sewcialist_librarian's review
3.0
This series is a lot like daytime soaps -- drama, passion, moody looks. Very little brain power required. I read romance for the easy, escapist fun it can be.
cocktailsandbooks1's review
4.0
I loved this book! It's been a long time since I've read a good mystery & a good cop story--this book was both. Yes, there was romance, but the parts I really enjoyed were the ones that kept me in suspense. Naima Simone does a great job of throwing us readers some hints along the way--just enough to make us feel in the loop--without giving anything away until the end.
Gabriel is suffering since the deaths of his wife and child. Luckily, he has his lifelong friends to help him survive the loss he feels. His childhood friends (3 other men named after angels since their moms became close when pregnant) do their best to help him, but it is Leah (another childhood friend of the 4 men) who refuses to give up on him and really holds a special place in his heart.
This is Gabriel and Leah's love story for sure, but it centers around the mysterious disappearance of man that Leah knew as her uncle growing up. The disappearance occurred 20 years prior, but Leah is determined to find out what happened. Unfortunately, what Leah uncovers is much worse than anyone would have expected.
I CANNOT wait to read the next book in this series. Simone has created characters that I want to know more about. I am hoping there is a little Gabriel & Leah follow-up in Mal's story too! I am hoping for another good mystery too.
Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
Gabriel is suffering since the deaths of his wife and child. Luckily, he has his lifelong friends to help him survive the loss he feels. His childhood friends (3 other men named after angels since their moms became close when pregnant) do their best to help him, but it is Leah (another childhood friend of the 4 men) who refuses to give up on him and really holds a special place in his heart.
This is Gabriel and Leah's love story for sure, but it centers around the mysterious disappearance of man that Leah knew as her uncle growing up. The disappearance occurred 20 years prior, but Leah is determined to find out what happened. Unfortunately, what Leah uncovers is much worse than anyone would have expected.
I CANNOT wait to read the next book in this series. Simone has created characters that I want to know more about. I am hoping there is a little Gabriel & Leah follow-up in Mal's story too! I am hoping for another good mystery too.
Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
nday's review
1.0
The first book in the Secrets and Sins series, and after reading the first two books in the Scoring series by Naima, I was surprised to realise this was a romantic suspense! (No, I didn’t read the blurb. When I want to binge an author, I just dive right in there).
So, I had an unexpected romantic suspense book in my hands, and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that, since suspense isn’t my favourite romance genre by a long shot. I did like the idea of a friends to lovers storyline, however, I’m very much a fan of that, so I continued on to see what happened.
It, unfortunately, reminded me why I don’t like this genre. No fault of the authors, just my dislike of the way these books setup and execute. I worked out the mystery and the villain at hand pretty early on in the book. I didn’t get into the romance in the end either, which was my hope for the book, I just never really ended up finding Gabriel all that likeable, and there wasn’t enough zing to the heroine to bring it to life.
I think for people who like the genre, this will be just fine, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
So, I had an unexpected romantic suspense book in my hands, and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that, since suspense isn’t my favourite romance genre by a long shot. I did like the idea of a friends to lovers storyline, however, I’m very much a fan of that, so I continued on to see what happened.
It, unfortunately, reminded me why I don’t like this genre. No fault of the authors, just my dislike of the way these books setup and execute. I worked out the mystery and the villain at hand pretty early on in the book. I didn’t get into the romance in the end either, which was my hope for the book, I just never really ended up finding Gabriel all that likeable, and there wasn’t enough zing to the heroine to bring it to life.
I think for people who like the genre, this will be just fine, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
sniderbeebooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love the emotional intensity and angstiness of Naima Simone's writing. I came to read Gabriel, having discovered this author's The Sweetest Taboo series which left me feeling like I was addicted. I needed more.
Gabriel is a romantic suspense novel that truly borders on being a mystery/thriller with a romantic subplot. I wanted more hero and heroine and less missing person cold case.
Still, this author has earned a special place for me. I wish there was a larger body of work to devour!
If you read Gabriel in print format, be advised there are some pretty distracting formatting issues. I can't say for sure if they exist in the ebook version or if they're the fault of poor editing versus problems translating the work to print. Missing spaces and places where a new paragraph should have begun but didn't were the most glaringly obvious to me.
Gabriel is a romantic suspense novel that truly borders on being a mystery/thriller with a romantic subplot. I wanted more hero and heroine and less missing person cold case.
Still, this author has earned a special place for me. I wish there was a larger body of work to devour!
If you read Gabriel in print format, be advised there are some pretty distracting formatting issues. I can't say for sure if they exist in the ebook version or if they're the fault of poor editing versus problems translating the work to print. Missing spaces and places where a new paragraph should have begun but didn't were the most glaringly obvious to me.
elylibrarysec's review
4.0
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
This book held my interest right from the beginning. Once finished, I found that I needed to know if the mystery in this book is going to be carried through the rest of the series. If you read carefully, you will get a hint about the four men in this series – this means that if you read too fast you may miss it. The only part I hated was having to put the book down either to go to bed or go to work.
I applaud our author in the amount of research that must have been involved in order for the villain in this piece to be so evil. Plus, the story revolves around issues that are current today. If you are a person who is very sensitive about certain subjects, this story may not be for you. But if you really enjoy a great suspense, that has some great romance, and which shows that anyone can overcome atrocities then this story is for you. And you’ll be happy to know that book two is just as good. Malachim comes out September 23.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
This book held my interest right from the beginning. Once finished, I found that I needed to know if the mystery in this book is going to be carried through the rest of the series. If you read carefully, you will get a hint about the four men in this series – this means that if you read too fast you may miss it. The only part I hated was having to put the book down either to go to bed or go to work.
I applaud our author in the amount of research that must have been involved in order for the villain in this piece to be so evil. Plus, the story revolves around issues that are current today. If you are a person who is very sensitive about certain subjects, this story may not be for you. But if you really enjoy a great suspense, that has some great romance, and which shows that anyone can overcome atrocities then this story is for you. And you’ll be happy to know that book two is just as good. Malachim comes out September 23.
cheryls's review
5.0
Gabriel's wife and son died in a car accident 2 years ago. The only reason he's still alive after losing them is his best friend, Leah. She was there to pull him out of the bottle, to make sure he ate, she cleaned his house, and made him start living again...a little.
Mal, Rafe, Chay, and Gabriel all had a huge secret. When Leah started to investigate Richard's disappearance, she uncovered "the secret". It was devastating for her and for the guys. Throughout her investigation someone kept trying to kill her. When all the pieces came together, and after a gigantic plot twist, she survived, barely, but would her friends survive the official police investigation and the charges that are sure to be filed against them? Will Gabriel finally see the love she's been holding on to since she was 16? Is he ready to deal with his losses and look towards the future...with her?
I love this series! The men in the Secrets and Sins series are totally swoon worthy. Gabriel's constant battle between letting go of the past and his feelings for Leah kept me in a nail biting state throughout the book. Leah's character is witty, funny and dedicated. Their relationship as best friends is amazing. I can't wait to read the next book in Naima Simone's Secrets and Sins series!
Mal, Rafe, Chay, and Gabriel all had a huge secret. When Leah started to investigate Richard's disappearance, she uncovered "the secret". It was devastating for her and for the guys. Throughout her investigation someone kept trying to kill her. When all the pieces came together, and after a gigantic plot twist, she survived, barely, but would her friends survive the official police investigation and the charges that are sure to be filed against them? Will Gabriel finally see the love she's been holding on to since she was 16? Is he ready to deal with his losses and look towards the future...with her?
I love this series! The men in the Secrets and Sins series are totally swoon worthy. Gabriel's constant battle between letting go of the past and his feelings for Leah kept me in a nail biting state throughout the book. Leah's character is witty, funny and dedicated. Their relationship as best friends is amazing. I can't wait to read the next book in Naima Simone's Secrets and Sins series!
kame's review
4.0
4 Stars
Gabriel had a perfect life, he was a successful author, had a loving marriage and a great son. Then it all crashed and tore to pieces, all he could do was sit in his car and watch as a tragic accident took his wife and son’s lives. Now two years later he exists; staying in his writing cave in a new condo as he refuses to go back to the house he shared with his family, refusing to even let anyone take down the Christmas tree. He has people who care for him, his close friends and his best friend Leah. She frequently uses her “emergency” key to invade his condo to ensure he has eaten and to do his laundry. She does what any friend would do, anyone who has secretly loved their best friend since she was sixteen. Gabe is not only hiding from his life without his family, he is keeping a dark secret, a secret he has sworn to keep with the three friends he has known since birth and who he considers brothers; a secret they have kept for twenty years. Keeping that secret was all that mattered until Leah receives a letter in the mail.
Gabe is a very convincing grief stricken author. A lot of time was taken to describe his pain and how he was dealing with his grief. Leah is a private investigator, as she left the police force due to an injury in the line of duty. Her connection with Gabe and his friends is strong; she has dealt with a lot of loss in her life and takes care of Gabe to ensure she doesn’t lose him. I found her character resilient and tender. I enjoyed how we saw glimpses of Gabe and Leah’s friendship, along with the little internal dialogs they had in their heads about how much they cared for each other. Gabe’s relationship with the other three men (Chay, Rafe, Mal) was strong and their bond was explained very well; each of these men were concisely introduced and I can definitely see the appeal of each having their own book in the series.
Until about two-thirds of the way through this book I would have classified it more of a suspense than romantic suspense. There were some romantic elements as Gabe and Leah loved each other from afar – and a few stolen HOT kisses (maybe sniper kisses is a better term, Leah has no idea they were coming) but there was no sizzle other than kissing – and I was fine with that – the suspense element kept me reading. Then an event caused Leah and Gabe to be honest with their attraction, they came together and did not share the true depth of their feelings in their hearts. Honestly to me the few intimate scenes in the book seemed out of place, I wanted to get back to the suspense part of the story.
I enjoyed this book; it was different from what I have been reading lately and was a great introduction to a series I will keep my eye out for. I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review.
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