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Secret [With Bonus Material]
The ebook version contains the bonus material: Secret Prequel
Tristan Wilder, self-made millionaire and devastatingly handsome CEO of Wilder-Nation is on the verge of a very lucrative buyout. With tough negotiations ahead, he's armed with his acquisition pitch, ready to launch the deal of a lifetime. There’s just one glitch. The last thing he expects is to fall for the hot business owner he's trying to sway.
Dylan Reeves, computer science engineer and founder of the very successful social media site, Secret, is faced with a life-altering decision. A devoted family man with three kids and a wife, Dylan has been living a secret for years. Fiercely loyal to his convictions, his boundaries blur after meeting the striking owner of the corporation interested in acquiring his company. For the first time in his life, reckless desire consumes him when the gorgeous computer mogul makes an offer he can't refuse.
Tristan Wilder, self-made millionaire and devastatingly handsome CEO of Wilder-Nation is on the verge of a very lucrative buyout. With tough negotiations ahead, he's armed with his acquisition pitch, ready to launch the deal of a lifetime. There’s just one glitch. The last thing he expects is to fall for the hot business owner he's trying to sway.
Dylan Reeves, computer science engineer and founder of the very successful social media site, Secret, is faced with a life-altering decision. A devoted family man with three kids and a wife, Dylan has been living a secret for years. Fiercely loyal to his convictions, his boundaries blur after meeting the striking owner of the corporation interested in acquiring his company. For the first time in his life, reckless desire consumes him when the gorgeous computer mogul makes an offer he can't refuse.
327 pages, ebook
First published June 6, 2015
About the author
Kindle Alexander
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 541 reviews
April 4, 2016
Re-Read:
Sometimes I find I just need some Kindle Alexander in my life. Her books are simply guilty pleasure reads for me. I just eat them up.
Enjoyed it almost as much the second time around!
First read:
4.5 Stars!
Oh man, I think this might be my favorite Kindle Alexander yet!!!!
That blurb, no lie….
….had me shaking in my boots. It screamed angst and drama. Which I HATE! I mean one of the MCs…married. This cannot end well.
Reading those first few chapters…..I was sucked right in. And damn if this one didn't turn out to be even better than I expected.
I loved the social media aspect. Dylan has created Secret a social media site that leaves zero paper trail.
And Tristan wants to snap the site up.
Dylan is buried DEEP in the closet. DEEP! I was afraid this part would really bother me. He was at times OTT paranoid about anyone finding out he was gay.
But this was offset by his absolute devotion to his family. He sacrificed his own happiness for that of his family.
Was his situation conventional? No
Did he make the right choices? Maybe. Maybe not.
I loved how supportive Tristan was of Dylan. He understood the situation he was in and he stood by Dylan. He never gave up on him. Not when Dylan wavered in his head about what was right and wrong. And not when Dylan needed him the absolute most.
I really loved everything about this. A few small details aside, this one was virtually perfect to me. A unique story, low drama and angst, off the charts smokin’ hot sex.
ARC kindly provided by Kindle Alexander in exchange for an honest review
Sometimes I find I just need some Kindle Alexander in my life. Her books are simply guilty pleasure reads for me. I just eat them up.
Enjoyed it almost as much the second time around!
First read:
4.5 Stars!
Oh man, I think this might be my favorite Kindle Alexander yet!!!!
That blurb, no lie….
….had me shaking in my boots. It screamed angst and drama. Which I HATE! I mean one of the MCs…married. This cannot end well.
Reading those first few chapters…..I was sucked right in. And damn if this one didn't turn out to be even better than I expected.
I loved the social media aspect. Dylan has created Secret a social media site that leaves zero paper trail.
And Tristan wants to snap the site up.
Dylan is buried DEEP in the closet. DEEP! I was afraid this part would really bother me. He was at times OTT paranoid about anyone finding out he was gay.
But this was offset by his absolute devotion to his family. He sacrificed his own happiness for that of his family.
Was his situation conventional? No
Did he make the right choices? Maybe. Maybe not.
I loved how supportive Tristan was of Dylan. He understood the situation he was in and he stood by Dylan. He never gave up on him. Not when Dylan wavered in his head about what was right and wrong. And not when Dylan needed him the absolute most.
I really loved everything about this. A few small details aside, this one was virtually perfect to me. A unique story, low drama and angst, off the charts smokin’ hot sex.
ARC kindly provided by Kindle Alexander in exchange for an honest review
June 15, 2015
Full Disclosure: I Owe Part of My Heart to Kindle Alexander
My use of the title of one of Kindle Alexander's best books (well, they are all "best books" in MY book) to lead off my headline of this review is done for two reasons: 1) It's the theme of the book, and 2) it's personal.
Let's get the personal out of the way. I have corresponded with Ms. Alexander for a couple of years because I just love what she does with men who have some serious issues about loving other men. A lot of authors do this very well, but she does it for such a wide cross-section of men in so many situations that I just kept telling her this, and she kept writing back and we had some very nice philosophical discussions (by e-mail only, we have never met or talked or Skyped or connected by social media), and shared some personal histories.
Therefore, I was completely taken aback when I saw to whom she dedicated this book--Bo--and I sent off a missive asking if she knew someone else by that name, and she said, "no, silly, it's you." And I nearly died on the spot--after my jaw hit the ground. Full disclosure.
Just so you don't think I was unduly influenced by this unbelievable honor, I wish to let you know that it took me a few days to let that settle in, and then I started to read, nervously. After all, what if I didn't like it? And, actually, the first couple of chapters, which concentrate on a bit of a family crisis in the life of computer genius and Dallas semi-mogul Dylan Reeves, threw me for a bit of a loop.
While the jacket blurb of the book does a good job of setting the reader up for a potential romance between him and computer genius and Laguna Beach mega-mogul Tristan Wilder, the exquisitely handled introduction of Dylan's family--wife Teri, daughters Chloe and Cate, son Chad--has me shaking my head: Is this going to be one of those books where one MC, i.e., Dylan, is straight as a Texas arrow and we are getting set up for a sloppy seduction process by an admitted player in Tristan Wilder? This man Dylan Reeves is a completely devoted husband and father, and you could not even imagine where Ms. Alexander is going with this.
Until the last couple of pages of Chapter Two--wherein you discover that the title of the book is not only the name of Dylan's high-tech company, but also the definition of virtually every little plot twist that comes along. And, wow! Do they twist and turn--but with such deft segues, beautiful writing, and extraordinary sexual heat that you ultimately cannot put the darn book down.
This one took my breath away in every way and in every chapter. It's fast-moving but not capricious, to the point but not nasty (well, one little incident is, but that's expected), mind bending but never outrageous in its premise that two alpha males just over the 35-year-old divide can blow their lives apart, but agree not to keep doing it, until there is no choice.
There is never a choice in this book for continuing to have secrets--which is why the title of the book, the name of the company, and the plot twists are so cool to contemplate. No, the reason there is no choice is because Dylan Reeves is one of the great characters to have emerged from the M/M contemporary romance novels I have read (and there are many): He lives his life on integrity, except, of course, for one part of it which some might say qualifies him as a hypocrite, but not when you get to know him. He is walking honesty personified, and he manages to change people's lives with that honesty and integrity without leaving the other people, or the reader, raising skeptical eyebrows--a testament to Ms. Alexander's fertile imagination.
That he has a wife who as a major positive player here may stun you at first, just as much as how a conflicted Tristan thrashes about trying to wrap his head around a man he cannot figure out, may take you aback at first. But when you get wrapped up in this tale, and this family, you will wonder how many other couples are in the same situation, and how few of them deal with it as this one does.
Here is a book that will challenge you to guess when the next secret is disclosed, and how these people will deal with it. That Ms. Alexander will toss a nice little bomb in your path to each of those discoveries will rivet you to the page, this tale, and to these characters.
One could have no greater honor than to have had a book like this carry one's name on the Dedication page.
My use of the title of one of Kindle Alexander's best books (well, they are all "best books" in MY book) to lead off my headline of this review is done for two reasons: 1) It's the theme of the book, and 2) it's personal.
Let's get the personal out of the way. I have corresponded with Ms. Alexander for a couple of years because I just love what she does with men who have some serious issues about loving other men. A lot of authors do this very well, but she does it for such a wide cross-section of men in so many situations that I just kept telling her this, and she kept writing back and we had some very nice philosophical discussions (by e-mail only, we have never met or talked or Skyped or connected by social media), and shared some personal histories.
Therefore, I was completely taken aback when I saw to whom she dedicated this book--Bo--and I sent off a missive asking if she knew someone else by that name, and she said, "no, silly, it's you." And I nearly died on the spot--after my jaw hit the ground. Full disclosure.
