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A review by jonetta
The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak
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)