A review by l1brarygirl
Secret Shared by L. Marie Adeline

3.0

No Judgements. No Limits. No Shame.

Really torn on my rating for this book. While I loved the premise and lots of the scenes, I feel like this book was poorly executed/written. For this reason, it only gets 3 vs. 4 stars.

One, I liked the character of Dauphine. Her story was compelling but I feel like Adeline rushed her story. Her transformation didn't seem natural. She is controlling and fearful - then BAM! She's a new adventurous person.
SpoilerDon't get me wrong, I’m happy she got her man. The problem I had was it was kinda cheesy how Mark said he saw her in the crowd and thought of her all the time. Seems to me he wasn't thinking of her when he slept with Cassie...


I feel like I need to put the rest of my review in spoiler because I don't want to give the storyline away (predictable as it is, there was a slight twist at the end).

SpoilerOne thing I did like, was the variety of sexual encounters. We get river & mile high sex, a police officer fantasy and borderline bisexualism with the tango dancers for Dauphine. This isn't including the ending with Mark, which is new love. Disappointed she didn't make it "really" through all the steps. I also really liked the scene with Mark, Angela, and Cassie - HOT!

Now for Cassie...she may be one of the major reasons I have a problem with this book. She doesn't seem fully changed, as she is still harboring her feelings for lame-ass Will. Yes, she's loved him and he seems to want her back, but he is having a baby with another woman! I am extremely happy she decided to go for Jesse, but of course she drops him the moment Will is free. I kinda knew things wouldn’t work out but this teaser line:

Had I known it would be the last time we’d spend together, I would never have left that bed or that apartment, and I certainly wouldn’t have washed him off my body so quickly, before slipping back into that beautiful, cursed dress. Cassie, 257


Surprised me and I just had to continue reading at a fast pace!

I’m happy Jesse stood by her and I really hope they have a future together if Adeline writes another book about S.E.C.R.E.T. I have always though Jesse was the better man (and hotter too it sounds like).

Now the future of S.E.C.R.E.T. is definitely at end it sounds like, so I wonder how another book would play out and now especially with the Cassie/Will angle. She certainly can’t work for him anymore and he already decided the name and such of the new restaurant. We’ll see.