Tourist Season is a suspense/romance novel written by Brenda Novak.

Summary: Ismay Chalmers is ready to relax. After finishing law school, she is taking a much-needed break before she opens her new law practice.

As soon as her fiancé Remy finishes up medical school, he will join her at his parents’ beach house, and they will spend a few blissful weeks together before facing the real world outside of school.

But when Ismay discovers something disturbing hidden in the house, she’s forced to re-consider everything she knows about her future husband.

How well does she know him after all?

My Thoughts: OK, I have very mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand, this book is very well-written, with lots of plot twists, and suspense as thick as a knife. I spent the entire book just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Crazy.

But on the other hand, the subject matter was a little too intense for me, and there were two sex scenes (fortunately brief) that didn’t need to be there.

The suspense was great enough that I just had to know what happened, so I kept reading, but I was definitely a little squeamish in parts just because a couple of the characters were so creepy.

Overall, if you enjoy a well-written suspense and don’t mind darker material, this book has great characters, a unique storyline, and some crazy backstories.

I will leave it up to you to decide if you can handle it!

I would like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

I loved how this book is a mysterious romance with a little thriller. Keeps you guessing from the beginning!

Thank you, NetGalley, for a review copy.

Tourist Season was a great read by Brenda Novak. Ismay Chalmers is going to spend a relaxing summer reconnecting with her fiance at his families beachfront cottage. Before Remy can join her, a hurricane hits Mariners Island. Ismay is alone in the large house and makes a disturbing discovery in Remy's childhood closet. She isn't sure what to think but is relieved when Bo, the property's caretaker, checks in on her. Bo's home is damaged from the hurricane and they ended taking temporary shelter together. Unfortunately a family member arrives unannounced and Bo has to go back to his place. Ismay feels unsettled and ends up turning to Bo. She feels comfortable and safe around Bo. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

I loved this book, but I love all of Brenda Novak’s books! This one has a little bit of everything and is not the typical book about a romance formed on an island in the summer. There is a mystery to solve and some twists to throw you off. I was quickly drawn to the characters and was sucked into their lives, thoroughly enjoying page after page. Definitely pick this one up to add to your TBR list!

#touristseason #netgalley #bookreview

Another fantastic beach read! If you like books set in Nantucket you will like this one that’s set in Mariners. The book starts out with a believable bad storm where Ismay is alone without electricity and any flashlight. She searches for a lighter to light the candles that she finds and happens upon a hole up above a shelf in a bedroom closet of the summer cottage she’s staying in. She finds a duffle bag with some mysterious items. She meets Bo the caretaker after he comes to the house to check on her. Brenda Novak keeps you guessing with lots of twists and turns. This is a different beach read by Brenda with lots of suspense, mystery and romance put together. She accomplishes it with ease! There are a lot of likable characters. Not an easy book to put down! You’ll want to rush to the end to find out what happens but you really don’t want the story to end! Brenda is one of my go to authors! I can never wait for her next book! A must read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers in letting me read this book and allowing me to leave an honest review.

I loved this book! The cover doesn't give the impression that it has mystery or suspense. You do get the beach but its so much more then your typical beach read. I loved the characters, the storyline. So many twists some I saw coming and some not at all! Get this today so so you can fall into the story!

I am a big fan of Brenda Novak. I would mostly characterize her books as Women's fiction/romance. I loved this book because of the added mystery. The setting was wonderful and the characters I felt you were suppose to like, were in fact very interesting with very interesting storylines. The characters that were the villians, were really bad and exactly as bad as you expected, making for this book to be a page turner. I am a big fan of the added mystery in this book!

This one was fine, although a bit dull. It dragged on and places but it made for a great palate cleanser type of book. Nothing noteworthy, just a fun summer read.

Tourist Season by Brenda Novak is a women’s fiction title that takes a contemporary romance story and weaves in a mystery for the characters to solve. The story in Tourist Season is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters giving both sides to the story.

Ismay Chalmers has headed to Mariners Island for a long relaxing break after all of her years of studying to become a lawyer. Ismay is going to be staying in her fiance’s family’s beachfront cottage for a few weeks by herself until her fiance finishes medical school exams. What Ismay didn’t count on was a strong storm heading through just after her arrival.

With the power out and the storm swirling around her in the cottage Ismay goes in search of anything that may help. In her fiance’s room she finds a hidden panel and while hoping for some kind of light instead she finds a mysterious duffel. As Ismay puzzles the discovery help arrives in he form of Bo, the family’s cottage and property caretaker. After Bo helps Ismay he in turn ends up in need of a hand dealing with the storm damage to his own cottage so Ismay offers dry shelter for the night with her.

Several years back Brenda Novak quickly became a go to author for me when I just need to know I’m going to enjoy a novel. None of her books have rated below four stars for me and Tourist Season wasn’t an exception to that at all. I think the fact one thing that isn’t high on my list is starting a romance with someone already in a couple is the theme to this story and I still absolutely loved the book is probably all that I need to say. I will however add that the setting was great, the main characters enjoyable while the side characters are questionable to say the least with the mystery so all that combination had me flying through this latest Brenda Novak release!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Tourist Season is the story of Ismay Chalmers and identical twin, Remy Windsor. They are a successful young couple finishing post-graduate school in California and newly engaged to be married. Remy and Ismay are looking forward to a relaxing summer away, on Mariners Island, She will unwind after passing the State Bar, and he will decompress after taking his Medical Boards. The only problem: Remy sends Ismay alone, ahead of him, to the island retreat Once she gets to Mariners Island, she meets the good-looking, kind, and attentive caretaker of Remy's family vacation home. She is immediately attracted to Bo. Soon after Ismay arrives a massive storm hits the island, and they are thrust together, overnight, to ride it out. Ismay struggles with her feelings, as Remy seems distant and unconcerned for her lately. She beings to question her relationship and her attraction to the mysterious Bo when Bastian, Remy's identical twin shows up at the vacation home to stir things up even more!

Although Tourist Season seems as if it is going to be a nice little romance, it turns into more of a mystery than anything. All the male characters have some intense secrets they are keeping from Ismay. She doesn't quite have the summer she's planned for. When Ismay discovers the 'bag of goodies' hidden in her fiancé's bedroom wall, this is when she begins to confide in Bo and their relationship takes a new direction. Oh, the tangled web we weave!

Will Ismay and Remy stay together once she discovers his deeply hidden secrets (and not so deeply hidden ones too)? How did an innocent young girl die in this beachside town, many years back, and does it have any connection to any of Mariners Island's current residents? These are the question readers will be asking themselves, throughout the whole story.

Brenda Novak did an excellent job of building an interesting story that kept me glued to my Kindle. There were enough characters to keep this book entertaining, while not too many to confuse. I loved being surprised that this turned into a Mystery, and it kept me guessing about how she would tidy up the plot in the end. Looking forward to reading more from Brenda, especially since I've seen her on Book Tour and found her absolutely adorable in person!

Thanks Net Galley, Brenda Novak and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC, in exchange for my honest opinion, It was a very entertaining read! Make sure you get your copy now, Publish date April 2, 2024!

I enjoyed reading the new book Tourist Season by Brenda Novak. She is one of my favorite authors. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

Good romance with a bit of suspense mixed in to make things interesting. Ismay and Remy have been a couple for three years and living together for two of them. They met at college, where Ismay was studying to be a lawyer while Remy attended medical school. At the beginning of this book, Ismay graduated and passed her exam, and Remy is studying for his finals. They plan to take the summer off to spend time with each other and rejuvenate their relationship, which has suffered under the stress of their studies. Ismay has arrived at Remy's family beachfront cottage on Mariner's Island, where she will hang out until Remy can join her.

Shortly after her arrival, the island is hit by a massive storm, something the farm girl from Utah has never experienced before. While searching for a flashlight or candles, she stumbles across some disturbing items in Remy's old bedroom. She's relieved when the home's caretaker, Bo, arrives to fix the generator and check on her. There is something about Bo that makes her feel safe, so when the storm damages his house, she has no problem inviting him to stay at the cottage with her. Matters become more complicated when Remy's twin brother, Bastian, shows up unexpectedly.

First impressions: I liked Ismay. She has worked hard to get where she is and is rightfully proud of her accomplishments. She grew up on a family farm in Utah and had a solid value system. She is kind and courteous, and I liked how she treated Bo as an equal rather than as a servant. She looks forward to spending time with Remy because she feels they have drifted apart. But after finding those things in his closet, she wonders how well she really knows him.

I liked Bo, too. He has had a difficult life and, as a result, keeps mostly to himself. He doesn't trust easily and is wary of Ismay when he meets her. It doesn't take him long to realize that she differs from Remy. I liked his protectiveness toward her and his neighbor, Honey. Bo also has a big secret he has been keeping from everyone, which could change how people look at him.

Remy and Bastian. I didn't like either one of them. Remy is focused on himself and his goals and expects Ismay to go along with them. I didn't like how he took her for granted. But in her conversations with him, I thought something else was going on. Bastian creeped me out from the moment he appeared. He is rude, crude, and far too interested in making obnoxious comments to Ismay. There is also something odd in the relationship between the two brothers.

Jack. Ismay's brother is going through a devastating divorce that has left him reeling. Ismay invites him to come to Mariner's Island to escape the gossip and decide what he wants to do. He has been expected to follow in his father's footsteps as a farmer but realizes that may not be what he wants from life. Jack is a nice guy and stays with Bo while on the island. I liked how he pitched in to help with the storm cleanup and how easily he made friends with Bo.

