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Secrets #2

Underground

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Betrayal and loss have changed Emily Riddle in ways she never thought would have been possible. With a death wish guiding her every move, she's willing to compromise her morals, ethics, and instincts to bring the men who've broken her heart to justice... even if that means living a life underground, being someone she's not, and pretending to respect the very men she's positioning herself to take down.

As soon as she teams up with the district attorney, Tope Bryson, and agrees to be a member of his covert operation, she returns to the commune and convinces the patriarchal leaders she is the most qualified person to take on roles traditionally assigned to men. Desperate and without options, Owen, the commune's leader and Emily's father, agrees to a temporary change.

Emily takes full advantage of the opportunity and quickly proves to him - much to her brothers' dismay - that he can't live without having her in those critical roles and that she may be the best candidate for his 'next in command'.

She and Tope quickly realize that the men of the commune consider a woman who threatens the good ole boy system that's been in place for decades public enemy number one. Determined to protect Emily from her brothers, Tope plants an undercover officer and charismatic law student, Noah Babineaux, in the commune. Neither Tope nor Emily is prepared for the attention Noah pays Emily.

With a nothing else matters attitude, Emily focuses on her underground mission and pushes her hate, anger, grief, and... blossoming feelings down until they threaten to explode from the inside and tear her apart. It's a race against the clock to get the evidence necessary (and ultimately the retaliation Emily craves) before a life of submissive brutality - or sibling jealousy - kills her.

350 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2013

384 people want to read

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T.R. Graves

17 books519 followers

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Author 17 books519 followers
October 12, 2013
Honestly, Emily's story is a hard one to write, but it is one that must be told. Her life is one worth reading about and learning from in spite of the atrocities carried out against her and the people she loves and no matter how gut-wrenching they are for us. Emily's fictional tale is a gentle reminder that there are women - in this country and others - who are not given the same freedoms that most of us take for granted... that there are men who think of women as property rather than equals.

I also believe that Emily's trials and tribulations are ones that she must endure (and we must bear witness to) in order for us to appreciate the risks she takes, the sacrifices she makes, and the lengths she will go to make sure all women - not just her and Tess - of the commune have basic rights.

The fact that there are people outside of the commune joining her in her fight gives me a strong sense of justice and reinforces the fact that there are people in the world who do not look away when they see people who are in trouble. They are the characters who give me hope that Emily's life will one day be different.

For your entertainment, I've included pictures of the main characters as I envision them and a brief summary of the traits and characteristics that make them amazing!

Emily Ador Riddle

Emily is described as tall and naturally beautiful. Her puppy dog eyes are so sad that everyone who meets her feels the sorrow that's such a part of her that it might well be a second skin. Unfortunately, the things Emily's seen prevent her from being the happy-go-lucky girl she would be if she weren't a slave to the men of the commune and she hadn't been made to witness atrocities that have changed her life forever. Like any good hero, Emily uses the injustices she's witnessed and the ones she suspects are occurring to strengthen her resolve. She insists on a better life... not just for herself but also for the other women of the commune, and she takes matters into her own hands to get what she wants.

Emily's life is so miserable, her world is so horrific, and her losses are so great that readers will not be able to keep themselves from pulling for her and hoping and praying that the men of the commune get their due. Even more than revenge, the readers will want to see Emily get her well-deserved happily ever after.

Elijah Tope Bryson

Tope is dark, brooding, and brunette. Here's the thing... he is so much more than the sum of his physical characteristics. The characteristics most important and most difficult to convey are the ones that make Tope a character that will have people coming back time and time again. Rather than tell the reader that Tope is kind to anyone and everyone, that he has the patience of a saint, and that he has a protective instinct when it comes to Emily, I've created actions and reactions that prove what a wonderful person he is. With them, the readers see that he is absolutely worthy of becoming a book boyfriend favorite.

Noah R. Babineaux

Noah is the tattooed biker boy who wants what he wants, and he wants Emily. Unlike the other men, he doesn't buy into the notion that the commune needs to be patriarchal. He's convinced it would run better if the women were allowed to make their own decisions and be treated with the respect they deserve. Like Tope, his morals and his ethics make him endearing (no matter how cocky he is). His determination to protect Emily from the men of the commune... to sacrifice himself in order to do that... will have readers falling for him and wondering which man Emily should chose.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
569 reviews27 followers
October 7, 2013
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

I have to start by saying I truly feel this is one of the best written series that most people of never heard of!! The author does an amazing job bring these characters to life and pulling at every emotion in me. It’s not your typical romance novel but at the core of it, a true love story is what you will find. This is the 2nd book in a series and if you haven’t read Gravebound, you really need to read it! Stop reading this review because I don’t want to spoil this first book for you! You will not be disappointed. This is told in multiple POV that I so love because we get a sense of the story at every angle.

The story revolves a family in a commune that might as well be in the 1800’s instead of the 21st century. Women have no rights. They are good for one thing, making babies. They are no allowed to look at men besides their husbands in the eye. They are not allowed to talk back to any man. In the commune you are either a wife or a whore, there are no in-betweens. The consequences for breaking those rules? A good beating and no complaining about it. Its acceptable to have black eyes and bruises if you’re a women. That just means you disrespected a man.

We start right were Gravebround left off. Emily has just lost the love of her life and has a new appreciation for Romeo and Juliet. She contemplates if her love is gone, why should she be allowed to go on. With Tope at her side, they have a mutual understanding of each other’s pain. They both loss the person they loved. With that they grow a friendship that hints at more. Emily does not feel right about this. She just lost the her true love but she feels so at ease with Tope. Tope has always loved Emily from the moment he saw her picture but also struggles with what is right.

With all Tope more determined to bring down the commune leaders for illegal activities, he decides to bring in an FBI agent that is anything but a regular agent. Noah has long hair, arms full of tattoos, and is drop dead gorgeous! He quickly charms Emily and works his way undercover in the commune. With that many things happen that I so never saw coming! He is able to gain the trust of the commune leaders and get in the inner circle. He is now able to access all he needs to bring them down. But also with Noah come more secrets and moments that keep you turning your pages.

I simply devoured this book in one sitting and loved every second of it. It’s not your typical contemporary romance but it’s full of suspense and heartbreak that will keep you up all night until you have finished! Even though on Goodreads there was not a book 3 listed in the series I sincerely hope that the author has a third book in store as I truly felt there was not a complete ending to the book. I was left with a feeling of is that it?? It can’t be the end! I was so invested in the characters and want some much more from them! This book along with the series gets 5 HUGE stars from me!
Profile Image for Anny hernandez.
1,181 reviews13 followers
October 7, 2013
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Holy smoke I have to say I am in love with this series, I read the first book and I love it. And couldn’t get enough of it, I really like how this book turned out to be.
This book picks up right after three days where (GRAVE BOUND) end it. and it would not get you confuse, right after you start reading you know where you at, I really enjoy this book so much that once I started reading it I lost my self in this book.
I love the characters in it, this book made me cried and made me feel all the emotions that the characters where going through. There where part in the story that just gave me Goosebumps and a lot of secrets came out in this book and you get to learn more about the characters and their past.
I love the character of Emily, I seen what she's being through in the first book but let me just say that she goes through so much in this book, that all you could think about her is how strong of a woman she really is and I admire her so much for that.
I love Aunt Tess now Tess is the one that has always being there to protect Emily and how she is the one that gave Emily everything to educate her and make Emily the strong woman that she is now. In this book you will get to see how far Aunt Tess love goes for Emily
Emily Riddle have change so much after she experience betrayal and loss, that she never knew it was possible to feel all that she was feeling. She was willing to compromise her morals and ethics just to bring down the man of her commune to justice. by doing this she start to pretend to be someone that she is not , that’s when she teams up with district attorney Tope Bryson, and let me tell you I love how this two get alone with each other.
I love Tope Bryson what can I say I have a crush on him lol, Tope is the district attorney and he is working on an operation to gather enough evidence to bring the commune down and to keep Emily safe. I love Tope in the first book and I love him more in this book.
I also love the new character Noah Babineaux, now let me just say that Noah looks just like a bad boy he has tattoo owns a motorcycle and what I like more about him is his attitude.
I can’t say much because I don’t want to give anything away. I love the way how Noah picks on Tope nerves just to get him mad, and love the way how Emily put Noah in his place, I really like it how Noah and Tope care and love Emily so much that they do everything to protect her.
I said it once I am gone say it again thank you Author T.R. Graves for writing and introducing me to this wonderful characters, and this amazing story can’t wait to read more of your books.
116 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2015
This story just kept me on the edge. Levi, Tope, Noah! All fantastic choices. The twists and turns and surprises kept me mesmerized. Characters I came to hate with passion. Characters I felt sorry for. And characters that made me feel that the struggle is worth it. I am so looking forward to the next edition. I have a feeling it's going to blow my mind, but who can know for sure except the wonderful author,
T.R. Graves. What a fantastic story teller. She makes you feel the love, hate and compassion for her characters. She shows that there is hope for what seems like hopeless situation. This is a great read!
25 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2014
T.R. Graves is an excellent writer! The story line and the characters kept me captivated through out the whole book. This book takes you on a journey through a life that most people never speak of and gives you insight to how life in some communes would be. Love betrayal and suspense!! Looking forward to other series by this author.
Profile Image for Kimber Wheaton.
Author 4 books248 followers
October 15, 2013
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Grave Bound & Underground are books one and two in the Secrets series. Underground is a direct continuation, so be sure to read Grave Bound first. The reader is left hanging at the end of book two, and I sincerely hope author T.R, Graves is working on book three since I'm dying to know what happens. I'm combining the review, with no spoilers (not easy), since the books are essentially one story.

Emily Riddle has spent her entire life in a commune run by her rather sadistic father. This commune is every woman's nightmare, where they are treated as possessions, not people. One summer day, she escaped the compound to swim in a nearby lake, and there she met Levi and Tope. She fell quickly for Levi's looks and his sweet, loving nature. Emily amazed me at every turn. She was educated and sought to educate the children in the commune. Even when presented with insurmountable odds, she didn't back down, but chose to fight for what she felt was right. I'm telling you right now, if I had an opportunity to escape the hell of that commune, I'd run in a heartbeat. Emily would rather risk everything to bring her father and the commune leaders to justice, even though her life was at risk.

Levi- What can I say about sweet, adorable Levi? He taught Emily what love is, how life can be beautiful. His idealism shone through in every scene, though I wonder if he understood what he was getting involved in. Tope- The DA elected to bring the commune down. Everyone in the parish knew the commune was involved in all sorts of illegal activities, and Tope was determined to see the leaders behind bars. The fact that he was head over heels in love with Emily, well that may make things more difficult. Noah- Sexy FBI agent who's been undercover for a year trying to bring down the drug empire Caleb Preston ran through numerous communes. Too bad he has feelings for Emily too, making it much more difficult for him to keep his cover intact. That girl has three sexy men lusting after her. I'd say she was lucky except for the whole 'Hell on Earth' commune thing...

These novels are fast-paced, keeping the reader turning the pages, desperate to know what happens next. Not only that, but I came to adore the characters quickly and felt emotionally invested in their stories. One interesting aspect is the changes in perspective. The novel is written in first person, and jumps around from character to character giving a unique perspective we'd have lost otherwise. There were a few times when it jumped within pages which drew my attention from the story. Otherwise, I liked the multiple perspectives. I'm just glad we didn't have to see into Emily's father Owen's thoughts...I'm not sure my psyche would survive.

Be prepared to bawl when you read these books; there were times when I couldn't see my Kindle through the tears. I must stress that these are New Adult books. They contain language, violence, and sexual situations that are not suitable for younger readers. Trust me on this one as I think I'm more lenient than many, but some of the subject matter is hard to deal with. I definitely rate this book for the 18+ crowd. That said, if you like edgy, romantic suspense, add Grave Bound & Underground to your to-read list. If book three was out now, I'd be reading that rather than writing this review.
Profile Image for Crina | booktwist_.
610 reviews285 followers
October 19, 2013
I received this book for a honest review, and as a part of the tour! Thanks!:) Original post on: http://nervidetoamna.blogspot.ro/


Rarely I'm so much in a book that I can't stop reading even when I need to go to sleep, but this one caught me. I was so curious about what was going to happen cause the end of the first one was... this book was good, full of action and feelings. Everything was happening everywhere and sometimes nearly I forgot to breath. The author really knows how to make the reader fly through her books.

I won't talk about the action, cause I don't want to spoil anyone, but Emily is so changed and she is ready to do anything and risk so much, even her life, if it needed to bring those men to jail. Cause they need it so much and they are so bad, and evil, and doesn't deserve mercy. So, Emily with the help of Tope and Noah, and Tess, try to bring them down, but this is not so easy to do as it sounds. And they pass through so much things, that brings pain and tears and... even i don't know how to put it in words, but if you read the book, the series, you'll find out.

About Emily I won;t say to much cause I just say she's stronger than before, she want to revenge Levi's death, she wants to have those women from the bastards hands that can name them husbands. Tope is another character that I like and I like how he take care of Em, and try to stay with her, and confort her, and not in a romantic way, even he's in love with her, but as friends. And Noah is the same, another good guy with a mask on his face, with a big secret and stuff. They really pass through lot of things together.

The only thing that bothered me at this book was the romance part. I didn't liked that Em has interest in both of them as as she says that she can choose, well she can. I mean how can you like both and make them be in that kind of situation, cause is weird. And wasn't she in love so hard with Levy and cried her eyes out? How can you run for two guys after that? Yes, i get it, you want to move forward but not like that, like choose one and not play that game of inocent, in love girl.

I think there's another book after this, cause the ending of this one broght out many questions and I don't think they will remain without a response(?). So I'll wait for the next one. And I recommend you to read the series if it's sounds interesting to you.

4/5
Profile Image for Cassie McCown.
Author 7 books89 followers
January 3, 2014
It is ALWAYS a pleasure to work with such a wonderful author. Sometimes I have to remind myself I'm working, not just enjoying an amazing book. :-)

I recommend every series by Graves, including Secrets. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.


Full review coming soon!
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