Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Micah
Constantine Ross is a cocky, provoking little...yeah.
And I swear, I’d think that even if his family’s business wasn’t my biggest competition.
It’s time someone taught the man a lesson or two about life.
At least that’s what I tell myself when I offer him a job.
Call it my good deed for the year… maybe the century.

But now he’s in my shop.
In my space.
In my every damn thought.
In. My. Bed.

And how the hell am I supposed to resist him?

Constantine
I’ll be the first to admit I’ve royally screwed up, but what can I say?
I was a stupid teen who lost his dad and spiraled out of control.
Almost a decade later, I’m still trying to make amends.
The last thing I need is my family’s arch-nemesis wading into my life like he’s got all the answers.
Except… I really need money, and the arrogant jerk offered me a job.

 

I can deal with Micah’s attitude.
My attraction to him? That’s different.
He’s my boss, not my boyfriend.
And he’s way too old for me.
But God, he’s gorgeous.
Dominant.
Compelling.

I don’t want to want him…
But I can’t turn away.

 

Book Review

A by no means “typical” rivals-to-lovers story, ‘The Secret’ is book three in May Archer’s ‘Love in O’Leary’ series, and features Constantine, Julian’s brother, and Micah, the older florist who moved to town to STEAL Ross Landscaping and floral business. What! Say it isn’t so. Oh no, it’s true, and if Angela Ross has anything to do with it nobody in O’Leary will buy from Micah Bloom ever. Okay, it’s not quite that dastardly, but Micah’s Blooms is cutting into Con’s family business, especially with the destination weddings he has the contracts for and Con, being Con, just can’t help but needle the guy who never smiles and seems way too serious. Granted, it has nothing to do with Con thinking Micah is hot. Nothing at all.

 

Constantine was a teenager when his father died suddenly and he struggled with anger and guilt, acting out and getting into trouble. One such incident resulted in a wealthy lawyer suing Con’s mom and taking her for just about everything she had. Con’s been paying penance for almost a decade now, and not because his mom makes him feel that way, it’s just how he feels about his responsibility in the debacle. Needless to say, there’s a lot of family baggage to unpack in this book on top of Constantine’s own feelings.

 

“Just like everyone else, he seemed to expect me to be someone I wasn’t, and all I could ever do was fail, and fail, and fail.” ~ Constantine

 

An overheard conversation leads Micah to hiring Constantine to help him off-hours and in secret which is the beginning of these two seeing each other in a different light. Thus begins one of the sweetest and most honest romances I may have ever read. Neither man holds back on their conversations trying to be honest and upfront in all things. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but that’s life and I appreciated the vagaries even more because of it. The family dynamics are definitely fun, even more so on Micah’s side with his siblings, and I was happy to see Con and his mom work through some of their misunderstandings.

 

So far, this has been my favorite book of the series, although I’ve loved them all. There’s something about Con that I relate to and of course, a sexy age-gap is my utter go-to. I loved seeing some of my favorite people again, but I was all about these men and their happy-ever-after. Thank you, May, for bringing the “bratty” brothers story to life in all of its glory.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 350 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	22-March-2019
Price	$5.99 ebook, $18.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PSKK73K