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The Aphrodite Sisters #2
Toni's Secret
Only dogs love unconditionally…Or so she thought —
The prenup from hell not only left Toni Martinelli alone and penniless but without her career. A nasty clause her ex and father had insisted upon left her without her salon and livelihood. Turning to her best friends, the Aphrodite Sisters, Sage, Kimberly, and her sister Roxie, they came up with a great idea that has her cutting hair again… only this time, her customers are dogs? But when Toni meets Wags’ owner, Jess, who looks like the sexy movie star, The Rock, she’s ready to start work and anything else he has in mind the next day.
Former Marine, now Veterinarian Doctor Jess E. James , likes to bake and rescue animals — especially those on two legs, mainly his new business partner, Toni. The more they work together it’s all he can do to keep his hands off her; after all, he was spoken for, and he was not the type of guy to cheat. Soon Jess finds out it is Cal that is the cheater, which leaves Jess free to see if he can take this partnership with Toni into something more. When a secret from Toni’s past arises, Jess realizes he’s all in.
Even his amazing cakes or sweet rescue pets can’t prepare them for this new twist of fate.
The prenup from hell not only left Toni Martinelli alone and penniless but without her career. A nasty clause her ex and father had insisted upon left her without her salon and livelihood. Turning to her best friends, the Aphrodite Sisters, Sage, Kimberly, and her sister Roxie, they came up with a great idea that has her cutting hair again… only this time, her customers are dogs? But when Toni meets Wags’ owner, Jess, who looks like the sexy movie star, The Rock, she’s ready to start work and anything else he has in mind the next day.
Former Marine, now Veterinarian Doctor Jess E. James , likes to bake and rescue animals — especially those on two legs, mainly his new business partner, Toni. The more they work together it’s all he can do to keep his hands off her; after all, he was spoken for, and he was not the type of guy to cheat. Soon Jess finds out it is Cal that is the cheater, which leaves Jess free to see if he can take this partnership with Toni into something more. When a secret from Toni’s past arises, Jess realizes he’s all in.
Even his amazing cakes or sweet rescue pets can’t prepare them for this new twist of fate.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2022
About the author
Mary Oldham
14 books34 followersSince January 2008, Mary has written seventeen manuscripts and is a three-time Golden Heart Finalist with the Romance Writers of America, including a 2010 Golden Heart nomination for Contemporary Series Romance for LAURA TAKES A LOVER and a 2012 Golden Heart nomination for Romantic Suspense for CHEMICAL ATTRACTION and a 2015 Golden Heart nomination for Contemporary Series Romance for A NIGHT AT THE ROSEMONT.
Mary has been a multimedia account executive for USA Today and Advance for over twenty years.
With a Business degree in Marketing from Oregon State University and a minor in Apparel, Interiors, and Merchandising, Mary writes about smart, business-savvy heroines who find themselves caught between traditional roles and their own independent spirit.
She lives in Portland, Oregon, and regularly travels to a family beach house in the charming town of Yachats, Oregon.
Mary has been a multimedia account executive for USA Today and Advance for over twenty years.
With a Business degree in Marketing from Oregon State University and a minor in Apparel, Interiors, and Merchandising, Mary writes about smart, business-savvy heroines who find themselves caught between traditional roles and their own independent spirit.
She lives in Portland, Oregon, and regularly travels to a family beach house in the charming town of Yachats, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 1, 2024
Keeping in mind this is one person’s opinion and don’t let it keep you from getting this book if it sounds appealing, but this one turned out to be bit of a dumpster fire for me. After the last/first book by this author, I was hoping to equally enjoy this one but alas, such was not to be. Toni and Jess are our couple in this book. Toni had been seemingly not to unhappily in the first book but in this one her plastic surgeon husband has cheated on her and wants to marry his side piece. This turned out to be a fire. He, along with Toni’s parents were so over the top villainous they were more of a sad joke that didn’t land - for me. Gregg, her soon to be, plastic surgeon ex screwed her over in every possible way and her parents were just as bad. I just couldn’t buy into it.
Jess, oh Jess, where do I begin with you? First of all he’s described as a Dwayne Johnson, The Rock look a like and of all the celebrities in any area, no one leaves me colder. I find him very unattractive - could NOT believe he was once voted People’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I almost vomited a bit in my mouth. I know I’m probably in the minority in this one, but it is what it is. I do not find him funny, I do not find him charming but I do find him smarmy and I do find him totally fake. My apology to all those who have the opposite opinion. Now if picturing him as the hero, and I need a mind scrub to get rid of that picture, we have his persona. Now I’m about to get graphic here so you may want to dash by, but it’s like he pisses rainbows 🌈 and shits Skittles. Seriously. No guy acts like this. He doesn’t have a manly man bone in his body. And to top it off, when stressed does he go out and pummel a punching bag? No. He bakes the most decadent of cakes. This Rock looking like guy bakes cakes with ganash and fancy buttercream with lemon icing and the like. No. Thank you for me.
