Very interesting premise and a well written story. I appreciated how the switching of perspectives was done in a way that wasn't confusing. The emotions and thoughts described by the protagonists were relatable and complex. Didn't have me turning pages furiously but a great read nevertheless. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This tightly written historical thriller totally wowed me.
Kudos to Maia Caron for highlighting the nuances of Ukrainian history during and after WWII. She vividly shows the dilemma Ukrainians faced, living between two genocidal dictatorships that both had the intention of wiping Ukraine off the map, and how even once the war ended for everyone else, it didn't end for Ukrainians. I loved how the seemingly disparate threads of Jeanie and Savka came together. A mystery, a thriller, memorable characters and oh so much at stake. A timely and unforgettable read,

The Last Secret is a complex and captivating historical mystery novel set in Ukraine during the Second World II and in Canada in the 1970s. As a scholar of Ukrainian Canadian history, literature, and culture, I was impressed with the author's attention to historical nuance. I hope there is a book #2 about Ewa.

I really enjoyed this book. The Last secret is a story that begins with the war and goes between the past and present. Two stories set in different countries that comes together in a stunning ending. What a thrilling read! It showed the atrocities of war and had a few twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I would recommend reading this book. I received a free book and the views and opinions are my own.

The Last Secret by Maia Caron is a fictional story based with one character’s journey beginning during WW II and another character’s journey through a life changing event in her life and how she deals with it in the 1970s. Canon brings these two different stories together through the power of women’s determination and resilience to survive many heart breaking moments in their lives. This book is well researched and the Authors’s note at the end of the book pull this book together with a greater understanding of women’s trials during Ukraine’s struggles during the Second World War.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin, and Doubleday Canada for the advanced copy for an honest review of this book.

Review: The Last Secret by Maia Caron

The Last Secret is a dual timeline, multi-POV historical fiction with mystery and intrigue. The story is set in WWII Ukraine/Russia where a family is torn apart by war and later in the 1970s when a woman with a tragic past is realizing she is a captive in her own house. These two disparate timelines seem unconnected, but slowly a web of secrets unfolds. What is the last secret? Will confronting the secrets bring closure or chaos.

This sweeping narrative drew me in from the first few chapters as I tried to tease the mystery from its pages. I grew attached to the character’s stories and loved or loathed them. The multi-POV was fairly easy to follow and added suspense and suspicion as the story unfolded. I highly recommend for those who enjoy Kate Quinn and Julia Kelly books.

Thank you to Penguin, Doubleday Canada, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
The takes place between 1944 Eastern Europe and Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
Savka is a young mother in Ukraine and is a medic. Savka's husband Marko a member of the SS and hasn't seen for years.
Marko has a list for Savka to deliver to the Ukraine underground. Savka and her son Taras take the nite to deliver, but are soon ambushed by three Russians.
Savka is shot and left for dead. Her son is abducted by the Russians.
Savka will do almost? anything to see her belived son.
Salt Spring Lake 1972 Jeanie is livingb in her aunt's house.
Jeanie hasn't had it easy as she was seriously burned at her wedding. She spent two years in the hospital. Jeanie's caregiver is a nurse she had at the hospital. Jeanie is given pain medication by her nurse as she can't function. Her nurse Pat goes to Vancouver and Jeanie has a strange visitor come to visit her as he has questions of his own.
She is also a landscape artist.
You may ask yourself how does Savka and Jeanie's lives intertwine with each other.

1944 -Ukraine. Savka works as a medic for the Ukrainian underground. Her husband has joined the Nazi’s Ukrainian SS unit to fight back against the Russians. When she is attacked by Soviets in the woods and her son is taken in exchange for her spying on her husband Savka will have to make some hard choices and walk a razors edge to keep those she loves alive.
1972 - Salt Spring Island. Jeanie survived a terrible accident and lost her memories surrounding it and has since lived a quiet reclusive life with only her nurse, Pat. But lately Jeanie is starting to remember things and she is starting to think Pat might not just be her nurse, she might be her jailer.
Definitely a slow and steady build up. I did struggle a little in the beginning, there were a lot of characters and places and plot lines introduced at the very start. Once I got everyone squared away in my head I was able to get into the plot more and the more I read the more curious I got about how these two very separate stories would intersect. Inspired by true events and real people with a fictional spin @maiacaronauthor has created a beautiful story.
Thank you to @netgalley and @doubledayca for providing me an advanced copy for review.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booknerd #historicalfiction #ukraine #history #bookcommunity #bookworm #reader #readersofinstagram #readersofinstagram #readersgonnaread #readersofig #readers

We follow Jeanie and Savka throughout this story. Jeanie is a reclusive artist who lives on an island and Savka is a Ukrainian resistance fighter during WW2. Their stories are beautifully written and show just what some people can survive. Their lives tie together in a most unusual way but no spoilers from me so read the book to find out how. A great read. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for my ARC.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada..

