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The Marriage Secret
After three years of marriage, Emily Lynch is still wildly in love with her husband, computer magnate Finn Lynch, despite his workaholic habits. The only thorn in her side is the late nights he spends working with Maeve, his ex-wife and the mother of his child. Emily has always found Finn secretive about his relationship with Maeve - now Emily has a secret of her own to tell Finn at their anniversary dinner. But Finn spends yet another late night with Maeve…
41 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
5 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Kim Lawrence
807 books212 followersThough lacking much authentic Welsh blood, Kim Lawrence comes from English-Irish stock. She was born and brought up in North Wales. She returned there when she married, and her sons were both born on Anglesey, an island off the coast. Though not isolated, Anglesey is a little off the beaten track, but lively Dublin, which Kim loves, is only a short ferry ride away. Today they live on the farm her husband was brought up on. Welsh is the first language of many people in this area and Kim's husband and sons are all bilingual she is having a lot of fun, not to mention a few headaches, trying to learn the language! She is a keen gardener and cook and enjoys running often on the beach, as living on an island the sea is never very far away. She is usually accompanied by her Jack Russell, Sprout don't ask, it's long story!
With small children, the unsocial hours of nursing didn't look attractive so encouraged by a husband who thinks she can do anything she sets her mind to, Kim tried her hand at writing. Always a keen Mills & Boon reader, it seemed natural for her to write a romance novel. In 1995, she published her first novels and now she can't imagine doing anything else.
With small children, the unsocial hours of nursing didn't look attractive so encouraged by a husband who thinks she can do anything she sets her mind to, Kim tried her hand at writing. Always a keen Mills & Boon reader, it seemed natural for her to write a romance novel. In 1995, she published her first novels and now she can't imagine doing anything else.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 14, 2019
Short, short story about a heroine who's husband didn't come home for the anniversary dinner and she finds him with his ex wife sitting on a couch clinking glasses and drinking champagne. She dumps the dinner she made him on his lap and I applauded those actions. The hero is clueless. He is totally keeping secrets from her and wonders why she doesn't trust him. He then says I forgot. We were celebrating her pregnancy. She already has a son with him named Adam and the heroine was waiting to tell him she was pregnant on their anniversary. He is a jerk to the h over her jealousy and won't tell her whether the baby is his or not. Of course it isn't but he is such a moron to not be open with her. And then when the truth comes out in the end about his son and ex-wife the story ends. We never find out if she is moving away with Adam or if they will share custody. It's crazy. I just wanted to slap him so I slapped my husband instead. LOL. Not really. Just kidding. But it would have made me feel better. :}. And its so short I feel embarrassed even adding it as a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2019
UPDATE: Reread March, 2019
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
He has a very close relationship with ex-wife so much that he forgets their anniversary because he's sipping champagne with the ex.
The current wife has reason to feel insecure because he spends more time with his ex-wife than with her.
I think the story is kind of silly and the motivations of the hero a little dumb.
The relationship with the heroine was based only on sex he didn't trust or opened with her.
If he had trusted her since the beginning of the relationship he would have avoided a lot of headache.
===================
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
He has a very close relationship with ex-wife so much that he forgets their anniversary because he's sipping champagne with the ex.
The current wife has reason to feel insecure because he spends more time with his ex-wife than with her.
I think the story is kind of silly and the motivations of the hero a little dumb.
The relationship with the heroine was based only on sex he didn't trust or opened with her.
If he had trusted her since the beginning of the relationship he would have avoided a lot of headache.
===================
"You'll have to come up with a better one than that! Mr. Lynch is here, but Mrs. Lynch is already with him and has been all night!" he revealed with an air of triumph. So what's new, Emily felt like asking.
Sitting side by side on the chunky leather sofa in Finn's office, her husband and his ex-wife were chinking glasses as Emily, her chin up but her heart breaking, walked in. They didn't hear her; they were too wrapped up in each other.
"No, Don't go, Maeve!" Finn appealed as his ex-wife shrugged on a fur-trimmed coat.