Just so you don't think I was unduly influenced by this unbelievable honor, I wish to let you know that it took me a few days to let that settle in, and then I started to read, nervously. After all, what if I didn't like it? And, actually, the first couple of chapters, which concentrate on a bit of a family crisis in the life of computer genius and Dallas semi-mogul Dylan Reeves, threw me for a bit of a loop.
While the jacket blurb of the book does a good job of setting the reader up for a potential romance between him and computer genius and Laguna Beach mega-mogul Tristan Wilder, the exquisitely handled introduction of Dylan's family--wife Teri, daughters Chloe and Cate, son Chad--has me shaking my head: Is this going to be one of those books where one MC, i.e., Dylan, is straight as a Texas arrow and we are getting set up for a sloppy seduction process by an admitted player in Tristan Wilder? This man Dylan Reeves is a completely devoted husband and father, and you could not even imagine where Ms. Alexander is going with this.
Until the last couple of pages of Chapter Two--wherein you discover that the title of the book is not only the name of Dylan's high-tech company, but also the definition of virtually every little plot twist that comes along. And, wow! Do they twist and turn--but with such deft segues, beautiful writing, and extraordinary sexual heat that you ultimately cannot put the darn book down.
This one took my breath away in every way and in every chapter. It's fast-moving but not capricious, to the point but not nasty (well, one little incident is, but that's expected), mind bending but never outrageous in its premise that two alpha males just over the 35-year-old divide can blow their lives apart, but agree not to keep doing it, until there is no choice.
There is never a choice in this book for continuing to have secrets--which is why the title of the book, the name of the company, and the plot twists are so cool to contemplate. No, the reason there is no choice is because Dylan Reeves is one of the great characters to have emerged from the M/M contemporary romance novels I have read (and there are many): He lives his life on integrity, except, of course, for one part of it which some might say qualifies him as a hypocrite, but not when you get to know him. He is walking honesty personified, and he manages to change people's lives with that honesty and integrity without leaving the other people, or the reader, raising skeptical eyebrows--a testament to Ms. Alexander's fertile imagination.
That he has a wife who as a major positive player here may stun you at first, just as much as how a conflicted Tristan thrashes about trying to wrap his head around a man he cannot figure out, may take you aback at first. But when you get wrapped up in this tale, and this family, you will wonder how many other couples are in the same situation, and how few of them deal with it as this one does.
Here is a book that will challenge you to guess when the next secret is disclosed, and how these people will deal with it. That Ms. Alexander will toss a nice little bomb in your path to each of those discoveries will rivet you to the page, this tale, and to these characters.
One could have no greater honor than to have had a book like this carry one's name on the Dedication page.
March 30, 2017
Wow, color me impressed. I'm really glad that I overcame my initial misgivings while reading the book's blurb and took my friend Toni's review at face value.
(Or in this case, by the blurb sounding like there's cheating...)
I'd feared that with the wife and three kids, this book might contain cheating, a hard limit for me, but I'm pleased to report that the book contains zero adultery, is low drama and completely free of 'fuckery', as my gal pal Dani would probably say. ;- )
How? Well, Dylan may be the married owner of a popular social media site, named Secret, but he is also honest to a fault, living by an extremely strict moral code. One which included divulging to his wife and best friend, Teri, that he was gay, back when their three nearly college aged children were still very young. Other than Dylan's wife, no one else knows.
And although his wife has been in a committed, although secret, relationship with a very nice man for a few years, Dylan refuses to allow himself the same happiness, having decided to cloister himself away until the youngest of their children leaves for college.
That's the plan and he refuses to stray from it. Until he meets Tristan.
The two meet when Dylan visits Southern California to engage in talks with Wilder, Inc. in regards to them buying his online web site, Secret.
When Tristan Wilder first meets Dylan, he's immediately taken by Dylan's tall, toned, auburn-haired good looks.
And although Dylan keeps it well-hidden, he's equally attracted to Tristan, the tall, sandy-blond, gym-toned CEO of Wilder, Inc.
But on Dylan's first night in town, the executives at Wilder take him and his staff to a strip club. A female strip club, where Dylan shows zero interest in the local talent, which sets off a San Andreas fault-sized *blip* on Tristan's finely-honed gaydar.
So after Tristan rescues him from the gentleman's club, now two people know Dylan's secret. And that scares the deeply-closeted married man nearly senseless.
However, serious attraction mixed with large quantities of alcohol never turn out well for Dylan's carefully-laid out life plans, so the two men end up in Tristan's bed, not once, but repeatedly, until Dylan returns home to Dallas at the end of his trip.
Once back in Dallas, Dylan tries his best to resume his former life, but now that he realizes what he's been missing and that a man as amazing as Tristan might want him, he begins to slowly come apart at the seams.
And after Tristan admits that "it’s just hard to go back to adequate once you’ve had spectacular,” well, he has no choice but to keep chipping away at Dylan's resolve until they have their shot at forever.
Overcoming his crippling fears of coming out resulted in several setbacks for the men, but Tristan didn't become a self-made success by giving up when things got difficult.
So Tristan pushes when needed, giving Dylan his space when required, but blatantly ignores Dylan's many attempts to distance himself from their budding relationship.
I absolutely loved how Tristan found a strong ally within Dylan's very own ranks to help the men get their happily ever after, which they eventually did. Those parts of the book had me snickering conspiratorially with a grin that would not leave my face. The whole thing was deliciously evil in the best way possible.
While the book spared the reader from having to endure scene after scene of gut-wrenching angst, it's a bit of an understatement to say that the story did *not* skimp on the sexy bits.
I lost count of how many (insanely hot, extremely versatile) intimate scenes that Dylan and Tristan shared, but all of them, every single one, felt necessary to the story and didn't come across as gratuitous or only there to sell more books.
And the scenes where Dylan loses both of his gay virginities? Sweet. Merciful. Crap. Someone call the fire department, stat!
I would not consider this book really as erotica, mainly due to how strong the story was, but I'd be hard-pressed to think of a sexier read from this year. The book's cover is sizzling, but nothing compared to what's between the pages.
There's also Tristan's Ferrari, which like Dylan's son, I also coveted highly. *insert-drooling-below*
This was an amazingly touching and humorous story of remaining true to what's important in your life, while adjusting your goals to create the life that will truly make you happy.
5 highly-enjoyable *It's-in-my-hand!* stars, but you'll have to read the book to find out exactly what that means. It was seriously priceless, though. ;- )
Buy. Read. Now!
------------------------------------------------
My copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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November 11, 2021
Secret is a stand alone, M/M romance by Kindle Alexander. This has been out for a few years now and it’s been on my to read list for some time. One of the characters is going to get a book of his own soon and is introduced in this book so I decided it was finally time to read it and wow! Just wow! It was absolutely amazing.
First I want to introduce you to Dylan Reeves. He is thirty seven years old, married to his best friend and has three kids, one already in college and the other two almost ready to go. Dylan has built a social network app that allows people to chat and then the chat completely disappears, leaving no trail. He’s gone as far as he can with it and is ready to sell so the company can be taken to higher levels. Dylan’s company, his app, is called Secret. Which is appropriate because Dylan has so many secrets. Secrets he’s been living with almost all of his adult life. You also need to know that Dylan is the best kind of man, honorable, trustworthy. His family is his world. A world he’s sacrificed everything for.
Tristan Wilder is thirty six years old. He’s built a huge computer software company, Wilder, Inc. He wants to purchase Secret. It’s exactly what he needs, an area he hasn’t been able to excel in within his own company. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win this bid, including wining and dining the owner and his employees while they present their offer. But, as soon as the owner, Dylan Reeves, walked in, every thought, every plan he had walked right out the door. All he saw was the man, a man he wanted.
“Being in Dylan’s arms felt like home.”
Tristan had never been in a real relationship. His work was pretty much his life. Dylan had no experience, having lived his life in the closet. The sparks between these two could light up several city blocks. But, Dylan’s walls were firmly in place around him. And let’s not forget the fact that Tristan is buying Dylan’s company. Could these two have any more road blocks in their way? I loved watching the transformation of these two, especially Tristan. He was pretty much flummoxed by his feelings for Dylan. He just wasn’t a relationship guy, up to that point anyway. He found himself willing to do anything to win Dylan over, to give him a chance. Even pretending to be a jogger on a long run and almost killing himself in the process.
What a wonderful, well written book this was! I both respected Dylan for how he lived his life and he also frustrated me. I wanted him to fall so hard that he couldn’t deny Tristan a single thing. And he did fall hard and fast but still tried to make the right choices. I do want to add in here that his three kids are absolutely amazing! He and his wife Terri, clearly did a fantastic job raising them.
This was such a fantastic, sexy, witty, sweet and wonderful book. I’ve read several of Kindle Alexander’s books now and always enjoy them. I am so looking forward to the next one.
“Thank you for loving me.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
First I want to introduce you to Dylan Reeves. He is thirty seven years old, married to his best friend and has three kids, one already in college and the other two almost ready to go. Dylan has built a social network app that allows people to chat and then the chat completely disappears, leaving no trail. He’s gone as far as he can with it and is ready to sell so the company can be taken to higher levels. Dylan’s company, his app, is called Secret. Which is appropriate because Dylan has so many secrets. Secrets he’s been living with almost all of his adult life. You also need to know that Dylan is the best kind of man, honorable, trustworthy. His family is his world. A world he’s sacrificed everything for.
Tristan Wilder is thirty six years old. He’s built a huge computer software company, Wilder, Inc. He wants to purchase Secret. It’s exactly what he needs, an area he hasn’t been able to excel in within his own company. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win this bid, including wining and dining the owner and his employees while they present their offer. But, as soon as the owner, Dylan Reeves, walked in, every thought, every plan he had walked right out the door. All he saw was the man, a man he wanted.
“Being in Dylan’s arms felt like home.”
Tristan had never been in a real relationship. His work was pretty much his life. Dylan had no experience, having lived his life in the closet. The sparks between these two could light up several city blocks. But, Dylan’s walls were firmly in place around him. And let’s not forget the fact that Tristan is buying Dylan’s company. Could these two have any more road blocks in their way? I loved watching the transformation of these two, especially Tristan. He was pretty much flummoxed by his feelings for Dylan. He just wasn’t a relationship guy, up to that point anyway. He found himself willing to do anything to win Dylan over, to give him a chance. Even pretending to be a jogger on a long run and almost killing himself in the process.
What a wonderful, well written book this was! I both respected Dylan for how he lived his life and he also frustrated me. I wanted him to fall so hard that he couldn’t deny Tristan a single thing. And he did fall hard and fast but still tried to make the right choices. I do want to add in here that his three kids are absolutely amazing! He and his wife Terri, clearly did a fantastic job raising them.
This was such a fantastic, sexy, witty, sweet and wonderful book. I’ve read several of Kindle Alexander’s books now and always enjoy them. I am so looking forward to the next one.
“Thank you for loving me.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
August 1, 2015
I hate when this happens and thankfully it doesn't happen often. This book is going on my Everyone Like it But Me shelf. I went back to read some reviews after I finished the book and the positive response for this book from my GoodRead friends is overwhelming. I'm glad for that, especially since I'm such a big fan of Kindle Alexander's books and have given all of them 4 and/or 5 stars. But this one did not work for me.
First off, since the blurb indicated that one of the main characters was married with children, I wanted to know if there was cheating involved before I started reading it. I'm not one who absolutely won't read a book with cheating (one of my favorite books of all time is Cameron Dane's ReneCade where cheating is a huge part of the plot) but I like to be prepared, especially since children were involved. I don't think it's a spoiler to tell you that there was no cheating here. Dylan and his wife Teri are together only for their kids and Teri is actually involved in a two year relationship with another man when Dylan meets Tristan.
So, we have a deeply closeted man, Dylan Reeves, who is the creator of a social media app that all the big name companies what to acquire. He and his team travel to California to meet with the team at Wilder-Nation (described as a Google clone) and start negotiations to sell them Secret, the app that has millions of users. Tristan Wilder wants to acquire Secret at all costs after his own company's foray into the social media business has failed spectacularly. When Dylan and Tristan meet, there is an immediate attraction, but it thankfully isn't insta-lovey where they felt the need to rip each others clothes off in the stairwell. But we do hear both men's inner monologues and the attraction is there and mutual.
After Tristan and his team give Dylan and his team a tour of the Wilder-Nation facilities, they take them out to wine and dine them and even visit a titty bar. Tristan can see that Dylan is uncomfortable and suggests the two of them leave the group and visit another establishment that would be more to their liking. This is where my problem with Tristan starts. Tristan is all promises to Dylan that he won't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do.
See a pattern here? And all that is in the first night! I felt that Tristan was pushy and had his own best interests in mind from the start. The next day, he finds he is SO enamored with Dylan that he offers the Secret team 20% more then their asking price and all the stipulations they were asking for. On one condition: That Dylan agree to drive with him at sunset in his Ferrari and have a picnic on the beach.
The story continues with Dylan being apprehensive in his new relationship with Tristan (some reviews I read had readers annoyed with Dylan and his closeted ways, but I felt his feelings were warranted given the circumstances) and Tristan doing everything in his power to start a relationship. Flowers, Ferrari's, private dinners with Wolfgang Puck as their chef, elaborate hotel rooms, etc.
Yes, the boys do eventually get their HEA and all family members come to grips (incredibly quickly, if you ask me) with the changes in status and Secret is an astounding success. The end.
Tristan was just too relentless in his pursuit of Dylan and it kept me on edge throughout the entire book. I wasn't able to enjoy any of the sex because it felt just a touch dirty to me given Dylan's inexperience and Tristan's pushy tendencies. I personally can't recommend this one, but for my one negative review, there are 60+ positive reviews so YMMV. Either way, I do hope enjoy!
First off, since the blurb indicated that one of the main characters was married with children, I wanted to know if there was cheating involved before I started reading it. I'm not one who absolutely won't read a book with cheating (one of my favorite books of all time is Cameron Dane's ReneCade where cheating is a huge part of the plot) but I like to be prepared, especially since children were involved. I don't think it's a spoiler to tell you that there was no cheating here. Dylan and his wife Teri are together only for their kids and Teri is actually involved in a two year relationship with another man when Dylan meets Tristan.
So, we have a deeply closeted man, Dylan Reeves, who is the creator of a social media app that all the big name companies what to acquire. He and his team travel to California to meet with the team at Wilder-Nation (described as a Google clone) and start negotiations to sell them Secret, the app that has millions of users. Tristan Wilder wants to acquire Secret at all costs after his own company's foray into the social media business has failed spectacularly. When Dylan and Tristan meet, there is an immediate attraction, but it thankfully isn't insta-lovey where they felt the need to rip each others clothes off in the stairwell. But we do hear both men's inner monologues and the attraction is there and mutual.
After Tristan and his team give Dylan and his team a tour of the Wilder-Nation facilities, they take them out to wine and dine them and even visit a titty bar. Tristan can see that Dylan is uncomfortable and suggests the two of them leave the group and visit another establishment that would be more to their liking. This is where my problem with Tristan starts. Tristan is all promises to Dylan that he won't force him to do anything he doesn't want to do.
"We don't HAVE to go to the gentleman's club if you are uncomfortable. We don't HAVE to dance if you don't want to. You don't HAVE to drink this tenth 7&7 to loosen you up. You don't HAVE to let me suck your cock. You don't HAVE to fuck me, especially since it will be your first time with a man, you are wasted and you haven't had sex in 19 years."
See a pattern here? And all that is in the first night! I felt that Tristan was pushy and had his own best interests in mind from the start. The next day, he finds he is SO enamored with Dylan that he offers the Secret team 20% more then their asking price and all the stipulations they were asking for. On one condition: That Dylan agree to drive with him at sunset in his Ferrari and have a picnic on the beach.
The story continues with Dylan being apprehensive in his new relationship with Tristan (some reviews I read had readers annoyed with Dylan and his closeted ways, but I felt his feelings were warranted given the circumstances) and Tristan doing everything in his power to start a relationship. Flowers, Ferrari's, private dinners with Wolfgang Puck as their chef, elaborate hotel rooms, etc.
Yes, the boys do eventually get their HEA and all family members come to grips (incredibly quickly, if you ask me) with the changes in status and Secret is an astounding success. The end.
Tristan was just too relentless in his pursuit of Dylan and it kept me on edge throughout the entire book. I wasn't able to enjoy any of the sex because it felt just a touch dirty to me given Dylan's inexperience and Tristan's pushy tendencies. I personally can't recommend this one, but for my one negative review, there are 60+ positive reviews so YMMV. Either way, I do hope enjoy!
December 19, 2015
Minority opinion: poorly edited, wordy, boring, too much business talk, nonsensical plot, cookie-cutter characters.
Dylan's "I must sacrifice for my children even though they're nearly grown and my pseudo-wife has been fucking around for years" shtick got old fast.
Tristan was too pushy and predatory.
