A job at The Riverview Inn offers Delia a safe place to hide with her daughter—and the chance to salvage their damaged relationship. But when her secrets follow them, she has to make the most difficult choice of her life. Delia has made some mistakes. Maybe more than other women, other mothers. She just needs a little time to regroup and figure out what’s best for herself and eight-year-old … eight-year-old Josie. But The Riverview Inn and her job there as a massage therapist offer her something she never expected—happiness.
Working at the inn gives her purpose, friendships, and an exciting and forbidden attraction to the mysterious Max Mitchell.
The only problem is—she’s lying. About everything.
But she isn’t the only one with secrets. There are things Max isn’t telling her about his past. And one guest is hiding something that could destroy everything at The Riverview Inn.
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Come back to the Riverview Inn and catch up on the characters and feel the magic of the place. Perfect for fans of Nora Roberts and Kristan Higgins.
Ooooh, I really liked this one!
Secrets of the Riverview Inn is the second in Ms O’Keefe’s Riverview Inn series, though it truly could work as a standalone. You don’t have to have read the first one (though you totally should!) and OMG, does it have me practically panting for book 3? Why yes, yes, it does. 😉
(I’m not going to lie, when we were introduced to the idea of the person who the next book is going to be about, I totally squealed, “Oooh! Hello, book 3!” out loud.)
Delia and Max’s story did not disappoint! The teaser at the end of the first book totally hooked me, and I absolutely could not wait until I got this one into my hot little hands. Both Max and Delia have secrets (hence the title…) that they aren’t sharing with anyone, and even though they are inexorably drawn to each other, those secrets are doing their best to keep them apart.
Yeah, it’s kinda angsty. In a good way 🙂
Delia’s relationship with her young daughter just broke my heart–her love for Josie was blindingly apparent, but so was Josie’s near-dismissal of her mother. I was rooting for Delia 100%, both in favor of her relationship with Max and with Josie, but yikes, for so long it seemed like the obstacles were just going to be too much.
There’s definitely elements of romantic suspense here–what Delia’s on the run from in her past is pretty scary–but really, this is a contemporary romance (or maybe even “women’s fiction”? As much as I dislike that label…). The focus is on relationships–Delia and Max, Delia and Josie, Max and his brother, father, and mother–and the setting is just lovely.
Have I mentioned how much I’m looking forward to the last book in the series? 😉
While I oh-so-patiently wait for its release, I’m going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from this one, a quote I think really shows the flavor of the novel:
“They were all slowly mending those broken spots inside themselves and promises now would be foolish. But she wanted to stay. She wanted to see where this would go.”
Happy sigh.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Max and Delia’s love story in Secrets at the Riverview Inn by Molly O’Keefe, book 2 in the Riverview Inn series, was an emotional and enjoyable tale that holds a number of secrets. Delia divorced her abusive husband, a man of the law who was partook in criminal behavior, and used their daughter as a power ploy to control Delia as he saw fit. The magic of the Riverview Inn, along with her job as a massage therapist provides Delia a happiness she never expected and time to heal her damaged relationship with her eight-year-old daughter, Josie. Working at the inn gives Delia a purpose, allows for friendships, as well as offers an exciting and forbidden attraction to the mysterious Max Mitchell. Delia isn’t the only one with secrets.
Max was a police officer who suffered a career ending injury. Max kept to himself, appearing grumpy to those who encountered him. There are things Max isn’t telling her about his past. Delia and Josie were able to break through every obstacle he constructed to protect himself. The attraction and chemistry he and Delia shared were out of this world and Max was the only one able to connect with Josie, understanding the little girl. When Delia’s ex-husband finds them, everyone will need to make difficult choices in order to protect and save their lives. Lastly, there is a guest of the inn who is hiding something, something that could destroy everything at The Riverview Inn.
Ms. O’Keefe wrote a “can’t put down,” emotional, second chance romance that should not be missed. This tale abounds with emotions, sexual chemistry, wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters giving Max and Delia a chance at love, a family, and forever. I highly recommend Secrets at the Riverview Inn to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars
Secrets of the Riverview Inn is book 2 in the new series Riverview Inn by Molly O’Keefe. Well written, a standalone with a back story woven throughout that gives you a better understanding of the family dynamics.
Delia and her eight-year-old daughter Josie are looking for a safe haven and to hide from her ex husband so they come to Riverview Inn and she finds a new job. Delia develops friendships, finds a purpose for her life while trying to build a better relationship with her daughter along with a major crush on Max Mitchell.
