Official Review: Sophia's Secret by Julie Ryan

[Momlovesbooks]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sophia's Secret" by Julie Ryan.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Sophia's Secret is the second book in the Greek Island Mystery series by Julie Ryan. However, each book can be read as a standalone, fictional novel. I did not read the first book in the series, but had no trouble following the story.

Julie Ryan takes you on a mystery-filled trip through the ages by exploring several families and their connection through different generations. Kat discovers, through her estranged grandmother's letter, that her mother has passed away. Kat grew up in England with her Aunt Tigi and has never understood why she was sent away from her Greek family at such a young age. She decides to return to her Greek birthplace and attend her mother's funeral while attempting to find answers to her mysterious past. She leaves her husband in England and brings her young daughter with her as she tries to understand her strained marriage. Woven throughout Kat's story, are intertwined mysteries about her estranged grandmother, Sophia, and other interesting characters.

I was captivated by this book from the beginning. The author's descriptive writing style helps you move effortlessly from the typical bustling environment of England to the warm, sunny Greek islands. The author has a vast array of interesting characters. She is able to make the large cast well-developed and liked, which is sometimes hard to do with lots of characters. Her strength is being able to make the characters come alive.

Several mysteries surround different characters at the same time. Switching from one character and their story to a different one was a little confusing at first, but I got into the flow of the story and saw at the end how it all tied together perfectly. I liked the way the author told the story in the past and present. It made the characters seem more alive to me.

This book will hold the attention of mystery lovers and romance enthusiasts. While several mysteries and secrets are revealed throughout the book, it is also an emotional journey in which the characters learn about themselves, their strong family ties and how to come to terms with their intertwined pasts. It is a story of brokenness, hurt and forgiveness. This book focuses on the importance of communication. It helped me look at my relationships in a fresh light.

Other than a few moments of plot confusion and a minimal amount of grammatical mistakes, I found this to be a well-written and captivating story. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable summer read. For these reasons, I rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. I now want to read the first book in the series!

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Sophia's Secret
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[Bookiemad]

Thank you so much for the lovely review - it really came from the heart and is much appreciated. I love it when a reader 'gets' my writing - thank you.

[bluemel4]

Great review! I love generational stories. I am going to add this to my to-read list.

[bookowlie]

Great review! I love books that have a strong setting....in this case, it's a treat because there are 2 settings.