Thanks again Net Galley. This is a great summer read. It is romance, mystery and supense rolled into one and just when you think you have it figured out it changes. I loved the way the characters evolved and how the book ended. It was perfect. Not sure thought how the title "Tourist Season" fits.

‘Tourist Season’’, by Brenda Novak is a perfect beach read. Romance, mystery and of course a coastal setting makes this a great book to add to this summers beach bag.

Loved loved this novel especially the opening scene. This author sure knows how to write an interesting novel and give her characters interesting names.
The cover will fool you. It did me.
Novak kept me turning the pages of this delightful novel and wow! There were some scenes that I did not see coming.
Yes, secrets do have a way of coming out no matter how hard you try to keep them hidden.
I will be reading and catching up.more on this authors novels in the future.
I just simply couldn't put this adventure down. I had to see what Ismay did next!
There wasn't one thing that I didn't like.
I loved it all!
5 stars for a well written novel. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was expecting a romance, which I got, but there was also suspense. The ending was predictable but the journey there was still interesting. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a good one. You go into this kind of expecting a light beach read and then you realize you’ve been thrown into a tension filled mystery.
I love Brenda Novak’s novels and this one threw me for a loop. A good loop!

This book is a real page turner. You think it is going to be a lovely beach read only to find out some dark and twisted things that are happening on the peaceful island of Mariners. It has lots of emotions running through the entire story and it deals with guilt, redemption and innocence. A good read from start to finish.

Not what I was expecting at all!
Guilty of judging a book by its cover, I thought this was going to be a beachy, romantic, fun, summertime read. The notion that it was going to have a darker undertone was revealed quickly. I wouldn’t say it kept me guessing, it was pretty obvious where it was leading, but I still enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending this book for review consideration.

How I love a book that grabs your attention from the very beginning. Ismay is spending her first night (alone) at a beach that belongs to her intended's family. Suddenly a voracious storm hits the area, terrifying her. When the lights go out, she hunts for a flashlight and discovers a bag of incriminating things like women's panties in various sizes.

Now you see why I was interested at the start. Well, another reason I wanted to keep reading is that Ismay's family lives in a small town in Utah, not far from my own home, so it was fun to be reminded of the way we live here and the things we believe in.

Very grateful to NetGalley for the chance to enjoy it early!

An interesting take on a romance mystery book. I wasn’t expecting the mystery part.
Ismay is expecting to go to Mariners island for a relaxing vacation after finishing law school. But things quickly begin going sideways due to the secrets of the island and the people around her. As the story unfurls it’s clear her fiancés family has been keeping secrets but they aren’t the only ones.
I found myself picking this book up throughout the day to see what happens next. and enjoyed how it all came together in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I went into this book thinking it was a romance - there were some romance elements, but the best way I can describe the feeling of this book is “tension.” There were so many things that just didn’t seem like good choices, or you knew they were not going to turn out well…it wasn’t particularly suspenseful, just uncomfortable. And the ‘mystery’ wrapped up pretty quickly.

Despite being “engaged,” Ismay and Remy don’t seem to be particularly close, or know much about each other’s families. Remy isn’t particularly close to, or fond of, his twin brother. All of the relationships seem ‘off’ with the exception of Ismay’s family.

I normally enjoy Brenda Novak’s books, but this one is not one of my favorites.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

From page one of this novel, Brenda Novak delivers a story filled with suspense, drama, hidden family secrets and coverups. Ismay Chalmers is pretty much left to her own devices at her soon-to-be-family’s island beach cottage, alone in the middle of a monstrous storm, while her self-absorbed fiancé who is across the country doesn’t seem to really care, and a caretaker for the property who does seem to care, and who is drawn to protect her even though he has his own secret past. Ismay must decide who to trust with her life and her heart. Terrific story! Kept me guessing until the end!

Ismay is enjoying a vacation on Mariners Island, at the home of her fiancé‘s summer cottage Remy
Who plans to meet her after he takes his medical boards
So why is she uncomfortable in the house? Why is his twin brother making him more uncomfortable and what’s with the duffel bag and pictures found in the room?
She seeks friendship in the caretake Bo, who is not who she thinks he is
Written is only this writer can do
A little mystery, a little romance, and a whole lot of good reading

By the cover and title you would expect this to be a nice little beach read. Not at all. Yes they’re at a cottage on the beach, but that’s as far as it goes. There is a lot of mystery and some suspense. We are slowly given clues over the course of the book. It was an engaging tale of betrayal, lies, hidden identity and a little romance. It kept my interest and curiosity flowing. A very good read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

It was a lot of fun to be back at Mariner’s Island again after the Seaside Library. The book follows Ismay as she vacations in the summer and comes to terms with many different secrets. You should check it out!

Ismay goes to Mariners Island to wait for her fiancée to finish up his Dr exams and join her for a relaxing time before he starts his residency. Bo the caretaker looks after Ismay time and time again- especially when Remys twin brother Bastian shows up unannounced and makes everything very uncomfortable. Ismay starts to understand that something is just not right with the brothers and she happens to find a duffel bag with picture,costume jewelry and ladies underwear in it. She confides to Bo what she found and together they search to find the mystery!
The side stories about Bo and Ismay’s brother Jack continue to make this a favorite story.