"You put Maeve in an impossible position," Finn censured icily as the door closed.
"You put me in an impossible position when you carried on working with your ex-wife on a daily basis after we were married. I don't expect you not to see her,"
"Are you sleeping with Maeve, Finn?"
"You can't deny you see more of her than you do me!"
"Maybe I just enjoy Maeve's company more?" Finn suggested, the maverick pulse in his lean left cheek working overtime.
"And maybe I've got tired of playing the understanding wife to your selfish husband!" she flung back.
"Maeve isn't the problem here, your pathological jealousy and lack of self-esteem is."
"Yes, I put it on for you, Finn. I put it on when I thought that for once you'd come home when you said you would."
"Maeve has always been a loyal and valuable member of the team."
"Other than the fact you were drinking champagne with her on our anniversary? Let me see…."
"No, Finn, that's Maeve you're thinking of. I'm Emily, the dumb redhead you keep at home."
"Sometimes you treat me more like a mistress than a wife!" she accused hotly. "Is that a bad thing?"
"Maeve told me tonight that Adam is going to have a little brother or sister, hence the champagne."
"Maeve is having a baby?" Please don't let it be….
"Which way did my wife go?" he barked unsmilingly. "Which one, sir?"
Finn had gone straight back to the house he shared with Maeve and asked her for a divorce.
Despite this agreement Finn could tell Maeve had been taken aback by his request.
Finn had been pretty devastated to discover that he was her first.
"I suppose the next thing I'm supposed to do is plead with you to believe that Maeve's baby isn't mine?" His eyes hardened. "Well, news flash, sweetheart. I'm not going to!"
"I am not being defensive." "Yes, you are — defensive, secretive, furtive…"
"Oh God, the dinner party!" she wailed,36
"Don't panic, Maeve has already offered to stand in for you."
"Isn't that nice of Maeve." "Yes, isn't it," Finn responded absently, totally failing to detect the irony in his wife's bitter tone.
August 8, 2020
Hero forgets his third wedding anniversary and spends it with his ex-wife in his office. Heroine was going to tell him she was pregnant over a romantic dinner - instead she dumps it on his lap.
That was the high point of the story.
Hero can't understand why the heroine was upset - she knows he's brilliant and loses track of the time. She knows his ex-wife is important to his business and will always be important in his life because of the son they have together.
Why can't the little lady be happy she's pregnant and leave him be?
Heard enough?
Well, this heroine is so brain dead and she's already half-way to forgiving him with one sensual touch.
The author obviously felt the readers needed more - so here's the big ol' secret from the title:
Not my idea of an HEA
That was the high point of the story.
Hero can't understand why the heroine was upset - she knows he's brilliant and loses track of the time. She knows his ex-wife is important to his business and will always be important in his life because of the son they have together.
Why can't the little lady be happy she's pregnant and leave him be?
Heard enough?
Well, this heroine is so brain dead and she's already half-way to forgiving him with one sensual touch.
The author obviously felt the readers needed more - so here's the big ol' secret from the title:
Not my idea of an HEA
December 19, 2009
A HQN mini w/ an apt title. Finn is a 6-5, blue-eyed Irish-Italian traffic stopper (KL must be partial ‘cuz it’s the 2nd book featuring a hero w/ the same distinguished traits). It was luv & lust @ 1st sight the moment he met Adam’s (his son from previous marriage) nursery teacher. He asked Maeve for a divorce so he can pursue Emily, a 5-2, shy, red-haired looker. She was smitten w/ him too but was wary, ‘cuz she thought he’s on a rebound. It’s their 3rd wedding anniversary now & Emily is fuming. He’s a no-show, after Emily has lovingly prepared a sumptuous dinner & waited for 3 hours. When she checks on him @ the office, guess who answers the phone ? Yup, Finn’s ex-wife, the mother of his son. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Emily decides to give Finn his comeuppance, so she marches up to his office. The security guard initially wouldn’t let her in, assuming she’s telling whoppers when she claims she’s the boss’s wife. She sees red upon her arrival as she witnesses a cozy scene : Finn & Maeve making a celebratory toast on a sofa. Emily dumps the dinner on dear hubby’s lap & ex-wife discreetly exits, not wanting to be caught in the line of fire. Emily confronts Finn that she’s had it up to here, she’s sick & tired of playing the mistress role, ‘cuz he seems to spend more time w/ his ex (who still works for his company). Unfortunately, he thinks the problem is centered on the fact that they’ve been shooting blanks the last 3 yrs & the recurrent childless issue has stretched their marriage beyond the breaking point. She drops the bombshell in his face that she’s finally preggers. Gasp ! Finn shares his own news w/ Emily too, his ex-wife also got knocked up. Emily jumps the gun, adhering to the common practice in HPlandia. Finn’s incensed that his wife automatically assumes it’s his bun in Maeve’s oven, but he can’t really divulge who the daddy is ‘cuz it’s not his place to broadcast it, digging his own grave deeper. She walks out & he follows her home, where they continue their unfinished feud. He thinks Emily’s simply suffering from inferiority complex & too fixated on Maeve, on top of having major trust issues (for good reason, ‘cuz Emily’s dad was a serial philanderer). They just can’t see eye to eye ‘cuz Emily smells something fishy in the air & it isn’t due to her culinary skills. He’s tight-lipped ‘bout his previous marriage & it’s driving her bonkers. It doesn’t help that her hormones are ricocheting like crazy. Can they resolve their conflicts & salvage their marriage before it’s way too late ?
Another winner, brief as it was. KL has such a way w/ words & her brilliant wit was v. much in evidence, judging from the sparkling banter between H/H & their inner dialogues. 1 of the things that Finn appreciates ‘bout his fiery wife, aside from her combustible bod, is her acerbic wit & that there’s more to her than meets the naked eye. He luvs her whole package. Even in the midst of their mudsling, they wanna tear the clothes off each other. Their delish sexual tension still bubbles underneath the surface. They fight like cats & dogs ‘cuz they can’t agree on the other’s POV. Finn catapults 1 sarcastic riposte after another @ Emily & she drop-shots, w/ interest =)~. Both feel like they’re the injured party in this quagmire. I luved Finn’s protectiveness of Emily’s fragile health & the chemistry between ‘em is hawt & undeniable. It didn’t take an Einstein to figure out what Finn’s big secret was, esp in the light of his mumbled half-asleep confession ‘bout the real state of his previous marriage. When they ultimately kiss & make up, it’s so sweet (luv scenes were glossed over) that I wished it was longer. I can’t wait to dive into KL’s divine backlist.
Another winner, brief as it was. KL has such a way w/ words & her brilliant wit was v. much in evidence, judging from the sparkling banter between H/H & their inner dialogues. 1 of the things that Finn appreciates ‘bout his fiery wife, aside from her combustible bod, is her acerbic wit & that there’s more to her than meets the naked eye. He luvs her whole package. Even in the midst of their mudsling, they wanna tear the clothes off each other. Their delish sexual tension still bubbles underneath the surface. They fight like cats & dogs ‘cuz they can’t agree on the other’s POV. Finn catapults 1 sarcastic riposte after another @ Emily & she drop-shots, w/ interest =)~. Both feel like they’re the injured party in this quagmire. I luved Finn’s protectiveness of Emily’s fragile health & the chemistry between ‘em is hawt & undeniable. It didn’t take an Einstein to figure out what Finn’s big secret was, esp in the light of his mumbled half-asleep confession ‘bout the real state of his previous marriage. When they ultimately kiss & make up, it’s so sweet (luv scenes were glossed over) that I wished it was longer. I can’t wait to dive into KL’s divine backlist.
May 11, 2021
I feel like a romance curmudgeon.
This story is supposed to be a delightful farce that plays at being angsty while everything is really a big ol' misunderstanding that is cleared up once the wife knows the truth about her husband's first marriage.
Instead, I walk away extremely dissatisfied with the supposed HEA because
1) On the night of their third anniversary, when the heroine had been waiting at home for the workaholic hero with a romantic dinner and big news, he instead stays late at the office to toast his ex-wife's pregnancy with champagne. He even tells the heroine that he had not forgotten about their anniversary...but he didn't bother to call home despite the fact that he was three hours late for their celebration by the time she confronts him in his office.
2) When the heroine asks who the father of the ex-wife's baby is, the hero's instinctive response is not to tell her because the ex "isn't too keen on anyone knowing..."
3) There is no compelling reason to keep the truth about his first marriage () a secret from his beloved second wife. None. Not sharing the truth with her actually displays a disturbing lack of trust.
All we're really looking at are weak narrative choices for the sake of drama and plot convenience (aka bad writing), but if I don't go meta and choose to address these issues within the logic of the story, what we have is a husband repeatedly prioritizing his first wife over his current wife. Welcome to Secondbestville, population YOU, heroine.
This story is supposed to be a delightful farce that plays at being angsty while everything is really a big ol' misunderstanding that is cleared up once the wife knows the truth about her husband's first marriage.
Instead, I walk away extremely dissatisfied with the supposed HEA because
1) On the night of their third anniversary, when the heroine had been waiting at home for the workaholic hero with a romantic dinner and big news, he instead stays late at the office to toast his ex-wife's pregnancy with champagne. He even tells the heroine that he had not forgotten about their anniversary...but he didn't bother to call home despite the fact that he was three hours late for their celebration by the time she confronts him in his office.
2) When the heroine asks who the father of the ex-wife's baby is, the hero's instinctive response is not to tell her because the ex "isn't too keen on anyone knowing..."
3) There is no compelling reason to keep the truth about his first marriage () a secret from his beloved second wife. None. Not sharing the truth with her actually displays a disturbing lack of trust.
All we're really looking at are weak narrative choices for the sake of drama and plot convenience (aka bad writing), but if I don't go meta and choose to address these issues within the logic of the story, what we have is a husband repeatedly prioritizing his first wife over his current wife. Welcome to Secondbestville, population YOU, heroine.
dnf-try-again-later
December 11, 2021Self note
She thinks her hub is cheating on her with his ex wife.
The h is a boringly placid, plain Jane who’s a school teacher with a low self esteem.
DNF 20%
Her hub forgets their 3yr wedding anniversary. After waiting 3 hrs for him to show up, she goes to his works and catches him alone drinking champagne with his ex wife. She confronts him and asked if he’s sleeping with his ex, and they argue. She’s starting to really feel like he’s cheating…but then he takes his pants off to change and her private starts tingling, because he makes her horny. In middle of a fight about cheating…??? what a doormat.
DNF
More info
Ex works with him, he sees her everyday.
He and the ex have a child.
The h was totally understanding…
Ex is sexy gorg, the h plain.
Might’ve been a good angst story if the h didn’t come across a fucking doormat from the start.
If you’re looking for a decent emotional cheating story, check out Breaking Point by Emma Darcy instead.
She thinks her hub is cheating on her with his ex wife.
The h is a boringly placid, plain Jane who’s a school teacher with a low self esteem.
DNF 20%
Her hub forgets their 3yr wedding anniversary. After waiting 3 hrs for him to show up, she goes to his works and catches him alone drinking champagne with his ex wife. She confronts him and asked if he’s sleeping with his ex, and they argue. She’s starting to really feel like he’s cheating…but then he takes his pants off to change and her private starts tingling, because he makes her horny. In middle of a fight about cheating…??? what a doormat.
DNF
More info
Ex works with him, he sees her everyday.
He and the ex have a child.
The h was totally understanding…
Ex is sexy gorg, the h plain.
Might’ve been a good angst story if the h didn’t come across a fucking doormat from the start.
If you’re looking for a decent emotional cheating story, check out Breaking Point by Emma Darcy instead.
November 24, 2024
Didn't feel any love between the MCs. I felt the H treated h as a doormat and she allowed it. He gave more importance to his ex-wife and treated her better than the h. I hate characters who beg for scraps of attention 🤮.
Tags: boring-yaawn, divorced-hero, doormat_heroine, emotional-cheating, hero-has-kid-or-kids, hero-hurts-heroine, hero-married-to-heroine, ow-drama, read, rich-hero, unlikable-hero, unlikable-heroine, waste-of-time, weak-hero, weak-heroine, troubled-marriage
Tags: boring-yaawn, divorced-hero, doormat_heroine, emotional-cheating, hero-has-kid-or-kids, hero-hurts-heroine, hero-married-to-heroine, ow-drama, read, rich-hero, unlikable-hero, unlikable-heroine, waste-of-time, weak-hero, weak-heroine, troubled-marriage
July 16, 2021
It’s on the cheating shelf because he’s an arrogant ass, who can’t seem to keep straight which wife is more important, the ex or the current, not that he was actually cheating. Current wife should have walked and let him do some real chasing, and honestly, an apology might have been nice.
May 14, 2022
It has great potential to be angsty with too dumb H in need of at least a hundred skilleting, alas it was too short with a h in need of calcium supplements!
December 5, 2014
I read book a while ago and came across it again. After reading it I remember why I wanted to throw my iPad across the room. The H, may not have slept with his ex wife but to me still cheated. Did he spent ample amount of time with other women.. YES, did he have intimate conversations with OW? .... YES, did he kiss her??? YES, did he hug her/ hold her?? .... YES. so the only thing missing from this equation is the sex part. So yes in my book he has been cheating on the h for the entire length of their marriage. Plus he kept all kinds of things from his wife and he even admitted that the secret was between the H and the OW. What wife in her right mind would put up with that?
Personally there was nothing I liked about the H, to me he felt entitled to his relationship to the other woman and his wife better just like it..... AS IF!!!! I bet if the tables were turned he would not like it so. I so wanted to hit him in the head with a frying pan. Seriously what women would be ok with that set up... evidently the H thought his wife would. And when she started to ask he typical response was he was not going to respond then he would turn the tables around on her and blame her for being jealous and unreasonable. (I don't see how??!!) H, is working late, missed their anniversary dinner, he is still in his office drinking champaign with his arm wrapped around the ow... and that made the h jealous and unreasonable? I sure hope so.
Any ways enough about the idiot. The book over all is ok I generally love Kim Lawrence. This book was not my favorite... and it is solely cause the H was a complete idiot!
Personally there was nothing I liked about the H, to me he felt entitled to his relationship to the other woman and his wife better just like it..... AS IF!!!! I bet if the tables were turned he would not like it so. I so wanted to hit him in the head with a frying pan. Seriously what women would be ok with that set up... evidently the H thought his wife would. And when she started to ask he typical response was he was not going to respond then he would turn the tables around on her and blame her for being jealous and unreasonable. (I don't see how??!!) H, is working late, missed their anniversary dinner, he is still in his office drinking champaign with his arm wrapped around the ow... and that made the h jealous and unreasonable? I sure hope so.
Any ways enough about the idiot. The book over all is ok I generally love Kim Lawrence. This book was not my favorite... and it is solely cause the H was a complete idiot!
