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Emma's Secret
Emma is co-owner of a bakery in Bellingham, a small town an hour’s drive from Seattle. For the past year she has been in a long distance relationship with Peter Logan, a gorgeous tycoon. She tells herself that she doesn't want more from him but when Peter forgets their one year anniversary which coincides with the date her parents were killed in a horrific car accident the year before, Emma finds herself grieving their passing alone. This is the final straw for Emma who decides to end it with Peter or risk being hurt more in the end.
What she doesn't realize is Peter isn't going to take the break up as easily as she thinks...
What she doesn't realize is Peter isn't going to take the break up as easily as she thinks...
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
37 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
A.P. Jensen
15 books166 followersA.P. loves to read, write, travel, watch movies, listen to old timer’s talk about the good old days and daydream. She has two dogs who are world travelers and tolerate the long hours she spends in front of the computer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
February 23, 2020
Maybe I'm less demanding than other romance readers, but all I needed for a plot here was "workaholic hero stands up his booty call on their one year anniversary, so she decides to break up with him and he discovers feelings."
That's it. Tell me a story about a woman who can walk away when she's being taken for granted and a man who can learn to re-prioritize, make me empathize with their emotions, and I'm happy.
Instead, Emma's Secret is playing pin-the-backstory-on-the-donkey in a dual attempt to raise the stakes and wash away everyone's bad behavior, but all it does is detract from exploring the emotions involved. And some of it directly backfires. For example, the forgotten anniversary also falls on the anniversary of the heroine's parents' death in a car accident. This backstory is serving double duty: it ratchets up the heroine's need for the hero's presence that evening and explains why she has zero tolerance for a man who can't support her emotionally (her ex-fiancé failed her that night).
But...the hero doesn't know anything about the accident. The deeply private heroine hasn't shared that information with him. So instead of finding the hero's tragic blunder more angsty, I feel like she's unfairly penalizing him for not being psychic.
I also suspect the added tragedy is there to justify the heroine's sense of abandonment, as if being treated like a booty call, having no contact at all for nearly two months, and being stood up on a date when you verified the plans a week in advance were not sufficient reason to break up with someone. (Hint: he's just not that into you.)
Anyway, the hero has a (mildly tragic) backstory to explain his drive to succeed at the cost of personal relationships, and the heroine's ex-fiancé has a Gremlins-level tragic backstory to explain why he let her down so badly the night of her parents' death. Add two shock!pregnancies (the heroine's and her best friend's), and we get our HEA.
I wrestled with the rating for this like the ratings police were going to knock on my door the minute I posted the review. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because the backstory overkill is mostly harmless, not malicious. But I absolutely cannot recommend this book as an enjoyable read.
That's it. Tell me a story about a woman who can walk away when she's being taken for granted and a man who can learn to re-prioritize, make me empathize with their emotions, and I'm happy.
Instead, Emma's Secret is playing pin-the-backstory-on-the-donkey in a dual attempt to raise the stakes and wash away everyone's bad behavior, but all it does is detract from exploring the emotions involved. And some of it directly backfires. For example, the forgotten anniversary also falls on the anniversary of the heroine's parents' death in a car accident. This backstory is serving double duty: it ratchets up the heroine's need for the hero's presence that evening and explains why she has zero tolerance for a man who can't support her emotionally (her ex-fiancé failed her that night).
But...the hero doesn't know anything about the accident. The deeply private heroine hasn't shared that information with him. So instead of finding the hero's tragic blunder more angsty, I feel like she's unfairly penalizing him for not being psychic.
I also suspect the added tragedy is there to justify the heroine's sense of abandonment, as if being treated like a booty call, having no contact at all for nearly two months, and being stood up on a date when you verified the plans a week in advance were not sufficient reason to break up with someone. (Hint: he's just not that into you.)
Anyway, the hero has a (mildly tragic) backstory to explain his drive to succeed at the cost of personal relationships, and the heroine's ex-fiancé has a Gremlins-level tragic backstory to explain why he let her down so badly the night of her parents' death. Add two shock!pregnancies (the heroine's and her best friend's), and we get our HEA.
I wrestled with the rating for this like the ratings police were going to knock on my door the minute I posted the review. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because the backstory overkill is mostly harmless, not malicious. But I absolutely cannot recommend this book as an enjoyable read.
February 10, 2020
Two damaged people, each with their own traumatic past, have a one night stand that lasts a year. I call their affair a one night stand because even though they technically were in a relationship for one year, there was absolutely no emotional connection between them. How could there be when they both had walls the size of which could rival the Great Wall manned by Westeros' Night Watch?
I see what the author was going for but I didn't buy it. Too many coincidences, about-faces, plot contrivance, and wishy-washiness from both leads, culminating with an HFN that felt precariously fragile.
Story had good potential but it did not work for me.
I see what the author was going for but I didn't buy it. Too many coincidences, about-faces, plot contrivance, and wishy-washiness from both leads, culminating with an HFN that felt precariously fragile.
Story had good potential but it did not work for me.
February 8, 2019
It had all the elements I love in a romance. A tenacious hero who chased heroine again and again, a strong but vulnerable heroine who is independent and hurt in past and their complicated but unique relationship. The heat between them was wild. Secondary characters added much fun to their story. Surprise pregnancy is one of the plot line I adore so I was very invested in the book.
And heroine’s ex- I loved him too. My heart went out for him but I’m glad heroine forgave him. I hope he gets his own story and happy ending.
I loved the author’s writing style too. So this certainly wont be my last book from the author.
Recommended.
And heroine’s ex- I loved him too. My heart went out for him but I’m glad heroine forgave him. I hope he gets his own story and happy ending.
I loved the author’s writing style too. So this certainly wont be my last book from the author.
Recommended.
