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McKay #2
The Secrets That Shape Us
After uncovering a devastating secret, Casey McKay left her beloved home town and pretended not to look back. For years, the truth her sisters hid from her has kept her away. Now, in desperate need of Casey’s help, her sisters have hired a PI to find her.
As a private investigator, Ryan Keller is used to getting into sticky situations, but nothing could have prepared him for the likes of Ms. McKay. Unable to resist her appeal for help, Ryan returns with her to Blue Creek. Little do they know they are walking right into a deadly plot to destroy the McKay sisters.
The closer they get to the truth, the harder it is for them to resist temptation. But succumbing to their desires puts Ryan in the crosshairs of a vengeful foe. To save them, Casey must face her past and the secrets that have shaped her.
As a private investigator, Ryan Keller is used to getting into sticky situations, but nothing could have prepared him for the likes of Ms. McKay. Unable to resist her appeal for help, Ryan returns with her to Blue Creek. Little do they know they are walking right into a deadly plot to destroy the McKay sisters.
The closer they get to the truth, the harder it is for them to resist temptation. But succumbing to their desires puts Ryan in the crosshairs of a vengeful foe. To save them, Casey must face her past and the secrets that have shaped her.
298 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2018
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150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 11, 2023
After reading Let The Dead Lie by W L Brooks, I had to know ‘the secret’ and here I am. The girls have grown up and have lives of their own, but they are still thick as thieves…except for Casey, who had left town after finding out ‘the secret’. Brooks keeps me hanging for a while, not giving anything away until I have been updated on what has been to the family happening since we have been gone.
The girls hire Ryan Keller, a private detective, to find Casey. She comes back to a dire situation. Fletcher is in trouble and Casey has always been the one closest to her. Can she reach her?
“You’ve never backed down from a fight in your life. Not one! But now–now when you have to fight for your own life–you quit? I say fuck you, Jamie McKay. I want Fletcher back!”
There was a hiccup, when they don’t believe Fletcher…well, about the fire and the locket. I guess it’s feasible, because of the hallucinations, but it bothers me none the less.
Jake’s first meeting with the one of the girls is hilarious. A little arrogance brought down by a litle girl. I wonder if he will get his own book. I think I know which of the girls, women, he will hook up with, if it does happen.
There is something about Fletcher’s spirit that speaks to me and she has always been my favorite of the girls. They are all hellcats, and it would behoove the men that are attracted to them to keep that in mind. And…trouble seems to be a part of their life. They have many enemies who are not shy about making an appearance.
“Almost fifteen years ago, someone else was after the McKays…”
“What the hell is wrong with you people?”
The McKay family is constantly cracking me up. The writing and dialogue is spot on, making it easy to visualize their actions and become so wrapped up in their story that I cannot stop reading until the last page is read. The Secrets That Shape Us by W L Brooks did not hit me as hard as Let The Dead Lie, but it still makes me eager to pick up the next book in the series, Unearthing The Past.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Secrets That Shape Us by W L Brooks.
The girls hire Ryan Keller, a private detective, to find Casey. She comes back to a dire situation. Fletcher is in trouble and Casey has always been the one closest to her. Can she reach her?
“You’ve never backed down from a fight in your life. Not one! But now–now when you have to fight for your own life–you quit? I say fuck you, Jamie McKay. I want Fletcher back!”
There was a hiccup, when they don’t believe Fletcher…well, about the fire and the locket. I guess it’s feasible, because of the hallucinations, but it bothers me none the less.
Jake’s first meeting with the one of the girls is hilarious. A little arrogance brought down by a litle girl. I wonder if he will get his own book. I think I know which of the girls, women, he will hook up with, if it does happen.
There is something about Fletcher’s spirit that speaks to me and she has always been my favorite of the girls. They are all hellcats, and it would behoove the men that are attracted to them to keep that in mind. And…trouble seems to be a part of their life. They have many enemies who are not shy about making an appearance.
“Almost fifteen years ago, someone else was after the McKays…”
“What the hell is wrong with you people?”
The McKay family is constantly cracking me up. The writing and dialogue is spot on, making it easy to visualize their actions and become so wrapped up in their story that I cannot stop reading until the last page is read. The Secrets That Shape Us by W L Brooks did not hit me as hard as Let The Dead Lie, but it still makes me eager to pick up the next book in the series, Unearthing The Past.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Secrets That Shape Us by W L Brooks.
November 27, 2018
Having three younger sisters, when I read the book blurb, I thought this might give me a few chuckles about how siblings act and react to each other. This was not quite what I was expecting and in no way brought me any memories to share.
Casey McKay left home several years ago, leaving her parents and younger sisters. For years, her sisters kept a secret, that when found out, Casey was angry enough to leave her home.
Ryan Keller, the Private Investigator the younger sisters have hired to find Casey reluctantly takes the job .. and soon finds himself in the crosshairs of someone who wants to destroy the sisters ... and him.
Having three younger sisters is where any similarity ends. Page after page after page, I was forced to endure siblings who love each other .. but certainly don't show it. There is name-calling, pushing, shoving, and insults. This overshadowed the mystery that should have been front and center. There's a bit of romance, but it seems a bit disjointed and doesn't flow well in the story. I found it really hard to like any of the characters.
To say I was disappointed is an understatement.
Many thanks to the author / Wild Rose Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of THE SECRETS THAT SHAPE US. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 10, 2022
Second book in the McKay series that focuses on the oldest sister Casey. Discovering a family secret devastated her and caused her to flee. But trouble keeps following her family and she returns home to help. Enter the Keller brothers Private eye Ryan. Ryan and Casey share a magnetic connection and while he was hired to help they can’t deny their chemistry. Intrigue, mystery with the always appreciated dose of spice this series is the best blend of everything!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2018
So, I might have made some serious squealing noises when I realized that W.L. Brooks has released THE SECRETS THAT SHAPE US, book 2 of The McKay Series. The approval noises might have been tempered a bit but they are still enthusiastic as I delved into the story and couldn't stop.
Much like book 1, I absolutely adored the sisters. Ms. Brooks does an amazing job of creating an intriguing plot woven into engaging characters that are as distinctive as they are eccentric. And yes, the girls are definitely all grown up and those very same traits they had when they were children are seamlessly blended into adulthood. The suspense elements are there again, much like in book 1, and you will simultaneously worry and cheer the sisters on. Throughout both books, Ms. Brooks continually reminds us that you don't have to be biologically related to be family (although sometimes it happens) and the McKay family proves that time and time again. And, much like book 1, there are romantic elements (Casey and Ryan) that will take you through a range of emotions from laugh out loud funny to guttural groans and everything in between. In case you haven't figured it out yet, this book was an emotional rollercoaster for me and I loved every minute of it.
While THE SECRETS THAT SHAPE US is book 2, it can be read as a standalone but to get the full effect of who these women are, I highly recommend starting with Let the Dead Lie and then jumping into this one.
This review was originally published by me at The Romance Reviews.
Much like book 1, I absolutely adored the sisters. Ms. Brooks does an amazing job of creating an intriguing plot woven into engaging characters that are as distinctive as they are eccentric. And yes, the girls are definitely all grown up and those very same traits they had when they were children are seamlessly blended into adulthood. The suspense elements are there again, much like in book 1, and you will simultaneously worry and cheer the sisters on. Throughout both books, Ms. Brooks continually reminds us that you don't have to be biologically related to be family (although sometimes it happens) and the McKay family proves that time and time again. And, much like book 1, there are romantic elements (Casey and Ryan) that will take you through a range of emotions from laugh out loud funny to guttural groans and everything in between. In case you haven't figured it out yet, this book was an emotional rollercoaster for me and I loved every minute of it.
While THE SECRETS THAT SHAPE US is book 2, it can be read as a standalone but to get the full effect of who these women are, I highly recommend starting with Let the Dead Lie and then jumping into this one.
This review was originally published by me at The Romance Reviews.
May 16, 2020
This is the second book in the series of the McKays about 10 -15 years later. After their adoptive dad married the high school principal, Savannah, life continued on for all of them. Fletcher is a police detective, Alexandra runs a Bed and Breakfast, Charlie has a daughter and runs the family diner, and Casey left home six years prior because of a huge secret. Now, Fletcher is going out of her mind, quit the force and took off in the woods. So, the girls hire Ryan Keller PI to go retrieve Casey. He finds her, but has to return twice before she will leave. She gets back home and they find Fletcher who is in really bad shape…only, someone was poisoning her! Casey decides to stay home and buys the old garage in town…someone tries to kill her and Alexandra~ In between the shenanigans amongst the sisters, the secrets everyone keeps, the laughter of the reader, the sparks between Casey and Ryan, and the rest of those in the book…you have a huge mystery to solve…good luck figuring out who is the suspect…because once you find out…think again! I received this as an ARC and am leaving a voluntary review.
November 21, 2018
The Secrets that Shape Us has the potential to be a gripping story of suspense as the McKay sisters search for clues about who is out to get them. We even get the occasional creepy paragraph or two from the viewpoint of the villain. With a little more on that, this could've been an edge of your seat suspense. The problem is the story moves a little too slowly and gets bogged down in the mundane. There's a lot of dialogue - some that is necessary and some, not so much. While the suspense side of this one moves at a slower pace than I prefer, the romance between Ryan and Casey happens rather quickly. They seem to go from zero to all over each other in a blink. Once things start to come together and the villain is revealed, it does make sense. The bad guy is crazy, no doubt, but their reasons do have a twisted logic to them. There's also an extra little twist toward the end that leaves things open and while I didn't see the need for it, other than to set things up for another book, it was interesting to ponder. All in all, I ended up somewhere in the middle on this one. There were things I liked and things I didn't, but the story did keep me interested.
May 26, 2020
Having read Let the Dead Lie, I looked forward to reading this book. Casey left home after discovering a devastating secret. Her sister has engaged the services of a P.I to return Casey to her family. Ryan gets more than he bargained for when he becomes embroiled with the McKay family. Strong personalities, even stronger emotions and a myriad of secrets create distance even as they bind the family together. I really liked the endearing love and loyalty demonstrated by the sisters and the family as a whole. The romance between Ryan and Casey was laced with instant attraction, and chemistry. I will continue to follow the journey of the McKay sisters.
October 27, 2022
The first book of the series had me dying for more! This was fun but of course so many twists and turns! And the girls are older now but the parents are in the book and I love their evolution! This one has a mystery for the whole family of course, but the romance is focused on Casey and and a hot PI, Ryan! Totally opposites but you know what they say! The end of the first book is answered and the whodunnit totally blew me away! And the steamy bits were very done and fun! Can’t wait to read book three! I love the McKay’s!
November 13, 2019
This book starts off a few years after the first one ends, but the blanks are filled in as we listen. Once again this family finds out that they have enemies from their pasts and will have to join together to solve the mystery and put an end to it all. It answers some questions you may have after the first book but does leave it open for more in the future.
February 15, 2019
“The Secrets That Shape Us” is a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end!
Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 5, 2020
I loved the second book in the McKay sisters. I enjoyed reading about them as adults and the way they stuck together to find their attacker. This story takes you on a whirlwind of adventure and love.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
May 18, 2020
**Presented with an ARC via HiddenGems in exchange for an honest review.**
It’s an interesting story, I’ll give it that. The flow varies between fast and awkward, making it a choppy read, and in chapter three there’s a particular scene that feels entirely out of place, like it was just put there for effect only. That scene took me right of the story itself and had me side-eyeing it for a bit, as it really doesn’t seem to fit either character as they’ve were presented previously. To be perfectly honest, this story needs an editor and a group of prereaders to give a honest feedback on the development of the storyline.
It’s an interesting story, I’ll give it that. The flow varies between fast and awkward, making it a choppy read, and in chapter three there’s a particular scene that feels entirely out of place, like it was just put there for effect only. That scene took me right of the story itself and had me side-eyeing it for a bit, as it really doesn’t seem to fit either character as they’ve were presented previously. To be perfectly honest, this story needs an editor and a group of prereaders to give a honest feedback on the development of the storyline.
July 28, 2023
Still breathless
I am addicted to this series. I am addicted to the characters, there is no other or better way to describe. I found myself yelling at the author if she touches one hair on any of their heads, I was going to throw the book. I was not going to be okay. This book had me on the edge of my seat and guessing till the end. I read all day, I was literally unable to put this down. Small town suspense, mysterious pasts, a family full of secrets. Stop being a "priss" and click buy now. Do it now.
