Sandy M’s review of Her Other Secret (Whitaker Island, Book 1) by HelenKay Dimon
Contemporary Romance published by Avon 25 Jun 19
As usual, HelenKay Dimon gives readers charming and interesting characters amid romance and mystery. Hansen and Tessa are total opposites – she’s friendly and happy, he’s grumpy and rude. But as their attraction grows, they are such fun, despite their pasts that show up to cause all kinds of trouble.
Both of them have come to Whitaker Island to hide out, which is what the island is known for most of the time. Tessa is running from scandal and her famous father who only exacerbates everything. Hansen’s family has suffered a tragedy that makes moving on nearly impossible. A murdered stranger, who ends up on Tessa’s front lawn, is part of the strange events that begin to occur and complicate Hansen, though the local sheriff, Ben, is sure he’s innocent. However, a full-of-herself council member is sure Hansen is guilty. The residents of the island are fun and varied, even the mean ones.
I like that Tessa pulls Hansen from his grumpiness so they work together to figure out who is behind all the bizarre happenings around them. The buildup of their attraction is slow and steady so we get to know them better. Then their chemistry explodes into flames as sexiness and feistiness come together. Good thing they’re finally on the same page – mostly – when Tessa’s father shows up and the murder investigation continues. There’s plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing who did what and why.
I’m always entertained when reading Ms. Dimon’s books. It’s difficult to turn off my ereader to get some sleep once I’ve begun. I’m happy to see this is the start of a new series, and I’m looking forward to the next book, which is on shelves come December – a bit too long for me, a huge fan, to wait!
Grade: A
Summary:
Is it the perfect escape?
Whitaker Island is more than a getaway. For Tessa Jenkins, the remote strip of land in Washington state is a sanctuary. Fleeing from a shattering scandal, she has a new name, a chance at a new beginning, and a breathtaking new view: Hansen Rye. It’s hard not to crush on Whitaker’s hottest handyman. At six-foot-three and all kinds of fine, he’s also intensely private—and the attraction between them soon simmers dangerously out of control.
…or a private trap for two lovers?
After a devastating family tragedy, Hansen finds the pebbled shores of the faraway island to be an ideal refuge. Letting down his guard for the sexy, impulsive Tessa is an unexpected pleasure. But there’s another newcomer to Whitaker. He’s no stranger to Hansen. And when he’s murdered, the crime casts a threatening shadow. As suspicion falls on Hansen, all his secrets are about to collide with Tessa’s. Now the pasts they were determined to outrun are catching up to them. So is a killer who’s putting their love—and their lives—on the line.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