February 13, 2019
I actually sighed at the end of this book. The Hero was pretty stubborn but he wouldn't give up on the heroine. For a year they have been having sex but they live two hours apart. It starts going on months in between hookups. There is no cheating either. The Hero could be a jerk but the heroine was no pushover and didn't let him get away with it. He is the one who keeps coming back. But he won't tell her he loved her. They both have baggage and it caused issues with them. She isn't over the traumatic death of her parents or what she perceives is her ex fiancee's betrayal. He still loves her but she is totally in love with the hero. Secrets come out eventually and if course more misunderstandings that keep them apart. The Hero did a total 360 at the end but I really liked it. Was it believable? Not really but the fantasy of it made me happy. I really felt good after reading it. I liked it far better than 'Can't Let Go'. I really like the authors writing style and I have a couple more of her books saved in Scribd to read too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2017
***FOUR STARS***
Sweet little story with some decent angst. I love the doubts that Emma felt about Peter not wanting her , they felt so realistic. And I enjoyed Peter finally deciding to fight for Emma. Perfect little late night read.
June 6, 2014
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I really enjoyed this at the start, and it was on for a 5 star read.
Emma has been in a relationship with Peter for a year!
When he forgets their first year anniversary, which coincides with another more tragic anniversary for Emma, she decides to break up with Peter.
As I say, I really enjoyed it in the first half. I love a relationship driven story sometimes.
But then in the latter half, it started to drag. Emma complained she needed someone "present" while managing to be one of the most emotionally distant people to have ever walked the planet!
And yes, she had gone through something tragic, I cannot deny that, but she seemed unable to comprehend at points, other people have issues and sadness in their lives.
Too much back and forth of her not trusting him, breaking it off, him going off to lick his wounds then come back for more. It just got - frustrating!
Add in a character like Leslie, who is almost cartoonish in her villainy, to add some extra tension.
The last 25% dragged too much. Then it is all sorted out in the last couple pf pages and ended rather abruptly! This is an occasion where an epilogue would have been nice! As much as they had been back and forth, and agreed to give it a go to only break up - them getting together for good in the end, happened too quick and in too short a page time and hence never felt truly real.
Still, I would read more by this author!
I really enjoyed this at the start, and it was on for a 5 star read.
Emma has been in a relationship with Peter for a year!
When he forgets their first year anniversary, which coincides with another more tragic anniversary for Emma, she decides to break up with Peter.
As I say, I really enjoyed it in the first half. I love a relationship driven story sometimes.
But then in the latter half, it started to drag. Emma complained she needed someone "present" while managing to be one of the most emotionally distant people to have ever walked the planet!
And yes, she had gone through something tragic, I cannot deny that, but she seemed unable to comprehend at points, other people have issues and sadness in their lives.
Too much back and forth of her not trusting him, breaking it off, him going off to lick his wounds then come back for more. It just got - frustrating!
Add in a character like Leslie, who is almost cartoonish in her villainy, to add some extra tension.
The last 25% dragged too much. Then it is all sorted out in the last couple pf pages and ended rather abruptly! This is an occasion where an epilogue would have been nice! As much as they had been back and forth, and agreed to give it a go to only break up - them getting together for good in the end, happened too quick and in too short a page time and hence never felt truly real.
Still, I would read more by this author!
June 17, 2022
It was a pleasant reading and unexpectedly emotional even if there’s not so much drama happening.
But the author managed to describe the heroine’s feelings very well and in a few words- that is something not every writer can do.
The hero and the heroine have been in a relationship for one year, she’s living in a small town while he’s living in Seattle, it looks like they saw once in a while to have sex.
They don’t make calls, they don’t expect serious commitment, even if they are exclusive.
Both have secrets and traumas so of course nothing good can come from such an affair.
Lately the hero tries to see the heroine less frequently because he realizes she’s always on his mind and he’s obviously freaking.
The heroine thinks he wants out.
When she asks him to come and visit her on a certain date and he doesn’t show up, the heroine dumps him.
It was their first anniversary and also the anniversary of her parents’ death.
The hero didn’t know but anyway he forgot she asked him to come so I was really happy that for once a heroine wasn’t a doormat and dumped a bastard hero. Thank god for small mercies.
She realized she wanted more and he was giving less so she did the right thing.
Never waste time on a lost cause, and he looked one.
But the hero, emotionally dumb, can’t stop thinking about her and tries to win her back.
He doesn’t stop even when she sends him away.
Their relationship moves forward and he asks her to move in.
There’s an unexpected pregnancy because as you well know in romance fiction the Pill is never sure and fails more often than you can think.
Unfortunately the night she was going to tell him they are at a party and she listens to a woman telling her he was with her the night of their anniversary. This very nice lady tells her he told her he would never marry the heroine.
The poor heroine leaves the party and then leaves the hero too, who tells her he won’t follow her this time.
Thank god he will follow her a couple of weeks later because he just can’t stay away and reveals eventually that he loved her but he was going to wait before proposing to show her he could be trusted.
The book is ok, there’s actually some angst because the poor heroine was still traumatized and her ex left her when she had the accident with her parents because he was traumatized too, the hero was abandoned and left to his aunt who hated him so he grew up damaged.
Everyone is damaged here and everyone is unable to communicate because they don’t trust anyone, but the hero, even if he acts like a jerk, is actually very determined not to lose the heroine and never gives up, no matter how many times she dumps him.
I could understand she wanted more and thought he wasn’t the right man for her, he never did anything to prove her wrong.
I appreciated that he tried to change and even if he didn’t say immediately he loved her he showed with his actions how much he cared for her.
I recommend it for a very relaxing and sweet reading, and very safe too.
But the author managed to describe the heroine’s feelings very well and in a few words- that is something not every writer can do.
The hero and the heroine have been in a relationship for one year, she’s living in a small town while he’s living in Seattle, it looks like they saw once in a while to have sex.
They don’t make calls, they don’t expect serious commitment, even if they are exclusive.
Both have secrets and traumas so of course nothing good can come from such an affair.
Lately the hero tries to see the heroine less frequently because he realizes she’s always on his mind and he’s obviously freaking.
The heroine thinks he wants out.
When she asks him to come and visit her on a certain date and he doesn’t show up, the heroine dumps him.
It was their first anniversary and also the anniversary of her parents’ death.
The hero didn’t know but anyway he forgot she asked him to come so I was really happy that for once a heroine wasn’t a doormat and dumped a bastard hero. Thank god for small mercies.
She realized she wanted more and he was giving less so she did the right thing.
Never waste time on a lost cause, and he looked one.
But the hero, emotionally dumb, can’t stop thinking about her and tries to win her back.
He doesn’t stop even when she sends him away.
Their relationship moves forward and he asks her to move in.
There’s an unexpected pregnancy because as you well know in romance fiction the Pill is never sure and fails more often than you can think.
Unfortunately the night she was going to tell him they are at a party and she listens to a woman telling her he was with her the night of their anniversary. This very nice lady tells her he told her he would never marry the heroine.
The poor heroine leaves the party and then leaves the hero too, who tells her he won’t follow her this time.
Thank god he will follow her a couple of weeks later because he just can’t stay away and reveals eventually that he loved her but he was going to wait before proposing to show her he could be trusted.
The book is ok, there’s actually some angst because the poor heroine was still traumatized and her ex left her when she had the accident with her parents because he was traumatized too, the hero was abandoned and left to his aunt who hated him so he grew up damaged.
Everyone is damaged here and everyone is unable to communicate because they don’t trust anyone, but the hero, even if he acts like a jerk, is actually very determined not to lose the heroine and never gives up, no matter how many times she dumps him.
I could understand she wanted more and thought he wasn’t the right man for her, he never did anything to prove her wrong.
I appreciated that he tried to change and even if he didn’t say immediately he loved her he showed with his actions how much he cared for her.
I recommend it for a very relaxing and sweet reading, and very safe too.
June 12, 2020
3 “Scenic Drive” Stars
Emma’s Secret is hard to label; it’s a bit (ish) of several tropes, and doesn’t really commit to any. It’s a short-ish, soapy-ish, cheesy-ish, angsty-ish, round-about second-chance-ish romance with a flat/rigid-ish h, and rich, commitment phobia-ish H. Confused? I was at times too, but if you stay flexible, and can overlook redirections of the storyline and about-face character temperaments… It’s pretty sweet.
The title and blurb are misleading, and the characters and storyline sort of flip-flops with their personalities and goals. We’re told Emma has been in a long-distance relationship with Peter when she decides to break things off, because he forgot their anniversary, and she wants someone who will love her and be around. In actuality, they both have past baggage that makes them leery of letting love in, and they’ve had a one-year extended hook-up, calling it a relationship is a stretch. They have no real emotional connection; they don’t talk about anything personal or about their relationship status. They go long periods w/out speaking or seeing each other, and only live two hours apart. The “relationship” is totally initiated from Peter (when he isn’t obsessed w/ work) they speak when he calls, and only see each other when he visits, and he’s clueless it’s their anniversary because they don’t communicate.
The “break-up” is the wake-up call Peter needed, but when he offers the commitment Emma wants, she flips it and starts pushing him away, because now she’s scared to love after her parent’s death. This sets up the remainder of the book with pretty much Emma making no effort, and Peter trying to make her give them a shot. We are “told” most everything by Emma’s BFF Anna, (who can read her thoughts and feelings) and is used as a plot device to fill in/manipulate the characters where they are needed to go.
Bottom Line- I felt like this was a little all over the place, and was just ok for me. The relationship seemed very unrealistic, and it was hard for me to connect… or really care. It’s safe, there’s OW thrown in to add some conflict, but Peter has nothing to do with her.
Emma’s Secret is hard to label; it’s a bit (ish) of several tropes, and doesn’t really commit to any. It’s a short-ish, soapy-ish, cheesy-ish, angsty-ish, round-about second-chance-ish romance with a flat/rigid-ish h, and rich, commitment phobia-ish H. Confused? I was at times too, but if you stay flexible, and can overlook redirections of the storyline and about-face character temperaments… It’s pretty sweet.
The title and blurb are misleading, and the characters and storyline sort of flip-flops with their personalities and goals. We’re told Emma has been in a long-distance relationship with Peter when she decides to break things off, because he forgot their anniversary, and she wants someone who will love her and be around. In actuality, they both have past baggage that makes them leery of letting love in, and they’ve had a one-year extended hook-up, calling it a relationship is a stretch. They have no real emotional connection; they don’t talk about anything personal or about their relationship status. They go long periods w/out speaking or seeing each other, and only live two hours apart. The “relationship” is totally initiated from Peter (when he isn’t obsessed w/ work) they speak when he calls, and only see each other when he visits, and he’s clueless it’s their anniversary because they don’t communicate.
The “break-up” is the wake-up call Peter needed, but when he offers the commitment Emma wants, she flips it and starts pushing him away, because now she’s scared to love after her parent’s death. This sets up the remainder of the book with pretty much Emma making no effort, and Peter trying to make her give them a shot. We are “told” most everything by Emma’s BFF Anna, (who can read her thoughts and feelings) and is used as a plot device to fill in/manipulate the characters where they are needed to go.
Bottom Line- I felt like this was a little all over the place, and was just ok for me. The relationship seemed very unrealistic, and it was hard for me to connect… or really care. It’s safe, there’s OW thrown in to add some conflict, but Peter has nothing to do with her.
September 20, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this book!!
This is the kind of novel I wish that doesn't end when I get to the endings. THEY ARE THE BEST. :) :) :)
It was so cute, made me happy cry, made me blush and made me fall in love with the characters!
Everything and everyone in this book were amazing... the story base and plot and the characters, everything was beautiful~
Its was such a simple read with the perfect amount of everything
This is the kind of novel I wish that doesn't end when I get to the endings. THEY ARE THE BEST. :) :) :)
It was so cute, made me happy cry, made me blush and made me fall in love with the characters!
