4.5 stars.

Secrets on Cedar Key is a very charming novel about friendship, family, forgiveness and love. This fifth installment in Terri DuLong's Cedar Key series is a beautiful journey for Marin Kane as she reconciles her hurt and anger over her now deceased husband's long ago betrayal and opens her heart to the unexpected love she finds with Worth Slater.

Marin Kane is faced with two setbacks in the new life she has created in aftermath of her husband Andrew's sudden death seven months ago. The first is relatively minor, easy to solve and brings a surprising friendship. Marin's Christmas grand opening of her needlepoint shop is in jeopardy when the contractor has a heart attack but luckily her mom Dora knows someone who can finish the job. Marin strikes up an immediate friendship with his substitute, the handsome and very sexy Worth Slater. Their instant rapport leads an easy and surprising friendship that grows into something much deeper as the months pass.

The second and much more serious complication that Marin is forced to deal with is the irrefutable evidence that Andrew had a secret affair that resulted in the birth of a daughter, Fiona, who is now nineteen years old. Marin's reflections on her sometimes troubled marriage are painfully honest as she tries to decide what to do with this newfound knowledge. Battling her feelings of betrayal and resentment, she continues to put off making a decision but an impulsive trip abroad provides Marin much needed distance to sort through her emotions and figure out how to handle the situation.

One of the aspects I found most appealing about Secrets on Cedar Key is the fact that Marin and Worth are an older couple. Both are widowed with grown children and in Worth's case, grandchildren. Their maturity is a refreshing change of pace and their life experiences provided added depth to their characters. Their romance gently creeps up on both of them and their transition to lovers is a natural extension of their friendship. It is a truly delightful romance that avoids angst and anguish as they embrace their evolving relationship.

Secrets on Cedar Key is the first book I have read from the well-established Cedar Key series, but I had no trouble jumping right into the series. There are numerous guest appearances by characters from the previous novels, but Ms. DuLong provides enough back story that I never felt lost. I am intrigued by the glimpses of the characters' stories and I will definitely be picking up the previous books in the series.

A timeless love story that will appeal to the romantic in us all, Secrets on Cedar Key is captivating story of forgiveness and new beginnings. The picturesque town of Cedar Key is warm and inviting and serves as a lovely backdrop for the unfolding story. Terri DuLong has an engaging writing style and an uncanny ability to create realistic characters that readers will find easy to relate to. It is a heartfelt and emotional addition to the Cedar Key series that old and new fans do not want to miss.
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I love this author and all that she has written! This book didn't just follow the typical plot but sent the characters to different places, Paris, and also different twists in their lives too. A really feel good comfort read! Another awesome addition to the Cedar Key series. ( )

Secrets on Cedar Key by Terri DuLong
Love this series and know even without knowing who the book is about that it's another keeper. It involves knitting, a city in Florida and a sense of good community feelings.
Marin has lost her husband Andrew and moved to Cedar Key with her mother now that the boys are grown and set in their locations with work. She helps her mom and others run the yarn store. She wants to run a needlework area and when the contractor has a heart attack, Worth Slater takes over.
She finds out some money was being sent to two people who she has no idea who they are and will investigate.
The part I love about this book is the atmosphere of the yarn shop to everybody who walks in the door. The weekly meeting is also a time for great food, sharing and others with a similiar need to bond with one another.
As island life goes on Marin is getting closer to knowing the truth about her husband and arrangements are made for the funeral of a friend. She confides in others who are not sure what to believe and they are there for her regardless of the outcome.
If you have not read the other books in the series you are told of the important things that happened in the past-just NOT everything so the books can be read out of order. There are a lot of characters but you tend to remember who goes with who (names and careers are mentioned) and the story is easy to follow.
Marin takes things slow and gets acquainted with Worth. They have dinner a few times and she's able to go with him to his house where he claims he and his wife, now dead, had met her and Andrew at a charity function for the college. He had left an impression on her back then... and likewise...
Love all the charity work in the book: locks of love hair cuts, and fund raisers.
Funny how the gossip travels around town and the concept of a movie being filmed in town have some scurrying to shape up their shops. Love all the chat about the shops and changes that have occurred and new owners with other ones.
Marin learns neither of the boys will be home for Thanksgiving but her BFF will come for Christmas. She does have to face what to do with the account and tries to find some answers on the internet. Many stressful days and she books a flight to Paris which Andrew and her were to return to.
Her mother tells her why she was against her buying the house and she hopes she can forgive and move on with her life and that the trip to Paris will help. So many details besides booking the flight and she's grateful to have the offer of a place to stay while there.
Travel in Paris is breathtaking, many details and I feel as if I'm there, I've always wanted to go with my daughter.
She recalls things that bring up images of Andrew and their sons and how they interacted with one another and thought he did deserve forgiveness.
Symbolism of the afghans during the war was enlightening to listen to and so much needed then.
Sparks of romance and love in Paris. Marin feels good about herself and her decision, is it the right one?
Love how the book got it's name and this series just keeps getting better and better. I'm not sure how the author can put so much into 300 pages. If another wrote it, it'd have to be 600 pages. Prefer the 300 page myself. She's got a way with words, the right ones together.
What I also really like is having many generations of families so you see how the author is able to solve the current day problems with any age group.
I received this book from Kennsington in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Booklist review:

Since her husband Andrew’s unexpected death, 56-year-old Marin Kane and her two sons have moved in with her mother, Dora, who runs a knitting shop in the coastal island town of Cedar Key, Florida. Marin and Dora plan to expand the shop to include needlepoint and to hire wealthy retired architect Worth Slater to plan and execute the renovation. While Marin impatiently awaits this, she accidentally discovers that Andrew had an affair that produced a daughter and that he has kept a secret bank account for the girl. Now the bank needs Marin’s signature as his survivor to release the money. Stunned by Andrew’s unfaithfulness, Marin can’t decide what to do and discusses the situation with Dora and Worth, who has become a good friend. Should Marin meet the daughter? Sign the papers? To clear her head, Marin flies to Paris over Thanksgiving and stays in Worth’s apartment there. DuLong’s sixth low-key romance will enchant her fans and entice readers who love heartwarming, down-home stories. — Pat Henshaw ( )