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Secret Alaskan Hideaway
He has no name, no memory
…and a secret past.
Who’s the man Dr. McKenzie Taylor rescued from drowning? He has total amnesia—but senses that someone wants to kill him. Grateful that the good doctor has decided to protect him in her remote Alaskan cabin, “John Doe” joins her to delve into the mystery of his identity. As they become dangerously close, he discovers why their lives are in horrific danger.
…and a secret past.
Who’s the man Dr. McKenzie Taylor rescued from drowning? He has total amnesia—but senses that someone wants to kill him. Grateful that the good doctor has decided to protect him in her remote Alaskan cabin, “John Doe” joins her to delve into the mystery of his identity. As they become dangerously close, he discovers why their lives are in horrific danger.
282 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 27, 2022
16 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Karen Whiddon
206 books131 followersKaren Whiddon spun fanciful tales for her younger brothers as early as the age of eleven. Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York, then the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she found enough magic in the rugged peaks to keep her imagination fueled for years.
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places
Now making her home in North Texas, she shares her life with her hero-like husband and three doting dogs. She writes paranormal tales for Harlequin Nocturne including the popular Pack series and romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
She's also written Fae novels for Lovespell and a long time ago, she wrote five Precious Gem Romances for Kensington publishing. These she now owns again and has put them up for sale on Amazon.com among other places
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 4, 2023
Good book that kept my attention from start to finish. The book opens as Kenzie, the new doctor for Blake, Alaska, is on the road headed for her new home. A native Texan, Kenzie is a little unnerved by the remoteness and wonders what she's gotten herself into. Cautious in the pouring rain, she's following the car ahead of her when she sees it go out of control and plunge off the bridge and into the river. She stops her car to see if she can rescue the driver.
When the man emerges from the water, his size makes Kenzie a little wary, but her medical training overcomes it. She's stunned that he has no memory of who he is or what happened. With no other real options, Kenzie takes him home with her. Her "John Doe" doesn't remember anything about himself other than an overwhelming feeling that he is in danger.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between John Doe, whose name turns out to be Brett, and Kenzie. While still cautious, Kenzie feels Brett is one of the good guys. As they spend time together, tiny pieces of his memory return, such as his love of cooking. I liked how appreciative he was of Kenzie for allowing him to hide out at her place while he recovered and that he repaid her kindness by cooking for her. Kenzie came to enjoy having someone waiting for her when she got home. There are some sweet moments between them during those times. Sparks of attraction began to build. Then Brett's memory returns, and he knows why he was so sure he was in danger - and that he'll do anything to make sure Kenzie is safe. I liked watching them grow closer and share those peaceful evenings. I especially liked that no big misunderstanding drove them apart at the end, just the realization that they belonged together.
The suspense of the story was good, though low-key until the end. Kenzie and Brett keep his presence secret while waiting for his memory to return. This turns out to be a good thing when strangers come to town asking questions. The tension builds as Brett's memory starts to return, and we get a glimpse of what he's been through. There is an attack at the cabin that reveals an unexpected adversary. There are a couple of twists leading up to the final confrontation. I loved how the townspeople supported Kenzie and shaped the resolution of that confrontation. I did find the ending anti-climactic for both Brett's and Kenzie's situations.
#netgalley
When the man emerges from the water, his size makes Kenzie a little wary, but her medical training overcomes it. She's stunned that he has no memory of who he is or what happened. With no other real options, Kenzie takes him home with her. Her "John Doe" doesn't remember anything about himself other than an overwhelming feeling that he is in danger.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between John Doe, whose name turns out to be Brett, and Kenzie. While still cautious, Kenzie feels Brett is one of the good guys. As they spend time together, tiny pieces of his memory return, such as his love of cooking. I liked how appreciative he was of Kenzie for allowing him to hide out at her place while he recovered and that he repaid her kindness by cooking for her. Kenzie came to enjoy having someone waiting for her when she got home. There are some sweet moments between them during those times. Sparks of attraction began to build. Then Brett's memory returns, and he knows why he was so sure he was in danger - and that he'll do anything to make sure Kenzie is safe. I liked watching them grow closer and share those peaceful evenings. I especially liked that no big misunderstanding drove them apart at the end, just the realization that they belonged together.
