The Secret She Keeps

Whitaker Island #2

by HelenKay Dimon

No matter where you run to…

Connor Rye seeks solace on remote Whitaker Island. When his first quiet evening ends with a blow to the head, it’s clear that nothing—and no one—is as it seems. Still haunted by his sister’s murder, he’s buried himself in work while trying to hold his family together. Now, when he has a minute to breathe, he knows better than to get involved with a stranger, but it might be too late to keep his distance.

Desire will find you...

For years she’s pretended to be someone else, but Maddie Rhine is done living in the shadows. Old habits are hard to kick however, and when her past follows her to Whitaker she’s forced to hide once more. Except with Connor. Effortlessly sexy Connor makes it difficult to ignore him. He sees right through her…and senses her fear.

Someone is watching her. And waiting for the right moment to strike. This time Connor vows to be ready.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Mystery

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 30, 2019

About the author

HelenKay Dimon is a divorce lawyer-turned-romance author. After dedicating years to helping people terminate relationships she now writes romance novels full time. Her books have earned praise, appeared on bestseller lists, won numerous awards and twice been named Red-Hot Reads and excerpted in Cosmo. She sometimes writes erotic romance, sometimes writes romantic suspense and sometimes writes contemporary romance. But no matter what she's writing her books are always filled with smart banter and sexy times, and a HEA is guaranteed.

-"Sharp writing and plenty of sexy romantic sizzle..." - John Charles, Chicago Tribune

-"So smart, sexy and fast-paced, I devour her stories." - Lori Foster, NYT bestselling author

-"Lots of heat with lots of humor." - MaryJanice Davidson, NYT bestselling author

-"She's a delight." - Christina Dodd, NYT bestselling author

Reviews

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am surprise to see how un popular this book in Goodreads. Not many people review this. I also surprise that I like this book more than I expect. This is romance with murder mystery.

The author done a good job blending it together. Connor is quite brooding man. He over works and need for vacation. He met a mysterious woman on his vacation. What starts as misunderstanding, soon develop into romance.

The romance is not descriptive and dirty. The romance is quite and slow. It is enough to build the pace of the story. I like the chemistry between Connor and Maddie. Its sweet.

Overall this is a enjoyable book.

4 stars

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“Leave Whitaker now.”

Maddie has been on Whitaker Island ever since she got out of the witness protection program for the last two years. She still keeps to herself and is barely known by most of the island members.
Like his brother before him, Connor is on forced vacation and decides to stay on Whitaker and in the cabin his brother has just vacated.
Maggie isn't sure about Connor but there is something that draws her to him and their “meet-cute” ends up having her bake him a pie in apology.
Whitaker Island is about to provide mystery, murder, and falling in love all over again.

She’d been terrified and in hiding for most of the last two years.

Second in the Whitaker Island series, you could comfortably start here as the story deals with a new murder mystery. Book one introduced readers to Maggie, one of the island's hermits who answers phones for the police department and Connor, brother to book one's hero. Why Maggie is so afraid of strangers and likes to keep herself isolated is doled out throughout the story. Reader's know she was in witness protection but it's about in the middle that we learn why and then more towards the end that the root of her emotional pain is revealed and explained.

If you read book one, you'll know about Connor's sister's murder, there is enough rehashing and from Connor's perspective to give a clear picture of what happened. The author did a good job of portraying how Connor's guilt has affected him and it is clear how his budding relationship with Maggie is/could be affected. This part of Connor's emotional journey isn't dealt with until the very end, even after the mystery part had been resolved, so it gave the story a little bit of a backwards feel. If Connor had dealt with these emotions earlier, I could have believed in their relationship more, as it was, I did wonder if he was just with Maggie to protect her because he couldn't protect his sister.

Get rid of him or I will

The mystery part didn't capture my attention, the mysterious notes Maggie gets set a good thriller, creepy vibe but when Connor and her find a dead body, it felt like taking a very similar track from the first book. We get a couple povs from the villain but their identity was pretty obvious from the start. I also thought Connor's involvement was a stretch, he barely knew Maggie but he (an engineer/businessman) thought he should be involved and keep her under is protection; it didn't flow right for me. The villain and their motivations I could go along with but some aspects and characters brought in from Maddie's reason for being in witness protection didn't feel tightened up enough, especially a red-herring thrown in that felt more like a brick than a swoosh shot.

“Don’t let vacation Connor fool you. I fight pretty hard for what I want.”

The mystery didn't really interest me and their romance lacked spark, their sex scenes didn't have me feeling their lust or love. The strong part of this story was the continuation of the setting, Whitaker Island and the secondary characters. Ben, the island sheriff, brightened up the pages when he was on them, along with a couple other island residents. The question continued from the first of who owns the island is revealed here and looks like it could provide for a third in the series.

