3.5 Brenda Novak pens a suspense filled thriller when a young lady discovers her fiance isn't who she thinks he is and learns that this knowledge may kill her. The tie that binds are strong when a wealthy family's secrets begin to unravel and a young woman is caught in the cross hairs of a killer.

My only issues were I found the heroine's actions a little suspect at times and the story lagged at times. I never fully invested.

Just finished Tourist Season. Brenda Novak you are a master of suspense. Loved the twists and turns and of course romance. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Loved it

Brenda Novak never disappoints! Tourist Season takes place on Mariners Island where Ismay thinks will be a great, relaxing time spent while she waits for her fiance to finish up exams and meet up with her. What actually happens is a whirlwind of mystery, family secrets, forbidden love, betrayal and a whole mess of drama! This is a fast paced perfect beach read!

This was a very good story. Ismay was staying at her fiancé’s family beach house when a near hurricane hits. The caretaker,Bo, helps her and they become friends much to her fiancés surprise. He was not happy. In the o set of the storm, she is looking for candles or flashlights when she discovers some very troubling things in her fiancés room. His twin shows up and seems to be just wanting to cause trouble. Her brother is going through a divorce and eventually comes to town just to get away.

This story had many moving parts and kept my very entertained

I got this book from netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

4 1/2 STARS!

Great beach read for the summer! Novak is bringing her signature voice to life with an intriguing storyline surrounding a vacation home and it's mysterious secrets as a newly minted lawyer sets out to have a summer of reconnection with her soon to be doctor fiance. Danger quickly rears it's ugly head and leaves Ismay uncertain of what's true and what isn't in this story of discovery. She befriends the cottage caretaker who begins to mean a lot to her as secrets unravel. I was hooked on the mystery from the first page and the characters brought a lot to the storyline. I felt like her family was a bit of a distraction, but Jack ended up playing a key part once he came to visit.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women's fiction with key elements of romance and suspense woven throughout.

When Ismay sets out for a beach vacation at Remy’s, her fiancee’s, family vacation home, she doesn’t expect to find disturbing things in his bedroom closet before he gets there. Ismay turns to the caretaker Bo when Remy’s creepy identical twin shows up. Suspecting his family s not what they seem, she and Bo become closer. When she finds Bo has secrets in his past as well, Ismay must decide if she can trust him. I received an ARC from NetGalley and MIRA for my honest review.

Brenda always creates a story that has all the elements of a great read. The characters are relatable and heartwarming and the plots and energy of intrigue are throughout the story. Ismay is excited to start her vacation ahead of her fiancê at his home on an island off of Cape Cod. What she didn't anticipate was a hurricane as soon as she arrived, alone and in a huge home she was not familiar with. The groundskeeper was her only help and he had many secrets.
This is a book anyone would enjoy and it keeps you guessing to the end! Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Enterprises for this eARC I highly recommend this read!

Family drama and romantic suspense. Ismay realizes she might now know her fiance Remy as well as she thought when she spends time alone at his family's summer cottage. Nor does she realize that there's more to Bo, the caretaker- at least at first, A storm and errant brothers (both Remy's and Ismay's) loom large, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. There aren't a lot of surprises here but it's a good read that will be especially nice on the beach.

Brenda Novak has a way in her storytelling that just grabs you from start to finish. With Tourist Season, I was expecting to read a summer romance with a few family dramas and secrets but was pleasantly surprised that it was all that and also with a mystery/suspense drama woven into the story that kept me guessing til the end.
Definitely one of my most enjoyable reads so far this year.

This book releases April 2, 2024.

Thank you Harlequin/MIRA via NetGalley for this ARC.

