Sandy M’s review of S.E.C.R.E.T. Series by L. Marie Adeline
Contemporary Erotic Romance published by Broadway Books February 2013 – May 2014
Lately I’ve been hesitating when picking up an erotic romance, since it seems they all sound the same anymore. So I’m going to let you in on a little secret. (Couldn’t resist :)) L. Marie Adeline has gone way outside the box and given readers something totally new and unique in her S.E.C.R.E.T. trilogy. I’m so very glad I had all three books to read back to back. Even when I thought there might be some repetition once I started the next book, she surprised me every time, not only with the fantasies for her characters but also with the twists and turns their lives take when least expected.
S.E.C.R.E.T., Book 1
05 Feb 13
Cassie is divorced, working as a waitress in New Orleans all these years since her marriage ended. Bottom line – she’s in a rut in every aspect of her life. She watches two of her regulars as they meet each week at their same table, lost in each other, making Cassie wish she had a little something of what they seem to have. Then one day when she finds a lost diary, her life changes from dull and boring to unbelievable and incredible.
The invitation she receives from S.E.C.R.E.T. just can’t be real. Can it? Figuring she’s got nothing to lose in checking it out, Cassie is drawn into a world where her every sexual fantasy is now being played out with strangers who pop into her life just when she needs a boost. Never having thought she could at first flirt and then actually take on the persona necessary to be part of her own fantasies, Cassie begins to flourish with confidence, trust, and sex appeal. Now she wishes she’d hooked up with her friend and boss, Will, when he asked. He’s now involved with someone, so Cassie decides to stay with S.E.C.R.E.T to help other women in need just as she once was.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fantasies Ms. Adeline has come up with for Cassie. The fact that there’s a different man for the fantasies, each recruited by S.E.C.R.E.T, makes it more interesting, seeing how the men use their training in reality. It’s sexy and sensual as well as enlightening and freeing. You can see Cassie blossom to become the woman who’s been trapped inside for so long. Then just when you think things are going to work out for Cassie – boom! A huge twist knocks her for a loop and the aftermath picks up in the next book.
Grade: B
Summary:
NO JUDGMENTS. NO LIMITS. NO SHAME.
Cassie Robichaud’s life is filled with regret and loneliness after the sudden death of her husband. She waits tables at the rundown Café Rose in New Orleans, and every night she heads home to her solitary one-bedroom apartment. But when she discovers a notebook left behind by a mysterious woman at the café, Cassie’s world is forever changed.
The notebook’s stunningly explicit confessions shock and fascinate Cassie, and eventually lead her to S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T, an underground society dedicated to helping women realize their wildest, most intimate sexual fantasies.
Cassie soon immerses herself in an electrifying journey through a series of ten rapturous fantasies with gorgeous men who awaken and satisfy her like never before. As she is set free from her inhibitions, she discovers a new confidence that transforms her, giving her the courage to live passionately.
Read an excerpt.
S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared, Book 2
15 Oct 13
Just when Cassie and Will think they have the rest of their lives, they’re hit with news that will keep them apart. Broken hearted, Cassie decides to work with S.E.C.R.E.T. while sticking with her waitressing job, even though she’ll see Will on a regular basis. Recruiting women to experience their ultimate fantasies will be Cassie’s responsibility, and her first choice is Dauphine.
Though the betrayal she suffered is years behind her, Dauphine still lives with the after effects. It’s her vintage clothing boutique that keeps her sane, while it also keeps her in the past, dressing in those vintage clothes she sells and hoards for some day. Trusting no one, her days have become repetitive and boring, so when Cassie issues an amazing invitation, Dauphine talks herself into the fantasy of a lifetime.
This is where I thought the arc of the story could become redundant, but Ms. Adeline has a very fertile imagination and Dauphine never lacks for some awesome fantasies of her own. The underlying theme of helping these ladies become the confident and powerful women they’re meant to be is still front and center. Fantasy by fantasy Dauphine, just as Cassie did, is slowly awakened out of her stagnant life, along with her sexuality, to experience her deepest desires. Not one of Dauphine’s fantasies even comes to close to what Cassie’s were, each one unique unto itself.
In the meantime, Cassie tries to get on with her life, settling into a relationship with a man she clicked with from one of her fantasies. But because her heart still belongs to Will, it’s difficult for Cassie to become committed in any way other than just sex. Then life once again throws them a huge wallop and Cassie has another decision to make, one of which is finally not all that difficult. Being with Will is her ultimate fantasy, and now that they’re together life couldn’t be better. They’re able to enjoy one another for only a short time, however, when everything blows up once more.
Grade: B
Summary:
Still wounded from a recent heartbreak, Cassie Robichaud throws herself into service with S.E.C.R.E.T., the mysterious organization that changed her life last year by bringing her deepest sexual fantasies to life, one step at a time.
Now, it’s Cassie’s turn to guide the group’s newest candidate, Dauphine Mason, recruiting men to execute a new set of fantasies. While it gets Cassie’s mind off Will, the man she truly loves, it also gives her the chance to help watch S.E.C.R.E.T. work its magic on someone new.
At thirty-one, Dauphine is the proprietor of a New Orleans vintage clothing store—the kind of buttoned-up career woman who has no idea how attractive she really is. In order to reignite her sexual flame and reawaken her dormant heart, she must leave behind her bitter past.
As both Cassie and Dauphine navigate the rocky path between their hearts and their passions, they discover what they truly want in life and in love.
Read an excerpt.
S.E.C.R.E.T. Revealed, Book 3
6 May 14
When Cassie’s secret is revealed at the most inopportune time, her world crashes and burns one more time. Will is caught off guard and reacts in a way you’d expect when hit with such information. Determined to not let their breakup affect their business partnership, Cassie throws herself into managing their new restaurant, which has become the newest hit in the city. Slowly she reacquaints herself with the gentleman she left behind when it looked as though her life was finally headed in the right direction before everything went to hell.
S.E.C.R.E.T.’s latest recruit is Solange, a local news anchor who is divorced, living for her son and her job. As with Dauphine’s story, I’m happy to say the fantasies are still new and imaginative, and Solange welcomes the reawakening she experiences with each one. What I haven’t told you so far is that the women receive a charm to attach to a bracelet they receive from the S.E.C.R.E.T. committee when they agree to become part of the association. There are ten charms in all for the ten steps necessary to achieve the desired goal. They take pride in gaining each charm, especially when they realize what the fantasies do for them, as well as take pride in wearing their bracelets as they fill it with the charms. A very nice touch to remind them of their time with S.E.C.R.E.T.
As for Cassie and Will, yes, the man finally comes to his senses, realizes what he’s so effortlessly thrown away. I really like his resolution to end the distance between him and Cassie, showing her how wrong he was in the best way possible. My only nitpick is I feel this is left a bit too late. We don’t get much of Will and Cassie together throughout the story arc, so I would have liked them together a bit more before the end. But we have come to know them quite well through the pages of each book, so that’s only a small nitpick.
We get to know a number of the women of S.E.C.R.E.T, and my favorite is Matilda, the woman in charge. She’s upfront, knows herself and what she wants though she has restraint when it comes to those wants, and she’s a shrewd businesswoman. Cool under pressure when things go wrong and a friend you’d want at your back throughout life. I also like that in this book, Ms. Adeline trips up a fantasy, making it quite realistic when the characters have to improvise. Though even if that hadn’t happened, S.E.C.R.E.T. does their homework and prep work to make sure all fantasies go off without a hitch.
Grade: B
Summary:
The only thing that Cassie Robichaud has ever really wanted is Will Foret, the love of her life. But when Will discovers that Cassie is part of S.E.C.R.E.T., an underground group devoted to helping women experience their deepest sexual fantasies, Will breaks it off. Heartbroken, Cassie dries her tears and devotes herself to helping the latest S.E.C.R.E.T. recruit, Solange Faraday. Cassie also reignites her relationship with sexy bad-boy Jesse, even if he can never love her as deeply as Will did.
Meanwhile, beautiful, brilliant Solange, a local news anchor and divorced mom, has a great career but a wilting love life. She rekindles long-lost passions, going deeper and hotter than any other S.E.C.R.E.T. candidate before her. Will Solange find what her heart most desires? And when Will realizes he’s made a tragic mistake, will Cassie be able to forgive him? In the end, as both women blossom sexually as sexual beings, they also discover that ecstasy and true love is are closer than they ever imagined.
No excerpt available.
All in all, this trilogy is one of the best erotic reads I’ve enjoyed in a long while. The unique storyline is the number one draw, followed closely by the creativity in the fantasies. Giving women the power to come into themselves to live richer lives is something every woman craves. Too bad we don’t have S.E.C.R.E.T. branches just waiting to help those in need. We’d be dangling those charm bracelets every chance we get.
Overall Grade: B