The mystery started off thriller but petered out with an easy to guess villain and some sluggish reveal of Maggie's background. Connor and Maggie moved fairly immediately to togetherness but their relationship felt lifeless to me. I've read Dimon before and enjoyed her books, I'll read her again and hope this was a one off.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret She Keeps is the second book in HelenKay Dimon’s new series of romantic suspense novels set on the small, privately owned Whitaker Island, located somewhere off the Washington coast.  It’s an entertaining, and intriguing read featuring a couple of appealing protagonists and a well-drawn secondary cast, and although I hadn’t read the previous book, I didn’t feel as though I’d missed anything, so this one works perfectly well as a standalone.

When Connor Rye’s family fell apart after his sister was murdered, it was Connor who picked up the pieces and held the family and their business together;  and in doing so, was deprived of the chance to grieve properly.  He threw himself into work and learned to wall off his emotions in order to get through each day; and he’s been doing that for so long that it’s become second nature to him. Now, two years later, Connor, who has been working himself so hard that it’s started to affect his health, has been pretty much ordered to take some vacation time by his family. He has borrowed the cabin belonging to his brother Hansen (hero of book one, Her Other Secret) and taken himself off to Whitaker Island for a few weeks.

Maddie Rhine has lived on the island for a couple of years and keeps a low profile.  She works as an answering service for the (until recently) one-man police department and other local business, and counts police officer Ben Clifford and hotel owner Sylvia Sussex as friends, but she doesn’t socialise and generally keeps herself to herself.  It becomes clear quickly that Maddie is in hiding - but from what or whom isn’t made clear right away – and that something from her past has come back to haunt her.

Maddie makes one hell of an impact – in more ways than one! – on Connor at their first (rather improbable) encounter, and he becomes more and more intrigued by her as he learns bits and pieces of her story. But Maddie has spent so long looking over her shoulder, so long keeping her secrets buried deep – for her own protection and that of others – that refusing to allow anyone to get close has become her default position. Even when she realises she wants to trust Connor with the truth it’s difficult for her to break that conditioning; but she comes to see that Connor’s patience and understanding make her feel safe in a way she’s rarely experienced, and that also that she needs to be upfront with him if she’s to have a chance of keeping him safe, getting her life back and making a future for herself.

The suspense plot in The Secret She Keeps is generally well-paced, although I did have a few issues with the way Maddie’s backstory was revealed. She’s so dead set against allowing anyone to help her that she can’t see that by keeping her secrets, she risks putting others – namely Ben and Connor – in danger. On the one hand, I could completely understand her not wanting to involve others in her problems (this made a lot more sense later in the book once readers become aware that Maddie was in Witness Protection and how she has been trained to look out for herself), but on the other, it was really irritating to watch her reach a point of confession and then retreat, and my frustration on this score did take me out of the story a few times.

The romance between Connor and Maddie is nicely done and the author builds a genuine emotional connection between the pair as well as writing them some nicely steamy scenes. Connor is a terrific hero; sexy, compassionate and protective without being suffocating or overbearing, with a good sense of humour and fun, and I really enjoyed the relationship that developed between him and Ben as well; it was clear they came to respect each other beneath the snark. I found Maddie more difficult to warm to however; she’s clever and intuitive, and she’s been through things that would have broken someone with less gumption, but although I understood her reluctance to reveal her secrets, this disrupted the flow of the story and went on for too long. The identity of the villain is also fairly easy to work out, but I liked the fact that the author didn’t go for the obvious in terms of their reasons for doing what they did.

In spite of my reservations about some aspects of the story, I did enjoy The Secret She Keeps. The author has set up Whitaker Island as something of a safe haven for those who need it, and has peopled it with a group of colourful and engaging characters I wouldn’t mind visiting again, so I’ll probably read the next book in the series.

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret She Keeps by HelenKay Dimon is a fast paced romantic suspense novel that kept me turning the pages until the end. The characters are well developed and I felt sympathy for both Connor and Maddie as their pasts were revealed. The reveal was dramatic and I had a tight grip on my ereader throughout the scene. An engaging story that kept my attention until the end.

I received a copy of the book from my local library.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Whitaker Island is a very strange place. Not creepy, exactly, but definitely strange. And the population seems to self-select for weird. It’s so odd that it makes me wonder if it’s off the coast near Fogg Lake – but Whitaker isn’t quite THAT strange. Still strange, as are the people it attracts.

