Rated of 5
by Sherrill B. (Columbia City, In.) the secret of everything
This book was an easy read.It contained mystery, adventure and believable characters and plot. I enjoyed it. However, the explicit sex scenes didn't add anything to the book. This could be toned down quite a bit.and still sound like love.
Rated of 5
by Joan P. (Owego, NY) The Secret of Everything
This book wasn't a satisfying read. There is a good story here but too many bells and whistles.The main characters, Tessa and Vince, are well developed but many of the minor characters are one dimensional. There are mysteries, dog stories, hippies, communes, accidental deaths, murders, spousal abuse, hot sex and suicide. Add to the list recipes. There are "secrets" but mostly "everything". The conclusion was trite and tried too hard to tie up all the loose ends.
Rated of 5
by Mary Lou F. (Naples, FL) The Secret of Everything
This book is very well written and keeps the reader wanting to read on but hating to see it end. The use of recipes at the end of each chapter is interesting and useful to "foodies". Would recommend to anyone who would like a good read.
Rated of 5
by Kathleen S. (Danbury, CT) Enjoyable, but ...
I found this book interesting, however would have liked it even more if all of the story lines had been fully developed. There were several instances where a character had a thought or idea at the end of a chapter that implied further investigation, and then the issue never came up again. A fairly quick read.
Rated of 5
by Gwendolyn D. (Houston, TX) Self Discovery with a Dash of Romance
Grappling with the guilt of a recent hiking catastrophe, adventure tour leader Tessa Harlow heads to the fictional town of Los Ladrones, New Mexico to research a possible future tour. While in Los Ladrones, deeply buried memories surface, and Tessa must come to terms with her past as she embarks on a quest to figure out what her ominous memories are telling her. The colorful characters of Los Ladrones play a large role in Tessa's quest, particularly the hunky and reliable Vince Grasso and his three daughters.
The Secret of Everything grabbed me from the first page, and I read this almost-400 page novel in just a few days. Tessa's investigation into her past is suspenseful and keeps the story moving forward quickly. I also enjoyed the real-world romance story, mixed up with children, loads of laundry, and work. The recipes that appeared at the end of some of the chapters seemed a bit out of place, but they're easy enough to skip over. All in all, The Secret of Everything is a well-written light romance mixed with a story of self discovery.
Rated of 5
by Carol T. (Ankeny, Iowa) Too many secrets
As a whole, The Secret of Everything is not bad. A good light read. The children and dogs are excellent additions. Unfortunately, the author got so wrapped up in hiding Tessa's past that she hid things she shouldn't have. Apparently O'Neal forgot that a reader's first introduction to the character becomes, literally, a picture in the reader's head. When we first meet Tessa, she is sauntering down to the beach carrying a mango, a chunk of bread, and a cup of tea. We know she is recovering from a hiking accident, caused by torrential rain and a spider bite. But paragraphs later there is a miss-able allusion to a cast on her arm. Immediately, I was wondering how she managed not to spill the tea. Chapters later, another aside mentions a friend who died in the hiking accident. All of this could have been handled with more finesse and allowed me to maintain the willingness to suspend disbelief that is so essential to good fiction. Why not have her struggle a little to balance the mango, bread, and tea on her cast? Why not add guilt to the opening litany of things she's trying not to face? O'Neal needed to deliberately make so many things in this book not be as they first seemed. Why clutter that lovely mysteriousness with unnecessaries?
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of 5
by Sherrill B. (Columbia City, In.) 
of 5
by Joan P. (Owego, NY) 
of 5
by Mary Lou F. (Naples, FL) 
of 5
by Carol T. (Ankeny, Iowa) 
