Great!

I enjoyed this book a lot. Rather than the romance that I was expecting from this author, it was more suspenseful than romantic. Sure, there was a bit of romance, but the focus of the story was rooted in a mysterious item found hidden away.

Ismay was supposed to be at her fiance's family vacation home on Mariners Island for a restful, relaxing time after passing the bar exam. She's there alone, which is kind of strange, but she's ok, until a bad storm hits. The caretaker, Bo, arrives, helps Ismay by starting the generator, and winds up staying with her for a couple of nights because his cottage was damaged during the storm. But they are friends, nothing more.

The mystery begins when Ismay finds a hidden item and its contents are a bit disturbing. But, not knowing the origin of the item, she tries to keep it out of her mind. But when she confides in Bo, who is hiding a few secrets of his own, and he starts investigating, she knows she is right to be concerned. Even more concerning is when her fiance's twin brother shows up, and its obvious that he has problems of his own. Let's make it a family affair, Ismay's brother also shows up after a sudden breakup.

There were a lot of twists and turns in this story, and it was well-crafted. I think the author captured the have/have-not attitudes very well. I would have liked Ismay to be a bit more savvy, given that she is a full-fledged lawyer, but she kept reverting to her small-town, farm-raised self. All in all, it was a good book and moved along quickly.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I'm surprised at all of these positive reviews, as I feel this book has a considerable amount of editing work that still needs to be done. At its present state, the following things detracted from the story:

1) There is a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. For example, the beautiful island setting is barely described in the book.
2) Much of the book is dialogue, and it is not always clear which character is speaking.
3) The characters are pretty cliche (i.e., good vs. bad) and need more complexity.
4) Most of the characters are unlikable, so it's difficult for the reader to develop a connection and become invested in their outcome.

I will say not to be fooled by the cover - this is not a basic beach romance. It is more like a domestic thriller/suspense with a romance arc. I personally think the suspense aspect was the primary redeeming quality of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this book to review in exchange for my feedback.

3.5 Stars-
~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I started diving into the story. I was not expecting some of the darker and slightly psychological twists that she threw in this book.

The plot is great and totally works with the scenarios that she adds. There is tension, a slow buildup, and enough of a creep factor to get that uncomfortable feeling now and again.

The characters that Novak develops are diverse and definitely draw you in. The twins have a dark side to them and you’re really not sure what to expect, keeping you on edge as she builds the story.

Tourist Season is a well-developed book that keeps you a bit off balance. With drips of foreshadowing and a building romance, Novak continues to draw you into the story.

One part that was not a hit for me is the ending. After the buildup she delivered, the ending could have been so much more. A big missed opportunity, in my opinion. I really wanted more.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story was truly amazing! Part romance, and part suspense I could not put the book down. It was real and raw, full of so much emotion, and a perfect happily ever after. The characters and setting were so rich I felt like I knew these people, and I was on Mariners Island with them.

This story will absolutely be a must read for everyone laying on the beach this summer! Even though I just finished, it’s one of those books I already wish I could reread for the first time. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Ismay and her fiancé Remy have hit a rough patch in their engagement. They decide to spend their summer together on Mariners Island, at Remy’s family estate. Remy has to finish up his medical exams before he can leave for their trip, so Ismay heads out ahead of time.

Upon arriving on Mariners a terrible storm slams the island, and she is forced to hunker down with the cottage care taker Bo. The two strike up a quick friendship, while also trying to solve the mystery of an alarming duffle bag full of women’s underpants she found in the family’s house during the storm.

The story follows Ismay and Bo as their friendship begins to strengthen and it makes her question everything about Remy and her relationship with him. But as Ismay’s companionship gets more serious with Bo, she is shocked when she finds out things from his past. We also meet Remys twin brother Bastian who shows up at the cottage and creates nothing but trouble for Ismay. And we also meet Ismay’s brother Jack who is going through a heart breaking divorce.

This novel is sprinkled with such great storytelling you will be unable to put it down until you see how it all ends! I highly anticipate this book being a must read for the summer!