One extra star for the sex scenes, which admittedly were hot. I do love me a butt-sex virgin.
I said it before, but this time I mean it: Kindle Alexander and I are through.
Dylan's "I must sacrifice for my children even though they're nearly grown and my pseudo-wife has been fucking around for years" shtick got old fast.
Tristan was too pushy and predatory.
One extra star for the sex scenes, which admittedly were hot. I do love me a butt-sex virgin.
I said it before, but this time I mean it: Kindle Alexander and I are through.
May 4, 2017
***4.25 Stars***
This one surprised me...in a good way! Based on the blurb, I thought there was going to be a hell of a lot more angst than I got....which was not much at all.
I've seen mixed reviews among my friends when it came to this book, so I was a little apprehensive when I jumped in, but overall I really ended up enjoying it....a lot.
Yes, there were some things that had me scratching my head (suggested threesome with a gay virgin?) and sure the ending was a little too easy and nicely wrapped up...but you know what? I got over it.
I really liked Dylan (most of the time) and Tristan and I felt the chemistry between them immensely. Plus, it doesn't hurt that this book was a smutty good time. Grade A quality stuff here, folks!
Dylan and his wife's arrangement was a little too self-sacrificing for my tastes, but you know what...I liked how supportive she was. She wasn't portrayed as a villain or a woman biding her time or a pusher...her and Dylan were genuinely best friends. Big thumbs up for that.
Overall, a really enjoyable read that I ended up liking way more than I thought I would going in.
Shelved as 'no'
January 20, 2016...yeah, no.
October 24, 2015
Kindle Alexander did it again!
Two hot guys with some hot sexy times.
I couldn't wait for this book to come out and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the relationship between Teri and Dylan. I loved the love they had for their children and the sacrifices they made for them. And what great kids they were! I was so relieved how they took their parents secret.
Tristan and Dylan were sweet together when Dylan would finally lay his walls down to rest and just be in the moment with Tristan. He frustrated the hell outta me, but knowing how much his kids mean to him I couldn't stay mad at him too long.
Always good to end in a happy dance. ;]
Two hot guys with some hot sexy times.
I couldn't wait for this book to come out and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the relationship between Teri and Dylan. I loved the love they had for their children and the sacrifices they made for them. And what great kids they were! I was so relieved how they took their parents secret.
Tristan and Dylan were sweet together when Dylan would finally lay his walls down to rest and just be in the moment with Tristan. He frustrated the hell outta me, but knowing how much his kids mean to him I couldn't stay mad at him too long.
Always good to end in a happy dance. ;]
June 9, 2015
★★★ 3 Stars ★★★
This was a sweet story about a man who sacrificed his life for his kids and was struggling to come to terms with the fact that he had to move on or spend his life alone. Dylan is married with three kids but his marriage is an unconventional one, his wife is his best friend and have decided to stay together until their children have all left for college.
Tristan is a self made millionaire who is openly gay and has always had casual flings and one night stands. Never in a million years did he think that a business meeting would lead him to love and to him becoming a changed man after just one weekend.
Dylan struggles a lot with his identity, he has kept it hidden for so long that he doesn't know what to do with all the feelings that Tristan is bringing out of him. He panic's a lot and tries to push Tristan away, but Tristan is so supportive and caring that he won't let him go, but also gives him the space he needs in order to come to terms with the inevitable.
When Tristan and Dylan sign the contracts to go ahead with their business deal, Tristans life in California and Dylan's in Dallas collide and secrets are revealed.
This was a heart-warming story with lots of sexy moments, an enjoyable read overall. If you like low drama in your stories, this is perfect. A bit on the insta-love side for me, but I am so glad I got to read it.
This is a full length standalone, told in third person dual POV.
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
This was a sweet story about a man who sacrificed his life for his kids and was struggling to come to terms with the fact that he had to move on or spend his life alone. Dylan is married with three kids but his marriage is an unconventional one, his wife is his best friend and have decided to stay together until their children have all left for college.
Tristan is a self made millionaire who is openly gay and has always had casual flings and one night stands. Never in a million years did he think that a business meeting would lead him to love and to him becoming a changed man after just one weekend.
Dylan struggles a lot with his identity, he has kept it hidden for so long that he doesn't know what to do with all the feelings that Tristan is bringing out of him. He panic's a lot and tries to push Tristan away, but Tristan is so supportive and caring that he won't let him go, but also gives him the space he needs in order to come to terms with the inevitable.
When Tristan and Dylan sign the contracts to go ahead with their business deal, Tristans life in California and Dylan's in Dallas collide and secrets are revealed.
This was a heart-warming story with lots of sexy moments, an enjoyable read overall. If you like low drama in your stories, this is perfect. A bit on the insta-love side for me, but I am so glad I got to read it.
This is a full length standalone, told in third person dual POV.
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
June 2, 2015
4.5 Stars- Another Solid Kindle Alexander Read!
I like to change up the genres I read and every now and then will read a M/M book. Kindle is one of my favorite go-to M/M authors.
Ok so now for the story...
You have Dylan Reeves, founder of Secret
and Tristan Wilder, owner of Wilder Nation
Two guys who are coming together (<--haha you see what I did there)
on the sale of the social media site, Secret, to Tristan's company, Wilder Nation.
Tristan is a young pretty rich boy. Dylan is a family man. Two opposites in almost every way....Except they are both gay. And both attracted to each other.
Only problem is Dylan is trapped in the closet and not planning to come out for anyone.....
Oh yeah and Dylan's married....But what will happen between them???? Can he come out of the closet and not ruin his family??
I like to change up the genres I read and every now and then will read a M/M book. Kindle is one of my favorite go-to M/M authors.
Ok so now for the story...
You have Dylan Reeves, founder of Secret
and Tristan Wilder, owner of Wilder Nation
Two guys who are coming together (<--haha you see what I did there)
on the sale of the social media site, Secret, to Tristan's company, Wilder Nation.
Tristan is a young pretty rich boy. Dylan is a family man. Two opposites in almost every way....Except they are both gay. And both attracted to each other.
Only problem is Dylan is trapped in the closet and not planning to come out for anyone.....
Oh yeah and Dylan's married....But what will happen between them???? Can he come out of the closet and not ruin his family??
June 21, 2015
Read with friends Monday 15 June here
Total coverlust
Total coverlust
June 15, 2015
“Love’s hard to find, and when you do, you don’t throw it away.”
Ever since I finished this book, I haven’t stopped smiling. Smiling because stories like these fill me with an indescribable sense of hope and positivity. Smiling because some stories are just so wonderful in every single way—inspiring, brave, honest, relevant—that they fill my heart to bursting. Smiling because some love stories touch us so deeply that we never want them to end. And this is a book I wanted to grow old reading.
“…he was a gay man buried so deep in the closet he questioned if he would ever find his way out.”
Dylan Reeves is a married man in his late thirties—a man married to the same wonderful woman for the past nineteen years, a father to three well-adjusted kids, a successful businessman on the verge of the greatest professional accomplishment of his career—and yet he has been living a lie all his life. Dylan’s marriage, as supportive and loving as it is, has been a sham from the start, an arrangement between two best friends who agreed on living separate lives while raising together the three people they love the most in the world. But while his wife has given herself permission to find true love outside their marriage, Dylan has denied himself the same, putting his children’s happiness before his own, and living by a strict moral code of always doing the right thing, at all costs.
“…they didn’t ask to be born. It wasn’t their fault I didn’t have the balls to be me.”
While on a weekend business trip, as part of his company’s merger negotiations with one of the most successful technology companies in the world, the last thing Dylan expects to find on the other side of the negotiating table is a man who suddenly makes him forget all he’s pretended to be for so long, awakening all his suppressed yearnings, and igniting the very sexual man he was born to be.
“I’m in trouble…”
“That you are. I think we both are.”
Tristan Wilder is a man at the top of his professional game, a self-made computer mogul who has the world at his fingertips, but his success has also cost him his personal life, rarely finding the time to engage in anything more than commitment-free trysts with men who never ask more of him. Until a closeted man walks into his life, and ends up turning it upside down. Never one to have to pursue his conquests, Tristan finds himself in uncharted territory as he romances a man struggling to let his desires consume him. But the more time they spend in each other’s arms, exploring each other’s bodies and stealing each other’s hearts, the more it becomes apparent to them both that their weekend together would end up changing their lives forever.
“There’s no way this will end well for me, but not taking the few moments you’re willing to give me seems like a far worse fate.”
