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The Heirs of Hansol #2
The Not So Secret Crush
Adelaide Song might have a teeny reputation in her family for being the party girl. But Adelaide’s dazed and debauched days are over (mostly)—and it’s time to take her place as part of the Hansol legacy. All she needs is her fashion savvy, a good cause, and a little help from her childhood crush. But working with sexy-yet-oh-so-irritating PR specialist Michael Reynolds might be more than Adelaide bargained for…
Adelaide needs his help, and damned if Michael can say no. But Michael knows that getting involved with Adelaide is flirting with sweet, ruinous disaster. Like the kind that comes when you mess with your best friend’s sister…Previously published as Secret Crush Seduction in 2020.
Read the entire swoon-worthy Heirs of Hansol series:
Book 1: The “I Do” Dilemma
Book 2: The Not So Secret Crush
Book 3: The Enemy Entanglement
Adelaide needs his help, and damned if Michael can say no. But Michael knows that getting involved with Adelaide is flirting with sweet, ruinous disaster. Like the kind that comes when you mess with your best friend’s sister…Previously published as Secret Crush Seduction in 2020.
Read the entire swoon-worthy Heirs of Hansol series:
Book 1: The “I Do” Dilemma
Book 2: The Not So Secret Crush
Book 3: The Enemy Entanglement
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2020
43 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Jayci Lee
58 books1,274 followersJayci Lee writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance featuring Korean American main characters. Her books have been in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, E! News, and Women’s World. Jayci is retired from her fifteen-year career as a litigator because of all the badass heroines and drool worthy heroes demanding to have their stories told. Food, wine and travel are her jam. She makes her home in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys, and a fluffy rescue.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
August 9, 2020
“Let me set some ground rules for this relationship. I get to have you whenever I want, wherever I want, and I want to have you right here tonight. Got it?”
FOLKS, LET ME INTRODUCE ADELAIDE SONG...
...AND MICHAEL REYNOLDS
I think the quote at the top really captures what I liked best about Secret Crush Seduction. Amidst hackneyed clichés and an unmemorable storyline, there were flashes of this firecracker of a woman. (Another thing I enjoyed was the rep—Adelaide is Korean American, and there are also Latinx side characters, one of whom has autism.)
Secret Crush Seduction is the follow-up to Temporary Wife Temptation, which centres Adelaide's brother Garrett. This one was also a quick read and featured some tropes I adore (big bro's best friend, 8-year age gap)—buuuut I still had some issues.
First: apart from a few sex scenes that tickled my fancy, I didn't find Adelaide and Michael's romance that compelling. I'm not really one for low-stakes HEAs and mutual pining, both of which this book contains. Like, I get that each character's insecurities were holding them back—but one honest conversation would've solved SO MUCH. I am a BIG proponent of talking and honesty, so the "I'm going to stay away and pine from afar bc I'm protecting you" didn't really do it for me. :(
Next: the non-romantic plot ALSO felt lacklustre to me. The premise follows Adelaide as she struggles to prove that she's ready to take on a leadership role at her family's multimillion-dollar company. To do so, Adelaide proposes a charity fashion show to raise autism awareness by designing sensory friendly clothing. But I only got superficial details about the fashion designs! At one point the book literally says:
...her designers used creative methods of using painted fabric, unique geometric shapes, and other too-many-to-name techniques to embolden the bodice.
Too-many-to-name!?? I want them named!!! (Maybe I'm expecting too much of such a short book, though. Keep in mind, Secret Crush Seduction is only 200-odd pages.)
Finally: I didn't feel totally comfortable with the book's treatment of autism awareness? I kind of got patronizingly benevolent vibes (what with Adelaide taking the lead on designing sensory friendly clothing without much if any input from autistic folks)—BUT my opinions are ultimately those of a neurotypical person, and I think it’s really important to amplify the thoughts of own-voices reviewers from the ASD community. If you’d like me to link your or another person’s review in my own, please don’t hesitate to shoot me a DM!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Desire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
6/18/2020: ADMIT IT. THE HEIRS OF HANSOL BOOKS HAVE THE BEST COVER COUPLES.
mans on this cover gives me klaus from the originals vibessssss
ugh king
March 1, 2021
I received this book for free from the publisher (Harlequin Books) in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the first book in the series, I was very excited to read this one since I loved Adelaide in the first book.
This installment was definitely a step up from the first book. The first book had a lot of awkward time jumps, while this book luckily avoided that.
As a whole, I really liked Michael and Adelaide as a couple. They had sizzling chemistry and I liked the fire Adelaide had. She was so driven in what she wanted in terms of both career and personal life.
I also loved that Adelaide’s fashion show centered on creating fashionable and sensory friendly clothes for people on the autism spectrum. I was happy to see attention brought to autism awareness. I was not expecting that from a short Harlequin romance novel.
Since this is part of series, the two main characters from the previous book have cameos in this book. It was nice to see what they were up to and how their relationship had strengthened.
My one critique of the book is that the ending could have been fleshed out a bit more. It ended rather abruptly and I wanted a little more closure.
Overall, this was an enjoyable installment to the series!
After reading the first book in the series, I was very excited to read this one since I loved Adelaide in the first book.
This installment was definitely a step up from the first book. The first book had a lot of awkward time jumps, while this book luckily avoided that.
As a whole, I really liked Michael and Adelaide as a couple. They had sizzling chemistry and I liked the fire Adelaide had. She was so driven in what she wanted in terms of both career and personal life.
I also loved that Adelaide’s fashion show centered on creating fashionable and sensory friendly clothes for people on the autism spectrum. I was happy to see attention brought to autism awareness. I was not expecting that from a short Harlequin romance novel.
Since this is part of series, the two main characters from the previous book have cameos in this book. It was nice to see what they were up to and how their relationship had strengthened.
My one critique of the book is that the ending could have been fleshed out a bit more. It ended rather abruptly and I wanted a little more closure.
Overall, this was an enjoyable installment to the series!
August 23, 2020
Is it hot, steamy, and melodramatic in here, or is it just me? Maybe it's just Jayci Lee's upcoming book,
Secret Crush Seduction
!
Adelaide Song wants to be a leader in her family’s fashion empire, but her grandmother keeps telling her she’s not ready yet. Her grandmother keeps treating her like a child, still holding Adelaide responsible for being a little bit of a party girl as a teenager. Now she’s determined to show her what a difference she can make to the company.
She enlists the help of Michael Reynolds, her brother’s best friend and the executive who handles the company’s PR efforts. Michael is also the man she’s had a crush on since she was very young, and now that she’s an adult, she’s even more attracted to him than ever. He feels the same way about Adelaide but tries keeping her at arm’s length for many reasons.
As Adelaide and Michael work together on bringing her plans to reality, the connection between them grows more intense. If they surrender to it, will it again signal to her grandmother that she’s not mature enough to take her place in the family business? Is Michael willing to risk it all for this woman he can’t get out of his mind?
This was a deliciously soapy and sexy book I read in one sitting. There’s lots of steam and as with most romances and rom-coms, not a lot of suspense, but the fun is in the journey to the story’s resolution. It’s the second book in the “Heirs of Hansol” series, but I didn’t miss anything by not reading the first book.
Romance fans, this is a fun one!
I was fortunate to be part of the blog tour for this one. Harlequin Desire and the Harlequin Publicity Team provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes September 1.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Adelaide Song wants to be a leader in her family’s fashion empire, but her grandmother keeps telling her she’s not ready yet. Her grandmother keeps treating her like a child, still holding Adelaide responsible for being a little bit of a party girl as a teenager. Now she’s determined to show her what a difference she can make to the company.
She enlists the help of Michael Reynolds, her brother’s best friend and the executive who handles the company’s PR efforts. Michael is also the man she’s had a crush on since she was very young, and now that she’s an adult, she’s even more attracted to him than ever. He feels the same way about Adelaide but tries keeping her at arm’s length for many reasons.