Everything and everyone in this book were amazing... the story base and plot and the characters, everything was beautiful~
Its was such a simple read with the perfect amount of everything
July 29, 2016
Emma and Peter had been in a pseudo-relationship for a year. I say pseudo because Peter goes to see Emma who lives two hours away from Seattle whenever it is convenient, given his busy schedule. Peter thought this was an ideal relationship because Emma was busy with her bakery business and she wasn’t demanding with his attention. Little did he know that Emma is starting to want more. When he forgets their one-year anniversary that’s the last straw and she decides she needs someone who will function more like a boyfriend than a fuckbuddy and breaks up with Peter. Peter gets angry because Emma was adamant that they wouldn’t work. At first he lets her be, but realizes he couldn’t stay away from her and asks for another chance. I like how Emma sticks to her guns and doesn’t give in. It’s only through some of Peter’s manipulations that she finds herself in a situation where she has no choice but to spend time with him. And this is when she sees how he’s putting an effort to build a relationship with her. Since there was still more pages to the book, and having read the author’s previous novel, I had a feeling that Peter was going to eff up again and he does. I was more satisfied with the resolution in this one. I also liked how the story moved along with no filler scenes and the dialogue and what was happening throughout the book held my interest.
Despite the angst in this book, this was interspersed with humor, and it’s funny to see how men are so clueless sometimes. Peter was definitely alpha male. He may had had relationship blunders and can be an asshole, but he’s tenacious—he’s also a self-made millionaire after all. I also like the author’s women, they don’t take crap from their men.
* my only gripe is that the sex scenes are very tame and some were just implied.
Despite the angst in this book, this was interspersed with humor, and it’s funny to see how men are so clueless sometimes. Peter was definitely alpha male. He may had had relationship blunders and can be an asshole, but he’s tenacious—he’s also a self-made millionaire after all. I also like the author’s women, they don’t take crap from their men.
* my only gripe is that the sex scenes are very tame and some were just implied.
March 3, 2024
3.5 stars
🌟Brief Summary:
Emma and Peter have been dating for almost a year. They live 2 hours away from each other so they steal a weekend together when they can.
Peter is a workaholic and has been pulling away on purpose cause he doesn’t want to be obsessed with Emma and he is the more time they spend together.
It’s been 2 month with no communication so Emma assumes they are moving on from each other. Turns out she is wrong. But when their 1 yr anniversary comes up and he forgets and works instead she is done. It’s especially bad for her cause it’s the 2 yr anniversary of her parent’s tragic deaths.
She breaks up with him and he spends the rest of the book bulldozing his way back into her life.
Grovel? Not really no. More like a growth story arc.
❣️Things I Liked/Loved❣️
-How Peter really doesn’t take their break up well and is persistent on his pursuit of her.
-How Peter is really willing to change his whole life (for the most part) to be with Emma. He tried so hard ❤️
-How Peter finally opened up about his trauma and wanted to really know her.
-I loved how he took that month off to really get to know her and what they want.
-I liked that Emma didn’t give in easy. She had legitimate concerns and wasn’t willing to settle.
-Peter had some really sweet moments and I really liked him when he got his act together.
Things I Did 💔 Not Like
-How Peter took forever to recognize that what he was feeling was love. Gah he was clueless. I don’t like that it took him forever to say it to.
-How for a long while he was so sure he didn’t want to marry Emma. But then bam he bought a ring and waited forever to tell her he loved her? Didnt make sense.
-I hated that lots of time would pass inbetween their break-ups or fights. Like be more proactive Peter🙄.
-Surprise pregnancy, not my fav, but at least he came back for her before he found out
🥀 Hero:
Peter
Workaholic, Seattles most eligible bachelor
And all around emotionally clueless guy.
🦋 Heroine:
Emma
Has a tragic past that affects a lot of her choices. She isn’t a doormat. She fights for what she wants.
💭 POV:
3rd person multiple we needed more form the H. After the 50% mark we didn’t really get it and we needed it.
🔥 Burn Rate:
Fast they are already together when the book starts
😡/😍 Angst level:
Medium, lots of drama here
❤️🔥 Sexy times & Descriptive sex:
moderate we get sexy times but they aren’t the super detailed either
🌓 Push/Pull:
Yes both push and pull at different times
☠️ OW/OM Drama:
OWD mild- he has woman chasing him and making offers but he isn’t interested. But she does try to cause some minor drama.
OMD- Emma’s ex appears. They have some unfinished business but she doesn’t want him back. OM causes lots of jealousy for H.
🤮 OW/OM Sex / Fluid or DNA Exchange:
None
🤬 Cheating:
None
👰🏼♀️ Virgins:
None
She had a long term boyfriend and some men she dated before the H.
He was a manwhore
⛈️Separation/ 3rd Act Breakup:
Yes 2 weeks
But they kinda break up a lot in this and have a month here and there where they don’t talk.
Safety⚠️Triggers🗡️:
Car accident
Parents death
Abandonment
🌈Epilogue:
Yes
🥂HEA:
Yes
❌My opinion is just that… MY OPINION.
I know we all get passionate about our favorite reads and characters but we should respect each opinions a thoughts. ~Thank you
🌟Brief Summary:
Emma and Peter have been dating for almost a year. They live 2 hours away from each other so they steal a weekend together when they can.
Peter is a workaholic and has been pulling away on purpose cause he doesn’t want to be obsessed with Emma and he is the more time they spend together.
It’s been 2 month with no communication so Emma assumes they are moving on from each other. Turns out she is wrong. But when their 1 yr anniversary comes up and he forgets and works instead she is done. It’s especially bad for her cause it’s the 2 yr anniversary of her parent’s tragic deaths.
She breaks up with him and he spends the rest of the book bulldozing his way back into her life.
Grovel? Not really no. More like a growth story arc.
