Tourist Season is the story of Ismay Chalmers and identical twin, Remy Windsor. They are a successful young couple finishing post-graduate school in California and newly engaged to be married. Remy and Ismay are looking forward to a relaxing summer away, on Mariners Island, She will unwind after passing the State Bar, and he will decompress after taking his Medical Boards. The only problem: Remy sends Ismay alone, ahead of him, to the island retreat Once she gets to Mariners Island, she meets the good-looking, kind, and attentive caretaker of Remy's family vacation home. She is immediately attracted to Bo. Soon after Ismay arrives a massive storm hits the island, and they are thrust together, overnight, to ride it out. Ismay struggles with her feelings, as Remy seems distant and unconcerned for her lately. She beings to question her relationship and her attraction to the mysterious Bo when Bastian, Remy's identical twin shows up at the vacation home to stir things up even more!

Although Tourist Season seems as if it is going to be a nice little romance, it turns into more of a mystery than anything. All the male characters have some intense secrets they are keeping from Ismay. She doesn't quite have the summer she's planned for. When Ismay discovers the 'bag of goodies' hidden in her fiancé's bedroom wall, this is when she begins to confide in Bo and their relationship takes a new direction. Oh, the tangled web we weave!

Will Ismay and Remy stay together once she discovers his deeply hidden secrets (and not so deeply hidden ones too)? How did an innocent young girl die in this beachside town, many years back, and does it have any connection to any of Mariners Island's current residents? These are the question readers will be asking themselves, throughout the whole story.

Brenda Novak did an excellent job of building an interesting story that kept me glued to my Kindle. There were enough characters to keep this book entertaining, while not too many to confuse. I loved being surprised that this turned into a Mystery, and it kept me guessing about how she would tidy up the plot in the end. Looking forward to reading more from Brenda, especially since I've seen her on Book Tour and found her absolutely adorable in person!

Thanks Net Galley, Brenda Novak and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC, in exchange for my honest opinion, It was a very entertaining read! Make sure you get your copy now, Publish date April 2, 2024!

I enjoyed reading the new book Tourist Season by Brenda Novak. She is one of my favorite authors. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review. Happy Reading!

Good romance with a bit of suspense mixed in to make things interesting. Ismay and Remy have been a couple for three years and living together for two of them. They met at college, where Ismay was studying to be a lawyer while Remy attended medical school. At the beginning of this book, Ismay graduated and passed her exam, and Remy is studying for his finals. They plan to take the summer off to spend time with each other and rejuvenate their relationship, which has suffered under the stress of their studies. Ismay has arrived at Remy's family beachfront cottage on Mariner's Island, where she will hang out until Remy can join her.

Shortly after her arrival, the island is hit by a massive storm, something the farm girl from Utah has never experienced before. While searching for a flashlight or candles, she stumbles across some disturbing items in Remy's old bedroom. She's relieved when the home's caretaker, Bo, arrives to fix the generator and check on her. There is something about Bo that makes her feel safe, so when the storm damages his house, she has no problem inviting him to stay at the cottage with her. Matters become more complicated when Remy's twin brother, Bastian, shows up unexpectedly.

First impressions: I liked Ismay. She has worked hard to get where she is and is rightfully proud of her accomplishments. She grew up on a family farm in Utah and had a solid value system. She is kind and courteous, and I liked how she treated Bo as an equal rather than as a servant. She looks forward to spending time with Remy because she feels they have drifted apart. But after finding those things in his closet, she wonders how well she really knows him.

I liked Bo, too. He has had a difficult life and, as a result, keeps mostly to himself. He doesn't trust easily and is wary of Ismay when he meets her. It doesn't take him long to realize that she differs from Remy. I liked his protectiveness toward her and his neighbor, Honey. Bo also has a big secret he has been keeping from everyone, which could change how people look at him.

Remy and Bastian. I didn't like either one of them. Remy is focused on himself and his goals and expects Ismay to go along with them. I didn't like how he took her for granted. But in her conversations with him, I thought something else was going on. Bastian creeped me out from the moment he appeared. He is rude, crude, and far too interested in making obnoxious comments to Ismay. There is also something odd in the relationship between the two brothers.

Jack. Ismay's brother is going through a devastating divorce that has left him reeling. Ismay invites him to come to Mariner's Island to escape the gossip and decide what he wants to do. He has been expected to follow in his father's footsteps as a farmer but realizes that may not be what he wants from life. Jack is a nice guy and stays with Bo while on the island. I liked how he pitched in to help with the storm cleanup and how easily he made friends with Bo.

I liked how Ismay confided her worries to Bo. They worked together to find out the truth about the things they found. The more they learned, the more worried they became. There were several worrisome twists, and I couldn't decide who the most likely culprit was. The more time she and Bo spent together, the closer they became. This also contributes to Ismay's concern over her relationship with Remy and leads to an examination of her choices. I felt her confusion and liked seeing her take a hard look at her options. Bo's secret comes out because of Bastian's underhanded actions, straining the developing relationship between Bo and Ismay. I ached for both as they came to terms with the revelation and what it meant to them.

The epilogue was an excellent wrap-up to the story.

I just reviewed Tourist Season by Brenda Novak. #TouristSeason #NetGalley. This was the first Brenda Novak book I read. I like the concept of the story but I found that in places things happened quickly and in other places they dragged on and on. I thought I knew how it was going to end but was surprised that it ended differently than I expected. I will read other Brenda Novak books.

A captivating story that kept me turning the pages. An intriguing plot/mystery that kept me guessing.Secrets that were buried have now resurfaced. Loved the friendship between Bo and Ismay. Did not like Remy from the very beginning. Looks like a sweet beach read but far from it, loved it!! Highly recommend.

I was pleasantly shocked to discover this beach read romance looking and sounding novel was more of a psychological thriller with many family secrets, well developed main characters, complicated familial relationships, and even more complicated romances!

Brenda Novak twisted and turned the story with every single chapter. Each time I thought my pulse could return to normal beats, nope, the thrills and deceptions kept adding up making my pulse go faster!

First of all the book, is set on the island Mariners, off the coast of Massachusetts. Second, the female, Ismay Chalmers is all alone as a hurricane barrels down and the power goes out. Her phone is almost dead, but she can squeeze in a quick phone call to her fiancé back in California just in time. He tells her not to worry and the family caretaker, living in the separate small home on the back of the family’s huge beach house, will check on her and the power after her fiancé, Remy gives him a quick call. Ismay has left California a few weeks earlier than her fiancé because her exam is done; she passed the California State Bar and is now an attorney! Remy is still studying and taking the medical boards to become an emergency medicine doctor. The caretaker, Bo helps get the generator going, but luckily isn’t in his home since trees crash through the roof directly over his easy chair! They must wait out the storm together in close, closed off proximity which is very strange, never having met before.

The set up strikes the tone for the entire novel. It’s an innocent relaxing trip for Matilda, who just passed the California bar, and is supposed to relax and wait. But she discovers disturbing things in the home which set off a series of long hidden events.

I was happily surprised how well this book delivered much, much more than a romantic mystery in an idyllic setting!

I thank NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author, Brenda Novak for this Advanced Reader’s Copy. I only received it last week and the book was just published this Tuesday, April 2. I give it 4 stars and recommend my friends to run out and read it!

#bookreviewmaureenvandusky

“Tourist Season” by Brenda Novak. I found it more suspenseful than the last book I read of this authors but I still really enjoyed it and read in one day. A summer by the ocean promises new beginnings—until old secrets resurface.
The story follows Ismay, she’s vacationing on Mariners Island at her fiancés family home but things start to spiral as she suspects her fiancé of unspeakable things.

It had everything you could want in a story, suspense, friendship, forgiveness, love and family however that might look.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested. I liked how the author wrapped everything up neatly and didn’t leave us hanging.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harlequin and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of Brenda Novak and every novel is better than the last!!!!!!!! This book is the perfect beach read & I know all of her fans will enjoy it as much as I did.

Surprisingly this was not a typical beach read. This contained an interesting mystery and some family drama. It was a pleasant surprise.

Ismay Chalmers has her summer all planned out and she is looking forward to relaxing time staying at her fiancé Remy’s family beachfront home on Mariners Island.
Little did she realize how much is going to happen – everything from a bad storm to finding things in the home that makes her start to rethink everything she has thought was good in her life may not be so true.
Between family issues, Remy may not be who she thinks he is, to making a friend who happens to be the caretaker who has his own secrets.
I enjoyed how well Brenda Novak took all the pieces and made a very intriguing story that held my attention – sometimes late into the night.
This is a book that has the various storylines all woven together to make this a book many will enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley, Brenda Novak and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of Tourist Season. This is my personal review.

Brenda Novak books always make me think of summer and her newest book - Tourist Season which came out on April 2nd is a little different with more of a mystery feel than your usual summer beach read.

Ismay is ready to connect with her fiance at his family's beach cottage on Mariners Island when a huge hurricane delays his arrival So she weathers the storm alone and when she finds something disturbing in her fiance's closet. When Bo, the caretaker's cottage is damaged, Ismay invites him to stay and she feels safer. This isn't the quiet summer she had planned when her fiance's brother and her brother also come to the island and what secrets might come out.

While this was different than I expected -- I thought this would be a sweet summer romance, I did like the mystery/suspense aspect.

if you like a summer romance with a more mysterious side you'll enjoy Tourist Season.

Thanks to Miira Books and HTP for my advanced copy.

Oh my Gosh! One of her best novels yet! It grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the end! Brenda Novak is the best at writing Suspense Novels. Her characters come to life and draw you into the storyline, then you find yourself rooting for your favorite character. Or couple. In this case, just when you think you've got it all figured out, the plot thickens and you're wondering again. I've never read a book with exactly this type of scenario. It kept me guessing until the very end. I found I couldn't sleep until I discovered who 'done it'! Finished it at 2 in the morning and slept like a log after. Well Done again Brenda!

I was looking forward to diving into Brenda Novak's next single title beach read and it didn't disappoint. I would say this book is a cross between women fiction/mystery/thriller. The mystery definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

Ismay Chalmers is looking forward to spending the summer on Mariners Island after just passing the bar in California. Her fiance, Remy Windsor told her to go spend the next few weeks enjoying the beach while he finishes studying for his upcoming medical boards and she can stay at his parents summer home, Windsor Cottage. The first night Ismay is in the house, a bad storm happens and she loses power. While looking for candles or flashlights, Ismay finds a duffel bag hidden in Remy's closet with very strange items in it. When she starts to panic, she calls Remy. He then calls property’s caretaker, Bo Broussard to go and help get the power back on. When Bo shows up something about him puts Ismay at ease. Ismay was having doubts about her relationship with Remy and now being with Bo makes her have even bigger doubts. Ismay and Bo are enjoying being with each other until all of a sudden Remy's twin brother, Bastian, shows up. Bastian makes Ismay very nervous. With all of the strange things going on, Ismay isn't sure she wants to stay on the island. When Ismay's brother Jack calls her with some shocking news, she convinces him to come to the island from Utah. As all of these characters are together, everyone is keeping secrets and no one knows what to make of any of it. Just when you think you have it figured out, there is a new twist. When everything finally comes crashing down together, the secrets are revealed. It will take some sorting out but then Ismay can finally find her happy ever after.

I just loved this suspenseful romance. I could not put this book down. I just loved all of the twists and turns that happened and never saw the ending coming. Overall this was a fantastic story with wonderful characters and I highly recommend it!

This is a book set on a gorgeous beach in a wonderful house, but that is as far as the light beach reading goes. TOURIST SEASON is a multi-layered book about relationships, secrets, and intrigue that captivated me from the beginning. The setting is inviting and the characters are relatable; even the ones that I didn’t particularly like were well-developed and dynamic. I really enjoyed getting to know Ismay Chalmers and her warm hearted desire to help people find happiness, especially her brother who has just had a shock in his own relationship. Ismay is not afraid to risk helping others, but she is a little slow to recognize when she herself needs help in the relationship department. Enter swoon worthy hero, Bo the caretaker, who is there to help Ismay weather a hurricane and discover some truths about the family she is planning to marry into. The story is intricate and well-woven around the setting and the characters. The plot moves at a moderate pace at first, then picks up and races to the end as more and more secrets are uncovered and Ismay is hard pressed to make some difficult choices. I really enjoyed how tightly woven together the plot was and the chemistry between the main characters. With complex family dynamics, an edgy mystery and a satisfying story, this book is a brilliantly written slam dunk for me!
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 and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This story is not a light Brenda Novak romance but a darker book about families and the psychological issues surrounding a wealthy family and their twin sons. The main characters are Ismay, the fiancé of one of the twins, Remy. She has finished law school and has gone to New England to Remy’s family summer cottage where she runs headlong into Bo, the caretaker, during a fierce storm, and then Bastian, Remy’s twin. Remy has stayed behind so as to finish taking his exams to graduate from Medical School. This is a deep dark story with lots of tension, mystery, and some creepy vibes; however the characters are well developed and the plot keeps the readers interested. All in all another spectacular book by one of my favorite authors.

I was anticipating an easy beach read with a bit of family drama and some romance but this book was so much more and so much better! I LOVED it!!! The storyline had the suspense element I love and offers mystery, secrets, intrigue, drama all at a seaside setting. The amazing characters were a interesting mix and engaging. This book really grabbed my attention and was interesting and exciting. You will happily stay up way to late turning pages to get to the end, I did! Well done!

Romance with a little mystery.

Ismay (I love the name) is staying at her fiance, Remys parents' place on the beach. It's a small town where not a lot happens. Ismay and Remy are going to relax there together after Remy is done with his last tests.

When Ismay arrives, it's a terrible storm, and for Ismay (who's from Utah), it's really scary. She gets some help from the caretaker of the place, Bo. Who's goodlooking... kind... and Ismay can't help but feel safe when she's around him.

Bo's been taking care of the place for 2 years, and he's not a fan of Remy or his brother, Bastian (not a fan, poor guy needs to be checked out!) And Bo has his own reasons and knowledge of people who aren't on the up and up.

So when Ismay finds something very unsettling in the cottage, she turns to Bo. There's a mystery in what Ismay finds. And honestly, most of the book I kept flip-flopping! I couldn't figure out who it was.

I really felt for Ismays brother too. He'd definitely gotten hurt, but to be so kind in the midst of all that betrayal! I don't know if I could have.

It left me guessing to the very end.

Not quite a beach read...

Ismay is trying to reconnect with her fiance, Remy, but Remy has secrets.
Add in a hurricane (a metaphor for what is happening to Ismay). Enter, Bo, I really liked Bo. He's the caretaker. He has layers and is the opposite of Remy.
He also has secrets. More mystery with a side of feels.
4.5

Tourist Season by Brenda Novak was a great little mystery with a touch of romance.
I’m a big Novak fan. Her writing always pulls me straight into the story and into the lives of her fantastic characters.
She really knows how to weave a great story.
I liked that this one kept me engaged cover to cover, and in fact, I stayed up way too late at night just to read "a little more" until I closed the last page. The story provided readers with a very good mystery. I thought the characters were well written and I loved the way they interacted with each other. 

Thank You NetGalley and MIRA for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!