Cover Image: A Secret at Tansy Falls

A Secret at Tansy Falls

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A Secret at Tansy Falls is heartwarming and relatable women’s fiction that revolves around Connie Austen and her marriage life that is on brink of breaking. The story is about long married life, family, friendship, love, relationship issues, betrayal, and drama.

Writing is as good as first book. It is beautiful, heartfelt, and feel good. The story is written in third person narrative from Connie’s perspective. Now, first book made me fall in love with Tansy Falls as we were seeing it and community from Nell’s perspective who was new to town and falling in love with it. While in this we don’t see the same beautiful description as we see Tansy Falls from the perspective of someone who lived there all her life.

Plot is interesting. It started with Connie’s 49th birthday that her husband forgets, Connie feeling low and disappointed about it. Connie and Nate don’t have that easy partnership ever since Nate lost his job two years back which somehow drifted them apart and now they don’t talk enough, don’t feel the love for each other, and it’s awkward being in the same room. With each passing day, Connie is feeling distance between her and Nate and it doesn’t help with press trip she is organising at Covered Bridge Inn where she works as hotel manager, Nate hiding something, her father dating girl a decade younger than her, Nate not doing anything special on their anniversary and then there is their new lodger who stirs something within her.

It was interesting to see where things were going with her marriage, are her worries and doubts right, what she will do about it, what she is feeling is premenopausal or genuine, how the press trip weekend will go, and if she will give their marriage a second chance or move in life.

At first, it is hard not to compare this with first book Inn at Tansy Falls which was one of my most favorite book in 2021. I didn’t fall in love with this from the very first page like I did with first book and no mention of characters from first book until 30% didn’t make it easy. But as story progressed, it was hard not to like this. I think a set of different expectations after the perfect beautiful first book might have affected my feeling for first half of the book but then I so much enjoyed the second half.

Connie remains at the center. She is lovely, cool and calm in every situation, always ready to help others and her experience from childhood with laidback parents and in hotel management made her a responsible person who can handle any situation. She is called capable Connie because of her nature and all things she did for herself and others. It was interesting to see problems piling in her life that soon makes her think she is far from capable to solve them.

Her worries and situation are heartfelt and relatable. It isn’t easy to run house alone with so much work at job, husband who isn’t finding new job, and might be losing interest in her. I can also understand why she felt appreciated by praises from other men. I don’t think she is naive for feeling special by attention and it awakening physical attraction. It is totally natural at her age with so much going on in her life and especially when she is feeling unloved.

I liked reading her thoughts, her conversations, monologues and epiphany. It was interesting how she realized what she wants in life and she needs to talk what she feels and deal with problems; how bottling feelings, keeping them unresolved or sweeping them under carpet and keep living life as it is don’t work well if she ever wants to be happy again.

We know Nate from Connie’s perspective so it is easy to be judgemental but at the same time, his lack of perspective and little conversations he has with Connie makes the story more interesting and I was curious to know what he really thinks and feels.

I enjoyed reading about Connie’s childhood, her eccentric father, her work life at Covered Bridge Inn and meeting new and old characters. It was great to see Piper and Spencer. They were such a lovely couple and I was so happy with their baby on the way. Frank, Connie’s neighbor with his menagerie of rescued animals was also fun. It was hilarious to read characters that arrived at press trip weekend. And Skye was lovely.

Best part of the story is second half when everything happens at once, press trip, crossroad of Connie’s marriage where she finally has to choose which way she wants to go, new feelings that came with her lodger, and all the revelations. I devoured each page and word in this part. The story picks up pace in double speed and it was refreshing to come out of that gloomy feel that clung to story with Connie’s problems and have some drama and entertainment that made me smile and laugh. I just wonder why this didn’t happen from the beginning.

I also loved the setting. It was great to read once more about places mentioned in first book. New places are also explored with all the activities they do during the press trip. I can see and feel the descriptions of Tansy Falls is different because of different perspectives and yet this story preserves the same charm and feel.

Climax is interesting with Nate’s decision with the job and new path opening for Connie with the lodger. I had an idea something is off but somehow I couldn’t predict that final twist as I kept thinking like Connie. I enjoyed reading what Connie did about it. It was great to read how press trip finally went and what Gridleys thought about it. End is lovely and just perfect. I feel so happy for Connie.

