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jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Quick summary
Maisey Lazarow returns home to Fairham Island following her failed marriage, writer's block and need to reconnect with her troubled brother, Keith. She wasn't prepared to be reunited with her high school fling, Rafe Romero who's a very different man from his teenage persona.
What worked
The story was interesting as Maisey's story unfolded slowly, filling in the blanks as she first seemed elusive. She was frustrating at times as she appeared to lack conviction, especially when confronting her cold, controlling mother and her screwed up brother. Maisey's developing romance with Rafe was also confusing as she often ran hot and cold without warning. I really liked him as he was honest and the most transformed from being a difficult teen. I loved his daughter, especially that she was drawn with special needs. It added a level of realism that distinguished the story from others featuring children.
The most interesting aspect of the story was the mystery surrounding the secret sister, including whether or not she even existed. Unraveling the clues and pursuing the leads kept me in the story. The resolution was powerful with a twist that ends up creating a more intriguing foundation for the series.
The narration
I really liked the narrator's performance! Carly Robins livened up the story when there were lulls and her pacing was perfect. This is my first experience with her work and hope she continues the series.
The bottom line
It's a solid start to a new series with an interesting mystery, even if it lacked tension and scary suspense. While Maisey was often a challenge, Rafe and his daughter more than over compensated. I'm looking forward to the next book.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Maisey Lazarow returns home to Fairham Island following her failed marriage, writer's block and need to reconnect with her troubled brother, Keith. She wasn't prepared to be reunited with her high school fling, Rafe Romero who's a very different man from his teenage persona.
What worked
The story was interesting as Maisey's story unfolded slowly, filling in the blanks as she first seemed elusive. She was frustrating at times as she appeared to lack conviction, especially when confronting her cold, controlling mother and her screwed up brother. Maisey's developing romance with Rafe was also confusing as she often ran hot and cold without warning. I really liked him as he was honest and the most transformed from being a difficult teen. I loved his daughter, especially that she was drawn with special needs. It added a level of realism that distinguished the story from others featuring children.
The most interesting aspect of the story was the mystery surrounding the secret sister, including whether or not she even existed. Unraveling the clues and pursuing the leads kept me in the story. The resolution was powerful with a twist that ends up creating a more intriguing foundation for the series.
The narration
I really liked the narrator's performance! Carly Robins livened up the story when there were lulls and her pacing was perfect. This is my first experience with her work and hope she continues the series.
The bottom line
It's a solid start to a new series with an interesting mystery, even if it lacked tension and scary suspense. While Maisey was often a challenge, Rafe and his daughter more than over compensated. I'm looking forward to the next book.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
maureensbooks89's review
5.0
In ‘The Secret Sister’ we meet Maisey Lazarow, a woman in her thirties who moves back to the town she grew up in to help out her brother, and to start over after her divorce. But moving back doesn’t only mean she can start over, it also means she is forced to have contact with her very controlling and harsh mother. When Maisey moves in next to an old ‘friend’ Rafe, who is very handsome and also single, she isn’t so sure about this move anymore. All Maisey wants to do is get back on her feet without any distractions and all she seems to have are distractions.
One day, Rafe finds old childhood pictures of Maisey in a home he is working on. But strangely the little girl in the pictures isn’t Maisey at all.
‘The Secret Sister’ is a book you immediately get pulled into. It starts with Maisey arriving in her old home town and from the very first page I started to care about this character. Maisey is easy to love, she comes to her old home town to heal and help her brother. But the main part why I liked Maisey so much was the way she stood up to her mother. Her mother is just awful. She is controlling, unkind and doesn’t seem to care about anything but herself and her ‘good’ name. Maisey always stood up for herself and lives her life the way she wants to. Maisey doesn’t care about money and appearances, al she wants is to be happy.
Rafe is also a character I loved right away. He was a wild one when he was younge, but now he is a single father and very responsible. The way Rafe was with his little girl was just so sweet. I just loved his character. Everyone should have a dad like Rafe.
This book is not only a romance story, but is also filled with mystery and it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. I just love how Brenda Novak is able to make you completely forget about the world around you. The romance is so very sweet, and it was just so beautiful. But what I loved most about this book was that it was so much more than only a romance. The mystery in this book was very intense and I didn’t see a lot of the things coming.
I can’t wait to read more books by Brenda Novak. I would really recommend this one to all romance and mystery lovers out there.
One day, Rafe finds old childhood pictures of Maisey in a home he is working on. But strangely the little girl in the pictures isn’t Maisey at all.
