Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel | Review

Undercurrent of Secrets is Rachel Scott McDaniel’s third release, and this one is a time-slip! I’ve loved all of Rachel’s books so far, including this one (I have an early copy of this turn-paging novel . . . it releases September 1st).

Check out the back cover blurb, followed by my review.

Back Cover

Two women, a century apart, are bound by a haunting secret aboard a legendary steamboat.

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

As wedding coordinator for the 100-year-old steamboat The Belle of Louisville, Devyn Asbury takes pride in seeing others’ dreams come true, even though her engagement had sunk like a diamond ring to the bottom of the Ohio River. When the Belle becomes a finalist in the Timeless Wedding Venue contest, Devyn endeavors to secure the prestigious title with hopes to reclaim some of her professional dreams. What she hadn’t planned on was Chase Jones showing up with a mysterious photo from the 1920s. 

A century earlier, Hattie Louis is as untamable as the rivers that raised her. As the adopted daughter of a steamboat captain, her duties range from the entertainment to cook. When strange incidents occur aboard the boat, Hattie’s determined to discover the truth. Even if that means getting under First Mate Jack Marshall’s handsome skin.

My Review

Do you enjoy time-slip? You have to add this to your TBR! I enjoyed both the contemporary and historical (based in the 1920s) stories. This book, set to release September 1st, 2021, is vastly different from Rachel Scott McDaniel’s previous novels, Above the Fold and The Red Canary, but just as gripping and well written as we’ve come to expect from her.

What’s better than one sweet love story? You guessed it. TWO sweet love stories. Both women had dealt with rejection in their lives, but in very different ways. For Devyn, it was due to a failed relationship (which is revealed at the beginning of the novel, so I think that’s an acceptable spoiler), for Hattie it’s due to being abandoned by her birth-parents and adopted by a steamboat captain (revealed on the back cover).

As Devyn and Chase dug into the past, it was so interesting finding out what happened to Hattie with (often slightly before) Devyn. I’m a big, big fan of historical so if I had to choose a favorite, it’s no surprise that I favored Hattie’s 1920s era but I really enjoyed reading Devyn’s story as well. In fact, in the beginning, I was perhaps more invested in Devyn’s world. But, as the plot thickened for Hattie (danger, adventure, secrets, love, mystery… these are a few of my favorite things, you know) I did indeed become even more invested in Hattie’s story.

McDaniel weaved faith into Undercurrent of Secrets very, very well and in a natural, fun way. I found I could relate to Devyn, with this quote:

Her Bible was tucked next to a king-sized Hershey’s bar in her bag. Breakfast with Jesus and chocolate. The arsenal needed to survive this day.

– Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel

I give Undercurrent of Secrets 5 stars, and I do highly recommend that fans of inspirational historical/contemporary romance (especially you dual-time fans!) preorder this one. You can do so on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Note: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review. I love it when reviewing books is this easy!

About the Author

Even though Rachel Scott McDaniel won a writing award at the ripe age of eleven, the love of storytelling didn’t enter her heart until she became a mother. Now her stories are channeled to an older crowd, but her message of faith and grace remain the same. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched by Love Award, Rachel pens novels brimming with romance and mystery. She embraces her fanatical penchant for classic movies and has never been known to turn down chocolate. Her work is represented by Julie Gwinn from The Seymour Agency. Rachel currently enjoys life in Ohio with her husband and two kids.

Find out more about Rachel on her website: https://rachelmcdaniel.net.