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review

Two women struggle to survive in this sweeping tale about a Ukraine freedom fighter and an artist. Towo somewhat different people as they path will cross in this epic read. A woman will be kidnapped and shot as she is being rescued. Will she be able to survive and reunite with her son in the end? Nearly forty years we meet with reclusive artist who ends up encountering a mysterious stranger. Soon things do not quite make sense. What is the truth behind everything? It is a mysterious read.

My rating: 4.5 stars!
Received as Advance Review Copy, with gratitude to the author, NetGalley, and Doubleday.
What a fantastic read - mystery, drama, tension, political intrigue - fantastic. Once I started I didn't want to put it down - definitely stayed up too late for a couple of nights to continue reading. The characters are well developed, the history well researched, the concept deliciously engrossing.
Two equally compelling yet unrelated storylines converge across years and geography in a matter of happenstance and coincidence, weaving together genres in a powerful way. Maia Caron has a clear mastery of engaging the reader.
I am so glad to have read this book.

This is a sweeping historical novel with believable characters I became totally invested in. The writing was great, I found it hard to get into my groove at the start but pretty quickly was hooked until the very end. Bravo!

A book with a historical WW II storyline is usually a must read for me. This book had the added bonus of local BC, Canada geography so I was very happy to receive an ARC of this story. Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley and the author for the opportunity to read this before it is published in September.

What I liked:
- two strong female characters. I was rooting for both of them the whole way
- this book showed another side of WWII that I did not know much about
- the two timelines and the story ending in the 1970's rather than present day
- the author writes beautifully. Very descriptive without being overdone. The author transports the reader to the location that is being described (cold winter forest or ocean island)
- a happy ending

It took me a while to be interested in the characters and the story. It did not grip me from the beginning - more of a slow burn. Also, suspend your disbelief with this one. There were a few things (like the KGB agents that kept popping up) that I found too far fetched but this is a fictional story.

This would make a great movie!

Magnificent!!
…historical fiction at its best!!!
…meticulously researched!!!
…Mira Caron couldn’t have painted more beautiful scenes (harrowing & heartbreaking)…..so deeply emotional…. even nail-biting, if she tried.
We are intensely engaged with the characters. With their distinctive voices and internal dialogue, they’re a force to be reckoned with. The brave women: Savka Ivanets and Jeanie Esterhazy are standouts. The supporting cast equally memorable.
The unraveling of secrets, longings, and lies, are blessed with gorgeous descriptive powers.
The book’s beauty of imagery is atmospheric, mysterious, romantic, heartbreaking, educationally engrossing,
and marvelously written.

“The Last Secret” does what the best novels do - reminds us that there is no experience so exquisite, as immersive, as transformative, as being lost in fiction (inspired by real history), as being swept away in a world that contains devastating truth that’s devastatingly realistic of love, and life…..
…..then presents us with one last secret that crushes our soul.

“The Last Secret” will spark conversations — as the content is powerful, profound, and confronting.

Maia Caron provides a real gift to readers by giving us genuine intimate storytelling experiences that’s riveting, factual, and highly engrossing.
…the power of love, survival, courage, history, horrors, suppression, violation, betrayal, lies, risks, secrets, vulnerability,
with heroes and villains, (historical monsters),
wrapped in breathtaking prose …..
….climatory surroundings, sensory experiences, and mysterious scheming…..
…..we ‘feel’ the same emotions that our characters do.

We’re transported back in time - where we dive deep into real terror and famine during the 40’s of the war in Ukraine along side an equally fascinating mysterious and genuinely sad tale in Canada during the 70’s —(with characters to root for throughout).
The way these two time periods connect together made for an absolutely intoxicating read.

The writing quality is marvelous and nuanced.
ONE OF THE BEST HISTORICAL FICTION NOVELS I’VE READ IN MANY MOONS!!!

With virtuosic skill and soaring imaginative power, Maia Caron, Canadian author, chronicles the remembrance of extraordinary women who suffered, who loved, who loss.
Her characters are a delight… memorable for their humanity, eccentricity, and their inner strength.
The brutality and sadness, has sprinkles of charm….including a dog named Tuna 🐾.

Note….
….Read the blurb! It brilliantly describes the context of this story superbly.
….Also: make sure to read the ‘Author’s Notes’…..but ‘not’ until finishing the novel.
My little heart ached with love.

Very excited to read, share, and review this beautiful novel. With family from the Ukraine this especially touches and hits home. I find it very amazing to tell of a medic during this poignant and incredible time in history. I will be sharing much more soon, but I am a bit behind due to some unexpected health issues. Thank you very much for the privilege and opportunity to check out an advance of The Last Secret. I assure it will not be taken for granted. Much more to come soon.