June is living the storybook life--fabulous career, two children, and a rich and handsome husband--when she is summoned out of the blue to the beautiful beach house of a father who abandoned her and has recently died. June and her two sisters find out that their long-lost father is a famous artist, and they are heirs to his fortune. They eventually meet up at the beach house to take care of his affairs. When June arrives first, she meets Caleb, her father's protege, and things do not go well. Will she ever get answers as to why her father abandoned them?

This is well written women's fiction with a bit of romance, but it is much more than a romance. June's anger at her father for his abandonment is the true focus of the story, and she begins to go through his belongings, looking for answers. We are drawn into the art world and introduced to June's father through his paintings. The biggest theme in this story is sacrifice. June and her father have both made sacrifices and life-changing choices. Were they right to do so? Mental health issues are also discussed. This is a beautifully written story of a family, with all its bumps and bruises, and of a busy woman who pauses at a crossroads long enough to look at her future. Fans of women's fiction and romance will enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Her Family Secret ' by Melissa Weisner.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Melissa Wiesner, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous.

Publication date 17th May 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also Melissa's debut novel.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. It also stated in the synopsis 'Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Kerry Lonsdale and Kerry Fisher will devour this powerful read from award-winning author Melissa Wiesner'. I am a fan of Kerry Fisher and Diane Chamberlain so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 32 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Washington, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being June Westwood and Caleb Valencia. The benefits of third person perspective especially with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions that absolutely captivate Wishing Cove and brings it to life. The cover and synopsis suit the plot perfectly.

The storyline is a rollercoaster of emotions from love to loss, secrets to regrets and lost chances. It is so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I was absolutely captivated and absorbed throughout, a beautiful page turner. It is one of this books that will give you hope and happiness when your feeling down. Melissa has obviously done her research on a certain subject and it shines through. I was addicted to this gorgeous novel. The setting is gorgeous and it makes me want to up and leave on a plane. I am so glad it ended the way it did.

The characters were realistic and each had their own unique personalities. I loved how circumstances went from so bleak for many of them to working out the way it did. Where there is rain there will be a rainbow and this book and the characters really do show this. I loved the bond between June, Raven, Sierra, Emma and Izzy and how they overcame what was thrown at them. I fell in love with Caleb and my heart really went out to him. I felt so sorry for him after something happened and disgusted with way June reacted unfairly. I would love to read more about these amazing characters and Wishing Cove.

Overall a gorgeous heart breaking but at the same time heart warming page turner that will take your breathe away.

Some of my favourite quotes from the book include the following :

🚒 "She’ll need to put out the fire. Baking soda. The fireman that came to her first-grade class said to use baking soda." You learn something new every day!!


Genres covered in this book include Holiday Fiction and Romance amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Kerry Fisher and anyone looking for a gorgeous summer read.

301 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Trigger Warning: Suicide, depression, panic attacks
Her Family Secret is the author's debut novel. and is a story of second chances in life. The cover art of a novel always draws me in and the cover art of this novel is a stunner. Set in Pacific northwest the story deals with several heavy issues like bipolar disorder, depression and panic attacks. I have PTSD and I like how the author has dealt with mental illness in this story. I deal with my bad periods by reading and gardening. The author has used art and the scenery for Caleb to get through it. I applaud the author for dealing with a subject like mental illness with such a finesse.
The characters in this novel are all looking for a second chance in life and are so likeable except for David. Its a story of bonding over art, friendship, family, love and starting over in life. I will be looking forward to read more from this author. Highly recommend this novel.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I must say, first of all, how much I loved the cover art of this novel. Diving into reading this, I was definitely in the mood for a women's fiction/drama. I read this book in 24 hours. June, a mom of two young daughters, sets off from her life that she has just realized is not at all what it seems, to the West Coast, to Washington state. She has just found out that she and her sisters have been named in their famous artist birthfather's will. When June gets to Wishing Cove, she is not only on the quest to find out all about her father's past, but soon discovers who she truly is and wants out of her life. Caleb, who was her father's protege lives on the property she has inherited. And boy, did I love Caleb's rugged, sexy, artistic character! I loved the authors writing style, and just devoured this book. For a debut novel, it was outstanding. If you are an art lover, you will definitely bond with this book, as so much about colors, palates, scenery, etc are described so well. 4.5 stars!