‘The Secret Sister’ is a book you immediately get pulled into. It starts with Maisey arriving in her old home town and from the very first page I started to care about this character. Maisey is easy to love, she comes to her old home town to heal and help her brother. But the main part why I liked Maisey so much was the way she stood up to her mother. Her mother is just awful. She is controlling, unkind and doesn’t seem to care about anything but herself and her ‘good’ name. Maisey always stood up for herself and lives her life the way she wants to. Maisey doesn’t care about money and appearances, al she wants is to be happy.
Rafe is also a character I loved right away. He was a wild one when he was younge, but now he is a single father and very responsible. The way Rafe was with his little girl was just so sweet. I just loved his character. Everyone should have a dad like Rafe.
This book is not only a romance story, but is also filled with mystery and it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. I just love how Brenda Novak is able to make you completely forget about the world around you. The romance is so very sweet, and it was just so beautiful. But what I loved most about this book was that it was so much more than only a romance. The mystery in this book was very intense and I didn’t see a lot of the things coming.
I can’t wait to read more books by Brenda Novak. I would really recommend this one to all romance and mystery lovers out there.
3jp12's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
ssejig's review
3.0
Argh. This was such a good book until the end. A nice, slow build until the end when everything was hastily wrapped up in the last fifty pages. Like you're on a Sunday drive that everyone is enjoying until you realize you're going to be late and thus destroying the rest of the trip.
Maisey Lazalow is returning to Fairham Island, where her mother reigns supreme. It's not out of any sense of joy or family, but because she's still recovering from a divorce and is also wanting to come and help her brother Keith work through his problems.
Rafe Romero took Maisey's virginity in an encounter that really didn't flatter either of them. Now he's back with his (blind, not entirelyplot-moppet-ish) daughter, helping to rebuild the cabins that belonged to Maisey's father. The cabins where she's staying. The cabins that were promised to her. The cabins where Rafe uncovers a box of photographs of a young girl who was pictured with a young Maisey and her brother.
Could it be that there was a third sibling that no one talked about?
I really liked the build-up of this story, even with the insta-lust turning to insta-love. I'm a little worried though because Keith is supposed to be the hero of the next story and he was such a tool in this book.
Maisey Lazalow is returning to Fairham Island, where her mother reigns supreme. It's not out of any sense of joy or family, but because she's still recovering from a divorce and is also wanting to come and help her brother Keith work through his problems.
Rafe Romero took Maisey's virginity in an encounter that really didn't flatter either of them. Now he's back with his (blind, not entirelyplot-moppet-ish) daughter, helping to rebuild the cabins that belonged to Maisey's father. The cabins where she's staying. The cabins that were promised to her. The cabins where Rafe uncovers a box of photographs of a young girl who was pictured with a young Maisey and her brother.
Could it be that there was a third sibling that no one talked about?
I really liked the build-up of this story, even with the insta-lust turning to insta-love. I'm a little worried though because Keith is supposed to be the hero of the next story and he was such a tool in this book.
stephsromancebooktalk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars / 1 Steam Fan
This story was more of a mystery than a romantic suspense for me. I actually could have done without the lukewarm romance that was blossomed between Maisey and Rafe to solely focus on the family drama that Maisey stumbles upon. I really enjoyed the interaction of Maisey, Rafe, and Laney but I felt there were a lot of plot points that were not closed up. I wanted more romance than what I was given but I did like the mystery that was provided.
This book was read for #romanceopoly space - Cozy Corner.
This specific video review will be included in the February 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
This story was more of a mystery than a romantic suspense for me. I actually could have done without the lukewarm romance that was blossomed between Maisey and Rafe to solely focus on the family drama that Maisey stumbles upon. I really enjoyed the interaction of Maisey, Rafe, and Laney but I felt there were a lot of plot points that were not closed up. I wanted more romance than what I was given but I did like the mystery that was provided.
This book was read for #romanceopoly space - Cozy Corner.
This specific video review will be included in the February 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
christina_loveday's review against another edition
5.0
A good story with somewhat Gothic atmosphere. Maisey Lazarow is starting over after a failed Marriage and goes back to her childhood home. She refuses to live with her overbearing mother and decides to move into a bungalow where she has an encounter with the guy who took her virginity many years before. The rest of the story she finds out about a possible sibling whose been kept a secret for some reason and starts her own investigation on what really happened and her attraction to Rafe gets deeper. All in all I really enjoyed this book and think it is a good start to the series and can’t wait to read the next one.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Oh, man, this was a really awesome book! It is a bit of a mystery book, so it was like her mystery trilogies, and that was awesome, I've been starting to miss them! So awesome, can't wait to see what's going to happen in this series!