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The Secret of Everything: A Novel
The Secret of Everything: A Novel
The Secret of Everything: A Novel
Audiobook12 hours

The Secret of Everything: A Novel

Written by Barbara O'Neal

Narrated by Angela Dawe

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

In this spectacular novel, Barbara O’Neal delivers a generous helping of the best in life–family, food, and love–in the story of a woman’s search for the one thing worth more than anything.

At thirty-seven, Tessa Harlow is still working her way down her list of goals to “fall in love and have a family.” A self-described rolling stone, Tessa leads hiking tours for adventurous vacationers–it’s a job that’s taken her around the world but never a step closer to home. Then a freak injury during a trip already marred by tragedy forces her to begin her greatest adventure of all.

Located high in the New Mexico mountains, Las Ladronas has become a magnet for the very wealthy and very hip, but once upon a time it was the setting of a childhood trauma Tessa can only half remember. Now, as she rediscovers both her old hometown and her past, Tessa is drawn to search-and-rescue worker Vince Grasso. The handsome widower isn’t her type. No more inclined to settle down than Tessa, Vince is the father of three, including an eight-year-old girl as lost as Tessa herself. But Tessa and Vince are both drawn to the town’s most beloved eatery–100 Breakfasts–and to each other. For Tessa, the restaurant is not only the key to the mystery that has haunted her life but a chance to find the home and the family she’s never known.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 10, 2013
ISBN9781480511941
The Secret of Everything: A Novel
Author

Barbara O'Neal

Barbara O’Neal is the author of eleven novels of women’s fiction, including How to Bake a Perfect Life and The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Her award-winning books have been published in a dozen countries, including France, England, Poland, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Brazil. Barbara lives in the stunningly beautiful city of Colorado Springs with her beloved, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent.

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Reviews for The Secret of Everything

Rating: 4.360824742268041 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

97 ratings25 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The premise seemed interesting, but the narrator killed it for me. Didn't finish.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    A little girl who won't eat fish sticks because they come from a box and nobody should eat food like that. A farm that focuses on providing local and organic produce. Characters who address the problems of how women and girls see themselves as a result of a culture and media that tells them that thin is the measure of beauty. A message about stopping domestic violence aimed at women. A mystery. Recipes scattered throughout the novel. All of these factors should add up to a book that I loved, so why only one star?There is not a consistent tone throughout the novel. It feels as if the author could not decide if she wanted to write a sweet, luscious novel in the vein of "The School of Essential Ingredients," a deep, intricate mystery story, or a trashy romance novel. As a result the book is unsatisfying to read. The ending feels rushed and the plot points are not satisfyingly tied together or concluded. And be warned: the sexual content is explicit and trashy, with an abundance of crass vulgar language.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Narrator ruined it for me, I could not finish.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The audio was terrible, but glad I stuck with it. Started out slow, but got more interesting the further you get into the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a magical blend of love, lust, grief and secrets. A mix of magical realism, chick lit, food lit, romance and mystery all in one story.Quick synopsis: Tessa Harlow is a woman who has travelled the world but never truly found a home. A bad accident brings back long forgotten childhood memories and has her questioning herself so she travels to Las Ladronas, NM to rediscover herself by learning more about her past.I really liked Tess. I was able to connect with her, which is crucial for a good read. She wasn't whiny or overly insecure, instead she was the type of women you could see as a friend (one of your more interesting ones). While Tess is the main character of the story, there are actually many different stories involving other significant characters that in the end all connect. They could be termed as subplots but I don't really like that. All the side stories were important to the main story line. I liked the way the plots unfolded and in a way became one.Tess's mysterious past kept me reading til the end. The slow unfolding of events was suspenseful and entertaining.And I must say I loved the recipes included in the book (especially the last one) and I plan on trying some of them very soon. Hopefully they will turn out to be as good as in the book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great story with great recipes! Be ready to write them!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The main character,Tessa Harlow, goes on a journey to discover who she is. She journeys to the town of Las Ladronas, an up-and-coming hot spot in New Mexico. What she discovers changes her life. This is a great read not only told from the point-of-view of Tessa but also other people in her life and in the town. At the end of the book readers discover the link between everything.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Barbara O'Neal's novel are simply magical. They're a bit of magical realism but in a believable way. I also really like that food becomes another major character in her novels. In The Secret of Everything, there's a special restaurant called 100 Breakfasts where Tessa finds the answers she wasn't sure she was even looking for. In this book food is also something that brings people together in a very special way. It brings back memories for some and in the case of miniature foodie Natalie, defines who she is and will become. As in The Lost Recipe for Happiness, the main character in this book has also survived a life changing tragedy. In Tessa's case there are two, one which occurred when she was a child and resulted in the loss of her mother. Her search to discover who she is and where she comes from is fascinating and compelling. The setting of Las Ladronas is representative of many of the historical towns to be found in New Mexico and is an important element in the magic of the story. O'Neal also brings a sensuality to the story that feels authentic. Overall I thought it was fantastic and I enjoyed it as much as her previous book The Lost Recipe for Happiness.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was really pleased to have snagged a pre-pub of Barbara O'Neal's "The Secret of Everything", as I thoroughly enjoyed her previous novel, "The Lost Recipe for Happiness" which I read earlier this year. Maybe it's the fact that it's bitterly cold & snowy out, but I enjoyed the setting of a small New Mexico town, something that took me by surprise as I usually need the ocean playing heavily in the plot. It's a part of the country I've never visited, but after finishing this novel, I'm ready for a trip to the SouthWest. I liked all the characters, rooting for Tessa & Vince and his little girls (and even his dog), to the other people of the small town, who all had interesting stories. I actually would have been happy for Tessa to stay in Santa Cruz with her father (and his margarita shack & rescue dogs) - there could have been a story there (and the ocean!), but I liked that she returned to a place from her childhood, complete with mysterious events and interesting people. This was a very enjoyable read inside on a cold winter day, and I recommend it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Tessa Harlow enjoyed leading hiking tours until the hike that had a nightmarish ending. Feeling tremendous guilt over the hiking incident she goes to her father's home to heal. While recovering she starts having flashbacks from her early childhood - memories that don't make sense. Feeling a pull to the area where she spent the first years of her life, Tessa heads to New Mexico to scout possible hiking tours and that's where her journey really begins. By meeting people who are new to her but from her past Tessa starts to put pieces together that lead her to the truth of her early years.I enjoyed Tessa's journey of discovery and how she learns to make reparations. It seems that more than a few characters in the book are looking for a way to make amends in their lives and find that they can help each other along the way. The depth given to the major characters had me pulling for each one. My favorite was Natalie, the daughter of Tessa's lover. Natalie is grieving the loss of her mother and is acting out. Tessa feels a connection and wants to help her. I loved how the author makes that happen.Barbara O'Neal's writing is beautiful and evocative. Her descriptions of sights, smells, and sounds give wonderful atmosphere to Los Ladrones - the small New Mexico town where the story takes place.The Secret of Everything comes to a satisfying end - I was sad to see it end but I was smiling as I turned the last page.