❣️Things I Liked/Loved❣️
-How Peter really doesn’t take their break up well and is persistent on his pursuit of her.
-How Peter is really willing to change his whole life (for the most part) to be with Emma. He tried so hard ❤️
-How Peter finally opened up about his trauma and wanted to really know her.
-I loved how he took that month off to really get to know her and what they want.
-I liked that Emma didn’t give in easy. She had legitimate concerns and wasn’t willing to settle.
-Peter had some really sweet moments and I really liked him when he got his act together.
Things I Did 💔 Not Like
-How Peter took forever to recognize that what he was feeling was love. Gah he was clueless. I don’t like that it took him forever to say it to.
-How for a long while he was so sure he didn’t want to marry Emma. But then bam he bought a ring and waited forever to tell her he loved her? Didnt make sense.
-I hated that lots of time would pass inbetween their break-ups or fights. Like be more proactive Peter🙄.
-Surprise pregnancy, not my fav, but at least he came back for her before he found out
🥀 Hero:
Peter
Workaholic, Seattles most eligible bachelor
And all around emotionally clueless guy.
🦋 Heroine:
Emma
Has a tragic past that affects a lot of her choices. She isn’t a doormat. She fights for what she wants.
💭 POV:
3rd person multiple we needed more form the H. After the 50% mark we didn’t really get it and we needed it.
🔥 Burn Rate:
Fast they are already together when the book starts
😡/😍 Angst level:
Medium, lots of drama here
❤️🔥 Sexy times & Descriptive sex:
moderate we get sexy times but they aren’t the super detailed either
🌓 Push/Pull:
Yes both push and pull at different times
☠️ OW/OM Drama:
OWD mild- he has woman chasing him and making offers but he isn’t interested. But she does try to cause some minor drama.
OMD- Emma’s ex appears. They have some unfinished business but she doesn’t want him back. OM causes lots of jealousy for H.
🤮 OW/OM Sex / Fluid or DNA Exchange:
None
🤬 Cheating:
None
👰🏼♀️ Virgins:
None
She had a long term boyfriend and some men she dated before the H.
He was a manwhore
⛈️Separation/ 3rd Act Breakup:
Yes 2 weeks
But they kinda break up a lot in this and have a month here and there where they don’t talk.
Safety⚠️Triggers🗡️:
Car accident
Parents death
Abandonment
🌈Epilogue:
Yes
🥂HEA:
Yes
❌My opinion is just that… MY OPINION.
I know we all get passionate about our favorite reads and characters but we should respect each opinions a thoughts. ~Thank you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2014
Genre: self-pub CR
Sensuality: G to PG
Middling story of a baker who dumps her millionaire lover after a year and the millionaire refusing to be dumped and dealing with her issues. I rarely read stories like this so I enjoyed it as a change of pace but my enjoyment was marred by some barely passable writing.
And by "barely passable", I mean that 1) there are typos and grammatical errors and 2) too much reliance on telling-not-showing, coincidences, and misunderstandings.
This is my first by this author and I will not be seeking more.
Trope: second chances
Rating: 2.5
Sensuality: G to PG
Middling story of a baker who dumps her millionaire lover after a year and the millionaire refusing to be dumped and dealing with her issues. I rarely read stories like this so I enjoyed it as a change of pace but my enjoyment was marred by some barely passable writing.
And by "barely passable", I mean that 1) there are typos and grammatical errors and 2) too much reliance on telling-not-showing, coincidences, and misunderstandings.
This is my first by this author and I will not be seeking more.
Trope: second chances
Rating: 2.5
June 4, 2014
This was a really sweet book that reminded me a lot of a harlequin book. It was a really quick read but it was also just what I needed after coming off a book that made me want to throw my kindle. This book does have a hea but I do wish the books ending was more drawn out and I wish that the ending had been more solid for lack of a better word and i'm not even sure if thats the correct way to describe it. I just wish that the book ended with us seeing ALL of the happy ending instead of us seeing some and assuming what would happen next. I flew through this book because it was such\ an easy read and not even in a bad way but it was just one of those books that wasn't filled with drama and made your nerves on their last string.
Emma and Peter met at a really hard time in her life and he distracted her and helped her deal just by being there. But both both Peter and Emma lead separate lives both are successful business owners living over an hour away. And though they see each other when they can Peter's job keeps him away more than he is there. When Peter misses their anniversary which is also a day away from the anniversary of her parents death Emma knows she finally has to end it. She loves Peter but she wants someone who has time for her and makes her a priority.
Peter knew he cared about Emma but he never expected them to break up or for him to be so effected by it. Every time they try to work it our Emma ends up feeling like they are doomed because they want such different things but Peter has no plans of giving up because what he wants he gets no matter how hard he has to work for what he wants. As Peter and Emma finally start to open up to each other they both come to realize that there is more that they never knew about each other and held back from the other, and as they try to form a relationship now that they are finally getting to know each other Peters world begins to intrude and ruin all they have worked at building.
Yes this isn't a very graphic book and the s*x scenes aren't drawn out but they are there and sometimes you don't need that. *and yes I know some of you have dropped on the floor after reading that but this is just one of those sweet romances* And I didn't expect this book to be any different, this is one of those books that had they just opened up and trusted each other they wouldn't have went through most everything they suffered but then this book would have been 5 pages if they had. Overall this was a sweet quick romance that I recommend for anyone who just needs a break from all of the deep, gritty, heavy romances or for those who just like those sweet ones that make you feel lighter when you are reading them.
Emma and Peter met at a really hard time in her life and he distracted her and helped her deal just by being there. But both both Peter and Emma lead separate lives both are successful business owners living over an hour away. And though they see each other when they can Peter's job keeps him away more than he is there. When Peter misses their anniversary which is also a day away from the anniversary of her parents death Emma knows she finally has to end it. She loves Peter but she wants someone who has time for her and makes her a priority.
