Sec4rets

by A.L. Burgos

We all have secrets...

Mark, Tiffany, Kevin and Kim are best friends. When they enter High School together they find out that it's not all fun and games as they find out that drama is involved. They must stick together to get through High School but when they start to keep secrets from each other,ones that can tear them apart, their friendships will be tested as the secrets come out. So will their friendships survive or will the secrets be too much and tear them apart? Let the secrets come out...

300 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2012

About the author

I have been writing since I was about 10 or 11 years old. Writing has been my life and I have been trying to get my work out there for people to read. I am excited to be working on a teen drama series.

Reviews

[Katherine Rochholz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4 out of 5 starsI loved this book. I normally do not read this type of book, teenage drama was never my thing. I went through enough of it as a teenager. But I loved this book! I wanted more, there were the characters you loved, the characters you loved to hate... those you just plain hated... those you related to... I won't go into much detail because people should read this book, it deals with a lot of real issues. It is a quick read, I read it in just a day. I loved some of the characters and hated others. I had my ideas about who it was that knew the secrets. It was a fast paced book that kept you on the edge of your seat, leaving you wanting more, and leaving you loving and hating the characters. I would recommend it for older teens and young adults, there is some language to it, but what teen doesn't say a cuss word now and then. Now why did it get 4 and not five if I loved it so much? There were parts where I had to go back and reread just make sure that I knew what was going on. Within chapters you transition from one character to another, and there is no space no clear transition. The other thing though I love dialogue, it seemed there were some parts that needed more, there could have been more details of a scene or the facial expressions of the characters. There is so much you can get from dialogue but sometimes the dialogue needs a little help. There were some other little details that didn't really make to much sense but they are forgivable. I am very excited to know there is a book two because I so want more of these characters. So if you want teen drama you have found it with this book. It is an edge of your seat roller-coaster ride of drama and breathtaking moments that create characters you will love to hate, and hate to love. A great first novel from A.L. Burgos!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don't know what to say about this book.

First issue, the pure number of grammatical errors made my head spin. There is a huge difference in a book that has been properly edited and one that has not been edited. This is sadly the later. Nearly every page had some sort of issue. My favorite of all is when the boy is talking about himself and he refers to himself as she. That just seriously made me go okay really even the author can't stay in character.

But that isn't a surprise since ALL the characters sounded exactly the same. Not one of them had a unique voice. All of the teenagers were so far removed from what real teenagers are like that I just shook my head at a LOT of the things going on or being said. As the mother of 5 children I can assure you that not once has my child been so furious with me that she wants to leave the room and says to me... "I'm going to my room now, thank you for dinner." Now a NORMAL teenager gets up storms to their room and slams the door for good measure. But not one of the teenagers had acted even remotely close to the normal teenage attitude.

The situations being dealt with in this book are good ones. Alcohol use, cutting, homosexuality all are very real issues facing not just today's youth but future young. But I truly think that if the Author intends young people to read and enjoy this book he needs to make the children in the book sound like children. Because for me every single character in the book be they young or old all sounded the same. They all used the exact same speech patterns. They all used the same type of overly polite language. And they were all just so unbelievable.

The best I can honestly give this book at this time is 2 stars.

[Two Nerds With Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sec4rets, by A.L Burgos, is a fascinating and engaging insight into teenage angst that successfully challenges so many relevant issues and topics of the 21st century. Immediately, Sec4rets reminded me of books that I used to read as a teenager and books that I would recommend, and still do, to teenagers who are looking for YA drama fiction and need a complete break from the paranormal invasion.

For whatever reason, these teenage fiction books dealing with issues and dramas seemed to die out in the 90s which is such a shame as issues of the 90s, whilst some are still relevant, have changed in many ways. Sec4rets effectively dives in and digs deep when it tackles the issues that this interesting friendship group has to face.

A.L Burgos successfully creates a fast-paced read that keeps the action going and moves the plot forward. The range of characters that he has created are intriguing and would no doubt equally captivate a younger (15+) reader too. The only thing that was amiss with the characters was the dialogue. Whilst the pace and level of detail and description of the narrative was appropriate and enjoyable, the dialogue didn’t flow as smoothly to be deemed natural. I don’t think it was in keeping with the characters’ personalities either.

Sec4rets is in need of some editing TLC, which has been acknowledged by the author; however, I was still able to resonate with the characters and the plot and was able to enjoy reading Sec4rets. I will most definitely be reading Sec4rets 2 and look forward to it. A drama filled 3.5 - 4 fairies!

[Heather Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like books on teen angst, you have found your next book. Tiffany, Kim, Kevin and Mark are all best friends. Best friends with secrets. Throughout the book not only do you get to know the characters and love or hate them, you will also learn little snippets of some of the secrets. The story is full of all the drama and troubles you would expect to have in high school, with a twist. The twist being, not the minor secrets, but the major ones. In this book it is Mark's secret that will be exposed, and that secret is what will keep you reading til the end of the book unable to put it down because you must know what's happening. I'm nosy by nature so this was nerve wracking for me, I kept wanting to skip to the end of the book to find out what happened. Alas, I couldn't allow that, so onward I read. I am surprised this is the authors first book, I really liked the story as well as the character development. I know that there should be at least 3 more books so that the others can have their deep, dark secrets exposed as well. Keep writing and I shall keep reading.

[Brittany Young · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok so I tried but failed to finish this book. This book is in need of serious tlc by way of editing! The language used for the characters does not match teenagers and makes the book stodgy! I felt like I was reading a story written by and 8th grader with ADD! The situations portrayed in this book deserve to be addressed. Hoping this book is rewritten and reedited!

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

This was a really good read. It wasn't what I expected & it had some interesting twists & turns. I wonder if there is a part 2......LOL.

[Two Nerds With Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sec4rets, by A.L Burgos, is a fascinating and engaging insight into teenage angst that successfully challenges so many relevant issues and topics of the 21st century. Immediately, Sec4rets reminded me of books that I used to read as a teenager and books that I would recommend, and still do, to teenagers who are looking for YA drama fiction and need a complete break from the paranormal invasion.

For whatever reason, these teenage fiction books dealing with issues and dramas seemed to die out in the 90s which is such a shame as issues of the 90s, whilst some are still relevant, have changed in many ways. Sec4rets effectively dives in and digs deep when it tackles the issues that this interesting friendship group has to face.

A.L Burgos successfully creates a fast-paced read that keeps the action going and moves the plot forward. The range of characters that he has created are intriguing and would no doubt equally captivate a younger (15+) reader too. The only thing that was amiss with the characters was the dialogue. Whilst the pace and level of detail and description of the narrative was appropriate and enjoyable, the dialogue didn’t flow as smoothly to be deemed natural. I don’t think it was in keeping with the characters’ personalities either.

Sec4rets is in need of some editing TLC, which has been acknowledged by the author; however, I was still able to resonate with the characters and the plot and was able to enjoy reading Sec4rets. I will most definitely be reading Sec4rets 2 and look forward to it. A drama filled 3.5 - 4 fairies!

[Melina Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this piece to read and was liking it, really was till i kept hitting errors in it. Advice to the author once book is edited get it checked over by your betta reader and then you check over it afterwood just in case.
i liked the part where you mentioned the relationships between each character. How they met and why they dont like the other. loved jow you talk about their fears of highschool and the desciptions the people around them, other students call them like "the school slut etc" and the way you cover the four main charscters thoughts and opinions and Marks big secret.
*TRIES TO YELL "get outta the closet and tell them" well at the start i did.
i love how each character has their own secret and the ending was great.
advice to the author you have loads of dialogue to balance it, id add a bit more description as to balance it out.

Mel's Projects and Melina Turner reviewed

[The Pink Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited to read this book for several months. I was so excited when it was ready for review. It was well worth the wait. Im a sucker for angst and mystery. I was not let down with this book. I could totally feel the emotions of the characters. I loved seeing how the characters dealt with their issues and all of the drama. I can totally see this book as being a teen TV series.

I loved the pace of the story. Not once did I feel it was being rushed or too slow. Everything flowed perfectly. The way the details are described were good. I didn’t feel that I had to guess at anything. I could clearly picture what was happening in the story. It kept me reading and needing to know what was going to happen next.

For anyone that enjoys mystery, drama, and teen angst, I highly recommend this book. I cant wait to read more!
I received an arc of this book for an honest review.

[Erecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

my problem with this book is it says 'stood' no matter if they are sitting laying or what it says they stood....an second it didnt end rite it never told how mary was kims mom it never told how any of them ended up as a matter of fact and that all bugged me. good story though