Cover Image: A Secret at Tansy Falls

A Secret at Tansy Falls

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Book #2 in the Tansy Falls series. The series revolves around the small touristy town of Tansy Falls with each book featuring residents of the town. They are stand alone + stories. You will find familiar characters but the main story features individual people/ couples. Connie and Nate have been married more than twenty years, but their lives are currently topsy turvy as the pressures of everyday life pile up. An excellent story of two people who must learn to appreciate their new roles and save the love they know.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review....I am sure I asked for this one because I loved the title and I loved the cover. This seems to be a book that people either love or hate...I loved it, personally, but I can also see why some people would say what they say...This is a book about a marriage that seems to have lost it's spark and some funny and not so funny things happen because of it. Nate has lost his job and I think he believes he also lost some of his manhood in the process and Connie feels like her life is spiraling out of control between her very busy job and her moody and distant husband...she is pretty sure he is having an affair and starts to contemplate whether SHE should have an affair with the new boarder they took in to make some extra cash...parts were funny, parts were sad and I could pretty relate to all of it lol

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A Secret at Tansy Falls by Cate Woods is the second novel in the Tansy Falls series and reads nicely enough as a standalone. Connie is the manager of an inn and shares her live with her husband. Nate lost his job and this causes communication issues between them. In steps a charming boarder and her and Nate's marriage are tested on each level. This was an emotional read and I hope there is a third one in the series.

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I really enjoyed this book! I look forward to reading the rest of the series. It was just a sweet book that I would definitely recommend!

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This is the 2nd story set in Tansy Falls. This book explores the long marriage of Nate and Connie. They have lived in Tansy Falls for a long time and Connie is worried that their marriage is lagging because Nate forgot her birthday. He's been sad and distant ever since he's been laid off from work.
As Connie looks at the home she loves, and the husband she has known forever sitting beneath the cottonwood tree, she knows that starting over will be the hardest thing she has ever done. But if she doesn’t, will she ever find the woman she is meant to be? A strong love story. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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When I compare it with the first book in the series, A Secret At Tansy Falls does fall short. This one is about Connie, a manager at the Covered Bridge Inn at Tansy Falls, the same inn that Nell Swift stayed at in the first book. Connie is going through a serious personal mid life crisis and things are quite hectic at her workplace too. With a marriage that she feels is breaking apart, a college going son who gets in serious trouble, a hippy father who has found himself a young woman and an impending press weekend which she has to manage on her own after a potential event manager candidate bails on her, 'Capable Connie' as she is known is stressed out to her core.

Even with the familiar backdrop of Tansy Falls and quite a few characters from the first book making a guest appearance, I felt this book was lacking in the charm that was there in the first book. One of the few stand out and fun moments was the press weekend involving the shenanigans of Brody Knott, the resident flirt, with a Facebook influencer Mimi and her boyfriend Glenn which results in a funny, soap opera ish fist fight.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Cate Woods for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

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I feel like I am missing something with this book. I do wish there was a way to quickly see "this is book 2 of the Tansy Falls series" when you quickly peruse the shelves. Perhaps it is in the literature about the book but a quick blurb would be helpful! However, this was a slow one for me and I felt disconnected from the characters as I apparently need to read book 1 first. The cover is gorgeous and the description drew me in - it just wasn't a "win" for me.

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I love the first book set in Tansy Falls so I was pleased that there was a second. This story wasn’t as good as the first but I still enjoyed it.

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A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS is the second book in the Tansy Falls series. There are characters from the first novel, but they don’t play a major role. So you can easily read A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS as a standalone novel. I have no idea why I waited so long to read A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS by the awesome author Cate Woods. This is the second book I have read by her and now know that she goes straight for the readers heart and A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS did exactly that. I finished this with tears streaming down my face and a huge lump in my throat, at the same time I was smiling like an idiot! I love when an author can do that to me. Well done Ms. Woods!

The cover screamed to me, read me! Not to mention its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis says that ‘If you love gripping, heartbreaking romantic stories by Elin Hildebrand and Robyn Carr, you will be hooked by A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS! Friends, hold on to your seats! This is going to be one heck of an emotional roller coaster ride! There are so many twists and turns that will floor you as you are read. Connie runs the inn and things in her marriage are troubled. Her husband is out of work and decides to rent out an extra room in their house. When the new tenant moves in, he pays extra attention to Connie. He husband has been moody and withdrawn and Connie can’t help but be tempted by this stranger.

I fell in love with all of the characters in A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS. They are all very relatable and you can’t help but feel as if you’ve known them forever. Once you start reading, you will not be able to put this sweet story down. I cried my eyes out while finishing A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS. Cate Woods shredded my heart, left me sobbing, and then put my heart back together again. I just love when an author does that to me. When I was finished reading, I sat there for a very long time wondering what I would have done in Connie’s situation and I hope I would have handled it the same selfless way she did.

