Stained glass artist Callie Davis is in desperate need of a vacation. Burnt out and on the edge of a nervous breakdown, she’s fleeing the pressures of her career and is taking refuge on Massachusetts’ tiny Carter Island. Callie yearns for long, lazy days and pretty walks on the beach-blessed solitude and an escape from the complications of her life. Then she bumps into gorgeous Nate Carter and … everything changes.Sheriff Nathan Carter couldn’t be happier now that the height of the summer season has finally come and gone. After four endless months, tourists have packed their bags and headed for the mainland. The quiet days of autumn are about to befall the town-the way Nate and his fellow Sandersonians like it best.But nothing ends up quite the way Nate expects when he meets the beautiful blonde with the big blue eyes. Callie’s pretty smiles hide secrets-deep, dark mysteries that could cost them both their lives if they continue digging into the past and cross a killer’s path.
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Anyone who follows my reviews has probably figured out that I’m a romantic suspense junkie. And I’m a series junkie. Long before I was a book reviewer and blogger, I was an avid reader. I found Cate Beauman’s Bodyguards of LA County series quite some time ago, and I devoured each one as soon as they released. And suffice it to say that when she started a brand new series, The Carter Island Novels, I was beyond thrilled. I read Secrets Hidden in the Glass a while back never left a review (bad, bad book reviewer!), so I found myself reading it for a second time and realized I had never reviewed it. Which brings us to the book review…finally!
It’s hard to sum up my feelings on this book because I feel like it’s just going to be a repeat of things. I honestly haven’t found a book by this author that I didn’t love yet, and this one was no exception. That’s just one of the reasons Cate Beauman sits pretty close to the top of my automatic 1-click author list. (Hey…it’s hard to top Nora Roberts, people!) Cate Beauman writes wonderfully human characters, perfectly paced suspense, and nine times out of 10 a twist I never saw coming. Now she gives us this small town on a small island that seems like the perfect getaway, yet holds some pretty crazy secrets. As do many of the characters. If you love romantic suspense, you can’t go wrong here.
I give Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman 5 out of 5 stars!
Secrets Hidden in the Glass is a looooong book and I have a lot to say. Once I started, I only put it down to eat, use the facilities, and sleep. The characters quickly became my friends and I went on one hell of a ride, filled with danger and suspense. It has so many elements I love in a book, my page and a half of notes is going to have to be severely edited.
Callie desperately needed a vacation and felt the magical affects of the island her first day there. She was in desperate need of sleep and it found her as soon as she sat down. She awoke more refreshed than she had felt for months.
She had already met the sheriff and, like the island, she felt an immediate attraction when he poked his head out from under the sink he was fixing in the home she was renting. He felt the attraction too and, seeing he was her landlord and neighbor, felt he would have many opportunities to get to know her better.
Callie is an artist, working in stained glass, and fame has not been kind to her. She prefers spending her time working on her art to hobnobbing with those who want a piece of her. She built a very high wall to protect herself.
Nate slowly dries the mortar that holds the wall,allowing it to fall and the light, along with her emotions were coming out in a slow way, relaxing in the small moments of getting to know someone. She steps outside herself not knowing why, just that it felt right. Their romance is a slow build with many uncertainties and danger.
The island life was what she needed. The people are real, easy going and not overbearing, even though they know she is famous, though she has no idea they know and is surprised by it when she finds out. All this reminds me soooo much of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Callie is relaxed, happy, but knowing Cate Beauman this is foreplay for the danger lurking in the background. I keep waiting and waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. The slow, subtle buildup is spent getting to know everyone, including the dark memories that put a bullseye on Callie. It does get hot and heavy, but not in the ‘I like you, let’s do it” manner.
I am soooo curious how she came to be abandoned at four years old. She has all the issues that go along with it. That explains why she holds people at a distance.
…love and attachment meant fear and pain for Callie.
When Callie’s adopted mom told Nate that as a child she would get up in the night and sleep in front of the door so she would know if they tried to leave her, it broke my heart. It’s the little details that Cate Beauman adds to the story that allows me to SEE what is happening.
“It crossed my mind to knock him out a couple of times, but then I would have needed to arrest myself…” says Nate.
Be prepared for tears, laughter, passion, danger, and hours of nonstop reading, because Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman is the complete package. I am BLOWN AWAY.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman.
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Secrets Hidden in the Glass is the first installment from the Carter Island series by Cate Beauman. It is, also, my introduction to her books. It definitely will not be my last. I enjoyed getting to know Callie and loved her interactions with Nathan. The setting was perfect for their story.
I am giving Secrets Hidden in the Glass a very well deserved five plus stars. I recommend it for those who enjoy romantic suspense.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
5 stars
Callie is a stained glass artist and goes to Carter Island for a vacation. Her work is causing lots of stress and she needs time to regroup. She rents a cottage and her landlord is handsome Noah, also the sheriff. Noah tried to living in the city but came back to the island. Callie was abandoned at a diner when she was four years old. She remembers absolutely nothing before getting on a plane to go to her new adoptive family. Now since she’s been on the island, she’s been having weird dreams. Nate is helping with the search for her mother. Can they figure out the mystery and give Callie some closure?
This is the longest book I believe I’ve ever read. Mystery, suspense, and secrets make up this excellent story. Nate is handsome and romantic. Callie is talented and beautiful and they make a great couple.
Callie May is a world known artist who works with glass. She and her artwork have traveled all over. She has reviews at a high class art exhibit house. She is however ready for a break–her muse has left and she figures if she takes a trip to a small island off the Massachusetts cost all will come back together for her. She was abandoned by her mother at around the age of 4. It made the news and she was known as “little girl lost”. Nobody realized that Callie is one and the same and she intends to keep it that way! She was adopted almost immediately and grew up in a loving family. She could not stop wondering what she had done to make her biological Mom just leave her like that.
Sheriff Nathan Carter had grown up in the small town and knew virtually everyone in it! He was the first one Callie met–but she had no idea he was the Sheriff–he was busy fixing up some plumbing problems in the cottage she had rented. Turns out he was actually the owner. They were both immediately attracted to each other–but Callie was keeping her distance.
There are lots of twists and turns as Cassie and Nat finally decided to be more then friends and take everything one step at a time. Then Callie started having nightmares–she would wake up and draw what she saw. Eventually Callie also formed close bonds to all the character’s who lived in the town.
Eventually Callie’s background became known and Nat was bound and determined to find out what happened to Callie’s Mom. Traumatic events occurred–and it took a lot to finally figure it all out.
I admittedly got a little leery when I realized there were over 9000 pages in this book! I was happily surprised that I was able to keep reading-not all at once this time–but close to it! I just had to know what happened and how it all would end.
This book will grip you and you won’t soon forget it! I can’t wait until I read the second book in this series!
I received this e-book from the Author for my entertainment and possible review.