The Poet's Secret

by Kenneth Zak

The Poet's Secret is an upmarket romantic suspense adventure novel powered by two remarkable yet fractured Elia Aloundra, a young lit student, and Cameron Beck, the reclusive, suicidal poet she is on a quest to find. Decades earlier, Beck penned his acclaimed masterwork inspired by an anonymous muse, only to thereafter disappear. Elia always found sanctuary within the works of the literary greats and considered Beck worthy of that pantheon. Hoping that the poet will unveil the secret to eternal love, Elia faces off with Beck's protective circle on an exotic island hideaway, the same island where decades earlier a Spanish shipwreck entombing mystical Aztec relics was found. What Elia cannot fathom is that Beck's secret will change both of their lives forever. Declared a "lyrical tour de force" by Foreword Reviews, The Poet's Secret was selected as a Golden Heart Finalist by the Romance Writers of America (romantic suspense). Other reviews "A Beautifully Crafted Gem" - Dirk Cussler, Best Selling co-author of Dirk Pitt adventure novels, with Clive Cussler; "Exotic Mystery and Romance" - Judy Reeves, writing provocateur and author of Wild Women, Wild Voices; "A thought-provoking blend of romance, poetry and adventure, The Poet's Secret satisfies on many levels. Elegant prose explores the infinite promise of art, while a quickening pace unveils the story of star-crossed lovers, whose union feels timeless and exceptional at the same time. More than a good read, this is a book to savor." - Kim Fay, Edgar Award Finalist author for The Map of Lost Memories. The Poet's Secret is filled with aquatic imagery and also subtle conservation and slow movement themes. The author wrote the novel while on a three-year personal pilgrimage while traveling abroad, writing, reading, surfing and slowing down his existence. Thus, the original manuscript was conceived in a hovel perched atop a one-table taverna in the hillside village of Avdou, just a scooter ride from the blue waters of the Aegean Sea on the island of Crete. Each chapter begins with brief excerpts of poetry from the reclusive poet before moving into the narrative prose. The author's influences include Pablo Neruda, Rumi, Wallace Stevens, Paulo Coelho, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Haruki Murakami and others. Penju Publishing is a member of 1% For the Planet, dedicating 1% of sale proceeds from The Poet's Secret to conservation causes. In addition, the author, an avid surfer, will donate $1 for every book sold to the Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving our oceans and beaches. The poem "Two Bits" from The Poet's Secret previously appeared in Kelp Magazine. Zak's short fiction "A Promise" appeared in A Year in Ink, San Diego Writers, Ink Anthology, Volume 4 and his short fiction "Thea" appeared in A Year in Ink, San Diego Writers, Ink Anthology, Volume 8. The Poet's Secret is his debut novel. For more information, please visit www.kennethzak.com and Kenneth Zak Author on Facebook.

354 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2015

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Poet’s Secret by Kenneth Zak

Rating: 5
Genre: Adult/New Adult/Romance/Adventure/Suspense

The Poet’s Secret is an upmarket romantic suspense adventure novel powered by two remarkable yet fractured characters: Elia Aloundra, a young lit student, and Cameron Beck, the reclusive, suicidal poet she is on a quest to find. Decades earlier, Beck penned his acclaimed masterwork inspired by an anonymous muse, only to thereafter disappear. Elia always found sanctuary within the works of the literary greats and considered Beck worthy of that pantheon. Hoping that the poet will unveil the secret to eternal love, Elia faces off with Beck’s protective circle on an exotic island hideaway, the same island where decades earlier a Spanish shipwreck entombing mystical Aztec relics was found. What Elia cannot fathom is that Beck’s secret will change both of their lives forever. (Goodreads summary)

Characters: I loved the characters in this novel! Elia Aloundra, the college lit student, reminded me almost of myself. Elia carries the heart of a romantic, has a passion for literature, and the desire to explore and indulge within the intricate pulchritudes of life. I enjoyed reading about her journey to find the poet and discover his secret. The poet, Cameron Beck and his lover (whose identity I won’t mention) have such a powerful connection toward each other and their experiences are equally exquisite and heartbreaking. From Isabella’s enchanting charm to Paco’s amiable personality, their qualities also enhance the power of the story and the loyalty everyone shares with each other.

Plot: If I could make a recipe with all the ingredients that would create my ideal version of a perfect novel, it would end up becoming The Poet’s Secret! Unlike some books where I skim past the chapters at a rather quick pace, I took my time reading this gem. I admired reading Zak’s magically potent descriptions of the blissful island and the strong chemistry between the characters. The author has a unique perspective of seeing the world in a picturesque, introspective manner, due to his incredible use of both language and diction, which kept me captivated and intrigued throughout.

