About the Book:
Format
400 pages, PaperbackExpected publication
April 11, 2023 by MIRAISBN
9780778333517 (ISBN10: 0778333515)Language
English
Synopsis:
There are secrets that bring friends together, and others that drive them apart…
Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many… memories . Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community.
When a young girl went missing, a teenage Cam was unthinkably the prime suspect. Ariana and Ivy knew he couldn’t have hurt anyone, and they promised to protect him—even if it meant lying on his behalf.
Now, twenty years later, Ariana returns to Mariners just as new evidence emerges on the case, calling into question everything the three friends thought they knew—and everyone they thought they could trust. What really happened that night? Over the course of one eventful summer, Ariana, Ivy and Cam will learn the truth—about their pasts, their futures and the ties that still bind them as closely as the pages of a book…
My Review:
This is the story of friendship, secrets, lies, loyalty and murder on a small island. Mariners Island seems like the ideal place to vacation but Ivy, Ariana and Cam grew up there. Ariana left for a while to work in the big city but has returned when the body of a young tween who was killed when the trio were teens was discovered after almost twenty years have passed. Ariana, Cam and Ivy have a connection to young Emily and they are hiding a secret that they are desperate to keep hidden. The characters in the book are vividly portrayed with complicated personalities as well as relationships. They have believable flaws and are dynamic and well-rounded. The plot moves along at a quick and satisfying pace, capturing me from the beginning with the underlying mystery and drawing me further into the story with the brilliantly written character studies. The plot is just complex enough to have kept me engaged from beginning to end and also to keep me guessing about who young Emily’s killer was and the motive behind her death. There were absolutely no unlikable characters, no small feat when there are so many involved in the storyline, all contributing to the central focus on one way or another. The intrigue was captivating and the setting was picturesque, described so well that I could easily place myself into the book. Filled with suspense, a touch of romance and with a satisfying conclusion, this book is proof that the author is a masterful storyteller who has crafted a compelling story that is readable, engrossing and intricately woven.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
About the Author:
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she’s raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking–she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
Releases on 4-11-23. Purchase Links:
https://fb.watch/jPMNN1KALZ/ (See a video of Brenda’s amazing RV, “The Bookstream”, in which she is traveling 8000 miles in two months to meet her fans!)
Meet Brenda Novak in person as she tours the country in her RV! Go here for more information and to register to attend:
https://brendanovak.com/events/the-seaside-library-book-tour-2023/
From the publisher:
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 
I love your book reviews! So many books for me to check into, and honest and open reviews I can trust.
Thanks. 😊
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