Her Little Secret

by Carol Marinelli

Daredevil doctor to doting daddy?

Eastern Beach Hospital is just the next stop for doctor Nick Roberts - he's left broken hearts on every continent! But Nick's fun-loving attitude is so infectious that his patients - and nurse Alison Carter - are unwillingly hooked. One night with Nick leaves Alison with a new zest for life - and another, rather more unexpected gift.

Genres: Harlequin

184 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Carol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.

She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.

Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.

Reviews

[Lynsey A · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many issues with this book. It was kind of boring in parts. The sentences seemed to go on forever. The heroine annoyed me at times and was kind of bitchy to the hero who was just trying to get her to talk to him. The mom of the h was horrible to her daughter at one time in the book, called her a harlot and never apologized.

Her "little secret" wasn't really a secret for more than two weeks.

I liked the hero. He was a good guy. He deserved a better heroine. I never warms up to her at all.

Not sure why I finished it other than I wanted to see how it all played out. Overall, pretty boring. HP's have much mire flair. I prefer her HP books to her medical romances.

[Alison F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Little Secret is the prequel to Summer in Sydney, a quartet of books about four nurses who share a house in Coogee & work at Eastern Beaches Hospital. Dr Nick Roberts is English, working temporarily as a resident in the ED while Cort Mason, MMC of the next book, is on leave. The title & blurb are misleading: the implication is that Nick is a womaniser but he's recently left a four year relationship & has taken a gap year in order to reassess his life. I wouldn't call him fun-loving but he has a positive attitude. He's tall & good looking but what hero of category romance isn't? He & nurse Alison Carter have a passionate relationship, not a one night stand, until she ends their affair. And the pregnancy occurs towards the end of the story & is only secret for about 3 weeks.

The story is actually quite dark. Alison Carter (& it's strange reading about a heroine with my name; there are plenty of Alis & Alices in fiction but not many Alisons) feels trapped. Her father & brother died in a boating accident 3 years ago & her mother, always an anxious person, has become more clingy & demanding. Alison would love to travel but feels she would be abandoning her mother.

Alison & Nick are attracted but she initially resists getting involved, knowing that he's only in Australia temporarily. He has a job waiting for him in England & tells her that he ended his relationship with Gillian because she was talking marriage & babies.

Nick is a nice guy. Alison is more serious but then her life has been difficult lately. Yes, she should have talked to him when she ended their relationship but her motivations were understandable. However I did find her thinking that he was involved with other colleagues was an old-fashioned plot device. And I like CM's writing style, as I do in most of her later medical romances.

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting medical romance with a slow burn to start. Lots of steamy scenes once the book got going that were quite intense. I really enjoy this author's stories and they are well written. Typical M & B formula that I've read heaps before. Spoiler in the blurb and title which was a pity, as the 'little secret' didn't happen until towards the end! 7/10. 💖

[Helen Moulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really what was there not to like about Nick? mmmmmmmm nice guy. I can understand Alison's mother being the way she was but when she finally got help all was on the way to being good again.

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. There were good characters, a good story and a good ending. I smiled a little, teared up, was exasperated (but a little understanding) and enjoyed reading this. This is good for the cuddle-up snuggle-in type of read. Nothing pressing just a relaxing read good for anytime.

[Connie Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book at #RWA11 and read it on the plane ride home. Made my loooong travel day a Great Day! Great read!

[Susan Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love medicals. Marinelli's is some of the best.