Thursday, January 4, 2024

REVIEW - SECRETS WE KEEP by Valeriya Goffe


Anna was a rising tennis star in Ukraine and despite the soreness of her shoulder, she needed this win to be in the top 100 which would guarantee her a contract with a renowned agent, including sponsorships, which would be the financial windfall that her family desperately needed.

Only her shoulder has been bothering her and instead of seeing a doctor, her mother urged her to play through the pain. As she was a much better player than her opponent she decided to not play her usual aggressive play until she realized it was giving the other girl an advantage. As soon as she reached up for her normal serve she was hit with the most excruciating pain... a torn tendon. Surgery wasn't able to completely repair the damage needed to play at a professional level.

With her tennis career over before it had even begun Anna returned home to study finance and was excited watching the report on solar energy panels and green environmental changes taking place in Africa that the coveted Polaris company was responsible for. Only the best of the best were even offered an opportunity to apply. But regardless of her background she was not only offered an interview but was accepted into the program.

I liked the storyline of Anna's story although I felt the end was rushed and incomplete as the secret was never revealed and couldn't really tell if there would be another book where Anna goes after the mystery of the past. I did find the conversations a bit stilted but I think that it was a cultural thing for me more than anything and the difference in language patterns.

I loved Anna's innocence and determination to make the world a better place to live by incorporating green energy regardless of her blindness to a friend who in actuality thought her beneath her because of being a Ukrainian and did everything in her power to undermine Anna's happiness. I am also happy that she stood up to her mother in the end. A mother only seeing the end game and not the here and now. Even with her mother's guilt, her attitude didn't change regarding Anna's personal relationships trying to control the outcome.

This book is very detailed with Ukrainian and African locals and traditions and also green energy and her dream job. It touches on her romantic connections, but the real story is about Anna and her dreams to help with climate control. Without giving away the true secret of the book, I do hope that Anna can find the answers she needs although I am confused how she knows where to begin as the main thread to the secret was never acknowledged.

This is a new author and I look forward to reading more.


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Check out all my interviews/reviews for Valeriya Goffe!


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