daughter died from SIDS but her mother always, blamed her.
Raef is the one to find the box while doing carpentry work and brings it to Massey and she does recall the taller child but she's not sure who it is. Mysteries and secrets from many as she tries to patch things with her mother, help clean the bungalow and work at the family floral shop.
Liked the romance, sex, helping blind child, talk of flowers, braiding hair from the book she wrote and to find out about the girl in the photo and blackmail money...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
nellesnightstand1's review
Could not put it down! I love a good mystery, this one kept me guessing!