Another @netgalley read this time from @swannywrites

This told the story of Tara Tremain, the daughter of wealthy parents. Years ago Tara accepted a marriage proposal from her then Boyfriend but it turned out he was using her.

Forward a decade & her life has changed but what happens when she is unexpectedly thrown back into the path of her ex boyfriend???

This was full of emotion, highly charged in places & a great pace.

My first book by this author but while at my Parents last weekend I noticed another of hers on their bookshelf so I'll definitely be 'borrowing' that in the future!!

4🌟

I loved this book. The Costa Rican jungle was brilliantly brought to life for me, the sounds, the colours, the ever present danger - I was there!
The interaction with the indigenous people and the respect for their traditions was beautifully written.
The characters were great too, so all in all, a great read.

I absolutely loved this book with all its themes. So many contrasts, London and Costa Rica, rich and poor, hygiene and squalor, beach and rain forest, and the cons as well as pros of conservation. The suspense was well done and the story flowed beautifully. I literally couldn’t put it down. Karen Swan is always good at description but she excelled herself with the descriptions of Costa Rica and the rainforest - so vivid you could imagine being there.
Tara is a wonderful character as we follow her from Medical student to a strong, practical doctor and the subsidiary characters touch your heart as well. Really highly recommended.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read from this author and it definitely will be the first of many. This story shattered my heart and then mended it with perfection.

So a little bit about the story... Tara is the daughter of a billionaire who discovered that her boyfriend who "proposed" to her was actually using her to get through to her father. She was heartbroken by this discovery and she completely removed him from her life. 10 years later they meet again in the most unlikely place and she actually needs his help as she is on a quest to save the life of a child in the local area.

This book has amazing character development, Tara's growth was amazing to see, from a young adult who was too eager to please others and who was ashamed of her family's wealth to a bold woman who was able to own her own narrative. This story touches on forgiveness and how people sometimes do the right thing in the wrong way.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review**

Tara and Alex are in love and want to get married. Alex has had an unconventional upbringing, while Tara’s parents are very wealthy. Both are young and destined to become experts in their field, though Tara’s plans change drastically when she realises she is pregnant. The couple are set to become engaged and announce the plans to Tara’s family, but she is betrayed by Alex.
The story takes up 10 years later when Tara is qualified and working as a consultant in a busy hospital. A group of friends take a much-needed break to Costa Rica, and the story develops. Karen Swan writes beautifully about the jungle, its flora and fauna and eco system. She realistically describes the exotic wild flowers along with many hidden dangers. Also, the poverty and customs of the indigenous people.
Tara is determined to explore the jungle searching for a herbal flower essential for small boy’s survival. She is a strong, independent woman but her determination to help is sorely tested in the harsh, hostile environment.
Karen Swan expertly explores the dynamics within friendships, families and love, and I found this book to be a gripping, compulsive read. I couldn’t put it down until reading the last page. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Tara, aged twenty, feels like she has everything she could want, she’s a trainee doctor and engaged to the man of her dreams, a biology student called Alex. But, what she thought or wanted to happen next didn’t. She’s betrayed by Alex, in a way she never thought he would.

Now, it’s ten years after that part of her life, and she’s left it behind her, made a successful career, got good friends and with someone who loves her.

As much as she doesn’t like being or having much to do with her wealthy family, she’s got no option but to attend a big party, in Costa Rica. Once there, she’s desperate to help a child who is seriously ill. But in order for her to do so, she has to go into the heart of the jungle.

Only one person can help her, the man who broke her heart into tiny pieces a decade ago. So, how can she trust him now?

Recommend It.

A captivating holiday read that I fell in love with from page one. I enjoyed the descriptive content so much that at times I felt transported to deep into the Costa Rican jungle. The richness of the story highlighted differences in healthcare and culture whilst highlighting some of the challenges faced by environmental conservation. The characters are well developed and the perfect style of writing makes them seem real and more like friends. If I put the book down, even for a minute, I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters and the storyline. In essence I couldn’t leave it alone and raced through from cover to cover. An adventurous romantic read with enough twists and turns to get your heart racing. Fantastic.

Such a fabulous read, what a relief in 2021 when none of us can travel (yet!) , instead Karen Swan has taken us on a virtual holiday to Costa Rica. Billionaire daughter Tara Tremain has life mapped out. At just 20, she's a trainee doctor, with a loving family and a good set of friends. It gets better, her boyfriend Alex has just proposed. As if life couldn't be perfect enough, she's discovered she's pregnant. But then Alex turns out to be someone he isn't and leaves her devastated. A decade later Tara, her boyfriend, bestie Hollie and her family are in Costa Rica for a family holiday and inauguration event ... when a medical emergency sees Hollie stranded in the jungle with the one man on the planet she'd like never to see again.
Hollie and Alex have to work together and they do - until Hollie goes missing ...
I can't tell you how much I loved this novel. The lush description of Costa Rica, the mystical elders who Hollie encounters, and a fantastic cast of characters. This is one I'd adore a sequel to. More please!

This story is about a woman in student years and then ten years later. This is the first book I've read by the author and I absolutely loved it. This book has adventure, survival and romance. Really enjoyed Her writing style and it's so vivid and descriptive. I felt like I was in the beautiful Costa Rica. I will definitely be getting more of her books to read and highly recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a number of Karen Swan books over the years and although I enjoyed this book I do not think it was one of her best. The description of the Costa Rican jungle set the scene beautifully but the plot fell somewhat short. The main characters Alex and Tara were together for 4 months apart for 10 months and then after spending just one day together in the jungle they become inseparable. A bit unrealistic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance copy of this book.

This book is sheer perfection. I devoured it in. A day!!!! I love Karen’s writing style and the element of escapism is gorgeous! I was hooked from the start and completely invested in all of the characters! Such an enjoyable read

Although I have read and enjoyed previous books by Karen Swan, I found this one difficult to connect with. Tara irritated me and her friends seemed fickle.
Costa Rica was beautifully described, although rather long in places.
Sorry but this title was not for me but I am sure others will enjoy it.

I absolutely love Karen swan
Books so was super excited to be approved for this. As usual with this author the reader gets far more than just a romance story. The secret path took the reader on a journey through Costa Rica and deep into the lives of the characters and their suffering. The story intertwined love and life events with lots of twists and turns and the emotional and physical trials and tribulations of the characters which all came together into a heartwarming and enjoyable read. Once I had picked it up I couldn’t put it down. This would be the perfect summer beach read.

Thank you for letting me read and review this title. I love Karen Swan but unfortunately this one did not gel with me. I felt it was too much Indiana Jones and a tad unbelievable. A doctor on holiday in Costa Rica goes trekking through the jungle and meets up with her ex who is going to help her. There was too much description about the jungle and surroundings and not enough about the characters. Sorry but it fell short for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This book took me by surprise!

The more I read it, the more I was absorbed in the story of Tara and her family’s links to Costa Rica.
There is so much more to this book than just romance: there is adventure, mystery and suspense. The descriptions of Costa Rica, the allusions to possible abuse of the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica, the ignoring of conservation protocols, all make this book so very interesting.
It was a book I did not want to end. It is another cracker from Karen Swan.
A thoroughly enjoyable and recommended book by an excellent author.

An absolutely brilliant read
A page turner right from the start
A brilliant story with wonderful descriptions of the Costa Rica jungle with a story of love and revenge and the lengths people will go to to achieve their ambitions
Karen Swan never disappoints and this book is no exception.

Absolutely stunning and spellbinding book! This book has everything:brilliant storyline, empathetic characters, exotic location , romance, betrayal, mystery. Tara a young doctor tries to hide and downplay her family's enormous wealth ,as she makes her own way in the world, cautious in bestowing her friendship and trust. When she meets a charismatic, brilliant young American biologist, all her doubts,reservations and fears are swept away. When she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant while still a student, she is prepared to abandon her medical dreams to make her life with him, much to her best friend's horror. When he proposes she agrees immediately and hesitantly tries to explain her family's wealth. Alex appears unphased and insists on meeting her father to ask for her hand in marriage. His introduction to her family goes so much better than she could have hoped as Alex and her father immediately share a bond over ecological preservation. As she excitedly awaits her father's response to the marriage proposal,it turns out Alex hasn't gone through with it, citing the time not being right. However, it would appear Alex has another agenda ,leaving Tara heartbroken, betrayed and bereft. I'm cautious about saying anything to spoil the story but when Tara and Alex again meet up some years later, it is in Costa Rica where her she goes to celebrate her Father's ultimate philanthropic achievement. While there, she becomes involved in a life or death race through the rainforest as she desperately tries to save a child's life. I literally held my breath as we raced towards the climax of this book! I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. Absolutely thrilling!

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Tara has just been proposed to by Alex who she has only been with for 4 months but accepts as she feels it is the right decision. Little does she know he is only with her to get her fathers money to fund a project to reestablish the rain forest in Costa Rica. When she finds out her whole world falls apart.

Fast forward 10 years and Tara takes a trip to Costa Rica to attend the handover ceremony of the rain forest back to the Costa Rica tribes. Little does she realise she will bump into Alex and her life will change forever. Whilst there an old friends son is on the verge of dying and his family refuse conventional treatment and rely on herbal remedies. The only remedy available is 2 days trek away from where Tara is staying and she embarks on the journey to retrieve the remedy so she can persuade the family that herbal remedies do not work and the boy needs to go to hospital.

Another good book from Karen.

Whilst I enjoyed this book, I felt it didn't quite hit the mark as Swan's other novels do. The jungle felt like the main character at times. There was so much description, it detracted from the plot. Whilst I felt Alex was redeemable, more time should have been spent on his and Tara's romance. After all, they were together for four months, apart for ten years, spent a day or so in the jungle together, and aside from the epilogue, that is all we were given. A tad unrealistic I feel. Yet the story had enough in it to hold my attention. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan returns with The Secret Path, taking us deep into the heart of the Costa Rican jungle – complete with her trademark romance, glamour, and jaw-dropping twists.

At only twenty, Tara Tremain has everything: she’s a trainee doctor, engaged to the man of her dreams – Alex, a passionate American biology student. But just when life seems perfect, Alex betrays her in the worst way possible.

Ten years later, she’s moved on – with a successful career, good friends and a man who loves her. But when she’s pulled back into her wealthy family’s orbit for a party in the heart of Costa Rica, she’s flung into a crisis: a child is desperately ill and the only treatment is several days’ trek away, deep in the jungle.

There's only one person who can help - but can she trust the man who broke her heart?

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan McMillan for an early copy of this book in return for an honest review. Karen Swan is an auto-read author for me but this read wasn't for me. The romance didn't work ( I failed to see why Tara ended up with who she did) and whilst the scenery sounded lovely, this was probably the highlight of the book which it shouldn't have been.