Max, ex cop, some secrets prior to moving to Riverview Inn has a sixth sense feeling that there’s more to Delia than what she is telling…
Secrets, deception, underlying story that you don’t see coming… Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I am really loving this series by Molly O’Keefe! Max intrigued me in Wedding at the Riverview Inn so I knew his story would be a good one. Max and Delia have both had their share of struggles/tragedies. Their kindred spirits had an instant connection even though neither would acknowledge it at first. There are twists and turns with both of them getting their fresh start together. I can’t wait for the conclusion of this series!
Believe me when I say, you thought the first book in this series was full of passion and angst, this book is gonna knock your socks off! Max is an ex cop haunted by the events of two years prior, and he’s never been the same until little Josie and her mom Delia happen to fall into the Riverview Inn looking for a job. Josie is a spunky eight year old who is traveling with her mom Delia, but Delia has secrets that she’s not only keeping from her daughter, but from everyone else too. I absolutely loved Max and Delia’s chemistry together, add in the spitfire Josie, and you’ve got a book that will keep you on your toes emotionally and with definite heart pounding drama. Loved that the author mixed not only the drama of Josie and Delia, but she throws in another twist that you just drop your jaw at while reading it all unfold. Alice and Gabe are front and center, love that story continuing too. I would definitely read the first book in this series so you can be tied into the happenings of this very well written, heart pounding and definite tear jerking story. Very well worth the read!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. Delia and Max’s romance inspires plenty of feels as these two struggle to resist their attraction and search for the strength to open themselves up to love. This couple has great chemistry but with heavy baggage on both sides you know they have plenty to overcome and work through on the road to romance. The story was very engaging and grabbed and held my attention easily with a well crafted blend of emotional turmoil, drama, secrets, mystery, suspense and angst. I thought that Josie, Delia’s daughter was quite the scene stealer and I felt she added many heartfelt, humorous and cute moments to this read.
“we’re fighters not fighting” and that explains the heart and soul of this book. Max shut down years ago, but really stopped two years ago. He doesn’t talk about it, he doesn’t do anything about it, he just goes through his life. Finally, with Delia, with Josie, and with an abrupt change in his comfort zone, he wakes up and starts fighting. Delia has been trying to keep things on the smooth, on the even, and do what is right for everyone but her. Once she realizes she can trust her instincts, that Max helps her understand she can trust her instincts, her worst fears come true, but she is solid in her resolve and bravery, to get her life back on the track of her choosing
Max, Delia, and little Josie stole my heart from the start. All three, so strong, so stubborn, so hurt and confused. Max and Delia recognize themselves in the other, but are determined to stay away. The force pulling them together battles against their inner demons, and they slip sometimes. So much hurt and pain on their hearts, it takes an awakening of sorts from Max, for him to be the fighter he is, to wake that in Delia, and to place their family together!
Continuing on from The Wedding at Riverview Inn, this is the story of Max Mitchell, who gave up his career as a cop after a terrible tragedy that left him doubting himself. Delia is a woman with many secrets, trust issues, and a very adorable daughter called Josie. Delia arrives at Riverview Inn to take up a position as a massage therapist. She is on the run from something but after law enforcement betrayed her, she didn’t know who she could turn to for help. Through all of this, she is drawn to Max and the chemistry between them heats up as her relationship with her daughter deteriorates. Can Delia really begin to put her happiness first and trust those people she’s come to regard as family? Looking forward to the conclusion of this story.
Secrets of the Riverview Inn is quite the continuation of the Riverview Inn series. This time around we get more of the brooding Max Mitchell and the new hire that is Delia, who together find a way to reveal not only their long-held secrets but manage to fall for the other when that is the very last thing they could have ever imagined.
The chemistry is subtle yet powerful between Max and Delia. His spidey senses know she is hiding something but the former cop in him knows when to back off. With a feisty 8 year old in Josie, Delia has her hands full and I really loved how she kept her mom on her toes. With a bit of resistance due to the very reason for Delia trying to start anew in this small part of the Catskills, it truly is a battle of wills almost daily. But somehow Max, that closed off swoony man is the very reason why Josie finds a way to get closer to her mom. Combined with the heat that is palpable every time Delia and Max are around one another, this book has right amount of angst that I love.
There is a ton at play with the mysterious JoBeth and all the worry about the woman who walked out on the Mitchell men all those years ago. With a hint of what’s to come, I cannot wait for book 3 and the conclusion to this well-written and wildly touching series.
Secrets of the Riverview Inn is full of emotion and is well worth your time. These characters are wonderful and have a firm place in my heart.
5 solid stars!