Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Secret Sisters
    Secret Sisters
    Secret Sisters
    Audiobook9 hours

    Secret Sisters

    Written by Jayne Ann Krentz

    Narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    No one does romantic suspense better than Jayne Ann Krentz. Now, the New York Times bestselling author of Trust No One and River Road delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless. Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters-until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves. They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother's hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn't be bothering them anymore...ever. Still their lives would never be the same. Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother's mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel-a place she never wanted to see again-a dying man's last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered. Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain's new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts...and wants. Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack's brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth...
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateDec 8, 2015
    ISBN9781501903397
    Secret Sisters
    Author

    Jayne Ann Krentz

    The author of over fifty consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Jayne Ann Krentz writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick), and futuristic/paranormal (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print. She earned a BA in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries. She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington. Jayne loves to hear from her readers and can be found at Facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz.

    More audiobooks from Jayne Ann Krentz

    Related to Secret Sisters

    Related audiobooks

    Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      O Fortuna, Velut Luna

      Sep 15, 2018

      What is Miss Treece’s trouble, according to a popular notion? The man A has failed to show up. Arousing herself at the restaurant, she fixes her lipstick when her solo supper concludes and takes herself down the stairs situated behind the bar. There,

      3 min read

    • Article

      Australia Reads At Home

      May 18, 2020

      Australia Reads At Home
      7 min read

    • Article

      Freedom

      Aug 6, 2020

      Freedom
      7 min read

    • Article

      Peter Mountford

      Dec 15, 2017

      Vivian spends most of the afternoon naked and strapped to the giant ottoman in the interior decorator’s office in Bethesda. When he finally unties her, the sun is low and she’s shaky and exhausted. He paddled her hard at some point, and that hot stin

      28 min read

    • Article

      Sienna’s Monster

      Mar 10, 2021

      Sienna lived with a monster, but no one else knew it. The first time Sienna realized that her monster wasn’t like the rest was in 4th grade. The whole grade assembled in the auditorium. A police officer watched them enter from his place on the stage.

      26 min read

    • Article

      The Bridle

      Oct 10, 2021

      Saliva pooled on her tongue beneath the rusty depressor. She endured a constant urge to swallow, afraid of choking on her own fluids. The taste of metal and blood are so akin, it is easy to mistake one for the other. This early in the day, blood was

      11 min read

    • Article

      Sienna’s Monster

      Sep 10, 2023

      Sienna lived with a monster, but no one else knew it. The first time Sienna realized her monster wasn’t like the rest was in fourth grade. The whole grade assembled in the auditorium. A police officer watched them enter from his place on the stage. H

      27 min read

    • Article

      A Little About Why

      Jun 1, 2023

      A Little About Why
      15 min read

    • Article

      Cast Out

      Jul 10, 2021

      Verity pushed back the quilts, rolled off her straw mattress onto the floor, felt for the poker, and stirred the ashes. The embers glowed. She wouldn’t have to go fire-borrowing again. Her chilled hands were clumsy. One glowing bit of wood rolled fro

      21 min read

    • Article

      Winter Warmers

      Jun 23, 2023

      BY BETH O’LEARY QUERCUS Reading a Beth O’Leary book is like connecting with an old friend. One of those friends with whom you sit on your couch in your comfiest clothes and get a story worth listening to that will make you laugh and feel sad and eve

      3 min read

    • Article

      Birdie

      Jan 14, 2020

      Birdie
      24 min read

    • Article

      Safety

      Mar 1, 2023

      IT WAS only a dream, a bad dream, and nothing else. The man in Vidal’s dream was stalking a woman, spying on her from the shadows, following her down a dark alley as she sought refuge from a downpour. The woman was vaguely familiar to Vidal, though h

      13 min read

    • Article

      Absolute Best

      Apr 30, 2021

      Absolute Best
      20 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Jul 10, 2019

      Book Club
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Eulogy

      Jul 13, 2022

      The Eulogy
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Only Punishment

      Feb 10, 2022

      The floor of the room was white, but three of the walls and the ceiling were light blue. His own bland pajamas were light green. It was probably supposed to be calming, but it only angered Rats. He knew what this was—a fregging brainwashing facility,