Tourist Season
Brenda Novak
April 2, 2024

Ismay Chalmers had finally finished her long journey to become an attorney. She passed the bar on the first try and felt such relief that she was done studying. Her fiance,Remy, is finishing his final round of exams so he can begin Med school in early July. They planned a vacation on Mariner’s Island where they would stay in his parents summer cottage. She left first to enjoy the freedom of the beach to lay in the sun, swim or read anything but legal journals and statute law. As she arrived on the island she was concerned about the forecast for storms arriving in the area. Before she unpacked she felt the need to find a lantern, candles, matches, and emergency items.
Tourist Season will be published on April 02, 2024 by Mira of Harlequin Enterprises, ULC. I was able to read Novak’s latest novel via NetGalley. As I have read all of her previous novels I considered it a privilege to be selected to read the ARC. Prior to reading Tourist Season I did not read reviews. The cover was pleasant and I presumed it to be a romantic vacation read. It was of sorts and that is all I will say - no spoilers allowed. I will only advise that Brenda Novak’s latest novel is not one to miss. It is a page turner! Do Enjoy!!

The title and book cover serve to entice readers thinking they're getting a lighthearted beach read when in fact it's more of an episode of Dateline.

Ismay recently graduated from law school, so to enjoy a much deserved break, her fiance, Remy, sends her to his family's cottage on Mariner's Island. During her first few days, a storm hits the island and while searching for candles, she unearths some questionable things in her fiance's closet. The cottage's caretaker, Bo, comes over to check on her and they quickly develop a friendship.

Unbeknownst to Ismay and Bo, Remy's twin, Bastian, shows up. Bastian definitely appears to be a questionable character.

Remy never makes it to Mariner's as he's study for his med school finals, which makes things odd.

Ismay can't let go of what she found in Remy's closet and as she gets closer to Bo, shares it with him. Bo himself has some things he'd like to keep in the past. As the story unfolds, we question both Bastian and Remy's actions and past. Who is good? Who is bad? My gut was right from the beginning, but you'll have to read the book to make your own determination.

Tourist Season is a quick read and keeps you wanting to know what really happened in the twins' past.

I think a different title would have been more fitting as the title. Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC. I#NetGalley #TouristSeason

What starts like a light beach read - turns dark and mysterious— Does Ismay really know the man she plans to marry ?

This was my first book by this author , though I was expecting a light beach read — I was sucked into a well balanced Romance - mystery/ thriller . The characters were all fantastically written — and the icing was very good — with perfect amounts of tension placed throughout the story. My only complaint was I felt the ending tied itself up a little to quickly and neatly for my tastes . Overall, I enjoyed the characters which held my interest and the intrigue of the mystery. Looking forward to trying more of this authors books.

Thanks Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA for this ARC . This is my honest review .

Ismay is excited to travel to Mariners Island to relax after passing the bar exam. She will have a few weeks there before her fiancé arrives. Those few weeks end up changing everything! A storm, hidden objects, scary family members, and a new friendship are just a few things encountered by Ismay. This was an interesting read and not your typical beach read.

More than stormy weather is surfacing in this new book by Brenda Novak. And don’t let the idyllic beach scene cover fool you either. This book is full of mystery, tangled relationships, deep secrets, fear and tension. Not your normal book by this author. She has written an excellent book full of intrigue that kept me fully engaged till the last page.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA for an early copy. This review is my personal review. #Netgalley, #Harlequin, #BrendaNovak, #Publishing4/2.

This book right here reads like a 20/20 - Dateline episode. What turns from a vacation for studying hard to get your lawyer license. Leads to mystery a murder and so much more.

Great story but the title is a decoy, not the normal type of beach read. Ismay just passed her bar and on her way to open her own law practice. Taking a few months off to relax before real life sets in she heads to Mariners Island ahead of her fiancé, Remy. Staying at his family upscale beach house alone she is first freaked out by a wild storm that hit the island. No power and scared she searches for anything to allow her to see in the dark, her cell phone flashlight will not last for long. What she does discover behind a hidden panel in Remy’s bedroom has unnerved her even more than the storm. Then there’s the pounding at her front door and the man says he is the caretaker, Bo. He does seem respectful and stays back from the door, standing in the rain. Of course things only get more complicated when Remy twin shows up a few days later. Not at all what Ismay thought her vacation would be.
Bo is a man trying to hide from his past and being a caretaker and a loner has worked for the last two years. But coming to Ismay rescue during the storm and then having a tree fall on his place has thrown them together. Knowing the twins somewhat he wants to warn Ismay, but it isn’t his place to say and it would most definitely cost him his job. When things seem to get weird and Ismay confines to him her discovery, they band together to discover the truth.
Wow a winner! My favorite book written by Brenda Novak so far. The story has it all and grabs you on the first few pages and then you are hooked and can’t put it down. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TouristSeason