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Secret of Everything is a story about finding love and family where you least expect it. Tessa Harlow has traveled throughout the world but never really felt at home. Her wandering lifestyle suffers a set back when she has a work accident. She travels to a small town in New Mexico to ease her way back into work. But what she finds in the town changes her life forever. O'Neal characters leap off the page. You can't help but fall in love with Natalie.My only complaint about the book was it made me hungry with all the wonderful recipes. I want a 100 Breakfasts Cafe. Or at least someone to cook those delicious meals.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. It was such a good read and after reading it I went back and read other books by this author. I love her descriptions of food .
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The claimant had a traumatic accident, ending up back home with her hippie type father. The claimant has no recall of her childhood and she decides to return to New Mexico. In NM, she meets a single dad, and his three girls. She starts searching for her past, starting with the 100 Breakfasts diner. As she's falling in love, she struggles with her wanderlust. This was a good book...it's a quick read, but thick, which is good if you are a fast reader. The only drawback was that it didn't cause me to think about it after I'd finished it...it was enjoyable, but when I was done...I was done. This is an engaging character study as Barbara O'Neal gets deep into the spirit of each key player, which is more than just the charming quintet. The story line is driven by a combination of romance, children in need of a caring mom, the mental healing power of delicious food, and a bit of mystery of what happened to the little girl who left town almost three decades ago. In spite of quoting Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the climax is too abrupt resolving issues wider than the state in a flash. Still The Secret of Everything is worth reading as Ms. O'Neal reveals the poignant answer as Tessa finds her Tao in this enchanting tale.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great read! Fast and fun! Would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read. Character development kept the book moving along!
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I stopped listening when it started talking about “licking her pink nipples“. Totally unnecessary to the storyline get some writing skills.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a story about a woman (Tessa) and her journey as she heals both emotionally & physically. I did enjoy this book (Tessa & Vince were very likable characters) but it didn't captivate me. I could put it down easily and go a day without reading more. And I guess I should mention that there are recipes through out the book. It was an easy read (probably a good beach book.)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A fantastic story! It's a wonderful combination of romance, mystery, suspense and awesome recipes.Tessa is spending some time at her dad's after suffering through a horrible tragedy while leading a hiking tour. The tragedy has returned some of the lost memories of her childhood in Las Ladronas, New Mexico, so she heads down there to try and fill in the blanks.The twists in the book were completely believable, yet entirely surprising. I adored Tessa. And as the previous reviewer stated, I will definitely be trying some of the yummy-sounding recipes in the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A women, working as an adventure guide, suffers a tragic accident and finds she needs to examine her life path. A visit to New Mexico brings new challenges and wonderful food into her life. The author creates a very real and likeable character. Of course we learn there are secrets in her past, but the search for family and friendship ring true. The many secondary characters encountered are multifaceted and believeable. Not only do we want to see how Tessa finds happiness, we are rooting for her and her new friends, each step of the way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved the descriptions of New Mexico! Felt like i was back there, soaking the sun in & smelling the sage! One of my most favorite books!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. I loved the characters, the way the author kept mystery throughout the story and the quirky surprises found in the story. I also loved the recipes included in the book! They sound wonderful!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Summary:After a horrible accident, Tessa Harlow takes a trip to New Mexico in order to sort things out. She is officially there to scout out new locations for tours for the company she works for, but there are also personal reasons for her trip. Tessa grew up on a commune in this area of New Mexico, and though she has lost most of her memories from that time, she is curious to see if she can make any connections with her past while she’s there. However, Tessa makes more connections than she expects in the little town as she’s coming to terms with her accident and uncovers questions from her past that she can’t find the answer to.Review:The Secret of Everything is a book that is incredibly similar to O’Neal’s debut, The Lost Recipe for Happiness. There is a damaged heroine that needs to come to terms with something that happened in her past, painful physical injuries to overcome, and food. Wonderful food. The cuisine in this novel is so delectably described that the reader can taste it. O’Neal has a wonderful talent at making the food in her novels incredibly