Are you in the mood for a story full of mystery and suspense? That is definitely what you will get reading Tourist Season!
The story does keep you engaged with all the twists and turns that pop up.
Mystery
Suspense
Romance
Perfect for beach reading!
(I do have to say the title really doesn’t have anything to do with the story)


Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the ACR. This is the perfect beach/pool read w a slightly dark turn. Ismay arrives early to her fiancé summer home while he finished up his board exam. But once there a storm hit and she loses power. While looking through things to find candles she fins a lot more and questions if she ever really knew her fiancé.

Great!

I enjoyed this book a lot. Rather than the romance that I was expecting from this author, it was more suspenseful than romantic. Sure, there was a bit of romance, but the focus of the story was rooted in a mysterious item found hidden away.

Ismay was supposed to be at her fiance's family vacation home on Mariners Island for a restful, relaxing time after passing the bar exam. She's there alone, which is kind of strange, but she's ok, until a bad storm hits. The caretaker, Bo, arrives, helps Ismay by starting the generator, and winds up staying with her for a couple of nights because his cottage was damaged during the storm. But they are friends, nothing more.

The mystery begins when Ismay finds a hidden item and its contents are a bit disturbing. But, not knowing the origin of the item, she tries to keep it out of her mind. But when she confides in Bo, who is hiding a few secrets of his own, and he starts investigating, she knows she is right to be concerned. Even more concerning is when her fiance's twin brother shows up, and its obvious that he has problems of his own. Let's make it a family affair, Ismay's brother also shows up after a sudden breakup.

There were a lot of twists and turns in this story, and it was well-crafted. I think the author captured the have/have-not attitudes very well. I would have liked Ismay to be a bit more savvy, given that she is a full-fledged lawyer, but she kept reverting to her small-town, farm-raised self. All in all, it was a good book and moved along quickly.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I'm surprised at all of these positive reviews, as I feel this book has a considerable amount of editing work that still needs to be done. At its present state, the following things detracted from the story:

1) There is a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. For example, the beautiful island setting is barely described in the book.
2) Much of the book is dialogue, and it is not always clear which character is speaking.
3) The characters are pretty cliche (i.e., good vs. bad) and need more complexity.
4) Most of the characters are unlikable, so it's difficult for the reader to develop a connection and become invested in their outcome.

I will say not to be fooled by the cover - this is not a basic beach romance. It is more like a domestic thriller/suspense with a romance arc. I personally think the suspense aspect was the primary redeeming quality of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this book to review in exchange for my feedback.

3.5 Stars-
~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I started diving into the story. I was not expecting some of the darker and slightly psychological twists that she threw in this book.

The plot is great and totally works with the scenarios that she adds. There is tension, a slow buildup, and enough of a creep factor to get that uncomfortable feeling now and again.

The characters that Novak develops are diverse and definitely draw you in. The twins have a dark side to them and you’re really not sure what to expect, keeping you on edge as she builds the story.

Tourist Season is a well-developed book that keeps you a bit off balance. With drips of foreshadowing and a building romance, Novak continues to draw you into the story.

One part that was not a hit for me is the ending. After the buildup she delivered, the ending could have been so much more. A big missed opportunity, in my opinion. I really wanted more.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story was truly amazing! Part romance, and part suspense I could not put the book down. It was real and raw, full of so much emotion, and a perfect happily ever after. The characters and setting were so rich I felt like I knew these people, and I was on Mariners Island with them.

This story will absolutely be a must read for everyone laying on the beach this summer! Even though I just finished, it’s one of those books I already wish I could reread for the first time. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Ismay and her fiancé Remy have hit a rough patch in their engagement. They decide to spend their summer together on Mariners Island, at Remy’s family estate. Remy has to finish up his medical exams before he can leave for their trip, so Ismay heads out ahead of time.

Upon arriving on Mariners a terrible storm slams the island, and she is forced to hunker down with the cottage care taker Bo. The two strike up a quick friendship, while also trying to solve the mystery of an alarming duffle bag full of women’s underpants she found in the family’s house during the storm.

The story follows Ismay and Bo as their friendship begins to strengthen and it makes her question everything about Remy and her relationship with him. But as Ismay’s companionship gets more serious with Bo, she is shocked when she finds out things from his past. We also meet Remys twin brother Bastian who shows up at the cottage and creates nothing but trouble for Ismay. And we also meet Ismay’s brother Jack who is going through a heart breaking divorce.

This novel is sprinkled with such great storytelling you will be unable to put it down until you see how it all ends! I highly anticipate this book being a must read for the summer!

Tourist Season
Brenda Novak
April 2, 2024

Ismay Chalmers had finally finished her long journey to become an attorney. She passed the bar on the first try and felt such relief that she was done studying. Her fiance,Remy, is finishing his final round of exams so he can begin Med school in early July. They planned a vacation on Mariner’s Island where they would stay in his parents summer cottage. She left first to enjoy the freedom of the beach to lay in the sun, swim or read anything but legal journals and statute law. As she arrived on the island she was concerned about the forecast for storms arriving in the area. Before she unpacked she felt the need to find a lantern, candles, matches, and emergency items.
Tourist Season will be published on April 02, 2024 by Mira of Harlequin Enterprises, ULC. I was able to read Novak’s latest novel via NetGalley. As I have read all of her previous novels I considered it a privilege to be selected to read the ARC. Prior to reading Tourist Season I did not read reviews. The cover was pleasant and I presumed it to be a romantic vacation read. It was of sorts and that is all I will say - no spoilers allowed. I will only advise that Brenda Novak’s latest novel is not one to miss. It is a page turner! Do Enjoy!!

The title and book cover serve to entice readers thinking they're getting a lighthearted beach read when in fact it's more of an episode of Dateline.

Ismay recently graduated from law school, so to enjoy a much deserved break, her fiance, Remy, sends her to his family's cottage on Mariner's Island. During her first few days, a storm hits the island and while searching for candles, she unearths some questionable things in her fiance's closet. The cottage's caretaker, Bo, comes over to check on her and they quickly develop a friendship.

Unbeknownst to Ismay and Bo, Remy's twin, Bastian, shows up. Bastian definitely appears to be a questionable character.

Remy never makes it to Mariner's as he's study for his med school finals, which makes things odd.

Ismay can't let go of what she found in Remy's closet and as she gets closer to Bo, shares it with him. Bo himself has some things he'd like to keep in the past. As the story unfolds, we question both Bastian and Remy's actions and past. Who is good? Who is bad? My gut was right from the beginning, but you'll have to read the book to make your own determination.

Tourist Season is a quick read and keeps you wanting to know what really happened in the twins' past.

I think a different title would have been more fitting as the title. Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC. I#NetGalley #TouristSeason

What starts like a light beach read - turns dark and mysterious— Does Ismay really know the man she plans to marry ?

This was my first book by this author , though I was expecting a light beach read — I was sucked into a well balanced Romance - mystery/ thriller . The characters were all fantastically written — and the icing was very good — with perfect amounts of tension placed throughout the story. My only complaint was I felt the ending tied itself up a little to quickly and neatly for my tastes . Overall, I enjoyed the characters which held my interest and the intrigue of the mystery. Looking forward to trying more of this authors books.

Thanks Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA for this ARC . This is my honest review .

Ismay is excited to travel to Mariners Island to relax after passing the bar exam. She will have a few weeks there before her fiancé arrives. Those few weeks end up changing everything! A storm, hidden objects, scary family members, and a new friendship are just a few things encountered by Ismay. This was an interesting read and not your typical beach read.

More than stormy weather is surfacing in this new book by Brenda Novak. And don’t let the idyllic beach scene cover fool you either. This book is full of mystery, tangled relationships, deep secrets, fear and tension. Not your normal book by this author. She has written an excellent book full of intrigue that kept me fully engaged till the last page.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA for an early copy. This review is my personal review. #Netgalley, #Harlequin, #BrendaNovak, #Publishing4/2.