| Title | : | The Secret Sister (Fairham Island, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0778317803 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780778317807 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 400 |
| Publication | : | First published July 28, 2015 |
| Awards | : | RITA Award by Romance Writers of America Contemporary Romance : Long (2016) |
After a painful divorce, Maisey Lazarow returns to Fairham, the small island off the North Carolina coast where she grew up. She goes there to heal—and to help her brother, Keith, a deeply troubled man who's asked her to come home. But she refuses to stay in the family house. The last person she wants to see is the wealthy, controlling mother she escaped years ago.
Instead, she finds herself living next door to someone else she'd prefer to avoid—Rafe Romero, the wild, reckless boy to whom she lost her virginity at sixteen. He's back on the island, and to her surprise, he's raising a young daughter alone. Maisey's still attracted to him, but her heart's too broken to risk…
Then something even more disturbing happens. She discovers a box of photographs that evoke distant memories of a little girl, a child Keith remembers, too. Maisey believes the girl must've been their sister, but their mother claims there was no sister.
Maisey's convinced that child existed. So where is she now?
The Secret Sister (Fairham Island, #1) Reviews
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Be warned, this book is neither a romance nor a romance-suspense, despite its being marketed as such and the author's specialisation in the genre. It all reads like a very boring report on some vaguely delineated dysfunctional family and ends with a hastily tied pink ribbon around it without ever addressing the million gaping plot holes crying to be addressed. It is, in short, a tepid mess of a book that should have never been published, at least in its present form.
For the life of me, I could not find any reason why the main couple is together, could not find any reason what these two were doing being the main characters in a romance. I could not even believe that these could ever find each other remotely interesting. At best, they could be a one night stand that ended the morning after without the exchange of phone numbers. As it is neither the writer nor the reader knows what to do with these two. Sensing that they had zero chemistry, attraction or basic curiosity about each other, Brenda Novak found it impossible to build a love story around them, let alone a passionate one, and ended up writing a bewilderingly uninteresting, unatractive (in terms of the rapport between them) couple who no one in their right mind could ever find believable.
As if that was not enough, there's also a lamentable and asinine attempt at a triangle with the heroine's ex-husband, who comes in and goes straight out of the plot without any purpose other than exposing the heroine as the titanic fool she is. Neither entrance nor exit of her ex made any sense and the whole thing is not only an exercise in aimless, meandering storyline but also an insult to common sense. For, other than wasting a couple of chapters, what is the point in allowing a man who did not support you in your most soul-destroying grief, who left you for another woman and took you to the cleaners in the divorce settlement back into your life? This sorry excuse of a man (and the worst betrayal was not the other woman but the emotional abandonment at the worst possible time for the heroine) is portrayed as enjoying the heroine's trust! She confides in and confesses everything to him, while she refuses to share anything with the saintly hero. Not only does she not share anything with the latter but she also constantly doubts him, lies to him and misleads him. At every effing opportunity. So even if you survive the aimless plot, the nonsensical heroine most definitely will finish you off.
I've come to loathe the kind of writing that uses difficult circumstances as a way to excuse its own inability to write an interesting character, and this book is a prime example of this. Everything and the kitchen sink is thrown into the plot, a disabled child, a deceased child, a traumatic past, a traumatic present, etc.. Everything is treated as just an item on a list, a list put together in the most formulaic manner without generating anything remotely poignant or moving. The hero, Rafe, never escapes the excess sugar with which his writer coats him, rendering him completely unconvincing (and although I'm certain quite a few romance readers don't mind unconvincing, yours truly needs a convincing hero in order to believe he is some 'dream man'). This abstraction with muscle and a penis won't do. Nothing about him spells 'character', let alone one that we would be interested reading about. He, supposedly, is a single dad of a special needs daughter, but you never see or sense any of the everyday life difficulties this entails. He, supposedly, is a builder with a small business that is struggling to get off the ground, but nothing about him says ' working class' (writers in this genre write about working class people as if the latter lead comfortable lives; their only difference from the standard -and loathsome to me- romance billionaire is the absence of references to private jets and penthouses). Do us all a favour, romance writers, and look around you to see how a real life Rafe would have coped without state support, and if you cannot do that then leave the whole theme alone and go write yet another one of those awful, dull, bondage loving billionaires you so like to write about. As for the child in this story is, as you'd expect, your super formulaic cutie who takes immediately to the heroine and wants her to be her mummy and desires nothing more than see her move in with her dad, immediately, right now! In this book everything must be buried under mountains of super-affirmative crap.
As for the ending, which is one of the most ridiculous endings I've ever read (regarding the sister of the title), I challenge you to try and read through it without pulling your hair out (and not lament the money you wasted on it) And as if the whole sister palaver did not prove to be one big crappy ploy to infuse this poor excuse of a book with supposed 'suspense', the writer goes on and bombards you with the most hastily concocted and unbelievable HEA that you are ever likely to come across. After completely neglecting to develop the romance side for the entirety of the book, and with only 7 pages to go, that dodo of a heroine still thinks, for the hundredth time, of leaving the hero (!!!). And then 6 pages from the end, she joins the hero in planning their wedding, the wedding of the century! Yes, one moment she is not sure whether she wants to be in the same State as the hero and the next she is transformed into one of the good wives of Weinsberg, with whom the hero comes to form the most lovey-dovey couple ever to walk this effing earth.