Any way Jess the magic baker is an animal doctor, never to be referred to as a vet. Toni is so screwed over by her husband. She owns an upscale hair salon and because he’s the Snidley Whiplash of villains (many may not get the reference but then I’m old. No longer in my sixties if you can believe it. I know I can’t!!). Besides all the horrendous things he’s done, he steals her business, and makes sure she can’t do hair , for anyone, not even her three besties for at least a year so she needs to find a new way to make a living. Between her and her fellow Aphrodite Sisters, they come up with dog grooming, never mind the fact she’s never even owned a dog. She goes to see Jess, friend of a friend to do some research and another fire coming here, he owns the building where he works out of and a previous tenant has just moved out and he’s long considered the idea of a doggy spa, grooming business, doggy motel/doggy day care enterprise. And he just KNOWS, despite knowing nothing about dogs except she can tolerate her besties dog, that Toni would make the perfect partner. And of course Toni is very attracted to him - except - it’s well known Jess is gay? And how does everyone know this? Well, his partners name is Cal - so, hello, obviously. Gay.
Of course their partnership goes joyously, even though Toni doesn’t know anything about dogs. Eventually she figures that - oopsie, Cal stands for Calista and no, Jess is not gay so she can feel the things she’s feeling.
But then it comes time for Toni’s secret to be revealed to all. We kind of learn earlier but I’m not going to give it away. And the revelation means huge changes in Toni’s life. Will Jess be on board? How will things go? You must read to see.
I like Toni well enough for the most part. Though in her past when Toni and the other Aphrodite Sisters are done wrong, they don’t just take it, they get revenge. Yet when her Snidely Whiplash husband blows up just about every aspect of her life, she does nothing. She just takes it. I wanted some of the old Toni to get some sort of revenge.
And Jess, the animal doctor was pretty bland at best. So you may be scratching your head wondering why not a lower grade? Well, I love the love and support amongst the friends. They all had it pretty bad when they were young but they are each others strength and support system. I really like that. And at times, the awfulness of the fires amused me. I’m neither going to recommend nor not recommend this book. In the end, me personally, though I’ll never read it again, am glad I read this one and I’m glad I have the next one to read. I found it entertaining and isn’t that one of the good things about reading fiction - to be entertained?
Jess, oh Jess, where do I begin with you? First of all he’s described as a Dwayne Johnson, The Rock look a like and of all the celebrities in any area, no one leaves me colder. I find him very unattractive - could NOT believe he was once voted People’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I almost vomited a bit in my mouth. I know I’m probably in the minority in this one, but it is what it is. I do not find him funny, I do not find him charming but I do find him smarmy and I do find him totally fake. My apology to all those who have the opposite opinion. Now if picturing him as the hero, and I need a mind scrub to get rid of that picture, we have his persona. Now I’m about to get graphic here so you may want to dash by, but it’s like he pisses rainbows 🌈 and shits Skittles. Seriously. No guy acts like this. He doesn’t have a manly man bone in his body. And to top it off, when stressed does he go out and pummel a punching bag? No. He bakes the most decadent of cakes. This Rock looking like guy bakes cakes with ganash and fancy buttercream with lemon icing and the like. No. Thank you for me.
Any way Jess the magic baker is an animal doctor, never to be referred to as a vet. Toni is so screwed over by her husband. She owns an upscale hair salon and because he’s the Snidley Whiplash of villains (many may not get the reference but then I’m old. No longer in my sixties if you can believe it. I know I can’t!!). Besides all the horrendous things he’s done, he steals her business, and makes sure she can’t do hair , for anyone, not even her three besties for at least a year so she needs to find a new way to make a living. Between her and her fellow Aphrodite Sisters, they come up with dog grooming, never mind the fact she’s never even owned a dog. She goes to see Jess, friend of a friend to do some research and another fire coming here, he owns the building where he works out of and a previous tenant has just moved out and he’s long considered the idea of a doggy spa, grooming business, doggy motel/doggy day care enterprise. And he just KNOWS, despite knowing nothing about dogs except she can tolerate her besties dog, that Toni would make the perfect partner. And of course Toni is very attracted to him - except - it’s well known Jess is gay? And how does everyone know this? Well, his partners name is Cal - so, hello, obviously. Gay.
Of course their partnership goes joyously, even though Toni doesn’t know anything about dogs. Eventually she figures that - oopsie, Cal stands for Calista and no, Jess is not gay so she can feel the things she’s feeling.
But then it comes time for Toni’s secret to be revealed to all. We kind of learn earlier but I’m not going to give it away. And the revelation means huge changes in Toni’s life. Will Jess be on board? How will things go? You must read to see.
I like Toni well enough for the most part. Though in her past when Toni and the other Aphrodite Sisters are done wrong, they don’t just take it, they get revenge. Yet when her Snidely Whiplash husband blows up just about every aspect of her life, she does nothing. She just takes it. I wanted some of the old Toni to get some sort of revenge.
And Jess, the animal doctor was pretty bland at best. So you may be scratching your head wondering why not a lower grade? Well, I love the love and support amongst the friends. They all had it pretty bad when they were young but they are each others strength and support system. I really like that. And at times, the awfulness of the fires amused me. I’m neither going to recommend nor not recommend this book. In the end, me personally, though I’ll never read it again, am glad I read this one and I’m glad I have the next one to read. I found it entertaining and isn’t that one of the good things about reading fiction - to be entertained?
December 17, 2022
Review of Toni's Secret by Mary Oldham
* * * * *
The series continues with this band of sisters who have each other's backs as they face life, love, cheating scums and drama!
Toni got dealt a bad hand. She's stuck and lost thanks to the terrible men in her life, and the sad fact she is losing everything due to her not having a child with her cheating husband. He wants her back too! Toni ain't having it though and most definitely is refusing to have a marriage like her parents do. So she makes her own way. Leaving Zsa Zsa's behind she finds a new employment and finds partnership with Jess James.
Jess is trying to fight the desires and rid the image of the red bra strap from meeting Toni, as he himself was in a relationship - though that relationship wasn't doing so well either.
Relationships are broke, exes are fiesty, the new boyfriend is a moron with attitude, feelings spark and explode...and secrets are revealed.
Toni's parents just seriously SUCK! I mean, she should be able to get up her sleazy ex withouth her parents bitching in the room. Olive branch my rear!
* * * * *
The series continues with this band of sisters who have each other's backs as they face life, love, cheating scums and drama!
Toni got dealt a bad hand. She's stuck and lost thanks to the terrible men in her life, and the sad fact she is losing everything due to her not having a child with her cheating husband. He wants her back too! Toni ain't having it though and most definitely is refusing to have a marriage like her parents do. So she makes her own way. Leaving Zsa Zsa's behind she finds a new employment and finds partnership with Jess James.
Jess is trying to fight the desires and rid the image of the red bra strap from meeting Toni, as he himself was in a relationship - though that relationship wasn't doing so well either.
Relationships are broke, exes are fiesty, the new boyfriend is a moron with attitude, feelings spark and explode...and secrets are revealed.
Toni's parents just seriously SUCK! I mean, she should be able to get up her sleazy ex withouth her parents bitching in the room. Olive branch my rear!
December 16, 2022
This is the second book in this amazing series, and this is Toni and Jess’ story. Toni loses her livelihood thanks to a prenup her ex and father insisted on, and she turns to her best friends for comfort, who in turn comes up with a plan where she can continue and make a living, but with dogs as her customers. Jess is the Wags owner, who is a veterinarian, and her new business partner. This is a well written story which has revelations, humor, witty banter, friendships, emotions, romance, twists, and love, which leads to an entertaining and heartfelt story.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
March 4, 2023
Only dogs love unconditionally…Or so she thought —
I’m always excited to receive book mail from Mary Oldham, because I know I’m about to read a fantastic, one of a kind story. The Aphrodite Sister series is no different. Her writing style is so unique and descriptive. She writes with passion and dedication, making you feel like you are part of the story. Her characters are always so well-developed, genuine, relatable, lovable. The storyline in these two books is thoroughly compelling. I didn’t want to put these books down.
The series continues with Toni Martinelli and Jess James. Toni has been dealt such a bad hand in life. I felt so bad for what she’s had to go through with her parents and her ex. Fortunately, her heartbreaking troubles lead her to former marine turned veterinary doctor, Jess. He gives her the care and devotion she deserves. Their story is fun and heartfelt. I especially love all the sisters. Their bond is amazing, supportive, and unbreakable. Another absolute must read from the amazing Mary Oldham!
Thank you to the author for gifting me this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.
5 Romantic Stars!
NOLA504Nerds blog
I’m always excited to receive book mail from Mary Oldham, because I know I’m about to read a fantastic, one of a kind story. The Aphrodite Sister series is no different. Her writing style is so unique and descriptive. She writes with passion and dedication, making you feel like you are part of the story. Her characters are always so well-developed, genuine, relatable, lovable. The storyline in these two books is thoroughly compelling. I didn’t want to put these books down.
The series continues with Toni Martinelli and Jess James. Toni has been dealt such a bad hand in life. I felt so bad for what she’s had to go through with her parents and her ex. Fortunately, her heartbreaking troubles lead her to former marine turned veterinary doctor, Jess. He gives her the care and devotion she deserves. Their story is fun and heartfelt. I especially love all the sisters. Their bond is amazing, supportive, and unbreakable. Another absolute must read from the amazing Mary Oldham!
Thank you to the author for gifting me this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.
5 Romantic Stars!
NOLA504Nerds blog
August 17, 2024
Boring af
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews