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.
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I was immediately drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover. After reading the blurb I knew this was a must read.
Quinn Maguire has always done the right thing. When her mother passes away it turns her world upside down in search for answers.
Determined to do the right thing Quinn travels to Maui and encounters a few hiccups she never saw coming. Will she be able to find the answers she’s looking for?
To say I loved this book would be a big understatement. I found this book to have a genuine and authentic feel, realistic and relatable characters, and unexpected plot twist and a perfect ending. I highly recommend this five star read.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to express my own honest opinion of this story.
Quinn has always felt truly safe and loved with her Mother. She never knew her dad but her mom made up for it. Highly successful in her job, engaged to a man who adores her, life is good. Then her mom gets sick and confesses something on her death bed that shatters Quinn’s world and all she has believed in. The man she always thought was her dad is not and it sends her into a quest of who she is and a road to find out who her Mothers and hers family really is. That journey will take her to Maui and a discovery of people, a culture she always wondered about and a family she never knew. A fabulous story and look forward to many more!
I always enjoy stories where I learn about the setting, culture and people that make up the culture. The base of this story takes place in Maui where Quinn arrives to scatter her Mother’s ashes. Her Mother a Hawaiian reveals a secret on her death bed that puts Quinn’s perfect life in a tail spin. Once on the island she discovers more to the secret. Quinn also discovers what her relationship with her fiancé truly has become. The story brushes upon what the culture of Hawaiian means to the people she’s met and the friendships she’s built along the way.
This is the first book I have read by Kay Bratt but it is now clear that I will have to buy some of her past books. While I love thrillers and suspense, there are times that I just want a “feel good” story, and this book was just right.
The story took me back to the days when I travelled to Hawaii frequently to work. I loved the moments I was able to escape the tourist areas and enjoy the scenery and chat with some of the delightful local people. This is a story of family, friendships, forgiveness, and finding yourself.
I really like Bratt’s style of writing. It was an easy read, no alternating perspectives, no dual timeline. Just a simple read. Characters you can’t help but love. Romance and a bit of mystery. A great holiday read.
Thank you to the author and Lake Union Publishing for the e-galley. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Yet another amazing Kay Bratt book that kept me engaged in the story from beginning to end. I didn’t want to put it down and when I finished it, I wanted more! I was thrilled to hear there is more to come and can’t wait to continue to learn about the amazing characters whom we met in this book. Quinn’s story is heartfelt and compelling. Her story draws you in from the beginning and kept me engaged throughout. Can’t wait to learn about Maggie’s story!
When your mother leaves you with a deathbed confession!! Quinn sets out on a journey to find out more. The place to begin is Maui, Hawaii!! I loved all the characters (maybe not Ethan)!
Don’t miss out on this book!!!!!!
I have read other Kay Bratt books and this is so much more
Thank you to Kay Bratt for the advance audiobook/MP3 for a fair review
Since this is the first book that I have read by Kay Bratt, I didn’t know what to expect, but I must say I was blown away with her ability to paint a picture with words and to draw me into the story quickly. Quinn’s mother whispers a long-held secret on her deathbed, sending Quinn on a quest to discover her heritage. Her search takes her to the island of Maui, where she meets Liam, her guide who becomes her friend and helper in her quest. This is a magical look at one woman’s search for her ancestry and her discovery of so much more. The words used to describe the island of Maui and its people took me on a virtual journey there because they were all so alive and full of color. It was obvious from the descriptions that the author didn’t just research for this novel, but she traveled there and shared part of her heart for the place with her readers. Filled with a history of the culture and traditions of Hawaii, this book is to be read and enjoyed by anyone who likes women’s fiction and romance. The captivating story took me to places I have never been and showed me those places through the eyes of a woman named Quinn, someone who was trying to discover her past but found her future, also. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
You had me at Maui and genealogy. My favorite place and the study I find fascinating. This book sucks you in at the beginning and holds you until the end. Just unbelievable enough to be totally believable.
Quinn and her mother are very close. But, on her mother’s deathbed, Quinn is told something that rocks her world; the story she has been told all along about her father is a lie. This starts a mystery Quinn needs to unravel herself. This starts her impulsive decision to buy a house, site unseen, and fly to Maui, a place very special to her mom. From here, the story unfolds with many twists.
This was my first book by Ms. Bratt, and I look forward to reading more. Her writing and storylines flow effortlessly and she brings her characters to life, with all their faults and strengths. She describes the beauty of Maui perfectly, making you feel like you are there. Aloha!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
“Aloha……Most mainlanders were under the impression that aloha was the word used for both “hello” and “goodbye”. 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 passage from the book spoke to me. It’s how I feel when I am going to pick up one of Kay Bratt’s novels. My heart is happy and overflowing.
True to Me is another GREAT read written by the talented and amazing Kay Bratt. She has such a gift of bringing the reader on an emotional journey and adventure with her characters. In this book, the journey is with the character of Quinn Maguire. The story starts out with her mother’s death bed confession that rocks Quinn’s world. This revelation had me shocked right along with Quinn.
Quinn has been raised by a very loving mother who gave her a great childhood and losing her is such a tragic loss. Her mother’s last wishes were to be taken back to her homeland of Maui, Hawaii and have her ashes scattered there. Quinn has always been a bit self insecure but she decides she needs to do this without her longtime boyfriend, Ethan. The journey of self discovery and who the person Quinn is begins at this point. Not only who she is but who her family is. I was fascinated by how DNA lineage was written into the plot. How it was used to solve the mystery of Quinn’s family and who they were. Ms. Bratt took me into an emotional adventure in the pages of this book. I loved the characters and how they connected with each other. Even the not-so-likable Ethan. He is part of who Quinn became in the end. I met amazing characters who blended together and I became attached to them.
Kay Bratt writes stories from her heart. I become a part of them as I’m reading them. Quinn’s story is no different. Quinn’s story is one of finding herself and who she is. The unbelievable events in her life that take her to become who she is meant to be had me captivated. The setting in the book was picture perfect by the descriptive writing talent of Ms. Bratt. I have never been to Hawaii but I sure have been on a virtual visit with Quinn and her close friend, Liam. I experienced the different traditions, customs and ceremonial events. I felt the time honoring reverence of them. It all came together to Quinn being true to herself.
I am very grateful for the opportunity of reading this novel. Kay Bratt brings it every time with her heart and emotions that pour out on the pages. I love this book and whether I’m saying “Aloha” at the beginning or “Aloha” at the end, it’s a fantastic read in between.
I want to thank Netgalley and Kay Bratt for my advanced review copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my heartfelt own.
I always love books by this Authors, she has a very compelling way of telling a story.
Quinn Maguire, is living a predictable life, with a good job, a handsome although controlling Fiance and a nice apartment, but when her mother dies, this life she knows is put on hold as she will go on a journey she never expected.
On her death bed, her mother tells Quinn that the absentee father she has always heard about and resented is not her real father after all.
Her mother asked her to take her ashes back to her homeland on the island of Maui, and now Quinn has even more reason to go, and try to find out who she really is and why she was never told the truth.
This book has some wonderful characters, who draw you into their lives as well as the native Hawaiian customs, it is a story about family and its importance, about respect and definitely about a pace of life that Quinn has been craving without even knowing it.
The story has some mystery, some romance and some cleaning up of a past, which is all she has known.
A wonderful story which mainly takes place in Hawaii. So readable, I did not want to put it down for too long.
Looking very forward to her next story, which seems to follow some of these characters.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book.
True to Me is a compelling and heartfelt book about a woman’s quest to uncover the truth about her family, after her mother discloses a long-held secret right before she died. Quinn is a very sympathetic main character, a young woman who finds her well-ordered life flipped upside down, and I was rooting for her all the way! This book contains a mystery and some romance, but it is mostly about family, and finding where we belong. I enjoyed the setting of Maui, which added a wonderful spirit to the story.
I don’t even know where to begin with all the ways in which this book was wonderful. Grateful to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this upcoming novel. Kay Bratt is one of the best in her genre. The loss of a mother, a deathbed confession, a trip to scatter her mother’s ashes. The journey leads our main character to places she never thought possible. It forces her to reevaluate her life, her relationship and who she is. There is awful betrayal in this book, secrets, but so much love, hope and happiness. I laughed and I cried. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and did not want it to end. I do believe there will be a sequel and I will wait impatiently for it to come around. This book is a must read. (less)
Author Kay Bratt has completely captivated me, yet again, in this beautifully written novel filled with secrets, love, and forgiveness. Quinn has resented her father for more years than she cares to admit, but her mother’s deathbed confession puts Quinn’s life in a complete tailspin. Promising to take her mother’s ashes back to Maui, Quin intends to find out the truth about her birth. Starting her search in her mother’s birthplace, Quinn begins to put the puzzle together as she learns more about her mother. Leaving her life behind, including her fiancé, Quinn begins to see the beauty surrounding her and with the help of some new friends, finds that Maui has the power to heal. I was completely mesmerized by this beautiful story and was drawn in from the very beginning. Author Kay Bratt writes with passion, straight from the heart! The emotions I felt as I was reading Quinn’s story only added to the magic. I cannot wait to see more from this amazing author! I would like to thank NetGalley and the Author for this Advanced Review Copy. All opinions and thoughts are solely my own.