      16 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Mar 23, 2020

      Julia Ebner works for a counter-extremism think tank that watches and documents radical groups from the outside. Worrying that she isn’t getting the full picture, she goes undercover, joins various groups and experiences them from the inside out. Thi

      4 min read

    • Article

      Ben Marcus

      Jun 15, 2018

      My wife, Gin, once knocked gently on my head, as if it were a door. “Hello,” she kept saying. “Hello. Who’s in there?” She and our therapist, Dr. Sherby, laughed a little about this, so I did, too. What fun. Keep knocking on my head like that, like i

      23 min read

    • Article

      Suspicious Minds

      Apr 7, 2022

      Suspicious Minds
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Last Friend on Earth

      May 4, 2023

      It was as if Doreen Saunders had been waiting for me, passing the time until my arrival. She might as well have been sitting in a rocking chair, knitting needles clicking, jam tarts cooling on the side, the door wide open, waiting for the next visito

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Date

      Jan 7, 2021

      The Date
      5 min read

    • Article

      Honey & Spice

      Aug 8, 2022

      So, he was good with kids; had a softness to him. The most dangerous thing about that was clearly it wasn’t performed: there was no way he could fake the adoration with which he looked at that angel. With that obnoxious display of genuine cuteness, h

      5 min read

    • Article

      Better

      Aug 12, 2019

      Better
      18 min read

    • Article

      Required Reading

      Aug 17, 2017

      GABRIELLA M. GEISINGER is a New Yorker now living in London. Her freelance writing focuses on arts & culture, feminism, and human rights. DEALING WITH A PARENT who develops dementia or Alzheimer’s is nothing new to the universe, and, yet, one of the

      6 min read

    • Article

      Five Poems

      Jul 1, 2019

      You agreed to meet him in one of those cafés you imagined yourself writing in if you could afford to live in that city. He was also a writer, but older, and you wanted to know how to get published. Slip a picture of yourself in with your poems, he ad

      6 min read

    • Article

      My modern FAIRY TALE

      Dec 3, 2020

      The distinction between good and evil in fairy stories is always very clear, and though good doesn’t always win, evil is, if not vanquished, then at least exposed for what it is. However, the fairy stories I grew up with were very different to the ‘s

      3 min read

    • Article

      The After

      Jun 10, 2023

      He is sitting opposite me, staring blankly like a dead fish. Stone eyes. Cobalt and lifeless. Pale gray skin, dripping scales. I imagine him hauled out of the water and dumped on the riverbank, gasping for breath. Just as he deserves. I only agreed t

      13 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Secret Sisters

    3.5/5

    124 ratings22 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      I won this audiobook from last month's Early Reviewer list. I don't read as much romance as I used to do (there was a period of years when romance was about all I read), but Krentz is one of my go-tos when I'm in the mood. I wish I could say this offering is another gem, but I can't. It was okay, don't get me wrong, and if you like contemporary romantic thrillers, you should enjoy it, but it wasn't up to her usual standards, imo. In fact, I finished it a few days ago and have already forgotten a lot of the story. Other reviewers have talked about the storyline and characters so I won't, other than to say the romances weren't especially exciting, nor was the mystery or suspense aspects.
    • 2/5
      Madeline and Daphne grew up as close as sisters, until, at the age of twelve, Maddie is attacked one night in her grandmother's hotel. Daphne saves her from a worse fate, but Madeline's grandmother and Daphne's mother separate the girls and each move far away from the hotel in Washington state--and all the secrets it holds. However, 18 years later, Madeline and Daphne find themselves back at the hotel, after the death of Madeline's grandmother. Madeline receives a call from the hotel's caretaker, Tom, which causes her to return. Scared and afraid, she returns with Jack Rayner, her recently hired new security consultant. But can Jack protect Madeline (and Daphne) from the secrets hiding in wait on the island?

      Per usual, I can't remember why I put this book on my library list, but I probably read a review somewhere. I did not realize it was written by an author who has truly written hundreds of books under various pseudonyms and hence has probably a fairly formulaic approach to writing. The book is more enjoyable if you just sort of embrace that and give into the "cheesiness factor" -- otherwise, it's a little too much at times.

      It's a decently plotted mystery - the romance portion seems rather lacking, though. The character development is really thin, and hence the characters' motives and actions all seem really overblown. A lot of their actions are extreme without any background to justify them. Madeline, Jack, Daphne, and Jack's brother, Abe, are interesting characters, but you just don't get enough about them to really know them, or know what's behind them - beyond grand sweeping gestures and ideas ("something bad happened, so she or he is beyond damaged FOREVER!"). The various characters presented as villains are even more caricatured - all the way down to a pyromaniac brother who is portrayed as one step away from the insane asylum at every second.

      The plot keeps you guessing, somewhat, even if I figured it out pretty early on (it's so clearly thought to be someone, that you realize it can't possibly be that easy). It's kind of sad, because Jack and Maddie definitely had possibility, as did Daphne and Abe. I could see all four being follow-up/sequel characters if they had more definition and grit to them. This is a fairly quick read with a serviceable mystery plot, but mostly it leaves you wanting more (especially if you are looking for romance).
    • 5/5
      This was another excellent romantic suspense title by Jayne Ann Krentz. Madeline has recently inherited her grandmother's boutique hotel chain after her death in a fire in her penthouse suite. Now she is called back to to Cooper Island in Washington by the caretaker of the hotel she and her grandmother had fled eighteen years earlier. She arrives just in time to hear the dying caretaker's last words and escape from whoever killed him. Her immediate response to call her head of security Jack Reyner.Jack has started his own security company and was hired by Madeline's grandmother. Madeline tried to ease him out of the contract when she took over. But Jack wasn't willing to go. Jack is quick to head from Arizona to Washington to help Madeline. And together with Abe's brother and Madeline's childhood friend, they find themselves deep in a conspiracy with assorted murders that has its roots in the past.The story is filled with secrets that are now coming to light and people who will do anything to keep the secrets buried. The trauma that sent Madeline and her grandmother away from the island has impacted all of Madeline's relationships. She is used to relationships not lasting because of her trust issues. Jack is also relationship-shy. However, they are both stubborn people who are attracted to each other. The way they courted wouldn't be universally approved but certainly worked for them. I also liked the relationship between Jack's brother Abe and Madeline's friend Daphne. This is the first time I recall a Krentz book with a secondary romance going on. The strengths of this book include the relationships between the characters both the romances and the friendships. The story also has an abundance of villains with a variety of motives. Xavier Webster was one creepy sociopath but the rest of his family was also scary. Throw in hedge fund hijinks and political ambitions and you have a story ripe with tension.Fans of romantic suspense won't want to miss this exciting story.
    • 2/5
      Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz is a 2015 Berkley publication.First of all, I would like to thank the publisher and the LibraryThing early review program for the nice audiobook set of this novel.It has been a very, very long time since I read a romantic suspense novel by this author, more famously known for her paranormal crossovers writing under the pseudonyms of Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle. However, Ms. Krentz did write RS novels without paranormal elements as well as regular contemporary romance once upon a time. So, I was pleased to see her return to her roots here with “Secret Sisters” Madeline and Daphne were best friends as children, but after escaping from a harrowing situation, they drifted apart and lost all contact. Now, Madeline’s grandmother has died, leaving her in control of her hotel chain. Before she died, though, her grandmother hired a security firm for the hotel, and Madeline must honor the contract. Enter Jack, the head of said security firm, a man starting all over from scratch and in dire need of keeping his first big job. After laying down the law with Madeline about not using him for personal background checks, he feels bad when Madeline leaves town alone, to see tie up loose ends at an old abandoned hotel her grandmother still owns, and discovers the caretaker near death and Madeline nearly becomes a victim herself. Once Jack arrives in Washington, he and Madeline quickly discerns that old Tom’s death relates back to the crime she and Daphne barely escaped, which means Daphne could be in danger too. Once Daphne arrives at the hotel, she and Madeline rekindle their old friendship, and a few romances heat up for the ladies too. But, an old and powerful family in the area are not too happy to see Madeline return and are trying to convince her to leave, by any means necessary. Was the death of Madeline’s grandmother due to foul play? Who killed Tom? And what secrets will Madeline and Jack discovers about a local politician and a potential cover-up? But, most of all, how does all this connect back to what happened to Madeline all those years ago? Most people have heard me say romantic suspense is my ‘go to’ genre because it combines my two favorite genre’s – mystery and romance-into one book. I have watched romantic suspense evolve over time and while I always enjoy these stories, no matter which way they are told, I always long for the more traditional style, which is how this book is written. With a veteran author at the helm and the writing style in place, I was ready for a real treat, especially since I made numerous attempts to get a copy of it, with no success, and the library waiting list has over hundred people waiting in line ahead of me. This book has to be good, I thought, or else why would everyone be requesting a copy?I even accepted this audio version, which isn’t my first choice, just to get a chance to read this book. So, under the circumstances, it’s possible my expectations were a little skewed. But, despite that possibility, I found this story lacking, in both the romance department and with the suspense elements. The story is just too implausible, the dialogue was plain, had no humor, or emotion, and the connection between Daphne and Madeline that was supposed to be so strong, never rang true for me. The relationship between Jack and Madeline was rushed, although I did like Jack, and his backstory could have been interesting, but lacked enough details to really make a lot of sense. The plot was somewhat murky and just didn’t flow well, jumping from one scenario to another and with entirely too many suspicious fires, with a paper thin, anticlimactic conclusion. The truth is, I’ve read better RS novels by new authors who didn’t have the luxury of a big time publisher, and expensive editors to back them up. So, I was pretty disappointed with this one. As I stated earlier, this is the audio version and since I am not a regular audio listener, I’m not sure how to rate the narration, but compared to the other Audiobooks I’ve listened to, it wasn’t all that impressive, which is a real shame, since it’s obvious this is a very nice and probably expensive set of audio disc. I feel bad giving this author such a low rating, and I see this book has been well received and enjoyed by everyone else for the most part, but it is what it is. 2 stars
    • 3/5
      The Secret Sisters in this book are Madeline and Daphne who were best friends until an event in their past disrupts their lives. Years later both of them have been brought together again as Madeline's grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances. Then the caretaker at her old home dies in front of her after a strange phone call where he told her that she must come home to talk with him face to face. Enter Jack, who Madeline's grandmother hired as security consultant for the chain of hotels her family owns. Jack and Madeline become involved as they discover the basis of the mystery surrounding the events of Madeline and Daphne's childhood trauma. This is a decent story with an interesting mystery, but the character development was lacking as was the depth of interaction between the characters. Overall a good, quick read with little underlying emotion.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      In Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz, an eighteen year old secret appears to the impetus for the deaths of two people and a series of attempts on the lives of others connected to those long ago events. This incredibly fast-paced and riveting mystery is full of exciting plot twists that are guaranteed to keep readers' on the edge of their seats until the novel's dramatic and very unexpected conclusion.

      Although Madelaine Chase has tried to forget the traumatic events of that long ago night, she is still haunted by the foiled attack. Unable to fully trust any man, she has been unable to sustain a lasting relationship despite her best efforts. While still mourning the unexpected loss of her beloved grandmother, Edith, Madelaine is forced to return to the Aurora Point Hotel after a chilling phone call from the abandoned property's eccentric caretaker, Tom Lomax. Before Tom can tell her why he needed to see her, he is brutally murdered and Madelaine calls in hotel security expert, Jack Rayner, to help her investigate his death.

      Madelaine is a no-nonsense business executive who is mostly unflappable even under the most unpleasant circumstances. Already unnerved by her return to Cooper Island, she is truly frightened after she realizes Tom's death was no accident. Knowing she has to be completely honest with Jack, Madelaine reluctantly reveals the horrifying details of the attack and subsequent series of events that occurred eighteen years earlier. With only a handful of people knowing the truth about what happened, she and Jack are stunned to discover that someone has stolen important information that was concealed by her grandmother and Tom after the attack. When Madelaine and Jack learn her childhood friend Daphne Knight's condo has recently been ransacked, they are convinced the break in, Tom's murder and quite possibly, Edith's death, are somehow linked to what happened at the Aurora Point Hotel that horrible night eighteen years ago.

      Jack is no better at relationships than Madelaine and he is nonplussed by his unwanted attraction to his employer. Putting aside his unprofessional feelings for her, he quickly focuses on the case. As a former consultant as an FBI profiler, Jack has an uncanny ability to predict with some degree of certainty what the attacker might do next, but narrowing down the suspect list is a little more difficult. An unpleasant confrontation with a member of a prominent local family steers the investigation in an unexpected, but completely viable, direction. With the assaults on them escalating, Jack calls in his tech savvy genius brother (and partner) Abe to help ferret out information about both the past and present cases. The information they unearth is shocking and it quickly becomes apparent that someone is willing to go to any lengths to ensure their long buried secrets remain hidden.

      While investigative duties keep everyone fairly busy, the four lead characters find time for love. Jack and Madelaine's simmering sexual tension reaches a boiling point and they finally decide to stop fighting the inevitable. While neither has any expectation of a permanent relationship, they are pleasantly surprised to discover how in tune they are with each other. Madelaine is rather intuitive where Jack is concerned and she quickly discerns what he carefully conceals from his loved ones. Jack is incredibly patient and understanding about Madelaine's (understandable) idiosyncrasies which is helpful in removing the impediments that have derailed her previous relationships. Madelaine is more receptive to committing to a future with Jack than he is since he is very reluctant to reveal the secrets that haunt him.

      Secret Sisters is an intriguing mystery with an engaging storyline and well-developed characters. The mystery element is brilliantly executed and Jayne Ann Krentz skillfully utilizes a series of misdirects and red herrings to obscure the perpetrator's identity and possible motives for the crime(s). Clever plot twists and jaw dropping revelations bring the novel to a spectacular conclusion.

      A very perplexing and riveting mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.
    • 3/5
      The Secret Sisters in this book are Madeline and Daphne who were best friends until an event in their past disrupts their lives. Years later both of them have been brought together again as Madeline's grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances. Then the caretaker at her old home dies in front of her after a strange phone call where he told her that she must come home to talk with him face to face. Enter Jack, who Madeline's grandmother hired as security consultant for the chain of hotels her family owns. Jack and Madeline become involved as they discover the basis of the mystery surrounding the events of Madeline and Daphne's childhood trauma. This is a decent story with an interesting mystery, but the character development was lacking as was the depth of interaction between the characters. Overall a good, quick read with little underlying emotion.
    • 4/5
      I like Krentz's contemporary romances so much better than I like her paranormals or 'historicals.' This was one was pretty decent. Good mystery for the most part. However, as always at the end there is monologuing by the 'villain(s)' explaining the mystery and why and how they did what they did. And the hero/heroine are pretty typical of Krentz's work. I don't know why I keep reading her stuff. The dialog is good and her books move along at a good pace.
    • 4/5
      When I saw the cover and read the synopsis I knew I needed to get my hands on this one. Thank you Penguin for making that happen with an ARC!


      The book starts with a glimpse of the dark night that changed everything. The night that lies were buried 6 feet under and bonds were built off secrets. Madeline thinks the nightmares are all she has to deal with now, but a call from the past pulls her right back to that night. Her life is turned upside down when her grandma is murdered and she's left to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Luckily she has Jack... the security agent, AKA hero and Daphne her long lost secret sister.


      When the characters go back to the island where it all started they are confronted by a rich island family that are a bunch of crazies. Each one poses as something they aren't, but as Madeline and Jack dig deeper they find out what lies behind each golden face. The two brothers are against one another and the parents hate each other. They put on pretty political faces to get into the white house, but their secrets can only stay hidden for so long.


      It was an intense wild ride reading about each character and how they fit together. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what in the heck was going on and who was behind it all. I could have guessed that someone was involved, but the others... I had no clue. It was horrifying at times and I loved when I had to look around my dark bedroom checking every corner to make sure the characters weren't jumping off the pages and into my dark space. The eerie feeling of reliving that night and running through the dank hotel were enough to pull me into the story and leave me staying up way past my bed time.


      I really enjoyed the Secret Sisters and overall was impressed with the Author's writing. She was able to capture the essence of tragedy and intertwine thrilling suspense, edge of your seat mystery, and passionate romance. My mind was manipulated and while I did like the twists and turns, I couldn't help but crave a darker reveal. I secretly wanted someone closer to Madeline to be involved... Someone that would come in and rock our world with their involvement. With all that being said it was great book that I recommend to all readers.
    • 5/5
      This book is all about secrets and the effect they have on those keeping them. Madeline and Daphne haven't spoken for years. However, when they reconnect it is like they have never been apart. They are bound together by a past secret that has come back to haunt them. Jack has his own secret and while trying to protect Madeline finds himself falling for her. This is an edge of your seat, suspenseful romance. If you are into the mushy, gushy type of romance don't bother picking this up. The suspense, twists and turns kept me reading. I really didn't know how it was going to turn out until the end. That made this book especially wonderful for me. This is definitely a book I'll recommend.I received a copy from Netgalley to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
    • 3/5
      My mom enjoyed this book and we have similar taste in books, so I thought I would like it also. It just wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I liked the characters, but the mystery just didn't really grab me. I wanted more romance and more mystery! It was good, enjoyable...just not memorable.
    • 4/5
      The front has a sticker that says that "if you love Nora Roberts you'll love Jayne Ann Krentz" and this reads like a lot of Nora Roberts contemporary romance with a little less romance but this ramps up the twists and turns and unexpected villains, every time I thought the villany was over there was another one lurking in the wings to take me and the heroes by surprise.Madeline was attacked when she was 12 years old in her grandmother's hotel and they dealt with it, now it's 18 years later and those events are going to echo. Her grandmother has just died suddenly and a visit to the old run-down hotel on Cooper Island makes her question that death when she finds the caretaker dying. Her friend and secret sister Daphne will also get drawn in and they will have to face the horrible things that happened to come out the other side.It was interesting and I really wanted to know what would happen next.
    • 4/5
      A great beach book! Well, it it was beach season and if I had the actual book, it would be a great beach book. As it turned out, however, I listened to this story on CD. I popped in the discs before I began my 600 mile road trip and it accompanied me through snow, sleet, ice, and rain. This book is filled with suspense and humor, with just the right amount of romance (not at all over done or too descriptive), with well developed characters and an informative and interesting storyline. I don't know how to state what I didn't like about it without creating a spoiler, so I will just say, even with the trouble spot, I still liked this book very much. Driving or lying on a beach, it is a very good read.
    • 2/5
      As a 12-year-old, Madeline was attacked by a stranger in her grandmother's hotel. Now, after being summoned by the caretaker of the now abandoned hotel, Madeline returns as an adult to the island off the coast of Seattle, to the site where the attack took place, this time following her grandmother's death. As she arrives, the caretaker is taking his last breaths, after apparently being murdered. Thus begins a search for answers. Assisting Madeline is Jack, the man in charge of security for the chain of hotels that Madeline has now inherited.I've not read Jayne Ann Krentz before, so I won't compare this to any of her other novels. I would like to think this is not one of her better books, because I was not overly impressed with this one. Described as a romantic thriller, the storyline was average and the execution only mediocre as well. I found myself rolling my eyes on more than one occasion, reading cliche' after cliche' . The character of Madeline was annoying and I really didn't care for her much at all. The plot, especially the so-called romance, was predictable and not at all original. As far as audiobooks go, the reader, while not the worst I've read, was also not particularly the best. Even the title is misleading, as it really has no significant relevance to the story. Perhaps this genre just wasn't my cup of tea. I don't really read romance, although I can appreciate a good underlying romantic storyline or some sexual tension in a book. But I do typically like a well-written thriller. But this one missed the mark on both counts. I doubt that I'll read anything else by this author, based on my impression with this one.
    • 4/5
      Secret Sisters is an intriguing and thrilling story that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Jayne Ann Krentz begins the story with a horrific event from eighteen years ago and from there, jumps to present day and begins to unravel layers upon layers of secrets and mystery. Two childhood friends and two brothers find themselves working together to put all of the pieces together, while trying to avoid danger that is surrounding them. The sweet romance between the couples and the suspenseful plot turns makes for a great read that I would highly recommend. (Please note that I did receive this as a free audiobook).