A piece of advice, be smarter than me and give this a wide, a very wide berth. -
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) -
The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak is a 2015 MIRA publication.
I found this story to be very fascinating, with Gothic undertones, which is right up my alley.
Reeling from a series of emotional punches, children’s author Maisey Lazarow returns home to Fairham to be closer to her brother, Keith, a man suffering from addictions, who recently attempted to take his own life.
But, Maisey refuses to stay at the sprawling manor she grew up in, due to the torn relationship with her overbearing and controlling mother.
So, instead she moves into a bungalow, which happens to be right next door to Rafe Romero, the guy she had an awkward sexual encounter with, in her teens. Determined to make it up to Maisey, Rafe tries to be very neighborly, but Maisey is determined to avoid him, knowing her life is too unstable to even think about getting involved with him.
However, the discovery of a box of old photographs dislodges buried memories of a little girl she believes could be her sister. But, how could this be?
Determined to get to the bottom of things, Maisey will have to confront her mother and risk unearthing a very dark family secret…
Although it takes a little time for all the pieces to start clicking into place, once the mystery begins to unfold, the story takes on a different tone, which reminded me of a good old fashioned Gothic tale. I loved all the sinister undertones that made the story so atmospheric.
It’s hard to imagine a parent so formidable her grown children are still afraid of her. But, Josephine is a figure that loves having power over people, and isn’t afraid to pass out harsh punishments if you don’t fall in line. She’s hard, cold, insensitive, and quite villainous. So, it was no wonder her children were intimidated by her, or that they are underdeveloped emotionally.
Maisey was hard to warm up to initially, although her fragility is palpable, and it’s obvious she needs time to heal. I didn’t like the way she ran hot and cold with Rafe, who was a terrific guy from start to finish. But, it was wonderful watching her slowly learn to let go of her fears, to give love a second chance, and to finally grow a backbone and take charge.
Rafe is my kind of guy- patient, sensitive, and rock solid. He is also the father of an adorable special needs child, who all but stole the show.
While I enjoyed seeing the romance develop between Rafe and Maisey, it was the mystery that took center stage. This story is riveting, shocking, and could spark a little debate in regards to the moral dilemma of the situation presented.
Josephine’s parenting style seems to harken back to a different era, where basic physical needs are met, but emotional issues were rarely addressed. Being raised in such an environment would certainly have a profound effect on the children. So, there is an interesting character study at play here as well.
The conclusion, left me with a great deal of optimism about all the characters, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say everyone will become better, stronger, and happier, especially now that they have solved a mystery that has brought them all closer together.
4 stars -
"..but secrets don't remain secrets forever..."
Well, wow. The Secret Sister is full of intensity that I did not fully expect. From the second chance romance that kept me asking for more to the nail biting mystery, The Secret Sister is perfect for every readers looking for an engaging and thrilling read.
Maisey went home in chance of helping her troubled brother. What she didn't expect to wait for her though is a web of secrets that surrounds her family. And Rafe, who she didn't expect to interact with either. But Maisey must face all of this, not only for her own sake.. but also for the people she loves.
Maisey was a delight to read and I enjoyed being in her head. She was far from perfect and she still make mistakes that can frustrate me so much and just makes me scratch my head but I adore how she's aware of it and owns her mistakes. Just like us, fictional characters commit mistakes too. And that's what I love about Novak's characters in The Secret Sisters. They never lose their authenticity in every page. Whether its rage, sadness or just their simple joy, every character's emotions just keeps rolling over at every page and their realness never get lost on me.
Brenda Novak really impressed me by how she weaved the story of The Secret Sister. She kept me on my toes. She kept me guessing and engaged. Her writing really captured me from the first chapter and she really has her hold on me throughout the whole book. One more thing that needs to be praised is the very sweet and right-kind of-hot chemistry between Rafe and Maisey. It was undeniable. Its so hard not to root for them from the very first chapter even though each of them finds reason to fight it. Rafe's little girl was mixed in as well and I can't help but say that it is another reason why Rafe looks irresistible, not only to Maisey's eyes but to the readers as well.
I can't wait for more from this series. The Secret Sister is an excellent opening to a series that I know will keep us on our toes. Although I had a fun time with Rafe and Maisey, I can help but be excited about Novak's new and upcoming characters. I highly recommend The Secret Sister for readers who wants to be impressed!
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After her divorce and the loss of her child Maisey Lazarow returns home to the small island of Fairham in hopes of helping her brother who has had some problems of his own. However, Maisey has not been looking forward to the reunion with her controlling mother after all the years that had passed.