I liked how Ismay confided her worries to Bo. They worked together to find out the truth about the things they found. The more they learned, the more worried they became. There were several worrisome twists, and I couldn't decide who the most likely culprit was. The more time she and Bo spent together, the closer they became. This also contributes to Ismay's concern over her relationship with Remy and leads to an examination of her choices. I felt her confusion and liked seeing her take a hard look at her options. Bo's secret comes out because of Bastian's underhanded actions, straining the developing relationship between Bo and Ismay. I ached for both as they came to terms with the revelation and what it meant to them.

The epilogue was an excellent wrap-up to the story.

I just reviewed Tourist Season by Brenda Novak. #TouristSeason #NetGalley. This was the first Brenda Novak book I read. I like the concept of the story but I found that in places things happened quickly and in other places they dragged on and on. I thought I knew how it was going to end but was surprised that it ended differently than I expected. I will read other Brenda Novak books.

A captivating story that kept me turning the pages. An intriguing plot/mystery that kept me guessing.Secrets that were buried have now resurfaced. Loved the friendship between Bo and Ismay. Did not like Remy from the very beginning. Looks like a sweet beach read but far from it, loved it!! Highly recommend.

I was pleasantly shocked to discover this beach read romance looking and sounding novel was more of a psychological thriller with many family secrets, well developed main characters, complicated familial relationships, and even more complicated romances!

Brenda Novak twisted and turned the story with every single chapter. Each time I thought my pulse could return to normal beats, nope, the thrills and deceptions kept adding up making my pulse go faster!

First of all the book, is set on the island Mariners, off the coast of Massachusetts. Second, the female, Ismay Chalmers is all alone as a hurricane barrels down and the power goes out. Her phone is almost dead, but she can squeeze in a quick phone call to her fiancé back in California just in time. He tells her not to worry and the family caretaker, living in the separate small home on the back of the family’s huge beach house, will check on her and the power after her fiancé, Remy gives him a quick call. Ismay has left California a few weeks earlier than her fiancé because her exam is done; she passed the California State Bar and is now an attorney! Remy is still studying and taking the medical boards to become an emergency medicine doctor. The caretaker, Bo helps get the generator going, but luckily isn’t in his home since trees crash through the roof directly over his easy chair! They must wait out the storm together in close, closed off proximity which is very strange, never having met before.

The set up strikes the tone for the entire novel. It’s an innocent relaxing trip for Matilda, who just passed the California bar, and is supposed to relax and wait. But she discovers disturbing things in the home which set off a series of long hidden events.

I was happily surprised how well this book delivered much, much more than a romantic mystery in an idyllic setting!

I thank NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author, Brenda Novak for this Advanced Reader’s Copy. I only received it last week and the book was just published this Tuesday, April 2. I give it 4 stars and recommend my friends to run out and read it!

#bookreviewmaureenvandusky

“Tourist Season” by Brenda Novak. I found it more suspenseful than the last book I read of this authors but I still really enjoyed it and read in one day. A summer by the ocean promises new beginnings—until old secrets resurface.
The story follows Ismay, she’s vacationing on Mariners Island at her fiancés family home but things start to spiral as she suspects her fiancé of unspeakable things.

It had everything you could want in a story, suspense, friendship, forgiveness, love and family however that might look.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested. I liked how the author wrapped everything up neatly and didn’t leave us hanging.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harlequin and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of Brenda Novak and every novel is better than the last!!!!!!!! This book is the perfect beach read & I know all of her fans will enjoy it as much as I did.

Surprisingly this was not a typical beach read. This contained an interesting mystery and some family drama. It was a pleasant surprise.

Ismay Chalmers has her summer all planned out and she is looking forward to relaxing time staying at her fiancé Remy’s family beachfront home on Mariners Island.
Little did she realize how much is going to happen – everything from a bad storm to finding things in the home that makes her start to rethink everything she has thought was good in her life may not be so true.
Between family issues, Remy may not be who she thinks he is, to making a friend who happens to be the caretaker who has his own secrets.
I enjoyed how well Brenda Novak took all the pieces and made a very intriguing story that held my attention – sometimes late into the night.
This is a book that has the various storylines all woven together to make this a book many will enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley, Brenda Novak and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of Tourist Season. This is my personal review.

Brenda Novak books always make me think of summer and her newest book - Tourist Season which came out on April 2nd is a little different with more of a mystery feel than your usual summer beach read.

Ismay is ready to connect with her fiance at his family's beach cottage on Mariners Island when a huge hurricane delays his arrival So she weathers the storm alone and when she finds something disturbing in her fiance's closet. When Bo, the caretaker's cottage is damaged, Ismay invites him to stay and she feels safer. This isn't the quiet summer she had planned when her fiance's brother and her brother also come to the island and what secrets might come out.

While this was different than I expected -- I thought this would be a sweet summer romance, I did like the mystery/suspense aspect.

if you like a summer romance with a more mysterious side you'll enjoy Tourist Season.

Thanks to Miira Books and HTP for my advanced copy.