June 1, 2023
My rating: 2 stars
What I liked: I liked the twist at the end about the son and how Maeve changed her mind. I liked how Emily(h) dumped the food on Finn(H) in the beginning of the book. He deserved more but at least we got that :/
What I didn’t like: It annoyed me how Finn wouldn’t answer half of Emily’s questions or she would get distracted with wanting him and not demand an answer(major bbs). Also, he should have at least apologized for not going home on time when he said he would on their anniversary. Emily just let him off the hook.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: H and h are married. h is at the H’s job with his dinner since he didn’t come home to celebrate their anniversary. When she gets there she sees him with his ex wife toasting with champagne. h dumps her food on the H. H gets mad and when ex goes to leave he asks her not too. h tells him either ow leaves or she leaves. Ex leaves. h gets mad and lets him know she doesn’t like how much time he spends with ow. She asks him to fire the ex and H gets mad and tells the h no that she knew ex worked for him and they share a child. h proceeds to tell the H that she is pregnant. H tells her that the ex is pregnant too. h thinks it’s his and leaves. H goes after her. They fight and all is well when he tells her that it isn’t his and she needs to stop being jealous. Couple of days later (or maybe a week) H goes to the h’s job when he gets a phone call that the h fainted. He takes her home and has the doctor examine her. They find out that she is pregnant with twins. Later, they were supposed to host a business dinner but the H asked the ex to come and help so the h can rest. h doesn’t like it but oh well. h gets up when she hears the H and ex arguing. Ex plans to move and she will be taking the son. H is upset and tells the h when he goes to bed. h decides to have a talk with the ex. Ex tells her that the son isn’t the H’s. H shows up and he tells the h that the son is his brothers who died. They married but it was strictly friends and that him and the ex never shared a bed. Ex changes her mind about moving. HEA
Descriptive Sex: No
Final thoughts: Not going to lie but this was rough. Good thing it was a short read.
What I liked: I liked the twist at the end about the son and how Maeve changed her mind. I liked how Emily(h) dumped the food on Finn(H) in the beginning of the book. He deserved more but at least we got that :/
What I didn’t like: It annoyed me how Finn wouldn’t answer half of Emily’s questions or she would get distracted with wanting him and not demand an answer(major bbs). Also, he should have at least apologized for not going home on time when he said he would on their anniversary. Emily just let him off the hook.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: H and h are married. h is at the H’s job with his dinner since he didn’t come home to celebrate their anniversary. When she gets there she sees him with his ex wife toasting with champagne. h dumps her food on the H. H gets mad and when ex goes to leave he asks her not too. h tells him either ow leaves or she leaves. Ex leaves. h gets mad and lets him know she doesn’t like how much time he spends with ow. She asks him to fire the ex and H gets mad and tells the h no that she knew ex worked for him and they share a child. h proceeds to tell the H that she is pregnant. H tells her that the ex is pregnant too. h thinks it’s his and leaves. H goes after her. They fight and all is well when he tells her that it isn’t his and she needs to stop being jealous. Couple of days later (or maybe a week) H goes to the h’s job when he gets a phone call that the h fainted. He takes her home and has the doctor examine her. They find out that she is pregnant with twins. Later, they were supposed to host a business dinner but the H asked the ex to come and help so the h can rest. h doesn’t like it but oh well. h gets up when she hears the H and ex arguing. Ex plans to move and she will be taking the son. H is upset and tells the h when he goes to bed. h decides to have a talk with the ex. Ex tells her that the son isn’t the H’s. H shows up and he tells the h that the son is his brothers who died. They married but it was strictly friends and that him and the ex never shared a bed. Ex changes her mind about moving. HEA
Descriptive Sex: No
Final thoughts: Not going to lie but this was rough. Good thing it was a short read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
never-reading-andor-finishing
April 10, 2019Hubby sounds like an ass/idiot.
See:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
See:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 13, 2017
Hero was married before he met the heroine and has a son. He gets a divorce when they meet and they date and get married because it was love at first sight. The books open on their 3 year anniversary when the hero stood her up to drink champagne with his ex wife. The heroine is angry and hurt, the hero yet again choose to spend time with his ex wife who he works with and shes in 2 place again. She says so and he then says that she is jealous due to her own insecurities. They kinda fight and he wins by setting down non ultimatum about trust. The ex and her turn up to be pregnant and the heroine again feels like second place, the hero just doesnt see it. The we and she find out the secret about the sham marriage and hea.
The book is too short for the plot it has and just did not like anyone in the book. The hero is a cheating scumbag, cheating is not limited to sex. He shares his whole life with his ex wife, in all times in the book when there was a choice the ex always cqme first. Dont really care about the secret because he might have lusted after the heroine but everything else he did with his ex. The ex that has someone new but feels a bit jealous that the hero wants the heroine sexually. But it was an angsty book so it was kinda good but there had to be some grovel and changes in him to be a good story.
