So how would you handle a deathbed secret?? Well Quinn had to figure out how to handle it...so many emotions from betrayal, deceit to redemption and forgiveness. This is my first book by Kay and definitely will now be my last. Cant wait for the next one!!

This book surprised me when I had become convinced I wouldn't be surprised. Quinn lives in Savannah with her fiance. Her mother has just died leaving her with an inheritance she didn't expect along with a cryptic message. Her absent father, and the guy listed on her birth certificate, isn't her father. But her mother wouldn't tell her who her father actually is. Quinn decides to go to where her mother grew up to try to find answers. She uses part of her inheritance to buy a house in Maui where she finds big surprises awaiting her that she certainly didn't anticipate. I went through the best part of the book being convinced I had guessed the ending which was disappointing to me at the time. Too predictable, I thought. But I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised when things went in a direction I didn't anticipate. That's a really good thing for me. There is also a potential love story here. There is certainly a big mystery. And you will grow to like the main characters as you root for them to be successful. There are definite hints of a sequel here. But that's not to say this book didn't conclude satisfactorily. In other words, there were no big cliffhangers here. All in all, I ended up really liking this book and will be reading any sequel(s) that may follow. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy, and this is my fair and honest review.

Quinn Maguire's world is rocked when her mother makes a confession on her deathbed. Her whole life, she has felt resentment to her absentee father. Now she finds out that this man is not actually her father. This leads her to Hawaii on a search for answers. The island home she buys sight unseen is full of surprises also. Will she get the answers she desires? Will her fiance be understanding of her wish for answers? This story kept me engaged. I really enjoyed it.

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lakeside Review for an ARC of the book. This review is in my own words.

Quinn's mother blew her away when she made the deathbed confession that the man she thought was her father was not. Her mother's request that her ashes be scattered on Maui leads her there to find out more about her mother, as well as her father. Would that we all be so lucky as to be able to afford a house there, sight unseen or not. The complication that there's a family living in the home seemed a contrivance but it did help to round out the chartered. Quinn's fiancé Ethan is a worm but she doesn't seem to realize this til she's in Hawaii. This nicely written novel is really about a woman who remakes her life and finds her feet after a surprise and a move. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC.

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.

Another amazing story from an amazing author! Kay Bratt has brought the story of Quinn McGuire to life for me in her excellent storytelling and character development. I was hooked from page one and engaged throughout. The amazing storytelling had me wanting to visit Hawaii! I look forward to reading the sequel and learning more about Quinn and her family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review that is my own thoughts and opinions on the book.

What a beautiful story. Quinn has quite a time figuring out her family history. Lucky her, it was all in Maui! It was interesting reading about Hawaiian customs. I really enjoyed this book. Kay Bratt made me feel as if I were there. Well done. I was lucky enough to get to read this through Netgalley.

Will review to Amazon and Barnes & Noble on pub day.

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 heartbreaking 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 flaws 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.

True to Me is the first book I have read by Kay Bratt. This book takes place in Hawaii on Maui. The main character, Quinn, has recently lost mother and learned that her father was not who she thought. She makes a trip to Maui to try and learn more about her family and to spread her mother's ashes. Not only does she learn about her family ties, but she also experiences personal growth as well.

I liked this book a lot. I learned a lot about Maui and Hawaiian culture. The mystery of Quinn's heritage kept me turning the pages, and the characters were interesting and realistic. I was more than satisfied with the ending of the story and will be interested in reading future books by this author.

I read this book compliments of Net Galley. All my thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

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!

This is my first Kay Bratt novel but it won't be my last...... Quinn kept me so intrigued.... Would she find the confidence and strength to tell her overbearing, obnoxious, control freak fiance of 10 years where to go as she found the courage to go look for her mother's family, assuming they would be Hawaiian as her mother spoke about the Island and wanted to be returned there following her sad demise. Quinn's journey, meant she learnt lots about herself, that she was a strong, independent woman with a mind of her own, culminating in learning the sad sorry surrounding her very young life, her mother and her extended family.... Can't wait for Maggie's story

This book is about a young woman whose life is one party after another without thought to consequences.
Her life is turned upside down by chance meeting with a painter. She marries for money not love. But she has a special gift that will forever change all of their lives.
There was so much truth in this beautiful and moving story.
The characters were very real.
I truly enjoyed this book.
Thanks to NetGallery for a free ARC., and allowing me to be a reviewer.

This is my first read by Kay Bratt and I love her writing style. It’s described as a “by the sea novel” but it’s so much more than that.

It’s full of history, sorrow, love and secrets! Once I started “True to me” I could not put it down!

“True to me” is set in Maui which is an island in the central Pacific and is part of the Hawaiian archipelago. It’s full Hawaiian culture and history. I loved learning new words and respected how much the Hawaiian people value family and nature.

The story follows Quinn Maguire who’s mother confesses on her death bed that Quinn’s father isn’t who she’s always believed it to be. This confession causes Quinn to question everything and to return to her roots in Maui to search for answers. What she find in Maui is more than she could of ever imagined - in more ways than one. Her story is one that wouldn’t be out of place on a true crime documentary. There’s so many twists and turns that just when you think you have the story figured out there’s another shock!

The character development in “True to me” is stunning. Several characters stories had me in tears and I grew to really care for them. They all had their baggage but were good people. Which is clear throughout the story is the.. Hawaiian way.

I loved this novel and it won’t be the last I read of Kay Bratt. It will stick in my mind for a long time. It was so well written I have to keep reminding myself it’s not a true story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

I just read an arc of True To Me by author Kay Bratt that I received off from NetGalley when it was a Read Now. What a great story! It takes place in Maui and is about a young woman named Quinn that goes to Maui to spread her supposed mother’s ashes. It’s a story of friendship, finding family and forgiveness. She discovers who she truly is, where she belongs and where her roots are. She learns to live for herself doing what makes her happy and not trying to be who she isn’t just to please someone else. I loved reading about the location and how hospitable the characters were. This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and just like the first, I highly recommend it. This is one you won’t want to miss out on! It’s a 5 star read for me.

"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.

TRUE TO ME by Kay Bratt is a beautifully-written and emotional story of family, forgiveness and second chances. On her deathbed, Quinn’s mother drops a bombshell confession with no further explanation that throws into question everything Quinn knows of her mother and her whole upbringing. Determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s past and learn more about her own history, Quinn travels to Maui, her mother’s childhood home to scatter her Mom’s ashes and explore what little she has heard about her mother’s past. Shown unexpected kindness from a family on the island, Quinn learns the deeper meaning of family, friendship, sacrifice and forgiveness. There is also a romantic element that plays a subtle role in the storyline. The descriptions of the scenery of Maui, the lifestyle and the traditions dating back to ancient times are beautiful. I was completely immersed in Quinn’s journey of reflection, self-discovery and acceptance. I loved this heartfelt and uplifting book and so look forward to what comes next from Kay Bratt. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

It was okay...a little predictable. Setting was different and descriptions were good. Didn't have a lot of feeling for the characters.

I really enjoyed this story and these characters!! Didn’t want this to end!, and the story takes place on the island of Maui!!!

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.