Aftermath of Secrets (Carter Island, #2)

by Cate Beauman

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Aftermath of Secrets by Cate Beauman is the second book in the Carter Island Series. This installment features a different couple, however, it is best to read the series in order, as there are events occurring, which link to the previous book, Secrets in the Glass. Aftermath of Secrets explored the after effects the explosive events of book one had on the main characters.

The hero Bradley Sanderson life turned upside down due to the actions of his family. Actions, which led to one of the biggest scandals to hit Carter Island. It forced him to leave Boston and return to the Island to take over the running of the family clinic. Not an easy decision, especially with the press hounding him every chance they got. The best thing in all of this was his friendship with Molly Carter. He and Molly has been friends since forever, but over the years his feelings for her grew and went beyond friendship. They both felt the same way, but Molly feared their friendship would end if they were to move from friends to lovers.

I had a marvellous time getting to know both characters. There were a few times though, when I wanted to knock some sense into them both. I found the romance to be well developed and loved how they transitioned from best friends to a couple. Their journey to this point was plagued with self-doubt and demons from the past, but with a little help from friends and family they navigated the rough terrains.

It was fun revisiting Carter Island and catching up with the characters from the previous book. I enjoyed learning how far they came since the devastating revelations from book one and watching them embark on a new chapter in their lives. The introduction of new characters made for some interesting moments. There was one in particular I felt could not be trusted, even though I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The story proved to be entertaining. Personally, I felt this was better than the first book. However, I was disappointed with how the matter surrounding Brad’s family played out. I had expected there to be some intense and dramatic moments, but this did not occur. In addition, based on my experience with the author’s work I had expected a story that was both romantic and suspenseful. This was not the case this time around. The author introduced an element to the story, involving Brad’s brother that had the potential to be suspenseful, but she did not build on it. I am wondering if both would be further explored in the next book? Well, I will just have to wait and see.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Beauman created a beautiful friends to lovers romance in a small town setting that is sure to capture the hearts of fans of the genre.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading