From the bestselling author of Wish Me Home comes a breathtaking novel about the secrets that families keep and one woman’s illuminating search for the truth.
Quinn Maguire has a stable life, a fiancé, and what she thinks is a clear vision for her future. All of that comes undone by her mother’s deathbed confession—the absentee father Quinn spent thirty years resenting is not her real father at … not her real father at all. With that one revealing whisper, Quinn embarks on a journey to Maui, her mother’s childhood home, a storied paradise that holds the truth about her mother’s past and all its secrets Quinn is determined to uncover.
But settling on the island has its complications, and with the fiancé she left behind questioning every choice she makes, Quinn’s quest for her truth is even more difficult than she expected. As time passes and she digs deeper into her family history and her own identity, one thing becomes clear: Maui is as beautiful as she’d always imagined, and its magic is helping uncover the woman that Quinn was always meant to be.
more
I loved this book! It has been a long time since I have read a novel that I didn’t want to put down, so I barreled through in record time for me.
I knew I was going to love it from page one, when my favorite TV show, Long Lost Family, was mentioned, and Quinn was about to submit her DNA to a company to be analyzed, in order to find any biological family members. Family reunions have always fascinated me. And if that wasn’t enough, the story begins in Savannah – a favorite book location of mine.
When Quinn traveled to Maui in search of answers, I was exposed to Hawaiian culture along with her. Also very interesting to me, as I learned things I had never known before. Not to mention…another lush location.
This book strikes all the chords of entangled relationships – from friends to lovers to family. And the puzzle of a lifelong mystery ties it all together. (Have I mentioned I love mysteries?)
I can’t wait for the next book in the series, to reunite with these living, breathing characters whose lives I have become so invested in, and to find out more about Quinn’s best friend, Maggie.
Once again Kay delivers a hit with True To Me. As I reflect on this novel the growth of Quinn is central to the book. From her being unsure of herself and of her situations to her relationship with Ethan. She uncovers a family mystery at the death of her mother. She embarks on a journey to Maui . There she discovers not only herself but a family in which she was unaware of. The author propels the novel forward with her gently flowing creative sentences.The setting is sure to please readers as well as the descriptive moments in the book showcasing this beautiful island. Quinn could be any one of us but in the end she finds who her true self was meant to be. Family plays an integral part of this story as well as DNA. Yes we can be connected by blood but this isn’t the only element that makes up a family as we discover. Good job Kay. I look forward to another By The Sea novel. #NetGalley # TrueToMe Thank you for this ARC.
Kay Bratt has done it again! She has delivered a heartfelt sensation set in the seemingly magical island life in Hawaii. Quinn thinks she has the life every woman should want until she learns shocking news. News that changes her life forever. The characters in this book draw you in and you feel every emotion that each of them feels. The highs and lows, the good and bad are a wonderful mix that won’t let you put this book down. Thank you to Kay Bratt for bringing the islands alive and moving Hawaii up on my bucket list of places to experience. This is my true and honest opinion.
Kay always writes about real life things and this book hit home as my children were adopted and have wonder about their birth stories. I have always enjoyed her books and this book hit home.
True to form, this newest offering both charming and positive with wonderfully fleshed out characters and a great plot. I never once wanted to put this one down and now my fervent hope is that she writes quickly, because I understand that a sequel of sorts is in the works. Buy it, read it, and then (like me) look for another offering from Bratt.
This is one of my favorite books written by Kay Bratt and I’m thrilled that there is a series in the works. You’ll fall in love not only with Quinn, who is on a journey of self discovery on so many levels, but with the other very richly developed characters as well. Kay brought each to life and left me wanting to know ‘what gonna happen next’! I love that the story is set in Hawaii and if you haven’t been, you’ll want to go after reading this book. I am so looking forward to the next By the Sea novel.
5 stars . As a lover of anything Hawaii related I have to say I was super excited to be able to read this book before it’s official publish date. I’ve been to Maui 4 times and it’s truly my favorite place in the world. It so magical that once you’ve been on the island, it’s almost like you’ve left a piece of yourself there when it’s time to go back home. But getting back to the book…I have all great things to say about it. I love the author’s style of writing. The chapters flow so nicely and she has a wonderful way of making you feel connected to all of the characters. And I honestly did LOVE all the characters in this book especially Quinn, Liam, Kupuna and Maggie. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I will say that I hope to see more of Liam in the sequel. There was a big shocker at the end of the book that I did not see coming at all. I love the bonds Quinn formed when she was in Maui trying to find out about her family. And I also liked the way the story all came together in the end. Also after being in Maui so many times I can honestly say that the author did a wonderful job in describing the beauty of the island. She took me back to many of the places that I‘ve been blessed to see.
My favorite line in the book was “But the article stated it was much more, that aloha meant “love,” “peace,” and “compassion.” More than a word, a life of aloha meant the heart was overflowing, and when using it, one should be sincerely happy to see the person they said it to”.
