Twisted Secrets

Deadly Isles Special Ops, Book 1

By: Amy McKinley

Narrated by: Regan Brown

Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

After her messy breakup, the last thing grad student Riley Evans expects is to meet someone new. Throw in a family history of bad relationships, the likelihood of the past repeating itself seems inevitable - especially after her ex turns into a stalker. She’s a magnet for disaster. But when a man walks into the Coffee Hut and asks her on a date, she isn’t prepared for the flare of desire. The pull of attraction is impossible to deny, and she gives love a second chance.

Navy SEAL Xander Hale lands in a Hawaii military hospital after a mission gone wrong. If that wasn’t bad enough, his girlfriend breaks up with him. Plagued by his current single status and suspicions over the mission’s bad intel, doubts fester about the direction of his life. Until he stops for coffee and encounters a barista who steals his breath and shifts his priorities from a presumed military career path to civilian.

When danger closes in after a suspicious home invasion, Xander whisks Riley to the safety of his family’s island. On secluded shores, he’s determined to keep her safe. But dark memories are triggered by her past and followed by a hidden threat that neither anticipated.

©2020 Amy McKinley (P)2021 Amy McKinley

great story

This is not my first audio by this author but it is one of my favorites by her. I enjoyed the narrator’s tone of voice and what it brought to the story. The narrator brought the characters to life using different tones. This is a story that brings the romance and action into one well rounded story. The characters bring the story to life with each page. This is a story about two people who have lives that are not going as well as they expected until a once chance meeting in a coffee shop. As danger merges and the past comes to the present, the action really picks up. I highly recommend this audio and this author.

Trouble Around Every Corner

This book had me flipping back in forth as to who was behind the terror haunting Riley. Amy McKinley kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Xander the Navy Seal and Riley the barista have sparks flying as they get to know one another. With trouble brewing in both of their lives, this was a tense book. I loved the strength Riley has when she finds out the truth of who is behind the break ins at her apartment. I await the continuation of the next book. Will all settle down or is this just the beginning for Xander and Riley?

Deadly Isles Special Ops

Twisted Secrets by Amy McKinley
Narrated by Regan Brown
Five Stars

Twisted Secrets is the first book in the Deadly Isles Special Ops Series by Amy McKinley. This romantic suspense is a fast paced wild ride that I just couldn’t put down. The story is based in Hawaii and it just made me want to get away. Riley and Xander have great chemistry and witty dialogue. Amy McKinley is turning into one of my go to authors. I like shorter stories that grab you right from the start and this one does just that. I look forward to listening to the second book in this series.
I have listened to other books narrated by Regan Brown, but this is one of my favorites. Her voice is smooth and easy to listen to. She really brings the characters to life.

Action packed!

Twisted Secrets by Amy McKinley is the first book in the Deadly Isles Special Ops Series. If this is any indication as to how the rest of the story will go, I can't wait!

Xander is having a terrible time, and everything seems to be going wrong. His girlfriend dumped him and he is on a break because his mission failed. Was it just bad luck, or was there another explanation for the mission?

Riley is also recovering from a breakup when she meets Xander at the coffee shop where she works. Soon, their lives are entangled more than they ever thought possible.

Can Navy Seal Xander keep Riley safe while trying to piece together what happened?

Great Thriller!

This is a great listen! I was at the edge of my seat in many parts and the intrigue and mystery of the story is fantastic. Loved all the twists and turns. Riley and Xander... loved their chemistry and attraction! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Suspenseful!

This was my first Amy McKinley's book. This is the first book in the Deadly Isles Special Ops Series. Riley and Xander's story is suspenseful, and intriguing. The storyline is interesting, and captivating. Regan Brown did a good job with the narration. I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I don’t know why I tried… did not enjoy

The story sounded good when I read the info. However, and maybe it’s because the narrator was not good, I truly did not enjoy the story. I keep asking myself why I even continued listening. Honestly, and I’m sorry to hurt her feelings, she has no differences between character voices (except Ava- and it’s just a little breathy), her tone doesn’t change, and I pictured her just reading it while on her couch at home. I won’t listen to another from brown again.
The story might have been okay if I had just read it. It didn’t have a lot of clues nor great characters , and the arrangement of it needed editing. Wasn’t for me…
I hope others like it but I certainly did not.