Twisted Secrets by Amy McKinley

Posted January 7, 2021 in review Tags: Damsel in Distress, military

Twisted Secrets by Amy McKinley
Pages: 218

Series: Deadly Isles #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Setting: Honolulu, HI
Source: ARC

After her messy break-up, the last thing grad student Riley Evans expects is to meet someone new. Throw in a family history of bad relationships, the likelihood of the past repeating itself seems inevitable-especially after her ex turns stalker. She's a magnet for disaster. But when a man walks into the Coffee Hut and asks her on a date, she isn't prepared for the flare of desire. The pull of attraction is impossible to deny, and she gives love a second chance.

Navy SEAL Xander Hale lands in a Hawaii military hospital after a mission gone wrong. If that wasn't bad enough, his girlfriend breaks up with him. Plagued by his current single status and suspicions over the mission's bad intel, doubts fester about the direction of his life. Until he stops for coffee and encounters a barista that steals his breath and shifts his priorities from a presumed military career path to civilian.

When danger closes in after a suspicious home invasion, Xander whisks Riley to the safety of his family's island. On secluded shores, he's determined to keep her safe. But dark memories are triggered by her past and followed by a hidden threat that neither anticipated.

Twisted Secrets is an intriguing kick off of the Deadly Isles series by Amy McKinley. So, let me break it down:

What I liked: great setting (Hawaii), interesting plot (lots going on for both characters), and overall provides a nice escape from reality. I liked both Riley and Xander. I liked Xander’s family! I liked a lot about the book. But I didn’t love it.

What I didn’t like: The romance is kind of weird. Xander sees her and is instantly attracted. She is attracted too, but she has a (douchebag) boyfriend. So, nothing serious happens between them until about half way. So, you are told about all this chemistry, but it felt a bit flat to me.

While most of the story comes to a resolution in Twisted Secrets, there are a few loose ends that I assume will continue into the next book. I think the story has good bones and I will read the next one to see if it build some momentum!