This was a wonderful book to end the year! Quinn’s journey is heartfelt and inspiring. A vast knowledge of Hawaiian culture is displayed by the author. She does an amazing job of capturing the importance of ohana, pono and other aspects which brought back fond memories. I loved the little twists that complicated Quinn’s search while also enhancing her understanding of her situation (don’t want to give too much away). If you’re looking to start the new year with an uplifting story, look no further, get this one. For a more thorough review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book.

I am so very glad that I requested an advance copy of True to Me from Netgalley. I only request books that truly interest me, and little did I know just how much I would fall in love with this book. This was my first read of Kay Bratt's, and I will definitely be looking for more! This book took you on a breathtakingly-descriptive journey to the Hawaiian island of Maui, for a beautiful, interesting, and twisty story of love, loss, family, etc. I highly recommend, and even wish that I had a physical copy of this book, as it would become a part of my very rare kept books collection!

What happens when you find out your whole life is a lie. Quinn decides that before her future can procede, she has to find her past. There were so many twists in this book. Loved them all and can't wait to read more about this community in the big island. So many characters you want to find out what happens with them

One thing I absolutely love with reading is finding amazing settings in stories and getting a bit of “virtual” travel while I read. With finding True to Me by Kay Bratt takes place in Hawaii I immediately had to grab this contemporary romance and thankfully the story was a lovely as the setting.

Quinn Maguire had spent her life being raised by a single mother thinking that her father had left as a child but when her mother is about to pass away she admits to lying about who Quinn’s father was. Despite being engaged Quinn decides she really wants to learn her real father was and finds evidence he might be in Hawaii where her mother was raised.

The author did a wonderful job bringing the setting of Hawaii to life in this story even including the culture and people into the mystery of who Quinn’s father might be. While this is more on the side of a contemporary read it does have a pretty solid mystery involved in it too with Quinn looking into her past which made this one a definite page turner. With likable characters, a great setting and fun plot this one is one I’d recommend checking out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH??

Imagine your Mother is dying and her last words are a confession that the man you thought was your deadbeat dad wasn’t even your real father at all. That news would be difficult to absorb even if you were somebody who seems to have their life plan all on track. Quinn Maquire is that person and because of that news she travels to her Mom’s native homeland of Maui in an attempt to find any and all information about her true family. How long will it take her to find the truth about her real family? Will she be happy with the truth she finds? Will she want to go back to any of her old life? How will she be changed by what she finds?

Kay Bratt has a way of writing that truly delves into her characters deepest inner core. She allows readers to feel as though they know the characters as they would a friend - all the good & all the bad. This particular book is insightful as it reveals all the multiple layers of deceit brought on by nothing more than pure greed. The lessons learned from withholding the truth in TRUE TO ME apply to many real life situations.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

This is one of my favorite books by Kay Bratt, and I have really liked all that I have read. The main character - Quinn takes an unplanned journey and is enlightened about her life. A very intriguing and heart warming story that is very descriptive - you feel as if you are in Maui with Quinn. There are secondary characters that you meet along the way that you come to care about as well. Loved this book!

Emotional but wonderful read about a you g women trying to find her roots, This is a book you want to read when you have a large block of time to truly immerse yourself in the story. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! This book, this story, was amazing! A wonderful page turner that masterfully manages to weave many components together without feeling fractured at all. Genealogy plays a key part in this story as does self discovery. Mystery, friendships, relationships, forgiveness, and a touch of romance. I'd love to see a sequel focusing on Quinn's best friend, Maggie and her story!

Wonderful story of a young women's search for her Father and who she actually is. A complicated journey that takes her to Maui after her Mother's death bed confession that the man she thought was her Father was not. Quinn becomes stronger, more self reliant and confident. She gets the courage to get rid of a bad relationship which is one of the best parts of the book! Not my first book by Kay Bratt. I definitely am a fan! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

True to Me by Kay Bratt is a wonderful story, about Quinn Maguire, who learned on her mother's death bed that the man she thought was her father, is not. Quinn has no idea who is. Her mother's wishes is to be buried in Maui where she was born, so she heads to Maui. There are more twists and turns in what Quinn finds out about herself and her mother. Once I started this book, I could not stop reading. What could be better than reading a tropical book, on a snowy Colorado day. I highly recommend this book, it is not a simple story, it's complicated and wonderful.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. Thank you.

The second book I've read in as many weeks about a daughter trying to find her roots.
Quinn is a complex character but allows herself to be "bullied" by her fiance. Under his guidance he moulds her to be the "perfect woman for him" - a robot. A deathbed confession from her mother sees her whole world turned upside down and inside out and results in her deciding to take her mother's ashes back to Maui where she was born and to discover the truth about herself.
Once there, she realises that things are not what she expected and she undertakes an emotional journey of self-discovery and finding her past. As she progresses on this path, she finds out more about herself and where she fits in and the more she finds out, the stronger and more self-confident she becomes, until she realises she only needs to depend on herself - she is can be true to herself. I loved the moment she kicked Ethan to the kerb - his reaction was priceless.
The story was well-written and well-researched. Parts of it left me with goosebumps.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

This is the first book that I read by this author, but I had seen good things being said about this book, that I wanted to see if the buzz was correct. Plus I haven't been disappointed yet by an author via Lake Union Publishing.

It has always been Quinn Maguire and her mother as far back as she can remember especially after her father left them at an early age. No extended family members. As a child, she always wanted to search for her father to get the answers she needed. But that all changed one fateful day.