True to Me is a heartwarming story about a women’s journey as she seeks to learn about her mother’s past and determine her own future. Quinn Maguire has just lost her mother, and her mother’s deathbed confession has shattered her world and everything she has ever believed to be true. Quinn’s fiancé, Ethan, wanted them to combine scattering her mother’s ashes in Maui with a vacation and what he feels can be the start of the rest of their lives together. Quinn can’t do this, she and her mother were their own little family, and now she needs to go to Maui alone to see if her whole life has been a lie.
As I said, True to Me is a heartwarming story and a pretty good mystery as Quinn tries to unravel all the facts and rumors she’s learned about her mother’s past. However, I think I am in the minority of readers that didn’t totally love this story, as I had some serious issues with it. The pace was slow and the tale predictable until about two-thirds of the way through. Many events just did not ring true to me. Although Quinn is supposedly successful in business she is a very awkward person, and not usually in an endearing way. It’s obvious that her relationship with Ethan was missing something but she kind of scrapped it pretty quickly, but then again had what seemed to be an overly dramatic reaction when she found out about Gina (“body going into a fetal position as she fought to protect herself from the onslaught of thoughts and the sudden nausea”), especially considering the attraction that seems to be building between her and Liam. Overall a lot of confusing signals.
Quinn isn’t really very likable until we are well into the book, so it’s hard to feel sympathy or empathy for/with her as she experiences a lot of her struggles. There is a good mystery and a lot of action and danger as more and more facts becomes known and a very enjoyable cast of supporting characters, and in the end I was rooting for Quinn to have her happily ever after, wherever that may be.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of True to Me. All opinions are my own.
I received the ARC of True to Me from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion of this book.
My first book by this author, and I found it amazing. It contained so many emotions from deceit, betrayal, forgiveness and redemption. Quinn is determined to find out whom her birth father is after her mothers death, I thought the book was so well written it seemed like I was right there in the book following along beside Quinn to find out what would happen next. I would highly recommend this book to others.
Quinn Maguire has it all, a good job, a handsome fiance’, a stable, normal life. That all changes, however, when her mother reveals a secret on her deathbed.
After her mother’s passing, Quinn decided to go to Maui to spread her mother’s ashes, as requested, and search for the truth. Who is or was her father? Is he still alive? Does she have more family, or is she truly alone in this world?
Quinn’s quest for truth in Maui gives her time away from her fiance’ and the time to reflect on who she was, is, and will be…and, if Ethan is the man she should marry after all.
Beautifully written. This is a story that takes us on a journey for truth and revelation about life, love, and finding one’s true self.
Looking for an inspiring read that is uplifting and fun? Kay Bratt’s latest book is just the ticket. True to Me takes you to Hawaii with a heroine who is looking to wrap up some loose ends in her life. Quinn Maguire’s time in Hawaii leads to new friendships and a love of the island she is discovering. But it is mostly a journey of self discovery. Quinn came to Maui to find out more information about her roots and is met with many more questions than answers. Following along on her journey of self discovery, we learn that for Quinn, answers about her own past will come only when she has discovered more about her inner self. Bonus? The author’s descriptions of special spots in Maui that Quinn and friends visit have made me add Maui to my list of places to visit!
One of my most treasured books ever! Author, Kay Bratt, knows how to tug at one’s heartstrings. This book made me laugh and cry as I felt such a connection with her protagonist, Quinn. Bratt delves into familial relationships and takes the reader through a gamut of emotions. This book is a true gem!
A riveting tale of forgiveness, family, and friendship (old and new). I was captivated from the first chapter and struggled to put this book down when reality intervened. I enjoyed traveling with Quinn to Maui and picturing in my mind the places mentioned that I experienced years ago. Quinn’s journey to understand her mother’s past so that she might understand herself was very realistic as were the emotions she had to cope with as each stage of her journey brought unexpected revelations. Kay Bratt has a real gift to craft and weave words and storylines together to make her stories come alive in her books. I hope that she is working on another installment to this story because I feel there is so much more to explore in each of the characters and Quinn’s journey is not over.
True to Me by Kay Bratt was fantastic. It drew me in and kept my interest. I decided to read it while in Maui so I could compare the setting and it didn’t disappoint. Quinn was a character I really didn’t like much at first, but throughout the book she changes her perspective and finds her true self along with many other truths and became someone I would befriend. Her decision to travel to Maui at her mother’s request, her relationship with her fiancé, her predicament in Maui and all the characters I met along the way really gave the book good depth and kept me intrigued. I am looking forward to a sequel to maybe expand on new relationships and develop one of the other characters to a greater degree.