Island of Secrets by Diane Demetre
Island of Secrets
A captivating story of love, mystery
and hope
Two love stories separated in
time.
Two women following their dreams.
In a paradise littered with painful secrets, will love turn the tide?
Two women following their dreams.
In a paradise littered with painful secrets, will love turn the tide?
1973. Cecilia “CiCi” Freemont has a restless soul and the
voice of an angel. Leaving her privileged upbringing behind, she chases her
dreams to the sandy beaches of an unspoiled Hawaiian paradise, Harbor Island.
But life takes an unexpected turn when she falls for the island’s young
heir-apparent and her newfound adventure becomes too much to bear…
2017. Investigative journalist Tina Templeton has dedicated
herself to the pursuit of truth. But when she inherits Harbor Island, her
career plans take a confusing twist. Managing the sprawling island estate is
tough business even with the help of aging cabaret singer, CiCi Freemont.
Especially when a massive ecological disaster threatens to destroy her
beautiful beaches—and the responding coast guard captain steals her heart.
As the investigation into the disaster reveals a 40-year-old
mystery that could change their lives forever, will Tina find love among the
secrets, or will CiCi’s painful past dash her dreams on the rocks?
Island of Secrets is an epic love story. If
you like generations-spanning drama, characters with hidden pasts,
heart-warming romance and intrigue, then you’ll love Diane Demetre’s powerful
romantic mystery in paradise.
EXCERPT FOUR
In 1973, wild-child, Cecilia Freemont
finds herself on Harbor Island, a privately-owned island off the coast of Maui
where she is befriended by brother and sister, Dickie and Victoria Reginald.
Squeezed
between Victoria, who drove, and Dickie on the other end of the bench seat,
Cecilia chomped on her breakfast sandwich as they jostled along in the Chevy.
On their way down the steep, bumpy Harbor Hill Road, Victoria pulled over a few
times to give a ride to the locals walking into town. With the open rear cargo
bed full of happy, chatting passengers, the old truck trundled along, providing
much-needed respite from the hot journey.
“Hey, look.”
Dickie pointed to the beach coming into full view as they turned into The
Esplanade. “We’ve got visitors.”
From a couple
of yachts moored in the harbor, a dozen or so people had come ashore. Settled
on the beach, they lazed, played games and bathed, enjoying the serenity of the
island.
“So, what
happens after they’ve gone?” asked Cecilia.
“What do you
mean?”
“Well, the
beach is so perfectly maintained. There’s no rubbish, or food scraps or
anything. I bet visitors don’t clean up after themselves all the time?”
“You’re
right,” said Victoria. “At the end of each day, a team of groundsmen go over
the beach, collecting rubbish and raking the sand.”
Cecilia
frowned and looked at each of them to check whether they were joking. “Rake the
sand?”
“I know it
sounds absurd,” said Dickie, exchanging a smile. “But it’s our family’s role to
support the local families here. So, we employ as many as we can in whatever
jobs we can. Raking the beach is one of them. Believe me, the groundsmen who do
it enjoy it. It’s easier than many of the other jobs. And because no one
supervises them, they take a lot longer than they should. They’re a cheeky
lot.” He shook his head and chuckled at their staff’s cunningness.
“I have no
doubt Mom will send you down to check up on them once you settle into the
housekeeper role,” said Victoria.
Cecilia
scratched her head. “Raking the beach. Now I’ve heard everything.”
Even at only
ten o’clock in the morning and with the truck windows wound down, cool air
proved elusive. The warm breeze wafted up from the harbor and swirled in the
cabin, creating pools of invisible heat. Shafts of sunlight pierced the
windscreen and increased the cabin temperature until the towel on the bench
seat turned damp beneath Cecilia’s thighs.
The Chevy
slowed to a stop. Victoria switched off the engine and slid out of the cabin.
“Okay. Let’s go into the Ladies Markets first and organize some more clothes
for you.”
Cecilia
shuffled across the seat after Victoria and then looked back at Dickie. “You
coming?”
“Nah, I’ll
wait here I think. Maybe take a stroll on the beach. Just don’t be too long.
Okay?”
“Okay,”
Cecilia and Victoria replied in unison.
Testimonials
Amazon 5 Stars
A
lovely intergenerational family drama set in an untouched paradise – Avid
Reader
This is the second novel I've read by the author and,
though very different from Retribution (which I loved), this novel has its own
strengths. It's the saga of a🌺 Hawaiian family dynasty, but focused on
two generations of strong women and their❤ romances. Cecelia 's young love is
poignant and doomed, Tina's second chance love is sudden, healing and,
ultimately, an ironic conclusion to an old family drama. Cecelia was my
favorite character. She is full of life, a sense of adventure, and an optimism
about life's possibilities; she's also ready to sacrifice big time for the
place and people she loves.
The descriptions of the natural beauty of the fictional
Harbor Island are vivid and lyrical. Otherwise, the prose is simple and
straightforward. I got so involved with these characters that I could not stop
reading! I really liked the inclusion of several mysteries that take a while to
solve. Although the minor characters who reside and work on the island seemed a
bit stereotyped, all in all it's a lovely read with some tearful moments and
well worth considering. I will be looking forward to more stories from Ms.
Demetre.:-)
Amazon 5 Stars
I love, love, love, this book! – Tasha Thomas
This book was so good! It jumps over a span of about forty
years. It has everything in it. From first love to first discovery. It has
suspense, love lost and love gained. It also has a friendship that stood the
test of time, and sibling rivalry. If you read another book this year, this is
the one! I highly recommend this wonderful book!
Amazon 5 Stars
Entertaining – Kim F
Extremely entertaining, captivating, and interesting read.
I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong and intriguing
characters. I want to read more from this author.
Amazon
5 Stars
Captivating – Debbins
The story was told in several points of view about life on
an island. It was captivating and original. The characters draw you in and
carry you right along with their journey through time. Highly recommend this
great mystery.
Amazon 5 Stars
Good story of true love – C.
Sasser
This is a
heart wrenching love story that covers a lifetime. It is not the traditional
happy ever after but it still does end that way. It was an entertaining, easy
to read love story with wonderful characters. It had some very emotional
moments. It was a great story.
Amazon 5 Stars
Island of secrets – Angie
Anderson
This book
is so good. It’s two generations of love. I loved all of the characters. The
ending is wonderful. I suggest Kleenex being handy.
Amazon 4 Stars
An enjoyable story – Misty
An
enjoyable well written book with good engaging characters. Interesting with
Cecilia's character as she developed relationships with the islanders and Tina
easily resolved conflicts. Story jumps in years and held my interest with a
special ending.
Amazon 5 Stars
A sweet story of redemption,
family and enduring love – Ltwin
I'm a little late with my review because it
took me a few days to stop crying. This is wonderful story about 2 strong women
separated by a span of years, yet very connected. CiCi is a free spirit child
of the 70s and it is her story that draws the reader into the book. Tina ties
the present with the past and has her own journey to love and family to travel.
There is a bit of family dysfunction and mystery that is sprinkled throughout
that enables the reader to see many facets of the characters.
Amazon 4 Stars
Heartbreaks and Triumphs –
Sahar’s Beaded Creations
At first I was not sure what to think, but the
story pulls you. There are some heartbreaking elements, but there is also love
and redemption. I definitely shed a few tears reading the story. The island
held many secrets and heartaches. The story had lost love, finding love, and in
the end, a sort of homecoming. It spanned two generations.
Amazon 5 Stars
Family – Renee Strauss
I don't
know where to start. It was a flashback to the 70s and life then. We follow the
journey of Cecelia at first. Harbor Island is where she ended up. There she
found herself and the love of her life, but she had to move on. Her love
inherited the Island and upon his death everyone reunited. Including the new
addition to their family. There were fights and criminal activity which in the
end turned out to be a happy ending.
Ebook ISBN
978-1-9993066-0-1
Paperback ISBN 978-1-9993066-1-8
386 pages
Ebook
Paperback https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999306619 For readers of contemporary fiction, Diane Demetre is a fresh, passionate voice in storytelling. She is an award-winning author of genre-busting romance novels with a twist. Her dramatic flair, sense of place and evocative style create an entertaining escape for her readers. Diane’s works feature empowered heroines who live life to the fullest on their terms, much like the author herself
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