    • 4/5
      SECRET SISTERS is an exciting novel of romantic suspense, and also the first book I've read by Jayne Ann Krentz. The blurb drew me in with the promise of a spooky abandoned hotel on an island in the Pacific Northwest, and it just got better from there. The main character, Madeline, and her grandmother fled the island twenty years earlier and left some dark secrets buried there. Now her grandmother is deceased, and Madeline is back on the island to confront her past. There, she reunites with her "secret sister" Daphne to try and solve a deadly mystery that began all those years ago.I enjoyed the mystery in this book, and though this is romantic suspense, the romance part didn't take over the story, which for me is a good thing! Along with Madeline, there is Jack, her company's security expert. There's strong chemistry between the two, though both have scars from the past that make starting a relationship difficult. While Madeline's felt real and understandable, Jack's felt a bit forced and took a long time to come to the surface.SECRET SISTERS is a fast-paced, suspenseful book that takes readers down a dark and twisted path. The Gothic, creepy hotel setting was a perfect fit for this story. Looking forward to reading more from Ms. Krentz.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher thorough NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      Jayne Ann Krentz has written over 50 New York Times Best-Selling novels and this is the first one that I have read. I don't usually read the romance/suspense genre, but the synopsis intrigued me so I gave it a try.Madeline and Daphne are best friends and spend their days together while Daphne's mom works for Madeline's grandma at the hotel she runs. After a brutal attack on Madeline during a party at the hotel, their lives are forever changed. They have been bound by a secret that will haunt both of them forever.Madeline and Daphne haven't spoken since that fateful night and now, eighteen years later, the past has come back to confront them. When Madeline returns to Washington after her grandmother's death she comes upon the death of the hotel caretaker. Now she is wondering if these deaths are truly accidental and if they have anything to do with the attack on her many years ago. Madeline must find Daphne and along with her security expert, Jack, they need to get to the truth of what truly happened the night Madeline was attacked.Krentz is extremely talented at building suspense throughout the story. Nothing goes smoothly for the characters and she builds in multiple surprises to keep you guessing. Each twist in the story will leave you suspecting one person over another. As Madeline and Jack investigate the loose ends, the reader will also try to see what clue they are missing. As more and more people are found dead and Madeline and Daphne confront dangerous situations, the novel begins to move quickly. Since I'm not a romance reader, I found the relationships rushed and unrealistic. But, Krentz's readers would be sure to remind me that an entire romance has to fit in just 300 some pages.Fans of Krentz will find her latest book thrilling as well as passionate. The culmination of solving the crime will leave you shocked and wondering how you didn't figure it out in the beginning.Side Notes:Favorite Quote: "He kissed her with the soaring passion of a man who has just been set free from a cage. She understood his response because she had only recently escaped from an invisible prison herself. "Cover: I like it, but don't see the connection to the story except for the fact that Madeline may be running away from something. Still, maybe a shot of the hotel on Cooper Island would have been better.
    • 3/5
      I just finished reading the novel Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz. Madeline Chase was attacked eighteen years ago (she was twelve) on Cooper Island at Aurora Point Hotel. Daphne (her best friend) went for help and got Tom Lomax (the caretaker) and grandmother, Edith Chase. Thankfully, Madeline was rescued before the attacked could harm her (physically). The attacker had a briefcase with him. After the adults saw the contents, they quickly hid the briefcase (insurance policy). Eighteen years later Madeline’s grandmother, Edith just passed away leaving her in charge of the Sanctuary Creek Inns. Madeline gets a call from Tom Lomax that he needs to see her right away. Madeline has not been back to Cooper Island since the attack. When Madeline arrives, Tom is at the bottom of the staircase. He apologizes for not protecting her and the secret before he passes away. Then someone tries to kill Madeline. Madeline calls in Jack Rayner from Rayner Risk Management for assistance (the security company she has under contract). It turns out that someone is trying to kill everyone involved in the incident eighteen years earlier. What was in the briefcase? Madeline and Daphne are the last two left alive. Jack, Abe (Jack’s brother who also works for Rayner Risk Management), Madeline, and Daphne set out to find everything they can on the attacker and what his briefcase might have contained. Will they be able to stay alive long enough to get answers?Secret Sisters is a good mystery novel. It is intriguing (and suspenseful) and you will be kept guessing throughout the book. I just wish that the focus had stayed on the mystery. Unfortunately, romance seemed to dominate the book. The writing is good (as always