"True to Me" was a surprisingly beautifully written and emotional story of family, secrets. loss, forgiveness and healing. The main character was Quinn and at the start, she frustrated me with her lack of self-confidence but her fiance was a control freak and I was cheering for her when she finally stood up to Ethan.

After her mother's deathbed confession, Quinn heads to Maui to discover her heritage. I loved the Hawaiian setting - its culture, words, traditions, food and natural beauty. The author brought the alive with her beautiful descriptions. I hope to one day visit this amazing part of the world.

The islanders were as warm and friendly as I have always imagined Hawaiians to be and the characters were so likeable you could feel their generous spirit. Family was important to them all as was the land. I loved all the big family gatherings they shared and felt I was among friends.

I am not a big fan of women's fiction, but this novel was emotional and I was pulled into Quinn's story from the start. I have not read any books by Kay Bratt before but I am looking forward to finding the sequel to this novel. A lovely holiday read. ( )

Sweet story but too long and complete fluff ( )

Amazing Tale. This was one of those tales that was so rich that the author could spend the rest of her career writing within this world and I'm pretty sure no one would be disappointed. The tale here of finding oneself and the large amounts of forgiveness that sometimes requires is palpable and tragic - but ultimately the feel good story one expects from this particular author. Just as with her previous book, this one yet again feels like it was written specifically to one of her daughters and indeed she has spoken publicly of it being inspired by a trip to see this particular daughter... in Maui. Truly a remarkable work, and very much recommended. ( )

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.
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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. ( )