I am addicted to this series. I am addicted to the characters, there is no other or better way to describe. I found myself yelling at the author if she touches one hair on any of their heads, I was going to throw the book. I was not going to be okay. This book had me on the edge of my seat and guessing till the end. I read all day, I was literally unable to put this down. Small town suspense, mysterious pasts, a family full of secrets. Stop being a "priss" and click buy now. Do it now.
November 26, 2022
10 STARS
I am FULLY in love with this series!! I'm definitely off to read the rest because THEY'RE. SO. GOOD!!
I WISH THERE WERE 10 STARS SO I COULD GIVEN THEM ALLLL!!! The mystery, intrigue and romance were ALL fantastic!!! It was well-paced and I had to FORCE myself to put it down each time. 10000% recommend!!
I am FULLY in love with this series!! I'm definitely off to read the rest because THEY'RE. SO. GOOD!!
I WISH THERE WERE 10 STARS SO I COULD GIVEN THEM ALLLL!!! The mystery, intrigue and romance were ALL fantastic!!! It was well-paced and I had to FORCE myself to put it down each time. 10000% recommend!!
January 25, 2023
Surprising
The twists and turns continue with unexpected revelations. The bond between the McKay sisters is a thing of beauty. But don't piss them off.
The twists and turns continue with unexpected revelations. The bond between the McKay sisters is a thing of beauty. But don't piss them off.
December 27, 2022
t’s hard to leave me speechless…😂🤨 However, that’s exactly what @w.l.brooks has done….
Y’all know how much I love my @norarobertsauthor, but W.L. Brooks is Nora’s talent with not NEARLY enough recognition!
This is book 2 in her series, and once again I didn’t see what was coming. (And you know how difficult that is to do!) It’s time to find out more about the oldest daughter, Casey, and gain another piece of a puzzle that is turning out to be much bigger than I realized! Yet, I have to force myself to hit pause and use it as my reward for finishing my own edits….🫣
A secret far too big to handle forces Casey to leave behind her beloved hometown and never look back. Well, until private detective, Ryan Keller, is sent to track her down. Unable to resist her or her need for help, it forces both of them into a plan to destroy the McKay sisters for good….Casey must face a longtime forgotten foe and the secrets that shaped her.
Two in, and it’s impossible to even pick a favorite at this point! Don’t miss out on this underrated epic read!
Y’all know how much I love my @norarobertsauthor, but W.L. Brooks is Nora’s talent with not NEARLY enough recognition!
This is book 2 in her series, and once again I didn’t see what was coming. (And you know how difficult that is to do!) It’s time to find out more about the oldest daughter, Casey, and gain another piece of a puzzle that is turning out to be much bigger than I realized! Yet, I have to force myself to hit pause and use it as my reward for finishing my own edits….🫣
A secret far too big to handle forces Casey to leave behind her beloved hometown and never look back. Well, until private detective, Ryan Keller, is sent to track her down. Unable to resist her or her need for help, it forces both of them into a plan to destroy the McKay sisters for good….Casey must face a longtime forgotten foe and the secrets that shaped her.
Two in, and it’s impossible to even pick a favorite at this point! Don’t miss out on this underrated epic read!
November 9, 2019
Everything about this story is so unrealistic -- from the romance to the supposed "devastating" secret. At least this big secret was finally revealed and the book did not end in a cliffhanger.
The story has no color or background, no substance. Where are the patrons of their businesses? And how do they even have patrons if they're so despised as a family?
Unfortunately, Meredith Nash's narration did this book no favors. Her voice is too screechy in my opinion and her expression was flat. She made no effort to give characters distinctive voices, and overall, her performance seemed very amateurish.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The story has no color or background, no substance. Where are the patrons of their businesses? And how do they even have patrons if they're so despised as a family?
Unfortunately, Meredith Nash's narration did this book no favors. Her voice is too screechy in my opinion and her expression was flat. She made no effort to give characters distinctive voices, and overall, her performance seemed very amateurish.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews