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Secrets

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 926 ratings · 99 reviews

"A fab read!"
--Closer

They drive each other crazy. And they both have something to hide. But we all have our secrets. It's just that some are bigger than others ...

Joe has a beautiful house, a great job, no commitments--and he likes it like that. All he needs is a quiet house sitter for his rambling old place by the sea. When Tess turns up on his doorstep, he's not sure sh...more

Paperback, 496 pages

Published January 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published 2009)

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Mar 04, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreads, contemporary, womens-fiction

This book epitomizes for me what's so great about the giveaways on Goodreads. It's a book I never would have bought myself. It's a romance, it's lightweight, and I'm serious and literary.

Hmmmm. Time to rethink that whole bit, evidently.

What a sweet and smart book! It had been waiting for a day (week, month...) when I needed cheering up, and it was what the doctor ordered.

It's a paced-just-right love story, between commitment-adverse Joe, who needs a house-sitter, and Tess, a single mom who ne...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

This story features a slow simmering burn that starts in Tess and Joe's hearts until it eventually consumes their entire being. This is not the type of love story that would traditionally interest me but the notion of an Englishman falling in love with his housesitter piqued my interest. I'm very thankful that it did. While this type of story may not be something I would normally read, Secrets is definitely a book that I would read ag...more Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

This story features a slow simmering burn that starts in Tess and Joe's hearts until it eventually consumes their entire being. This is not the type of love story that would traditionally interest me but the notion of an Englishman falling in love with his housesitter piqued my interest. I'm very thankful that it did. While this type of story may not be something I would normally read, Secrets is definitely a book that I would read again.

Tess and Joe seem to have much similarity, yet many differences as well. Both seem to have a stubborn streak in them, and a quick wit that makes their banter truly entertaining. They both harbor secrets they are not willing to relinquish while still seeking to learn what the other is hiding. Tess has a stronger inner strength within this story than Joe does. She is willing to throw caution to the wind and see where it takes her. It is one of the reasons she took the housesitting job in the beginning. Joe however, seems to be a little more reluctant to change, and clearly has demons in his past that continue to taunt him.

The love story between Tess and Joe is not the immediate mind numbing attraction that many love stories have. I actually appreciated this different type of growth and it made this story stand out from many others I have read. I like that Tess and Joe start off as acquaintances who eventually grows into a friends that graduate to becominging lovers. While this may sound like it may be a little too slow or drawn out it actually read very well and keep me interested and wanting to find out more. Even after I completed the book, I remembered the characters' names, which with the amount of books I read is a feat within itself.

This is a story that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good love story whether it be a traditional romance or a more contemporary one. I think that all fans of romance could really curl up on the couch or in the bed and loose themselves for hours while learning Tess and Joe's secrets.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 31, 2011 Rea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: expand-your-horizons, romance, contemporary, chick-lit

Full review can be found here.

***Warning: some spoilers concerning the relationship.***

The thing that hit me the most with this story is that throughout it all, Joe is such a hypocrite! He really rubbed me the wrong way. It’s established within the first few chapters that he has women in all the foreign cities he regularly visits and that he enjoys no-strings-attached sex with each of them. Fair enough. It is then established that he is attracted to Tess, does not really act on it then goes abro...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Rosie Review rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: must-read

Taken from my blog www.rosiereview.wordpress.com

This book has it all, the girl, the guy, the complications along the way. I’ll warn you that it is slow to start, however if you’re anything like me persevere as it’ll be wanting to find out what the secrets are which will keep you reading. Freya has captured a single mother perfectly. Tess could have easily been a pathetic sap which would have made me want to reach into the book and give her a slap! But no, Freya has highlighted the worries and pr...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Rowena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

I was pretty stoked to read this book because it sounded like something that I would enjoy and while I did enjoy the book, it started off pretty slow for me. The way that this book is written made it a little hard for me to get into. The story was slow to unfold but I'm so glad that I stuck with it until the very end because the ride was well worth the slow beginning.

This story is about Joe and Tess. Joe has a big house and needs a sitter to live in it while he's off working all over the place....more I was pretty stoked to read this book because it sounded like something that I would enjoy and while I did enjoy the book, it started off pretty slow for me. The way that this book is written made it a little hard for me to get into. The story was slow to unfold but I'm so glad that I stuck with it until the very end because the ride was well worth the slow beginning.

This story is about Joe and Tess. Joe has a big house and needs a sitter to live in it while he's off working all over the place. He needs someone to take care of things while he's away and while Tess isn't exactly the person he had in mind for the job, he gives her the job anyway. She doesn't come with references and she has secrets that are hard to miss but give her the job, he did. Tess, on the other hand, jumps at the chance to go far away from her life so that she can get her mind together. She needs to just get away and the house sitting job seemed like the perfect place to do it so she forces her way into Joe's life and into his home.

What I liked about the story was seeing the love between Joe and Tess build. Their love story isn't one of those instant attraction romances. It's slow to build and even though that bothered me in the beginning of the book, in the rest of the story, it totally worked. By writing the story the way that she did, North made sure that the readers become very involved in the character's stories, and in their lives. Joe and Tess became extremely real to me and I really enjoyed reading their story.

There were times when I wanted to give the both of them a swift kick in the ass but alls well that ends well. I enjoyed getting to know the both of them even when they were being stubborn. This book is definitely one that I will be re-reading in the years to come. When I put it down after I finished it, I was bummed because I wanted this story to go on and on and on. I really enjoyed seeing Joe and Tess find their way toward that happy ending. It was interesting and it was sweet and I was pleased with the way everything turned out. The differences and the similarities between both Joe and Tess was just a great way to spend a few hours. I completely recommend this book to anyone interested in a sweet contemporary read that is very enjoyable.(less)

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Jan 13, 2012 SOS Aloha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am a fan of British authors who write contemporary fiction. Having visited my English Granny, British books give me that warm fuzzy feeling akin to tea and biscuits, just so comforting. I was not familiar with the setting in SECRETS, Saltburn-by-the-Sea. I dove into it expecting a fun adventure.

In the opening chapter of the book, Joe (the house owner) and Tess (the prospective house sitter) jump into an employer-employee situation without much thought. Both seemed to throw caution in the wind...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Sharon Redfern rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book opens with Tess and her daughter Em hiding from someone who is banging on their door. Tess then takes a job as a house sitter for Joe, a world travelling bridge builder. She takes her ancient car, her meager belongings, and heads to Saltburn and escape. When she gets to the house, she discovers a large seaside home complete with handsome owner and large scruffy dog.
Tess and Joe work out her work schedule and Tess settles into a routine. She works on the house, meets the locals, and sta...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Floe (Fernie_J) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, paperback-i-own

This book is about a loving mother who only wants what's good for her daughter. She decided to leave the city and live in a beautiful house away from friends and people who chases her. For Tess, this could be the escape she's waited for so long. She is desperate to get out the city and escape her miserable and doomed life. Joe was the owner of the beautiful house, had a great job, and never commits on a relationships. It is an adventure story for Tess and a life long adjustments for Joe. Tess wh...more

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Jul 23, 2010 Lynsey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-fluff

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 23, 2009 Ailsa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, light-read

I've read a couple of North's books and always found them enjoyable and I wasn't disappointed in this offering either. This was a lot longer than the earlier novel's I'd read by North (I've read a few of the McCabe ones - Pip, Cat, etc.) It was also a fair bit in darker in tone than I remembered the other books being (although its been a while). This kind of serious and intelligent approach to romantic fiction is really welcome: whilst Secrets is very much a readable and ultimately uplifting boo...more I've read a couple of North's books and always found them enjoyable and I wasn't disappointed in this offering either. This was a lot longer than the earlier novel's I'd read by North (I've read a few of the McCabe ones - Pip, Cat, etc.) It was also a fair bit in darker in tone than I remembered the other books being (although its been a while). This kind of serious and intelligent approach to romantic fiction is really welcome: whilst Secrets is very much a readable and ultimately uplifting book, it doesn't shy away from looking at some of the real life problems that do invade the romantic bubbles that we try and make for ourselves.

Anyway, the basic premise of the book has Tess arriving with toddler in tow at Joe's house after answering an advert seeking a house sitter. Tess and Em quickly turn Joe's life upside down, and its not long before the pair of them are smitten with each other. If it doesn't seem too grand a comparison, I'd say North is definitely a Jane Eyre fan: this book is full of that delicious miscommunication in romantic endeavours that tend to make the reading achingly satisfying. If that makes any sense. It feels a much more "real" romance than that of Thanks for the Memories with all the willful misunderstanding, secrets and struggles that can characterise two people trying to make things work. The eventual coming over these obstacles makes the (inevitable) happy ending immensely satisfying.

Another great aspect of this book was its evocation of place. North really brought the north-east coast alive, and it is clear how much she adores this part of the world. Saltburn-on-Sea was almost a character in itself, it was that well done.

Not that this book is perfect by any means however - the burden and scale of all the secrets that Tess is carrying around becomes a bit ridiculous - not every secret that we have needs to be a massive life changing end of the world type one, y'know. Some secrets are so small and so not important at all that they're almost harder to tell - the mundane things you should've just blurted out years ago or whatever. In particular the reveal about why Tess is so afraid of sand was just too much for me.

However over all I really enjoyed this book, and would reccomend it to anyone looking for a satisfying but not too taxing romance.(less)

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Nov 13, 2012 Jacqueline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this, will definitely be a re-reader.

The situation felt real, the characters were likeable (um although I had some issues with Joe's behaviour, see spoiler para below) and I loved the descriptions of the house, of the seaside. Tthe gradual build up of the the relationship was fantastic, it kept me reading late into the night and Freya North doesn't hold back with erotic scenes either - none of this 'they went to bed...' business, just left to your imagination. If I had a decent...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, romance, books-i-own, mystery

Secrets was a really interesting book and I'm definitely glad I read it. I was very intrigued by the premise and it sounded like a book I could really lose myself in and enjoy. I love books that help me relax and that are easy to read- Secrets was certainly one of those books!

The opening of the book caught my attention and from there, I knew I would have no problem reading to the very last page. I needed to know what was going on and I wanted everything to work out for these mysterious character...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Lydia Laceby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-women-s-fiction

Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes

Unfortunately this novel didn't captivate me as much as I would have liked. I didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. I found it dragged out in places and it had really long paragraphs which I found distracting especially with reading at night.

At times I felt this novel bore too much resemblance to a Harlequin, with a predictable story and oddly descriptive sex scenes, but there was a huge Brit Lit feel to it which helped ease my trepidation.

I found this to...more

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Aug 31, 2009 Sally rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Freya North has been one of my favourite authors for many years and she has not disappointed with her latest offering, Secrets.

Tess is a single mother of 18 month old Em and through circumstances, flees London to take up the position of House Sitter in the quaint seaside village of Saltburnn-by-the-Sea. Joe, the owner of the house has a job that takes him all over the world and only returns to his home-base between jobs.

Secrets tells the tale of the growth in confidence and love for Tess as she...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Tricia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: sensible middle-aged women. Not anarchic 20-year-olds who refuse to grow up... like myself.

Shelves: chick-lit

I wanted to like this book. It's pretty. The author's pretty, too. And because I'm silly and a bit shallow and I assume pretty authors write pretty books, I picked it up and ploughed through it, not realising that I am in fact far too young/immature/radical to fall anywhere near the target audience category.

It's probably not a bad book, actually. Who am I to judge? It's just one of those stories that made me want to scream every couple of pages, and then think, "Is there something wrong with me?...more I wanted to like this book. It's pretty. The author's pretty, too. And because I'm silly and a bit shallow and I assume pretty authors write pretty books, I picked it up and ploughed through it, not realising that I am in fact far too young/immature/radical to fall anywhere near the target audience category.

It's probably not a bad book, actually. Who am I to judge? It's just one of those stories that made me want to scream every couple of pages, and then think, "Is there something wrong with me? Why am I not enjoying this apparently popular novel?" In retrospect, I can think of a few reasons why.

1. Tess is irritating. Not in a "Waaah, I hate my life even though I'm perfect" way. No, she's actually really grown-up. And I think that's why she annoyed me so much. She's all grown-up, sensible and boring. Better than being Bella Swan, I've got to say - but I did, on occasion, smack myself in the head with this gigantic 500 page pink thing. Please tell me not all thirty-year-old women are as bland as her. I refuse to be like that. I REFUSE!
2. I did enjoy the ending, I must admit. Things happen. It's the beginning and the middle that drag on. But hey, if you name your book Secrets it'll all work in your favour. Ahh, we know they've both got something to hide, so it doesn't matter if it takes them 250 pages to reveal it. That's not going to bug the reader at all!
3. Who refers to a woman's bits as "her sex"? Oh my God! Just call it a vagina!

The book, as a whole, didn't appeal to me. But Freya North does use nice vocabulary (when she isn't using ostentatious language to describe a fanny). And the storyline itself is fine, and there's no horrible anti-feminist message (even if Tess is a beautician and a house-sitter - I maintain that's a fair enough choice). It's probably realistic - I wouldn't know as I'm not thirty and I don't have a kid and I don't enjoy painting people's nails. So it's really not my place to criticise this book; I'm not the target audience.

It does strike me as very limited, though. I guess the chick-lit genre itself is limited. It's aimed only at women and it's aimed only at certain types of women. All the female characters around the protagonist's age are married. Oh, and heterosexual, of course. And they all have/want/look after babies. I'm not saying that this isn't common, because of course it is. But it does come across as somewhat narrow. Anyway, whatever other girls make of this... it's not my thing. That's all I can say.(less)

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Oct 13, 2011 Any Length rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. What did I like about it is easier than what I didn't like about it. The female protagonist is annoyingly stupid, albeit in a nice way. However, she is what makes me cringe to be put into the same group of people called "Women". She annoys me because despite her terrible financial situation she does very little about it, giving her time and resources away to paint nails at an old people’s home free of charge despite having been offered money for it by the institution. Stupid, to say the least, u...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Jo Linsdell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Secrets by Freya North is a page turning romance set in Saltburn-by-the-sea in the UK. If you like chick-lit, you'll love this.

Joe has a great house, great job and no committments and he likes it like that. Tess is a troubled young mum that falls into the life of Joe and changes it forever. Each has a secret past but sparks fly every time they meet.

Life as a single mum is hard but Tess does a great job raising her daughter and manages to create a new life for them. Joe trys to ignore his growing...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 25, 2011 Mary Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't entirely know why, but I love Freya North and have read everything of hers. I love her characters and their journey's but her snarky omniscient voice kind of drives me up the wall. I suspect this is better tolerated in the UK than in North America, given the different literary traditions, educational systems, etc. Nevertheless, my irritation doesn't stop me from reading and enjoying all of her books. This one and the other most recent ones I quite enjoyed, especially her rather frail, me...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tess is a single parent with a past she wants to hide and sees an opportunity to leave London and all that behind. So she packs her car up and drives hundreds of miles northwards to a job that she doesn't know will be hers once she arrives. At first she cuts off her ties with her past by getting rid of her Simcard but then contacts her friend Tasmin and her sister when she needs to talk to someone, apart from the two friends she has made in the area.

Joe is single (well sort of-he could be likene...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Freya North writes a good chick lit. It runs with the usual formula, boy meets girl, there's an attraction but not without it's problems and of course there is the other woman or man. Great location by the sea, and I did think that Saltburn by the Sea was fictional but as I discovered at the end of the book it does exist. Great description of an old seaside town. I loved the photos of the author in the area in this last section of the book. Good rounded characters and all likeable, even the 'bat...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Jacqueline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It isnt that rare for me to give five stars for a book really,maybe i should be a bit harder to please!but that aside,this book really struck a chord with me,i loved the setting, the characters and the fact that they were both hiding things but realised that if they were to realistically get close to each other they would have to reveal all,and also i loved the fact that this was not a typical romantic story,rather the characters got together quite early and instead of the usual dramatic getting...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Keryn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: human-drama, romance

A wonderful light literary jaunt about a young single mom escaping reality by moving to a new town and starting a new life, with a warm and sexy romance thrown in too. I enjoyed the dog and the baby too, and the jet-setting lifestyle of the homeowner - well characterised and intimate in approach. House-sitting is an unusual theme in a novel, and I felt as though I was transported into a parallel reality, almost like sitting in a movie house and drinking in the sounds, sights, smells of the seasi...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a difficult book for me to rate. First, I'm an anglophile and any book set in England is something I'll pick up. The story is a predictable love story that moves at a steady pace and was fun to read. The problem - Joe, one of the main characters. He falls in love with his housesitter but continues his whoredog ways with a girl in every port as he travels for his job - that just steamed me. He does get it together, stops his philandeering and it all ends well.

I read this on my Nook and...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Chanpreet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Secrets by Freya North is a great book, but a little lengthy. When I started it, I was like 400 something pages, "groan". But once I got started, the pages started flying and I was like, "moan" when it was all over. I'd give it a 3.5/5 if I could.

Tess and Em Adams have run away from London and moved North to house sit for Joe Saunders. Joe wasn't really looking to hire Tess, but she takes the job over the phone and they meet the next day. Tess is 30, Em is 2, and Joe is in his 40s. Right off the...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-are, netgalley-reviews

Secrets is an enjoyable contemporary romance by British author Freya North.
Tess and her toddler daughter, Em, flee London to take up the position of a house sitter for Joe, whose job as a bridge engineer necessitates a lot of travel. Tess falls in love with the Victorian mansion, named Resolution, and then it's enigmatic owner. Joe is surprised to find that Tess and Em have moved not only into his house but his heart. Can the pair bridge the gap of mistakes, surprises and secrets that threaten...more Secrets is an enjoyable contemporary romance by British author Freya North.
Tess and her toddler daughter, Em, flee London to take up the position of a house sitter for Joe, whose job as a bridge engineer necessitates a lot of travel. Tess falls in love with the Victorian mansion, named Resolution, and then it's enigmatic owner. Joe is surprised to find that Tess and Em have moved not only into his house but his heart. Can the pair bridge the gap of mistakes, surprises and secrets that threaten to tear them apart, to make a home together?

Tess has fled a sticky financial situation in London, and so the position with Joe is a gift, providing room, board and a small stipend her her and her daughter. I quite liked Tess though she could be a contradiction, practical and self sufficient one moment, needy and whiny the next. I would have preferred some more growth, conquering her fear of heights and sand didn't quite demonstrate it they way I think the author hoped it would.
In his early forties, Joe is used to living alone and doing as he pleases. He has had a succession of impersonal house sitters but the arrival of Tess and Em turns his childhood house into a home. In many ways Joe is a typical romantic lead - a touch arrogant, rich and good looking, yet his enthusiasm for bridges, devotion to his dog, Wolf, and conflicted feelings about his mother ensure he is a well rounded character.
The relationship that develops between Tess and Joe unfurls slowly with several fairly predictable complications. While Tess is distracted by bronzed Aussie surfer Seb, Joe has a girl in every port(at this point I should mention that there are several unexpectedly sexually explicit moments in the novel). Then of course Tess hasn't revealed exactly why she left London and later we also discover she hasn't been entirely truthful about Em's parentage either. On his part, Joe keeps his own counsel when it comes to his family history and why his nearly senile mother is not welcome in her old home.
Despite it's length (over 500 pages), Secrets is a surprisingly quick and engaging read. The story is generally well crafted with subplots to support the romance, though the epilogue goes on (and on and on). With likeable characters, humour and warmth, Secrets is a pleasant romantic fiction novel. (less)

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Oct 07, 2012 Beadyjan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

There was a lot I loved about this book, the main thing I liked was its setting - Saltburn by the sea is one of my favourite places and I felt the author wrote knowledgeably and intelligently about the locations, so much so that, even though its a town I have visited regularly since my childhood, live less than 40 miles from and really love, I learnt quite a lot about Saltburn from the author.
Having said that this is not a travelogue or a guide book its a romantic novel.

Tess runs away to Saltbu...more There was a lot I loved about this book, the main thing I liked was its setting - Saltburn by the sea is one of my favourite places and I felt the author wrote knowledgeably and intelligently about the locations, so much so that, even though its a town I have visited regularly since my childhood, live less than 40 miles from and really love, I learnt quite a lot about Saltburn from the author.
Having said that this is not a travelogue or a guide book its a romantic novel.

Tess runs away to Saltburn by the sea following a chance sighting of an advert requiring a house sitter seems to offer the chance she needs to escape But she brings with her many hidden talents and lots of secrets. Joe would be mad to employ her especially when she can barely provide a reference and carries her worldly goods around in a few cardboard boxes in her beat up old car.

The characters were very well created, and the secrets on the title were very well hidden - I could never have second guessed the reason behind Tess's phobia of sand and beaches!

But Tess annoyed me a little she is a touch too naive and unworldly considering she has lived in London she is almost too domesticated and although her limited wardrobe and finances mean she often slobs around in old jeans with no make up and her hair is frequently described as lank I struggle to find what Joe and Seb the hunky surfer find so attractive in her.

My main gripe is the numerous rather sleazy sex scenes which I found rather coarse and which made Joe slump in my estimation from eligible hunk to two faced sleaze and I began to want him to get his come uppance - though Tess is just too soft to be the one to make sure he gets it!

I usually like flawed characters and the storyline is very gripping with plenty going on in a lovely familiar setting but I found the romance side of it somewhat lacking.

I will explore more by the author and I would still recommend this as a very readable romance but be warned some of the sex scenes are tawdry and tacky ( and coming from someone whose favourite books include The Crimson Petal and the White and Tipping the Velvet - I can assure you I'm no prude)(less)

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Apr 17, 2012 Ellie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: girlie

Tess is running away from her old life. She's not even sure where Cleveland is when she hurriedly accepts a job as a housesitter in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, she's not even sure Joe offered her the job when she said she was on her way. She turns up at his old, large house with a baby in tow and her only possessions boxed up in her car. She's the best of a bad bunch of applicants so Joe lets her stay despite her having no idea what she's doing and she's quite obviously hiding something.

It's quite clea...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Kiri rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

I couldn't finish this book (that's quite a rare thing for me) I don't often want to give up on a book because I usually trust my original instincts in starting to read something in the first place. I just couldn't continue with this because it just didn't read well. Pretty boring subject matter. The big secrets turned out to be rather lame and not all that exciting. More like draining.
Couldn't really work out why the couple seemed to like each other either.
I'm also the last person to shy away...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Marie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I started reading this book, it seemed okay, the story line was interesting, and I usually like novels that are based around the UK; What I didn't like at all, was the graphic use of vulgar language, the use of the same awful words, again and again and the explicit sex scenes;it gave no fore-warning of this, it just dove right in...Luckily it was only in a couple of chapters, and I skimmed right over them...I also didn't like the reason that was given at the end about her "beach phobia"-it...more

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Jan 04, 2010 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love the setting of 'Secrets' so much!! Saltburn-by-the-sea seems to be a utopia! I like the serenity and peace of such tranquil environment. Well, of course it's the lovely 'family' that makes it perfect and sweet :)
Secrets in this story, though aren't big ones (and quite predictable), are actually realistic. So it turns out that the novel is a light and enjoyable read. That makes the secret about the beach a bit creepy when compared with the others, but it's a good contrast isn't it? With a...more

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About Freya North

Freya North was born on 21 November 1967 in London, England, UK. She gave up a PhD scholarship to write her first novel, Sally. For 4 years she turned deaf ears to parents and friends who pleaded with her to ‘get a proper job’. She went on the dole and did a succession of freelance and temping jobs to support “writing days” every now and then. In 1996 she approached one of the UK’s top literary ag...more

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“For the first time in her life, she read voraciously. Anything that was on Joe's bookshelves she considered to have a worthy seal of approval. She tried authors she'd never heard of and authors she'd always meant to read. Every now and then she read passages twice, three times even, enjoying the wordcraft, the drama - but imagining that Joe had liked the book and wondering when he might be back and if there would be dinners they could share to discuss books they'd both read. [...] Tess was well aware it was escapiscm but what a way to pass another evening on her own.” — 4 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11770532-secrets?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347255536l/11770532.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11770532-secrets?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Secrets by Freya North[/url]

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