The suspense of the story was good, though low-key until the end. Kenzie and Brett keep his presence secret while waiting for his memory to return. This turns out to be a good thing when strangers come to town asking questions. The tension builds as Brett's memory starts to return, and we get a glimpse of what he's been through. There is an attack at the cabin that reveals an unexpected adversary. There are a couple of twists leading up to the final confrontation. I loved how the townspeople supported Kenzie and shaped the resolution of that confrontation. I did find the ending anti-climactic for both Brett's and Kenzie's situations.
#netgalley
December 4, 2022
This book centers on McKenzie and her “John Doe” she found and rescued. But who he really is? As Brett’s memory returns, so does danger to them both. Discovering each other and finding love in the wilds of Alaska, I did enjoy it. A good mystery/romance from Karen Whiddon from Harlequin Romance and while I wished there had been a little more suspense throughout the book, I certainly felt the ending was as dramatic as you could get. I enjoy reading these because they are typically a good read and I have found many new authors, including Karen.
October 26, 2022
Sigh...where to start?
OK, maybe the new village doctor would be fine with letting someone else set up her medical office's "open house" (I mean, she is distracted by a big strong amnesia man, after all) but what person taking over a new job only visits her new place of business ONCE before that open house, and then never again until her first day with patients? And even though she's with her sole employee for said open house, they don't have a single conversation about how the office will be run until the first day she shows up to work with the public for office hours? That is not how these things work.
And two years working in a remote Alaskan village (free housing included) to get ALL of her medical school debt erased? Teachers, librarians, and other public servants have to do ten years of payments while working qualifying jobs, and most of us have nothing near medical school debt.
The totally blase attitude about security in a doctor's office--I don't care how small your village is (1068 people, or perhaps 1070 would be more accurate, with our hero and heroine added), opioids are going to be an issue. Just having them "locked up" in a cabinet somewhere isn't enough. No way should Kenzie have been able to just walk into that office on day one.
More absolutely ridiculous villains with dubious motives. Next to zero information about the supposed "gang" that's after one of them, and don't get me started on the chef and restaurateur who literally just had amnesia knowing more about how things work than federal law enforcement agents.
There's just over a thousand people in this village, but our heroine and hero don't even get to know a dozen of them in the course of this book. (That's being generous, honestly. They get to know 3 people total.) He spends most of his time in hiding, but she has zero excuse here. The rest of the villagers are treated like a single entity, either "all" against the new doctor because of a rumor, or "all" in to protect her and Brett after a single village meeting is held. Honestly, it was so over the top unrealistic, I can't even.
And the romance? just so-so. I really wasn't feeling it at all.
Even in fiction there should be *some* basis in real life, IMO, but you'd be hard pressed to find any here. But I've still read worse, so...
Rating: 2 stars / D+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
OK, maybe the new village doctor would be fine with letting someone else set up her medical office's "open house" (I mean, she is distracted by a big strong amnesia man, after all) but what person taking over a new job only visits her new place of business ONCE before that open house, and then never again until her first day with patients? And even though she's with her sole employee for said open house, they don't have a single conversation about how the office will be run until the first day she shows up to work with the public for office hours? That is not how these things work.
And two years working in a remote Alaskan village (free housing included) to get ALL of her medical school debt erased? Teachers, librarians, and other public servants have to do ten years of payments while working qualifying jobs, and most of us have nothing near medical school debt.
The totally blase attitude about security in a doctor's office--I don't care how small your village is (1068 people, or perhaps 1070 would be more accurate, with our hero and heroine added), opioids are going to be an issue. Just having them "locked up" in a cabinet somewhere isn't enough. No way should Kenzie have been able to just walk into that office on day one.
More absolutely ridiculous villains with dubious motives. Next to zero information about the supposed "gang" that's after one of them, and don't get me started on the chef and restaurateur who literally just had amnesia knowing more about how things work than federal law enforcement agents.
There's just over a thousand people in this village, but our heroine and hero don't even get to know a dozen of them in the course of this book. (That's being generous, honestly. They get to know 3 people total.) He spends most of his time in hiding, but she has zero excuse here. The rest of the villagers are treated like a single entity, either "all" against the new doctor because of a rumor, or "all" in to protect her and Brett after a single village meeting is held. Honestly, it was so over the top unrealistic, I can't even.
And the romance? just so-so. I really wasn't feeling it at all.