delicious, even if you can’t physically taste what she’s describing.Despite the similarities to The Lost Recipe for Happiness, this book actually works a lot better in terms of fluidity in the story. The main character, Tessa, is a wonderfully drawn and easy to get to know. She’s smart and strong, but yet is left vulnerable because of her accident. O’Neal develops her very well, and the reader can really identify with Tessa.I loved O’Neal’s descriptions of New Mexico – she really made me want to go visit the area she was describing in her novel. Like the discussion of food, O’Neal’s descriptions of New Mexico made it palpable to the reader. I could taste the arid air and see the beauty of the area. It was wonderfully enjoyable to read – O’Neal really is a master of description and details in novels.If O’Neal was trying to establish a formula with her books, she’s certainly succeeded. The Secret of Everything improves upon her last book, ironing out rough spots and discarding unnecessary plot lines. It sets the stage for wonderful novels in the future. Though I’m not the biggest fan of formulas, I actually like the one O’Neal has come up with – she’s a talented enough writer to where the formula doesn’t jump out at you. I look forward to seeing how she improves on it in her next novel!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Secret of Everything is a beautiful story about love and family, good food and gorgeous landscape, faithful dogs and a mysterious town. Tessa is a hiking tour guide who is recovering from a traumatic, near drowning experience. As she recovers strange memories from her mysterious childhood begin to surface. She sets out for Los Ladrones, the small town in New Mexico where she was born, in an attempt to uncover the truth.What a gorgeous book! The strength here is in the real, down to earth characters. I just fell in love with them and then became so wrapped up in their stories I couldn't put the book down. The detailed descriptions of New Mexican landscape, its ferocious storms, and the enticing food are icing on the cake. The plot is unique enough to be interesting and only requires a little suspension of belief. Barbara O'Neal writes the kind of captivating novels that keep me up late at night turning pages. I will anxiously awaite her next one!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Tessa Harlow, a self-proclaimed bookish woman, became interested in hiking while dating a guy in college and this led to a dream job of sorts, taking tourist/hiking groups to all corners of the world. After recuperating from a horrifying work accident with her dad Sam on the beaches of California, Tessa sets off for Los Llandros, NM to ferret out a new locale for a hiking group. Tessa knows Sam is wary of this journey, as she has recalled memories of almost drowning in a NM river as a four year old after her more recent accident. There is an old style commune in town, that has remade itself as an organic farm and many of the people Tessa meets begin to look familiar and more memories return. The point of view shifts occasionally from Tessa to other townspeople, a gimmick I found a little difficult to get into in the beginning, but eventually, the story flowed very well. Although the plot’s resolution was a bit transparent, I really enjoyed this story of Tessa’s self-discovery.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Secret of Everything is Barbara O’Neal’s second novel. This is the story of thirty-seven year old Tessa Harlow, who leads hiking tours for adventurous vacationers. After a freak injury in a hiking trip marred by tragedy, Tessa is drawn to the New Mexico town of Los Ladrones, once the setting of a childhood trauma that Tessa can only remember in confusing flashes. The story is told in several voices: Tessa, looking for her past; Sam, her ex-hippie, surfer father, running away from that past; Vince Grasso, a widowed search and rescue worker and father of three daughters; Natalie, Vince’s troubled eight-year-old; Vita Solano, the proprietor of the town’s most beloved eatery, 100 Breakfasts Café; and Annie Veracruz, a recent prison parolee and employee at 100 Breakfasts. As Tessa explores the town on the pretext of setting up a hiking and gourmet cooking tour, she visits the Green Gate farm, the latest incarnation of the 70’s commune when she spent her early childhood. A delightful story of family, food and love, this novel has some wonderful characters, evocative descriptions and a plot with a few surprises. Oh, and of course, mouth-watering recipes! I look forward to Barbara O’Neal's next novel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I’m a sucker for any kind of book with recipes, whether it’s a cookbook with stories, or a fiction/non-fiction book with recipes. Most of the time if it’s fiction with recipes, I am disappointed with either the recipes, the story, or the writing (generally, the latter, unfortunately). To find an author who writes well, tells a great story, and also develops intriguing recipes is, for me, at least, a rarity. Ms. O’Neal has done all three in The Secret of Everything.The New Mexico town of Los Ladrones, the Green Gate Organic Farms (formerly Sixties commune), and other locales are richly, but succinctly detailed by Ms. O’Neal. Here and there are odd metaphors – such as, “a watermelon scent of freshly cut grass” – which may not have lasted to the published edition. The characters and plot develop gradually, keeping the reader (at least this one) intrigued, nugget by nugget, as to the “secret.”The “secret” is not too painfully obvious, but neither are the revelations and resolutions a total surprise, given the genre. Strictly romance novels are not my first choice for the small amount of pleasure reading I do. Thankfully, Tessa’s search for her place and identity is not overshadowed by the “romance.”Being about half-way between the two generations of characters in the book, I found much with which to identify in the elements of the setting of this book, such as the era of the “secret” and the music. The two main characters are in their late thirties, and a couple of times their remarks seem more likely of twenty-somethings, but I suppose we all pick up the slang of the younger generation.I’m not sure I would reread (except to see if the published edition was a bit more polished), but I would definitely like to read Ms. O’Neal’s previous books, as well as highly recommend The Secret of Everything to others.