The Comfort of Secrets is book #2 in the Sweet Lake Novel. We find ourselves back at the Wayfair, Renovations are in full swing and the girls are busy helping Linnie to make the Inn a big success. This story is also focused on Cat we get a quick look at all her insecurities & she is in charge of event planning and promoting the Inn. The sirens are in Hyper drive wanting help with promotional ideas. Cat was expecting an old friend who now owns a very successful ad agency called Adworks to help her with the the harvest festival. Well when Ryan D'Angelo shows up to help instead of her friend Miri, well let's just say nothing is ever going to be the same at the Inn or in the town. The secrets from the past will come and collide with the future and if you catch the twist that comes at you in chapter 6 & 7, you realize this story is bigger than Cat and the love story that is blooming between Cat & Ryan. Christine Nolfi is a talented writer that weaves a special story of a fictional town in Ohio and you will fall in love with her quirky characters and feel like you reunited with long lost friends. I hope you put the Sweet Lake series on your TBR list and fall in love with it as much as I have.

What a great follow up novel in the Sweet Lake series. Cat is now the events director at the Wayfair Inn and the Sweet Lake Sirens have lots of plans for both the Inn and Cat. Christine Nolfi captivates you with this story of several characters dealing with painful events in their past. She writes with humor and compassion. Can't wait for the next story as there is one more BFF to meet her heart's desire. Sure to bring a smile as you relax on the beach or on the porch.

This is an ideal summer/beach read. I sat on a sunny afternoon in my garden and got lost in Sweet Lake. As previous books by this author I always find myself getting absorbed into the story and the characters.

After reading book one I was looking forward to reading Cat Mendozas story and the author certainly didn't disappoint me. I was so rooting for her and Ryan.

Another captivating and delightful story from a natural story teller. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Author Christine Nolfi returns to the idyllic Sweet Lake, Ohio and its wonderful and quirky small-town inhabitants in The Comfort of Secrets. This amazing follow-up to the first book in this series, aptly named Sweet Lake, sees another romance on the horizon between Sweet Lake resident Cat Mendoza and big-city ad executive Ryan D'Angelo. While they both work to help the Wayfair Inn with marketing, they must overcome their initial attraction to one another that quickly becomes much more. Adding spice to the mix are all of the secrets that abound around them, individual secrets, family secrets, and Sweet Lake Siren secrets. Will these past secrets come back to haunt everyone's present or can they be finally be laid to rest?

I've read and enjoyed a number of Ms. Nolfi's books and The Comfort of Secrets has been added to the list of enjoyable reads by this author. I found this to be a pleasing and quick read. Ms. Nolfi provides a bit of comic-relief, by way of the Sirens (trust me, these ladies and their antics are hilarious) along with much more serious tones. The Comfort of Secrets touches on some weighty matters such as family estrangement, domestic abuse, child abuse and depression. The author may not go into depths about these matters but she doesn't sugarcoat them either as these themes are crucial to the storyline. Obviously, there's a lot more going on in this story, but if I tell you everything then you won't need to read it. It is sufficient for me to tell you this if you enjoy well-written, women's fiction then you'll need to grab a copy of The Comfort of Secrets. For those of you that read Sweet Lake, you already know you'll need to get yourself a copy of The Comfort of Secrets and I presume you have it on pre-order. If you haven't read anything by Ms. Nolfi (and I don't know why because I already recommended Sweet Lake to you), get a copy of Sweet Lake to read and then grab a copy of The Comfort of Secrets to read. These might just be the perfect vacation or even staycation reads! I'm enjoying the Sweet Lake series, thoroughly enjoyed reading The Comfort of Secrets, and can't wait for the next installment in the Sweet Lake series just to see what the Sirens will get up to next.