Even in fiction there should be *some* basis in real life, IMO, but you'd be hard pressed to find any here. But I've still read worse, so...
Rating: 2 stars / D+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
December 14, 2022
Came for the HEA, left because of the heteronormative and patriarchal narrative.
Secret Alaskan Hideaway appealed to me for two reasons: romance and Alaskan wilderness; however, the romance was sub-par and the story takes place in the end of summer/ early Fall so there wasn't as much snowangeling as I'd have liked.
The romance hinges on basic tropes like forced proximity and "there's only one bed" while featuring a strong FMC.
I had issue with the authors heteronormative narrative. For example, the MMC has amnesia and as he tries to remember things he comes to this bold assumption: "Of course, the lack of a wedding band made him feel pretty sure he didn’t have a wife and kids waiting for him to return home." First off, you don't have to be married to have kids. Also, he could be gay,bisexual, etc.
The next big qualm I had was with their upholding of patriarchal views of women in medicine: "As one of the physicians she’d worked with during her residency had said, it was up to them, the female doctors, to change people’s perception." Oooh boy.
I'm flabbergasted this is being published in 2022. Maybe it was penned years and years and years ago and is just now, for some reason, getting to see the light of day.
If you can ignore those two things and only focus on the HEA, you're golden.
Secret Alaskan Hideaway appealed to me for two reasons: romance and Alaskan wilderness; however, the romance was sub-par and the story takes place in the end of summer/ early Fall so there wasn't as much snowangeling as I'd have liked.
The romance hinges on basic tropes like forced proximity and "there's only one bed" while featuring a strong FMC.
I had issue with the authors heteronormative narrative. For example, the MMC has amnesia and as he tries to remember things he comes to this bold assumption: "Of course, the lack of a wedding band made him feel pretty sure he didn’t have a wife and kids waiting for him to return home." First off, you don't have to be married to have kids. Also, he could be gay,bisexual, etc.
The next big qualm I had was with their upholding of patriarchal views of women in medicine: "As one of the physicians she’d worked with during her residency had said, it was up to them, the female doctors, to change people’s perception." Oooh boy.
I'm flabbergasted this is being published in 2022. Maybe it was penned years and years and years ago and is just now, for some reason, getting to see the light of day.
If you can ignore those two things and only focus on the HEA, you're golden.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2022
Secret Alaskan Hideaway by Karen Whiddon is the story of Kenzie and John Doe - a new doctor in rural Alaska and the man she finds after he drives off a bridge. He wakes with no memory, she brings him home to take care of him.
This was the point where to story began to depart for me. The beginning was very strong but then became a little convoluted - why is John Doe in danger? Why is there so much friction about Kenzie being the new doctor? Why does no one have internet in 2022? I often felt like I was reading a book set in 2005. I understand the Alaska is remote, but I have a hard time believing the doctor's office doesn't have working internet, no matter how old the previous doctor was. I also felt like there was a lot of rewriting to lengthen the story (ie, something would happen and then Kenzie would tell John Doe what just happened). It could have been a tighter story without 50 of those pages.
Another aspect of the story that was personally difficult for me in the pro-gun ownership message. I understand that I don't like in Alaska nor a rural area but the constant, constant mentioning of guns was a bit much for me.
Overall, the book wasn't for me, but I do think there will be readers who enjoy it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
This was the point where to story began to depart for me. The beginning was very strong but then became a little convoluted - why is John Doe in danger? Why is there so much friction about Kenzie being the new doctor? Why does no one have internet in 2022? I often felt like I was reading a book set in 2005. I understand the Alaska is remote, but I have a hard time believing the doctor's office doesn't have working internet, no matter how old the previous doctor was. I also felt like there was a lot of rewriting to lengthen the story (ie, something would happen and then Kenzie would tell John Doe what just happened). It could have been a tighter story without 50 of those pages.
Another aspect of the story that was personally difficult for me in the pro-gun ownership message. I understand that I don't like in Alaska nor a rural area but the constant, constant mentioning of guns was a bit much for me.
Overall, the book wasn't for me, but I do think there will be readers who enjoy it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
January 10, 2023
Dr.McKenzie was on her way to her new town when she comes across an accident. The man shed taken under her wing has amnesia and unsure how how things turned out the way it did and until he gets his memory back is gonna stay with McKenzie. But as his mind starts to clear his memories start to remind him there is something to fear and he might've just roped the good doctor into this.
This was such a fun read. I mean from the beginning you can sense something is up and can't help but be curious to see what the John Doe is hiding deep in his memories. It was interesting seeing things unfold as he got his memories back and seeing how it was impacting his living situation being that MacKenzie allowed this man into her house and life. I liked the romance that was brewing between the two, it did feel rushed tho. I loved how meddlings the little town was but were there when you needed someone. There was drama and a few close called and I really enjoyed seeing how everything played out. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.
This was such a fun read. I mean from the beginning you can sense something is up and can't help but be curious to see what the John Doe is hiding deep in his memories. It was interesting seeing things unfold as he got his memories back and seeing how it was impacting his living situation being that MacKenzie allowed this man into her house and life. I liked the romance that was brewing between the two, it did feel rushed tho. I loved how meddlings the little town was but were there when you needed someone. There was drama and a few close called and I really enjoyed seeing how everything played out. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.
December 28, 2022
McKenzie is from Texas a warm state and she is now the new doctor in cold Alaska. She is on her way home when she sees a car going over the bridge and she comes the rescue. She rescues John Doe who has no memory of he is. Because McKenzie is a doctor she takes John Doe home with her. As McKenzie and John Doe are spending more and more time together they are enjoying each other’s company. John seems to be a nice guy so for McKenzie there’s no fear or danger. John’s memory is returning and he knows that his name is Brett and knows why he is danger. This is a great romantic suspense that held me captive wanting to know what was John Doe “Brett’s” story. Loved how the two got together and had great chemistry.
I received an ARC via NetGalley HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Romantic Suspense and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an ARC via NetGalley HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Romantic Suspense and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 18, 2022
This is a quick read with lots of suspense. I enjoyed digging through the clues with the characters.
As Kenzie is on her way to her new home in Alaska, she witnesses a car going over a bridge. As a doctor and without any cell signal, she pulls the man from the water. As she checks him over, she finds he has amnesia, but he feels that he is in danger.
As they spend more time together, he remembers his name is Brett and that he loves to cook. His memories slowly reveal the moments leading up to the accident.
He and Kenzie also develop an incredible attraction for each other. However, once the full truth is revealed, will they feel the same way?
As Kenzie is on her way to her new home in Alaska, she witnesses a car going over a bridge. As a doctor and without any cell signal, she pulls the man from the water. As she checks him over, she finds he has amnesia, but he feels that he is in danger.
As they spend more time together, he remembers his name is Brett and that he loves to cook. His memories slowly reveal the moments leading up to the accident.
He and Kenzie also develop an incredible attraction for each other. However, once the full truth is revealed, will they feel the same way?
December 22, 2022
Secret Alaskan Hideaway was a ok read for me. Some parts of it just seemed a bit silly and unbelievable. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like reading this book. It just didn’t wow me.
I actually really liked the main characters, Kenzie and Brett. Their romance went from nothing to extreme pretty fast.
Overall, a quick romance/mystery read with a suspenseful plot.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I actually really liked the main characters, Kenzie and Brett. Their romance went from nothing to extreme pretty fast.
Overall, a quick romance/mystery read with a suspenseful plot.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 18, 2023
"Secret Alaskan Hideaway" by Karen Whiddon is a captivating romantic suspense novel set against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaska. The story follows two individuals who find themselves thrown together in a dangerous situation, and as they navigate the treacherous wilderness, sparks fly. Whiddon's vivid descriptions bring the Alaskan landscape to life, immersing readers in a world filled with danger and adventure. With its well-crafted suspense and tender romance, "Secret Alaskan Hideaway" is a thrilling read that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.
April 14, 2025
Dr McKenzie rescues a man from a vehicle accident only to find he has no idea who he is or where he was going, only that he's running from danger. A Good Samaritan at heart, the doctor lets him live at her cabin while he's trying to regain his memory. Not an original plot, but Karen Whiddon mixes the romance and mystery to make an excellent afternoon read.
December 10, 2022
Secret Alaskan Hideaway is a well written romantic suspense. Great plot and character dynamics. I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.
January 14, 2023
This book had amazing characters and a twisting story line! This was definitely a great Romantic Suspense story. It was my first book I have read by Karen and I will be reading more.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews