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Trading Secrets
Reminiscent of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo , Eckles's debut Wall Street thriller grips the reader from the opening prologue.
"A tale of high-stakes Wall Street espionage and manipulation, the hunt for the ultimate evil opponent, an around-the-world, whirlwind adventure and a journey into the heart and soul of an extraordinary woman.
Trading Secrets is, at once, a spellbinding, heart-stopping thriller and an exploration of the complex nature and vulnerability of the human heart."
-- Traci Medford-Rosow , USAToday bestselling author of Unblinded and Inflection Point .
BEFORE
Celeste Donovan, a high-powered finance executive, seems to have it all--the penthouse apartment, the supermodel physique with a mathematician mind, and a trail of beautiful men she has loved and left behind.
But when her boyfriend Theodore is killed in a mysterious accident, she discovers Omar, her abusive ex she had hoped would never resurface, is behind his death.
AFTER
Now she's caught in a game of cat and mouse, trying to anticipate Omar's next move, as she realizes he will stop at nothing to get to her. She sets out alone on a whirlwind journey to entrap him, determined to put an end to Omar's destruction.
Soon Celeste is thrust in the middle of the largest financial scandal in decades. This time, however, powerful government officials are in bed with some of the world's most dangerous men.
When she discovers that those she thought she knew best are involved in a secret society warring with Omar and his coconspirators, she must decide how far she will go to avenge Theodore's death and whether she is willing to risk her own life to save everyone she loves.
"A tale of high-stakes Wall Street espionage and manipulation, the hunt for the ultimate evil opponent, an around-the-world, whirlwind adventure and a journey into the heart and soul of an extraordinary woman.
Trading Secrets is, at once, a spellbinding, heart-stopping thriller and an exploration of the complex nature and vulnerability of the human heart."
-- Traci Medford-Rosow , USAToday bestselling author of Unblinded and Inflection Point .
BEFORE
Celeste Donovan, a high-powered finance executive, seems to have it all--the penthouse apartment, the supermodel physique with a mathematician mind, and a trail of beautiful men she has loved and left behind.
But when her boyfriend Theodore is killed in a mysterious accident, she discovers Omar, her abusive ex she had hoped would never resurface, is behind his death.
AFTER
Now she's caught in a game of cat and mouse, trying to anticipate Omar's next move, as she realizes he will stop at nothing to get to her. She sets out alone on a whirlwind journey to entrap him, determined to put an end to Omar's destruction.
Soon Celeste is thrust in the middle of the largest financial scandal in decades. This time, however, powerful government officials are in bed with some of the world's most dangerous men.
When she discovers that those she thought she knew best are involved in a secret society warring with Omar and his coconspirators, she must decide how far she will go to avenge Theodore's death and whether she is willing to risk her own life to save everyone she loves.
- GenresFiction
318 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2020
10 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Eckles
3 books48 followersAn Indiana native, Rachael Eckles moved to New York City after law school. There she worked in the finance industry, her inspiration for the elusive Celeste Donovan world. She currently lives in Manhattan, where she is working on her next novel. Rachael donates a portion of her proceeds to local and global programs that empower women and girls through her foundation, Aphrodite Gives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 2, 2020
The plot makes no sense and the characters have no substance. It's pretentious and feigns sophistication when in reality it's crude and poorly written.
At one point she writes:
"She found her colleagues to be legacy buffoons, hired because their dads were in finance and had pulled some strings. It was like being the tallest midget."
How no one stopped her from publishing that is beyond me.
At one point she writes:
"She found her colleagues to be legacy buffoons, hired because their dads were in finance and had pulled some strings. It was like being the tallest midget."
How no one stopped her from publishing that is beyond me.
January 1, 2021
Celeste Donovan is a finance executive at her company D&C. Her partner Savin is also her good friend.
She is a strong and powerful woman who doesn't take crap from anyone.
When she becomes romantically involved with Omar, it turns out to be a big mistake. She finally escapes his abuse, and has a hand in ruining him financially.
Celeste eventually finds love with Theodore. He is the opposite of Omar, and they are deliriously happy together.
But when Theo is killed in an accident, mystery surrounds his death.
Omar comes out of hiding, he may be responsible for what happened to Theo.
Celeste risks everything to get revenge on Omar.
My feelings are a bit mixed on this one. I found it to be an action packed, fast paced entertaining read, but at times it was far fetched and most of the characters were on the bombastic side and somewhat disagreeable.
But in terms of sheer entertainment, it was a fun read.
Thank you @bookpublicityservices for the gifted copy to review.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
She is a strong and powerful woman who doesn't take crap from anyone.
When she becomes romantically involved with Omar, it turns out to be a big mistake. She finally escapes his abuse, and has a hand in ruining him financially.
Celeste eventually finds love with Theodore. He is the opposite of Omar, and they are deliriously happy together.
But when Theo is killed in an accident, mystery surrounds his death.
Omar comes out of hiding, he may be responsible for what happened to Theo.
Celeste risks everything to get revenge on Omar.
My feelings are a bit mixed on this one. I found it to be an action packed, fast paced entertaining read, but at times it was far fetched and most of the characters were on the bombastic side and somewhat disagreeable.
But in terms of sheer entertainment, it was a fun read.
Thank you @bookpublicityservices for the gifted copy to review.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
February 9, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
Celeste is a powerful finance executive, who is also a fashionable, fierce, man-eater. She is a take charge boss who swings to the beat of her own drum, full of sass, and reining at the top of a male dominated field. It took a minute, but she grew on me!
Before her rise to the top, Celeste began a relationship with a powerful, corrupt, obsessive and abusive, businessman, Oman. After he brutally assaulted her she ended the relationship and started a scheme that eventually ruined ran him out of town.
Now, she’s thriving, at the top of her game and ends up finally finding real love with Theodore. They began a steamy love affair, only to be cut short when Theodore dies from a plane crash. All signs point to Omar. He’s back, ready for revenge and to claim Celeste, once and for all.
This book was hella good, twisty & addictive! An action packed adventure that takes us from NYC to London to Dubai. It was full of romance, action and looming suspense! The story had a unique plot, elite characters, scenic locales and simply oozed fabulousness!
I liked that the author didn’t shy away from and really laid on the explicit details in the abuse/rape scenes to paint a vivid picture. Many stories sugar coat, making it more tame and easier to digest, this one does not! And these details made me feel so many emotions, empathize with an “imperfect character”, and put me smack dead in this story. It also made me want to enact my own personal revenge against the monster, Omar.
Where will the author take us next? I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!!
⚠️ there are a few graphic rape and abuse scenes that are hard to get through.
Many thanks to @BookPublicityServices for my gifted copy, in exchange for my honest opinion! 🎁
Celeste is a powerful finance executive, who is also a fashionable, fierce, man-eater. She is a take charge boss who swings to the beat of her own drum, full of sass, and reining at the top of a male dominated field. It took a minute, but she grew on me!
Before her rise to the top, Celeste began a relationship with a powerful, corrupt, obsessive and abusive, businessman, Oman. After he brutally assaulted her she ended the relationship and started a scheme that eventually ruined ran him out of town.
Now, she’s thriving, at the top of her game and ends up finally finding real love with Theodore. They began a steamy love affair, only to be cut short when Theodore dies from a plane crash. All signs point to Omar. He’s back, ready for revenge and to claim Celeste, once and for all.
This book was hella good, twisty & addictive! An action packed adventure that takes us from NYC to London to Dubai. It was full of romance, action and looming suspense! The story had a unique plot, elite characters, scenic locales and simply oozed fabulousness!
I liked that the author didn’t shy away from and really laid on the explicit details in the abuse/rape scenes to paint a vivid picture. Many stories sugar coat, making it more tame and easier to digest, this one does not! And these details made me feel so many emotions, empathize with an “imperfect character”, and put me smack dead in this story. It also made me want to enact my own personal revenge against the monster, Omar.