Peter knew he cared about Emma but he never expected them to break up or for him to be so effected by it. Every time they try to work it our Emma ends up feeling like they are doomed because they want such different things but Peter has no plans of giving up because what he wants he gets no matter how hard he has to work for what he wants. As Peter and Emma finally start to open up to each other they both come to realize that there is more that they never knew about each other and held back from the other, and as they try to form a relationship now that they are finally getting to know each other Peters world begins to intrude and ruin all they have worked at building.
Yes this isn't a very graphic book and the s*x scenes aren't drawn out but they are there and sometimes you don't need that. *and yes I know some of you have dropped on the floor after reading that but this is just one of those sweet romances* And I didn't expect this book to be any different, this is one of those books that had they just opened up and trusted each other they wouldn't have went through most everything they suffered but then this book would have been 5 pages if they had. Overall this was a sweet quick romance that I recommend for anyone who just needs a break from all of the deep, gritty, heavy romances or for those who just like those sweet ones that make you feel lighter when you are reading them.
May 28, 2013
Going to keep this one short. Just…
I know the cover isn't sexy and the title isn't all that great. But the story, in itself, was wonderful. It was quick. It was easy. It was addicting. The angst was there but you didn’t want to pull your hair out or choke on your own snot and tears.
And okay, there were misunderstandings that drove the story along, but the way the author used them in the book was justifiable. Peter refused to let the misunderstandings to continue and he hounded Emma to talk and straighten things out between them. (Finally! Thank you Jeebus!) There have been several books where the MCs were apart for years because of misunderstanding and lack of communication.
So, thank you.
Thank you for writing what adults really would do in a situation like this.
Hashing it out. Whatever the consequences may be.
P.S. A shout out to Peter who I may have developed a slight crush for.
I know the cover isn't sexy and the title isn't all that great. But the story, in itself, was wonderful. It was quick. It was easy. It was addicting. The angst was there but you didn’t want to pull your hair out or choke on your own snot and tears.
And okay, there were misunderstandings that drove the story along, but the way the author used them in the book was justifiable. Peter refused to let the misunderstandings to continue and he hounded Emma to talk and straighten things out between them. (Finally! Thank you Jeebus!) There have been several books where the MCs were apart for years because of misunderstanding and lack of communication.
So, thank you.
Thank you for writing what adults really would do in a situation like this.
Hashing it out. Whatever the consequences may be.
P.S. A shout out to Peter who I may have developed a slight crush for.
March 4, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ I feel like this had so much promise to be angsty and good but sadly fell short for me.
Emma and Peter are “dating” for a year but it’s basically just sex and he starts only seeing her like once every other month, and then two months pass with nothing. And I don’t think they even talk on the phone or keep in touch much so I was unsure how she claimed she loved him, or why she’d even bother with their anniversary?
Emma is withholding too, and doesn’t tell him about her traumatic past, but she wants more from the relationship so ends it with him.
The premise is that Peter doesn’t want to be a workaholic anymore and wants to try with Emma but like… I just wasn’t feeling it from his side. He never wanted to get close to people so he wouldn’t be hurt but even with time, I got little emotion from him and he basically just pushes his way back into her life with little grovel or change, in my opinion.
I think his actual growth is in the last 5% of the book and by then I just wasn’t feeling the payoff.
So overall, it had some good parts and I liked her friendship with Anna. But I think the romance fell a little short.
Emma and Peter are “dating” for a year but it’s basically just sex and he starts only seeing her like once every other month, and then two months pass with nothing. And I don’t think they even talk on the phone or keep in touch much so I was unsure how she claimed she loved him, or why she’d even bother with their anniversary?
Emma is withholding too, and doesn’t tell him about her traumatic past, but she wants more from the relationship so ends it with him.
The premise is that Peter doesn’t want to be a workaholic anymore and wants to try with Emma but like… I just wasn’t feeling it from his side. He never wanted to get close to people so he wouldn’t be hurt but even with time, I got little emotion from him and he basically just pushes his way back into her life with little grovel or change, in my opinion.
I think his actual growth is in the last 5% of the book and by then I just wasn’t feeling the payoff.
So overall, it had some good parts and I liked her friendship with Anna. But I think the romance fell a little short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2013
got this as a kindle freebie, and it is one of the better contemporary romances that I've read for a little while! It is chock full of BIG misunderstandings between the h and H, between the h and her ex, even between the h's BFF and her husband! Hope to see more from this author.
December 15, 2019
This was quite a nice book. The main characters have been in a relationship for a year, although it’s more like a friends with benefits kind of association. Neither asks more of the other, but the heroine is starting to want more.
Based on how their relationship is premised, she doesn’t feel like she should demand more from the hero. She knows he is very busy and she doesn’t want to be the clingy demanding type. She allows the Hero to visit her, in her place whenever it’s convenient for him. Since she lives about an hour or two outside the city, he is the one that goes to her. She never visits him in the city, nor do they socialize there. So the relationship seems very one sided.
We do get the hero’s point of view so we know they are exclusive and he likes to go and relax with the heroine, in her small town. In fact, when the book opens, he has just found out that the heroine was in the city and didn’t bother to call him, so suddenly he is upset.
The heroine is going through some stuff that she also keeps to herself and never reveals to the hero, so they both are keeping parts of themselves from the other. Since the heroine feels let down and that she is being taken for granted ( the hero missed their anniversary) she decides to break it off. The hero doesn’t want to give up on them and realizes that he has to start opening up to her as well and they need to work on their relationship as a couple befor they can move on.
There are many details to the story I didn’t include but it was a good read, and I liked how they eventually committed to one another and I had high hopes for their happy ever after.
Based on how their relationship is premised, she doesn’t feel like she should demand more from the hero. She knows he is very busy and she doesn’t want to be the clingy demanding type. She allows the Hero to visit her, in her place whenever it’s convenient for him. Since she lives about an hour or two outside the city, he is the one that goes to her. She never visits him in the city, nor do they socialize there. So the relationship seems very one sided.
We do get the hero’s point of view so we know they are exclusive and he likes to go and relax with the heroine, in her small town. In fact, when the book opens, he has just found out that the heroine was in the city and didn’t bother to call him, so suddenly he is upset.
The heroine is going through some stuff that she also keeps to herself and never reveals to the hero, so they both are keeping parts of themselves from the other. Since the heroine feels let down and that she is being taken for granted ( the hero missed their anniversary) she decides to break it off. The hero doesn’t want to give up on them and realizes that he has to start opening up to her as well and they need to work on their relationship as a couple befor they can move on.
There are many details to the story I didn’t include but it was a good read, and I liked how they eventually committed to one another and I had high hopes for their happy ever after.
November 2, 2024
Tags: damaged-broken_hero, damaged-broken_heroine, heroine-baker-chef, heroine-leaves, heroine-loved-or-loves-om, mean-mean-girls, om_drama, ow-drama, possessive-mine-mine-mine, read, rich-hero, secret-accidental-baby
October 18, 2013
Another amazing story from the author..(really a fan)..great couples..complicated relationships..great amazing..I had a rollercoaster of loving it & mellow-out-mood for Emma and Peter's relationship.. but then I'm a sucker for strong independent women & men who never give up on them whilst being strong too..it's a great balance rare in the world...xxx
Read
May 1, 2016Skimmed thru KU. Not enough love for me.
September 15, 2022
There was so much heavy subject matter that was superficially written. The MMC never felt real after his POV’s dried up somewhere before the 50% mark. The FMC was so needy yet tragic I couldn’t decide if I was annoyed by her or felt bad for her. I mean I got that she needed for a man to prove his love to her in both word and deed but I felt like she was a bit too much after the 50% mark. I felt like she was one of those women that expected her man to be psychic. Never a good look on anyone.
The FMC in my opinion, fell in love with an imaginary MMC. The MMC never gave her anything to fall in love with other than s e x. So what this supposed romance story is based on I don’t know, because I never found it in this whole book.
From the beginning the MMC wanted the FMC but was actively keeping a barrier between them. He actively chose to never ask questions or get emotionally intimate with the FMC. Although he did try to pass the buck by saying she was the same, which I felt was a cop out for all his poor choices. He even told some random gold digger at a party he chose to go to over his agreed upon date with the FMC that he wasn’t ever going to marry his girlfriend. When he finally had his blow up with the FMC he also stayed gone for over a month and ONLY went back for closure with the FMC and it was at this point that we last read any POV from the MMC.
So when the MMC does basically a 180 and wants to have a real relationship with the FMC, we the reader never figure out how he got there. We don’t see him realizing that the FMC has serious emotional issues. We don’t see his jealousy for the OM. We don’t see him deal with the hole he dug himself when their one night in Seattle blows up in this couple’s faces.
The OM was like a kicked abused puppy trotted out at just the right time for drama in every pivotal point in this book. Up until the last unbelievable moment that he bumps into the FMC in the middle of the night on a random Seattle street while she is in another low moment in her life. Give me a break. I did feel bad for him and to a very mild degree I liked him but only because I liked him better than the MMC. I strongly felt that this story of “second chances”, should have been about him and the FMC. I felt more of an emotional bond between the OM and the FMC in the few short points of their contact then in the entire story between the MMC and the FMC combined.
We the reader, don’t see enough explanation for the traumas that the MMC, the FMC and the OM have had to deal with. The author is blatantly superficial in her story telling. I seriously don’t feel satisfied with this story’s capacity for emotional impact. So much was just not addressed. I am not sure if I am interested in this author enough to check out their other stories either. Good luck.
The FMC in my opinion, fell in love with an imaginary MMC. The MMC never gave her anything to fall in love with other than s e x. So what this supposed romance story is based on I don’t know, because I never found it in this whole book.
From the beginning the MMC wanted the FMC but was actively keeping a barrier between them. He actively chose to never ask questions or get emotionally intimate with the FMC. Although he did try to pass the buck by saying she was the same, which I felt was a cop out for all his poor choices. He even told some random gold digger at a party he chose to go to over his agreed upon date with the FMC that he wasn’t ever going to marry his girlfriend. When he finally had his blow up with the FMC he also stayed gone for over a month and ONLY went back for closure with the FMC and it was at this point that we last read any POV from the MMC.
So when the MMC does basically a 180 and wants to have a real relationship with the FMC, we the reader never figure out how he got there. We don’t see him realizing that the FMC has serious emotional issues. We don’t see his jealousy for the OM. We don’t see him deal with the hole he dug himself when their one night in Seattle blows up in this couple’s faces.
The OM was like a kicked abused puppy trotted out at just the right time for drama in every pivotal point in this book. Up until the last unbelievable moment that he bumps into the FMC in the middle of the night on a random Seattle street while she is in another low moment in her life. Give me a break. I did feel bad for him and to a very mild degree I liked him but only because I liked him better than the MMC. I strongly felt that this story of “second chances”, should have been about him and the FMC. I felt more of an emotional bond between the OM and the FMC in the few short points of their contact then in the entire story between the MMC and the FMC combined.
We the reader, don’t see enough explanation for the traumas that the MMC, the FMC and the OM have had to deal with. The author is blatantly superficial in her story telling. I seriously don’t feel satisfied with this story’s capacity for emotional impact. So much was just not addressed. I am not sure if I am interested in this author enough to check out their other stories either. Good luck.
January 5, 2025
i wanted an angsty mess, not a mess.
June 15, 2013
Peter’s a self made millionaire, it hasn’t been easy for him but he’s clawed his way to the top. Emma enters his life at a time when he’s disillusioned and looking for more than one night stands. They enter into a long distance exclusive friends with benefits arrangement. Both are seemingly happy until Peter forgets an important mile stone in their ‘relationship’ that coincides with a shattering event in Emma's personal life. Peter is so snowed under he forgets the first but in fairness to him he has no clue about the second because theirs is a relationship based on sexual not emotional need so when Emma decides to call it quits, her decision shocks and stuns him.