Instead of staying in the family home Maisey moves into a cottage but finds herself living next to Rafe Romero who has been contracted to fix up the cottages. Maisey has a history with Rafe and finds herself still attracted to him but too broken to risk her heart. When Rafe finds a box of old photos Maisey finds herself in the middle of a mystery and trying to uncover old family secrets.
The Secret Sister was another nice read from Brenda Novak that crosses over from just a romance read into a mystery/thriller plus a lot of family drama all wrapped in one. It was easy to get interested in Maisey's story rather quickly and really enjoyed the book.
Maisey's family in the story are the rich as in owning most of the island but have all of the secrets to go along with type. Most would expect that with being rich and comfortable would bring for an easy life but there's always things that go on that bring for one dysfunctional group.
Overall, with lots of twists and turns along the way this romantic suspense had me engaged the entire read.
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads.
For more reviews please visit
https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress.... -
This story started out really strong. It's more of a contemporary romance with a bit of mystery thrown into it. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see what would happen. My favorite characters were Rafe and his adorable daughter Laney. She definitely stole the show for me in this book. I wish there were more scenes involving her (I love single parent romances). I didn't know what to think of Maisey. She couldn't make up her mind and that resulted in me not being able to make up my mind about her. There were a couple of times that she really annoyed me. Rafe was in my opinion an amazing guy that no woman would want to miss out on. He was such a great dad to Laney and very supportive towards Maisey. He respected Maisey boundaries but he didn't let her walk all over him.
The mystery part in my opinion wasn't really strong. Towards the last 25% of the book I was already bored and started skipping pages to find out what was going on. I was satisfied with the ending but didn't feel like Rafe and Maisey's relationship fully developed. So the ending was more focused on the mystery than their relationship. I would've liked it more if it was more even. I'll probably read the next book in the series but not right now. -
That was not an enjoyable read. Everyone was so hateful and selfish. Not a single person was remotely like able. And the story wasn't much good either. Total and utterly MEH in an annoying way.
Another series by BN that left me fuming. Still, her Whiskey Creek series takes the cake for most irritating characters/story lines.
Book #2 next, maybe? Of Course NOT. Reading is my happy place. And I'm not happy when I'm fuming. So, thanks but H3LL TO THE BELLS NO. -
This book was a solid five star read! It was the perfect combination of mystery and romance. At times it felt like I was watching an episode of CSI, I kept coming up with theories of what could've happened. What I loved most was that in the end, I didn't see it coming. Sometimes books can be a little predictable but not this one. The Secret Sister kept me guessing until the very end when all the loose ends came together perfectly. The conclusion was satisfying and it left me feeling really good (I was worried this might not be the case).
The romance between Maisey and Rafe was lovely. I enjoyed their interactions so much and the chemistry between them was off the charts. Rafe was pretty amazing because he still had some of the bad boy in him from when he was younger -he could be flirty and confident but at the same time he also matured so much and became this truly good man. How adorable was it for him to be a single dad? Him and Laney were a perfect fit for Maisey in her current situation, like it was meant to be. They complemented each other beautifully.
I highly recommend this book, I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review* -
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-
http://smexybooks.com/2015/07/review-...
RATING: C+
A family, their secrets, and the consequences of those secrets sets the stage for Novak’s newest mystery suspense by introducing the main players and explaining the complicated facets that make up their relationships. A somber tone punctuated with bits of quiet humor and a lightweight romance permeates the story as Novak takes great pains to make us understand the volatile nature of this family’s dynamics that exist under its placid surface. Smooth writing and a steady pace introduces an overly controlling mother whose imagined high position in society demands a strict adherence to the rules-her rules. We meet the son who choose drugs and the daughter who choose to marry an “unsuitable man” in order to escape their mother’s influence.
The Lazarow’s are a complicated family. Each member is an important piece of the puzzle but only a small part of the overall picture. Maisey Lazarow has come home to Fairham Island to regroup after a painful divorce and to help her brother, Keith, with his ongoing addiction to drugs. Her husband’s cheating destroyed the final part of Maisey’s heart that was still beating after their baby is found to have died from SIDS and she decides leaving Manhattan and all the memories behind may be the only way to save her sanity and her soul.
Upon arrival, she sees a childhood crush to whom she gave her virginity to in high school, bringing back her anger and embarrassment of his dismissal of her and in essence, flares up her resentment towards her mother, her childhood, and her life in general. Part of this resentment manifests itself when she chooses to reside in the family owned rental property rather than stay at her mother’s house.
When Maisey discovers a metal box filled with baby pictures hidden in the walls of one of the rental homes she assumes they are hers until further investigation proves they can’t be. Maisey has always had faint memories of another little girl in their lives but figures it was just her imagination. That is until she reaches out to her brother and he admits to the same memories. From there Maisey is set out on path that digs deep into her family’s past and finds a mystery that could destroy them all or finally set them free.
Though touted as a romance suspense, I feel it falls more under contemporary mystery or women’s fiction. The main goal of the story is Maisey learning to acknowledge and let go her guilt and anger towards her husband, their child’s death, and her family. The romance for me was soft but endearing and seemed more of a bridge that helps Maisey in her journey towards forgiveness and self discovery. The Secret Sister is a well written story that accomplishes what it sought to do but I wasn’t blown away by it. I had a hard time connecting with the characters beyond a singular level and found the story dragged at certain times; especially in the first half. It’s when the mystery is introduced that the speed and my interest perked up.
The characters are well defined though again there was a subtle barrier between them and me that I was never able to break through. Everyone in the story is an extension of Maisey, used to help or hinder her. Even with this being told from Maisey’s POV, I never really felt I got to know her as well as I wanted to. They talk a good game but the emotional connects between them are so faint, they are almost non-existent. Secrets. Lots and lots of secrets. And perhaps that was intentional. As I stated before, this whole family has buried everything and pretends the world is okay until the cracks in the dam can no longer hold back the flood waters. They explode then shore it all back up quickly and quietly.
Novak does an excellent job exploring Maisey’s and Keith’s childhood, but what I found to be the most powerful aspects was what wasn’t said. Their mother is an abusive, narcissistic, non empathetic woman. Their only source of help was their father, but when he died, so did their only buffer against her. Masiey and her brother survived the best they could but it resulted in the burying everything which in turn manifested into some destructive behavior from them both.
Maisey is a mess. I found myself not always liking or understanding the decisions she made but her emotional barometer isn’t functioning properly and you couldn’t fault her flight or fight mentality. The contrasts in Maisey’s behavior when she is with her family and when she is with others is an interesting juxtaposition and goes far in showing us just how damaged she really is. I will admit her feelings of rejection and anger towards Rafe seemed a bit over the top at times. I never understand men or women who carry that much anger and pain towards an unrequited high school crush. After a few years, you need to let it go. Anything longer then that needs therapy.
Rafe is a solid character but like the others, acts more as a catalyst for Maisey rather a separate entity. Novak gives us insights into his life and past to try an explain where he is at in the present. He had good reasons for rejecting Maisey all those years ago-she lied about her age and he had no idea he was her first sexual partner. They had both been drinking and one thing led to another. He now wants another chance to get to know her as adults but Maisey is lost in her grief, anger, and confusion-not ready to move on from her divorce-though she does send some very mixed signals. Rafe’s daughter, Lainey, requires much of his care and attention and I respected the fact he put his daughter first in his life and she wasn’t used as a plot moppet to force Rafe and Maisey into a relationship. Maisy and Rafe have to build their relationship from the ground up, in spite of their past history, in order to move forward. The stumbling blocks incurred because of this goes far in further showing us the destructive force Maisey’s mother is.
The mystery was the best part of the story for me. Maisey jumps in with both feet, despite warnings and odd tales from family and town residents. She investigates with a tenacity and fierceness that surprised me due to her overall makeup. Once the full story is revealed, I was shocked and pleased by the twisting winding road Novak led us down towards the truth. What you expect and what you get are two very different things.
Though we aren’t given a concrete happy ending, there are questions and certain plotlines left unresolved, the main conflict is resolved and Maisey is given tools and help she needs to move on with her life and break free of the anchor of grief and anger that was weighing her down. I am looking forward to book 2. Maisey’s brother Keith is a complicated man whose demons have a tight hold on him and I am curious to see who he connects with and how he breaks free. -
Mysterious Read. Makes you feel like Sherlock Holmes trying to uncover the secrets and mysteries. There is also an adorable little girl and father that makes your heart melt.
After a horrible divorce, Maisey returns home to recover and rebuild. This is what I don't understand. You know for a fact your brother and mother are whackadoodle...certifiable. Yet, Maisey goes back home for solace. So, why is she shocked when her mother is evil to her and her brother neglects her. It's not like they acted any different towards her when she lived away from home.
Also, I didn't like the entire book shrouded under this mysterious cloud. That cloud was too thick...and not in a good way. I know, I know, the title is The SECRET Sister, but whatever.
Other than the complaints mentioned above, I moderately enjoyed the story. The mom's turnabout at the end was too much, too quick, but I'm glad I read it. Although, I don't think I will read book 2.
LOL I am doing a horrible job of encouraging others to read this. -
Initial reaction: Leave it to Brenda Novak to keep me up during a late night glued to one of her stories. "The Secret Sister" falls quite firmly in the romantic suspense category - revolving around a family with many complications in their relationships and a mystery that threatens to tear them apart for purported events. I found myself drawn into the carefully developed characters and the overarching mystery, though I'll admit I was still left with questions that were either loosely expounded upon or had some flaws in the progression to where they weren't entirely answered. It still came across as a solid read for me - 4 stars.
Full review:
"The Secret Sister" had my attention from the very beginning on the strength of its premise. Maisey returns home after a series of horrible events in her life, but returning home isn't exactly a welcome homecoming. Considering her family history, it's little wonder. Her brother Keith is a recovering -on again, off again - drug addict. Her father had passed away many years ago, and her mother, Josephine, is a controlling matriarch who will use every bit of her money and power (a given with the family name and presence in the community) to undermine those who cross her, including Maisey.
Maisey finds a bit of refuge with Rafe and his 5-year-old daughter Laney. Maisey has a bit of awkward history with Rafe, but their chemistry is very strong and believable in its alternating waves of push and pull. When Rafe finds a hidden box in a wall of what he thinks are Maisey's baby pictures, it starts a tense mystery and huge rift in the family as secrets and doubts float to the surface. Maisey's determined to get to the bottom of events, and she meets some notable resistance in her journey to do that.
I definitely liked the focus on the strong characters in this narrative. It cycles between different POVs (Maisey's, Rafe's and Josephine's) and all three characters are strongly asserted for their motivations and emotions. Novak's prose is spot on for its intimacies, and I felt invested in both the development of the relationships here as well as the mystery. I did feel that as the book went on, certain plot points felt a bit thin in their drawing, particularly in the push to the end where some threads were left untied, but I still found the conclusion satisfying even when I had an idea of the direction it would go.
This is the first in a series, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of the events on Fairham Island.
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher Harlequin Mira. -
Well. That was INTENSE! Very good read.
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I'm going against the grain here because The Secret Sister didn't work for me overall. If only the mystery was enough to compensate for my gripes!
The Romance: needs a LOT of work. So Maisey and Rafe had history like they hooked up for 30 secs two decades ago then they find themselves neighbors in the island. Boom! Dinner invite, Maisey refused but ended up sleeping with him anyway. Where's the tension? The build-up? The flirting? Their "history" wasn't enough to support the suddenness of their blossoming relationship as it wasn't even romantic in the first place.
Disjoints & Inconsistencies: A few scenes felt disjointed to me like in the first scene between Maisey and Rafe when the latter asked her for dinner, they immediately discussed the hook up all those years ago. Hello! Didn't that feel awkward? Sure, you guys slept together ONE TIME in the past (Rafe was drunk and it lasted all of 30secs), but it's not like you were in the same circle or kept in touch for you to just discuss things like that.
Next would be the friend from Middle School, Dinah, who clearly doesn't know what TMI means. Maisey barely knows this girl and yet she feels she's trustworthy enough to share info with her. *head scratch*
Then there's the voice teacher whom Maisey remembers because the lady gave her classes in the past as per her account, and yet when she met her again, she's acting like she's a total stranger.
Then there's the money situation. At first it's implied that Maisey's father is the moneyed one and Josephine just managing things well. Later on in the story, it's Maisey's mother's family who owns it and richer than the dad. Whaaa???
SPOILER: Lastly, how the heck did Josephine know that she has grandkids when she didn't even know that her eldest survived let alone married with children? Also early on in the novel Josephine said she didn't care much for her lost child and in the end she's all excited?
I didn't connect: with the romance, with Maisey herself, and didn't get invested in the tragic case that is her brother. Again, it all feels disjointed.
The Mystery: about the lost sister didn't start until halfway. And it remained in the background because the story kept on focusing on the romance between M & R. If I were to remove everything else and just review this part of the story, I'd say it's really good. Although once again, I find it hard to believe that when the siblings reunited, it was devoid of any awkwardness, curiosity, etc. It wasn't a realistic reunion for me even if this was based on a real story.
Overall, this one tanked for me. -
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. -
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!
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Four stars: A suspenseful thriller blended with an enticing romance.
Maisey stomach clenches with anxiety as she returns home to her hometown and her brother and mother. Maisey and her mother have had a difficult relationship to say the least, but Maisey is coming home to support her brother Keith. Keith has spent years strung out on drugs, and recently he tried to commit suicide. So Maisey, despite the ruins of her own life heads home. Once back on Fairham, Maisey decides to live in her family's bungalows instead of her mother's house. The only problem is that the bungalows were heavily damaged by a hurricane. Rafe, a boy Maisey once had a fling with as a teenager, was hired to repair the homes. When Maisey and Rafe meet face to face, sparks of attraction fly, but Maisey is in no position to start a romance. Things take a strange turn when Rafe uncovers some family photos in one of the bungalows. It appears Maisey and Keith had an older sister, but what happened to her, and why doesn't her mother ever talk about the girl in the photos?
What I Liked:
*I always enjoy a solid suspense/thriller, but I don't like ones that are dark and often gory. No worries, The Secret Sister is an exciting read with an engaging mystery and a nice romance. I especially appreciated that the book refrained from being dark and disturbing. The romance and the young, blind girl helped to make this a nice, entertaining page turner. This book is perfect for beach reading.
*The romance is almost like a second chance romance. Rafe and Maisey had a brief encounter when they were young. Once reunited, there is still some chemistry between the two. Even though the romance starts out with heat and lust, it soon settles into something more as Rafe works to earn Maisey's trust, no matter how hard she pushes him away. A friendship is established, and then it moves into something more. I was worried a bit about a love triangle, but it doesn't come to pass. I liked the way the romance played out, and I thought it provided a nice balance with the mystery story line.
*The mystery isn't revealed until the second half, which is a bit surprising but it works. The first part of the book is devoted to the romance and getting to know the characters before the suspense takes hold. I appreciated that the author took the time to show the messiness in the relationships that Maisey and Keith have with their mother. It is important in order for the mystery to work as it leads to doubt and conjectures regarding the mystery sister's fate. Once the thread is revealed, the book moves into hyperdrive. I enjoyed the suspense, and I liked the way it all played out.
*I liked the character growth with all the main characters. At the beginning, Maisey and Keith are both struggling to overcome their pasts and difficulties in their personal lives. Their mother is cold and condescending, and when they are with their mother, fights often ensue. Over the course of the book, their is growth and change. Maisey especially transforms. I appreciated the changes in all the characters, and I liked where they ended up.
*The ending wraps everything up nicely, and it ends on a high note. I was pleasantly surprised. as this was the first in new series. I am curious to see where the next book will go, since the story line in this one seems to be concluded. No cliffhangers or nagging questions. You get a complete satisfying read.
And The Not So Much:
*Even though I liked the mystery and the suspense, I thought the final reveal was a bit hurried. Not to mention, I wasn't completely surprised. I don't know maybe it was just me, but I was expecting the revelation to be a bit more dramatic. Not that I didn't like the way it turned out, but I just was hoping for a bit more after the buildup.
*I didn't like that the true motives behind what happened with the secret sister were never uncovered, instead it was all conjecture. I wanted a better understanding of why that person did what they did. Furthermore, it wasn't clear as to why the blackmailing was going on, once again, it was all guesses.
*I was disappointed that the book ended abruptly during the happy part. I was hoping for a bit more resolution with the mother's character, and I would have loved for the ending to be drawn out a bit more.
The Secret Sister was an entertaining and exciting read that blends romance with suspense. This is a terrific thriller for those who like their mysteries on the lighter side since this one refrains from being dark and disturbing. I liked the romance and the character growth. I would recommend this book for those who want a page turner for summer or anytime you have an afternoon to while away.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@
Rainy Day Ramblings.
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One thing I can say about Novaks writing is that she can keep me entertained and engrossed in reading her books.
At first when I received this book I knew it would be different from her others but I wasn't sure if I was going to read it or sit on it for a bit while I decided. I decided to read it and I'm so glad I did.
This book had a lot more mystery then the previous books I read by her but it also had romance. I have to say I'm glad the romance came first in the storyline because If the mystery of the missing sister started I wasn't sure if I would finish this book.
I loved the characters and how likable they were. Just like in any family they had their issues but that didn't stop them from trying to pull themselves together.
Maisey returns to her hometown after being recently divorced and loosing her baby to help her brother Keith battle his addiction. When she shows up she decides not to stay at her family home but the bungalows her family has and she has always loved.
Rafe is working on refurbishing the bungalows after a storm has damaged them. When Maisey shows up she reminds him of the night they spent together. Although Rafe has grown up Maisey is still holding on to the past that he isn't so proud of but yet she is also not ready to give her heart.
While he is working he comes across a box of pictures of Maiseys childhood and that's when the mystery of the lost sister starts. Before I get into that I have to say I loved who Maisey became when she was with Rafe. Although she couldn't really explain what she was feeling you can see the attraction and chemistry between this two whenever they were around each other. And even though they try to stay away from each other, both for different reasons, they just can't help themselves.
Now while Maisey is trying to dig up the truth on the list sister a lot of rumors have been going around for years so by her digging deeper a lot u folds and I was shocked at the outcome. I mean secrets that have been around for years start to unfold. I through of Maisey kind of like Nancy drew in this story she only wanted the truth and wouldn't stop until she figured it all out.
I enjoyed this read. I like how Novak wrote her characters and how real they seemed from page to page. I am very interested to see how the next book is in this series. I am hoping it's about her recovering brother Keith and him finding his happiness and getting over the addiction. -
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret Sister is the first book in the new Fairham Island series by Brenda Novak. Novak’s Whiskey Creek series is a favorite of many, but I have my ups and downs with it. While I enjoy the characters and relationships that Ms. Novak creates in that series, sometimes the subject matter she touches upon is a bit too dark for my taste. But with this Fairham Island series, I knew going in that it was going to be a romantic suspense novel and was able to prepare myself for what was to come.
Or so I thought. Aside from having more of a mystery element to it, this book also had a really enjoyable romance between the two lead characters. After the devastating loss of both her marriage and her baby, Maisey Lazarow returns to the one place she never thought she would ever live again…her hometown. A call from her brother brings her right back into the middle of the complicated relationships she has with her mother and old flame Rafe Romero. As Maisey is dealing with her feelings for Rafe, she finds a box of photos that leads her to begin searching for (as the title suggests) a possible secret sister. And while Maisey searches for the truth about her family, we get to meet some of the residents of Fairham Island. Ms. Novak did a great job incorporating the residents into the story in real ways that both moved the story along and set them up for us to read about in future books in the series.
Two real strong components of this book are the mystery and the characters. Ms. Novak writes family relationships really well and that is certainly continued in this book. The characters are not perfect, but their flaws make them very relatable and I really enjoyed Maisey’s relationship with her brother Keith. I look forward to reading more about him in future books. The mystery in this story is also well done. I am a big fan of how Nora Roberts and James Patterson weave the mysteries in their books and Brenda Novak is right up there with them, in my opinion. There is a twist at the end that I probably should have seen coming…but didn’t! I like when that happens.
The Secret Sister was a great start to a new series and I think that fans of Nora Roberts will really enjoy this story. -
Brenda Novak has a way of pulling you into a story and makes it hard for you to leave until the end. This is a new series and when I got the email wanting to know if I wanted to read it, I automatically said yes. Brenda is a favorite go to author for me, I will read anything of hers and I do have some catching up to do with her other series, which I have loved reading too.
Maisey has gone back home to Fairham, an island off the coast of South Carolina, to lick her wounds and try to pull he life back together. After 10 years of marriage, loss of a child and a cheating husband, Maisey just wants to move forward. Her mother is still trying to control everyone and everything. Her brother Keith is still high most of the time. Maisey wants to help him to try and move past the drugs. She goes to the one place on the island where she feels her fathers presence, the bungalows at Smuggler's Cove. When she sees the damage done by the last hurricane, she feels sick. Then she sees who is doing the restoration of the cabins and she feels even sicker. Maybe Rafe will not remember her. After all it was 18 years ago that she gave her innocence to him. He doesn't remember a lot about that night because he was drunk, but that doesn't make her feel better. She seems to be drawn to him and when she meets his daughter Laney, she sees what she missed by loosing Ellie. Can Maisey and her mother ever get along? Will Keith let Maisey help him? And what is the secret that their mother doesn't want them to dig deeper for? Will they find the answers they want? Will she give Rafe and Laney a change for them all to be happy? I love this beginning of another series and can't wait for more.
**Copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review** -
Another great book by Brenda Novak! This first book in a new series is filled with mystery and intrigue. Maisey after a nasty divorce returns home to North Carolina but she refuses to stay with her overbearing brother and her brother Keith needs her and wants her to stay. She ends up staying in one of the bungalows that was not too much damaged from the hurricane. She ends up living next to Rafe who is living there alone raising his daughter. Rafe was her first love experience when she was 16. There is an attraction between them but Maisey does not want to risk her heart again. Than she stumbles upon a box of old pictures and a girl in one of the pictures looks familiar but she does not have a sister so who is this girl. Maisey tries to find out but will she really want to know the answer?
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*I received a free ARC of The Secret Sister from MIRA via Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*
The Secret Sister is simply fabulous! The mystery unfolds slowly, and the characters are very complex, and Josephine is the kind of mother I'm so happy I didn't have growing up - and even later.
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog
(un)Conventional Bookviews
Coyer scavenger hunt item #29: Read a book with no magical or futuristic elements (2 points" -
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 was an incredibly hard book to rank. Especially knowing that I was lucky enough to receive this book thru NetGalley and would be writing a reader review. So, grain of salt here, people.
The first page of this book immediately reminded me what it was like to pick up something by an extremely talented author.
I'd been reading "okay" writing for a few weeks (a lot of which I DNFd so there's no reviews in my feed). But Ms. Novak's words felt so organic, as if it was a transcript of real life, not words pushing a story forward.
It was a relief to fall into the story like that.
I liked Maisey immediately, but that eventually became one of the issues I had with the story. I could see how Maisey was "real" but at the same time, I struggled a lot with the unbalance in the character. For example, She manages to be weak and strong at the same time....but not in ways that rang true to me.
Rafe...oh, Rafe who could have been one of my favorite romance heroes of all times. You had so little to do when it came down to it.
And here is the hard point of my review. I took this book from the Romance listing. The romance in this book is a really small segment of this book compared to the family dynamics and mystery. It almost feels squeezed in to the spaces between the 'real' story going on. The hero isn't really involved in the other parts of the story. It felt like it was "Maisey needs a guy to move on with and one who shows her what family really is, just squeeze him in there." What was there was great. Rafe was great...maybe too great and too perfect, but that's probably because we didn't have the page space to see any growth from him. He was perfect and doing the right things from page one...well, chapter 4 or 5 when we finally meeting him.
Another hard point is this: A lot of people with complicated family relationships will struggle with this book because they will disagree with a lot of actions taken. That's okay. Not everyone's going to react to those relationships the same way. I'll admit, I got frustrated with Maisey (and her brother) bc of how they dealt with family events. BUT, that would have been fine if that was the only thing frustrating me.
If this book had been passed to me as Women's Fiction, it would have been a four star. My expectations would have been different and the family/mystery/romance/dealing with divorce ratios would have been appropriate.