The Comfort of Secrets

This is another fabulous entry in the Sweet Lake series. I very much enjoyed how this story was crafted & that each clue Christine Nolfi provided built the story until reaching an exciting climax to the story with a wonderful, heart warming ending. I liked that when things came up that needed to be explained, in case the reader hasn't read Sweet Lake, the explanations were succinct & didn't detract from the current story. I enjoyed reading more about the characters from Sweet Lake and especially getting more backstory on Cat. Ryan is fantastic and it was easy to get behind their love story & root for them to be successful. Ruth was a great character & the first impression you get near the beginning of the story does not end up being correct at all. She's more than meets the eye, so to speak. Frances was great as usual and I also really liked Silvia & Marco.
So, now that Linnie & Cat have been covered does that mean the next story will be about Jada? That would be great.

The Comfort of Secrets is the second installment in Christine Nolfi new fiction series set in the fictional town of Sweet Lake, Ohio. The first book was centered on Melinda Petronia Wayfair (Linnie) who was left to manage her family's Wayfair Inn. This story revolves around Cat Mendoza, newly designated marketing manager and one of the three series heroines. The Inn is beginning to get out of the red. The first stage of the new capital investment is about complete. And Cat has sought assistance from her college roommate, Miri Blum owner of renowned PR firm Adworks.

Miri is set to come spend a week with Cat to help her sort through plans for the coming twelve months. However, on the day Miri is set to arrive she is overtaken with severe morning sickness and sends her right hand man, Ryan D'Angelo instead. There is an instant connection between Cat and Ryan which they try to ignore, keeping their relationship professional. The main task for his work at the Inn is the preparation for the upcoming fall concert starring Ohio's own Midnight Boyz. Making this event a success would help to assure a rosy future for the Inn.
Thus far their rooms are sold out for that weekend and ticket sales for the event continue to climb. Now if only Cat can juggle all the balls she has in the air she can feel confident that she will not let Linnie down.

Buried beneath the events taking place are secrets that will rise to the forefront with the crescendo peaked on the night of the concert. How will these secrets affect the visitors to Sweet Lake and what will it mean for the town residents themselves?

Written in flowing prose, Ms. Nolfi once again brings the town and its residents to life. The characters are richly created and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and on the edge until the very end. I highly recommend this book!

Cat Mendoza needs a win. After a business failure and years of dating the wrong men, she’s ready to turn things around.

First she must convince the residents of Sweet Lake, Ohio, that she’s taking her responsibilities seriously. As the events director of the newly restored Wayfair Inn, she has the support of her best friends, Linnie and Jada. But everyone else—including her overprotective mother and the well-meaning Sweet Lake Sirens—can’t help but chime in with advice about her plans, her apparently too-tight clothes, and her undeniable attraction to Ryan D’Angelo, the charming ad exec hired to promote the inn.

Cat knows she should keep Ryan at a distance, but she’s drawn closer by the heartbreak he tries to hide. Will uncovering his secrets derail the new life Cat hopes to achieve…or will she gain something to cherish forever?

My Thoughts: In The Comfort of Secrets, the second novel of the series, we are immersed in Cat’s thoughts and feelings. Her insecurities, her needs, and the frustration she feels at her mother’s over-protectiveness dominate the story, especially in the beginning. Meeting Ryan opens up her heart, but will she be forced to turn away from him?

The Sweet Lake Sirens are as pushy and annoying as ever, but beneath it all, their hearts are in the right place.

Ryan’s abusive childhood and his mother Julia’s fear of leaving Cincinnati, the city they now call home, has dropped a shadowy shroud over his need to find love and create his own family. But what additional secrets is Julia hiding from her son? How does her past converge finally in Sweet Lake?

Hovering over the story is a dark and shadowy figure encroaching on one of the Sirens…what is the connection between this individual and present day Sweet Lake? What other unexpected ghosts of the past will come together during a celebratory concert? As the danger increases, intense moments follow until finally, the secrets are revealed and we come to a very hopeful conclusion. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thanks to Netgalley and Christine Nolfi for this Advanced Copy.

The second book in the Sweet Lake series focuses on Cat. Cat is living with her friends at the Wayfair Inn. Cat is now in charge of advertising and marketing for the re-opening of the Inn. Seeking help with advertising, she reaches out to an old friend. But that friend can't make the trip and sends Ryan D'Angelo in her place.

Sparks were initial with Ryan and Cat. But Ryan has had a difficult childhood that he's still living with today. Can the sparks turn into something permanent? Will Ryan's past come back to haunt him?

I really enjoyed this second book in the series. Once again the Sirens were in the story, and enjoyable as always. I can't wait until the third book!

I read Sweet Lake by Christine Nolfi, and was kind of lukewarm about it. However, this one really wowed me! I do recommend reading the first book in the series before reading this one, which I think will help give a little more background on the characters, the Wayfair Inn, and, of course, the Sirens!!!

This book is centered around Cat, and her attempts at trying to improve the marketing for the Wayfair Inn. She really wants to do right by the Inn, and her friend Linnie, and has a failed business in her past that is always in the back of her mind. Cat is a romantic at heart, and she has been dreaming of her wedding day since she was a child - when the handsome Ryan shows up to help her with her Marketing plan, this is worrisome to Cat, who really wants to succeed. Ryan has some mystery and issues from his past, which is one of the things that I think I found added greatly to the story for me. I just could not put this book down until the end.

The town in this story, Sweet Lake, Ohio, and the quirky characters in it has definitely found a way into my heart, and I can't wait to see what is next!

I loved, loved, loved this book! This is the 2nd book in Ms. Nolfi's Sweet Lake series and she has outdone herself with this one. A combination of romance with a touch of suspense and drama, it will keep you turning the pages till the end. The cast of characters continues from Sweet Lake with a few newcomers to the series. You have to love the kind hearted, wise, yet crazy Sirens! I love all of the characters in this book, especially Cat. She is strong, yet gentle and kind. She doesn't give herself enough credit, with almost anything , but she is coming along nicely. These characters are true to life and they literally come to life in your mind. I would love to see a movie of this book, I would be thrilled. The writing is divine, as always and the story flows fast, but not too fast. You will become engrossed in this series, I know that I am. I can't wait for book 3 to come out, but alas, I have to wait. I felt elated at times, sad at others and a touch of anger in places. A book should make us feel, don't you agree? Here are a few of my favorite quotes: " One of the most difficult lessons we learn is how to soar- above our doubts and perceived failings, beyond the abilities we believe limit us. " "Family is about the people we choose to hold close in our lives." There are so many that I will let you order a copy and just read this book for yourselves. You will love this series! Read Sweet Lake first and then definitely this one too! Loved it!!

"Family is about the people we choose to hold close in our lives."
Christine Nolfi has written a novel of love, hope and a lot of mystery. A fabulous book!
The ladies of Sweet Lake continue on with many surprises that come to light and Wayfair is truly making a comeback, thanks to Cat and her new love Ryan.
I read this book with my heart in my throat at times as I wondered what was going to happen next.
You will truly enjoy the visit back to Sweet Lake!

MY REVIEW OF "THE COMFORT OF SECRETS"  by Christine Nolfi

"THE COMFORT OF SECRETS by Christine Nolfi is the second book in the "Sweet Lake " series.  This is a delightful and charming story that describes the Wayfair Inn in Ohio and the quirky, complex and complicated characters. Many of the characters are the same as in the first book.

The genres for this story are Women's Literature, Literature, Romance, and a touch of Mystery. I love the different layers in this story.  The timeline is mostly in the present and mostly takes place in Ohio surrounding the Wayfair Inn, which is undergoing major renovations. 

Lizzie, Jada, and Cat are all involved in the new and improved Wayfair Inn. Cat has been promoted to the events director. There is enough money to bring in a major advertising company and a friend has offered reduced rates. The friend sends Ryan, a top advertising executive to help put the Wayfair Inn on the map. There will be a big concert and many events. Cat and Ryan  seem to have an attraction. Ryan lives with his troubled mother Julia, and takes care of her. There seem to be major secrets in Ryans's and Julia's lives. 

My favorite characters, "The Sweet Lake Sirens", an eccentric and quirky group of older women who put sisterhood first, and doing a special secret kindness are quite active in this story. At times some of them non-intentionally causing trouble, and at other times they are helpful and protective. I find that they are amusing and have big hearts.

Christine Nolfi describes family, friends, love, support and hope.  I would recommend this enchanting, feel good story highly. I received this ARC from Lake Union Publishing, and Christine Nolfi for my honest review and opinion. Happy Reading.

This is the second book in the Sweet Lake series. This is one that you'll want to pick up when you can read and not worry about doing anything else. It will pull you in tight that you wont want to put it down. I loved the mystery aspect with the twist and turns. It definitely made it more interesting to try to figure out how it would all end. I was really excited to read Cat's story and it didn't disappoint me at all. This was a great book that I highly recommend.

Found the book difficult to get into too much description at the beginning so you miss out who the msin character is I found that I was skipping oages just so that I could get on with the story line as it did not grip my attention from the dtart I found the book repetitive snd boring.

Reading A Comfort of Secrets was like re-meeting friends for a catch up. I was instantly involved with the Sirens and how their story intertwined with the Wayfairer Inn, the main setting of the story. Cat Mendoza needs to make her new role at the Inn work, following her own business disaster, how she does this had me smiling from start to finish.

A great addition to the Sweet Lake Series. A very well written book with a great plot and beautiful setting. I love this author's books and look forward to reading many more.

Welcome back to Sweet Lake, Ohio and the Wayfair Inn.
This is Cat Mendoza's journey. A story filled with love, tragedy, abuse, friendships as well as twists and turns.
Well written and engaging filled with emotion to make you laugh or cry, so keep a tissue near by.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you Christine Nolfi for a fantastic story.

Cat Mendoza is the new events director of the restored Wayfair Inn and she’s hoping this venture goes better than the rest of her life has. She’s got the help of her nosy, but well-meaning friends and her way too involved mother. Cat can’t seem to do anything right, even her clothes are too tight (apparently) and she’s hopelessly attracted to ad executive Ryan D’Angelo. Ryan’s hiding a hurt and the last thing he want is to get involved again, but there’s just something about Cat…

Honey, talks like this are what the cool kids are going to. Can you say "Claire Fraser"?

Old-lady catfight.

Geez, those kids need a slap upside the head.

Lots of people visit graves to talk to their loved ones, Silvia. Don't be petty.

Frances ain't no pussy.

Why is Ryan's mother so afraid of his father?

Well, at least he couldn't have made a worse first impression.

So unprofessional, you two.

Oh, his mom was a cougar.

Is there one sane old woman in this town?

Son of a-! And what does he mean, "another visit"? Why would George know about Sweet Lake?

Small world. I'm guessing Frances doesn't know about money changing hands. never mind where her sister is.

Is Silvia bipolar? Oy, the mood swings...

Really, George? She should have been okay with your abuse because you were younger than her?

Moths creep me out.

Well this is putting the cart before the horse. One date, and she's already worried about impressing her supposed future mother-in-law.

I'm with you on millenials and photographing every meal, Frances. But right now, you have more important things to worry about.

Whoa there, Cat. What gives you the right to judge Julia?

It is odd that Julia never contacted her family again, even after she left George for good. Then again, she might have been too ashamed.

Why does Cat have to go to the cemetery?

And that's how you get rid of a creeper. Sirens 1, George Zilch.

Ya-ya! Haha!

Starving yourself won't help matters, Gemma. What if you faint? That's just as bad as puking.

The guy is homeless and jobless, but he has a smartphone. This is what's wrong with America today.

Cat, don't you know you never wander around alone at night?

What just happened?

That was kind of you, Frances.

Cute proposal.

Enjoyed the second installment of the Sweet Lake series. This one focused on Cat, the event planner. she lives at the Inn and is working on getting the Inn noticed by the public. She has a friend who is going to help her, but at the last moment, the friend cannot come so she sends a replacement. Ryan is a successful in the ad business, but with secrets.

I liked this book because it fleshed out the Sirens, a group of older ladies who are trying to help the Inn and town get back on its feet.
This book was another satisfying read. Looking forward to the next one!