As Adelaide and Michael work together on bringing her plans to reality, the connection between them grows more intense. If they surrender to it, will it again signal to her grandmother that she’s not mature enough to take her place in the family business? Is Michael willing to risk it all for this woman he can’t get out of his mind?
This was a deliciously soapy and sexy book I read in one sitting. There’s lots of steam and as with most romances and rom-coms, not a lot of suspense, but the fun is in the journey to the story’s resolution. It’s the second book in the “Heirs of Hansol” series, but I didn’t miss anything by not reading the first book.
Romance fans, this is a fun one!
I was fortunate to be part of the blog tour for this one. Harlequin Desire and the Harlequin Publicity Team provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes September 1.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
September 23, 2020
3.5 stars! I enjoyed the first Heirs of Hansol book so much and couldn't wait to get my hands on this brother's best friend romance that was hinted at towards the end of TWT. Though I didn't love this sequel quite as much, I still had fun reading Michael and Adelaide's story. She's had a crush on him since forever, and now that she's all grown up and knows what she wants, she goes right for Michael, who tries so hard to stay away but can't. They have some great chemistry together right from the start of the book, which only amps up when they start working together for a charity fashion show.
If you loved book 1, I would still highly recommend you give this sequel a try. It is tropetastic in the way category Harlequins are, and a quick, hot read!
If you loved book 1, I would still highly recommend you give this sequel a try. It is tropetastic in the way category Harlequins are, and a quick, hot read!
November 6, 2020
4 Stars / 3 Steam Fans
I loved all of the inclusion contained within this story. Brother's best friend and secret crush are done in a fun, sweet, and sexy way. I also enjoyed the family aspect that runs throughout the story.
Video review available in Week 43: Oct 18 – Oct 24 weekly book reviews and the Week of Netgalley Vlog, Episode 6 (coming soon).
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
I loved all of the inclusion contained within this story. Brother's best friend and secret crush are done in a fun, sweet, and sexy way. I also enjoyed the family aspect that runs throughout the story.
Video review available in Week 43: Oct 18 – Oct 24 weekly book reviews and the Week of Netgalley Vlog, Episode 6 (coming soon).
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
August 2, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*3.5 Stars!*
LOOK AT THAT COVER!
Whoever is designing the covers for the Harlequin Desire series needs a raise because they are absolutely killing it with these covers and the covers for The Heirs of Hansol series are by far my favorite so far.
Anywho, let's get on with this review. Secret Crush Seduction is the second installment in The Heirs of Hansol series and follows the youngest Song sibling, Adelaide. Adelaide Song has always felt like she's had to prove herself to her family, especially her grandmother, in order to be taken seriously. Now with dreams of becoming more involved in the family company, Adelaide decides to show that she is capable to taking on a leading role in the company by throwing a fashion event and she knows the perfect person to help her get show on the road—Michael Reynolds. Adelaide has had a crush on Michael for as long as she could remember, but the feelings were never mutual—or so she thinks and Adelaide will soon find herself not only fighting for a place in the company, but also a place in Michael's heart.
Adelaide is definitely my favorite character in this series. I love her drive, her creative mind and her sassiness. As much as she was fighting to prove herself to her family, I think Adelaide had what it took all along to be the boss lady she was aspiring to be, she just needed a nudge in the right direction. It did take a bit longer for me to warm up to Michael. I felt like he was so cold in the beginning and while I understand why he was being so guarded, I still wish he would've been just a bit warmer to Adelaide. When he finally did allow himself to open up and let her in, you see that he does care for her and is willing to risk anything for her. These two make a great couple because Michael grounds Adelaide and he's super supportive of her dreams while Adelaide shows Michael what unconditional love truly looks like.
I found that I had the same issue with this book as I did with the previous installment. YO GIRL WANTS AN EPILOGUE! I was so sad that this story ended right when Adelaide and Michael resolved their issue because it left wanting more.
I'm still excited to read the next book in this series. Maybe we'll even get to catch up with Adelaide and Michael and see what those two love birds are up to (I hope).
*3.5 Stars!*
LOOK AT THAT COVER!
Whoever is designing the covers for the Harlequin Desire series needs a raise because they are absolutely killing it with these covers and the covers for The Heirs of Hansol series are by far my favorite so far.
Anywho, let's get on with this review. Secret Crush Seduction is the second installment in The Heirs of Hansol series and follows the youngest Song sibling, Adelaide. Adelaide Song has always felt like she's had to prove herself to her family, especially her grandmother, in order to be taken seriously. Now with dreams of becoming more involved in the family company, Adelaide decides to show that she is capable to taking on a leading role in the company by throwing a fashion event and she knows the perfect person to help her get show on the road—Michael Reynolds. Adelaide has had a crush on Michael for as long as she could remember, but the feelings were never mutual—or so she thinks and Adelaide will soon find herself not only fighting for a place in the company, but also a place in Michael's heart.
Adelaide is definitely my favorite character in this series. I love her drive, her creative mind and her sassiness. As much as she was fighting to prove herself to her family, I think Adelaide had what it took all along to be the boss lady she was aspiring to be, she just needed a nudge in the right direction. It did take a bit longer for me to warm up to Michael. I felt like he was so cold in the beginning and while I understand why he was being so guarded, I still wish he would've been just a bit warmer to Adelaide. When he finally did allow himself to open up and let her in, you see that he does care for her and is willing to risk anything for her. These two make a great couple because Michael grounds Adelaide and he's super supportive of her dreams while Adelaide shows Michael what unconditional love truly looks like.
I found that I had the same issue with this book as I did with the previous installment. YO GIRL WANTS AN EPILOGUE! I was so sad that this story ended right when Adelaide and Michael resolved their issue because it left wanting more.
I'm still excited to read the next book in this series. Maybe we'll even get to catch up with Adelaide and Michael and see what those two love birds are up to (I hope).
August 30, 2020
New relationships come with baggage and conflict. It is just the way things are. But some relationships also come with history. For Adelaide Song and Michael Reynolds to make any attempt at finding love together, they have to jump a lot of hurdles.
Adelaide comes from great stock. As an heiress, she certainly doesn't need a career, but she most definitely wants one, but more importantly, she wants the respect of her family's patriarch, her grandmother. Seeking to be a fashion designer, Adelaide has an opportunity to create a fashion show. If she succeeds, she will get the job of her dreams, and she knows her grandmother would be extremely proud of her.
However, there is a wrench in Adelaide's plans in the form of Michael Reynolds. Not only is he her brother's Garrett's best. Although eight years her senior, Adelaide always had a crush on him. Following the wishes of her grandmother, Adelaide struggles when she soon realizes that she cannot resist the attraction that is brewing between her and Michael.
Secret Crush Seduction is a lovely story. I so felt for both Adelaide and Michael. While their connection was palpable, there was so much going on that it seemed like there would be no way to find the love that would make both of them happy. This enjoyable read by Jayci Lee is a wonderful story and was just as enjoyable as the first book in the series, A Sweet Mess. This series continues with Off-Limits Attraction in December.
Many thanks to Harlequin Desire and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Adelaide comes from great stock. As an heiress, she certainly doesn't need a career, but she most definitely wants one, but more importantly, she wants the respect of her family's patriarch, her grandmother. Seeking to be a fashion designer, Adelaide has an opportunity to create a fashion show. If she succeeds, she will get the job of her dreams, and she knows her grandmother would be extremely proud of her.
However, there is a wrench in Adelaide's plans in the form of Michael Reynolds. Not only is he her brother's Garrett's best. Although eight years her senior, Adelaide always had a crush on him. Following the wishes of her grandmother, Adelaide struggles when she soon realizes that she cannot resist the attraction that is brewing between her and Michael.
Secret Crush Seduction is a lovely story. I so felt for both Adelaide and Michael. While their connection was palpable, there was so much going on that it seemed like there would be no way to find the love that would make both of them happy. This enjoyable read by Jayci Lee is a wonderful story and was just as enjoyable as the first book in the series, A Sweet Mess. This series continues with Off-Limits Attraction in December.
Many thanks to Harlequin Desire and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 14, 2020
3.5 stars
The Good: I love Jayci Lee's writing style and I've truly enjoyed the first book in this series, Temporary Wife Temptation. I've a real soft spot for this particular trope of falling for best friend's sibling, so I looked forward to this, and I do think there's good chemistry between Adelaide and Michael. Adelaide's personal journey to gain the respect of her family was well done. However...
The Bad: The central conflict and the reason Michael resists a relationship with Adelaide is one of my personal triggers dealing with infertility. Nothing irritates me more than a character's value being tied to their ability to procreate, male or female. So in saying this I had to rate it lower because my personal frustration with the way Michael was handling things was very, very high.
The Bottom Line: Other than what I've described above, there's alot of little things about this story that I liked, but infertility issues in a book just aren't my cuppa. However, if you love Ms. Lee's writing and are eager to continue with this series, you may enjoy this more than I did.
The Good: I love Jayci Lee's writing style and I've truly enjoyed the first book in this series, Temporary Wife Temptation. I've a real soft spot for this particular trope of falling for best friend's sibling, so I looked forward to this, and I do think there's good chemistry between Adelaide and Michael. Adelaide's personal journey to gain the respect of her family was well done. However...
The Bad: The central conflict and the reason Michael resists a relationship with Adelaide is one of my personal triggers dealing with infertility. Nothing irritates me more than a character's value being tied to their ability to procreate, male or female. So in saying this I had to rate it lower because my personal frustration with the way Michael was handling things was very, very high.
The Bottom Line: Other than what I've described above, there's alot of little things about this story that I liked, but infertility issues in a book just aren't my cuppa. However, if you love Ms. Lee's writing and are eager to continue with this series, you may enjoy this more than I did.
September 2, 2020
Adelaide Song wants to work in her families Business but her grandmother keeps telling her no. She thinks it is because of her wild days while in college. So she asks for the help of her brother's best friend, and who she had a crush on for years, Michael Reynolds.\
While they start working together they mix business with pleasure and that turns out to hurt both of them. Even though they both want to be with each other there seems to be something that Michael is keeping from Adelaide and the reason he pushes her away.
I love these 2 characters and I wish that Adelaide's grandmother had told Adelaide why she wasn't hiring her and things might have been less complicated.
I received this from Harlequin and NetGalley for review.
While they start working together they mix business with pleasure and that turns out to hurt both of them. Even though they both want to be with each other there seems to be something that Michael is keeping from Adelaide and the reason he pushes her away.
I love these 2 characters and I wish that Adelaide's grandmother had told Adelaide why she wasn't hiring her and things might have been less complicated.
I received this from Harlequin and NetGalley for review.
August 23, 2020
I've procrastinated writing this review of Secret Crush Seduction to the last possible minute for my blog tour posting, because I loved Jayci Lee's first book, Temporary Bride Temptation, so very very much, and have been really disappointed how much I haven't loved Secret Crush Seduction. So much so that even with several months to read the book, I still haven't managed to finish it. It's not that I hate it; I just don't care about it, about Adelaide and Michael, and motivating myself to read more of their story has been a struggle. I honestly don't know how much of this is due to my ongoing struggle to read anything during this year of our pandemic 2020 vs. being due to the writing itself, so I am going to try to focus on what is good about the book and let the reader draw your own conclusion.
One thing that is good in Secret Crush Seduction is the diversity represented. The main relationship is an interracial relationship between an Asian woman (Adelaide's whole family is Korean-American.) and a white man. One of Adelaide's collaborators on her fundraising project is Latinx, and his daughter is autistic. The fundraising fashion show central to the plot is specifically focused on fashionable but sensory-friendly clothing for neurodiverse people, so autism gets discussed a lot. This isn't an #ownvoices depiction of autism, as far as I know, and I am unfortunately not knowledgeable enough on the topic to notice if the discussion of autism in this book is totally unproblematic, but what I read seemed respectful and eager to show support for the community's needs. (Even if having an entire team of seemingly neurotypical designers creating sensory friendly clothing without significant input from their target demographic seems risky.) I think it would have been better for Adelaide to seek out some autistic designers to work with the team, if possible. But maybe that was beyond the purview of this book. At least the depictions of Korean-American culture, with inclusions of language and food and family dynamics and the imperious "hal-mu-nee"/ matriarch of the Song family, are delightful and a welcome element of realistic diversity in a romance novel.
There's of course little to no economic diversity. That makes sense. This entire Harlequin imprint is devoted to depictions of rich and powerful men and women, so I wasn't surprised by the lack of socioeconomic diversity. But it's still not my favorite kind of story. At least in Temporary Bride Temptation, Natalie had some struggles related to money and power. Adelaide has everything she could possibly want, except feeling respected and holding responsibilities in the family business empire. While I understand her quest for self-actualization and agency, and respect her desire to not be a decorative but useless family member, I found Adelaide's struggle much less relatable than Natalie's, probably because of her privilege.
I'm not always good at remembering to include content warnings, but one thing I noticed in this book that I think readers should be aware of is that that a plot element involves discussion of infertility while wanting biological children. Garrett and Natalie are expecting a child of their own, and that has repercussions in Michael and Adelaide's story. If, like me, you are uncomfortable reading novels with this as a plot element, be forewarned.
As for why I didn't love this, aside from previously mentioned reasons? I just didn't connect to the story. Maybe it was Adelaide's great privilege. Maybe it was my 2020 reading blues. Maybe it was that Michael and Adelaide's chemistry never felt believable for me. The entire story felt forced to me, like it followed the plot because that's the way it was written, not because the characters came alive in the story. It's honestly not a terrible book. It just wasn't for me. I feel bad that I haven't been able to finish the book yet, and hope to come back to it later to give it another try, perhaps once I've gotten my reading groove back. I also got the feeling that there will be a third book in the series centered around Song cousin Colin, and I am sure I will give that a try when it comes out. I haven't give up. I'm just out of time.
For now, I'd say that if you enjoy depictions of the rich and powerful, plot lines that involve high dollar charitable fundraisers and the fashion industry and obscenely wealthy family business dynasties, you may enjoy Secret Crush Seduction. If you enjoy forbidden romance between kid sister and friend of older brother/ older man with younger woman, you may enjoy this. If you're looking for #ownvoices depictions of Korean-American characters in a romance novel and/or a little austism representation in the genre, this may also be for you. I hope that you will enjoy Secret Crush Seduction more than I have.
Thank you to Harlequin and #NetGalley for a free digital advanced copy of #SecretCrushSeduction as part of a promotional blog tour. This is my honest opinion.
One thing that is good in Secret Crush Seduction is the diversity represented. The main relationship is an interracial relationship between an Asian woman (Adelaide's whole family is Korean-American.) and a white man. One of Adelaide's collaborators on her fundraising project is Latinx, and his daughter is autistic. The fundraising fashion show central to the plot is specifically focused on fashionable but sensory-friendly clothing for neurodiverse people, so autism gets discussed a lot. This isn't an #ownvoices depiction of autism, as far as I know, and I am unfortunately not knowledgeable enough on the topic to notice if the discussion of autism in this book is totally unproblematic, but what I read seemed respectful and eager to show support for the community's needs. (Even if having an entire team of seemingly neurotypical designers creating sensory friendly clothing without significant input from their target demographic seems risky.) I think it would have been better for Adelaide to seek out some autistic designers to work with the team, if possible. But maybe that was beyond the purview of this book. At least the depictions of Korean-American culture, with inclusions of language and food and family dynamics and the imperious "hal-mu-nee"/ matriarch of the Song family, are delightful and a welcome element of realistic diversity in a romance novel.
There's of course little to no economic diversity. That makes sense. This entire Harlequin imprint is devoted to depictions of rich and powerful men and women, so I wasn't surprised by the lack of socioeconomic diversity. But it's still not my favorite kind of story. At least in Temporary Bride Temptation, Natalie had some struggles related to money and power. Adelaide has everything she could possibly want, except feeling respected and holding responsibilities in the family business empire. While I understand her quest for self-actualization and agency, and respect her desire to not be a decorative but useless family member, I found Adelaide's struggle much less relatable than Natalie's, probably because of her privilege.
I'm not always good at remembering to include content warnings, but one thing I noticed in this book that I think readers should be aware of is that that a plot element involves discussion of infertility while wanting biological children. Garrett and Natalie are expecting a child of their own, and that has repercussions in Michael and Adelaide's story. If, like me, you are uncomfortable reading novels with this as a plot element, be forewarned.
As for why I didn't love this, aside from previously mentioned reasons? I just didn't connect to the story. Maybe it was Adelaide's great privilege. Maybe it was my 2020 reading blues. Maybe it was that Michael and Adelaide's chemistry never felt believable for me. The entire story felt forced to me, like it followed the plot because that's the way it was written, not because the characters came alive in the story. It's honestly not a terrible book. It just wasn't for me. I feel bad that I haven't been able to finish the book yet, and hope to come back to it later to give it another try, perhaps once I've gotten my reading groove back. I also got the feeling that there will be a third book in the series centered around Song cousin Colin, and I am sure I will give that a try when it comes out. I haven't give up. I'm just out of time.
For now, I'd say that if you enjoy depictions of the rich and powerful, plot lines that involve high dollar charitable fundraisers and the fashion industry and obscenely wealthy family business dynasties, you may enjoy Secret Crush Seduction. If you enjoy forbidden romance between kid sister and friend of older brother/ older man with younger woman, you may enjoy this. If you're looking for #ownvoices depictions of Korean-American characters in a romance novel and/or a little austism representation in the genre, this may also be for you. I hope that you will enjoy Secret Crush Seduction more than I have.
Thank you to Harlequin and #NetGalley for a free digital advanced copy of #SecretCrushSeduction as part of a promotional blog tour. This is my honest opinion.
February 4, 2022
Secret Crush Seduction is the second book on The Heirs of Hansol trilogy, now touching on the story of the Hansol Heiress, Adelaide Song. She had the wrong reputation when she was younger but she wants to set a new image and want to be taken seriously.
With this in mind, she gets help from a family friend, her brother's best friend, and longtime crush, Michael Reynolds. Reaching goals and handling the undeniable chemistry between them both is proving quite stressful, but how will they make them work?
The good: Quick read. Brother's best friend trope. A bit of a secret relationship. Strong female lead. Mutual pining. Another one of the best cover couples I have ever seen. Great chemistry between the two leads. Interracial relationships.
The bad: The story was fairly forgettable and I might not have pushed through if I wasn't listening to it on audio. A lot of cliches that it can be too tiring. Too many character insecurities that could have been solved by a little conversation. I felt like the attempt to neurodiversity inclusion was lacking (but would appreciate seeing reviews from #ownvoices readers.)
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Intrigue:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Significant Other:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Quality:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Character Development: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Audiobook Production:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.57 (rounded down to 3)/5 ☁
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With this in mind, she gets help from a family friend, her brother's best friend, and longtime crush, Michael Reynolds. Reaching goals and handling the undeniable chemistry between them both is proving quite stressful, but how will they make them work?
The good: Quick read. Brother's best friend trope. A bit of a secret relationship. Strong female lead. Mutual pining. Another one of the best cover couples I have ever seen. Great chemistry between the two leads. Interracial relationships.
The bad: The story was fairly forgettable and I might not have pushed through if I wasn't listening to it on audio. A lot of cliches that it can be too tiring. Too many character insecurities that could have been solved by a little conversation. I felt like the attempt to neurodiversity inclusion was lacking (but would appreciate seeing reviews from #ownvoices readers.)
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Intrigue:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Significant Other:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Quality:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Character Development: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Audiobook Production:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.57 (rounded down to 3)/5 ☁
📚 Blog ♡ Booktube ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
September 10, 2020
Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee is a sexy friends to lovers/sibling’s best friend romance and the second story in the author’s Heirs of Hansol series.
An aspiring fashion designer, Adelaide Song knows that in the eyes of her family she’s flighty and not committed enough to the family company and vows to prove them wrong, and especially, to get the approval of her staunch matriarch grandmother. She comes up with a charity event to highlight up and coming designers with the theme of creating clothing for clients on the autistic spectrum and just needs someone to help with the publicity and public relations. The perfect person is Michael Reynolds, her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. But now that she’s an adult, and they are working in close quarters, could that crush turn into something more?
I enjoyed many things about this story! The setting and the plot are interesting and I loved the idea of creating outfits for people who are more sensitive to touch sensations found in everyday clothing. The worldbuilding of the fashion industry and the Song family’s business is complex and detailed. Adelaide’s grandmother runs the company and her word is the final one, so Adelaide knows she has to succeed with her charity event to prove that she deserves a real place in the company as a fashion designer herself. The Korean culture is an integral part of the story and captures the family dynamics really well.
Michael has always had a good relationship with the Song family and has seen himself as a big brother to Adelaide – until recently when he realizes the beautiful young woman she is, smart and talented. His attraction to her leads him to be a bit overbearing at the beginning of the story, and there’s a bit of the ‘your brother will be angry if I date his sister’ vibe, but it smooths out as he and Adelaide admit to a mutual attraction, leading to some sexy love scenes. The conflict comes in when they have to figure out whether revealing their relationship will negatively affect Adelaide’s desire to be taken seriously by her family and how they’ll feel about her being with Michael. In the end they figure out a way to make it work and get their satisfying happy ending. I’m enjoying this series and look forward to reading more from this author!
This review appears at Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-se...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher.
An aspiring fashion designer, Adelaide Song knows that in the eyes of her family she’s flighty and not committed enough to the family company and vows to prove them wrong, and especially, to get the approval of her staunch matriarch grandmother. She comes up with a charity event to highlight up and coming designers with the theme of creating clothing for clients on the autistic spectrum and just needs someone to help with the publicity and public relations. The perfect person is Michael Reynolds, her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. But now that she’s an adult, and they are working in close quarters, could that crush turn into something more?
I enjoyed many things about this story! The setting and the plot are interesting and I loved the idea of creating outfits for people who are more sensitive to touch sensations found in everyday clothing. The worldbuilding of the fashion industry and the Song family’s business is complex and detailed. Adelaide’s grandmother runs the company and her word is the final one, so Adelaide knows she has to succeed with her charity event to prove that she deserves a real place in the company as a fashion designer herself. The Korean culture is an integral part of the story and captures the family dynamics really well.
Michael has always had a good relationship with the Song family and has seen himself as a big brother to Adelaide – until recently when he realizes the beautiful young woman she is, smart and talented. His attraction to her leads him to be a bit overbearing at the beginning of the story, and there’s a bit of the ‘your brother will be angry if I date his sister’ vibe, but it smooths out as he and Adelaide admit to a mutual attraction, leading to some sexy love scenes. The conflict comes in when they have to figure out whether revealing their relationship will negatively affect Adelaide’s desire to be taken seriously by her family and how they’ll feel about her being with Michael. In the end they figure out a way to make it work and get their satisfying happy ending. I’m enjoying this series and look forward to reading more from this author!
This review appears at Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-se...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher.
August 27, 2020
i enjoyed the first installment of this series and was really looking forward to finding out more about adelaide, the wild child turned driven businesswoman. in this book, adelaide is trying to prove to her grandmother, the matriarch of the song family, that she can handle the responsibility of organizing a fashion show fundraiser and represent the company well. she is forced to work with michael, her older brother’s best friend and the man she’s been in love with ever since she was a little girl. michael was a promising hero and i liked the idea of him being a divorcee, and how that would impact his budding relationship with adelaide. i also liked that we got to see more of adelaide and her grandma’s relationship and the respect and love they have for one another in this book.
unfortunately, I really struggled to get through this. adelaide and michael were definitely sexy and they were a bit of fun. however, their romance felt rushed and i felt like there was never enough time given to either character’s individual struggles and storylines. adelaide would say she was scared of falling for michael and getting her heart broken again and michael didn’t want to disappoint adelaide and cause her pain. however, there’s a difference between a character having surface-level fears, and the reader actually being invested in and sharing those fears. and i never really felt invested.
also, the final confession scene only happened in the last fiveish pages, which was pretty disappointing. all this build-up and tension and then everything gets resolved at the very last minute, on the very last page. overall, i think this book just really wasn’t for me.
unfortunately, I really struggled to get through this. adelaide and michael were definitely sexy and they were a bit of fun. however, their romance felt rushed and i felt like there was never enough time given to either character’s individual struggles and storylines. adelaide would say she was scared of falling for michael and getting her heart broken again and michael didn’t want to disappoint adelaide and cause her pain. however, there’s a difference between a character having surface-level fears, and the reader actually being invested in and sharing those fears. and i never really felt invested.
also, the final confession scene only happened in the last fiveish pages, which was pretty disappointing. all this build-up and tension and then everything gets resolved at the very last minute, on the very last page. overall, i think this book just really wasn’t for me.
August 9, 2020
Secret Crush Seduction is the second book in the Heirs of Hansol series. This one is Michael and Adelaide's story. I have to say, Jayci Lee is definitely a great slow burn romance writer. Like the first book, this is a really slow burn. The chemistry between the couple is off the charts. What made it even better was that they had grown up together and had a deep friendship first.
I loved the side story about Adelaide's charity show. Her autism awareness fundraiser was such a great idea. A fashion show with sensory friendly clothing for those on the spectrum that can be worn to the fanciest of galas and business attire that isn't fancy black sweatpants. It makes me wonder if something like that exists in the real world. If it doesn't then someone should get right on that. I highly recommend this one. I think it's my favorite out of the first two books. I hope Colin's story is next.
I loved the side story about Adelaide's charity show. Her autism awareness fundraiser was such a great idea. A fashion show with sensory friendly clothing for those on the spectrum that can be worn to the fanciest of galas and business attire that isn't fancy black sweatpants. It makes me wonder if something like that exists in the real world. If it doesn't then someone should get right on that. I highly recommend this one. I think it's my favorite out of the first two books. I hope Colin's story is next.
July 20, 2020
This is a new to me author and I had heard good things about the first installment of this series so I decided to give this a shot.
Unfortunately, it wasn't really my thing. While it was tropetastic and sexy, it fell flat for me in the dialogue and subplot department. I found myself not feeling a whole much towards the characters and that's the last thing you want in a romance novel.
I did really enjoy the familial aspects of the book. The Song family felt like the most genuine part of the story. I was more invested in Adelaide's complicated dynamics with her grandmother than I was in anything else.
Unfortunately, it wasn't really my thing. While it was tropetastic and sexy, it fell flat for me in the dialogue and subplot department. I found myself not feeling a whole much towards the characters and that's the last thing you want in a romance novel.
I did really enjoy the familial aspects of the book. The Song family felt like the most genuine part of the story. I was more invested in Adelaide's complicated dynamics with her grandmother than I was in anything else.
June 12, 2020
All the tropes in Secret Crush Seduction speak to my soul. Heiress and fashion designer Adelaide wants to be part of her family's empire but she thinks her grandmother continues to refuse because of her wild college days. Her mission is to show her grandma that she has grown and she can part of something bigger, so she enlists the help of her brother's best friend and childhood crush, Michael.
There is a lot of pining from both sides. Adelaide has been in love with Michael for a loooong time. When he married young, Adelaide really thought this is it. Here is where it ends. But he got divorced and her crush and love continued to grow. Michael knows he cannot act upon his feelings. 1) She's his best friend's little sister, 2) He cannot be between her grandma and her dream and he knows that will happen 3) He has a secret he hasn't told anyone.
This steamy story is filled with laughs, dreams and love. Jayci Lee got me intrigued with the story and characters pretty easily; each character (even supporting) has a story to tell. I don't think any of them are there "just because", you know? You can write a story for each of them and they would be soooo interesting. I loved that series follows a family and each of the book tells the story of one of them. This is Adelaide's story and she's the greatest. I want her to have every single thing she desires. And the family aspect, the dynamic, is also amazing. I love Grandma Grace Song and the legacy she is leaving in this world.
I will for sure be reading the next in this series. Jayci Lee is here to stay.
Thank you Harlequin Desire for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot of pining from both sides. Adelaide has been in love with Michael for a loooong time. When he married young, Adelaide really thought this is it. Here is where it ends. But he got divorced and her crush and love continued to grow. Michael knows he cannot act upon his feelings. 1) She's his best friend's little sister, 2) He cannot be between her grandma and her dream and he knows that will happen 3) He has a secret he hasn't told anyone.
This steamy story is filled with laughs, dreams and love. Jayci Lee got me intrigued with the story and characters pretty easily; each character (even supporting) has a story to tell. I don't think any of them are there "just because", you know? You can write a story for each of them and they would be soooo interesting. I loved that series follows a family and each of the book tells the story of one of them. This is Adelaide's story and she's the greatest. I want her to have every single thing she desires. And the family aspect, the dynamic, is also amazing. I love Grandma Grace Song and the legacy she is leaving in this world.
I will for sure be reading the next in this series. Jayci Lee is here to stay.
Thank you Harlequin Desire for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2020
I loved Adelaide! She could be a vulnerable, little hot mess, but don’t disregard her drive and determination to succeed. She could pull herself together to shine with the best of them!
And poor Michael. He wasn’t at all prepared for her toughness and hits to his emotional security! He didn’t give her the credit she deserved until it was almost too late. Even though I knew what was coming, even I hoped he would pull his head out and see what was basically screaming right in front of him!
I enjoyed and appreciated the detail over Adelaide’s Autism-themed fashion show. The time and consideration regarding textures and sensory issues-to name a couple of things-was well thought out and mentioned points I related to! Having a daughter on the spectrum, I can attest that shopping for clothes can be a frustrating headache with issues over fabric texture, zippers, and buttons, etc, but we mostly find a way to prevail:)
Secret Crush Seduction was a great addition to the Heirs of Hansol series. There were strong characters, great chemistry, and a wonderful storyline! I am doubly excited Garret and Adelaide’s cousin Colin is getting a book as well!!
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley/Harlequin. This is my honest review.
And poor Michael. He wasn’t at all prepared for her toughness and hits to his emotional security! He didn’t give her the credit she deserved until it was almost too late. Even though I knew what was coming, even I hoped he would pull his head out and see what was basically screaming right in front of him!
I enjoyed and appreciated the detail over Adelaide’s Autism-themed fashion show. The time and consideration regarding textures and sensory issues-to name a couple of things-was well thought out and mentioned points I related to! Having a daughter on the spectrum, I can attest that shopping for clothes can be a frustrating headache with issues over fabric texture, zippers, and buttons, etc, but we mostly find a way to prevail:)
Secret Crush Seduction was a great addition to the Heirs of Hansol series. There were strong characters, great chemistry, and a wonderful storyline! I am doubly excited Garret and Adelaide’s cousin Colin is getting a book as well!!
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley/Harlequin. This is my honest review.
February 3, 2021
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Link to the review of book one: Temporary Wife Temptation
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Secret Crush Seduction is more than your average crush on your brother's best friend and long time family friend. With Adelaide Song and Michael Reynolds, it's hot, fiery passion come alive that burns as they work together. Not only is Secret Crush Seduction under the brother's best friend trope, friends to lovers trop, but also an office romance trope — in some ways.
I gave Secret Crush Seduction four stars, loving the passion behind the love of Adelaide and Michael. The aspect of friends to lovers romance between Michael and Adelaide appealed to me and I really enjoyed the support behind Michael in Adelaide's career and how he helped her throughout her trying to prove herself that she is finally mature and responsible enough for the Hansol company and that she's not just the heiress to Hansol.
Secret Crush Seduction was absolutely enjoyable and I loved the aspect of fashion alongside how Adelaide was so passionate about fashion design as well as bringing forth the aspect of charity and helping out. She was so sweet and caring but at the same time she had such a strong passion for the things she wanted in life. She was determined and really set her mind to the things she wanted.
I had such a fantastic time reading about Adelaide and Michael's romance in Secret Crush Seduction. They were simply cute and the fire and heat between them was undeniable!
Thank you again to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2020
I’ve been excited about Adelaide’s book since I read Temporary Wife Temptation, and it did not disappoint! Secret Crush Seduction was a delightfully steamy and quick read, I so enjoy this Harlequin Desire series from Jayci Lee.
Brother’s best friend isn’t a trope I grab for all the time, but the few I’ve read I really enjoyed and now I can add this one to my list. Adelaide wants to prove she’s more than a spoiled heiress to her grandmother, and gain a position in the family business. I really enjoyed the opening scene a lot, it’s clear there’s a ton of tension between Adelaide and her life long crush, Michael. The forced proximity in this story was so great. Having Michael be treated like an adoptive member of the family and summoned constantly by her grandmother to events was delightful. I really liked how Adelaide’s idea for the fashion show was to create clothing for people on the autism spectrum.
I will say there was one aspect of Michael’s character that wasn’t introduced until 50% in (or if it was mentioned in the beginning I missed it) and I didn’t care for that addition to the story? Considering how much it impacted his life and decision making, I would have liked it mentioned earlier at the very least, but it also could have been cut completely in my opinion.
Overall Secret Crush Seduction was a 3.75-4 star read for me! I recommend if you’re looking for a short and steamy “brother’s best friend” romance!
Brother’s best friend isn’t a trope I grab for all the time, but the few I’ve read I really enjoyed and now I can add this one to my list. Adelaide wants to prove she’s more than a spoiled heiress to her grandmother, and gain a position in the family business. I really enjoyed the opening scene a lot, it’s clear there’s a ton of tension between Adelaide and her life long crush, Michael. The forced proximity in this story was so great. Having Michael be treated like an adoptive member of the family and summoned constantly by her grandmother to events was delightful. I really liked how Adelaide’s idea for the fashion show was to create clothing for people on the autism spectrum.
I will say there was one aspect of Michael’s character that wasn’t introduced until 50% in (or if it was mentioned in the beginning I missed it) and I didn’t care for that addition to the story? Considering how much it impacted his life and decision making, I would have liked it mentioned earlier at the very least, but it also could have been cut completely in my opinion.
Overall Secret Crush Seduction was a 3.75-4 star read for me! I recommend if you’re looking for a short and steamy “brother’s best friend” romance!
September 23, 2020
Fashion and romance combined is a winning combination for me and I had never come across Jayci Lee before so I was happy to review this.
Adelaide wants to be a part of her family's empire but her grandmother doesn't want her to be. I loved the immediate conflict this created and I knew I was in for more.
Adelaide kissed a boy for the first time when she was 17 and is in need of support now because of all the family conflict. Enter Michael, her crush from years ago.
He's supportive from the start but also still sees her vulnerability.
Can Adelaide be stronger? Can she move on past the family conflicts?
I sympathized with her as I have had my fair share of family conflicts and feelings of doubt with knowing who to trust.
Her family, Adelaide and Michael were realistically portrayed and Adelaide was a great character. I was rooting for her and Michael and I was happy to go on their journey with them.
Quick pacing, sweet and steamy scenes but ended abruptly.
Thanks to Jayci Lee and Harlequin Desire for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
I would very much like to review the other books in the series.
4 stars
Adelaide wants to be a part of her family's empire but her grandmother doesn't want her to be. I loved the immediate conflict this created and I knew I was in for more.
Adelaide kissed a boy for the first time when she was 17 and is in need of support now because of all the family conflict. Enter Michael, her crush from years ago.
He's supportive from the start but also still sees her vulnerability.
Can Adelaide be stronger? Can she move on past the family conflicts?
I sympathized with her as I have had my fair share of family conflicts and feelings of doubt with knowing who to trust.
Her family, Adelaide and Michael were realistically portrayed and Adelaide was a great character. I was rooting for her and Michael and I was happy to go on their journey with them.
Quick pacing, sweet and steamy scenes but ended abruptly.
Thanks to Jayci Lee and Harlequin Desire for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
I would very much like to review the other books in the series.
4 stars
April 5, 2023
Quick Summary: A hot and heavy multicultural romance
My Review: Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee was entirely wonderful.
What I Loved: The undeniable attraction between the leads - Adelaide and Michael - was potent.
The thing that made this couple's relationship spark-worthy is the fact that it was seemingly forbidden, in a sense. Because Michael was her brother's BFF and grew up alongside a much younger Adelaide, it made everything... complicated. Factor in a secret that Michael kept close to his heart, as well as an ongoing coupling on the down low and conflict was bound to happen. The will they/won't they question prevailed until the very end.
My Final Say: As usual, Ms. Lee did a superb job with the emotional arc. She is always on point, in that respect. I felt the pain that Adelaide suffered, as I read about her heartbreak. I felt her pride when she completed the work she was doing. I felt her enthusiasm as she worked alongside her fellow designers. I felt her joyful acceptance when she came to the point of understanding, regarding her grandmother. I was totally with her when she showed her strength in THAT moment. I was right there with her.
This book is a fantastic read. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 4.45/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes
#libraryread
My Review: Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee was entirely wonderful.
What I Loved: The undeniable attraction between the leads - Adelaide and Michael - was potent.
The thing that made this couple's relationship spark-worthy is the fact that it was seemingly forbidden, in a sense. Because Michael was her brother's BFF and grew up alongside a much younger Adelaide, it made everything... complicated. Factor in a secret that Michael kept close to his heart, as well as an ongoing coupling on the down low and conflict was bound to happen. The will they/won't they question prevailed until the very end.
My Final Say: As usual, Ms. Lee did a superb job with the emotional arc. She is always on point, in that respect. I felt the pain that Adelaide suffered, as I read about her heartbreak. I felt her pride when she completed the work she was doing. I felt her enthusiasm as she worked alongside her fellow designers. I felt her joyful acceptance when she came to the point of understanding, regarding her grandmother. I was totally with her when she showed her strength in THAT moment. I was right there with her.
This book is a fantastic read. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 4.45/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes
#libraryread
January 29, 2024
I got 50 pages into this and just didn’t care. The heroine thinks they were friends as children, but there is an 8 year age difference between them. What 12-year-old considers himself friends with a 4-year-old, or thinks he’s friends with a 10-year-old when he’s heading off to college at 18? He’s constantly touching her intimately from the very beginning of the book while she complains about how distant he is. Again, that makes no sense. And the fundamental conflict keeping them apart (his infertility) was contrived and kind of ludicrous, considering he never bothered to run it by her until the last few pages of the book (I peeked at the ending). I also was uncomfortable with the way the heroine talked about autism awareness, her supposed passion project. As the parent of kiddos with autism, the picture she presented struck me as hackneyed, stereotypical and surface deep. I liked the first book and I’ll give the third in the series a try, but this installment was not worth the time to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2020
I had read the previous book in this series and loved the glimpse of Adelaide, so I was really excited to get to this one.
I loved Adelaide and Michael. They have a history and chemistry galore and I really enjoyed reading the push and pull between them. Oh, and the longing filled secret glances were perfection.
Plot wise, it was good. There’s a good amount of conversation and I truly loved seeing Adelaide come into her own to prove she can do whatever she sets out to accomplish. Of course I could have done with 100 more pages of these two, but the pacing was satisfying.
Overall, it was another quick and fun read from Jayci and I’m really hoping Colin is the next book.
**Huge thanks to Harlequin for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Adelaide and Michael. They have a history and chemistry galore and I really enjoyed reading the push and pull between them. Oh, and the longing filled secret glances were perfection.
Plot wise, it was good. There’s a good amount of conversation and I truly loved seeing Adelaide come into her own to prove she can do whatever she sets out to accomplish. Of course I could have done with 100 more pages of these two, but the pacing was satisfying.
Overall, it was another quick and fun read from Jayci and I’m really hoping Colin is the next book.
**Huge thanks to Harlequin for providing the arc free of charge**
September 7, 2020
Secret Crush Seduction is the second book in the Heirs of Hansol from Jayci Lee. We get Adelaide Song and Michael Reynolds story in this book which is a friends-to-lovers romance.
Adelaide Song wants to take her place in her family's business, but because of her wild child college years, she feels as if her grandmother doesn't take her seriously. She has an amazing idea to add to their fashion empire and knows she can be successful. Michael Reynolds is her older brother's best friend and trusted family friend...and also the man Adelaide has loved her entire life. Adelaide knows her grandmother will support her latest project for the company if she can get Michael to help her out, and she can show Michael she has grown up as well.
I really adored the chemistry between Adelaide and Michael. Yes, there was major sexual attraction there from the beginning, but their working chemistry was just as strong. Michael is insanely attracted to Adelaide, but because he is her older brother's best friend and a family friend, he fights his attraction to her in the beginning. Adelaide is such a strong woman, but I saw her absolutely blossom and really come into her own as she worked on her fashion show project with all the designers, she handpicked. I felt like she was more willing to go after what she really wanted not only with her work life, but her love life, and Michael is who she always wanted. I really did love them as a couple, even when they were keeping it a secret from Adelaide's grandmother. I didn't love that Michael wasn't being entirely truthful about his reason for not being long term, and honestly that was really the only thing I didn't love about this story. Adelaide deserved better and for all the talk about her not being mature, I felt like Michael not sharing his secret was a disservice to her.
Secret Crush Seduction was a sexy and emotional read. I really enjoyed this own voice story and can't wait to read the rest of the stories in this series. I somehow skipped book one, but it is awaiting me on my kindle right now. I really enjoy Ms. Lee's voice and look forward to more books from her in the future.
Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher
Adelaide Song wants to take her place in her family's business, but because of her wild child college years, she feels as if her grandmother doesn't take her seriously. She has an amazing idea to add to their fashion empire and knows she can be successful. Michael Reynolds is her older brother's best friend and trusted family friend...and also the man Adelaide has loved her entire life. Adelaide knows her grandmother will support her latest project for the company if she can get Michael to help her out, and she can show Michael she has grown up as well.
I really adored the chemistry between Adelaide and Michael. Yes, there was major sexual attraction there from the beginning, but their working chemistry was just as strong. Michael is insanely attracted to Adelaide, but because he is her older brother's best friend and a family friend, he fights his attraction to her in the beginning. Adelaide is such a strong woman, but I saw her absolutely blossom and really come into her own as she worked on her fashion show project with all the designers, she handpicked. I felt like she was more willing to go after what she really wanted not only with her work life, but her love life, and Michael is who she always wanted. I really did love them as a couple, even when they were keeping it a secret from Adelaide's grandmother. I didn't love that Michael wasn't being entirely truthful about his reason for not being long term, and honestly that was really the only thing I didn't love about this story. Adelaide deserved better and for all the talk about her not being mature, I felt like Michael not sharing his secret was a disservice to her.
Secret Crush Seduction was a sexy and emotional read. I really enjoyed this own voice story and can't wait to read the rest of the stories in this series. I somehow skipped book one, but it is awaiting me on my kindle right now. I really enjoy Ms. Lee's voice and look forward to more books from her in the future.
Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher
November 7, 2020
This was... gross and toxic. Full review to follow.
September 14, 2020
You can find this review of Secret Crush Seduction on my blog, Heart's Content!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I have to say, both of Jayci Lee’s books were like warm hugs and Hallmark movies in writing. They’re sweet, simple stories with lots of love, genuine people who work hard and with passion and fall in love in the process.
I loved that Jayci Lee used her voice to spread awareness on Autism and sensory friendly clothing designed for both practical and professional purposes. My only issue was that I wish she had included in the team, either as a consultant or a participant, someone who actually had autism along with the people who have a personal passion and/or are invested in designing clothes for people with autism.
I also did feel there was a certain similar plot–line in both the first and the second book, though they manifest a little differently. However, they remain sweet, warm stories. I definitely enjoyed seeing all the wonderful Korean culture in both the first book and in this one and loving how the author remained true to the reverence given to the eldest in the family and in return the way that the eldest believes in their grandchildren.
Adelaide in her story has to prove herself to her grandmother and also to herself. She’d accidentally built herself a reputation and now had to break free from it, all the while working with her first (unrequited) crush, Micheal. She’s passionate, driven, hard-working and dreams to be a part of her family’s firm and she’s going to show that she is worthy of being a Song child.
Micheal is an outwardly cheerful, but a little lonely and sad on the inside, man. He suffers quietly, letting no one in. Micheal and Adelaide share a natural bond that’s years old, he’s her brother’s best friend and her guardian angel from childhood. But, will Michael’s long held secret and wounds from his previous relationship hold him back from truly letting himself love Adelaide?
Four stars. If you’re looking for a warm late evening read by the fire or while you sit by your window on a rainy day with tea, this is your book.
Happy reading and stay safe. ♥️
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I have to say, both of Jayci Lee’s books were like warm hugs and Hallmark movies in writing. They’re sweet, simple stories with lots of love, genuine people who work hard and with passion and fall in love in the process.
I loved that Jayci Lee used her voice to spread awareness on Autism and sensory friendly clothing designed for both practical and professional purposes. My only issue was that I wish she had included in the team, either as a consultant or a participant, someone who actually had autism along with the people who have a personal passion and/or are invested in designing clothes for people with autism.
I also did feel there was a certain similar plot–line in both the first and the second book, though they manifest a little differently. However, they remain sweet, warm stories. I definitely enjoyed seeing all the wonderful Korean culture in both the first book and in this one and loving how the author remained true to the reverence given to the eldest in the family and in return the way that the eldest believes in their grandchildren.
Adelaide in her story has to prove herself to her grandmother and also to herself. She’d accidentally built herself a reputation and now had to break free from it, all the while working with her first (unrequited) crush, Micheal. She’s passionate, driven, hard-working and dreams to be a part of her family’s firm and she’s going to show that she is worthy of being a Song child.
Micheal is an outwardly cheerful, but a little lonely and sad on the inside, man. He suffers quietly, letting no one in. Micheal and Adelaide share a natural bond that’s years old, he’s her brother’s best friend and her guardian angel from childhood. But, will Michael’s long held secret and wounds from his previous relationship hold him back from truly letting himself love Adelaide?
Four stars. If you’re looking for a warm late evening read by the fire or while you sit by your window on a rainy day with tea, this is your book.
Happy reading and stay safe. ♥️
October 31, 2020
I’m giving this book 3 stars and that’s in the best way possible. It was short and sweet and I liked it! I only wish it was longer. Pretty sure I’ll be reading the other books in the series.
September 24, 2020
One of my earliest introduction to romance novels was through Harlequin novels. I have fond memories of borrowing them from the public library and hiding them behind my textbooks at home to read instead of studying. Though I don't read as many of these books as I did in my teen years, I've been gravitating towards Harlequin's Desire Line recently, predominantly because they feature such beautiful and diverse couples on their covers. Earlier this year, I read Jayci Lee's debut, Temporary Wife Temptation, and loved it. As you can imagine, I was eager to pick up Secret Crush Seduction and it was as enjoyable as the first book for me. The Heirs of Hansol series is gearing up to be one of my favorites.
