Secrets of the Island by Linda Hughes

Secrets of the Island Reviews

• 
  Stacy

  The oldest twins of the Sullivan family both enlist to serve in WWII... Harriet as a WAC nurse and Harry in the army, and end up in the same location in northern Africa. Harriet learns Harry has been injured and is being hid the day after she married her childhood sweetheart and Harry's best friend Bill. Her new husband has been injured in battle resulting in a broken leg, but when he learns Harriet is determined to rescue her brother from behind enemy lines from a native's hut, he refuses to allow her to go alone. While enroute to the rescue, they are spotted by Nazis and unbeknownst to them are followed to the hut. While in the hut, a Nazi storms in, kills Bill, wounds Harry even more and rapes (though not described in graphic detail) Harriet. A British spy posing as Nazi makes his appearance at just the right time and saves Harry and Harriet.
  Back in the states, after they return and are battling PTSD (or shell shock as it was known back then), the Sullivan family starts to uncover secrets of their progenitors that they had been unaware of. One shocking secret leads to another, and the Sullivan clan comes to realize that much of what they had thought of their ancestors was wrong. They all realize that those living trying to conceal secrets are not alone, and each generation had its share.
  This is a entertaining read, and those that enjoy historical fiction, mystery, suspense (with some romance thrown in), or unraveling genealogical puzzles would enjoy this. I received this book in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!
• 
  S. Daisy

  This is a historical fiction novel about the quest of one family to uncover the many secrets buried in their ancestry. Harriet, a WWII nurse, and her twin brother Harry, a soldier, come home from the war changed people after suffering a very traumatic event. Not able to stay at their parents house any more because they aren't ready to reenter their old lives yet, they decide to stay with their grandfather Herbert on Mackinac Island until some sense of normalcy returns. But what starts as a vacation turns into something much more when an old love letter is found addressed to Harriet's great grandfather... from somebody who was not his wife Maud. This sparks a genealogical search that uncovers more and more information about a family that they only thought they knew.
  
  This was a very good and well-written book, and I enjoyed it. It was so well done that I was not aware it was part of a series, and it was completely able to stand on its own as a novel. However, it may not be for everybody. Sometimes it almost seemed like you were eavesdropping on personal family matters of a fictitious family or juicy gossip on unknown fictional people. It contained mature adult content that some may find offensive, including some innuendo, very brief LGBTQ innuendo that was repentant, violence, foul language (mostly mild), and a non-graphic rape scene (for a rape scene, anyway). I would give the book an overall rating of four stars.
  
• 
  Linda Hughes

  This is my book, so I'm totally biased! A great summer read.
• 
  Stephanie

  Twins Harriet and Harry Sullivan both served during WWII. Harriet as a Red Cross nurse, Harry as a soldier. Fate brought the siblings to the same place at the right time. Harry had been missing in action and Harriet received information about where he was. Harriet rescues Harry in a dangerous mission that took a mental toll on both siblings. When the twins return home to their parents and eight siblings, nothing feels the same. The twins are shell-shocked. They decide to instead head to their grandfather Herbert's summer home on Mackinac Island. While staying in the old estate on the quiet island, Herbert shows them an old letter addressed to their great-grandfather from a woman, Fiona. With the letter in hand, the twins go on an 'ancestry quest' that uncovers secret after secret for three generations.
  
  Secrets of the Island began very slowly for me and took a while to get into as multiple characters were introduced and set up in order to understand three generations of family members. I was pulled into the story as Harriet goes on her mission to rescue Harry and they returned home. The signs of shell shock were all very true to life and this is when I could finally hone in on characters and get to know the twins. Once they traveled to Mackinac Island, I was not only enchanted by the people, the lifestyle and the beauty of the island, but taken in by the many mysteries that one family managed to keep under wraps. The many mysteries could have easily become tedious to manage, however they were carefully written and layered so everything seemed possible. In addition to the mysteries, the transformation and healing process that the search allowed for Harry and Harriet was heartwarming. Overall, a wonderful historical mystery that will make you wonder what could be hiding in your family tree.
  
  This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
• 
  Paula Engle

  Excellent story, touching so many feelings. While I read the 2nd of the trilogy first, I'm heading back to read the first immediately, Secrets of the Asylum which takes place in Traverse City. Love the family in this series!
• 
  Elysium

  pending review
• 
  Donna Maguire

  
  https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
  
  I was really intrigued by the blurb for this one and couldn't wait to get started. It was a delightful read that flowed very well.
  
  The characters were well developed and I loved their interaction. How the story unravelled was great and it was a lovely story to read and the author really does bring the story to life.
  
  Whilst this is the second book in a trilogy, I haven't read the previous book and it read fine as a stand alone to me.
  
  The only warning I would have is that there is a scene in the book that may upset some people/act as a trigger but it is in keeping with the story at that time.
  
  Four stars from me! An enjoyable read!!
• 
  Charles Ray

  All families have secrets; some are benign or funny, others not so much. Meg O’Reilly has been keeping a secret from her older children, the twins, Harry and Harriet, which she’d been planning to share with them on their twenty-first birthdays. But, Harry and Harriet, on April 21, 1943, are serving their country in North Africa as the Allies try to push the Nazis off that continent in preparation for the move on Italy. In the meantime, her father, Herbert, discovers another family secret that rocks his world, and at the same time, Harry and Harriet get caught up on an encounter with a Nazi soldier and a British spy that gives the two of them a current secret that shakes up their lives.
  In Secrets of Island by Linda Hughes, the reader is taken on a strange and torturous journey through the lives of several families, mainly the O’Reilly’s, as secrets are brought to light, causing each member of the family to reassess his or her place in the grand scheme of things.
  The author provides an in-depth history of the Great Lake area of Michigan, and interesting insights into life during the turn of the century. At times, the author does a bit too much telling, but, thankfully, it does not disrupt too much—and, every tidbit is fascinating. I did take issue with the author’s use of the word ‘dray’ to describe a horse rather than the open sided carriage used for transport—as a writer of westerns, such things pop out at me. But, this one small mistake can be forgiven since the story was, on the whole, absorbing.
  I received a complimentary copy of this book, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
  I give it four stars.
  
• 
  Donna

  Every family has secrets or untold stories but the question is - should they remain secrets or do members of the family have a right to know?
  
  This is book 2 in a trilogy but I'm comfortable in saying that it can stand on it's own as there is a lot to process in the pages. I'll be going back to read book 1, no doubt.
  
  Upon return from the front lines of WWII, twins Harry & Harriet are both damaged and in need of some time to heal. It's their choice to spend the summer with their grandfather on Mackinac Island in the family's summer home which was built by their great-grandfather whom they refer to as "the lumberjack" and during that time, they soon hear some of the family secrets. One secret leads to another and then yet another until the family is soon discovering there is more unknown than truly known about their family.
  
  Everything about this book kept me fully engaged and turning the pages. LH completely brought the characters to life in this book - people, the house, the island - as they all play an intricate part to the story. The house wouldn't exist without the island and the family wouldn't exist without both.
  
  Thanks to the author and Passages to the Past & Amy Bruno for the opportunity to read this book.
  
  **Warning .. there is a rape scene in this book.
• 
  Karen

  I'm a lifelong Michigander and I LOVE finding authors who are from Michigan or whose novels take place here. Whenever I travel to small town bookstores, I always purchase something from a local author-- The Island Bookstore on Mackinac Island has a large section for local authors and I've discovered many series and authors shopping there-- icluding this one!
  
  This one takes place on Mackinac Island and was a family secrets story that touched a lot of feelings. It's apparently the second in a series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I love the family in this story, so I'll be reading #1 and #3 soon.
• 
  Janie R.

  I have really been enjoying this series by Linda Hughes with a theme of family, love, survival, and many secrets. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
  
  "My purpose in writing this story is to show that families are usually complicated but, in the end, no matter what, they gave us our start in life. From that we can create our own families, biological and chosen, to experience those “moments of joy” Abby talks about in Secrets of the Island." by author-Linda Hughes
• 
  Michelle Castle

  Growing up in MI with special trips to Mackinac Island and Traverse City, the setting was a treat. The story was equally interesting.