The Secret She Keeps continues the story of the isolated and very quirky Whitaker Island that began in Her Other Secret, as well as keeping up with the Rye family whose personal tragedy came to such a spectacular finale in the first book. I don’t think you absolutely HAVE to read the first to enjoy the second, but they are both the same kind of fun. If you like the one, you’ll like the other.

This time the action revolves around Connor Rye, now that his brother Hansen has cleared his name and returned to Seattle to pick up the pieces of his life with his fiance, the heroine of the first book.

The Rye family suffered a tragedy when Hansen and Connor’s sister was murdered by her husband – and the douchecanoe nearly got away with it. But that has finally been resolved, so the family is left to pick up the pieces.

While Hansen lost control, Connor got himself into too much control, suppressing his grief and burying himself in the work needed to keep the family business going. But now that the situation has been resolved, his coping methods have become a huge problem. To the point where he is literally working himself into an early grave.

And to the point where his family stages an intervention and sends him to Whitaker Island to relax, get his head on straight and deal with everything he’s suppressed for the past two years. In other words, he’s supposed to go on vacation and heal.

Instead he gets beaned on the head on his first night on the island, while being warned to leave ASAP. A relaxing start to vacation this is not.

But it is fascinating. And it certainly does take him completely out of himself – even once the concussion has healed.

There’s something about elusive, reclusive Maddie Rhine that intrigues Connor from their second meeting. And that fascination isn’t totally wrapped up in their first meeting – the one where she brained him with a chunk of firewood. It’s the “why” of that first meeting that feels like a mystery that Connor HAS to solve.

Maddie is on the island hiding from something, or someone. So, for that matter, is Connor. But Connor is hiding from himself, from dealing with his own emotions and processing his own grief. Maddie is hiding because someone really is after her. And they’re closing in.

Escape Rating B+: I picked this up because I enjoyed the first book in the series, Her Other Secret, quite a bit. It was excellent and absorbing mind candy. A whole lot of fun while reading if not necessarily memorable afterwards. But a good reading time was certainly had be all – or at least by moi.

I decided at the last minute to get on this tour because HelenKay Dimon has been one of the outspoken and appalled romance writers who provided sage counsel and rallied the forces of good during the ongoing Romance Writers of American implosion/explosion/salting-of-the-scorched-earth. She’s been one of the bigger sane but sad voices in this mess. Which made me want to read and review her latest book.

And, as I said, the first book was a whole lot of reading fun. Speaking of which, I’ll get down off my soapbox so I can get back to that.

As a place, Whitaker Island is an absolute hoot. The folks who have ended up living there seem to have self-selected for just slightly weird. No one is creepy or scary but everyone is at least a half-step off from the world outside of the island. The elderly couple who con people into walking their dog so they can get some “alone time” is both sweet and funny, and the way that the rest of the island’s inhabitants go along with the charade is peculiarly heartwarming.

I particularly love the way that the residents both gossip incessantly and stay out of each other’s real business at the same time. It has to be a gift.

But the story of this book really revolves around three characters, Connor, Maddie, and Maddie’s mysterious stalker. And that’s where things didn’t quite gel for me.

I get Connor and his walled off emotions. I’ve dated guys like that – although never ones so hot that I’d think of them of McHottiePants as Maddie does Connor. Still, that kind of emotional “walling off” is a phenomenon that I’ve run into – and generally away from. But it reads as all too real.

Maddie’s initial situation felt more like it veered into sensationalism. It was obvious pretty early on that she was in Witness Protection, so her reclusiveness and paranoia made logical sense. She was paranoid because she’d been trained to be that way by experts – because there really were people out to get her. With guns.

But her stalker, well, I knew who it was the minute he appeared on the page in person. And his motives didn’t quite make sense, or at least they didn’t to me. It felt like an attempt to add the stress and menace of a sexually obsessed stalker without the motive being actual sexual obsession. Admittedly the sexual obsession stalker as a way of putting a heroine in jeopardy is a trope I’m tired of, but this felt like an attempt to both have the cake and eat it. At the same time, his machinations and manipulations did a lot to ramp up the tension of the story as it raced towards its conclusion.

On my third – or is that fourth – hand, I did love the way that Maddie refused to continue a relationship with Connor unless he dealt with his own personal mess. She refused to be all in on a relationship where the other party was holding their real self completely back. She earned that HEA by standing for herself and holding out her hand for him to grab the lifeline, but being willing to step back if he couldn’t reach out. That ending was made of win.

I hope that there are future books in this series. We got a hint of a possible next romance – one that comes with some potential suspense already built in. And I’d love to see more of the quirky residents of this very off the beaten path – in more ways than one – island.

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had really enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I was absolutely getting to this one.

I loved Maddie and Connor. They’re both dealing with some things and I love how strong they stayed. She’s tenacious and he’s charming and together they have banter and loads of chemistry. I loved seeing Ben and Sylvia again and the other people who love on the island.

Plot wise, it was good. I loved that the action started right away and the tension didn’t let up. I did figure out the twist about half way through the book, but it didn’t take anything away from the story. I would have liked a little more from the ending, but I think I’m just being greedy.

Overall, it was a quick and captivating read. I hope there are more books on this island.

**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 30, 2019

No matter where you run to…

Connor Rye seeks solace on remote Whitaker Island. When his first quiet evening ends with a blow to the head, it’s clear that nothing—and no one—is as it seems. Still haunted by his sister’s murder, he’s buried himself in work while trying to hold his family together. Now, when he has a minute to breathe, he knows better than to get involved with a stranger, but it might be too late to keep his distance.

Desire will find you...

For years she’s pretended to be someone else, but Maddie Rhine is done living in the shadows. Old habits are hard to kick however, and when her past follows her to Whitaker she’s forced to hide once more. Except with Connor. Effortlessly sexy Connor makes it difficult to ignore him. He sees right through her…and senses her fear.

Someone is watching her. And waiting for the right moment to strike. This time Connor vows to be ready.


••••••••••••••


REVIEW: THE SECRET SHE KEEPS is the second instalment in HelenKay Dimon’s contemporary, adult WHITAKER ISLAND romantic, suspense series. This is businessman Connor Rye, and Maddie Rhine’s story line. THE SECRET SHE KEEPS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.


Told from three third person perspectives including Connor and Maddie, THE SECRET SHE KEEPS follows businessman Connor Rye as he escapes to Whitaker Island for some mandatory R&R, the same island where his brother Hansen (Her Other Secret #1) fell in love with his future wife. But from the outset Connor finds himself targeted by a woman who believes she is being stalked for sins of the past, sins that are about to be exposed on Whitaker Island. Enter Maddie Rhine, the woman with whom Connor will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Maddie and Connor, and the potential fall-out as Maddie’s secrets are about to be revealed.


Maddie Rhine is in hiding but someone has found our story line heroine, sending letters that are now threatening the man with whom Maddie is falling in love. An unidentified body, and an assault against an elderly neighbor find Maddie face to face with a man who was once responsible for Maddie’s life. Connor Rye has struggled since the death of his sister months before, a struggle that forced his family to intervene for Connor’s mental health but Whitaker Island, for all of its’ quietude, has found itself on the receiving end of too many murders and questionable happenings.


The relationship between Maggie and Connor begins as a case of mistaken identity when Maggie believes Connor is someone from her past. Connor finds himself attracted to a woman whose secrets are dark, secrets that are about to pull Connor into a web of murder and obsession.The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.


We are reintroduced to Whitaker Island’s colorful and eccentric residents including the head of the Whitaker Board and lodge owner Sylvia Sussex, old man Paul, Whitaker’s self-appointed guardian Dom, Jenna Hughland, law enforcement officer Ben Clifford, and Maddie’s former handler Evan Williams.


THE SECRET SHE KEEPS is a story of secrets and lies; obsession and betrayal. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic and spirited.


Copy supplied by Netgalley

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog

Okay so I know I said I wasn’t all that into book 1 Her Other Secret, but I had this on hand, and now knowing it’s like Murder, She Wrote type vibe, I wanted to give it a shot.

Yeah this series is not for me. If the author continues on with this series, I don’t think I’ll be reading them. They aren’t bad, it’s just not for me, which is a shame as I really like the author’s voice. I don’t feel this is like Jessica Fletcher at all.

Connor Rye is the brother of Hansen Rye from the last book. He’s been holding down the fort while Hansen was sent to cool off for the past year, and now that he’s back in DC, they sent Connor on a well-earned break.

And within the first few minutes he’s in the cabin, his power goes out and he has a feeling he isn’t alone anymore. That feeling is confirmed when he’s bashed upside the head, and knocked down. Someone whispered in his ear, “Leave Whitaker Island.” And next thing he knows, he needs stitches and meets Ben, the island’s police officer.

Maddie is an unusual character. She is nice and answers the phones for the police, but she can do it from the comfort of her own home, and nobody really knows her. She hides, she stays away from friendships and conversation, and she keeps her head down. Until Connor.

He sees right through her tricks to stay distant, and when she admits she’s the one who hit him with a piece of firewood because he scared her, he’s…charmed. But Maddie was in Witness Protection. I thought she was still in it, hence all the hiding, but her behavior was odd considering she was out. But her previous handler has told her to stay on the down-low, so she does.

Meanwhile they all are trying to find out why dead bodies keep showing up on the island whenever a Rye brother is there. Is this Connor’s fault? Or is it related to Maddie?

This is where I feel it’s a lot less cozy mystery/Murder, She Wrote, and a lot more…slow. And serious. I expected fun and campy goodness. This is the second book of this series that did not meet my expectations. I thought the first book would be a darker Romantic Suspense, but it wasn’t. The author’s note mentioned Jessica Fletcher with more sex and more deaths. So I went into this one expecting more of a cozy mystery meets Romantic Suspense? I don’t know. Ultimately this is a book about grief for Connor and a book about learning to live her life for Maddie, with a Romantic Suspense vibe.

I felt that the villain’s motivation was…unusual. I’d say unbelievable, but seriously people are crazy, so who knows? But this series isn’t for me. I’ve asked around and a friend suggeted a different series by this author, so I won’t quit the author, but I’m done with Whitaker Island.

***Review copy provided by Avon Books

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dimon's latest features the snappy dialogue and tense situations that are the hallmark of her writing, and this was a perfect airplane read. Great characters, fun secondary characters, a strong heroine and the hero who gets where she's coming from. I've really enjoyed these connected stories and look forward to the next one.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Edelweiss+ but all opinions provided are my own.

Helenkay Dimon’s The Secret She Keeps offers a passionate romance between a protective beta hero with a compelling back-story and a frightened woman who, mistaking him for someone else, attacks him, but it ultimately falls flat for me.

Connor Rye’s sister was recently murdered and he escapes to Whitaker Island hoping that some solitude will give him the peace he needs. But very soon after arriving, he’s attacked in his brother’s cabin and the perpetrator turns out to be Maddie Rhine, an attractive young woman who’s seeking refuge on Whitaker Island for her own reasons.

Dimon intriguingly sets up Whitaker Island as a space that can offer safe haven—but that’s also used by nefarious people for more nefarious reasons—and it lends great atmosphere to this romantic suspense story. When someone’s murdered on the island the book turns into a whodunnit, and the suspense stakes are ratcheted up in exciting ways.

Connor rises to the occasion. He tries to keep Maddie safe, despite the fact that she attacked him in a way that stretched credulity for me. (It doesn’t make sense to me why she chose to attack him and when, especially given how her history of making impulsive actions has played out.) Connor’s patient and understanding, even when my own empathy for the heroine was strained. The dynamics between them might work for some people, but they didn’t quite work for me—though I do want to give big props to Dimon for how she handles talk of consent.

Overall, I enjoyed The Secret She Keeps, but I was somewhat ambivalent about the heroine and I wasn’t supremely invested in the story. I am a fan of Dimon's work, though, so I'll look forward to reading the next book in the series and hoping it's more to my liking.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Multicultural & Interracial Romance

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series, I wanted to read the second one. Finally I was able to secure a copy from the library. I'm mixed on this story. I liked the characters Connor and Maddie. Both of them are hiding out. One person is hiding emotionally and one is hiding physically. Although I kind of wonder about the emotional one. It felt so ... forced. As in making it a bigger deal than it should have been maybe? I am not sure because I haven't been in a traumatic situation where a direct family member was murdered. I also don't have this super tight relationship with my direct family as Connor does with his.

Whilst I really enjoyed the suspense of this story and I totally guessed the villain up front, the ending kind of could have been left off. For me, Maddie's arm chair psychoanalysis is a huge turn off. I'm not sure I even agree to the method or how it really works when Connor finally let go. But I'm not a shrink or in social work so who knows. I just left an icky feeling for me and ended the book on a down note. I did read the author's note at the end and it helped me understand better of why the book was written the way it was and the ending perhaps made a bit more sense.

What I did like about this book is all the different characters on this island. This island is how I envision towns in Alaska. Specifically because on my Alaskan vacation, the tour guides and people living there are just like these people in Whitaker. The idiosyncrasies of Dom, Paul, Winnie to name a few adds to the ambience of this world Ms. Dimon's created. The mysterious island owner which I thought we would never find out about until books later or not ever, threw me off - completely. I am loathe to admit this, but I thought the same as Ben when it came to the owner of the island. I hope to see a book on this owner because I'm intrigue.

The plot of this book is good and it is a bit alarming at times. How sometimes, people can go off the deep end. I liked this tension and I would have preferred a better explanation of the villain's motive. Overall, this is a well written book. I see that the author was in perhaps a bad phase in her writing career and questioned her ability to write. I may be just one person, but I'd like to definitively state that Ms. Dimon can write a great book and capture a reader's attention. I devoured this book and want to read more of her books. This romantic suspense is recommended to readers who like quirky characters in a quaint town suddenly plagued with crime.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret She Keeps by Helenkay Dimon is fast-paced romantic suspense. I found myself lured deeper into the plot. Page by page, I was intrigued. The suspense built into an intense atmosphere. I was not sure what the outcome would be. The outcome I knew would be deadly. But for who? And why?