I had a feeling I would like Adelaide as a protagonist in the previous book and my instincts were correct. Jayci did a wonderful job of penning a character who was hopeful, passionate, and vulnerable in Secret Crush Seduction. Adelaide was an intelligent woman who wanted more of a position in her family's company. Before she could do that, however, she needed to prove to her grandmother, the family matriarch, that she was capable of handling the responsibilities that will come with her role. Though Adelaide grew up coddled by her grandmother, she was an independent and driven woman. The fashion show she planned to help raise funds for autism awareness, a cause she cared deeply about, was the perfect occasion to show that she wasn't as foolhardy as everyone thought she was. I really loved Adelaide's character and I think readers will find her journey to realizing her worth a gratifying one.
While working on the fundraiser, Adelaide worked with her brother's best friend, Michael. Growing up, she had what she thought was an unrequited crush on him and their work provided an opportunity to rekindle her feelings. Though I did not love Michael as much as I loved Adelaide, I thought their chemistry was electric. Michael had come off a divorce that was rooted in his struggles with infertility. As a result, he acted a little frosty towards Adelaide, despite his unmistakable attraction towards her. As you probably anticipated, we do eventually see him submit to his feelings with her and it was glorious. The sex scenes in this book were smoking hot and I thought their connection was genuine and heartfelt. I think if you love couples who are supportive of each other and make each other stronger, you'll enjoy Adelaide and Michael's romantic arc.
Secret Crush Seduction was a thoroughly enjoyable romance for me. It had lots of great elements that worked for me. I didn't dive into the terrific secondary characters, such as Grandma Song, who is fantastic but you should know that this book also had great family dynamics. I loved Adelaide and Michael's story and I look forward to reading Colin's book next.
CW: infertility
I had a feeling I would like Adelaide as a protagonist in the previous book and my instincts were correct. Jayci did a wonderful job of penning a character who was hopeful, passionate, and vulnerable in Secret Crush Seduction. Adelaide was an intelligent woman who wanted more of a position in her family's company. Before she could do that, however, she needed to prove to her grandmother, the family matriarch, that she was capable of handling the responsibilities that will come with her role. Though Adelaide grew up coddled by her grandmother, she was an independent and driven woman. The fashion show she planned to help raise funds for autism awareness, a cause she cared deeply about, was the perfect occasion to show that she wasn't as foolhardy as everyone thought she was. I really loved Adelaide's character and I think readers will find her journey to realizing her worth a gratifying one.
While working on the fundraiser, Adelaide worked with her brother's best friend, Michael. Growing up, she had what she thought was an unrequited crush on him and their work provided an opportunity to rekindle her feelings. Though I did not love Michael as much as I loved Adelaide, I thought their chemistry was electric. Michael had come off a divorce that was rooted in his struggles with infertility. As a result, he acted a little frosty towards Adelaide, despite his unmistakable attraction towards her. As you probably anticipated, we do eventually see him submit to his feelings with her and it was glorious. The sex scenes in this book were smoking hot and I thought their connection was genuine and heartfelt. I think if you love couples who are supportive of each other and make each other stronger, you'll enjoy Adelaide and Michael's romantic arc.
Secret Crush Seduction was a thoroughly enjoyable romance for me. It had lots of great elements that worked for me. I didn't dive into the terrific secondary characters, such as Grandma Song, who is fantastic but you should know that this book also had great family dynamics. I loved Adelaide and Michael's story and I look forward to reading Colin's book next.
CW: infertility
September 9, 2020
After enjoying Temporary Wife and adoring spunky Adelaide, younger sister to the hero, I was thrilled that the next book in the series was hers. Korean American tradition, fashion world business, and a best friend's little sister romance made for an engaging premise.
Secret Crush Seduction is the standalone second book in the Heirs of Hansol series. I enjoyed catching up with Garrett and Natalie and their growing family, but Addy and Michael's story could standalone easily.
Adelaide is tired of being treated like the immature, carefree woman who went a bit wild through most of her college years. She cleaned up her act and got serious about her life and career goals, but six years later, she's still kicking her heels and waiting for her chance with her grandmother, her family's company, and for sure with her childhood crush, her brother's best friend, Michael. What she doesn't know is Michael has suddenly awakened to the fact that she's a woman and one he is sorely attracted to. He sets out the help her prove her worth through a grand charity fashion show showcasing sensory-friendly garments for those on the Autism spectrum. It grows harder for them both to keep their minds on the project and they start wondering if a more private partnership should be made permanent.
Secret Crush Seduction read quickly and easily. It was light and fun with very little romance conflict. I was in like rather in love when all was said and done. Adelaide had some feisty moments which is what I was anticipating, but the story though never boring, just didn't pull me all the way in.
This pair were both likeable and took their time, but mostly because they spent a lot of time holding back on their thoughts and feelings. I liked seeing them working on the project together and figuring out if and how they might make something work. They were fun at times.
I was actually more fascinated with the byplay between Adelaide and her formidable grandmother. Addy thinks she has to prove herself and is frustrated and thinks her grandmother is holding her back. The Korean family traditions and oh yum, the food mentions were splendid.
The charity show was an interesting focus particularly since Adelaide chose to go a different route with her designs. I love that it drew attention to inclusion for those on the spectrum, but wish it had gone one step further by having a person with autism help in the designs. Her event partner was a parent of child with autism so that was good.
I'm glad that cousin Colin gets his book next. I plan on grabbing it and continuing with the Song family and their romances. Those who want something quickly read and moderately low angst in a world of wealth and business, I can recommend this book/series.
My thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Secret Crush Seduction is the standalone second book in the Heirs of Hansol series. I enjoyed catching up with Garrett and Natalie and their growing family, but Addy and Michael's story could standalone easily.
Adelaide is tired of being treated like the immature, carefree woman who went a bit wild through most of her college years. She cleaned up her act and got serious about her life and career goals, but six years later, she's still kicking her heels and waiting for her chance with her grandmother, her family's company, and for sure with her childhood crush, her brother's best friend, Michael. What she doesn't know is Michael has suddenly awakened to the fact that she's a woman and one he is sorely attracted to. He sets out the help her prove her worth through a grand charity fashion show showcasing sensory-friendly garments for those on the Autism spectrum. It grows harder for them both to keep their minds on the project and they start wondering if a more private partnership should be made permanent.
Secret Crush Seduction read quickly and easily. It was light and fun with very little romance conflict. I was in like rather in love when all was said and done. Adelaide had some feisty moments which is what I was anticipating, but the story though never boring, just didn't pull me all the way in.
This pair were both likeable and took their time, but mostly because they spent a lot of time holding back on their thoughts and feelings. I liked seeing them working on the project together and figuring out if and how they might make something work. They were fun at times.
I was actually more fascinated with the byplay between Adelaide and her formidable grandmother. Addy thinks she has to prove herself and is frustrated and thinks her grandmother is holding her back. The Korean family traditions and oh yum, the food mentions were splendid.
The charity show was an interesting focus particularly since Adelaide chose to go a different route with her designs. I love that it drew attention to inclusion for those on the spectrum, but wish it had gone one step further by having a person with autism help in the designs. Her event partner was a parent of child with autism so that was good.
I'm glad that cousin Colin gets his book next. I plan on grabbing it and continuing with the Song family and their romances. Those who want something quickly read and moderately low angst in a world of wealth and business, I can recommend this book/series.
My thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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June 2, 2022Categories
Multicultural & Interracial Romance, Asian American, Romantic Comedy
Miniseries
The Heirs of Hansol (Book #2)
Multicultural & Interracial Romance, Asian American, Romantic Comedy
Miniseries
The Heirs of Hansol (Book #2)
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