My Secret Life

The Martini Dares #1

by Lori Wilde

Katie Winfield is pretty, privileged…and a complete disaster when it comes to the male species. Recently she accidentally-on-purpose had sex with her sister's soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, Liam. In a closet. At a Ladies' League function, no less!

Determined to take charge of her romantic life, Katie accepts an invitation to join—and draws a very naughty dare. Choosing Liam as her willing, if unwitting, accomplice is easy, since she's still totally hot for him and the feeling is mutual. So why share her motives for their steamy sexcapades? Problem is, Katie's not the only one with a shocking secret life….

Genres: Romance, Harlequin Blaze, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Erotica

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Lori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.

She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.

Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.

She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.

Reviews

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly boring Blaze romance
2 stars

Graphic artist Katie Winfield is blue-blooded, pretty and has a great life - except when it comes to guys. Her latest faux pas includes seducing a hot guy at a masquerade ball. A hot guy that turns out to be her sister's ex-boyfriend.

Determined to take charge of her love life, Katie joins the Martinis and Bikinis Club - a group that specialises in very naughty dares. The man she chooses as her unknowing accomplice is none other than Liam James, her man from the masquerade ball. The pair have chemistry but will they be able to make it work when the dares are over?

I'm sorry to say that this story just didn't work for me. The story itself, despite the idea of the Martini Dares, was a little too formulaic and forced, and I didn't really believe in it, or enjoy it. The two main characters were okay but it did seem like I was reading about two rich and beautiful people being rich and beautiful together. Not very exciting.

I was determined to get through the story as it wasn't offensive in any way - just bland. Unfortunately, things kept coming up that seemed more important than finishing the book (tv, cooking, even ironing!). As I said, it's not terrible or unpleasant in any way, it just didn't grip me and I found it rather obvious and boring. Fans of Lori Wilde might still enjoy it or if you are reading through the Martini Dares mini-series which this is part of. I've read worse books so I can't give it only 1 star but it's still only 2 stars from me, I'm afraid.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it, it was cute. She uses casual sex as a way to avoid commitment. He doesn't know how to commit to anything but his work, until he meets her.

[Jennell Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The name of the book is quite misleading, the main character didn't have a secret life.

[MELMOTH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante dissertazione erotica di un uomo vittoriano che, nonostante l'argomento lascivo, riesce a rendere poetico un argomento tutt'altro che romantico.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot device sex dares (see below) get free spirit (there are lot of free spirits in these Blaze books) together repeatedly with her sister's ex-boyfriend, who has daddy issues. Turns out the heroine has commitment issues of her own as well. There is also a dog. This is part of the "Martini Dares" series which is basically a club where grown up women play Truth or Dare without the Truth part, which is supposed to be empowering. Maybe--if you are in 8th grade. This book is pretty hot, but I guess the "Blaze" on the cover gave that away. It is also fairly entertaining, even though the premise is kind of juvenile.

[ThePerpetualBookJunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that I have merely enjoyed this book was putting it mildly. This story, if truth be told, was so steamy and hot, and very, very much entertaining! It was a very sizzling story that it had my interests engaged from Chapter 1.

I like the way Katie and Liam met again at the Ladies' League function. The circumstances that brought them together were so kinky and downright erotic that made their tale charming and appealing to romantic readers like me. And the steamy sex scenes were an added zing to the story.

This book is a part of the Martinis and Bikinis Dare Series and it’s the first novel. If the next series was as yummy as this one, then I can’t wait to read it!

[Kazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to give category romance a fair shot but this was another mediocre title. Loved the sex scene right at the top but nothing else really grabbed me. The whole "martini dare" thing also struck me all wrong - there's no need to revert to your teen years, complete with the crazy and the peer pressure. Not a fan.

[Adelina Ovaguimian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is all I can say. This was so well written and truly left me wanting to read more every time I would finish a chapter. Lori uses her words so well and is able to really grab ahold of the readers attention. A must read, the ending will have you speechless!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!!! It was fast paced, funny, and HOT!!!

[Gisbelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

a bit over the top

[Kesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

love it