Sophie's Secret

Shelter Valley Stories #10

by Tara Taylor Quinn

Sophie Curtis lives a big secret. She's been having an affair with Duane Koch. Their days--and nights-- together are their own oasis away from the world. It's unconventional but, given the difference in their ages and her troubled past, it works for them.Then Duane is asked to step into the political ring--an opportunity he's been waiting for. Too bad about the timing, though. Because Sophie's just found out she's pregnant, and an instant family--with her--could ruin his chances. The right thing would be for her to bow out of his life. But when he surprises her with a proposal, will she have the strength to walk away from the man she loves?

Genres: Romance, Harlequin

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

Tara Taylor Quinn began her love affair with Harlequin when she was fourteen years old and picked up a free promotional copy of a Harlequin Romance in a hometown grocery store. The relationship was solidified the year she was suspended from her high school typing class for hiding a Harlequin Romance behind the keys of her electric typewriter. Unaware that her instructor loomed close by, Ms. Quinn read blissfully on with one finger resting on the automatic repeating period key. She finished the book in the principal’s office. Forced to leave her romances in her locker after that, Ms. Quinn’s typing skills improved - a fact for which she is eternally grateful.

With over 80 original novels, published in more than twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestselling author with more than seven million copies sold. She is a winner of the 2008 National Reader's Choice Award, four time finalist for the RWA Rita Award, a finalist for the Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Bookseller’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion and appears regularly on the Waldenbooks bestsellers list. Ms. Quinn writes for Harlequin and MIRA Books. Reviewer, Cindy Penn, wordweaving.com says, “Amazing character development is the hallmark of author Tara Taylor Quinn’s work. Indeed, Taylor’s profound observations of human nature and intimate understanding of values and priorities lends extraordinary psychological depth to all her work.”

Tara Taylor Quinn was born and raised in Ohio. Though she wrote her first story at the age of seven, her professional writing career began ten years later when she was hired as a stringer with the Dayton Daily News in Dayton, Ohio. She attended Wright State University and graduated from Harding College in Arkansas with a degree in English and Journalism. She published several magazine articles before turning to writing as a full-time occupation.

Ms. Quinn is a Past President of the Romance Writers of America and served for eight years on the Board of Directors of that association. She has a wide range of experience as a public speaker and workshop presenter for writers groups around the country.

When she’s not home with her owners, Jerry Lee and Taylor Marie, or fulfilling speaking engagements, Tara loves to travel with her husband, stopping wherever the spirit takes them. They’ve been spotted in casinos and quaint little small town antique shops all across the country..

Reviews

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story centers around an older man (who has political aspirations) and a younger woman (who had in her past issues with bulimia and was promiscuous). Both of them are single so I'm trying to see where there is an affair going on. An affair indicates that at least one person is emotionally or legally attached to another person while sneaking around with someone else. That's my understanding of an affair. Sophie had issues.

[Christina, but with tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well-written read, but I found that I wasn’t as invested in the characters and their situation as much as I could have been. I don’t think this was due to any particular flaws in the story, maybe it was more that I just didn’t care for the emphasis put on reputation and politics, nor for the fact that there were a lot of issues for the couple to work through all at once, much of it having to do with Sophie’s past and Duane’s present. It felt as if there were just too many ingredients in the pot. The political figure in the spotlight because of his relationship with a younger woman with a past just isn’t my usual go-to in a romance. If some of the issues the couple dealt with in the book had been more interesting to me personally, I probably would have rated this much higher. I’d recommend this to someone looking for a category romance that features an older man/younger woman dynamic and the relationship-in-crisis trope.

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[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A theater designer's secret romance with a much older political candidate threatens scandal as she must cope with her past of abuse and promiscuity and recurrence of her eating disorder--at least all that throwing up must mean the bulimia is back, right? She couldn't possibly be pregnant, could she? A good read, and the series-related infodumps are handled more elegantly than the earlier book in this series I read (Just Around the Corner: Shelter Valley Stories).

[Roub · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book had more emotions more depth than the usual harlequins. it actually touched my heart how sophie had to cope with her past and move on. the past never really goes away and does tend to follow you. you have to accept it and live with it and also live with other people prejudices about you because of your past. a keeper definitely. it was not a 4 or 5 star for me cause i think the author still has room for improvement in her writing style she could have made the story more poignant. you want to know what i'm talking about ? then try Wanted by Her Lost Love by maya banks. you'll get my point;-)she wrote a very good story and her writing style is amazing as well