Secrets in Bar Harbor

Mount Desert Island #1

by Katie Winters

A widow turns to her sisters for comfort – only to discover, after all these years, she might not be blood-related at all.

Heather Harvey Talbot is the youngest of the three Harvey sisters. For years, she was a sensitive yet lively woman and an eternally devoted wife. She worked as a children's fantasy writer and poured her life and love into her relationships with her husband, Max, and her twin daughters, Kristine and Bella.

But all that changes when Max, an oceanographer, disappears off the coastline, never to be seen again.

Grief is an understatement. Heather’s depression is insurmountable.

With her daughters both away at college, Heather retreats to Bar Harbor, where one of her sisters has taken up operation of the Acadia Eatery, which is attached to their inherited Keating Inn.

But almost immediately after her arrival, Heather discovers old letters that indicate that Jane, the woman she thought was her mother, was never her mother at all. There’s nobody else around to ask – her father and "mother" died years ago.

In the wake of her torrential grief, Heather now finds herself sliced off from the sisters she once so loved, facing trauma she hadn’t known existed.

Will she discover the truth? And what will become of her relationship to the women she always called “sisters” if it’s true she doesn’t really belong?

Dive into this new women’s fiction series, Mount Desert Island – an unfolding family drama of heartache, longing and secrets on a beautiful island off the coast of Maine.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Womens Fiction

148 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2021

About the author

Katie writes women's fiction and clean, wholesome contemporary romance. She looks to everyday, real-life family issues to weave stories of heartfelt emotions, love and loss, and everything in between.

Come transport yourself to Martha's Vineyard: an island of vivid blue ocean, white sand, and a lively community of locals, who celebrate everything from the bright New England summers to the cold, yet cozy, snowcapped winters.

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Reviews

[Jennie Fortna]

ARC for honest review with no compensation

Secrets in Bar Harbor is book 1 in the new Mount Desert Island series by Katie Winter and as always a series that grips you from the start!

Heather Harvey is still coming to grips with the loss of her husband Max and has relied on her sisters to help her through, while her twin daughters are away at college. She decides to go to the Keating Inn the girls inherited from their estranged father. Finding letters she learns that her sisters are not really her sisters and her life was a lie…

Secrets, drama, heartache on lots of levels and so much more…great start to this new series.

[Bob]

A struggle to find personal family roots. Good characters.

[Pam Fleming]

This is book 1 in a new series. The characters bring lots of feelings and emotions to this story. Heather goes to Bar Harbor to escape her depression after her husband Max is lost at sea. After her arrival, questions begin to arise about her parentage and she begins to search out the truth of her family. Heather learns family doesn’t have to be blood related, but it is people you can count on for support. Meanwhile she wonders if she can move forward and have a future with Luke, the product of broken homes and the foster system. When one question is answered, Heather just has more and more questions about her past.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

Look forward to reading more in this series.

[Patricia Grogan Bugher]

DNA doesn’t always make a family. Heather is the youngest of three sisters, she’s in her mid forties and a year ago lost her husband, Max, the love of her life. Unable to reconcile her loss, she travels to Bar Harbor, Maine to help her sister, Nicole, run an inn and restaurant left to them by their father. This is where the tide turns for Heather and she learns many life-affecting things about herself, including DNA doesn’t always make family. Very good story with wonderful characters. Thank you to Katie Winters for an ARC of this wonderful book.

[Kathleen A]

Katie Winters has the art of weaving stories and grabbing her readers from the very beginning so that they ignore all else, to read! Family is key to her stories and only through the strength and support of family are her characters able to move forward! Even when some of the obstacles, family secrets and lies encountered by the main character seem almost insurmountable, there is a savior among the characters who lends a helping hand. After reading her books, the reader (Me) is able to believe I can, too, prevail in my life struggles!

[Judith Levis]

Katie Winters' newest series deals with Heather's search for answers about her past and her struggle to cope with the loss of her husband Max. Deciding to visit her sister Nicole in Bar Harbor, she is surprised and shocked with unexpected news about herself and her family. The book very seriously attempts to solve a mystery, and it's interesting to follow Heather's search for answers and attempts to "heal" herself. There is a hint of romance with sous-chef Luke and the support of family members. I look forward to the next book and more keys to unlocking the secrets in Bar Harbor.

[Carol cousins]

Couldn’t finish this one!

I normally like Katie Winters books, but just could not make myself wade through more than about 20% before deciding to go for something else- we’re supposed to believe Heather is interested in another man only a year after the death of her husband. I think young authors must think it’s very easy to “move on”- and maybe so if you didn’t really care about the person who’s gone- but having experienced deep, enduring, devastating loss I cannot relate to this character. Also the whole convoluted plot about her parents was just boring.

[Cheryl]

Kati continues to share stories of sisters separated by circumstances. Heather has traveled to Bar Harbor to reunite with her sister and try to deal with her loss and grief. A local man befriends her and helps her in the search for answers about her past and secrets that keep surfacing. Katie is a wonderful storyteller and this page turner keeps me wanting more. I received this ARC for an honest review.

[Patricia Baxes]

I don’t know how she does it, but Katie Winters brings me to my knees with every book she writes. Such pain and heartache plus layers upon layers of deceit and deception…simply amazing.

Secrets in Bar Harbor is a new series with all the old familiar touches…amazing storyline; heart stopping characters; plot twists and turns that will have you weeping like you’ve lost someone you loved. You need to read this series if Book 1 is any indication.
Grab your copy today!

[Anne]

The only reason I continued reading this book was: A: It was set in Maine and I really like Maine as my son lives there and I like to visit! B: it was short! Otherwise I’d be done with it as the writing is poor, lots of mistakes in grammar and sentences that didn’t make any sense, repetition of inappropriate adjectives and so on. Unless you like all those things plus a kind of nonsensical story one, skip it and anything else she writes!

[Tina Wilkes]

Lovely little mystery but poor Heather what a shock but the good old you font have to be blood related to be family. It was a great feel good book I read this in a couple of days it was quite gripping I needed to know what the end result was and pleased with the happy ending I'd love to see how things progress with Heather and Luke.

[Linda]

So much drama and angst. Heather lost her husband about a year before the book starts. Of course that would be awful. She decides to visit her sister in Bar Harbor. Maine. There she finds out she may not be a sister to her sisters. She was raised by a loving mother and then her mother's sister and has two sisters who are always there for her and love her.

It was annoying!

[Eileen Gernet]

I want to thank my parents.

I am lucky enough to know who both my parents were and the extended family members I have loved so much. It's a good family with drama like most families. This is a story of a woman not so lucky in the biological parents regard. Get your tissues, this is a year jerker.

[Joy]

I wonder why I finish this book? I think it was because I kept waiting for the author to make the protagonist show ANY redeeming qualities. Instead, she continued to be a self-centered, neurotic, drama-queen of a character. The other characters were lackluster and the storyline predictable. Will not waste more time on this series.

[Renee Goldberg]

Secrets in Bar Harbor

This delightful novel about family restaurant and inn in Bar Harbor Maine was enjoyable. I loved uncovering the mysteries tht unfolded about a family and it's connections.i recommend this book high. Renee Goldberg rgoldberg227@gmail.com

[Kathy]

Sisters for Life

Casey, Nicole and Melanie known as the Harvey sisters had not had the easiest of lives but they had always loved each other. How would their lives change when they find out one of them is not a true Harvey.

[Jennifer]

Ok

It was kind of a dreary read. There was lots of loss, sadness and depression. With just barely a happy finish. Not really an ending.

Another odd thing how many people get to 44 and have never needed their birth certificate? Not for school, license, travel or marriage. Maybe things are different in Maine.

[Rita]

I bought this book strictly because of the title, since I was fortunate enough to visit Bar Harbor a few years ago. I loved the descriptions of the area, but other than that… The book was okay, though not particularly well written. I won’t be continuing with the series…

[Lori Couts]

I bought this book because of the setting and our plans to visit Bar Harbor soon. Truly the worst book I've ever read and actually finished. Poor writing, weak plot, disappointing ending. A fail from start to finish.

[Jacqueline Peters]

Quite a story

I liked the story for the wonderful family story.I always like a happy ending.I would recommend this story for all

[Shirley Schrunk]

Finding Family

Very different and hard to put down. I especially liked the fact I didn't have to put up with a lot of sex scenes and yet there was so much love shown.

[Jori]

3.75 stars

[Sharon Robinson]

Couldn't put it down!!!!

Once I started this story I could not out it down. A little mystery and the start of love kept my attention. You will love it too!!!!

[Cindy]

Great story

Start a new series written about Bar Harbor. It tells us the story of Heather and her family a bit of a mystery in the the beginning as we learn about Heather

[Randy Simon]

Very light, repetitive beach read.

[Donna Kale]

Love, love, love her books!

[Jenna]

Enjoyed the book.

This was a nice paced book. I enjoyed reading it after reading a couple of thrillers. Would recommend it to you to read and relax.

[Carol Rankin]

Secrets in Bar Harbor

A great story! Full of intrigue and adventure! Love moves the characters to solve problems! Highly recommended reading! It makes life seem worth living!

[Lori]

Loving this author

[Nicole]

Wow! Great start to a new series! Heather suffers a loss and goes to Bar Harbor to find out more about her past. And Katie Winters does not disappoint! You are hooked from the start wondering about the girls father and his suicide and then with his journals, you know there is more of a secret to be discovered. It’s a beautiful story that shows DNA does not make a family. Great start and can’t wait to read the next books!

Free arc provided in return for an honest review