The book is too short for the plot it has and just did not like anyone in the book. The hero is a cheating scumbag, cheating is not limited to sex. He shares his whole life with his ex wife, in all times in the book when there was a choice the ex always cqme first. Dont really care about the secret because he might have lusted after the heroine but everything else he did with his ex. The ex that has someone new but feels a bit jealous that the hero wants the heroine sexually. But it was an angsty book so it was kinda good but there had to be some grovel and changes in him to be a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2016
On Emily's third wedding anniversary with Finn, she confronts him at the office and finds him with his ex-wife. Nothing sexual, but Emily is suspicious. Especially since it seems that they're much closer than they should be and it seems that Finn is always hiding something. Emily is convinced that he's cheating on her - and it doesn't really help that she has major insecurities and trust issues.
This was not my favorite novella. First of all - I don't care whether he's sleeping with her or not, the fact that on their wedding anniversary he's spending time with his ex-wife is an unforgivable offense. Especially after he admits that he hadn't forgotten it. That means he found it more important to sit in his office with his ex-wife than to be at home celebrating the anniversary with his wife. Emily is overly paranoid about Finn cheating...it really is a wonder they lasted three years. And Finn completely discounts Emily's feelings about how much time he spends with his ex-wife. And really, why couldn't Finn tell Emily about the secret? It seemed trivial and it wasn't that dramatic of a reveal anyway. Eh.
This was not my favorite novella. First of all - I don't care whether he's sleeping with her or not, the fact that on their wedding anniversary he's spending time with his ex-wife is an unforgivable offense. Especially after he admits that he hadn't forgotten it. That means he found it more important to sit in his office with his ex-wife than to be at home celebrating the anniversary with his wife. Emily is overly paranoid about Finn cheating...it really is a wonder they lasted three years. And Finn completely discounts Emily's feelings about how much time he spends with his ex-wife. And really, why couldn't Finn tell Emily about the secret? It seemed trivial and it wasn't that dramatic of a reveal anyway. Eh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2018
Extremely unhealthy relationship.
The hero is such an ass. He spends the whole story gaslighting his wife. She knew something was wrong in their relationship and that he wasn't being honest with her, but instead of being honest, it's her fault that she doesn't trust him instead of his fault for lying. And he gives her an ultimatum that she better trust him or else. This is just so unhealthy, she's supposed to trust him when he's lying to her both by omission and just bold face lies at every tern?
He spends all his time with his ex and he treats the wife like she's got a problem because she cares that . . . I don't know . . . he spent his anniversary (of his marriage to his his wife) drinking champaign with his ex. And he isn't even honest with her! It's the ex who lets the big secret out of the bag.
Terrible, unromantic, and unhealthy, unless you're into your partner making you feel crazy when you call him on his lies.
The hero is such an ass. He spends the whole story gaslighting his wife. She knew something was wrong in their relationship and that he wasn't being honest with her, but instead of being honest, it's her fault that she doesn't trust him instead of his fault for lying. And he gives her an ultimatum that she better trust him or else. This is just so unhealthy, she's supposed to trust him when he's lying to her both by omission and just bold face lies at every tern?
He spends all his time with his ex and he treats the wife like she's got a problem because she cares that . . . I don't know . . . he spent his anniversary (of his marriage to his his wife) drinking champaign with his ex. And he isn't even honest with her! It's the ex who lets the big secret out of the bag.
Terrible, unromantic, and unhealthy, unless you're into your partner making you feel crazy when you call him on his lies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2021
I liked the spunky heroine. Not so much the emotionally insensitive and impractical hero. Why was the hero celebrating his ex-wife’s pregnancy on his anniversary? Why was the ex-wife celebrating it with said ex-husband/hero and not the baby daddy. You would think a simple verbal congratulations would work. Even when the co-workers think something is going on between you two, it’s no longer a misunderstanding. Cheating doesn’t have to be just physical or even intentional to be just that.
I said what I said.
I said what I said.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2017
Sorry, but there was just TOO much crammed in here to even say this was a short story much less a novella. Maybe with another 100 pages this would have been good, but the characters just came off as manic instead.
February 24, 2024
This was a cute mini novel. First mini for me.
I do not think the male character got any comeuppance and got off too lightly. Other than that it was a cute story.
I do not think the male character got any comeuppance and got off too lightly. Other than that it was a cute story.
January 19, 2016
mini
plot concept was fine but this was a poorly written story - no way to sugar coat it. No heat between H/h, she is a yelling at him over his ex and in the middle of it they grin at each other ??? - absolutely no flow to what should have been highly emotional situation.
plot concept was fine but this was a poorly written story - no way to sugar coat it. No heat between H/h, she is a yelling at him over his ex and in the middle of it they grin at each other ??? - absolutely no flow to what should have been highly emotional situation.
October 8, 2013
short but sweet & hot.
March 16, 2020
"Secreto de matrimonio"
-Lectura on-line-
2.5 stars
-Lectura on-line-
2.5 stars
May 23, 2023
The new harlequins suck. This book had a great idea and then made the FMC an idiot. The FMC had a right to question how much time he was spending with his ex wife. The FMC didn’t stick to her guns on demanding answers AND change from the MMC. The MMC was obnoxious and demeaning with regards to the FMC’s concerns and feelings. Regardless of the valid reasons the MMC had for his secrecy, he still was a sh!t husband to the FMC. He was always with the OW, he would use BBS against the FMC, he was present for the OW’s major moments but would forget his wife/FMC even while still in conversation with her.
The book ends with the FMC being made a fool in her worries because it was a valid secret, but with him getting everything his way without any effort on his part. Oh joy, not! It was terrible book with a good idea that just didn’t get executed well at all. I hate that I spent a buck on this. It’s not worth a penny. It’s like a draft of a story it was so fast paced and shallow. Ugh.
Good luck.
The book ends with the FMC being made a fool in her worries because it was a valid secret, but with him getting everything his way without any effort on his part. Oh joy, not! It was terrible book with a good idea that just didn’t get executed well at all. I hate that I spent a buck on this. It’s not worth a penny. It’s like a draft of a story it was so fast paced and shallow. Ugh.
Good luck.
January 5, 2025
I read this on harlequin website under free online reads long back. I enjoyed the short story at that time and still remember some of it.
Heroine is the second wife of the hero. They are very much in love but he spends most of his time with his ex at the office because she is his colleague or assistant... I forgot... and they are parenting her boy together so they talk a lot. This creates a misunderstanding between them because heroine thinks he is still in love with the ex. She hears some conversation between them and thinks he is in love with the ex wife and is sad because she is relocating to another the city with his stepson whom he loves. When she confronts him everything comes out. The hero is sad because of the boy he loves as his own and will miss him when the ex takes him away thus the pain and anger in his voice when he talks to the ex and insists she doesn't leave. All is well after the hero explains everything to the heroine.
Heroine is the second wife of the hero. They are very much in love but he spends most of his time with his ex at the office because she is his colleague or assistant... I forgot... and they are parenting her boy together so they talk a lot. This creates a misunderstanding between them because heroine thinks he is still in love with the ex. She hears some conversation between them and thinks he is in love with the ex wife and is sad because she is relocating to another the city with his stepson whom he loves. When she confronts him everything comes out. The hero is sad because of the boy he loves as his own and will miss him when the ex takes him away thus the pain and anger in his voice when he talks to the ex and insists she doesn't leave. All is well after the hero explains everything to the heroine.
May 27, 2018
very good plot, but pity because it isn't longer read.
March 21, 2023
Too short to develop the emotional intensity
May 24, 2023
Cute romance ,rather odd scenario.Perceived cheating. I
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2022
Heroe says it was love at first sight but he treats her like second best. The secret is something you truts to the one you love, but in this story you don't feel the love between the MC.
January 4, 2017
Leído el 19/12/2009
Lo tengo como "Secreto de matrimonio"
Lo tengo como "Secreto de matrimonio"
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