Why 4 stars-

This somehow didn’t make me fall in love with it as first book did. And I wished first half was just as engaging as the second half.

Overall, A Secret at Tansy Falls is charming, heartfelt, heartwarming and relatable women’s fiction with revisit to the most beautiful setting I recently read.

I definitely recommend this if you like,
have read first book and would love seeing the same setting from different perspective
beautiful setting
theme of relationship issues
Layer of manipulation and exploitation
soap opera-like drama
second chance
Small town and community
relatable characters

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Returning to beautiful Tansy Falls in the hills of Vermont, Connie is managing the Covered Bridge Inn and she couldn’t be happier. She is so happy to be returning to the farmhouse that she shares with her husband Nate. Nate becomes very distant from Connie and she doesn’t know why until a stranger arrives at the farmhouse with a shocking secret about Nate. Heartbroken Connie leans on her best friend Piper, and friends at the Inn, to help her get through the hardest time of her life. Once Connie feels like she is finally able to put her life back together another horrible secret surfaces. I enjoyed returning to Tansy Falls, and Covered Bridge Inn. This story was such a captivating read, I was waiting with anticipation, from one page to the next to find out what was going to happen. I couldn’t wait to see how the story was going to unfold. I again loved the detailed description of the hills of Vermont, as it makes me wish I could visit Tansy Falls. I thought this story is enjoyable addition to the Tansy Falls series. I loved this story and it it a must read.

Thank you Cate Woods for such a wonderful addition to the Tansy Falls series. I really enjoyed this story and felt connected to the characters. I enjoyed this story from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend it.

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Change is afoot in Tansy Falls as a new resort is being developed on the hillside. Connie feels concerned that it will pose serious competition for the Inn, and that they need to up their game. Her home life is also under strain, as her husband Nate seems to be becoming increasingly withdrawn and remote after twenty years of marriage, and she wonders what is going wrong and why he doesn't seems to care so much any more. Both Connie and Nate and the wider community have challenges to face and secrets to discover in the course of this book, and I was really rooting for their survival and success. Connie has challenges, temptation and potential change to come to terms with, but will she make the right choices?

Cate Woods has further developed the world she created in the first book, and maintained its charm and sense of community. The characters reappear like old friends and I found myself absolutely caring about what happened to them. It was cleverly and plausibly plotted so that there were surprises as secrets were revealed and not everything was at it seemed, but in the end good prevails. This is an entertaining and satisfying read, a feel-good novel to get engrossed in, and a worthy sequel in this series.

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In this the second book in the Tansy Falls series we find ourselves back in this warm and welcoming town. This book unlike the first book in the series, The Inn at Tansy Falls which focuses on many of the friendly towns folks there we are mainly focusing on one couple in particular here Connie and Nate. The backdrop of their lives is scenic Vermont in Tansy Falls, the mountainous views are majestic but even that can't keep Connie's spirits up. The couple has been married for twenty years and they used to laugh and do everything together. After Nate is let go at his job they barely have anything to say to each other and their time together is spent in strained silence.
When her husband forgets her birthday and she sees signs of things going down hill in her marriage she wonders, has a dark cloud settled over her life or is there something she's not seeing?

This was a pleasant read, though not extraordinary I certain recommend the experience that is A Secret at Tansy Falls

thank you to netgalley for providing an e-copy for my personal use so that I may share my honest opinion.

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We are back in Tansy Falls, where the manager of the Covered Bridge Inn, Connie, has a lot of challenges going on. The biggest of those is that her once-solid marriage seems to be on shaky ground as her husband struggles with unemployment. On top of that, her father is dating someone old enough to be his granddaughter and her son seems to be in serious trouble at college. How does she handle all of this, on top of turning 49 and trying to manage a major event at the Inn? Follow Connie and the other residents of Tansy Falls on another enjoyable and enlightening adventure, and find out.

I really enjoy this town and these characters, and Cate Woods keeps things interesting by introducing new people and new situations. The Inn is delightful, and we get to see old friends we met in book one, The Inn at Tansy Falls. I liked that the main focus of this story is on an almost-50-year old woman and some of the challenges we face in our 50s. Tansy Falls is a place I would definitely want to visit, and the town residents are a cast of characters the reader will enjoy getting to know. This book is hard to put down, and checking into the Covered Bridge Inn again is a fun way to spend a day. Fans of small-town fiction and family stories will love this heartwarming novel.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

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➤ I picked this up because of the lovely title, the pretty cover, and the fact that book one of the series was highly rated. Big mistake.
➤ There's not much of a story. It begins with an almost-fifty-year-old woman named Connie, who lives in an idyllic small town named “Tansy Falls” (Duh!!!) and works in the local hotel as the manager. She is facing some troubles in her personal and professional life. Many paragraphs and chapters later, the troubles reach a crescendo before they fizzle out one by one.
➤ The book began well and the first few chapters were quite nice, but it went overboard soon after. If the book focused only on Connie and her personal/professional struggles, it would have been over within a 100 pages or so. The rest of the chapters are dedicated to the local shops in the fictional town such as the local general store, the cheese shop, the art gallery, the chocolatier and so on. It gets boring after a while. None of these serve to take the story ahead but just build a base for the continuity of the series.
➤ I got the feeling that the author is trying to develop Tansy Falls into something like the Cedar Cove series or the Blossom Street series by Debbie Macomber. That is, create a beautiful picture of a small town and have one book dedicated to one shop/resident of that town. Debbie Macomber does it much better though. In this book, the parts don't come together into a cohesive whole.
➤ The characters are quite unidimensional and there's hardly any depth. They are either good or toxic or wolves in sheep’s clothing.
➤ Though I haven't read the first installment of this series, the context is quite clear and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.


All in all, though I haven’t read the first book, I can safely say that this doesn’t seem to be a worthy successor to it. (Based on the high GR rating the first novel has.) If you want a one-time cutesy read that focusses more on a town than on an individual, you might give this a try. Didn’t work for me though. What with the odes to the residents and their businesses, and the unrealistic and over-the-top spiralling of Connie’s problems, I lost interest and just skimmed my way to the end. The only reason I didn’t DNF it is because it was “skimmable”. I’d rather read a Debbie Macomber.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Secret at Tansy Falls”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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The old farmhouse at Tansy Falls. A little patch of paradise in the hills of Vermont. Home to happy couple Connie and Nate. And a long-buried secret that will ignite a devastating spark…
We all know that secrets don't hide forever and when they come out, there is heartbreak and there is pain. This is my second Cate Woods read and A Secret at Tansy Falls is the second book in the series but can be easily read as a standalone
I loved the first book and I immediately said yes to the second. It was such a warm feeling to get back to Vermont and Tansy Falls Inn
The story line is so realistic and the characters so lovable. It drew me in from the first page and kept me in that pitoresque setting up to the end
I do have to warn you that this book is an emotional rollercoaster and you will definitely need some tissues in hand. It is a proper page turner that has it all. As you read, you go from warmth to worry and love to frustration but keep reading because it's so beautiful and romantic
I am looking forward to read the next book in the series

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What a delight it is to return to the Vermont community of Tansy Falls,
Where the romance in wedded bliss appears beginning to pall...
Connie and Nate no longer seem to communicate
Are they growing apart? Is it stress - or just fate?

Since Nate lost his job, he's struggling and becoming distant, too.
Still working hard, Connie's unsure what to do.
Then Nate forgets her birthday for the very first time
And their son is worried he'll be charged with a crime!

A busy, stress filled time at her job at the Inn,
Connie's starting to think there's no chance that she'll win.
Will this be the end of their long running romance?
Should she be giving him a second chance?

With her Dad revealing other secrets that shock her, too,
And the new lodger proving attentive and attractive, what should she do?
So many pressures and discoveries to be made
As parts in this family drama remain to be played.

It is a story full of heartbreak and more
Occurring in a community that I adore.
Get ready for revelations on several folks' part
And a brilliant ending to heal your heart.

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

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This is the story of Connie's journey. Connie has been married to Nate for twenty years. Their son leaves for college, Nate lost his job, and life has changed. This is life, and we find out what happens when life changes.
There are friends and family, coworkers, guest, and many others on Connie's journey. Connie became lost, struggling with the changes, but she also learned who she is now, what she wants now, and stands up for herself. Everyone has a journey to live, and A Secret At Tansy Falls, reminds us that, but for some it will be things that will happen to them in the future, and for others it will be looking at their own journey, and what theirs was like. It is one thing to live a journey, where it isn't always out in the open, but when you are reading this story, it is everything that has happened, is happening, and how they are setting up their future.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.

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A secret at tansy falls by Cate Woods.
Book 2 of tansy falls.
As the summer sun sets over the sleepy Vermont town of Tansy Falls, Connie is reminded of how lucky she is. Every day, when she leaves the job she loves, managing the Covered Bridge Inn with her best friend Piper, she looks forward to returning to the farmhouse she shares with her husband Nate. At home, her flowerbeds overflow with day lilies and the weathered brick walls of her beautiful house glow in the evening light. The air is filled with the scent of the puffed apple pancakes she prepared that morning.
But one night, when Nate returns home, he is distant. He and Connie have been married for a long time, and while the laughter and lingering kisses have dwindled, Connie believed they would be together forever. So when a stranger arrives on their doorstep with a shocking secret about Nate, Connie’s life changes beyond all recognition.
Connie never thought she’d need to start over and live a life without Nate by her side. But as her heart breaks, Piper and the team at the inn are ready to help stitch it back together, with thoughtful advice washed down with warm spiced cider. As Connie begins to feel whole again, distraction arrives in the form of olive-skinned, broad-shouldered newcomer James. Nate has taught Connie that she doesn’t need a man, but James’s arrival helps her discover that she can follow her own dreams too. But as more secrets come to the surface, Connie wonders if she’ll ever truly be able to leave behind her past for good…
A lovely read with some good characters. Likeable story. 4*.

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This is the first time I've read a novel by Cate Woods and I hope it won't be the last. I loved A Secret at Tansy Falls - the descriptions of the location felt so real, I could be there seeing them myself and how I wished I was! Connie is a mum of one teenage son who's away at college; she's also the manager at the local hotel. Her husband, Nate, is out of work and she had started to feel invisible to him. Nate attached for a temporary lodger, James, to help with the finances. Will Connie be tempted by the gorgeous man who flirts with her and gives her the attention she craves? All will be revealed when you read the book!

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This is the second book in this series but it can totally stand alone. I loved the first book but this one was just ok. Maybe it was just because I loved the first one so much and the characters for it were barely mentioned in this one.

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I'll be honest and tell you I was initially drawn to this book by the beautiful cover! I wasn't disappointed. I didn't realize it is the 2nd book in a series and I hadn't read the first book, but that didn't seem to matter. Had I read the first book, I might have been more familiar with some places and background of some side characters, but I didn't feel like anything was missing and this book does fine as a stand-alone. It was a quick and easy read with relatable characters and a wonderful setting. As a woman in my mid-forties quickly approaching that empty nest, I appreciated the relatability of many of the scenarios presented in the story. I feel this life transition is not represented enough in the literature world!! The book was fun to read and full of some pretty great humor as well as the heart-warming story of a strong woman holding the pieces of her life together and trudging through the rough times as well as the good. I'd recommend for anyone looking for a light, quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Secret At Tansy Falls' by Cate Woods.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Cate Woods, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 20th January 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the second book in the 'Tansy Falls' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read the first book in the series called 'The Inn At Tansy Falls' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'If you love gripping, heartbreaking romantic stories by Elin Hildebrand and Robyn Carr, you will be hooked by A Secret at Tansy Falls.' I am a huge fan of Robyn Carr so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Cate and if this is half as good as 'The Inn At Tansy Falls' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 38 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Vermont, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in third and person perspective and the main protagonist is Connie Austen. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!! What an absolutely gorgeous book and a beautiful welcome back to the gorgeous Tansy Falls. Strangely enough my mind wandered back to Tansy Falls a few weeks ago before I even knew I was going to read this book, it is definitely a place that stays with you. I absolutely LOVED reading this and was devastated when my journey at Tansy falls came to an end. However, I have got book 3 to look forward to which I'm eagerly awaiting!!

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions and stunning surroundings I was absolutely captivated throughout. The cover and the synopsis work perfectly with the storyline.

The storyline is absolutely gorgeous yet both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The storyline is realistic and down to earth and the setting is picturesque. I was absolutely sucked in from the first to the last page of this heartwarming and soul lifting page turner. On several occasions I had to reach for the tissues so make sure you have a supply to hand before you start reading this and clear your time table as you are going on a beautiful journey. It was such a rollercoaster ride of emotions from blissful happiness to worry, filled with warmth and love to anger. There were lies, secrets, shocks, romance, deceipt, sadness, tears and laughter. I genuinely felt like I was on holidays in Tansy Falls and I was devastated when I realised I had to pack my bags and leave at the end. However, all is not lost and I cannot wait for the next book in what promises to be a page turning series. I was devastated when I came to the end and realised I'd have to pack my suitcase to leave the gorgeous Tansy Falls and return to rainy Wales after a stunning getaway.

Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I fell in love with not just Tansy Falls again but all the amazing people in there. It was such a friendly village where everyone knew everyone else and you would never feel alone. I loved how Connie's character and personality developed throughout the story and I bonded with her immediately. Her friendship and closeness to Spencer and Piper is beautiful and her story that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Connie went through so much in this book from husband troubles to son stress to work worries to heartbreak my heart really went out to her. I had tears streaming down my face at the end and I can't wait to meet her and Nate again. I had mixed feelings about Nate from wanting to scream at him to feeling sorry, Cate truly showed the struggles some men go through and as they don't all show their emotions it can cause so much worry. I loved meeting so many old faces such as Spencer, Piper, Boomer, Darlene (not so much Carole, Mitch and Brody) and seeing some fresh faces around, some of whom were a good laugh others who I'm glad to see the back end of. Whether I loved them or hated them they all came together to make a perfect story. I'm looking forward to meeting many of them again.

Cate congratulations on an absolutely stunning novel, this is why you are in my top author list. Your book is a page turning heartwarming and soul lifting success and Cecilia Ahern has definitely got some competition!!! I would love to see this turned into a movie and I hope your busy writing book 3 as I for one cannot wait!!!


Overall an absolutely gorgeous book that will whisk you off to Tansy Falls and lift your heart and spirit. A page turning, addictive compelling novel that will leave you wanting more


Some of my favourite quotes/sayings in this book include the following:

♥ Not a quote or saying but loved there was a "Jerry Whitlock" in the book ♥


Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Contemporary Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of ReaAnne Thayne, Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Cecilia Ahern and anyone needing a gorgeous break away.


257 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Loved the premise and the writing but wasn’t a fan of how the plot played out. Marriage is hard. This book treated it with a tiny bit of frivolity in my opinion. However, the plot finally came around and I liked the ending!

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DNF at 33%

I was somewhat confused about what was going on. I probably should have read the first book in the series since it's clear that I was supposed to know and appreciate some of the side characters and their overly complicated backstories.

I decided to put this down because I had a hard time caring about any of the characters, and there were meandering scenes that had no purpose.

I wanted to love this one but I just don't think it's for me.

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A Secret at Tansy Falls is part of a series but can be easily enjoyed as a stand-alone read. It was a real treat to return to Tansy Falls and meet a lovely group of new characters and catch up with a few from the previous book. The synopsis sets the scene perfectly and I’m ever mindful of including spoilers but must add that making your mind up about what will happen, early in the story, will leave you surprised.
Connie is a fantastic protagonist, and I found her story to be immediately compelling as she dealt with the challenges that faced her. Feeling drained from trying to drum up business for the Covered Bridge Inn, questioning her marriage all whilst attracted to another man, it’s no wonder. In addition, she’s dealing with a potential gold digger eyeing up her Dad and a son facing challenges at College; it’s the perfect storm for monumental mistakes.
I really get on well with Cate Woods’ writing, I find that her stories flow and, once again, I finished this book in a single sitting. The characters are well developed and easy to imagine. The aspect of the story that included the social media influencers was an excellent addition and lent some light relief to Connie’s personal predicaments.
The star of this book, for me, is the descriptions of Tansy Falls. I used to live in a mountain community and easily imagined the swimming holes, the colours of the trees and the views whilst hiking the trails.

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I really enjoyed the first Tansy Falls book; The Inn at Tansy Falls so I was looking forward to reading this one. Although they are set in the same town and the characters from the previous book do make a cameo appearance in this, you really don't need to have read the first book.
A secret at Tansy Falls is a different kind of read. It deals with older characters, Connie and Nate are in their late fifties and after twenty or so happy years of marriage, things seem to be falling apart for them.
The book deals with their relationship and how things can change over time, falling apart without you even really realizing why. I'm not usually one for getting emotional over a book, but I did find myself getting a little teary now and again as the story unfolded. I couldn't help but feel for Connie, who seems to be juggling so many balls all at once, feeling as though they are all going to smash to the ground at any second.
This was a lovely read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope that we are going to get a chance to return to Tansy Falls again before long.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

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This is the second book in the Tansy Falls series. I have not read the first book and having read this book, I feel it can be read as a stand alone with no problem,
A Secret at Tansy Falls is a story about love and forgiveness. The setting sounds so wonderful and beautiful. The characters are flawed in many ways though engaging.
The authors writing draws you in with heartwarming and humorous moments.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Cate Woods is a new-to-me author, and, as is my norm, A Secret at Tansy Falls is the second book in a series--I've not read the first one, but, for a change, I didn't feel lost at all, so this novel worked just fine as a standalone. My primary reason for requesting an advance reader copy of this novel was the setting, northern Vermont, not all that far from where I reside, having moved here in the mid 1980s, and while I liked the sense of place in this novel, as a former business owner here, the author's estimation of the wealthy crowds of shoppers in this tiny Vermont hamlet was a bit over-the-top and unrealistic. Additionally, although I read and review romance novels, I rarely read midlife-crisis women's fiction, and while I enjoyed the way the novel was written, there were things about it that just didn't work for me, and for that reason and several others, I can only give it a 3.5 star rating.

The main characters in this novel are Connie (Conifer) and Nate Austen, a married couple for almost 23 years, and after Nate lost his job almost a year earlier, he's yet to find another one, and he doesn't really seem to be looking hard for another one, at least in Connie's eyes. While I understand his angst because the same event happened in my own marriage more than a decade ago, when a man cannot support his family it shakes his self-esteem and his feelings of self-worth.

Luckily, Connie has a job managing a successful and charming small hotel, so although her wealthy and almost 70-year-old hippie father refused to give her a loan, she's managed to keep their home and pay the bills, and her most recent idea is paying off--taking in a boarder, James, who is a posh designer working at the new ultra-deluxe resort being built nearby, a move which certainly causes complications later on, as does the fact that her father has suddenly taken up with a woman 10 years her junior.

To add to her stress, Connie has scheduled a free journalists/travel bloggers weekend at the inn, and hired an event coordinator to deal with the details, and promote the inn as a great place for a wedding, but at the last minute she learns that her new hire has taken a job at the new resort, leaving her in the lurch. As if that wasn't enough stress, her husband forgets her birthday, her flirtatious boarder has not, and her son, who has been at college, arrives suddenly--after getting drunk at a frat party and possibly being accused of and charged with sexual assault. As if that wasn't enough angst, her husband, who's been gone for weeks, returns home and announces that he's finally found a job--in San Francisco.

So what's wrong with this picture? In three words--lack of communication. Most of Connie's angst and fears, depression and confusion are due to the fact that all of these issues are spinning endlessly around inside her head. Her motto is "everything is fine," even when none of it is--her marriage is crumbling in front of her and she doesn't say a thing to Nate. If my husband forgot my birthday, believe me, he'd be hearing about it. If we'd barely said two words to one another for the better part of a year, I wouldn't ignore it and simply hope for better.

Perhaps my perspective about the plot of this novel and the behavior of its main character is skewed by the fact that I've been married twice as long as Connie and Nate, and when problems arise they are dealt with, talked about and resolved. No problem is ever solved by pretending it doesn't exist, and I expected more of that insight from a woman who is 49 years old. There were moments in this novel, especially when Connie starts to believe that her husband is having an affair, when I wanted to reach into the novel and slap some sense into her, especially after she finds herself attracted to her boarder. I found that Connie was, in many ways, her own worst enemy.

If you enjoy angsty novels, and I generally do, you may find yourself liking this novel more than I did. It is well-written, but I'm guessing that the author has not been married nearly as long as I have (46 years), and doesn't share my perspective about openness and honest communication between marital partners. It's not a bad read, but I did find it a frustrating one. And one final question--what exactly was the secret mentioned in the title?

As stated, I read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

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