Living in Georgia and as she lay dying, Beth, Quinn's mother asks a favor of her only child and that is to please spread her ashes in Hawaii. Hawaii? Why? She has never heard her Mom talk about Hawaii. The other thing that came as a blow, Beth tells Quinn that Wesley Maguire wasn't her biological father.

Trying to get through the grief of losing her mother and now not knowing who her father is, she makes the decision that she needs to honor her mother's wishes and do it alone, leaving her controlling fiancè Ethan behind. What transpires is once in Hawaii, is she finds out that she is part of a feud between two families that have gone on for years and who she really is. And now, it's time to be true to herself.

I absolutely loved this story. The writing was fluid and engrossing. I felt as I could feel the Hawaiian breezes blowing and that I knew each and every one of the characters. At times, my heart broke for Quinn as I could feel the emotional toll that she was under and the questions that were heavy on her heart. I wanted so much for her to have a happy ending. Did she? Well.......you will need to read this compelling and poignant story to find out!, which I highly recommend.

Posted to GR 12/25/19 Will post to blog 12/27/19

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley..

This was my first book by this author.
Quinn's story was definitely relatable. It for sure pulled on my heart strings almost immediately.
I couldn't put the book down.

I saw a post for this book on Facebook and was able to pick it up on Netgalley. This is a new to me author and I decided to give her a try. Boy, am I glad I did. Quinn's story definitely pulled at my heartstrings. I felt so many different emotions throughout the book. It is beautifully written and I absolutely loved all the characters and the plot was great.

I could definitely understand Quinn's reluctance to find out about her past, but also wanting to find her family. Family rivalries can be hard and you never know what has happened in the past or what the future may hold.

My favorite part I think was the beautiful descriptions of Hawaii. I've never been, but I felt like I was seeing it on the pages as she described everything. If I could possibly give them more than five stars, I definitely would. Deserves way more than that. I will be finding more books by this author in the near future. I'd give ten stars if I could.

Kay Bratt’s new novel is a beautifully written novel about the emotional quest for true identity and family.

Quinn’s mother, on her deathbed, has tasked Quinn to return her ashes to Maui, Hawaii, her homeland and to scatter the ashes there. She also tells Quinn that the man ,who she thought was her father, was not. Emotionally sent into a tailspin, Quinn sets out to find out who she really is. Quinn has been raised my her loving mother but without any extended family even talked about. Quinn is also quite insecure but decides that this is something she needs to do without the help or direction of her long time fiancé, Ethan. Here begins Quinn’s search for who she is and where she really fits in. It is a search for herself, family and connection.

Kay Bratt’s characters seem to come to life as your read, fully developed with problems and emotions of their own.They all fit together to add to complexity to Quinn’s search. However; her search may uncover things in others lives that might be best left undiscovered. Ms. Bratt’s descriptions of Maui are so vivid and detailed that I was transported back to the places I had enjoyed on a vacation there. I especially enjoyed the Hawaiian history, events, traditions and ceremonies that were woven into the story. You can truly “see” the beaches, surfers, waterfalls and twisty roads as you read and understand the life and culture of the Hawaiian people. DNA testing also has a part in the quest and is handled and explained well with all the implications a test like this can have on a family.

From the first page of this book, I was drawn into the story and never let down. Quinn’s quest for an answer became my quest for a resolution to her identity and a family of her own.

I want to thank NetGalley and Kay Bratt for the advanced copy to read and review. This thoughts and opinions within this review are my own.

Quinn’s story captures the essence of the importance of connection. Her life is upturned, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing...
I loved the setting and felt like I was there in beautiful Hawaii. Kay Bratt gives the reader a glimpse behind the tourism there, delving into real lives of people who live there.
I’m looking forward to the second book in the series!

Quinn took care of her mother during her illness until her death.her mother made a confession to her during her last moments.the man Quinn knew as her absentee biological father is not really her father. She begins a quest to find her real father.Quinn wants to go to Maui alone to spread her mother's ashes.her fiance resents that she doesn't want him to go also but he has secrets.i liked Quinn and her adventures

Found this book very emotional and a bit heavy for me (read this in the holiday season - might be better for a deep seat and hot cocoa read of fall rather than Christmas time). The pacing felt too slow for my reading - again, this seems to be a book to delve into when you really can and enjoy and savor every single word as you immerse yourself in. I did like it, though, and Maui came alive as a beautiful setting that almost felt like a character in itself.
Best for immersive reading when you have a free afternoon and evening and it's raining or cold outside and you can really lose yourself in there.

Quinn McGuire has had a good life. She has a fiancé and a successful career. Growing up, her mother worked hard and did her best as a single parent; the only thing really missing in Quinn’s life is her father. As an adult, Quinn tried locating the man that her mother said lured her from her home on Maui and then left her with a child to raise, with no luck. Left reeling by not only her mother’s death, but the confession that preceded it, Quinn is left with questions but no way to find answers. All she does know, is that her destination must be Maui, and she has to go alone. Arriving on Maui with lots of questions and a new house, nothing goes quite as expected .With new and old friends, Quinn embarks on a journey to uncover her past and find her future. What she finds is so much more than she ever thought possible.
Bratt has created wonderful characters with depth and a storyline that will keep you engrossed and turning pages. Her descriptions and writing style will make you feel that you are right there with Quinn in Maui. If you have never read any of Kay Bratt’s work, this is a great one to start with.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#TruetoMe #KayBratt #LakeUnionPublishing

It all started with her dying mother's confession and Quinn sets on a journey of her lifetime to find her father. She faces some obstacles along the way and I enjoyed reading about if or how she overcame them. The description of the Hawaii settings was so vivid that I could see it in my mind which was warming with the chilly weather. I still find myself thinking about the stories of each character. A great story about family and love!