My favorite parts were from page one to three-fifty four!

Cover Analysis: The cover makes perfect sense with the novel’s theme and internal message. However, I didn’t truly understand how the cover related to the book until I read all the way to the last page. It was definitely worth the read! Not to spoil anything either, but when I found out what the cover meant, I realized just how remarkable the story really was.

Key Notes: In case you’re interested in reading this book, it does contain a few parts with mature content. In my opinion, they add to the dramatic romance. If you’re not into reading long, verbose, or detailed scenes of imagery too, I don’t think you’d appreciate reading a book like this as much as someone who does.

Overall: I can proudly declare that The Poet’s Secret has become my third favorite book, since it left a mark on my heart and my curious mind. After discovering the book’s existence in an ad on Canva, I waited for months for this book to release! I was extremely excited to read this book and I’m glad I purchased the novel, since it exceeded my expectations and blew me away. I can’t highly recommend reading this book enough! It deserves every award it has ever received! I am looking forward to reading more of Kenneth Zak’s work in the future.

Recommended For: Fans of The Lost Island of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar, Wake by Amanda Hocking, and Peter Pan by J.M. Berry.

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[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

***One paperback copy up for grabs just follow the link below.***

The Poet's Secret is a classic tale of two people who fell in love with each other on a beautiful and hidden island. She is no longer a free woman which made things complicated.

Although my Catholic faith would suggest what they did is wrong in real life, this is fiction and in the art of reading I say this is truly a beautiful story of lost, initially but finding ones self in the most profound way. It is about giving meaning to every tiny detail to appreciate the beauty of nature, its people and life. I love how each scene was described clearly and how my senses was awaken by this book.

I dived instantly and it was wonderful. I imagined everything like I knew these two people. Their need for each other knew no bounds and it was magical. As for Elia, I am happy she got to experience the island for herself and she got the answer she wanted because at first I was thinking of a different route for the story only to find out it was the other way around. I didn't see that coming, it was a nice surprise.

The book kept my imagination going even after reading it. Now I can only think of when I'll be able to go to the beach.

There's a giveaway for one paperback copy of this book, just follow the link to join. *** Open to US residents only***

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[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Search for the Secret to Eternal Love

Elia, a lit student, is infatuated with Cameron Beck's masterpiece, Secrets of Odysseus. The book is a compilation of poems Beck wrote to his mysterious muse, but no one knows who she is. Elia is determined to find out. She desperately wants to know what love is and Cameron seems to have the answer.

In a coffee house one night before the end of term, she thinks she hears Beck read a new poem. The poem is left behind when the poet vanishes. Elia rescues it and now is determined to find Beck. The search leads her to a remote Caribbean Island. The islanders have befriended Beck and resent the stranger's intrusion, but she persists.

This love story is told from several perspectives. Elia is the protagonist in the present day, but we also see Cameron. In the past, we see him and his lost love. Usually, I find stories told in two time periods don't work well. However, in this case with the secret of lost love as the thread holding the story together, it works well.

Elia is a delightfully naive character. She is desperately searching for the meaning of love, but she is also capable of determination to see her adventure through to completion. Beck is a more nebulous character. We glimpse his total infatuation with his lover, but in the present day he is more subdued yet willing to part with his secret to the right person.

The characters who inhabit the island: Isabella, the island matriarch, Fatty, the medical doctor with a drug habit, Paco, the cantina owner, and Falcon, the pilot, are extremely well drawn. Each is unique and each fits the setting perfectly. They were some of the best parts of the book.

If you enjoy an adventure wrapped in a romance, you'll enjoy this book.

I reviewed this book for PR by the Book.

[Cassandra Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading The Poet's Secret, I was immediately intrigued by how Kenneth Zak begins each chapter. Each chapter starts with poetry before you get in the narrative part of the novel. I love this technique. As I read the book, I soon discovered that the poetry excerpts were from the poet, Cameron Beck. Cameron Beck is a talented poet, who has gone "off the grid." An English major, Elia, reminds me of how I was as a graduate student in my MA English program. When Elia starts her journey to find Beck, he is actually at the top of a cliff about to commit suicide. This very fact is an indicator of how intense this book is.

I understand how this book could have been a Golden Heart Finalist selection by the Romance Writers of America.The romance story within the text makes you truly appreciate falling in love. The imagery draws you in as a reader. Zak is truly able to capture his audience to complete the book. I mean you will laugh along with the text. You may even shed a tear or two. I will not confess about me crying. I am "too womanly" for that. :) I enjoyed this book. You cannot resist the end of the book.