And this is all I will tell you about the storyline because even a peep about what comes next would deprive you of the very special way this story unfolds and eventually comes together, of the way these characters react in certain pivotal moments in the story, of the way their unique bonds are attested, because it is those unexpected actions and reactions that make this book so extraordinary in its approach. This is not a story that trivialises the vows of marriage, or validates infidelity—this is a truly inspiring story about living one’s truth, about the kind of selfless love and devotion that puts most of us to shame, about finding the courage to show’s one’s most vulnerable side to those we love the most. Love does not always mean an easy road ahead, but stories like these make us believe that there might be a happily-ever-after for us all. There is something truly uplifting about tales like these, tales that show us how life should be, the life we should all have the right to live, and I am always astonished by the sheer beauty of these authors’ stories, consistently inspiring but inexorably sexy. Whether a seasoned m/m reader or new to the genre, this story should be on top of your reading list.
“I’ll wait for you, however long it takes. I don’t care. I’ll wait.”
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Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1JFwxm7
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1QkwQbD
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1JFwA1g
June 12, 2015
BR, June 9th with Julie and Momo.
The blurb had me freaked out.. Wife, kids!!! Aaaagh..
Thankfully the Secret contained many issues and the “secret” wasn’t kept from his wife, Teri.
This is a sweet story about a man who sacrificed his life for his kids and in doing so he undermines who he really is and the life he really wants to live.
When he travels to California to meet with the Wilder-Nation to get his social media site, Secret sold, he meets Tristan Wilder.
Tristan
Tristan is openly gay and has always had casual flings and one night stands. Never in a million years did he think that a business meeting would lead him to love and to him becoming a changed man after just one weekend.
Dylan
Dylan struggles a lot with his identity and is adamant to stay married to his wife until their youngest child goes to college.
I loved how supportive Tristan was of Dylan. He understood the situation he was in and he stood by Dylan. He never gave up on him.
He had never slept with anyone curled so completely around him, yet he found he never wanted Dylan to leave this spot. Dylan was made to lie with him exactly like this. Something told him he’d found his other half and he needed to hang on at all cost. Tristan dragged Dylan in closer, if that were even possible, and closed his eyes, relishing the moment before drifting off, sleeping better than he had in weeks.
The other thing I loved was Tristan’s and Teri’s interaction..
Loved the wife, the kids were very supportive when they were told their fathers and theirs moms secret for that matter!!
The only thing that has been bugging me ever since I finished this book is that I struggle with the concept of sacrificing your life for your kids… Knowing kids always blame themselves, I thought it was a big “burden” for the kids to bear, knowing their parents were so lonely all of these years!!!
But nevertheless, a sweet and sexy story, cause dammn Kindle can write hot, scoarching sex scenes!!
Recommended…
June 1, 2015
5 High Tech Stars
Hard Drives. Mega Bites. User Interface. Download. So many techie terms that I could use to describe Secrets.
Dylan has a wonderful life. A lovely wife who is his best friend. Great kids. Nice house in an upscale area of Dallas. A company that supports their lifestyle and is about to make him really rich. Only problem is the very large walk in closet he has been hiding in his entire life. Deep closet space here.
Tristan is a completely out businessman who has made a lot of money in the tech industry. His company makes him money and provides him the freedom to pursue his interest and keep his life casual. Casual business dealing. Casual dress. Casual sex. The only thing he is not casual about is making his company even more money.
Dylan is convinced his life is never going to be more than it is. And he's ok with that because his family is his priority. When he meets Tristan, he knows he must guard more than his business assets. He must also guard his secret. Tristan is a serious threat to the carefully constructed life he guards.
I won't push you.
Dylan and Tristan are so careful with each other. Tristan puts Dylan's honor ahead of his own interests. Dylan trusts Tristan with secrets that could harm not only his company, but also the family he loves.
Secrets tells the story of men who are mature enough to value integrity over pleasure and know that loving each other means caring about the others priorities. Secrets is about trusting someone with your secrets. The ones that could hurt the ones you love the most.
His heart was in that elevator, riding down without him.
Oh, and it also about hot guys downloading hard drives if you know what I mean.
Hard Drives. Mega Bites. User Interface. Download. So many techie terms that I could use to describe Secrets.
Dylan has a wonderful life. A lovely wife who is his best friend. Great kids. Nice house in an upscale area of Dallas. A company that supports their lifestyle and is about to make him really rich. Only problem is the very large walk in closet he has been hiding in his entire life. Deep closet space here.
Tristan is a completely out businessman who has made a lot of money in the tech industry. His company makes him money and provides him the freedom to pursue his interest and keep his life casual. Casual business dealing. Casual dress. Casual sex. The only thing he is not casual about is making his company even more money.
Dylan is convinced his life is never going to be more than it is. And he's ok with that because his family is his priority. When he meets Tristan, he knows he must guard more than his business assets. He must also guard his secret. Tristan is a serious threat to the carefully constructed life he guards.
I won't push you.
Dylan and Tristan are so careful with each other. Tristan puts Dylan's honor ahead of his own interests. Dylan trusts Tristan with secrets that could harm not only his company, but also the family he loves.
Secrets tells the story of men who are mature enough to value integrity over pleasure and know that loving each other means caring about the others priorities. Secrets is about trusting someone with your secrets. The ones that could hurt the ones you love the most.
His heart was in that elevator, riding down without him.
Oh, and it also about hot guys downloading hard drives if you know what I mean.
June 19, 2016
http://amzn.to/1Ll75ld
Ms. Alexander has masterfully crafted a story about adults; adults who are honest with each other, adults who are honest while pursuing something unconventional.
Secret tells the story of Tristan Wilder, self-made millionaire, a tech genius who owns Wilder-Nation and Dylan Reeves, computer science engineer and founder of the very successful social media site, Secret (oh just wait! the book name means so much more than just that.)
The opening of this book may have you unsure of where it is going, but trust me - push forward because it soon appears that life is often more than meets the eye; and the “perfect” family presented to the outside world might not be what lives behind the bedroom door.
The moment Tristan and Dylan meet, you can feel the connection and the pull. The how Tristan approaches Dylan is adorable. I fell hard for Tristan as he works to help Dylan feel comfortable in his own skin.
And I adored Tristan desires to go after what he wanted:
“You look nice today,” Tristan said quietly, smiling as Dylan’s cheeks grew red.
“Is that why you made everyone leave?”
“No, of course not. I could have just told you later, but that whole look’s perfect on you. The hair’s hot. Pinstripes fit your frame remarkably well. You look taller, more intimidating. Great look for negotiations or the cover of GQ. You could do both.” Tristan scooted closer. “Did you get my flowers?” he asked even quieter.
“I did. Thank you, but that was a risky move,” Dylan said, clearly ignoring the compliment.
It is likely important to mention that Dylan is a married man with three children, a man truly devoted to his family. There is no betrayal in this book… let me repeat… Ms. Alexander pulls this story off, gets the reader to want Dylan and Tristan together without any characters betraying each other. As I said when I opened my review, this book is about adults being honest with each other.
I know this line is going to sound odd to say about a male romance, especially one with a married man, but I loved the use of Teri, Dylan’s wife. Teri was so important to the story line and the relationship she forges with Tristan was wonderful, no this is not a menage. Trust me...read the book!
The how the “secret” of this story unravels will have you gripping your kindle as the lies start to unravel but that will soon be replaced with a smile from ear to ear.
The happy Dlyan and Tristan find is compounded by children who love their parents as people and truly want them happy and loved.
Ms. Alexander takes the reader on journey to happy that captured my heart.
This book releases on June 9th - make sure to pre-order! You will love it as much as I did!
Ms. Alexander has masterfully crafted a story about adults; adults who are honest with each other, adults who are honest while pursuing something unconventional.
Secret tells the story of Tristan Wilder, self-made millionaire, a tech genius who owns Wilder-Nation and Dylan Reeves, computer science engineer and founder of the very successful social media site, Secret (oh just wait! the book name means so much more than just that.)
The opening of this book may have you unsure of where it is going, but trust me - push forward because it soon appears that life is often more than meets the eye; and the “perfect” family presented to the outside world might not be what lives behind the bedroom door.
The moment Tristan and Dylan meet, you can feel the connection and the pull. The how Tristan approaches Dylan is adorable. I fell hard for Tristan as he works to help Dylan feel comfortable in his own skin.
And I adored Tristan desires to go after what he wanted:
“You look nice today,” Tristan said quietly, smiling as Dylan’s cheeks grew red.
“Is that why you made everyone leave?”
“No, of course not. I could have just told you later, but that whole look’s perfect on you. The hair’s hot. Pinstripes fit your frame remarkably well. You look taller, more intimidating. Great look for negotiations or the cover of GQ. You could do both.” Tristan scooted closer. “Did you get my flowers?” he asked even quieter.
“I did. Thank you, but that was a risky move,” Dylan said, clearly ignoring the compliment.
It is likely important to mention that Dylan is a married man with three children, a man truly devoted to his family. There is no betrayal in this book… let me repeat… Ms. Alexander pulls this story off, gets the reader to want Dylan and Tristan together without any characters betraying each other. As I said when I opened my review, this book is about adults being honest with each other.
I know this line is going to sound odd to say about a male romance, especially one with a married man, but I loved the use of Teri, Dylan’s wife. Teri was so important to the story line and the relationship she forges with Tristan was wonderful, no this is not a menage. Trust me...read the book!
The how the “secret” of this story unravels will have you gripping your kindle as the lies start to unravel but that will soon be replaced with a smile from ear to ear.
The happy Dlyan and Tristan find is compounded by children who love their parents as people and truly want them happy and loved.
Ms. Alexander takes the reader on journey to happy that captured my heart.
This book releases on June 9th - make sure to pre-order! You will love it as much as I did!
June 29, 2015
********** FIVE MILLION STARS!! ***********
Okay, this was my first Kindle Alexander book, but dude? IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST!
From the first page, I was invested because I had no idea what to expect, and I'm not gonna lie, around 11% - it totally took me by surprise! I was so struck by Dylan's integrity and self-sacrifice. When he finally showed some vulnerability and introspection, I was jumping up and down, and screaming, "YES!! Go for it, dude!"
Now let's talk about Tristan--OMG!! I am Team Tristan all the way. Why? Because first of all he is totally HOT! Secondly, he is a bazillionnaire, but mostly because he was perfect in every way for Dylan. Tristan reminded me of a character from another book that also stole my heart!! ***wink***
There were moments I was sad, a few times I wanted to shake Dylan, a few "Holy Shit!" moments, lots of steamy male interaction, and some LOL moments for sure! The story unfolded so uniquely, and even towards the end, there was an "Oh Shit" moment that caused me to worry if there would be an HEA! No spoilers, I promise!
But, Kindle, will there be MORE!!! I love these guys so hard!
One of the best reads this year. Now, I've got to download more of Kindle's books!!
Okay, this was my first Kindle Alexander book, but dude? IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST!
From the first page, I was invested because I had no idea what to expect, and I'm not gonna lie, around 11% - it totally took me by surprise! I was so struck by Dylan's integrity and self-sacrifice. When he finally showed some vulnerability and introspection, I was jumping up and down, and screaming, "YES!! Go for it, dude!"
Now let's talk about Tristan--OMG!! I am Team Tristan all the way. Why? Because first of all he is totally HOT! Secondly, he is a bazillionnaire, but mostly because he was perfect in every way for Dylan. Tristan reminded me of a character from another book that also stole my heart!! ***wink***
There were moments I was sad, a few times I wanted to shake Dylan, a few "Holy Shit!" moments, lots of steamy male interaction, and some LOL moments for sure! The story unfolded so uniquely, and even towards the end, there was an "Oh Shit" moment that caused me to worry if there would be an HEA! No spoilers, I promise!
But, Kindle, will there be MORE!!! I love these guys so hard!
One of the best reads this year. Now, I've got to download more of Kindle's books!!
June 11, 2015
4.5 Stars
June 17, 2015
This is my 3rd Kindle Alexander book that I've read. Like the first two, the book sucked me in and I haven't been able to put it down. I also loved how the issues were resolved and how the story ended.
But I felt that some of the writing were a little cliche. I felt something was off a little and I had a harder time to suspend belief. I just couldn't believe a love affair may come out from a business merger.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and I bet you'll too. ;)
3.5 STARS.
Thank you to Ev and the ladies for reading this with me! Till the next BR! :D
June 17, 2015
I can't wait for this BR/Abs :D
November 6, 2021
I really really liked this book.
It reminded me of the books that made me fall in love in MM romance.
Q&A!
Q: So what's special about this book?
A: I loved how the two characters cane together. The fact that once they laid their eyes on each other they didn't see anyone else. #Swoon
Q: Aww that sounds good! What are the tropes?
A: Closeted MC, First Times and a kind of boss-employee dynamic.
Q: What about the characters?
A: Tristan, who comes off as pushy, has his eyes on the prize. From the moment he sees Dylan he can see that there's something different about him. Not gonna lie, he stays pushing fir the very end, but truthfully, I loved the fact that he fought for Dylan and didn't back down once. #FightForYou
Dylan has been married for more than 2 decades, and deep un the closet. Only his wife knows that he's gay...and Tristan. Tristan who shattered his walls and got under his skin, made him question and made him feel. He let go with Tristan, but not before fighting against his attraction. He did annoy me a bit, but I got where he was coming from. He had his kids to think about and I admired that. #Priorities
Q: They seem interesting! But wait... dylan is married? So, is there is cheating?
A: No cheating! Dylan and his wife are only together to raise the kids. They aren't really married in the normal sense. #SpecialCase
Q: That's a relief! Steam-o-meter?
A: Steamy AF. Dylan is a gay virgin and Tristan gives him all his firsts. And when these guys start, they tend to find it hard to stop. #OrgasmGallore
Q: Angst-o-meter?
A: Low angst. Minor squabbles here and there only.
Q: HEA?
A: You know it! These guys are going strong and just as in love as ever.
Notes...
Let me just say that this book isn't perfect. It's Insta-love to the max. These guys fall for each in days... did I care?
Nop! I just felt like it was very romantic. And I don't always feel like that with insta-love books.
It also could benefit from some editing. There are some choppy sentences her and there.
Honorable mentions...
Tristan's jealousy when he didn't really get jeamous with other people!
Tristan's obssession with how Dylan smells. So hot!
It reminded me of the books that made me fall in love in MM romance.
Q&A!
Q: So what's special about this book?
A: I loved how the two characters cane together. The fact that once they laid their eyes on each other they didn't see anyone else. #Swoon
Q: Aww that sounds good! What are the tropes?
A: Closeted MC, First Times and a kind of boss-employee dynamic.
Q: What about the characters?
A: Tristan, who comes off as pushy, has his eyes on the prize. From the moment he sees Dylan he can see that there's something different about him. Not gonna lie, he stays pushing fir the very end, but truthfully, I loved the fact that he fought for Dylan and didn't back down once. #FightForYou
Dylan has been married for more than 2 decades, and deep un the closet. Only his wife knows that he's gay...and Tristan. Tristan who shattered his walls and got under his skin, made him question and made him feel. He let go with Tristan, but not before fighting against his attraction. He did annoy me a bit, but I got where he was coming from. He had his kids to think about and I admired that. #Priorities
Q: They seem interesting! But wait... dylan is married? So, is there is cheating?
A: No cheating! Dylan and his wife are only together to raise the kids. They aren't really married in the normal sense. #SpecialCase
Q: That's a relief! Steam-o-meter?
A: Steamy AF. Dylan is a gay virgin and Tristan gives him all his firsts. And when these guys start, they tend to find it hard to stop. #OrgasmGallore
Q: Angst-o-meter?
A: Low angst. Minor squabbles here and there only.
Q: HEA?
A: You know it! These guys are going strong and just as in love as ever.
Notes...
Let me just say that this book isn't perfect. It's Insta-love to the max. These guys fall for each in days... did I care?
Nop! I just felt like it was very romantic. And I don't always feel like that with insta-love books.
It also could benefit from some editing. There are some choppy sentences her and there.
Honorable mentions...
Tristan's jealousy when he didn't really get jeamous with other people!
Tristan's obssession with how Dylan smells. So hot!
May 8, 2017
3.5 stars really. I had a hard time liking Dylan, and not just because he's so far in the closet you'd need one of those tractor things to excavate him out of it. But because he's pretty much a bit of an asshole, and I didn't buy his sudden split second of insight into his "assholeishness" (is that a word?) near the end of the book. It was too little too late. But Tristan, yeah. *He* was awesome. And I want that dude's house man. That sounds gorgeous!
The rest of the family...eh, they were alright. That Chloe girl was annoying as fuck, but the other kids were ok. I did like the wife, Teri. She was pretty great.
As for the plot, it was pretty obvious, but what would have saved it would have been the chemistry between the two MC's, and I just wasn't feeling it. Sure, the sex was hot, but I didn't get that sense of tension between them when they weren't having sex.
Anyway, basically what I'm saying is it was an ok read, but not nearly as good as her previous books.
The rest of the family...eh, they were alright. That Chloe girl was annoying as fuck, but the other kids were ok. I did like the wife, Teri. She was pretty great.