with this author). I give Secret Sisters 3.75 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a book with a lot of romance and a little bit of mystery, then Secret Sisters is the book for you!I received a complimentary copy of Secret Sisters from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      When is it time to reveal a secret? When the secret comes back to haunt you. Madeline had been the girl, who at the tender age of twelve, was taken to the maintenance shed and nearly raped. Her friend and secret sister, Daphne, quickly found Maddie’s grandmother. Both the grandmother and Tom Lomax, the B&B’s caretaker, came together to brutally attack the man who’d signed in as Porter. He’d had big some secrets of his own in a briefcase. Edith, the grandmother, referred to it as ‘insurance’ and hid the insurance in a wall. They buried Porter and topped the grave with cement and a nice gazebo. Only five people, including Daphne’s mother knew of the horrible incident. No one was to ever utter a single word.Maddie grows up into a successful young woman. She’s kept an investigation team, headed up by Jack Rayner, in her employment. She hasn’t seen Daphne in eighteen years since the incident at her grandmother’s B & B in the seaside town of Cooper Cove. But death coincidences are becoming a pattern – first her beloved grandmother; then Tom. Now it’s time to reveal the secret to Jack so he can do what he does best — keep her safe and find the murderer.This whodunit was very much to my liking with some surprising twists. Character development was awesome and the story line and pacing were phenomenal. In my opinion, the author aced her skills in this fabulous read. Madeline was a character I both liked and disliked. I liked her strength and resourcefulness but didn’t always care for her no-nonsense dialogue and attitude. However, considering her traumatic childhood experience, I found her personality entirely believable. And yes, for those of you who like a little romance with your mystery, get ready to accept Jack Rayner as your next book boyfriend. Rating: 5 out of 5.
    • 5/5
      This was one of my favorite books I have read by Jayne Ann Krentz. I loved how these two girls were such good friends at one time and then torn apart due to tragedy. This book then gets them back together due to mother tragedy but they are still close even though they haven't seen each other in many years. I loved the suspense and the romance. I read this really fast because I couldn't put this down. I received this from the firsttoread program for a fair and honest opinion.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book by author Jayne Ann Krentz that I’ve read, and I’m certain it won’t be the last. Incidentally, Krentz also writes under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, and I noticed she’s such a prolific writer! Anyway, I was given early access to this book through Penguin’s First to Read program. The story opens with a disturbing scene that will haunt two young girls for the rest of their lives. Then the story fast forwards to the present, 18 years after that traumatic event. Madeline just lost her grandmother and has inherited her hotel business including Aurora Point Hotel, a place she would rather forget. An urgent phone call forces her to go back to that place and confront the ghosts of her past. Once there, Madeline is immediately plunged into danger urging her to seek the assistance of Jack, her security. It is quite evident from the start that Jack and Madeline are attracted to each other. As Madeline uncovers the truth behind the deaths of two people dear to her, she also faces her own demons while reconnecting with Daphne, her secret sister. Their search for the truth will take them to a dangerous journey where politics, family secrets, deception and greed turns deadly. I like the pacing of the story, it’s written in such a way that will keep readers guessing until the end. I was able to guess who the mastermind is about halfway through the book, but other than that, the plot twists surprised me. I didn’t really warm up to Madeline’s “executive type” character, I liked Daphne’s character better as she seems warmer, more relatable. Jack and Abe are also likeable characters; Jack does come off as too serious but he also has a sense of humor. I like the tender moments between him and Madeline as it makes the latter’s character less cold and calculating. Their romance lacks build-up though. The story ended on a positive note, but we don’t find out what happens to Madeline and Daphne once their secret is out in the open. However, if you’re craving for mystery with a bit of suspense and romance, you might enjoy this book. I give Secret Sisters 4 out of 5 stars. The book comes out on December 8.
    • 4/5
      Another solid romantic suspense novel from the always-reliable Krentz.After a terrible night eighteen years ago, Madeline and her grandmother fled Cooper Island and left their hotel there to rot. Now her grandmother is dead and Madeline has inherited the chain of small boutique hotels. When the caretaker at the abandoned Aurora Point Inn calls, Madeline returns to Cooper Island, only to find Lomax dying and someone stalking her through the hotel. The secrets of the past are coming back to haunt the present. Madeline, her childhood best friend Daphne, and security consultants Jack and Abe Rayner must uncover a conspiracy to save their own lives.Believable, healthy romances and gripping suspense make for a winning combination. Recommended.