Guarded Secrets

by Dixie Land

The gates of Remington Way guard more than the grand estate of aging philanthropist and former Academy-Award-winning movie queen, Carla Desmond Remington. After her beloved husband dies, Carla contacts a freelance writer, Kristi Kallen, to pen her memoirs from secret journals Carla has kept through the years. Kristi moves into one of the estate's guest cottages and soon realizes all is not as it seems among the staff, whom Carla treats more as close friends than employees. As the manuscript progresses, Kristi becomes part of that inner circle. She finds herself increasingly attracted to handsome and somewhat mysterious Rand Harrison, foreman of the grounds and gardens who enjoys very special privileges on the estate. As the intimate details of Carla's life unfold, Kristi uncovers scandals, illicit affairs, and the wrongful conviction in a decades-old murder that still haunts her. With this knowledge comes danger when an unexpected turn puts both women's lives in peril.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Mystery

282 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2012

Reviews

[Harol Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Dixie Land captures the character of a former Hollywood star so well you have to wonder if she knew her in real life. When free lance writer Kristi Kallen agrees to help pen movie queen Carla Remington's memoirs, in part to escape the problems in her own life (one problem in particular), you'll learn that she gets more than she bargained for. Carla's life and the people in it make for a fascinating read.

[Karen Bartachek · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Karen B.

This review is from: Guarded Secrets (Paperback)
"Guarded Gates" by Dixie Land is the best romantic suspense novel I've read. I just couldn't set the book down, even though my eyes were getting blurry. The story started off with action and keeps you guessing what might be happening as the plot thickens. My mind was fixed on all the characters and the excitement with each one, so I didn't have time to guess all the secrets. I thought I knew all the bad guys, but there were some that were close to the household. Then the last chapter exploded into the final secrets and all the characters of Remington Way were not only friends, but also family in one way or the other. Surprise, surprise we never guessed.

I would highly recommend reading this fast paced novel.

Karen Bartachek, Maquoketa, Iowa

[Norma Hammer]

I have read all of Dixie Land's 10 books and I anxiously waited for her 11th one which I received and just finished. Each of her books have been page turners from the start and almost impossible for me to put down once I started them. Guarded Secrets was no different. There was suspense from the very first page and while I suspected who one of the villains might be, the twists and turns she wove into the plot kept me glued to the pages and guessing until the end which, by the way, held a big surprise for me. I highly recommend Guarded Secrets.
Norma Hammer - Clinton, IA

[Mical · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a book I finished but felt it was written by a "novice" author. The way sentences were constructed felt odd. An elementary school student could have written them.
Other then that, it had a good solid story line that was well put together and a few surprises.
I doubt if I will be reading any more books from this author. It was a free book from Amazon.com.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by this author. It was nothing special. I've not decided if I'll try another book by this author yet or not.