So many things I liked about this novel. Though Peter and Emma were already in a sexual relationship right from the get go (tastefully done by the way) it felt fragmented as if sex was a disjointed part of a mysterious whole, if that makes any sense at all. The pulling together of that whole is what made this story. Emma wants more with or without Peter and Peter wants more too only he's denying it for all he's worth.
This isn't your normal progression of boy meets girl, they fall in love, angst and the HEA. This novel started somewhere mid-end, rolled back to the beginning, jerked you to a possible HEA then started the roll all over again.
An inconsistency:
Peter to Emma. “I don’t want to jump into anything. I think we should see where things go.”
The very next day and after the big reveal. “I was going to ask you to marry me this weekend...I bought the ring the day we got back from Victoria.”
Huh? Like Emma I'm doubting too based on his comment the night before and for me this was the only real downer that spoiled an otherwise enjoyable read. The pregnancy angle. There was enough good stuff going on to have left it out completely thereby removing the doubt.
January 3, 2014
3.5 stars. This is the second book I've read by A.P. Jensen and again it was okay but I wish I could say it was special, but it wasn't. Peter is a billionaire living in Seattle who meets Emma, a baker, living in Bellingham, Washington, a few hours north of Seattle. She is not a "city girl" and prefers her small town life. Peter and Emma have a long distance relationship, mostly him getting up to Bellingham when he can to see her. Sometimes its several weeks between visits.
Peter forgets about an unusual, prearranged date with Emma, which happens to be their first anniversary together. Emma waits in vain for Peter to show up and when a week or so later he does come to see her Emma breaks up with him. Peter is devastated and realizes that Emma means a lot more to him than he thought. He decides to fight for her.
Emma has a few secrets in her life, including an ex-fiancée who left her at the moment she needed him the most and unknown to Peter this is a major driving factor behind Emma now giving Peter the heave ho. She needs to know that the guy she loves will be there for her when she needs him.
The rest of the book is Peter fighting for Emma, trying to be what she wants but still trying to run his large, successful business. There is a major surprise at the end of the book which came out of the blue both for the readers and the characters. It really didn't fit in with the rest of the book and gave the book a real disjointed feel. Again, an okay story but not great.
Peter forgets about an unusual, prearranged date with Emma, which happens to be their first anniversary together. Emma waits in vain for Peter to show up and when a week or so later he does come to see her Emma breaks up with him. Peter is devastated and realizes that Emma means a lot more to him than he thought. He decides to fight for her.
Emma has a few secrets in her life, including an ex-fiancée who left her at the moment she needed him the most and unknown to Peter this is a major driving factor behind Emma now giving Peter the heave ho. She needs to know that the guy she loves will be there for her when she needs him.
The rest of the book is Peter fighting for Emma, trying to be what she wants but still trying to run his large, successful business. There is a major surprise at the end of the book which came out of the blue both for the readers and the characters. It really didn't fit in with the rest of the book and gave the book a real disjointed feel. Again, an okay story but not great.
July 9, 2014
Emma's Secret is a GOOD read!
The story is about Emma and Peter. They have a long distance relationship. Peter and Emma both have their individual businesses so, often they find it hard to make time for each other, especially Peter.
When Peter forgets an important day in both of their lives, Emma decides to break up with him. What she didn't know, was that Peter did care about Emma and he did not want the relationship to end.
I liked that both Peter and Emma have their own separate lives, and don't depend on each other for every little thing.
Another thing I liked was how Peter was ready to make compromises to make their relationship work, he does not take it for granted that Emma will leave everything behind, just to be with them.
The secondary characters are also great. Anna, Tommy and Derek! I loved these guys and would like to read more about them.
The writing is so tight in this book, but after 85% the book becomes a little (only a little) slow. Also, I was annoyed with Emma and her secrets at the end, and I was just like, "TELL HIM ALREADY"!!
Emma's Secret is a quick read, and its seriously good!
The story is about Emma and Peter. They have a long distance relationship. Peter and Emma both have their individual businesses so, often they find it hard to make time for each other, especially Peter.
When Peter forgets an important day in both of their lives, Emma decides to break up with him. What she didn't know, was that Peter did care about Emma and he did not want the relationship to end.
I liked that both Peter and Emma have their own separate lives, and don't depend on each other for every little thing.
Another thing I liked was how Peter was ready to make compromises to make their relationship work, he does not take it for granted that Emma will leave everything behind, just to be with them.
The secondary characters are also great. Anna, Tommy and Derek! I loved these guys and would like to read more about them.
The writing is so tight in this book, but after 85% the book becomes a little (only a little) slow. Also, I was annoyed with Emma and her secrets at the end, and I was just like, "TELL HIM ALREADY"!!
Emma's Secret is a quick read, and its seriously good!
August 2, 2016
Emma is a business woman/baker in a small town in Washington. She has a painful past in which her parents died in an auto accident in which she was driving and her fiancé at the time walked away from the crash site while her mother was dying in her arms. She met Peter on the one year anniversary of her parents death and he pursued her until they were a loose definition of a couple, no expectations, no demands, no commitment except to be exclusive. When Peter misses their first anniversary for a business party after being reminded a week earlier, Emma realizes she needs to end the relationship because she will never be important to him.
December 10, 2013
Great read for anyone looking for a little bit of everything good in a romance book! Perfect for one sitting read that left me with a smile - especially since there were no cliffhangers. Looking forward to reading other books by this author.
May 16, 2021
This book had non descriptive smash scenes and I STILL loved it! The h decides that she can't be in a relationship with the H anymore and he doesn't accept it. I loved the drama and finished this book in a day! This also has a surprise pregnancy that the H is excited about
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2014
i really liked it with a lot of ups and downs but good all the same
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