As for the plot, it was pretty obvious, but what would have saved it would have been the chemistry between the two MC's, and I just wasn't feeling it. Sure, the sex was hot, but I didn't get that sense of tension between them when they weren't having sex.
Anyway, basically what I'm saying is it was an ok read, but not nearly as good as her previous books.
June 27, 2015
Secret by Kindle Alexander
4 stars!!
As usual with Kindle Alexander she has delivered another sweet M/M story but not without a little angst. I couldn’t put this book down and from the first till last page I was swept away with Dylan’s story.
Dylan has to be the most selfless man I have ever read about. Having met his wife at college and obviously making the most of the college experience they soon found themselves becoming parents and this happened a further two times. Now married with three little children Dylan found himself in a life he never expected. Dylan’s wife was his best friend, their relationship was unconventional to say the least, but for the sake of their family they had decided to remain a family unit until all the children were at university. Dylan knew he was gay; the only person he had told was his wife. While his wife had a long standing relationship outside of the marriage, Dylan had decided not to explore for a romantic interest, he knew the implications of coming out to his children and he wanted them to be settled and happy before he rocked the family unit. Dylan was an app inventor in the social media world and his wife a lawyer, Dylan was on the verge of making millions himself, everything he was working for was coming to fruition, a takeover was on the cards.
Tristan was a self made millionaire and openly gay, he ran a successful company that bought and sold companies, Dylan’s company was in his sights. Tristan was married to his job, he never had relationships, he had acquaintances that he called as and when the need arised, a relationship was the last thing on his mind. He was actually a bit of a recluse, preferring to work from home than the office.
These two men were total opposites, but together the chemistry was electric. While Dylan was a man struggling with who and what he was, Tristan was happy in his skin and it doesn’t take him long to realise that Dylan is not who he seems. Dylan was always sure he had hidden his true self; no-one knew only his wife and no-body had an inkling, yet in a few hours Tristan had him worked out and this threw him for a loop. How could someone he didn’t know actually know him so well? I loved seeing Tristan knocked on his ass, this was all new for him too, he had never had feelings, he never felt jealousy or possessiveness, what was this man doing to him?
While it was a bit insta love the story itself was believable and extremely heart warming. While his relationship with his wife did seem too good to be true I could actually see it happening. All I can say is that she must be the most understanding person in the world and I was so happy that they had managed to find a happy medium for both of them.
I loved the way that Tristan nurtured Dylan; he knew when to push and when to give space. He helped Dylan through every step, guided him and most importantly loved him. I just loved every thing about this book, I loved the way the wife and Tristan got together to help Dylan. Everybody wanted the best for Dylan even if he didn’t realise himself. He needed that push and I was so glad that he had two people that were willing and able to give it.
Once again another winner from Kindle Alexander and another couple that have been cemented into my heart.
www.theromancecover.com
4 stars!!
“…he was a gay man buried so deep in the closet he questioned if he would ever find his way out.”
As usual with Kindle Alexander she has delivered another sweet M/M story but not without a little angst. I couldn’t put this book down and from the first till last page I was swept away with Dylan’s story.
Dylan has to be the most selfless man I have ever read about. Having met his wife at college and obviously making the most of the college experience they soon found themselves becoming parents and this happened a further two times. Now married with three little children Dylan found himself in a life he never expected. Dylan’s wife was his best friend, their relationship was unconventional to say the least, but for the sake of their family they had decided to remain a family unit until all the children were at university. Dylan knew he was gay; the only person he had told was his wife. While his wife had a long standing relationship outside of the marriage, Dylan had decided not to explore for a romantic interest, he knew the implications of coming out to his children and he wanted them to be settled and happy before he rocked the family unit. Dylan was an app inventor in the social media world and his wife a lawyer, Dylan was on the verge of making millions himself, everything he was working for was coming to fruition, a takeover was on the cards.
“…they didn’t ask to be born. It wasn’t their fault I didn’t have the balls to be me.”
Tristan was a self made millionaire and openly gay, he ran a successful company that bought and sold companies, Dylan’s company was in his sights. Tristan was married to his job, he never had relationships, he had acquaintances that he called as and when the need arised, a relationship was the last thing on his mind. He was actually a bit of a recluse, preferring to work from home than the office.
These two men were total opposites, but together the chemistry was electric. While Dylan was a man struggling with who and what he was, Tristan was happy in his skin and it doesn’t take him long to realise that Dylan is not who he seems. Dylan was always sure he had hidden his true self; no-one knew only his wife and no-body had an inkling, yet in a few hours Tristan had him worked out and this threw him for a loop. How could someone he didn’t know actually know him so well? I loved seeing Tristan knocked on his ass, this was all new for him too, he had never had feelings, he never felt jealousy or possessiveness, what was this man doing to him?
“Funny. What I’ll remember about that moment is that I was so turned on by you I lost sight of everything just to touch you.”
While it was a bit insta love the story itself was believable and extremely heart warming. While his relationship with his wife did seem too good to be true I could actually see it happening. All I can say is that she must be the most understanding person in the world and I was so happy that they had managed to find a happy medium for both of them.
“It’s hard to go back to adequate once you’ve had spectacular.”
I loved the way that Tristan nurtured Dylan; he knew when to push and when to give space. He helped Dylan through every step, guided him and most importantly loved him. I just loved every thing about this book, I loved the way the wife and Tristan got together to help Dylan. Everybody wanted the best for Dylan even if he didn’t realise himself. He needed that push and I was so glad that he had two people that were willing and able to give it.
Once again another winner from Kindle Alexander and another couple that have been cemented into my heart.
“Fake it till you make it.”
www.theromancecover.com
June 12, 2015
Secrets - that word has both positive and negative connotations, depending on the situation and the reasons behind the concealment. But regardless of the motives behind the hidden information, when the truth comes out, which life shows that it usually does, the repercussions could go either way - bringing everyone close or tearing them apart.
For eighteen years, Dylan Reeves has been living a lie, keeping his true self and his needs a secret from those closest to him, specifically his children. He's a man who lives by his convictions and willingly chooses to do the honorable thing day in and day out, ensuring his family is safe and taken care of. He denies himself what he craves because he made a promise to himself and to his wife, Teri, that he wouldn't act on his desires until their kids were raised and out of the house, and he's held steadfast to his word, even though his life has been lonely. But his denial, his closeted life opens up a bit when Dylan does business with Tristan Wilder. With Tristan, Dylan finds himself taking risks and discovering what he truly wants and needs, and if Tristan has anything to say about it, Dylan's secret will be revealed sooner rather than later because as Dylan finds himself changing in ways he never thought possible, Tristan also discovers that he wants a life that's more about business and one night stands with men he never sees again, and he wants that life with Dylan.
It's important to discuss Teri's role in the book because she is Dylan and Tristan's biggest cheerleader and the catalyst for helping Dylan grab on to his happiness. She is Dylan's partner, his best friend, the mother of his children, and a woman who knows everything about the man she's been married to for all these years. She may not completely agree with Dylan's choices to sacrifice his own happiness, but she stands by him and is his sounding board when his convictions begin to sway due to his feelings for Tristan. Teri and Dylan's relationship is a magnificent display of what true love and friendship means. They want each other to live their lives, and they'll stop at nothing to make that happen.
When Tristan meets Dylan, he is all about helping Dylan experience the joys of being a gay man and giving Dylan what he's always craved but never gave into...Tristan protects Dylan's secret but also vows to show Dylan that he can explore who he truly is and keep his family protected. Tristan's commitment to Dylan never waivers, even when Dylan sends mixed signals and tries to shut Tristan out. Tristan realized early on that Dylan gives him exactly what he needs in his life, and he stops at nothing to prove to Dylan that the chance at happiness for them both is worth the risk.
Secret is a definite must read. It's another heartwarming and sexy as hell read from Kindle Alexander. It focuses on the realistic issue of coming out or living a lie and the consequences of both options. Dylan definitely needed someone like Tristan to show him exactly what he's been missing and Tristan also gave Dylan the courage to put his wants and needs first for once. I absolutely loved the characters and how the storyline played out. Everything about this book worked for me and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read it.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
5 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
For eighteen years, Dylan Reeves has been living a lie, keeping his true self and his needs a secret from those closest to him, specifically his children. He's a man who lives by his convictions and willingly chooses to do the honorable thing day in and day out, ensuring his family is safe and taken care of. He denies himself what he craves because he made a promise to himself and to his wife, Teri, that he wouldn't act on his desires until their kids were raised and out of the house, and he's held steadfast to his word, even though his life has been lonely. But his denial, his closeted life opens up a bit when Dylan does business with Tristan Wilder. With Tristan, Dylan finds himself taking risks and discovering what he truly wants and needs, and if Tristan has anything to say about it, Dylan's secret will be revealed sooner rather than later because as Dylan finds himself changing in ways he never thought possible, Tristan also discovers that he wants a life that's more about business and one night stands with men he never sees again, and he wants that life with Dylan.
