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.

After her mother's death, Quinn's world is not the same. She's not ready to move on, yet her boyfriend seems to want her to do just that. Her mother's final words are part of her confusion. Her mother tells her that the man she knew as her absentee father was not her father at all. She's floored and wants to uncover the truth.

Ditching her boyfriend's plans to go to Hawaii with her and turn it into a lavish vacation, Quinn sets off on her own. Before she scatters her mother's ashes, she wants to find out what her mother has kept hidden for so many years. In Hawaii, she dives in to find out the truth and figure out what she wants from her life.

True to Me was sweet and touching. A few tears were shed along the way. The Hawaiian setting was brought to life through the author's words. I even learned a few things along the way.

This isn't a rushed story. It moves along at the right pace without seeming hurried. The big reveal, when it comes, does get the plot moving swifter, but it still never felt rushed. I enjoyed every minute.

While the author's site says it is a standalone novel, the "By the Sea" novel designation makes me think this is the start of a series. I'm not sure where it' will go from here, but I have hopes that it will share the story of Quinn's best friend now.

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!

Loved reading about Quinn's journey to find her roots. A few tears were shed. All was resolved as I hoped. The story grabbed me from the start and didn't let go. A delightful, albeit emotional, visit to Hawaii. Her personal growth was wonderful to see. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

True to Me by Kay Bratt is a great escape when you're looking for a beach read! This was an interesting book with a unique plot.

TRUE TO ME by Kay Bratt

Another beautiful book by Kay Bratt. Her books leave you breathless and with tears in your eyes. Both tears of sadness and joy. Heartache and happiness. Such emotions make her books some of the best I’ve ever read. Through in a laugh or two and you have a wonderful, heartfelt, touching, loving, story. 

Ohana, means family. All Quinn wanted was a big family. Sisters and brothers. A dad who was there for her. What she had was a mother who would do anything for her. Anything to keep her safe. She loved her unconditionally and with every part of her. On her death bed she made a confession to Quinn that would change everything that she thought she knew about her and her mother.

Quinn goes to Maui to take her mother’s ashes home. That was her mother’s wish and being the kind of person she was Quinn was determined to grant her mother’s last wishes. Little did she know that her life was going to make a dramatic turn. Changes were coming for her that she would have never believed. She was leaving behind a life she thought at the time was what she wanted. Engaged to a man she thought she loved so much and would do anything for. In Maui she found her true self. Her strengths. She met people who changed her life in ways she never would have dreamed of. Sounds a bit like paradise to me in many ways. 

This story is told in a way that you truly feel like you are there. The beauty of the water. The paths through the woods. The buildings and the house that changed Quinn in many ways. The family that lived in the house that is. She found so much that she never realized was missing and more. They all became family to her. This is a story of a love so deep and moving that it will take your breath away. The love of strangers and family and a best friend. Unconditional love. The only true kind.

This story made me have lots of ugly crying tears. Not all in a bad way either. The joys and happiness. The ups and downs. The breakups and losses. Family can be such a beautiful thing and it’s not just blood that makes a family. It’s in your heart. 

Kay Bratt has a way with words that will have you reeling from chapter to chapter. From one thing to the next. Her books always leave me feeling full. I can’t wait for the next book now to see who we meet and who comes together. Yes, Ohana means family. A huge big family that were strangers just a few days before.

I loved this book from the first word to the very last. It pulled me in and pulled at my heart. It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. The characters were so likable and you will feel like they are old friends. With the exception of the fiancé, Ethan. I didn’t like him at all. Nothing about him. But all the rest were so loving and kind and felt like family and old friends.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lake Union and Kay Bratt for this ARC. This is my own review and is from my heart.

I give this one 5 stars and a high high recommendation.. A must read.

I loved everything about this book - plot, main & supporting characters, and setting. I found Quinn to be very likeable and I found myself rooting for her throughout the story as she tries to unravel the mystery of her family while also asserting her independence from her controlling fiance. This book highlights the value of true friendship and the power of compassion and forgiveness. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

I was not sure about this book when I first started it. But, I most definitely was pleasantly surprised! The authors writing style was very impressive and I loved it! In the beginning Quinn is very timid and shy. But her character development through the book is astonishing! Not only did Quinn have an astounding character development other characters did as well! I grew to really like and care for them. The book gave a lot of background and history on other significant characters as well. Overall, this was an amazing book that had a lot of depth and will stick with me for a long time. It was very well written and so realistic that I almost forgot it was fiction. 

Full review- shannonsreads.com

On her deathbed,Quinn's mother tells her that the man she thought was her father is not her real father,setting off a search for the truth.This takes place on Maui,where Quinn learns a lot about herself,her mother and her roots.Along the way,she realizes some truths about her love relationship,connects with her estranged best friend and becomes more involved with the island and people.The story has a lot of great descriptions of the lush island scenery making me feel like I was right there beside Quinn the entire time!