Where will the author take us next? I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!!
⚠️ there are a few graphic rape and abuse scenes that are hard to get through.
Many thanks to @BookPublicityServices for my gifted copy, in exchange for my honest opinion! 🎁
January 30, 2021
Thank you to Book Publicity Services, Aphrodite Books, and Rachael Eckles for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Celeste Donovan is a force to be reckoned with in the financial sector. She is a competitive go-getter and always seems to find a way to get what she wants. After leaving her abusive ex-boyfriend Omar and leaving him in financial ruins, Celeste meets Theodore, a handsome friend of a business associate with a very secretive life. When Theodore suddenly dies, Celeste is left heartbroken. When she finds out that her vindictive ex is responsible for Theodore's death, she goes on a quest for revenge.
This book is marketed as a romantic thriller, and I was unfortunately not very thrilled to read it. I had an inkling that this book wouldn't be my cup of tea about twenty pages in, but I'm not a DNF-er, so I literally skimmed the remaining 281 pages (a first for me), and it STILL took me two and a half days to plod through. I don't know that I necessarily agree with this book's categorization as a romantic thriller. The 'romance' is more like 'gratuitously detailed erotica' and the 'thriller' is not very thrilling. While I enjoy the occasional romance, I avoid erotica like the plague- it's a genre that's hard to do well, and, as is the case here, usually ends up sounding like it's written by a horny teenager. If I'd known what I was in for, I wouldn't have opted to pick this one up.
The characters are all flat and generally insufferable. There isn't anyone to 'get behind' or root for in this one, and character development is completely nonexistent. Celeste is particularly horrid. Her inner monologue is comprised either of snarky and petulant observations or outright dismissal of those around her. My first impression of Celeste is that she is a perfect example of a Mary Sue. She's physically attractive ("model-esque" and desirable to men more than half her age), intelligent, wealthy, and successful. Her 'flaws' are attributes in their own way. Despite being vain and high-maintenance, we are expected to believe that she is one of the guys. In fact, I quite felt like I was reading a teenager's fanfiction about living in New York.
I felt like the plot itself was completely implausible and filled with holes. The timeline jumped around a little bit, which I normally don't have a problem with, but there was no grounding or introductory information given to the reader at the point of change. I felt like I was reading a slipshod attempt at a first draft. There were run on sentences and lines that were downright cringeworthy (can we discuss Theodore identifying Celeste's jacket because her 'scent lingered'?). I strongly feel that this book would have benefited from more rigorous editing.
Lastly, let's talk content. The sex scenes are graphic, far too frequent, overly detailed, and completely unnecessary to the plot. In particular, there's a prolonged and extremely uncomfortable rape scene that just felt jarring and out of place and could be triggering or upsetting to some readers. I don't think that Eckles handled this subject matter with the most appropriate treatment. I was also irritated and concerned about her use of drug addiction or drug use as a character trait. Characters refer continuously to Omar's rampant cocaine use throughout the book, and his drug use is oftentimes used as a means to villainize him. This seemed lazy to me. I feel Eckles could have used other methods in order to construct Omar's character. Her application of this technique is inconsistent, however, since cocaine use is portrayed as okay among Celeste and her associates (because they're being trendy and fun). Ugh there are so many things that I found problematic about this book.
I couldn't honestly recommend this book to anyone. It's concerning to me that there are two more books in this series to follow.
Celeste Donovan is a force to be reckoned with in the financial sector. She is a competitive go-getter and always seems to find a way to get what she wants. After leaving her abusive ex-boyfriend Omar and leaving him in financial ruins, Celeste meets Theodore, a handsome friend of a business associate with a very secretive life. When Theodore suddenly dies, Celeste is left heartbroken. When she finds out that her vindictive ex is responsible for Theodore's death, she goes on a quest for revenge.
This book is marketed as a romantic thriller, and I was unfortunately not very thrilled to read it. I had an inkling that this book wouldn't be my cup of tea about twenty pages in, but I'm not a DNF-er, so I literally skimmed the remaining 281 pages (a first for me), and it STILL took me two and a half days to plod through. I don't know that I necessarily agree with this book's categorization as a romantic thriller. The 'romance' is more like 'gratuitously detailed erotica' and the 'thriller' is not very thrilling. While I enjoy the occasional romance, I avoid erotica like the plague- it's a genre that's hard to do well, and, as is the case here, usually ends up sounding like it's written by a horny teenager. If I'd known what I was in for, I wouldn't have opted to pick this one up.
The characters are all flat and generally insufferable. There isn't anyone to 'get behind' or root for in this one, and character development is completely nonexistent. Celeste is particularly horrid. Her inner monologue is comprised either of snarky and petulant observations or outright dismissal of those around her. My first impression of Celeste is that she is a perfect example of a Mary Sue. She's physically attractive ("model-esque" and desirable to men more than half her age), intelligent, wealthy, and successful. Her 'flaws' are attributes in their own way. Despite being vain and high-maintenance, we are expected to believe that she is one of the guys. In fact, I quite felt like I was reading a teenager's fanfiction about living in New York.
I felt like the plot itself was completely implausible and filled with holes. The timeline jumped around a little bit, which I normally don't have a problem with, but there was no grounding or introductory information given to the reader at the point of change. I felt like I was reading a slipshod attempt at a first draft. There were run on sentences and lines that were downright cringeworthy (can we discuss Theodore identifying Celeste's jacket because her 'scent lingered'?). I strongly feel that this book would have benefited from more rigorous editing.
Lastly, let's talk content. The sex scenes are graphic, far too frequent, overly detailed, and completely unnecessary to the plot. In particular, there's a prolonged and extremely uncomfortable rape scene that just felt jarring and out of place and could be triggering or upsetting to some readers. I don't think that Eckles handled this subject matter with the most appropriate treatment. I was also irritated and concerned about her use of drug addiction or drug use as a character trait. Characters refer continuously to Omar's rampant cocaine use throughout the book, and his drug use is oftentimes used as a means to villainize him. This seemed lazy to me. I feel Eckles could have used other methods in order to construct Omar's character. Her application of this technique is inconsistent, however, since cocaine use is portrayed as okay among Celeste and her associates (because they're being trendy and fun). Ugh there are so many things that I found problematic about this book.
I couldn't honestly recommend this book to anyone. It's concerning to me that there are two more books in this series to follow.
January 23, 2021
*TW for domestic abuse, rape and miscarriage*
I have to say I enjoyed this book!
I just loved the whole world this book was set in. Millions upon millions, luxury apartments with staff not to mention the the sleuthing around to sabotage stocks. The whole financial plot was really interesting.
It was fast paced, high impact and had great characters.
I loved the way friendship was conveyed throughout the whole book.
There was drama at every turn and I just couldn't take my eyes away from the page!
There was a few problematic areas for me, for example the use of some possibly harmful language, referring to people as "an ugly" or "the chubbies".
It's also a little crass at times, extremely steamy so if you liked fifty shades this might take your fancy!
There was a graphic rape scene also. But all things considered I think it was handled well. Celeste had a great support network, she attended the available rape crisis services.
There is alot of name dropping of brands like Louis Vuitton but this wasn't needed as the author does an amazing job of convey the luxury and high class lifestyle of these characters.
As well as showing the luxury of the character's lifestyle, the author has amazing descriptive writing, I could imagine the type of world this was happening in and could picture the characters in my head.
I think this book would make an excellent film, it has all the drama and would definitely be one people would watch!
I also loved the ending and was so happy with the way things worked out.
Overall, I rated this 4 stars!
Thank you to BookPublicity for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you to the author Rachael Eckles for this book!
I have to say I enjoyed this book!
I just loved the whole world this book was set in. Millions upon millions, luxury apartments with staff not to mention the the sleuthing around to sabotage stocks. The whole financial plot was really interesting.