Interesting spin on romance/mystery novel. Ismay is in love with Remy the lawyer and soon to be doctor all seems well. Ismay went ahead to Mariner's Island to the family compound for rest and relaxation ahead of Remy who has to study for his medical exam. First a bit storm hits the Island turning everything on its side, then Remy's twin brother Bastian arrives unexpected. As a reader you become engrossed in the novel as well as the characters wondering just how far some people will go. The twists, the turns and finally the truth. It unravels at a good pace and great characters that they reader becomes invested in and definitely could see some follow up novels tied to this story line. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

TOURIST SEASON
by Brenda Novak
Release date April 2, 2024

A definite WOW!! Intrigue, and mystery. Don’t let the cover fool you !
This is definitely not your quick and easy summer beach read.
Ismay has just finished law school, and her fiancé Remi is finishing up medical school. They plan to spend the summer on Mariners island resting and reconnecting with each other. They have been so busy with school that they feel they’ve drifted apart a bit.
Ismay heads to Mariners Island ahead of Remy.
On her first night there a storm hits the island, and she is left with no power. No, lights no heat. While looking for a way to light some candles she stumbles across some very suspicious paraphernalia hidden behind the wall in Remy’s bedroom. Then the caretaker Bo shows up at the door, and that scares her too. Even though she’s scared she feels she has an immediate connection to the caretaker.
Then Remy twin brother shows up unexpectedly. Ismay has never met him before. Then Jack, Ismay’s brother calls, very upset, because he is going through a divorce. Ismay encourages him to come to the island. Definitely not the quiet summer Remy and Ismay had planed.
This is definitely a book of mystery, intrigue, and who done it. I am definitely a Brenda Novak fan and I can say this is probably one of my top five books that she has written. And I have read all of her books!

I highly recommend this book !!

Wow! Tourist Season was not what I was expecting at all, just based on the title and cover photo.

This book was perfect for me because it had a mix of romance and suspense, both genres that I love. Before I read it, I thought it would be a summer beach-read romance. Not so much. I thought it had the perfect mix of romance and suspense. It kept me interested, some of the characters irritated me, and some had me cheering for them. I loved it!

My first five star read of the year! I couldn't wait to dive into this one.

The story of Ismay is one of relationships, as one ends another begins. Not only does she find her happily ever after, but she also reconnects with her brother and learns more about herself and her family. She learns that what she used to want isn't really what is important to her anymore and watching that journey is very satisfying.

Equally intriguing is the mystery that surrounds her fiancé and his family as she spends time at his families beach house. That had me guessing until the end! Also, the setting was a winner for me. I felt like I was at the beach with everyone.

All around it was a good story, and a happily ever after, all I ever want from a book!

Even after a three-year relationship there are times when doubts start popping up. And in TOURIST SEASON Brenda Novak starts right off exposing some of the doubts that Ismay Chalmers has regarding her engagement to longtime boyfriend Remy. Some things just don’t add up and there’s a sort of niggling feeling that has Ismay wondering about certain events in their time together. Now at Remy parents vacation home during a storm Ismay has time to weigh her options. She has uncovered some items that suggest some secrets about Remy.

Brenda Novak deftly introduces tidbits that add a sinister feel to TOURIST SEASON. Just enough creepiness to keep you turning pages rather quickly. Candidly from the start you are not quite sure what would be considered a happy conclusion for this book.

There is an undercurrent of angst, danger, and anticipation of something unexpected throughout much of TOURIST SEASON, just as Brenda Novak wanted. It hooks you right from the start and you can’t help flipping pages looking to see what comes next. Characters are not necessarily as they appear. Events are somewhat elusively described as if we are supposed to look more closely to get the whole picture. Geniously constructed plot.

Windsor cottage in the Mariners. Holds a lot of secrets. Quite innocently Ismay begins to uncover some, rather piece by piece. Things don’t seem to be as they seem. People all have been less than forthcoming, all leaving Ismay questioning her ability to read people. As an attorney this really bothers her. Ismay is staying at her fiancé Remy’s place on the Mariners. Having completed her schooling and passed the bar she is waiting for Remy to finish his medical school exams. The plan is that he will join her, but these plans keep getting more elusive. Unfortunately for Remy this separation gives Ismay time to examine her feelings. And Remy is falling short.

Windsor Cottage caretaker Bo becomes a life saver for Ismay. She also finds him rather appealing, which questions her feelings for Remy. Add to the equation Bastian, Remy’s brother is now also staying at the cottage. Bastian is a piece of work in too many ways to mention.

So Brenda Novak deftly crafts a crime, mystery, romance novel with some dubious characters enhanced by impressive events and secrets for fun. Seems like everyone has a secret or two they would like safely hidden. In TOURIST SEASON Brenda Novak carefully leads us through a maze of events that happened over many years and hopefully gets resolved in the end. Watch out for forks in the road. Another great read by the inimitable Brenda Novak.