Island of Secrets
A captivating story of love, mystery and hope
Two love stories separated in time. Two women following their dreams. In a paradise littered with painful secrets, will love turn the tide?
1973. Cecilia “CiCi” Freemont has a restless soul and the voice of an angel. Leaving her privileged upbringing behind, she chases her dreams to the sandy beaches of an unspoiled Hawaiian paradise, Harbor Island. But life takes an unexpected turn when she falls for the island’s young heir-apparent and her newfound adventure becomes too much to bear…
2017. Investigative journalist Tina Templeton has dedicated herself to the pursuit of truth. But when she inherits Harbor Island, her career plans take a confusing twist. Managing the sprawling island estate is tough business even with the help of aging cabaret singer, CiCi Freemont. Especially when a massive ecological disaster threatens to destroy her beautiful beaches—and the responding coast guard captain steals her heart.
As the investigation into the disaster reveals a 40-year-old mystery that could change their lives forever, will Tina find love among the secrets, or will CiCi’s painful past dash her dreams on the rocks?
Island of Secrets is an epic love story. If you like generations-spanning drama, characters with hidden pasts, heart-warming romance and intrigue, then you’ll love Diane Demetre’s powerful romantic mystery in paradise.
Publisher Luminosity Publishing Llp
Ebook ISBN 978-1-9993066-0-1
Paperback ISBN 978-1-9993066-1-8
386 pages
Ebook
Paperback
Read an Excerpt
In 2017, when Tina Templeton finds herself embroiled in a mystery on Harbor Island, she needs to work fast to solve it.
Melody floated around the diner like a love-struck teenager, obviously euphoric from last night’s sexual escapade. Fortunately for her, Veronica served breakfast. Otherwise, she may have worn the brunt of Tina’s bad mood, rather than the real instigator, Sebastien. On signing the tab, Tina decided to wander down to the wharf to digest a sensational meal. Based on what she’d just sampled, the diner was a gold mine waiting to be capitalized. Increasing tourist numbers would help the sisters repay their debt faster and get them established as a profitable business. Another tick for her green-before-greed plans.
Although she wanted to ponder her strategy longer, the summer’s day brought back rich memories of long-gone, carefree times on Harbor Island. With the early-morning breeze blowing in across the harbor, her disposition brightened. Pausing on the pathway leading to the wharf, she dragged in the salty air. She tilted her head from side to side and cracked her neck until the last slither of tension drifted away on a passing puff of wind. In a happier mood, she walked at a steady clip onto the wharf and looked out to sea. The ferry from Lahaina arrived each day at ten o’clock. She could see it in the distance. Maybe that’s what Suzie saw at night? Boat lights?
Author Bio
Being a passionate woman who’s always done things a little differently, Diane’s diverse career began as a school teacher before she moved into a full-time career as a professional choreographer, director and dancer, strutting her stuff on many stages throughout Australia. She was responsible for the original multi-million dollar extravaganzas at Conrad Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast—Starz & Galaxies.
Following her onstage career, Diane’s thirst for knowledge led her into the field of self-development. Using her highly developed communication skills and love of people, she spent many years as a stress & life skills therapist and life coach, teaching individuals, couples and groups the methodologies of personal success and fulfilment.
With her business acumen, Diane launched into the corporate arena, working in a variety of positions as a consultant in marketing, special events, tourism, business strategies, quality management and human resource management. Combining her entertainment and business backgrounds, she returned to the stage as a keynote speaker and corporate facilitator, educating business leaders in the ‘new mindset’ for business and relationship building in the 21st century.
Assuming the pseudonym of the Goddess of Love, she appeared as a guest presenter on Gold FM radio, Gold Coast, a national radio program broadcast to 1.4million listeners. Her weekly program proved popular with Diane providing empowering advice on life, love, sex and relationships, sprinkled with a good dose of humour. Her passion for life and compulsive sharing nature made her a great inspiration to her listeners. As the Goddess of Love she also appeared as a regular guest on the national television program Beauty & the Beast, where her practical insights were televised to viewers across Australia.
When she launched into a writing career, Diane’s debut erotic romance series, the Dance of Love was voted Luminosity Publishing Readers’ Choice Best Books and Best Covers for 2015 and 2016.
Her next book, a romantic suspense, Retribution won the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Pro Award 2017 for Best Unpublished Manuscript.
Diane loves to write genre-busting stories with a twist. Her works are packed with emotional punch and feature empowered heroines who live life to the fullest, much like the author herself.