It was fast paced, high impact and had great characters.
I loved the way friendship was conveyed throughout the whole book.
There was drama at every turn and I just couldn't take my eyes away from the page!
There was a few problematic areas for me, for example the use of some possibly harmful language, referring to people as "an ugly" or "the chubbies".
It's also a little crass at times, extremely steamy so if you liked fifty shades this might take your fancy!
There was a graphic rape scene also. But all things considered I think it was handled well. Celeste had a great support network, she attended the available rape crisis services.
There is alot of name dropping of brands like Louis Vuitton but this wasn't needed as the author does an amazing job of convey the luxury and high class lifestyle of these characters.
As well as showing the luxury of the character's lifestyle, the author has amazing descriptive writing, I could imagine the type of world this was happening in and could picture the characters in my head.
I think this book would make an excellent film, it has all the drama and would definitely be one people would watch!
I also loved the ending and was so happy with the way things worked out.
Overall, I rated this 4 stars!
Thank you to BookPublicity for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you to the author Rachael Eckles for this book!
December 8, 2020
This was a powerful book. This story revolves around Celeste. Good things and bad things happen to her, but she goes through some horrible thing by the hands of Omar. Omar is a big part of this story. Celeste has a handful of good friends that are there for her. Celeste circle is small and she lives it to the fullest. Theodore comes into her life and shows her what falling in love can be like. There are so many twist and turns, plots that I didn’t even see coming. I recommend this story to everyone. Thank you United Indie Book Blog for letting me read this book.
REVIEW BY MARIBEL
REVIEW BY MARIBEL
November 2, 2020
This review can also be found in Currant7 Recommends
Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Celeste Donovan is a sharp and powerful hedge funds manager. Being the other half of Donavan & Clarke Capital (D&C) - one of the leading players in the hedge fund management industry, Celeste and Savin, with her good friend and partner, is taking wealth management to a whole new level.
Celeste's character is a player in the female version. She goes through men like a washcloth, except for Theodore. I liked how she could not resist Theodore and later becomes a constant and will be a turning point on how she will decide for the whole book.
Trading Secrets is a fascinating read. I do have an issue with regards to the pacing of the book. There were two parts two-part in the book - Before and After Prologue. The POV is from Celeste's view and makes the book mysterious and drives the suspense to an all-time high at one point.
The love story did not take a backseat to the book. Instead, it was paired simultaneously to the suspense and mystery and motivated the story's direction very well. The primary motivator is getting the murderer. The whole story showed Celeste's second chance of finding her place and love in the cut-throat world of finance.
On the breakdown sections of the book:- in the Before section, I enjoyed diving into Celeste's past and history, leading to where the Prologue left readers. I got to connect better with her and sympathize with her plight as a working woman in a man's world. She evolved as the years went by, and she realized that no matter how much money or success one achieves, it's the ones you love and care for that matters most.
A comment: I have to mention that the book's build-up was slow, most likely because there were so many details disclosed to understand the extent of Celeste's past better, so I hope readers will not be discouraged with this and push further. It is worth it in the end.
When readers enter the After section - the scenes and pace got faster and a lot better. It gets captivatingly engrossing! There was more suspense, and things got hairy until the end with a shocker! (No, that's not the cliffhanger yet.) This section talks about the dangers of hunting down someone in a dangerously foreign area. The story will take you throughout Paris and the Middle East. The culture and wonders of these locations were beautiful! Celeste needed to learn immediately, and the contingency plans made were all a stellar read and kept me on the edge of my seat! (This is how suspense thriller should be.)
I know based on the blurb and my financial background that Celeste is no saint. Her story about surviving and being a success would require her to have an interesting past with "grey-area dealings." What I did not expect was her past being a traumatic one. Please note that this book has some graphic violence against Celeste written in detail. Readers can skim it without missing the vital information. It can be a trigger for some because some of the scenes were graphic from Celeste's POV. A lot was going on behind Celeste's knowledge that came nicely together in the end.
Celeste may be a bombshell blond, but she is far smarter and wittier to survive; as the twists and turns unravel, more significant forces at work. She had to relay from her past experiences, trained in preparation for the future and was strong/brave enough to withstand the trauma of defeating a villain that plagued many of her friends, as the story later revealed.
It would be good to mention that Celeste is lucky to have good friends and colleagues around her. Her best friends Savin, Mark, and Jack round out her posse, who are all rich, powerful, and successful. They act like the "rat pack" that takes the location they are in "by storm." Granted that the "pack" seems to be "all-over-the-place" and jaded at times, their hearts and loyalty to Celeste are invaluable. They love her and support her. Her staff is the same and shows how she treats all of them well and empower workers who show potential. They all "got her back" at the end that saved her in so many moments. It took a village to maintain and keep Celeste safe in this book. If only we can have even 1/8th of her life. *green with envy*
Overall, I liked the book. Given the initial impression, I had my doubts, but I am so happy to be wrong and that the story was able to capture my attention long enough to get through the slow parts. The rest was a whirlwind of secret plans, near-death rendezvous, disguises, and chases around the world. The scenes and game-changers were spot-on - ensuring mystery/suspense readers enjoy seeing the pieces come together in the end. This one of the jaw-dropping books as the last chapter came. Yes, it does come in a semi-cliffhanger moment but not in resolving many more questions than readers will realize. Things fell into place quite well and tied into all the responsible characters. I appreciate books like these because the "next book" is one that makes me look forward to versus being left with a gaping hole.
Kudos to Rachael's first published book and I hope to be fortunate to read the next book(s) in the coming months. I am excited about what the story will turn out.
Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Celeste Donovan is a sharp and powerful hedge funds manager. Being the other half of Donavan & Clarke Capital (D&C) - one of the leading players in the hedge fund management industry, Celeste and Savin, with her good friend and partner, is taking wealth management to a whole new level.
Celeste's character is a player in the female version. She goes through men like a washcloth, except for Theodore. I liked how she could not resist Theodore and later becomes a constant and will be a turning point on how she will decide for the whole book.
Trading Secrets is a fascinating read. I do have an issue with regards to the pacing of the book. There were two parts two-part in the book - Before and After Prologue. The POV is from Celeste's view and makes the book mysterious and drives the suspense to an all-time high at one point.
The love story did not take a backseat to the book. Instead, it was paired simultaneously to the suspense and mystery and motivated the story's direction very well. The primary motivator is getting the murderer. The whole story showed Celeste's second chance of finding her place and love in the cut-throat world of finance.
"I love you, Celeste. I hope you never question this."
-- Theodore, Trading Secrets
On the breakdown sections of the book:- in the Before section, I enjoyed diving into Celeste's past and history, leading to where the Prologue left readers. I got to connect better with her and sympathize with her plight as a working woman in a man's world. She evolved as the years went by, and she realized that no matter how much money or success one achieves, it's the ones you love and care for that matters most.
A comment: I have to mention that the book's build-up was slow, most likely because there were so many details disclosed to understand the extent of Celeste's past better, so I hope readers will not be discouraged with this and push further. It is worth it in the end.
When readers enter the After section - the scenes and pace got faster and a lot better. It gets captivatingly engrossing! There was more suspense, and things got hairy until the end with a shocker! (No, that's not the cliffhanger yet.) This section talks about the dangers of hunting down someone in a dangerously foreign area. The story will take you throughout Paris and the Middle East. The culture and wonders of these locations were beautiful! Celeste needed to learn immediately, and the contingency plans made were all a stellar read and kept me on the edge of my seat! (This is how suspense thriller should be.)
I know based on the blurb and my financial background that Celeste is no saint. Her story about surviving and being a success would require her to have an interesting past with "grey-area dealings." What I did not expect was her past being a traumatic one. Please note that this book has some graphic violence against Celeste written in detail. Readers can skim it without missing the vital information. It can be a trigger for some because some of the scenes were graphic from Celeste's POV. A lot was going on behind Celeste's knowledge that came nicely together in the end.
Celeste may be a bombshell blond, but she is far smarter and wittier to survive; as the twists and turns unravel, more significant forces at work. She had to relay from her past experiences, trained in preparation for the future and was strong/brave enough to withstand the trauma of defeating a villain that plagued many of her friends, as the story later revealed.
It would be good to mention that Celeste is lucky to have good friends and colleagues around her. Her best friends Savin, Mark, and Jack round out her posse, who are all rich, powerful, and successful. They act like the "rat pack" that takes the location they are in "by storm." Granted that the "pack" seems to be "all-over-the-place" and jaded at times, their hearts and loyalty to Celeste are invaluable. They love her and support her. Her staff is the same and shows how she treats all of them well and empower workers who show potential. They all "got her back" at the end that saved her in so many moments. It took a village to maintain and keep Celeste safe in this book. If only we can have even 1/8th of her life. *green with envy*
Overall, I liked the book. Given the initial impression, I had my doubts, but I am so happy to be wrong and that the story was able to capture my attention long enough to get through the slow parts. The rest was a whirlwind of secret plans, near-death rendezvous, disguises, and chases around the world. The scenes and game-changers were spot-on - ensuring mystery/suspense readers enjoy seeing the pieces come together in the end. This one of the jaw-dropping books as the last chapter came. Yes, it does come in a semi-cliffhanger moment but not in resolving many more questions than readers will realize. Things fell into place quite well and tied into all the responsible characters. I appreciate books like these because the "next book" is one that makes me look forward to versus being left with a gaping hole.
Kudos to Rachael's first published book and I hope to be fortunate to read the next book(s) in the coming months. I am excited about what the story will turn out.
January 27, 2021
This is an awesome book of New York’s finest! Romance mixed in with thriller/mystery? YES PLEASE! brilliant! This book took me quite a long time to read because it has some of the longest chapters ive ever seen in a book and that would deter me from picking it up if I only had a few minutes to read (one chapter literally took me an hour and a half to read no joke...) however , it had me hooked the whole time. Celeste is such a badass and I truly loved how she never gave up. I usually hate the main female characters in books becuase they are usually “weak” and make horrible decisions. While Celeste made some not so great decisions she ALWAYS remained a bad ass b***h and I LOVE HER FOR IT!
Now for the reason it lost a star.... I would not call myself a sensitive reader, HOWEVER, the sexual abuse (only one short scene with other more mild scenes) really took me off guard and disturbed me to the COREEEEE. Idk if it’s becuase I’ve never really read a book with this kind of sexual abuse/rape (even though I have read books with rape before and did not have this feeling) or it just took me really by surprised but I put the book down for a week after that scene because it made me nervous for future scenes. I normally don’t worry about trigger warnings for myself although I do see the reason for them for other readers but PLEASE BE AWARE! This specific scene really bothered me and could be damaging to another.
With all of that being said, I am ready for the next book and CANNOT WAIT! Also #teamtheodore
Now for the reason it lost a star.... I would not call myself a sensitive reader, HOWEVER, the sexual abuse (only one short scene with other more mild scenes) really took me off guard and disturbed me to the COREEEEE. Idk if it’s becuase I’ve never really read a book with this kind of sexual abuse/rape (even though I have read books with rape before and did not have this feeling) or it just took me really by surprised but I put the book down for a week after that scene because it made me nervous for future scenes. I normally don’t worry about trigger warnings for myself although I do see the reason for them for other readers but PLEASE BE AWARE! This specific scene really bothered me and could be damaging to another.
With all of that being said, I am ready for the next book and CANNOT WAIT! Also #teamtheodore
January 31, 2021
Book review 📉📈
📉Genre: Thriller suspense
301 pgs
Gifted thank you @bookpublicityservices & @rachaeleckles
3.5/4⭐️
This one started out slow for me, I wasn’t loving Celeste. It was hard for me to get into the rich lifestyle money, drugs, and stocks. But quickly that turned around! The story took up a fast pace and I couldn’t get enough. I had to know if she could stop Omar and stay safe from him. She had a loveable group of male best friends that added a lot to the story! The chase from country to country, disguises, love, and mysterious hackers! Trading Secrets ended in a cliff hanger, so I’m really looking forward to what comes next!
⚠️TW: Brutality, Rape, and Abuse
📉Genre: Thriller suspense
301 pgs
Gifted thank you @bookpublicityservices & @rachaeleckles
3.5/4⭐️
This one started out slow for me, I wasn’t loving Celeste. It was hard for me to get into the rich lifestyle money, drugs, and stocks. But quickly that turned around! The story took up a fast pace and I couldn’t get enough. I had to know if she could stop Omar and stay safe from him. She had a loveable group of male best friends that added a lot to the story! The chase from country to country, disguises, love, and mysterious hackers! Trading Secrets ended in a cliff hanger, so I’m really looking forward to what comes next!
⚠️TW: Brutality, Rape, and Abuse
January 22, 2021
4 out of 5 ⭐️
Trading Secrets by @rachaeleckles
Celeste Donovan is a high-powered finance exec who seems to have it all: the penthouse apartment, supermodel physique, a mathematical mind and a trail of beautiful men. But when her boyfriend Theodore is killed in a mysterious accident, she suspects Omar, her abusive ex who. In a game of cat and mouse, trying to anticipate his next move, she realizes he will stop at nothing to get to her. Soon, Celeste is thrust in the middle of the largest financial scandal in decades.
As someone who works far from the world of finance, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy TS’s storyline. But on the contrary, diving into the world of something so foreign to me was intriguing. Celeste’s extravagant life is captivating and her life is so extreme it’s unimaginable. But working in NYC you see men and women, like her and her business partner Savin, every day. If you live in NYC you will adore all of the name dropping restaurants, bars, Aves and stores. Warning: it does contain some heavy abuse, so be aware before reading.
Trading Secrets by @rachaeleckles
Celeste Donovan is a high-powered finance exec who seems to have it all: the penthouse apartment, supermodel physique, a mathematical mind and a trail of beautiful men. But when her boyfriend Theodore is killed in a mysterious accident, she suspects Omar, her abusive ex who. In a game of cat and mouse, trying to anticipate his next move, she realizes he will stop at nothing to get to her. Soon, Celeste is thrust in the middle of the largest financial scandal in decades.
As someone who works far from the world of finance, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy TS’s storyline. But on the contrary, diving into the world of something so foreign to me was intriguing. Celeste’s extravagant life is captivating and her life is so extreme it’s unimaginable. But working in NYC you see men and women, like her and her business partner Savin, every day. If you live in NYC you will adore all of the name dropping restaurants, bars, Aves and stores. Warning: it does contain some heavy abuse, so be aware before reading.
November 1, 2020
→ 𝙰 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚍!
This is a fun, racy, and suspenseful read that features a strong, confident and insanely fierce female lead. I would also like to note that I really loved the chapter titles!
Trading Secrets’ main character Celeste Donovan is a beautiful and powerful woman in the financial industry. She loves her independence and is not looking to settle down with a man, she relishes in being able to play the game. The book starts out by teasing a bit of what is to come and then jumps back to the beginning so the reader can see how it all came to be.
Celeste’s ex-boyfriend Omar is also a major player in the financial world and a monstrous person who is violent and dangerous. While Celeste has been able to get Omar out of her life for the past ten years, she constantly lives in fear of him coming back to finish what he started.
As a new romance starts to take shape in Celeste’s life, she begins to dream of a future that she had never thought she wanted. Her new man is cloaked in mystery, sex appeal and romance. When it becomes apparent that Omar is back haunting Celeste’s life, she comes up with a plan to try and bring him down for good.
Trading Secrets is classified as a suspenseful-romance book which is not one of my usual genres but I really enjoyed it. There were some very lustful scenes that had me shifting uncomfortably in my seat as I’m not used to racy romance novels. At first, Celeste seems like a superficial, power-hungry woman, but she really grows on you as you learn more about her. As the book progresses I came to view Celeste as a sassy force to be reckoned with. She never gives up and proves to be constantly creative and resourceful. Most of all I love how she refuses to ever comprise who she is. This book has passion, lust, romance, suspense, betrayal, brutality and a lot of mystery.
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑒 𝑂𝑛 →
𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖: @firefly.lane
𝙵𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔: @fireflylaneblog
𝙶𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜: fireflylaneblog
𝚆𝚎𝚋: www.fireflylaneblog.com
This is a fun, racy, and suspenseful read that features a strong, confident and insanely fierce female lead. I would also like to note that I really loved the chapter titles!
Trading Secrets’ main character Celeste Donovan is a beautiful and powerful woman in the financial industry. She loves her independence and is not looking to settle down with a man, she relishes in being able to play the game. The book starts out by teasing a bit of what is to come and then jumps back to the beginning so the reader can see how it all came to be.
Celeste’s ex-boyfriend Omar is also a major player in the financial world and a monstrous person who is violent and dangerous. While Celeste has been able to get Omar out of her life for the past ten years, she constantly lives in fear of him coming back to finish what he started.
As a new romance starts to take shape in Celeste’s life, she begins to dream of a future that she had never thought she wanted. Her new man is cloaked in mystery, sex appeal and romance. When it becomes apparent that Omar is back haunting Celeste’s life, she comes up with a plan to try and bring him down for good.
Trading Secrets is classified as a suspenseful-romance book which is not one of my usual genres but I really enjoyed it. There were some very lustful scenes that had me shifting uncomfortably in my seat as I’m not used to racy romance novels. At first, Celeste seems like a superficial, power-hungry woman, but she really grows on you as you learn more about her. As the book progresses I came to view Celeste as a sassy force to be reckoned with. She never gives up and proves to be constantly creative and resourceful. Most of all I love how she refuses to ever comprise who she is. This book has passion, lust, romance, suspense, betrayal, brutality and a lot of mystery.
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑒 𝑂𝑛 →
𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖: @firefly.lane
𝙵𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔: @fireflylaneblog
𝙶𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜: fireflylaneblog
𝚆𝚎𝚋: www.fireflylaneblog.com
November 28, 2020
I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the glamour of NYC and the brutality of Wall Street. I wish I knew more about how insider trading worked to truly appreciate the shakedowns that happen in the book. I’m fascinated by lavish lifestyles and how characters can jet set away any time. The author did a great job of keeping me hooked with the game of cat and mouse. I did guess one of the twists, but wish it wasn’t summarized. I wanted to witness more of the raw emotions that came with the revelation. What I didn’t expect are the sex scenes, which I’m not used to reading detailed accounts of in a thriller.
June 29, 2020
I LOVED this book! I couldn’t put it down. Literally finished it in 24 hours. Now, the only problem is I have to wait for the other two books to be released in the trilogy.
Great character development - which is something I insist upon for 5 star reviews. Amazing thought and research put into the story to set each and every scene. Lots of excitement and cliff hangers.
The perfect book to lose yourself in on a holiday, to help pass a rainy day, or to take your mind off of quarantining.
Great character development - which is something I insist upon for 5 star reviews. Amazing thought and research put into the story to set each and every scene. Lots of excitement and cliff hangers.
The perfect book to lose yourself in on a holiday, to help pass a rainy day, or to take your mind off of quarantining.
October 26, 2020
***Review Time****
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Full Review-https://aliciasbookblog106921670.word...
"Rachael Eckles did an amazing job on her debut album and puts you in a mix of twists, turns, and the unknown. I am curious to see how the next book goes in the series with the events that have happened in the first one."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Full Review-https://aliciasbookblog106921670.word...
"Rachael Eckles did an amazing job on her debut album and puts you in a mix of twists, turns, and the unknown. I am curious to see how the next book goes in the series with the events that have happened in the first one."
October 17, 2020
Betrayal, Sex and Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous!!
Celeste Donavan has it all or so it seems until she crosses the wrong man.
This is not my normal type of reading material but it was a enjoyable story.
There is a shocking ending that I didn’t see coming.
Celeste Donavan has it all or so it seems until she crosses the wrong man.
This is not my normal type of reading material but it was a enjoyable story.
There is a shocking ending that I didn’t see coming.
January 6, 2021
4.5/5 stars
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the month and it did not disappoint! Full review here !
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the month and it did not disappoint! Full review here !
December 30, 2020
Trigger warning for a graphic rape scene.
Celeste is an extremely wealthy and powerful executive at the finance company she and her best friend built and run together. She isn’t one for relationships with men, preferring to sleep with someone once and then move on to the next. She has a dark past, and it is easier for her to disregard attachments to others. However, when she meets Theodore, she realizes that he may be the perfect man for her, although she hesitates to get too close too quickly. Their relationship is going great until Celeste receives word that he died during a trip abroad, and Celeste knows that her past is catching up with her, determined to remove those closest to her from her life. Celeste wants to get revenge for Theodore’s death, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to catch the person she knows is responsible for her heartbreak.
Trading Secrets had me hooked from the very beginning, and I raced through it in just a few sittings. Celeste is a broken woman who tries her best, and she has been able to make a comfortable life for herself despite everything she has gone through. The language throughout the story is quite rough and vulgar at times, but it didn’t make me feel super uncomfortable or put-off; I thought it fit the atmosphere of the story for the most part. I was intrigued by everything going on until the last seventy-five pages or so, and then I just got confused. I think the plot was too rushed for the intense situation taking place, and it left me with a lot of questions about what was supposed to be happening. Also, the methods that Celeste used to take down the bad guys were. . .odd? Her plan didn’t really make sense to me. The first 60% of the book had me absolutely captivated though, and I needed to find out what was going to happen next. Overall, this was a speedy read that kept me flipping pages. The content was gritty and dark at times, but there were also happy moments scattered throughout. I think this story has a great foundation, but the last part of it left me feeling confused and a bit unsatisfied with the way everything worked out. Hopefully I can get my hands on a copy of the sequel when it comes out and see if it will provide some answers!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
Celeste is an extremely wealthy and powerful executive at the finance company she and her best friend built and run together. She isn’t one for relationships with men, preferring to sleep with someone once and then move on to the next. She has a dark past, and it is easier for her to disregard attachments to others. However, when she meets Theodore, she realizes that he may be the perfect man for her, although she hesitates to get too close too quickly. Their relationship is going great until Celeste receives word that he died during a trip abroad, and Celeste knows that her past is catching up with her, determined to remove those closest to her from her life. Celeste wants to get revenge for Theodore’s death, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to catch the person she knows is responsible for her heartbreak.
Trading Secrets had me hooked from the very beginning, and I raced through it in just a few sittings. Celeste is a broken woman who tries her best, and she has been able to make a comfortable life for herself despite everything she has gone through. The language throughout the story is quite rough and vulgar at times, but it didn’t make me feel super uncomfortable or put-off; I thought it fit the atmosphere of the story for the most part. I was intrigued by everything going on until the last seventy-five pages or so, and then I just got confused. I think the plot was too rushed for the intense situation taking place, and it left me with a lot of questions about what was supposed to be happening. Also, the methods that Celeste used to take down the bad guys were. . .odd? Her plan didn’t really make sense to me. The first 60% of the book had me absolutely captivated though, and I needed to find out what was going to happen next. Overall, this was a speedy read that kept me flipping pages. The content was gritty and dark at times, but there were also happy moments scattered throughout. I think this story has a great foundation, but the last part of it left me feeling confused and a bit unsatisfied with the way everything worked out. Hopefully I can get my hands on a copy of the sequel when it comes out and see if it will provide some answers!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!
February 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It was quick paced, takes you on a wild journey with a main character who you are rooting for the entire time to get the revenge on the man who is trying to destroy her.
When you are first introduced to Celeste, I wanted to dislike her, but after what she goes through at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Omar, my feelings quickly changed and I was her biggest cheerleader. I enjoyed the cast of characters you meet along the way from Celeste's friend and business parter Savin, her boyfriend Theodore, Jack, Mark, Lorraine, and all of the others and how they all had Celeste's back no matter what. I pay no attention to the financial world, but I liked the glimpse into it I got with this book.
The suspense in this book for me was great. All along the way I kept questioning who you could trust and who from Celeste's world may be working with Omar. In the After section of the book, there was not a lull in the action and I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen. With the book ending on a cliffhanger, I hope we get to read another book featuring these characters because I need answers!
I received a digital copy of this book from Book Publicity Services and I thank them for giving me the content warnings up front about the book so I knew what I was going to be getting into with the graphic rape scene and was able to mentally prepare for it. I will say that I feel that for what I'm sure if a tough part to write, I felt that Rachael Eckles handled it in a way that made a tough scene easier to take in.
When you are first introduced to Celeste, I wanted to dislike her, but after what she goes through at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Omar, my feelings quickly changed and I was her biggest cheerleader. I enjoyed the cast of characters you meet along the way from Celeste's friend and business parter Savin, her boyfriend Theodore, Jack, Mark, Lorraine, and all of the others and how they all had Celeste's back no matter what. I pay no attention to the financial world, but I liked the glimpse into it I got with this book.
The suspense in this book for me was great. All along the way I kept questioning who you could trust and who from Celeste's world may be working with Omar. In the After section of the book, there was not a lull in the action and I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen. With the book ending on a cliffhanger, I hope we get to read another book featuring these characters because I need answers!
I received a digital copy of this book from Book Publicity Services and I thank them for giving me the content warnings up front about the book so I knew what I was going to be getting into with the graphic rape scene and was able to mentally prepare for it. I will say that I feel that for what I'm sure if a tough part to write, I felt that Rachael Eckles handled it in a way that made a tough scene easier to take in.
February 14, 2021
Celeste and her friends live a high stakes life full of lavish parties, VIP treatment, round the world travel and all the things you imagine go with the extremely wealthy but there's also mystery and deceit and this one has twists and turns you won't see coming!
The writing is fast paced and every chapter ran quickly into the next. I loved the jumping around in the timeline. I find stories that go back and forth through events to be even more entertaining and engaging.
A very intelligent story at times dropping names and references that were honestly above my understanding, I'm not big into the corporate finance world and I don't know a lot about designer things but it sure was fun imagining it all.
I definitely didn't see the ending working out the way it did and I felt really invested in Celeste in those last few nail bitter chapters! I think there's definitely more to explore with these characters and I look forward to what Eckles has in store!
CW: some pretty intense/graphic abuse scenes, just be aware that, that is part of this story, it may be hard to read
Thank you to @bookpublicityservices for the access to review this debut novel!
The writing is fast paced and every chapter ran quickly into the next. I loved the jumping around in the timeline. I find stories that go back and forth through events to be even more entertaining and engaging.
A very intelligent story at times dropping names and references that were honestly above my understanding, I'm not big into the corporate finance world and I don't know a lot about designer things but it sure was fun imagining it all.
I definitely didn't see the ending working out the way it did and I felt really invested in Celeste in those last few nail bitter chapters! I think there's definitely more to explore with these characters and I look forward to what Eckles has in store!
CW: some pretty intense/graphic abuse scenes, just be aware that, that is part of this story, it may be hard to read
Thank you to @bookpublicityservices for the access to review this debut novel!
February 12, 2021
TW: sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, and miscarriage.
Thank you to book publicity services and Rachael Eckles
I'm giving this book 4 stars! The book to me was a dark romance with some mystery and a great twist. I was having some trouble connecting with the main character Celeste but then she grew on me. Lots of action and drama in this book. Such a great ending, a good way to leave you wanting more!
Part 2 coming soon guys.
Thank you to book publicity services and Rachael Eckles
I'm giving this book 4 stars! The book to me was a dark romance with some mystery and a great twist. I was having some trouble connecting with the main character Celeste but then she grew on me. Lots of action and drama in this book. Such a great ending, a good way to leave you wanting more!
Part 2 coming soon guys.
February 6, 2021
I genuinely can’t wait for book two. I’ve not come across many thrillers set in the financial world and it wouldn’t have been my usual go to. However, I absolutely loved Celeste, our leading lady who is hellbent on seeking revenge following her ex-boyfriend’s actions. And that glam and rich lifestyle. A perfect, jet-setting thriller, with plenty of romance in there too. And that ending!
January 26, 2021
Trading Secrets tells the story of Celeste Donovan who co-owns an extremely successful Hedge Fund Management company, Donovan & Clark (D&C) with her best friend and business partner, Savin. She’s wealthy, gorgeous, and on top of her game in the very nitty gritty world of Wall Street. A very independent modern woman who prefers one-night stands and flings due to an abusive relationship she had in her past. One night at Savin’s party, she meets Theodore, who is everything she never knew she wanted. She falls fast and hard, but tragedy falls and a dangerous adversary from her past remerges and wants revenge. This sends Celeste on a dangerous quest to save not only herself, but all those that she loves.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this story. Celeste was a strong female lead with a no-nonsense attitude. I liked her love interest, Theodore. Though I felt his character was slightly underdeveloped. I would have enjoyed more details on why he was so special compared to other men. I wasn't sure I was a fan of Celeste in the beginning of the story. She was almost over the top, however she did grow on me as a character and I ultimately enjoyed her story. The book wrapped up with what felt like could be a sequel which could be very interesting.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this story. Celeste was a strong female lead with a no-nonsense attitude. I liked her love interest, Theodore. Though I felt his character was slightly underdeveloped. I would have enjoyed more details on why he was so special compared to other men. I wasn't sure I was a fan of Celeste in the beginning of the story. She was almost over the top, however she did grow on me as a character and I ultimately enjoyed her story. The book wrapped up with what felt like could be a sequel which could be very interesting.
January 16, 2021
trading secrets - rachael eckles
review - 3.5/5⭐️
trading secrets is @rachaeleckles debut novel & was kindly gifted to me by @bookpublicityservices
i did really enjoy this book overall. trading secrets follows celeste, a finance executive for her company D&C. she regrettably becomes romantically involved with omar. she finally escapes his abuse and along with the help of others, ruins him financially. celeste finds theodore and is at her happiest with him, until he’s killed in an accident. that’s all i’ll say without spoiling anything :)
i had an interesting relationship with this book, i enjoyed the start - became uninterested within the middle, and loved the ending. hence the 3.5⭐️ rating. i felt really connected to the characters, mostly celeste as it’s written from her perspective & really did love her as a character despite her flaws. i enjoyed the storyline of this book however some of the finance talk confused me a little bit as i have absolutely no background in that field. that being said, i still followed along the storyline with no trouble! i wouldent describe this book as a fast paced thriller, as per the front cover as it was quite slow paced throughout but i still really enjoyed it nonetheless. i think this story has an excellent foundation but perhaps needed a little more development to give it that wow factor. overall, i really did enjoy this book & praise the author for this debut novel & am certainly excited for the second book in the series to come out :)
thank you again @bookpublicityservices for gifting me this copy. review can also be found on goodreads.
review - 3.5/5⭐️
trading secrets is @rachaeleckles debut novel & was kindly gifted to me by @bookpublicityservices
i did really enjoy this book overall. trading secrets follows celeste, a finance executive for her company D&C. she regrettably becomes romantically involved with omar. she finally escapes his abuse and along with the help of others, ruins him financially. celeste finds theodore and is at her happiest with him, until he’s killed in an accident. that’s all i’ll say without spoiling anything :)
i had an interesting relationship with this book, i enjoyed the start - became uninterested within the middle, and loved the ending. hence the 3.5⭐️ rating. i felt really connected to the characters, mostly celeste as it’s written from her perspective & really did love her as a character despite her flaws. i enjoyed the storyline of this book however some of the finance talk confused me a little bit as i have absolutely no background in that field. that being said, i still followed along the storyline with no trouble! i wouldent describe this book as a fast paced thriller, as per the front cover as it was quite slow paced throughout but i still really enjoyed it nonetheless. i think this story has an excellent foundation but perhaps needed a little more development to give it that wow factor. overall, i really did enjoy this book & praise the author for this debut novel & am certainly excited for the second book in the series to come out :)
thank you again @bookpublicityservices for gifting me this copy. review can also be found on goodreads.
August 1, 2025
Second read! July13th - July 31st 2025
4stars ⭐️
I have to say I enjoyed this read a lot more the second time! It has been a few years since my first read. So maybe being a little older may have changed my perspective on the main character.
Celeste is a strong willed and intelligent woman who works hard as a fiance executive. The story flows her POV in the past and present. Past Celeste was on the brink of millions when her boyfriend ruined her deal due to his controlling and possessive behavior over her. As revenge she sets up a plan to destroy him and run him out of her life for good.
Present Celeste starts dating this wonderful man and fall for him hard. After an accident that leaves her love dead. She figures the person behind the attack is her toxic abusive ex. He is jealous and possessive. He will do anything to have her again.
This book has some great twists. And an entertaining plot I really enjoyed the mystery and found the finance subplot entertaining and not drowning! Looking forward to reading book 2!
————————————————————————————
1st read. 2021
Review for Trading Secrets by Rachel Eckles
Started Jan 8 - ended Feb 4,
Rating: 4 stars
I am honored I was asked by the publisher to read Trading Secrets by Rachel Eckles and to give a honest review!
Just a heads up if wanting to read there are some major Trigger warnings with this read! Abuse, rape, and miscarriage!
It was a little slow in the beginning . I did enjoy the the read but wish it had more details about the mystery she is uncovering and less about her intimacies. Celeste Donovan, is a high powered finance executive, she earned her place in the finance world by playing dirty but for all the right reasons to take down her abusive ex. After the tragedy that destroys the main character Celeste, her emotions lead her to make some dangerous decisions and this is when the story picks up a bit. I found the main character Celeste to be a bit entitled and snobbish. I think that’s because I don’t really relate to the elitist lifestyle! But as I continued reading she sorta grew on me. I also kept forgetting that Celeste was in her Forties ! For some reason I kept picturing her as someone in her twenties and I think that has to do with how she acts through out the book. The last few chapters really picked up in excitement and I couldn’t put the book down!! Wow, the ending won’t disappoint! I was blown away! Trading Secrets was a Good read! And look forward to the next book in the series!
4stars ⭐️
I have to say I enjoyed this read a lot more the second time! It has been a few years since my first read. So maybe being a little older may have changed my perspective on the main character.
Celeste is a strong willed and intelligent woman who works hard as a fiance executive. The story flows her POV in the past and present. Past Celeste was on the brink of millions when her boyfriend ruined her deal due to his controlling and possessive behavior over her. As revenge she sets up a plan to destroy him and run him out of her life for good.
Present Celeste starts dating this wonderful man and fall for him hard. After an accident that leaves her love dead. She figures the person behind the attack is her toxic abusive ex. He is jealous and possessive. He will do anything to have her again.
This book has some great twists. And an entertaining plot I really enjoyed the mystery and found the finance subplot entertaining and not drowning! Looking forward to reading book 2!
————————————————————————————
1st read. 2021
Review for Trading Secrets by Rachel Eckles
Started Jan 8 - ended Feb 4,
Rating: 4 stars
I am honored I was asked by the publisher to read Trading Secrets by Rachel Eckles and to give a honest review!
Just a heads up if wanting to read there are some major Trigger warnings with this read! Abuse, rape, and miscarriage!
It was a little slow in the beginning . I did enjoy the the read but wish it had more details about the mystery she is uncovering and less about her intimacies. Celeste Donovan, is a high powered finance executive, she earned her place in the finance world by playing dirty but for all the right reasons to take down her abusive ex. After the tragedy that destroys the main character Celeste, her emotions lead her to make some dangerous decisions and this is when the story picks up a bit. I found the main character Celeste to be a bit entitled and snobbish. I think that’s because I don’t really relate to the elitist lifestyle! But as I continued reading she sorta grew on me. I also kept forgetting that Celeste was in her Forties ! For some reason I kept picturing her as someone in her twenties and I think that has to do with how she acts through out the book. The last few chapters really picked up in excitement and I couldn’t put the book down!! Wow, the ending won’t disappoint! I was blown away! Trading Secrets was a Good read! And look forward to the next book in the series!
January 16, 2021
Trading secrets is a romantic suspense novel that is heavy on the suspense and just as heavy on the romance!
Celeste and her best friend Savin are trying to make their mark on the New York stock exchange. The only problem - they were lacking the appropriate funds. Enter into a world of high class, bigger bank accounts and pure excess. The only issue, is Celeste is not taken so seriously . But Celeste had the perfect idea, one that involved celeste’s boyfriend Omar.
Let me take a few seconds to gather my breath. The amount of twist in this book was enough to make you scream from being blindsided. Layer after layer Eckles keep you constantly guessing, in a completely unique and original plot line. I felt I learnt so much about the New York stock exchange within this book.
I do have to say there is a trigger warning of domestic violence within this book. But what I truly loved about this book was how strong the female protagonist Celeste was. Her determination and grit to achieve her goals made her a relatable character.
Heat wise this book had me absolutely blushing but in the best way possible. If your having a rough day - I highly recommend this book. I am so excited for the release of book 2, June 29.
I was fortunate enough to receive an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
Celeste and her best friend Savin are trying to make their mark on the New York stock exchange. The only problem - they were lacking the appropriate funds. Enter into a world of high class, bigger bank accounts and pure excess. The only issue, is Celeste is not taken so seriously . But Celeste had the perfect idea, one that involved celeste’s boyfriend Omar.
Let me take a few seconds to gather my breath. The amount of twist in this book was enough to make you scream from being blindsided. Layer after layer Eckles keep you constantly guessing, in a completely unique and original plot line. I felt I learnt so much about the New York stock exchange within this book.
I do have to say there is a trigger warning of domestic violence within this book. But what I truly loved about this book was how strong the female protagonist Celeste was. Her determination and grit to achieve her goals made her a relatable character.
Heat wise this book had me absolutely blushing but in the best way possible. If your having a rough day - I highly recommend this book. I am so excited for the release of book 2, June 29.
I was fortunate enough to receive an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2021
From the second I saw the cover I wanted to pick this book up and read it. AND let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Celeste is nothing like I expected her to be at the beginning of the book. She was so BADASS! Nothing was going to stop her from figuring out what happened. It's full of twists and turns! Just when you think you have the whole plot figured out something else happened. I loved it!
January 23, 2021
This was a fast paced thrill ride. The characters around Celeste were great. Love to hate Omar. At times it was way out there for me but there were elements I loved. The characters who supported Celeste and had her back, the twists and turns also were surprising. I would recommend it as it was entertaining and fun!! Thank you to Book publicity services Kelsey for sending me a copy!!
October 12, 2020
A stylish, fierce, globetrotting crime thriller that fans of Janelle Brown and Kimberly McCreight will fall for.
Finance executive Celeste Donovan can have most anyone and anything she wants within reason. But behind the facade lies a history of domestic abuse, financial crime and a trail of anonymous lovers. A war with sadistic ex-boyfriend Omar resulted in a miscarriage and a sabotaged business venture, but she exacted vengeance with a scheme that cost him a billion dollars and access to New York itself.
Years after giving up on love entirely, a glimmer of hope presents itself when Celeste’s business partner, Savin, sets her up with longtime friend Theodore. He’s shockingly attractive, witty and at least as well-traveled and cultured as Celeste. He’s also a man of mystery. When asked what business he’s in, he tells her he’s a “modern-day Robin Hood.”
But when Theodore dies in a plane crash, Celeste suspects Omar, who has returned to the city. At this point in the novel, Author Rachael Eckles has set the stage for an epic battle between the two former lovers. Having brilliantly detailed the outsized physical, financial and emotional wreckage that defined their prior relationship, expectations for what comes next makes Trading Secrets an absolute page turner.
Eckles’s prose is crisp, her dialogue crackling, witty and withering. Her nearly constant use of brand names – Jimmy Choo, Max Mara, Louboutin and dozens of others – will surely date the book in time, but will also delight those with a Vogue subscription. In Celeste, Eckles has created a fascinating and highly memorable character. Sure, she’s a dysfunctional powerhouse, largely despised by other women, who has surrounded herself with morally ambiguous men. But when pitted against the diabolical Omar, it’s impossible not to root for her.
Finance executive Celeste Donovan can have most anyone and anything she wants within reason. But behind the facade lies a history of domestic abuse, financial crime and a trail of anonymous lovers. A war with sadistic ex-boyfriend Omar resulted in a miscarriage and a sabotaged business venture, but she exacted vengeance with a scheme that cost him a billion dollars and access to New York itself.
Years after giving up on love entirely, a glimmer of hope presents itself when Celeste’s business partner, Savin, sets her up with longtime friend Theodore. He’s shockingly attractive, witty and at least as well-traveled and cultured as Celeste. He’s also a man of mystery. When asked what business he’s in, he tells her he’s a “modern-day Robin Hood.”
But when Theodore dies in a plane crash, Celeste suspects Omar, who has returned to the city. At this point in the novel, Author Rachael Eckles has set the stage for an epic battle between the two former lovers. Having brilliantly detailed the outsized physical, financial and emotional wreckage that defined their prior relationship, expectations for what comes next makes Trading Secrets an absolute page turner.
Eckles’s prose is crisp, her dialogue crackling, witty and withering. Her nearly constant use of brand names – Jimmy Choo, Max Mara, Louboutin and dozens of others – will surely date the book in time, but will also delight those with a Vogue subscription. In Celeste, Eckles has created a fascinating and highly memorable character. Sure, she’s a dysfunctional powerhouse, largely despised by other women, who has surrounded herself with morally ambiguous men. But when pitted against the diabolical Omar, it’s impossible not to root for her.
December 3, 2020
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review from Book Publicity Services.
I have to admit that when I first started the book I felt a little iffy about it. I didn’t immediately like the main character, Celeste, and found her quite pretentious and maybe the writing a little bit too at times. Now that I’m done with the book, I do still feel that way, but the character grew on me a little bit after we got some of the flashbacks with Omar and what she’d gone through. All that said, I thought the book had some redeeming qualities that led to my rating, which I’d probably put closer to 3.5 stars but I rounded up for the sake of the rating and, again, it did have some redeeming qualities.
Although I wasn’t crazy about Celeste, I really liked Theodore and wish we’d gotten a little more of him and their relationship. I wanted to know more about him.
The concept of the story was interesting and well executed overall, I thought. The plot moves along pretty well and kept me interested throughout. I thought it had a good ending and I am curious what will happen to the characters.
My biggest issue is I wanted to like the main character more. She did grow, as characters should, throughout the book, which I appreciated, but something about her, at least for me, felt a little hard to relate to.
This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but there were a lot of male characters and it would have been cool to see some more females, and ones that the main character actually respected. We got a little bit from the female characters with Rani and Poppy, though, and I suppose with Lorraine a bit as well.
Overall an interesting read. I’d be curious to see what happens in the sequel, which I’m assuming will be coming out judging by the ending.
Thanks for the review copy.
I have to admit that when I first started the book I felt a little iffy about it. I didn’t immediately like the main character, Celeste, and found her quite pretentious and maybe the writing a little bit too at times. Now that I’m done with the book, I do still feel that way, but the character grew on me a little bit after we got some of the flashbacks with Omar and what she’d gone through. All that said, I thought the book had some redeeming qualities that led to my rating, which I’d probably put closer to 3.5 stars but I rounded up for the sake of the rating and, again, it did have some redeeming qualities.
Although I wasn’t crazy about Celeste, I really liked Theodore and wish we’d gotten a little more of him and their relationship. I wanted to know more about him.
The concept of the story was interesting and well executed overall, I thought. The plot moves along pretty well and kept me interested throughout. I thought it had a good ending and I am curious what will happen to the characters.
My biggest issue is I wanted to like the main character more. She did grow, as characters should, throughout the book, which I appreciated, but something about her, at least for me, felt a little hard to relate to.
This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but there were a lot of male characters and it would have been cool to see some more females, and ones that the main character actually respected. We got a little bit from the female characters with Rani and Poppy, though, and I suppose with Lorraine a bit as well.
Overall an interesting read. I’d be curious to see what happens in the sequel, which I’m assuming will be coming out judging by the ending.
Thanks for the review copy.
October 15, 2020
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Trading Secrets by Rachael Eckles is a wall street suspense. It's about Celeste Donovan a high-powered finance executive and her
journey to entrap her ex-boyfriend Omar Santos.
The plot is thrilling but a little difficult to follow at times. It's separated into two parts, before and after the murder. Each chapter has its own title that sums up what is happening. The first part has a very slow build-up. It starts by explaining who are the main
characters and the lives they lead. How Celeste met her boyfriend/victim and in between there are glimpses of her life with her ex.
The second part is a whirlwind. The speed is up in this one and there is a bit of chaos. It's after Theodore's death, Celeste is
grieving for a while and then plots Omar's fall. That's when I lost it for a while, I couldn't follow the storyline, everything was
going too fast with no explanation. After the big event, I was able to connect with it again and I was surprised by the ending.
The characters are like those we see on tv series, typical high society New Yorkers, glamorous and deadly. Celeste was a savage
Ice Queen who changed into a little more human in the second part. Theodore was a great character, mysterious but a kind gentleman.
In general, the book is very good with a nice plot, (especially if you are familiar with what's going on on Wallstreet). The suspense
is intense and so are a few chapters that contain abuse. The dialogues were a bit off at times but it wasn't a big problem for me.
I enjoyed reading it and I will rate it with 3.7 stars.
Trading Secrets by Rachael Eckles is a wall street suspense. It's about Celeste Donovan a high-powered finance executive and her
journey to entrap her ex-boyfriend Omar Santos.
The plot is thrilling but a little difficult to follow at times. It's separated into two parts, before and after the murder. Each chapter has its own title that sums up what is happening. The first part has a very slow build-up. It starts by explaining who are the main
characters and the lives they lead. How Celeste met her boyfriend/victim and in between there are glimpses of her life with her ex.
The second part is a whirlwind. The speed is up in this one and there is a bit of chaos. It's after Theodore's death, Celeste is
grieving for a while and then plots Omar's fall. That's when I lost it for a while, I couldn't follow the storyline, everything was
going too fast with no explanation. After the big event, I was able to connect with it again and I was surprised by the ending.
The characters are like those we see on tv series, typical high society New Yorkers, glamorous and deadly. Celeste was a savage
Ice Queen who changed into a little more human in the second part. Theodore was a great character, mysterious but a kind gentleman.
In general, the book is very good with a nice plot, (especially if you are familiar with what's going on on Wallstreet). The suspense
is intense and so are a few chapters that contain abuse. The dialogues were a bit off at times but it wasn't a big problem for me.
I enjoyed reading it and I will rate it with 3.7 stars.
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