It's important to discuss Teri's role in the book because she is Dylan and Tristan's biggest cheerleader and the catalyst for helping Dylan grab on to his happiness. She is Dylan's partner, his best friend, the mother of his children, and a woman who knows everything about the man she's been married to for all these years. She may not completely agree with Dylan's choices to sacrifice his own happiness, but she stands by him and is his sounding board when his convictions begin to sway due to his feelings for Tristan. Teri and Dylan's relationship is a magnificent display of what true love and friendship means. They want each other to live their lives, and they'll stop at nothing to make that happen.
When Tristan meets Dylan, he is all about helping Dylan experience the joys of being a gay man and giving Dylan what he's always craved but never gave into...Tristan protects Dylan's secret but also vows to show Dylan that he can explore who he truly is and keep his family protected. Tristan's commitment to Dylan never waivers, even when Dylan sends mixed signals and tries to shut Tristan out. Tristan realized early on that Dylan gives him exactly what he needs in his life, and he stops at nothing to prove to Dylan that the chance at happiness for them both is worth the risk.
Secret is a definite must read. It's another heartwarming and sexy as hell read from Kindle Alexander. It focuses on the realistic issue of coming out or living a lie and the consequences of both options. Dylan definitely needed someone like Tristan to show him exactly what he's been missing and Tristan also gave Dylan the courage to put his wants and needs first for once. I absolutely loved the characters and how the storyline played out. Everything about this book worked for me and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read it.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
5 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
September 1, 2016
3.5 stars
A sweet, sexy and surprisingly low drama coming out story. From the blurb I was expecting it to be rife with angst and tension, and admit to being a bit disappointed in that vein.
Tech entrepreneur Dylan and his lawyer wife Teri are expecting to send the last of their three kids off to college shortly and then move on with their lives in a BIG way. They two have an agreement as to exactly what they will do and Teri is moving forward while Dylan is still struggling with a promise he made himself. On the verge of selling his chat application Secret to a huge tech company owned by Tristan, there is instant attraction between the two men. The deeply closeted Dylan tries to fight it, but Tristan is pushy, and hot, and Dylan is out of town and kind of drunk so why not? The men are hot together and Dylan, for his lack of experience, jumps right into things. When regret, remorse and fear set in, Dylan cuts ties as much as possible, while Tristan tries to come up with a plan to win Dylan back. Of course things do come to a point when everyone needs to come clean after an unexpected outing, and things could all fall apart for everyone involved.
As often as the word "wife" strikes fear in my heart when I am picking up a m/m romance, Kindle Alexander did a great job with Teri. I loved her character and her interactions with both Dylan and Tristan. I enjoyed watching Tristan try to romance Dylan and there was no lack of smoking sex as Dylan had a lot of lost time to make up for.
Personally, with so much at stake and so many things going on in the story, I did want a little more drama outside of Dylan's waffling. I kept expecting something to happen, but it never did. Regardless, I enjoyed it for what it was, a light, sexy entertaining read.
A sweet, sexy and surprisingly low drama coming out story. From the blurb I was expecting it to be rife with angst and tension, and admit to being a bit disappointed in that vein.
Tech entrepreneur Dylan and his lawyer wife Teri are expecting to send the last of their three kids off to college shortly and then move on with their lives in a BIG way. They two have an agreement as to exactly what they will do and Teri is moving forward while Dylan is still struggling with a promise he made himself. On the verge of selling his chat application Secret to a huge tech company owned by Tristan, there is instant attraction between the two men. The deeply closeted Dylan tries to fight it, but Tristan is pushy, and hot, and Dylan is out of town and kind of drunk so why not? The men are hot together and Dylan, for his lack of experience, jumps right into things. When regret, remorse and fear set in, Dylan cuts ties as much as possible, while Tristan tries to come up with a plan to win Dylan back. Of course things do come to a point when everyone needs to come clean after an unexpected outing, and things could all fall apart for everyone involved.
As often as the word "wife" strikes fear in my heart when I am picking up a m/m romance, Kindle Alexander did a great job with Teri. I loved her character and her interactions with both Dylan and Tristan. I enjoyed watching Tristan try to romance Dylan and there was no lack of smoking sex as Dylan had a lot of lost time to make up for.
Personally, with so much at stake and so many things going on in the story, I did want a little more drama outside of Dylan's waffling. I kept expecting something to happen, but it never did. Regardless, I enjoyed it for what it was, a light, sexy entertaining read.
June 7, 2015
We all have secrets. Some secrets protect us from danger or shame, some secrets protect the ones we love. In Dylan's case is the latter.
A successful computer science engineer and creator of a groundbreaking social media site, Dylan has a family he loves with all his being, who he's been protecting at all costs for years. It is because of the love he has for them that he has denied himself to be who he really is, to accept who he was meant to be. But in just a moment, the walls Dylan so carefully built start crumbling down, and the secret he has kept buried in his heart for years comes to light when he meets Tristan, an entrepreneur who's interest lays in more than the social site that Dylan created and is trying to sell.
The thing I like the most about Mrs. Alexander is that she goes beyond the M/M genre and gives us a story that any of us can relate to. The heart and soul of her books are the complex and beautiful characters she carefully develops, and who takes us on a journeys, in this case of sacrifice, self discovery, and acceptance, that will be hard to forget.
I adored this book, but shamefully I have to admit that I didn't particularly like Dylan at the beginning. As the story unraveled, and understanding started to settled in, my heart went out to him, and I became his number one cheerleader.
This is a book that needs to be slowly savored, a book full of hope. Five well deserved stars.
Side Note: Never forget to give a little more credit to the people around you, sometimes they will pleasantly surprise you.
A successful computer science engineer and creator of a groundbreaking social media site, Dylan has a family he loves with all his being, who he's been protecting at all costs for years. It is because of the love he has for them that he has denied himself to be who he really is, to accept who he was meant to be. But in just a moment, the walls Dylan so carefully built start crumbling down, and the secret he has kept buried in his heart for years comes to light when he meets Tristan, an entrepreneur who's interest lays in more than the social site that Dylan created and is trying to sell.
The thing I like the most about Mrs. Alexander is that she goes beyond the M/M genre and gives us a story that any of us can relate to. The heart and soul of her books are the complex and beautiful characters she carefully develops, and who takes us on a journeys, in this case of sacrifice, self discovery, and acceptance, that will be hard to forget.
I adored this book, but shamefully I have to admit that I didn't particularly like Dylan at the beginning. As the story unraveled, and understanding started to settled in, my heart went out to him, and I became his number one cheerleader.
This is a book that needs to be slowly savored, a book full of hope. Five well deserved stars.
Side Note: Never forget to give a little more credit to the people around you, sometimes they will pleasantly surprise you.
June 22, 2015
*** 4 stars! ***
Review soon :)
COVERGASM !!!
IT'S LIVE !
July 1, 2015
3.5 stars.
Well, I can honestly say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed and liked this book and the characters!
Not because I don't like Kindle Alexander's books and writing, I actually loved all the books of hers that I read, but it was quite a while ago, and I thought I sort of 'drifted' from "this kind" of contemporary romance!
Sooo...
For me, she did it again!
Well, I can honestly say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed and liked this book and the characters!
Not because I don't like Kindle Alexander's books and writing, I actually loved all the books of hers that I read, but it was quite a while ago, and I thought I sort of 'drifted' from "this kind" of contemporary romance!
Sooo...
For me, she did it again!
June 9, 2015
This was another amazing read by this author. I loved the storyline. It was romantic, sexy and even funny at times. I do have to say that Dylan really got on my nerves. How fucking paranoid can one person be. Bless Tristans heart for having the patience to deal with him. I would have kicked his ass to the curb. The kids were lovely, but I don't agree with Dylan and Teri and how they thought this was best for the kids. Out of all the books ive read by this author, this one frustrated me the most. That's not a bad thing, because it showes how much I was into the story and the characters. So I wouldn't say it was really angsty, but it did provoke a lot of feelings for me. Of course it was sexy and Tristan really pushed all the right buttons for me..mmmmm. I know some people won't read it because there is cheating involved and I just want to say to them...don't let it stop you !! I don't like cheating at all...and I loved this book. 4,5 stars from me.
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