This is such an emotional roller coaster of a book. So many layers in this one and a lot of take in. This was a very well written book and I truly enjoyed every part. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

An unexpected legacy, a marriage in trouble. Two reasons which prompt Juniper (June) Westwood to bring her two small daughters (Emma and Issy) to Wishing Cover, Washington. June and her two sisters (Raven and Sierra) had an unorthodox upbringing. With their mother always in pursuit of her next artist lover, it was left to June to bring up her two younger siblings. Her father was a shadowy figure who left when they were very young. Her mother has never had much to say about who he was. But now June and her sisters discover they are daughters of famous painter Jasper Luc. He has left them his house, studio and collection of paintings.
June’s marriage is in trouble. Her husband is having an affair with his assistant. The legacy gives her the opportunity to take her girls to Wishing Cove for the summer. to check out the inheritance. There she meets handsome, mysterious Caleb, her father’s protégé and a well-known painter in his own right. Caleb is a loner, still grieving for a friend he spent more than twenty years with. One who taught him everything. The last thing he needs is June and her children living in Jasper’s house.
A beautiful emotional story. Her Family Secret is about sisterly bonding, romance and second chances set against the beautiful backdrop of America’s Pacific coast. Great characters, including the delightful Emma and Issy and of course, smouldering artist Caleb.
Highly recommended.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC of Her Family Secret in exchange for an honest review.

June squashed her true personality for many years. She had to support her younger sisters after her father walked out and her mother was flaky. She is the perfect wife and mother but one day it all cracks. June abandons her life and flees to discover who her father really was. I am always sucked into family mystery stories. I suspected Caleb’s secret at one point in the story. I liked the renewed ties between June and her sisters. June runs away a few times in the book, but eventually she has to face stark truths. I thought David was a smug jerk. I couldn’t really warm up to Caleb, but I liked he and June’s chemistry. It’s a good read about facing reality and pursuing your true passions while not accepting a stale life.

Some first lines resonate with you more than most. In Her Family Secret, Melissa Wiesner writes, “When the phone rang at 10:45 that morning, Juniper Westwood knew before she answered that the call was going to ruin her day.” I’ve experienced times like that, and I would imagine other folks have too. But that first line, while descriptive and foreboding, doesn’t even touch the surface of what really happens. That phone call certainly ruins June’s day, but it also completely upends her life—an idea that lends itself well to great women’s fiction like this. Shortly after that phone call, Wiesner immerses the reader in the lush setting of Wishing Cove, Washington, where June’s father used to live and the place she escapes to with her two young daughters. And Wishing Cove certainly is a place for escape: while there, June and her daughters thrive, and June finds the time to think about what her life and what she wants out of it going forward. Painting, colors, brushstrokes, and more permeate this story, and I was drawn to the emotion of the book and the paintings described within. Wiesner touches on so many themes in her novel—love, betrayal, mental illness, suicide, family, and motherhood among them—and deftly depicts a realistic portrait of a woman who wants more, of a woman who realizes she deserves more. Well done! I can’t wait to read more from Wiesner.

After reading reviews of this book, I thought that I would enjoy it. A separated mother and her two children move to the West Coast after inheriting her estranged father's home. Her two sisters join her and throughout the summer discover who and what happened to their father. (Famous artist). Also the reader meet two brothers who interact with the family. I didn't enjoy the book that much; however I did finish it. I thought that the ending was predictable. I will not be recommending it.

June has always been the one to hold her family together after her father left when she was a child and her mother flitted from boyfriend to boyfriend. Within a couple of days June discovers that her husband has been having an affair and her father, a very successful artist, has died leaving her and her sisters his house. June decides to go to the house to decide what to do in the future. Once there she realises she put her own life and dreams in hold for everyone else.
An easy read novel
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Bookouture Publishers for the advance eARC copy of this book to read and review though NetGalley.

It’s seldom that a debut novel is this stunning. Wow.

June is is the oldest of three sisters who grew up with a flaky and unreliable mother and two younger sisters, Sienna and Raven. Her father left them when the three girls were young and June has only the vaguest of memories of him.

The story starts with June getting a phone call to let her know that her father has died. She doesn’t realise her father was the renowned artist Jasper Luc, if she had she would have been able to contact him years ago.

June is driving when she gets this news and is in a car accident soon after. In hospital she senses that all is not well with her husband. She accidentally reads texts on his home computer when she is home and he admits to be having an affairs with his assistant. They work together but June cannot work for a few weeks after the accident.

She makes the decision to fly the next day with her two young daughters to Jasper’s home and studio in the Pacific North West outside Seattle to find out more about her father. While she is there, June meets her father’s protege Caleb, who we find suffers from manic depression as he did.

Caleb encourages June to start painting again and awakens this side of her that she has been concealing since she met her husband. June’s sisters arrive after some time and support her in connecting with Caleb. They don’t seem to have much time for her husband either.

I love how the title refers to a secret (singular) whereas there are so many layers of secrets. How Jasper used a different name after leaving his family, how he kept watching them from afar, June’s husband having an affair, how she denies her talent for years and hides under the facade of an accountant, the relationship between June and Caleb is hidden from her children, how Caleb doesn’t share his struggle with mental illness until near the end of the book, how the sisters don’t share what is happening in their lives until later.

There was a sense I had throughout the book of the scenery contributing to a sense of peace and all working out for the best in the end. This was one I struggled to put down until it was finished! Excellent read!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This, an emotional book, June, discovers a truth which is hard to believe about her past.

To try and make sense if and come to terms with what she’s found out, along with her two daughters, take a trip from the East Coast, heading to Wish Cove, WA.

Once there, she learns about a father who she never knew and what he’s left her, which could change her life. There too, is a man, whose work forces her to look into herself.

This story delves into heavy subjects such as the power of art, the stigma and turmoil of mental illness, deep grief. Every subject is written into the story beautifully.

I recommend it.

In Melissa Wiesner’s Her Family Secret, June Westwood receives a phone call from her father’s lawyer telling her the father she doesn’t know has died. Her father, Jasper Luc- the artist- has left June and her two sisters his house in Wishing Cove, Washington, his paintings, and part of his studio. June’s personal life is a wreck with a cheating husband, so she moves along with her two children to her father’s home. Little did she know that this move would change her life. Caleb Valencia, her father’s apprentice, helps June learn more about herself and begin a life of second chances.

This book had elements that always draw me into a story - a woman inherits a house she knew nothing about and discovers family secrets, art and creativity with creative characters I loved, a beach house, tight-knit sisters there for one another, rocking handsome good guys. A woman finally able to be the woman she deserves to be. And the writer's voice is SO well developed I can't wait to read Her next one. This is one of my favorite books I've read so far this year. I would give it fifty gold stars if I could

June is left reeling the moment she learns the father she never knew has died. Now she’ll never meet him, and worse, the truth about why he abandoned her as a child will be buried forever.

I just loved this book! I've never read anything by Melissa but thus one definitely held my attention. The writing was just fantastic. Now I'm on the hunt for more by her!
This book has every emotion jerker possible! Loved it

Ever felt like you’d like to grab the steering wheel, tap on the brakes and make a u-turn in life?

Juniper Westwood feels that this world has always fit her like the wrong-sized pants. She’s always had a sense of being out of place. An accident and an unexpected phone call cause her to grab her most precious possessions, her two little girls, and head for Wishing Cove, Washington. It’s here, on a small plot of land at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, that for a brief, fleeting time, all the pieces of her life slot into place exactly where they belong. It takes a reclusive artist apprentice to help her see that just because her life was always headed in one direction, it didn’t mean that she couldn’t take a turn.

There’s nothing quite like a global pandemic to shake things up and change our perspective. Maybe, like June, we can take some time out for ourselves and focus on what we want. Maybe the rat race we were accustomed to is of our own creating. Maybe it’s the one we think we’re supposed to have. What if it isn’t the one we want? What then? We could learn from June and stop wasting time on what we think we are supposed to do and use this time to find out what truly makes us happy.

Melissa Wiesner, in “Her Family Secret,” writes about the importance of making time for love, art and possibility. Her gentle approach to dealing with the hurdles life throws our way, her layered and loveable characters, and her focus on mental health make this a fantastic read. I loved how Juniper’s sisters dropped everything for the summer to come to Wishing Cove to support their big sister; they share the burden as well as take time to process how this life changing information will affect them. I loved broody Caleb and his approach in dealing with June. I’m a big fan of authors showing, not telling, the action and Wiesner deftly taps in to reader’s emotions while highlighting characters’ bold moves in reclaiming what they need to move on.

I highly recommend this insightful glimpse into dealing with challenges, chasing what makes us come alive, surrounding ourselves with those who really ‘see’ us and reminding us to nurture our psychological health.

I was gifted this advance copy by Melissa Wiesner, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Publishes May 28, 2021