This is not my first book by Kay Bratt and it will definitely not be my last. I highly recommend True To Me and I look forward to reading many more books by this author.
Thank you to Net Galley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I enjoyed this book…
Kay Bratt writes how one act of betrayal brought ripples of heartache through generations. Luckily the author does not leave us with that despair, but rather shows how one woman seeking the truth changed that betrayal and learned that she had another destiny and life thousands of miles from where she thought she was happy. A wonderful heartwarming, emotional book and I look forward to reading what next Kay Bratt will write.
This was a wonderful book to end the year! Quinn’s journey is heartfelt and inspiring. A vast knowledge of Hawaiian culture is displayed by the author. She does an amazing job of capturing the importance of ohana, pono and other aspects which brought back fond memories. I loved the little twists that complicated Quinn’s search while also enhancing her understanding of her situation (don’t want to give too much away). If you’re looking to start the new year with an uplifting story, look no further, get this one. For a more thorough review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book.
Loved this book and all Of Kay Pratts books amazing author
WHAT IS THE TRUTH??
Imagine your Mother is dying and her last words are a confession that the man you thought was your deadbeat dad wasn’t even your real father at all. That news would be difficult to absorb even if you were somebody who seems to have their life plan all on track. Quinn Maquire is that person and because of that news she travels to her Mom’s native homeland of Maui in an attempt to find any and all information about her true family. How long will it take her to find the truth about her real family? Will she be happy with the truth she finds? Will she want to go back to any of her old life? How will she be changed by what she finds?
Kay Bratt has a way of writing that truly delves into her characters deepest inner core. She allows readers to feel as though they know the characters as they would a friend – all the good & all the bad. This particular book is insightful as it reveals all the multiple layers of deceit brought on by nothing more than pure greed. The lessons learned from withholding the truth in TRUE TO ME apply to many real life situations.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
This is one of my favorite books by Kay Bratt, and I have really liked all that I have read. The main character – Quinn takes an unplanned journey and is enlightened about her life. A very intriguing and heart warming story that is very descriptive – you feel as if you are in Maui with Quinn. There are secondary characters that you meet along the way that you come to care about as well. Loved this book!
This is the first Kay Bratt book and won’t be my last! Love the inspiration and the beauty of Hawaii she describes and it was a great read
I consider myself very fortunate to have received an early copy of Kay Bratt’s newest book for advance reading. Once again, readers will not be disappointed – I was so drawn into True to Me that I started and finished it all in one day!
Quinn and the other characters draw you in. You feel their emotions and experience their adventures. I have never been to Hawaii, but now feel as if I’ve felt its sand between my toes, seen the beautiful waterfalls, and joined in Hawaiian family celebrations.
As with all of her books, I appreciate that nothing I read leaves me feeling eww or like I need to go take a shower. Thank you, Kay, for another wonderful book! I can’t wait for the next one!
WOW! This book, this story, was amazing! A wonderful page turner that masterfully manages to weave many components together without feeling fractured at all. Genealogy plays a key part in this story as does self discovery. Mystery, friendships, relationships, forgiveness, and a touch of romance. I’d love to see a sequel focusing on Quinn’s best friend, Maggie and her story!
nice
Quinn McGuire has had a good life. She has a fiancé and a successful career. Growing up, her mother worked hard and did her best as a single parent; the only thing really missing in Quinn’s life is her father. As an adult, Quinn tried locating the man that her mother said lured her from her home on Maui and then left her with a child to raise, with no luck. Left reeling by not only her mother’s death, but the confession that preceded it, Quinn is left with questions but no way to find answers. All she does know, is that her destination must be Maui, and she has to go alone. Arriving on Maui with lots of questions and a new house, nothing goes quite as expected .With new and old friends, Quinn embarks on a journey to uncover her past and find her future. What she finds is so much more than she ever thought possible.
Bratt has created wonderful characters with depth and a storyline that will keep you engrossed and turning pages. Her descriptions and writing style will make you feel that you are right there with Quinn in Maui. If you have never read any of Kay Bratt’s work, this is a great one to start with.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#TruetoMe #KayBratt #LakeUnionPublishing
It all started with her dying mother’s confession and Quinn sets on a journey of her lifetime to find her father. She faces some obstacles along the way and I enjoyed reading about if or how she overcame them. The description of the Hawaii settings was so vivid that I could see it in my mind which was warming with the chilly weather. I still find myself thinking about the stories of each character. A great story about family and love!
Kay Bratt’s book, TRUE TO ME, is another great book! I have read all of Kay’s books and have truly enjoyed them all. Yet again as I have found with each of Kay’s books, when I picked this book up, I truly could not put it down.
I’ve never been to Maui, or anywhere in Hawaii, and found that this book almost made me feel as if I was there.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.