Tourist Season by Brenda Novak

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ismay has just taken her bar exam and needs a break. She heads to Mariners Island to her fiancée parent’s estate. Remy is going to join her in a few weeks after he takes the exam for his medical license. On her first night, a storm hits that leaves her in darkness. While searching for matches in Remy’s childhood closet, she makes a disturbing discovery. It has her questioning if she really knows him. Bo, the caretaker, comes to check on her and get the electricity going. When his cottage is damaged, he agrees to stay in the big house with Ismay. However, when Remy’s twin Bastian comes to the island, she begins to notice his strange behavior, and goes to Bo for help more and more.

This was another great read by Brenda Novak. She has a way with writing romantic suspense that keeps you captivated and turning the pages. You will feel for the characters even Bastian, who is very unlikable. I highly recommend this one.

Ismay Chalmers arrives on Mariners Island her fiancé's family summer home. She will be alone until he finishes his final board exams to become a doctor. She has passed her finals for her lawyer degree. A hurricane arrives just as she is getting settled in and Bo the caretaker comes over to check on her. The power is out, and the generator is not working.
Bo's cottage is damaged by a fallen tree and she insist he stay with her at the family home. Her fiancé Remy has a twin brother and he shows up on the second day.
Bo is using a fake name and has been since he was released from prison for a crime he didn't commit. As Ismay and Bo draw closer together; there is a video sent to Ismay of Remy out with another girl.
There is a lot of drama on the island due to Remy's twin showing up and Ismay's brother comes to stay on the island. Jack's wife has left him, and he really needs to get out of his hometown.
Remy shows up also after Ismay lets him know about the video and he is upset she is breaking up with him.
Well written story with a lot of secrets from the island surfacing.

The cover and title would lead one to believe this would be a "beach read" but don't be deceived, this is mid-range suspense mix with romance. Rival twin brothers, Remy & Bastian, are the beneficiaries of a privileged childhood, and the privilege continues into their young adult lives. Continuously blaming each other and both refusing to be held accountable for any of their actions finally catches up to them when Remy's fiancé heads to the family's island home ahead of Remy for an after-exam summer break. An unseasonable storm, a hidden discovery in a wall, an unlikely friendship, a mystery, and the unraveling of more than decades worth of secrets will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

What a great read! Tourist Season is not your typical beach read. Ismay heads to Mariners Island for a vacation but finds herself first encountering an early season storm followed by some suspense and a mystery that hits much too close for comfort. Throw in a bit of romance and family drama, and Novak has again created a recipe for success. One of the best I've read from her in recent memory -- highly recommended!!

The genre I stick to is normally romantic comedy. This book was definitely not that, but...
There was romance, drama, complicated family relations.
Despite it not being my normal read, I couldn't get enough! I literally couldn't not put it down. Just when I thought I figured it out, there was another twist!
10/10 will recommend

I thought this was going to be a beachy summer romance, but boy was I wrong! This book had plenty of suspense and twists with a little romance and I was truly guessing till the end! I loved Ismay and how she followed her gut the entire story. I also liked Bo, the caretaker and the friendship that they formed.

This book isn’t your typical light hearted beach read you may expect based on the cover but if you are a fan of Brenda Novak you already know she loves to sprinkle some mystery and suspense into her books.

The setting in Mariner’s with a nasty storm coming through is perfect because Ismay is about to face a storm of her own disrupting the path her life was on. I absolutely adored how her and Bo had their own baggage but were able to accept that in each other.

I loved the twists and turns and uncertainty when you think you’ve figured something out. The only thing I didn’t like was I wasn’t ready for the book to end.

An enjoyable summer read with a number of unexpected twists and turns- Brenda Novak does what she does best- keeping her readers entertained and in this case, guessing until the end.

Tourist Season is yet another amazing Brenda Novak book. She is one of my favorite authors but each book seems to get better than the previous.
Ismay goes to Mariners after her exams to relax while her fiancé studies for his finals. While staying in his family’s home she discovers some unsettling things and is left to deal with his twin brother on her own. Past secrets start to surface and new friendships form.
This is a great suspense with a little bit of romance . Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.