But as a romance, with the other points, this book was a solid, high-3 for me. -
Holy Cow!! I loved this book! Brenda sure knows how to write a well-written detailed interesting story filled with mystery, romance, and a dysfunctional family. I liked the setting, characters, and the plot!
Maisy Lazarow returns to her hometown of Fairham after her divorce to help her heal. She also returns to help her brother, Keith. Maisy’s mother, Josephine lives in Coldiron House which Maisy doesn’t want to stay there. So she ends of staying in Smuggler’s Cove and the guy next door, Rafe, she knows from when she was 16. Rafe fixes the bungalows for Josephine. He ends up finding a box and giving it to Maisy. Inside the box are pictures of a child who is older than Keith. Maisy think it’s her sister. She can’t let it go and seeks to find answers. So the story embarks on the journey that you’re going to have to read to find out what happens.
My favorite character in the book is Rafe. He is taking care of his blind daughter, Laney. He is doing what he can to take care of his daughter and himself. There is a physical attraction between Rafe and Maisy.
The ending of The Secret Sister surprised me!
Pick up this book today and read it to find out what happens as I don’t like to give spoilers! I’d recommend this book to others.
Some quotes/part of the story I liked:
“The future doesn’t have to be a reflection of the past.”
“Because I care about you, and I’m hoping that having a companion will make attending those meetings more…tolerable.”
“I don’t want to discover the truth. That’s why you think I should let this go. You’re afraid of what we’ll find. You should be,too! We need to destroy these pictures right away. No one puts a child’s photographs in a wall and then plasters over them without good reason.”
“I like the way you are with Laney, how you treat her with such inherent kindness. I like the soul of the person who wrote Molly Brimble Conquers the World. I enjoyed seeing the world through the author’s eyes. I like how brave you are, how determined to handle your own problems, even though I wish you’d confide in me. I like that you’re willing to stand up to your mother, when so many people aren’t. You could’ve gone home to her, but you didn’t. I like how, when we’re in bed together, you look at me as if I’m all that matters.”
Rating Breakdown
Plot- 5/5
Heat- 4.5/5
Writing style- 5/5
Overall Rating- 5/5
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review -
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. -
This book is so much more than women's fiction, or a contemporary romance - its real life. The author gives us a look into the lives of Maisey and her wonderful, complicated family; and Rafe and his life, which USED to be simple until Maisey came along.
Josephine, Maisey's mother, is hard to like. I didn't like how Maisey kept bowing down to her, but in reality, its how she and her brother have learned to survive. The descriptions of treatments hefted on brother were disturbing - it;s no wonder he turned to a life of mischief and drugs. And its a wonder that Maisey came out somewhat normal. The loss that she has suffered has been piled on and her wariness is understandable - but I feel bad for Rafe who got jerked back and forth as she worked her way through her relationship with him while struggling with her brother, her mother, and even her ex husband.
Boy, I love Rafe. He is sensitive and kind but doesn't just let Maisey walk all over him. He sets some ground rules for how he's willing to be treated, but also makes his feelings known for Maisey. I love that he is confident in how he feels and once he's confident in Maisey's feelings, he confronts what is probably the major barrier to his happiness with Maisey - Josephine. I believe that he earned her respect when he did that and Josephine is definitely redeemed in my eyes in the end, in her relationships with Laney and Roxanne!
Wonderful, wonderful read! -
Brenda Novak has done an amazing job again. The characters of The Secret Sister are beautifully flawed and full of emotions. The plot was full of mystery and surprises, and I could not wait to see what happened next. I loved the different directions Maisey and Rafe's relationship took. I also enjoyed the tension within Maisey's family, and all of the secrets as well. The way everything was revealed was great. Maisey kept stumbling upon these little things, which turned out to be very significant. While the revelations were rather subtle, the disagreement between her and her mother is not. Novak does a fantastic job with the conflicting emotions between them. It was also interesting to see how different Maisey is with people outside of her family, like Rafe and his daughter. The mystery surrounding Maisey's family builds throughout the story, and I loved the way it played out. I felt like I really got to know Maisey in this book, as well as all of her family's deep, dark secrets, and I enjoyed every second of it. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
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OH MY GOODNESS, I love this story!
The Secret Sister takes place on Fairham Island, South Carolina, where Maisey grew up. She returns home to help her (messed up) brother and to escape the memories of her life in New York City.
Because she has been estranged from her mother, Maisey (not wanting to deal with her), decides to stay in one of the family rental cottages. She reconnects with Rafe, who she knew from her youth. Their relationship heats up, as they get to know each other again.
As the plot develops, photos are found, that suggest there had been an older sister that no one ever mentions. Maisey hunts for clues about the girl in the photos. Is she dead? How was she killed? Who killed her? As the mystery unravels, will she discover the truth about what happened to her sister?
This gripping suspense filled first book of the Fairham trilogy is a winner! I’m already looking forward to reading what happens in the rest of the series.
