Kristina C. (katcurtis) reviewed Perfect Secrets: When Dreams Won't Die / Across a Crowded Room / The Return of Travis Dean / Redemption on + 121 more book reviews
Stories are okay. The story by Brenda Joyce is the best.
Robin M. (robinmy) -
I picked up this romance anthology to read "Across a Crowded Room" by Judith O'Brien.
Nicole Lovett's new job has led her to Savannah, Georgia, where she works for a small TV station and moves into her late Aunt Adele's house. When a new position opens up at work, Nicole is sure she will get the job. Instead it is given to Martha Cox, a former Miss Georgia and Nicole's high school nemesis. When Martha arrives in Savannah she visits Nicole and unknowingly eats a piece of fruitcake that Aunt Adele made nearly half a century ago, Nicole hopes she gets a stomach ache. Instead, Martha disappears from her hotel room and never shows up for her first day of work. Nicole is sure that Martha has died from ingesting the fruitcake; and the cute guy who asked her out must be a cop trying to get the the goods on her. Christopher Quinn claims to be a writer; but is he a homicide detective trying to get a confession from Nicole?
I enjoyed the first-person narrative in this short story. I found it very amusing and loved her use of sarcasm. The romance was very light and we didn't get to know the Christopher very well. If you're looking for a nice in-depth romance, skip this one. If you want a funny story with a somewhat ditzy heroine, you might like this one. My rating: 4 Stars.
Nicole Lovett's new job has led her to Savannah, Georgia, where she works for a small TV station and moves into her late Aunt Adele's house. When a new position opens up at work, Nicole is sure she will get the job. Instead it is given to Martha Cox, a former Miss Georgia and Nicole's high school nemesis. When Martha arrives in Savannah she visits Nicole and unknowingly eats a piece of fruitcake that Aunt Adele made nearly half a century ago, Nicole hopes she gets a stomach ache. Instead, Martha disappears from her hotel room and never shows up for her first day of work. Nicole is sure that Martha has died from ingesting the fruitcake; and the cute guy who asked her out must be a cop trying to get the the goods on her. Christopher Quinn claims to be a writer; but is he a homicide detective trying to get a confession from Nicole?
I enjoyed the first-person narrative in this short story. I found it very amusing and loved her use of sarcasm. The romance was very light and we didn't get to know the Christopher very well. If you're looking for a nice in-depth romance, skip this one. If you want a funny story with a somewhat ditzy heroine, you might like this one. My rating: 4 Stars.
Suzanne F. reviewed Perfect Secrets: When Dreams Won't Die / Across a Crowded Room / The Return of Travis Dean / Redemption on + 22 more book reviews
4 wonderful stories by 4 wonderful authors. I had only read Brenda Joyce, but easy read through all 4 stories and discovered some new authors I like. All 4 stories deliver romantic and unforgettable tales of scandal, deception and perfect secrets. Illusions will be shattered, lives will be changed--and nothing will ever be the same once they are revealed.
When Dreams Don't Die by Brenda Joyce
Across a Crowded Room by Judith O'Brien
The Return of Travis Dean by Kathleen Kane
Redemption by Delia Parr
When Dreams Don't Die by Brenda Joyce
Across a Crowded Room by Judith O'Brien
The Return of Travis Dean by Kathleen Kane
Redemption by Delia Parr
jjares reviewed Perfect Secrets: When Dreams Won't Die / Across a Crowded Room / The Return of Travis Dean / Redemption on + 3413 more book reviews
This wasn't a great group of short stories. Below is a synopsis of each tale. I found the most to like in the last story.
WHEN DREAMS WON'T DIE (Brenda Joyce) Contemporary story or not, I have certain expectations about a heroine. I expect a heroine to have a moral compass that isn't affected by hormones. Blair slept with her to-be brother-in-law days before his marriage to her sister.
Then she left town, had the baby, didn't tell the father, raised said child on her own, comes back to her hometown and doesn't think the citizens will figure out she had the baby with the man she had obviously had a crush on during her growing-up years. I wondered what (love interest) Matt saw in Blair.
ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM (Judith O'Brien) This is another contemporary story that seemed rather hollow. Aunt Adele was an interesting character, as were Christopher Quinn and Nicole Lovett. However, there was too much plot and not enough time for development to suit me.
THE RETURN OF TRAVIS DEAN (Kathleen Kane) This story seemed to have lots of potential until the ghosts interfered. I just don't care for ethereal beings in my historical romances.
Travis has been gone four years instead of four days. Katie, obviously anticipating their nuptials, had Travis' baby while he was gone. To save herself embarrassment, she tells the local citizens that she and Travis married secretly before he left. When Travis comes back, Katie won't let him tell her why he was delayed for such a long time. That just didn't seem logical or likely.
REDEMPTION (Delia Parr) Of the four stories, I enjoyed this one most. Sarah has a tarnished reputation, through no fault of her own. She lives outside of a small town, waiting for the community to change their opinion of her.
During a blizzard, someone approaches Sarah's cabin and bangs to get in. After Sarah realizes that it is not her former fiancee' (coming to taunt her some more), she helps the stranger survive. However, her former fiancee' seeing the back of the stranger leaving, tells the town that Sarah has had a man with her during the storm.
The author does a nice job of showing the hero and heroine growing, through their interaction with each other, so that they brought out the best in each other.
This was a nice story, but it could not save the others.
WHEN DREAMS WON'T DIE (Brenda Joyce) Contemporary story or not, I have certain expectations about a heroine. I expect a heroine to have a moral compass that isn't affected by hormones. Blair slept with her to-be brother-in-law days before his marriage to her sister.
Then she left town, had the baby, didn't tell the father, raised said child on her own, comes back to her hometown and doesn't think the citizens will figure out she had the baby with the man she had obviously had a crush on during her growing-up years. I wondered what (love interest) Matt saw in Blair.
ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM (Judith O'Brien) This is another contemporary story that seemed rather hollow. Aunt Adele was an interesting character, as were Christopher Quinn and Nicole Lovett. However, there was too much plot and not enough time for development to suit me.
THE RETURN OF TRAVIS DEAN (Kathleen Kane) This story seemed to have lots of potential until the ghosts interfered. I just don't care for ethereal beings in my historical romances.
Travis has been gone four years instead of four days. Katie, obviously anticipating their nuptials, had Travis' baby while he was gone. To save herself embarrassment, she tells the local citizens that she and Travis married secretly before he left. When Travis comes back, Katie won't let him tell her why he was delayed for such a long time. That just didn't seem logical or likely.
REDEMPTION (Delia Parr) Of the four stories, I enjoyed this one most. Sarah has a tarnished reputation, through no fault of her own. She lives outside of a small town, waiting for the community to change their opinion of her.
During a blizzard, someone approaches Sarah's cabin and bangs to get in. After Sarah realizes that it is not her former fiancee' (coming to taunt her some more), she helps the stranger survive. However, her former fiancee' seeing the back of the stranger leaving, tells the town that Sarah has had a man with her during the storm.
The author does a nice job of showing the hero and heroine growing, through their interaction with each other, so that they brought out the best in each other.
This was a nice story, but it could not save the others.
Nyoka B. (Nyoka) reviewed Perfect Secrets: When Dreams Won't Die / Across a Crowded Room / The Return of Travis Dean / Redemption on + 36 more book reviews
I loved this book .
Sonda C. (Sgconley) reviewed Perfect Secrets: When Dreams Won't Die / Across a Crowded Room / The Return of Travis Dean / Redemption on + 91 more book reviews
From the foothills of east Texas to the moss-draped riverbanks of Savannah, from a small twon in upstate New York to the sun-baked terrain of the Old West, four spectacular authors deliver romantic and unforgettable tales of scandals. Illusions will be shattered, lives will be changed - and nothing will ever be the same once they're revealed....Perfect Secrets