Grab A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS, snag a snack and your favorite beverage and get on the couch. Be prepared to spend the day with mixed emotions while reading this beautiful story and keep the tissue box handy. The more I was reading, the more I found myself slipping into the story and living vicariously through Connie. I was so engrossed in her story and was constantly rooting for her happiness even if at times I was wondering if she was making the right decisions! I am now on a quest to read all of Cate Woods’ books, she goes straight for your heart.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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honestly i wanted to like this book, but it did not work for me. i wish it would have because i was so excited to read this one and to get to read it way early?! thank you so much netgalley!!!!!

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Although this is the second in a series, A Secret at Tansy Falls reads well as a stand alone novel. Described as "gripping", this book seems to be more about a lack of communication between Connie and her husband of twenty years. Connie's marriage seems to be falling apart, and a new lodger encouraging her to seek a new future with him, is not helping matters. A good read, although, I must confess to speed reading through the sister circle passage.

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Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A SECRET AT TANSY FALLS (Book 2 of Tansy Falls), by Cate Woods, in exchange for an honest review. Connie loves her job at the Covered Bridge Inn in Tansy Falls. However, things at home aren’t that great. Connie’s relationship with her husband Nate has become strained since Nate lost his job, and Connie doesn’t know what to do about it. Also, finances are tight with them relying solely on Connie’s paycheck, so Connie and Nate take in a boarder to help with the finances. The boarder blatantly pursues Connie while her husband ignores her. When emergencies at work add to the stress Connie is suffering in her personal life, Connie will have to face the possible simultaneous collapse of both her personal and professional worlds.

I liked both this book and the prior novel. I recommend this story to fans of women’s fiction.

#ASecretatTansyFalls #NetGalley

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A Secret at Tansy Falls is the second book in the Tansy Falls series. The books can be read a lone but why would you want to do that? The first book was The Inn at Tansy Falls and I fell in love with the town and quirky characters who live there. In this book the story continues with the Inn and the guests who stay there, but also adds to the story with a few little secrets. The story is filled with friendship, family, romance, good food, heartbreak and new beginnings. These books will make you happy right from the beautiful covers until the last page.

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I absolutely loved Nell’s story in the first Tansy Falls book. And although I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much, it was so lovely to revisit such a lovely small town.

The second book in the series focuses on Connie. Approaching 50, Connie’s life is at a crossroads. Her marriage to Nate has lost it’s spark, his redundancy means they have had to rent out their basement to makes ends meet, her son is at college and the Inn is facing tough competition as the new hotel complex is nearing completion. and then her father starts dating a much younger woman and Connie and her sister are concerned about their relationship too.

I really like Connie. She is friendly and resilient. Her friendships with some of the other characters are really nicely drawn. Her story definitely had a soap opera element to it as there were so many different strands going on in her life pulling her in different directions. I didn’t really warm to Nate at the beginning, but the distance with the character reflects

The pace of this novel was quite slow in places although it sped up towards the end. With so much going on in Connie’s life there was a lot at the beginning establishing the different characters and introducing some of the new Tansy Falls residents.

The descriptions of Tansy Falls definitely make you want to pack your bags and head to Vermont. The landscape sounds beautiful and I would absolutely love to stay at the Inn.

It was nice to see some of the familiar characters from book one pop up as their lives cross over with Connie’s

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This book was just ok for me. It started out good but 1/2 way through it feel apart for me. Just couldn’t connect to the characters.

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Fall under Cate Woods’ spell with her latest small-town romance, A Secret at Tansy Falls.

In the sleepy Vermont town of Tansy Falls, Connie counts her blessings every single day. She has a job she adores running the local inn with her best friend Piper, lives in a beautiful farmhouse and is married to her soulmate, Nate. Life for Connie is as close to perfect as it is possible to get and although her marriage might not be as exciting or as passionate as it once was, she is still madly in love with her husband and is looking forward to growing old with him. Connie thought she knew Nate inside out, but her domestic idyll is rocked by a shocking revelation about her husband that changes her life beyond recognition.

Connie never imagined that she would find herself having to start over without her husband by her side. Nate might be out of the picture, but her best friend Piper is determined to be a shoulder to cry on during this difficult time Connie is going through. Helped by her colleagues at the inn, Piper and the team make it their mission to make Connie smile again and as time begins to heal her broken heart, she starts looking to the future.

With her friends and her business, Connie realises that she doesn’t need a man to feel complete. But the arrival of a handsome stranger in town could be just the thing she needs to follow her dreams and stop letting her doubts and insecurities get the better of her. Can Connie forge forward and stop the past from getting in the way of her future? Or will she continue to be held hostage by old betrayals and heart-breaking disappointments?

Cate Woods’ A Secret at Tansy Woods is a feel-good romantic tale about second chances, starting over and falling in love that hits all the right spots. Heartfelt, witty and emotional, this engaging and emotional page-turner features a heroine readers simply cannot help but root for. Connie is a kind, caring, strong and spirited character readers will love as she finds herself forced to pick up the pieces of her life. The town of Tansy Woods is one I would love to live in as it is full of colourful characters that jump off the pages and straight into readers’ hearts.

Cate Woods’ A Secret at Tansy Woods is a captivating romantic read ideal for curling up with on a cold winter afternoon.

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This is the second story set in Tansy Falls and I loved my visit to this small tourist town in the hills of Vermont. Connie is the manager of the famous Covered Bridge Inn. She is an extremely competent woman, but it seems everything is going wrong in her life. Her once-solid marriage seems to be on shaky ground as her husband struggles with unemployment, her self-centered father is dating someone twenty years younger than Connie, and her son seems to be in serious trouble at college. As she tries to handle all of this, she turns 49 and is trying to manage a major event at the Inn that could cost her her job if it doesn't go well. Suddenly a handsome man starts paying her a lot of attention. What is Connie going to do? Can her marriage be saved? Is she going to lose her job?

Even though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Each story is about a different set of characters, but we do meet up with several people that populate the town as well as the main characters from the first book. I do enjoy the easy way everyone in Tansy Falls gets along and looks out for one another. I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than the first because I could identify with Connie more, being an older character who was going through many things I had already dealt with. She is such a strong character who spent her life making sure everyone else was okay, so when she breaks, it will be huge. I loved the well-developed characters, and even though Carol and Mitch Gridley were annoying, they made me laugh. The press people were also enjoyable, and there is a scene the night before they leave that had me laughing out loud. There are other characters who grabbed my heart and some that I wanted to smack, but they were all well developed. I loved the various descriptions of the hills around Tansy Falls with it's hidden waterholes, hiking trails, mountain vistas and meadows or clearings where healing circles were held. This was a wonderful story that was realistic and relatable. I very much enjoyed seeing Connie find her way and loved how Cate Woods brought all the many storylines together in a wonderful uplifting conclusion. I am looking forward to seeing what is next for the characters and Tansy Falls.

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This is my first read of a Cate Woods book and it certainly will not be my last. I am sorry that I didn't get the chance to read the first book in this collection but an happy that I have found it now.
Would a wonderful, fun a captivating book. I enjoyed the storyline the location but best of all, the outcome. I felt as if I was seeing in my mind the wonderful mountain and the charm of the hotel. A great easy and enjoyable read!

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A Secret at Tansy Falls by Cate Woods is the second novel in the Tansy Falls series. Each novel in the series is a standalone. It was great to return to Tansy Falls, Vermont with its charming shops and homes as well as the friendly residents. Connie is the manager of the Covered Bridge Inn and lives in a restored farmhouse with her husband, Nate. Nate has been out of work since he was deemed redundant at the travel magazine where he worked as an editor. It has really affected his self-esteem. Connie has noticed that their marriage has been on a downward spiral since Nate last his job. There is a lack of communication and intimacy. Connie has no idea how to fix her marriage. To help their financial struggle, the couple take in a charismatic boarder. Connie is flattered by the boarder’s attention especially since she has not been feeling attractive or wanted. In the meantime, Connie is working on a special press weekend for the inn. A new hotel is being built and Connie wants to make sure they loose as few customers as possible. The weekend turns out to be a challenge. Connie’s customer service skills and patience will be tested. Can Connie save her marriage and keep the inn profitable? A Secret at Tansy Falls takes us back to the charming town of Tansy Falls, Vermont. I would love to live in such a cozy town. Nell from The Inn at Tansy Falls is barely mentioned in this book. There are a couple of different intersecting narratives that tie to Connie. Her son is under investigation at his college, her father has a new girlfriend, a flirtatious artist, an enigmatic boarder, a pregnant boss, an upcoming press weekend, and the boss’s cantankerous grandparents. We get to follow Connie as she goes about her life and deals with the various problems. I did feel that the ending was rushed. There is also too much repetition of information. I got tired of certain details being repeated multiple times. Nate is a bland character. The pacing was slow due to lack of action. I loved the descriptions of Tansy Falls. Tansy Falls is such a friendly town and there is plenty to do all year round. I hope there will be another novel in the Tansy Falls series. A Secret at Tansy Falls is an emotional story with a distressed son, an uncomfortable marriage, a grumpy grandmother, pregnancy problems, an alluring lodger, problematic press, and a tempting town.

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We are back in the picturesque town of Tansy Falls with book 2 in the Tansy Falls series. Connie is the main character of this story. She is the manager of the Covered Bridge Inn owned by Piper and Spencer.

Connie is worried her husband has become distant since he lost his job and she feels her 20 year marriage is at an end, her father has a new girlfriend that is a decade younger than her and she is trying to organise a publicity weekend for the inn.
Cate Woods has piled dilemma after dilemma onto Connie as she struggles with her marriage, her job and her father's new relationship.

I really enjoyed book 1 with Nell's story and following her character growth. Nell's story was relatable however, Connie's story didn't affect me the same way. She wasn't likeable and her lack of communication with her husband was frustrating.

The imagery is vivid as Tansy Falls and its surrounds are described throughout the story. Characters  from book 1 have very brief appearances and I would have liked to have seen more of them.
Woods highlights the consequences of making assumptions and jumping to conclusions, along with the need for communication in marriage.

I have fallen in love with the beautiful town of Tansy Falls and even though the plot of book 2 didn't resonate with me I am looking forward to book 3 to see what's in store for this town and its residents.

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