This novel was packed full of action, mystery, and romance. The danger was kept unknown. The reasons for the said danger was not fully given but just enough to keep you wondering why and who was behind this danger.

A woman came to live on an island after her original danger passed. But now, her agent that once kept her safe is warning her of the danger she be in if she doesn't go into WITSEC with him. He's cocky, tough, and is a fully trained agent. That makes him a dangerous man to be around. The main protagonist dislikes him for his alpha male handling and sneer comments. But she still respects him. Then, there's another man.

This other man is just as demanding but for other reasons. Something about him lures the heroine to him. She feels attracted to him. He too, feels it. There's the connection bursting between them. They have to explore it before it drives them crazy. With danger around them, both need to keep their attention sharp.

Connor is just as tough as the male agent that tries to keep Maddie safe. Connor lost his sister and blames himself. He's recuperating on Whittaker island. Yet there, he finds a woman like Maddie. Maddie intrigues him. She's not like other women. She's gorgeous and irritating.

Maddie is reclusive and hiding something. She's being threatened by an unknown person. It gets to where Maddie needs to confide and she doesn't know how. All she knows is that she needs to survive.

Overall, this novel was amazing! I loved it. Helenkay Dimon writes well. Her characters are three-dimensional. The plot was exciting and dark. I was kept in the dark on who and why as to the threats and danger for Maddie. The rest of the minor character added humor and mystery. I recommend giving this book a try!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connor Rye came to Whitaker Island for a little peace and tranquility, but his first night on the island is anything but peaceful... as he was unexpectedly attacked. Coming to the island was supposed to be blissful break, one that would give his overworked and stressed body a break. But the beautiful woman who has just attacked him has him wondering what he just walked in to...

Maddie Rhine came to the island to hide out from her dangerous past, and even went as far as to assume a different identity to stay under the radar. But the agent who helped her hide-out has just informed her that her her whereabouts were just made public, and her past is closing in on her. Now he is telling her she needs to enter WITSEC program to stay safe, but she isn't so sure she wants to give up her life on the island.

The Secret She Keeps delivers an action-packed and emotional story line that is certain to keep your eyes glued to the pages. Page after page these characters kept me entertained and under their spell, I just had to know how it would all turn out for them. Both had pasts that were weighing them down, and doubts about love, but that didn't stop it from sneaking it's way into their lives. I loved watching these to let go and fall for one another, their relationship had a natural progression to it. In one another they found something they never knew they needed, it was quite beautiful to watch it all unfold... in between all the action packed danger of course! I have no doubt romance suspense readers will love this newest installment in the Whitaker Island series, it's brimming with everything necessary to thrill and put a squeeze on the heart! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Donna Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel is GREAT. The mysterious island that you learn about in the first book, you don't have to read both books, keeps getting more mysterious as you read about Connor, Hansen's younger brother. The island is full of secrets and no one there is without a story.

Connor is a man who is haunted by his sister's death. When Alexis died his older brother went a little crazy but he had to hunker down and run the family business. He dove into business and never faced his feelings about her death or how he felt about it. He was told to take a vacation by his family. He's burning out at a fast speed. He goes to the island for rest and relaxation but the first night he's there he's attacked in his cabin. He ends up in the hospital with four stitches and lots of questions.

Maddie is the town's phone service and she handles police calls as well. She is trying to find another safe place for herself in a deserted cabin when someone comes in after her. She's sure it's the same person whose after her so she hits him in the head and runs. The next day the sheriff explains that she's the one at fault and that she owes Connor an apology and to make up for his stitches. Maddie is attracted to Connor but her life is in danger and that must come first. She doesn't know whether to stay and fight for her new life or to run again.

Connor is shocked to find out that Maddie is the one who attacked him but he sees a woman in need of protection and after Alexis, he is not going to stand around and let another woman be hurt by someone that she didn't hurt first. He is also very attracted to Maddie and wants to understand her more.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good--if slightly murderous--time is had by most on Whitaker Island! (Obviously the dead body and concussed/shot people might feel slightly differently about that.)

Connor Rye's (yes, Hansen's brother from the first book) intro to the island is...well, less-than ideal. You might think that from the start, someone is out to get him--oh, and the whole island keeps comparing him to his brother (the eternal problem of younger siblings everywhere) and expects him to fix random stuff for them. And walk their dogs. Which he does, because he's a good guy.

But what most draws him in on the island is the mysterious Maddie Rhine--how many secrets is she hiding? When the bodies start to pile up and more mysterious people show up on the island, what won't he do to keep her safe?

I liked Connor and Maddie--they gave some pretty good banter--and figuring out what ultimately was going on was a challenge. The actual villain seemed to take things a bit far toward the end (an issue I think I had with the first book too, if memory serves) but still, this was a fun story. It could work as a standalone if you haven't read the first book, but if you have you'll be happy to find some of your lingering questions are finally answered here.

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to to Avon and Goodreads for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
This is book 2 of the series. Its not necessary to read the first one. I didn't. The plot here is unrelated to the plot in the first book.
Here we have Connor a workaholic suffering from a tragic loss a few years back. He is banned to the island forced to relax by his family. He meets the town recluse in a very unique way. Maddie is on constant high alert. Someone is after her and she will do anything to protect herself. But there is something about Connor that draws her to him, grounds her. Maybe she can finally stop and breathe with him. But someone is after her. Is it someone from her past?
This story is a decent romantic thriller if a little predictable. The romance between Maddie and Connor was good but safe. They fit well. He was not the take charge alpha but that is exactly what she needed. Because of this I didn't feel there was enough emotional drama between them for the story to evolve. So when Maddie brings things up for Connor to react to it feels like a forced turmoil thrown in to transition the plot. It didnt work well for me, imho. Overall, it was well written.

[Perrin Larton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Workaholic Connor Rye is on Whitaker Island for a little rest and relaxation. His first day on the island is tipped on its side when he’s rudely awakened by a blow to the head. Who knew romance could begin this way!

Maddie Rhine is a quintessential control freak. She has her reasons. She must know who arrives on Whitaker, why they’re here, and where they’re staying. As the voice behind the answering service on the island, she can keep track of the comings and goings, usually.

Connor and Maddie are thrown together by circumstances, and they realize they’re attracted to each other. Boy is that an understatement. They are off the charts H.O.T. With their relationship blossoming, they want to see where it leads. When people from Maddie’s past begin to arrive on the island, and islanders start dying, the mystery and intrigue begin!

Excellent job by Ms. Dimon weaving the inhabitants of the island into the story. Since this is the second book in the series, we get to visit with some old friends and see where their lives are going. We also learn who is the owner of Whitaker! Here’s hoping there is another book in the series…I think I know which couple is next!!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor needed a chance away from it all and after his brother successfully spent time on Whitaker Island he knew it was the best place to recharge. His trip starts on an odd note when he's woken up in his cabin by an intruder and hit over the head. Maddie didn't mean to hurt Connor, she just was not expecting anyone in that cabin and she knows everything that goes on on that island. She does that because Whitaker Island isn't just a retreat for her, it's her savior. Maddie has some secrets she hasn't been ready to share just yet but since those secrets seem to have caught her, she has to trust Connor. Building any kind of relationship, friendly or romantic, isn't easy for her but there is a spark with Connor that she has to explore. Meeting Maddie is not exactly how Connor planned to spend his time away but after meeting her, his plans seem to change. And when Maddie is in danger his plans change even faster. Another great read in the Whitaker Island series filled with suspense, romance, and humor (Connor makes a great dog walker). Love the series and can't wait to keep reading!

*Side note, HelenKay is a personal friend. Take this review however you like*

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 STARS!

In THE SECRET SHE KEEPS danger is lurking from the very start yet the dialogue that is woven with humorous banter keeps a lightheartedness alive for the reader. HelenKay Dimon's second book in her Whitaker Island series is sure to please fans of romantic suspense!

As we go into the story, we know that Connor is still suffering an overwhelming grief over his sister's murder and carries a load of emotions with him. He's seeking to get away from the daily grind to comfort his soul, but finds himself smack dab in the middle of a mystery.

Maddie makes a huge impact on Connor from day one, and as he learns tidbits of her story, he's more and more intrigued. Can she find a way to let people into the inner sanctuary she's built around herself when her life just might depend on it again?

I recommend this story to fans of suspense with a generous amount of sexual chemistry, romance and happily ever afters. The story was fast paced, endearing and ultimately satisfying!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy was in the witness protection program and chose to leave and now makes her home on Whittaker Island in the Northwest just off of Seattle. She continues to remain vigilant and fearful for her life and is very cautious about her routine and who she comes in contact with. Conner Rye, originally from the DC area, visits his family home on Whittaker Island to take a well needed vacation. When Conner and Mandy meet on the island, sparks fly. Mandy begins to receive anonymous threatening letters. She realizes that she is no longer safe on the island. Someone from her past is after her. Conner as well as a few townspeople help Mandy to keep safe and figure out who is threatening her. Part romance and part suspense novel this book kept me captivated to the very end. I received this book in a goodreads giveaway in return for my honest review. Thank you goodreads and thank you Avon books.

[Bree Lewandowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ergh. I'm mostly gonna leave the fact that I rated this book with two stars as review enough. Because this simply might not have been the book for me. And I've seen other people's ratings much higher than mine. So, to each their own.
But for me, the suspense felt fabricated and spoon-fed. Not organic or really suspenseful at all. The romance seemed out of place for the way Ms. Dimon created the main female character. Not saying there couldn't have been a romance but the way it played out felt unlikely to the personality of the main female character.
So, yeah. Not for me.
But yes I read the whole thing because unless I hit subject material I don't want on my mind, once I start reading a book, I read the book. As a reader, I'm down for the ride. Let's see where this goes. You know? I just didn't much enjoy the ride with this one.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets She Keeps is the sequel to Her Other Secret. Connor is the brother of Hanson from the first book. He is on the island for a much needed vacation. He is attacked minutes after being in the cabin. Maddie has been quietly living on the island trying to put her life back together. Connor helps her figure out who is sending her warning notes. This was a good follow up to the first book. I liked both characters. While their HEA was a bit quick, they fit well together. The mystery of who is stalking Maddie is honestly not hard to figure out. But, I still enjoyed the journey. This definitely could be read as a stand alone. I ended up listening to the audiobook. I highly recommend that format. I look forward to the next book

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exquisitely written

This books was incredibly well written👌🏼 I loved that the characters felt like real people- the dialogue flowed naturally and felt authentic. Maddie and Connor were both clever people with sharp edges, and it was really fun to watch the sparks fly between them! The suspense was also *really* well done- I felt low-level anxiety the whole time!

I read this book as part of a reading challenge to read a subgenre that I don’t typically read, and I while this book is really really excellent, I just didn’t love feeling anxious about the protagonists- I think perhaps romantic suspense just isn’t the genre for me. But I want to see if HelenKay writes other sub genres, because I really liked her writing style🤦🏼‍♀️

[Donna Was A Scandal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic suspense with a big mystery influence - I enjoyed this book very much and found the characters resonated with me more than those in book 1. Connor's emotional baggage and inability to grieve runs head-first into Maddie's deep, dark, deadly secrets - I'm not spoiling a damn thing! I found the pacing of the mystery very well done, I enjoyed the chemistry and really hot sex scenes but most of all, the gut-wrenching emotional journey or journeys but especially Connor's as it revolves around unattended to grief, was the real star of the show - very well written. Fabulous character development and growth.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor Rye, Hansen's brother from the previous book, is on Whitaker Island for a much-needed vacation. Maddie has been living on the island and answering calls for the police department and some businesses on the island. Maddie has been very secretive about her past. Maddie has been receiving threatening notes and she gets worried when she finds Connor in Hansen's old house. I really liked Connor and Maddie's interactions with each other. Maddie's secret-keeping did make some things difficult, but Connor and Maddie worked through it. I wasn't very surprised by the villain. I did find the introduction of the island owner interesting. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[Dcw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first introduction to this author’s writings. I appreciate how she introduced a strong male character of Korean and American ethnicity. The story takes place on Whitaker Island and it is inhabited by people as eccentric as you might imagine. The book moves at a bit of a slower place but, hey, it’s on island time. People are brought together and secrets are revealed, some interesting and some just downright dangerous. I’m going back to read the precursor to this book, Her Other Secret. Then I’ll start to explore her other writings. A good find!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am LOVING Whitaker Island so much! I was intrigued by book one, and now I'm completely obsessed! And these Rye brothers are just wow! Maddie is an awesome character, and while I wanted to shake her sometimes, I totally loved her! Connor is just the absolute best too! I figured out the mystery early on (lifelong mystery reader here), but that didn't diminish my love of the story or how it played out! I cannot wait for more, because there are people I need more info about, like now!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story about Whittaker Island and the unusual people who live there. Connor Rye came because after his sister’s death, he became a workaholic and he needed a rest. Unfortunately he wasn’t going to get it while he was on the island. Right off the bat, he met Maddie Rhine when she hit him over the head while he was sleeping in his own cabin but it was a mistake. She had been hiding for so long that she was afraid that he was here to hurt her. Interesting story that you will love.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The two main characters Conner Rye and Maddie Rhine are strangers that meet in an unusual way. It was very painful for one of them..literally. Though Conner and Maddie have come to Whitaker Island for different reasons, the reader learns they each have issues that aren't resolved.
The author wove the multi-layered plot so well; I could visualize this book as a television show or a movie.