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The Westmorelands #29
The Secret Affair
Mills & Boon Desire series delivers powerful, passionate romances…
It has been a year since Jillian Novak ended their affair — a year that left Dr Aidan Westmoreland determined to win back his lover. He knows they don’t have to keep their relationship a secret, but he has to follow her around the world to prove it. Fourteen days on a cruise ship — just Aidan, Jillian and the deep blue sea...and a passion that won’t be denied.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
194 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Jackson
898 books3,594 followersIn 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
June 27, 2015
Another Westmoreland Hottie!!!! Lord Somebody need to tell me where they are growing these men at?!?!?!?
Jillian Novak is the sister to Pam Novak-Westmoreland. Pam is married to Dillon Westmoreland, their story is Book 16. Jillian and Dr. Aidan Westmoreland have carried on a secret affair for 3 years, it was secret because Jillian didn't want her older sister Pam to know about it or the rest of the family. As innocent and Ok with it as Aidan was about keeping it only between them two, secrets have a way of bringing out the not so great side out of folks. Aidan isn't used to keeping secrets from his family, they are a very big and tight knit group. So him agreeing with Jillian to remain quiet about it was surprising to me because he agreed to it at first.
Jillian is a couple of years younger than Aidan, he desire to keep it a secret at first was all in her mind. Yes Aidan and his twin brother Adrian were lovers of women, neither one of them had no intention of settling down ever. But cupid had other plans and Adrian fell for Trinity Matthews, their story is Book 28. Trinity is the younger sister to Tara Matthews-Westmoreland who is married to Thorne Westmoreland, their story is Book 3. After watching his twin fall, Aidan made his move for Jillian. All seemed right in the beginning until the wear and tear of keeping it a secret and pretty much sneaking around, an unexpected arrival and believing unfaithfulness has caused the split between them.
A year later Aidan puts his plan into action, "Operation Get Jillian Novak Back". Help from family never hurt anyone LOL!!! And Aidan sets out to seduce Jillian "Westmoreland Style" on the high seas of a 14 day cruise. No distractions, nobody else but them. It also doesn't hurt that his good friend Dominic Saxon, who is married to Taylor Steele and their story is Book 5 of the Forged of Steele series is the owner of the Cruise ship he's on and is also helping Aidan get the woman he loves back.
Author Brenda Jackson knows how to effectively write a love story that is full of romance and intrigue. I love how she is able to interweave her characters from other stories and you won't get lost (especially if you have been reading them in order). Her stories remain fresh and exhilarating, I will always buy her books because she is an author whose stories remain consistent.
Well Until My Next Review Ciao Bellas!
Jillian Novak is the sister to Pam Novak-Westmoreland. Pam is married to Dillon Westmoreland, their story is Book 16. Jillian and Dr. Aidan Westmoreland have carried on a secret affair for 3 years, it was secret because Jillian didn't want her older sister Pam to know about it or the rest of the family. As innocent and Ok with it as Aidan was about keeping it only between them two, secrets have a way of bringing out the not so great side out of folks. Aidan isn't used to keeping secrets from his family, they are a very big and tight knit group. So him agreeing with Jillian to remain quiet about it was surprising to me because he agreed to it at first.
Jillian is a couple of years younger than Aidan, he desire to keep it a secret at first was all in her mind. Yes Aidan and his twin brother Adrian were lovers of women, neither one of them had no intention of settling down ever. But cupid had other plans and Adrian fell for Trinity Matthews, their story is Book 28. Trinity is the younger sister to Tara Matthews-Westmoreland who is married to Thorne Westmoreland, their story is Book 3. After watching his twin fall, Aidan made his move for Jillian. All seemed right in the beginning until the wear and tear of keeping it a secret and pretty much sneaking around, an unexpected arrival and believing unfaithfulness has caused the split between them.
A year later Aidan puts his plan into action, "Operation Get Jillian Novak Back". Help from family never hurt anyone LOL!!! And Aidan sets out to seduce Jillian "Westmoreland Style" on the high seas of a 14 day cruise. No distractions, nobody else but them. It also doesn't hurt that his good friend Dominic Saxon, who is married to Taylor Steele and their story is Book 5 of the Forged of Steele series is the owner of the Cruise ship he's on and is also helping Aidan get the woman he loves back.
Author Brenda Jackson knows how to effectively write a love story that is full of romance and intrigue. I love how she is able to interweave her characters from other stories and you won't get lost (especially if you have been reading them in order). Her stories remain fresh and exhilarating, I will always buy her books because she is an author whose stories remain consistent.
Well Until My Next Review Ciao Bellas!
August 4, 2020
This book was Harlequin Desire #2341 (Dec. 2014) and the 28th book in the author's Westmoreland series (according to her introduction inside; book #29 according to the series list on Goodreads) which concerns the love lives of a large family based in Colorado. I wanted to like this book when I picked it up, but I had a few problems with it. First there was the difficulty I had in trying to keeping track of all the characters. The book starts out in the present, then flashes back to four years previously for the next ten chapters before going back to the present. The hero Aidan (who has a twin brother named Adrian) is connected to the heroine Jillian because her older sister Pam is married to his cousin Dillon. At one point, for some reason, I got Jillian's younger sister Paige mixed up with Aidan's younger sister Bailey, and frequently had to turn back to the beginning of the book (a family tree is provided there) to figure out who was who. There were so many relations mentioned along the way that it's easy to get lost. In fact, I read the first 40 pages of the book and then set it aside for a couple weeks and had to reread those first 40 pages before starting again in order to refresh my memory about what I'd read.
The other thing that I didn't like about the book is that there is a lot of thinking by the characters about how they feel about each other, and less of things actually happening to keep the plot moving (aside from all the sex, of which there is a lot). Aidan's love/lust for Jillian is somewhat reluctantly (at first) reciprocated by her, but he was confident that she felt the same way about him. This caused me to ponder how in a romance novel the hero or heroine never have a one-sided love towards the other, it is always reciprocated. In real life, if he kissed her "before she could respond" (page 38), it might not have been so welcome. Nor when he tricks her (with her sister's help) into joining her on a cruise trip a year after she broke off her relationship with him. The novel uses the notion that "she had definitely been a willing participant" (page 40) because her body's "response couldn't lie. She had enjoyed the kiss as much as he had." The problem with this concept is that a person's physical response is not necessarily indicative of their agreement. On page 99, we read: "'Tell me to stop, Jillian,' he said. 'Because if you don't do it now, I won't be able to stop later.'" But initial consent doesn't mean blanket permission to surrender to every stage of lovemaking. At the end of that same page, Jillian yells "Stop, Aidan!" -- only it turns out, on the next page, that she means for him to "Stop talking and do all those things you claim you're going to do." So, "stop" actually means "go" here -- but what would happen if she really did want him to stop?
This points out the problem involved when some people try to say that one can apply the lessons learned in romance novels to real life. This is a fictional fantasy story, not real life. When Aidan told Jillian on the cruise ship that he was going to win her back, I knew that he would succeed because this is a romance novel and will have the required happy ending. And I wanted Jillian to get her happy ending. But I was less eager to see Aidan get the same happy ending with her, due to his overconfidence about his control over her heart. Aidan's repeated interest in the "taste" of Jillian during sex did exhibit a centering of her pleasure (she repeats the favor near the end of the book), although I thought the applying of syrup to her body in one scene was too much and actually a little gross to think about. However, even though I didn't enjoy reading this book, there was a hint of intrigue near the end when Jillian spots a man in Rome who resembles one of the Westmorelands, but who turns out instead to be a man with the unlikely name of Garth Outlaw. The Outlaw family is related to the Westmorelands, and this plot thread is picked up in the next book of the series. Being curious about what would happen next, I began reading the next book. So, in that sense the book succeeded in keeping me interested, although on its own I felt the book was a disappointment. I rate the book only 2 (out of 5) stars.
The other thing that I didn't like about the book is that there is a lot of thinking by the characters about how they feel about each other, and less of things actually happening to keep the plot moving (aside from all the sex, of which there is a lot). Aidan's love/lust for Jillian is somewhat reluctantly (at first) reciprocated by her, but he was confident that she felt the same way about him. This caused me to ponder how in a romance novel the hero or heroine never have a one-sided love towards the other, it is always reciprocated. In real life, if he kissed her "before she could respond" (page 38), it might not have been so welcome. Nor when he tricks her (with her sister's help) into joining her on a cruise trip a year after she broke off her relationship with him. The novel uses the notion that "she had definitely been a willing participant" (page 40) because her body's "response couldn't lie. She had enjoyed the kiss as much as he had." The problem with this concept is that a person's physical response is not necessarily indicative of their agreement. On page 99, we read: "'Tell me to stop, Jillian,' he said. 'Because if you don't do it now, I won't be able to stop later.'" But initial consent doesn't mean blanket permission to surrender to every stage of lovemaking. At the end of that same page, Jillian yells "Stop, Aidan!" -- only it turns out, on the next page, that she means for him to "Stop talking and do all those things you claim you're going to do." So, "stop" actually means "go" here -- but what would happen if she really did want him to stop?
This points out the problem involved when some people try to say that one can apply the lessons learned in romance novels to real life. This is a fictional fantasy story, not real life. When Aidan told Jillian on the cruise ship that he was going to win her back, I knew that he would succeed because this is a romance novel and will have the required happy ending. And I wanted Jillian to get her happy ending. But I was less eager to see Aidan get the same happy ending with her, due to his overconfidence about his control over her heart. Aidan's repeated interest in the "taste" of Jillian during sex did exhibit a centering of her pleasure (she repeats the favor near the end of the book), although I thought the applying of syrup to her body in one scene was too much and actually a little gross to think about. However, even though I didn't enjoy reading this book, there was a hint of intrigue near the end when Jillian spots a man in Rome who resembles one of the Westmorelands, but who turns out instead to be a man with the unlikely name of Garth Outlaw. The Outlaw family is related to the Westmorelands, and this plot thread is picked up in the next book of the series. Being curious about what would happen next, I began reading the next book. So, in that sense the book succeeded in keeping me interested, although on its own I felt the book was a disappointment. I rate the book only 2 (out of 5) stars.
December 14, 2016
In previous Westmoreland books there were hints that there was something going on between Aidan Westmoreland and Jillian Novak. Jillian is a younger sister to Pamela, who is married to Dillon Westmoreland. Jillian had had a crush on Aidan, who is five years older, since she was seventeen. At her twenty-first birthday party they discovered that there was something deeper going on.
Aidan is a typical Westmorland man. He is good looking, successful, charming, and has quite a reputation with the ladies. At this time he is finished with medical school and going on to his residency. He has no intention of getting married anytime soon. However, he can't deny the strength of the attraction he feels for Jillian, and goes after her.
Jillian is preparing to enter medical school. She's had a crush on Aidan for years, and having him being a doctor is icing on the cake. She does her best to keep her fascination with him under control, but when a kiss between them burns hot and out of control she's not sure what to do. She wants him, but she doesn't need the distraction. She also believes that if anyone were to suspect something was going on, it would create problems within the family. So she agrees to a relationship with Aidan, on condition that they keep it a secret.
Aidan isn't particularly happy to do that, but he goes along with her. Over the next three years they get together when they can. Aidan spent a week with Jillian, helping her study for her MCAT, where they got to know each other better along the way. But carrying on a relationship over long distances isn't easy, especially when each of them has their own professional stresses to go along with it. There is also the strain of trying to hide their feelings when around the family.
After three years, the stress has reached the breaking point. Aidan has begun to resent her insistence on secrecy. He cares for her and wants their relationship out in the open. He also frequently feels that he's the one making all the sacrifices. He's angry when she refuses to come spend his birthday with him. Jillian is feeling the stress also. She changes her mind about his birthday and plans to surprise him. Unfortunately, she's the one that gets the surprise when she finds him in the middle of a big party, attending by scantily clad women. When she sees one of them all over Aidan, she leaves without seeing him, and later breaks things off with him.
I was a bit angry with her at this point. She ended the relationship without talking to him about what she had seen. She'd always been a bit insecure about their relationship, thanks to his reputation. But they had been together for three years and she should have trusted him by now. I was also a bit disappointed in Aidan's actions, feeling that he made some bad decisions the night of his birthday.
This was all followed by a year of them being apart and miserable about it. I loved how Aidan decided it was time to resolve the issues between them. I really enjoyed seeing the help he got from friends and family, who hadn't been as clueless as he and Jillian had thought. It was fun to see her shock when he showed up on the cruise ship where she was celebrating her med school graduation. Their attraction hadn't decreased over the year, it had only burned hotter. I loved seeing them straighten everything out, with both admitting to some responsibility in their breakup. I loved Aidan's big moment at the end, which was really romantic. The epilogue with Dillon and Pamela was a fun wrapup.
Aidan is a typical Westmorland man. He is good looking, successful, charming, and has quite a reputation with the ladies. At this time he is finished with medical school and going on to his residency. He has no intention of getting married anytime soon. However, he can't deny the strength of the attraction he feels for Jillian, and goes after her.
Jillian is preparing to enter medical school. She's had a crush on Aidan for years, and having him being a doctor is icing on the cake. She does her best to keep her fascination with him under control, but when a kiss between them burns hot and out of control she's not sure what to do. She wants him, but she doesn't need the distraction. She also believes that if anyone were to suspect something was going on, it would create problems within the family. So she agrees to a relationship with Aidan, on condition that they keep it a secret.
Aidan isn't particularly happy to do that, but he goes along with her. Over the next three years they get together when they can. Aidan spent a week with Jillian, helping her study for her MCAT, where they got to know each other better along the way. But carrying on a relationship over long distances isn't easy, especially when each of them has their own professional stresses to go along with it. There is also the strain of trying to hide their feelings when around the family.
After three years, the stress has reached the breaking point. Aidan has begun to resent her insistence on secrecy. He cares for her and wants their relationship out in the open. He also frequently feels that he's the one making all the sacrifices. He's angry when she refuses to come spend his birthday with him. Jillian is feeling the stress also. She changes her mind about his birthday and plans to surprise him. Unfortunately, she's the one that gets the surprise when she finds him in the middle of a big party, attending by scantily clad women. When she sees one of them all over Aidan, she leaves without seeing him, and later breaks things off with him.
I was a bit angry with her at this point. She ended the relationship without talking to him about what she had seen. She'd always been a bit insecure about their relationship, thanks to his reputation. But they had been together for three years and she should have trusted him by now. I was also a bit disappointed in Aidan's actions, feeling that he made some bad decisions the night of his birthday.
This was all followed by a year of them being apart and miserable about it. I loved how Aidan decided it was time to resolve the issues between them. I really enjoyed seeing the help he got from friends and family, who hadn't been as clueless as he and Jillian had thought. It was fun to see her shock when he showed up on the cruise ship where she was celebrating her med school graduation. Their attraction hadn't decreased over the year, it had only burned hotter. I loved seeing them straighten everything out, with both admitting to some responsibility in their breakup. I loved Aidan's big moment at the end, which was really romantic. The epilogue with Dillon and Pamela was a fun wrapup.
December 1, 2014
The Secret Affair is just what I needed to start my December off right. Brenda Jackson continues the Westmoreland Series with another amazing read. In this book, we get to hear how Jillian and Aidan's affair started, along with Aidan's plan to get Jillian back. Jillian and Aidan definitely have a strong attraction to each other. They have plenty of chemistry together, the explosive kind, where they want to tear each other's clothes off as soon as they see each other. Plus they have the same career path, which only intensifies their relationship. One of my favorite parts in this book is when Aidan tells Jillian that "I want to help you, not hinder you." They each understand how important being a doctor is and neither one wants to ruin the other's dream.
Aidan definitely had his work cut out for him, when trying to win Jillian back. Jillian didn't want to budge an inch, but for everyone who is familiar with the series knows, there is no stopping a Westmoreland from getting what he wants. I loved how strong of a character Jillian was but I loved Aidan even more, so I was rooting for him.
The Secret Affair is a must read and so is this author!
Aidan definitely had his work cut out for him, when trying to win Jillian back. Jillian didn't want to budge an inch, but for everyone who is familiar with the series knows, there is no stopping a Westmoreland from getting what he wants. I loved how strong of a character Jillian was but I loved Aidan even more, so I was rooting for him.
The Secret Affair is a must read and so is this author!
December 3, 2014
This series is becoming childish. This book read like a teenage love affair. I need more of an adult romance and sadly to say this is not it.
April 5, 2015
The book was overall good.
January 14, 2015
This is another installment in the Westmoreland series. The book, though short, is a fairly good romance. It details the secret affair between Aidan Westmoreland and Jillian Novak, both of who are pursuing careers in medicine. The setting of the book, a cruise, was interesting, and it afforded the pair ample opportunity to figure out what was going on, if anything, between them. In the past, thought there had been an affair, they had kept its existence secret from the rest of the family. They ended the affair. Now, to win Jillian back, Aidan finagles things to go on the fourteen day cruise with Jillian. I found the book interesting, but was actually more interested in the cruise aspect than the romance. There was a definite chemistry between the two main characters, which came out throughout the book. However, short of the setting, which I found interesting and enjoyable, this was one more romance, not unlike so many others in so many other books. I enjoyed reading it, nevertheless, because the author writes well and because the story was interesting. Anyone who enjoys a good romance in a cruise setting would probably enjoy this book. I have not read any other books in the series (there are quite a lot of them!), but will go back to read some of them. I received this from Goodreads to read and provide an honest review.
December 15, 2014
Aidan Westmoreland is a sexy Alpha Male who falls for his cousin's sister in law. What hit Aidan, he wasn't sure, but he knew something had changed in his life forever. This story details Aidan's dilemma in keeping secret his relationship with a young lady when she was 21 and her existing crush on him since she was 17. Both are earnestly pursuing their medical careers. However, the agree something between them is compelling them to each other. Ups and downs keep them pulling at the strings
A misunderstanding keeps them apart for a year, however Aidan is "Westmoreland" determined that she will be his. In his pursuit of her, Jillian encounters another piece in the Westmoreland search for others of their clan. More sexiness is on the horizon, I can see.
Ms Jackson, I love these Westmoreland men and you are the perfect storyteller of their tales..
A misunderstanding keeps them apart for a year, however Aidan is "Westmoreland" determined that she will be his. In his pursuit of her, Jillian encounters another piece in the Westmoreland search for others of their clan. More sexiness is on the horizon, I can see.
Ms Jackson, I love these Westmoreland men and you are the perfect storyteller of their tales..
December 2, 2014
Brenda Jackson has done it again. I started this morning andI just finished reading this book. I love it the story of Sudan and Jillian was super sexy. It was definitely something about how Aidan carried himself and his swagger. I understood what Jillian felt. The story pulled me in I was happy and sad but fun. The sex scenes were steamy let's just say WOW for that "lap dance" The setting was great made the story interesting. Can't wait to see what cones for Bailey and Bane. Yay it's more Westmoreland's out there the stories won't end. It was great seeing some old familiar names. Will be reading this book again.
December 2, 2014
I like all the Westmoreland Series books. It's kind of hard to rate them as you pretty much know what you're about to read. Most people read these books because they are invested in the series and feel familial with the characters.
We've known for quite a while that Jilly and Aidan had a secret romance going on.... A Secret Affair finally gives us the background to that romance as well as the issues the couple faced.
If you're a fan, this won't disappoint, it also provides a hint to the "other Westomorelands" and a possibility of Bailey finding romance.
I look forward to and will be reading the next one in the series... Which I'm hoping is finally Bane and Crystal's story.
We've known for quite a while that Jilly and Aidan had a secret romance going on.... A Secret Affair finally gives us the background to that romance as well as the issues the couple faced.
If you're a fan, this won't disappoint, it also provides a hint to the "other Westomorelands" and a possibility of Bailey finding romance.
I look forward to and will be reading the next one in the series... Which I'm hoping is finally Bane and Crystal's story.
December 1, 2014
What's done in the dark comes to light
Adian and Jillian's love story was just what the doctor ordered, no pun intended. Often when we believe we are doing what is best we find that the truth resides in having open communication. A relationship is built on sacrifices and Adian was ok with them until they became unbearable. The heart wants what it wants, and it's explosive when one discovers it's exactly what they need. Good job Mrs Jackson on another love story that shows what determination, compassionate, will, and most of all love can overcome.
Adian and Jillian's love story was just what the doctor ordered, no pun intended. Often when we believe we are doing what is best we find that the truth resides in having open communication. A relationship is built on sacrifices and Adian was ok with them until they became unbearable. The heart wants what it wants, and it's explosive when one discovers it's exactly what they need. Good job Mrs Jackson on another love story that shows what determination, compassionate, will, and most of all love can overcome.
December 7, 2014
Westmoreland fan
Okay I'm a huge Westmoreland fan and I was only satisfied with this book. I waited to read Jill and Aidans story and it was just okay. So I recommend this book if like me your a Westmoreland fan so you can complete the series to date but if you have never read any of the Westmoreland books read Adrian and Trinity story of any of the Georgia or Denver Westmoreland books.
Okay I'm a huge Westmoreland fan and I was only satisfied with this book. I waited to read Jill and Aidans story and it was just okay. So I recommend this book if like me your a Westmoreland fan so you can complete the series to date but if you have never read any of the Westmoreland books read Adrian and Trinity story of any of the Georgia or Denver Westmoreland books.
December 26, 2014
So disappointed
I have read Brenda Jackson books for quite a long time and am getting very disappointed in them. They are all the same and you can guess what is happening after the first few pages. Don't waste your money and I won't be reading the rest when they come out. Was looking forward to hearing about bane and crystal but can just imagine how that's going to go.
I have read Brenda Jackson books for quite a long time and am getting very disappointed in them. They are all the same and you can guess what is happening after the first few pages. Don't waste your money and I won't be reading the rest when they come out. Was looking forward to hearing about bane and crystal but can just imagine how that's going to go.
December 30, 2014
Amazing read, "Tis Better To Have Loved And Lost Than Never To Have Loved At All." Both Dr. Aidan Westmorland and Jillian Novak are living by this motto. The characters in THE SECRET AFFAIR, pulled you into their lives feeling the hurt, pain, pressures and love they were dealing with. Supporting characters gave just the correct amount of encouragement.
Read
March 14, 2021*blinks*
So it's 3-14-21 ... and O_O
Maybe ... because the pandemic I wiped out all thoughts of a book on a cruise ship from my brain?
[Which is a sieve anyway]
I also keep thinking of some true crime murder show that takes place on a cruise ship so ... yeah.
Ohhhhh Jillian Novak the heroine is Pam Novak-Westmoreland's sister and/but I didn't read Pam's book until March '21 so
And Aiden and Jillian had a secret relationship whatever long time agao.
LOL when you're like 20 books in/after... shit happens?
Reading other reviews; I think maybe I was low key skeeved about him being a resident and her in college studying for her MCATs?
"where you are in life"/stages exacerbates age differences for me...
AND more reviews; ah. So they were secretly " " in a relationship for 3 years; she breaks up with him ~for no reason.
There's the big misunderstanding 🙄 [why was she so insistent on the relationship being secret? I can't remember and obviously it wasn't really a good reason then...]
So anyway of course they fight and there's a big misunderstanding -
Bleh.
I think this had a good ending but there was so much annoying about it - clearly, since this was one of the Jackson books I didn't appear to re-listen to either...
no clue on what the rating might be
So it's 3-14-21 ... and O_O
Maybe ... because the pandemic I wiped out all thoughts of a book on a cruise ship from my brain?
[Which is a sieve anyway]
I also keep thinking of some true crime murder show that takes place on a cruise ship so ... yeah.
Ohhhhh Jillian Novak the heroine is Pam Novak-Westmoreland's sister and/but I didn't read Pam's book until March '21 so
And Aiden and Jillian had a secret relationship whatever long time agao.
LOL when you're like 20 books in/after... shit happens?
Reading other reviews; I think maybe I was low key skeeved about him being a resident and her in college studying for her MCATs?
"where you are in life"/stages exacerbates age differences for me...
AND more reviews; ah. So they were secretly " " in a relationship for 3 years; she breaks up with him ~for no reason.
There's the big misunderstanding 🙄 [why was she so insistent on the relationship being secret? I can't remember and obviously it wasn't really a good reason then...]
So anyway of course they fight and there's a big misunderstanding -
Bleh.
I think this had a good ending but there was so much annoying about it - clearly, since this was one of the Jackson books I didn't appear to re-listen to either...
no clue on what the rating might be
September 20, 2018
lost love one chance to make it right . . .
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 3 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Jillian walked away for their secret affair after a misunderstanding. Aidan does not understand why Jillian walked away. No conversation about he breakup. No slow departure. Just its over and that't that. They had one last chance to make this right. Aidan finds a way to get to see the one woman he loved more than anyone else in the world. Jillian walked away from the one man she loved and for a year now she has just been getting by. Her once break from all going on in her world turns in to the best decision she did not make on her own. With help from family, Jillian and Aidan find themselves on a cruise for 14 days and that second chance needed to give them both happiness.
Shari Peele does a good job with the narration but I was wanting a more masculine Aidan Westmoreland.
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 3 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Jillian walked away for their secret affair after a misunderstanding. Aidan does not understand why Jillian walked away. No conversation about he breakup. No slow departure. Just its over and that't that. They had one last chance to make this right. Aidan finds a way to get to see the one woman he loved more than anyone else in the world. Jillian walked away from the one man she loved and for a year now she has just been getting by. Her once break from all going on in her world turns in to the best decision she did not make on her own. With help from family, Jillian and Aidan find themselves on a cruise for 14 days and that second chance needed to give them both happiness.
Shari Peele does a good job with the narration but I was wanting a more masculine Aidan Westmoreland.
April 25, 2022
I listened to the audio about a year ago and relistened today because I recently read Paige and Jessup’s new book What Happens on Vacation. Jillian Paige and Nadia Novak are sisters to Pam who married Dillon Westmoreland. Aiden is Dillon’s cousin. Aiden and Jillian’s relationship started off with love it seems but a misunderstanding tore them apart. They have to be able to trust each other to rekindle what they had. Even after a year their strong feelings and love for each other never vanished but being a playboy prior to meeting Jillian may be a mark on his integrity that will be hard to get rid of. What will it take for Jillian to trust that she is the only one for Aiden? Great story with good flow and purpose. I like how a soft intro to the Outlaw’s was thrown in as well.
June 4, 2022
Those Petty BJ Women! 🙄
Love is always so complicated with those BJ heroines who can't seem to trust their most honest and sincere lovers. In the case of Jillian and Aiden's story, a three-year long loving relationship was not enough for Jillian, who pulled the plug after seeing a lap dance between Aiden and a stranger during a surprise birthday party held by Aiden's friends. Jillian had hoped to surprise Aiden herself, but couldn't get over what she had seen. Instead of confronting Aiden, she had run away without even letting him know that she had been there, and then blocked any further communication with him for more than a year. Seething in her self-righteousness, Jillian almost lost her one true love, but Aiden's patience held fast for both of them.
Love is always so complicated with those BJ heroines who can't seem to trust their most honest and sincere lovers. In the case of Jillian and Aiden's story, a three-year long loving relationship was not enough for Jillian, who pulled the plug after seeing a lap dance between Aiden and a stranger during a surprise birthday party held by Aiden's friends. Jillian had hoped to surprise Aiden herself, but couldn't get over what she had seen. Instead of confronting Aiden, she had run away without even letting him know that she had been there, and then blocked any further communication with him for more than a year. Seething in her self-righteousness, Jillian almost lost her one true love, but Aiden's patience held fast for both of them.
May 19, 2023
The Secret Affair. This book gave insight into the secret love affair between Aidan and Jillian. Aidan was captivated by Jillian when he first met her when Dillon and Jillian's sister Pam got married. They didn't want to upset them so they kept it a secret and continued to attend school to become doctors. Jillian felt guilty and broke off the romance because the secret was overbearing and she needed to concentrate on her education. Aidan accepted it for a while and then he couldn't stand it anymore and decided to gain his love back. He secretly gets on the same cruise ship Jillian is on and they spend 14 days rekindling their relationship and deciding to finally telling the family of their love. A great read.
October 2, 2017
I really enjoy all of the Westmoreland family books and this one was another delight. Aidan and Jill have are seriously drawn together and begin an affair that Jill wants to keep a secret because she is afraid of the family's reaction. Well all secrets must come to an end and brought to the light. Well written and enjoyable book!
August 9, 2021
It was ok. I liked that hero and heroine were together for 4 years (with 1 year separation) and were both faithful to each other. I didn't really like the heroine all that much because she was quite selfish and hero had to make all the saflcrifices (his time, keeping it a secret and couldn't explain his actions, etc) for their relationship. Np.
June 27, 2017
Very little character development. The emotions were surface and the entire story was missing depth. Even the sex scenes were described in a rather adolescent way. The editing was poorly done in a few places, which detracted somewhat from any enjoyment to be had.
May 20, 2019
Literally took me only a day to finish. I couldn’t put it down at first and then had to make myself put it down to complete daily activities. This is my first actual Westmoreland novel that I’ve read and now I have got to get them ALL. Great work from a great author.
July 10, 2019
A doctor's appointment is needed😁😁
You will not be disappointed.
Very exciting read from beginning to end. Brenda Jackson is an awesome writer and I enjoy reading her books. My favorite part was the lap dance scene. I am looking forward to reading Bane.
You will not be disappointed.
Very exciting read from beginning to end. Brenda Jackson is an awesome writer and I enjoy reading her books. My favorite part was the lap dance scene. I am looking forward to reading Bane.
October 16, 2021
Marvelous
What can I say? I’m such a huge fan. I have all of her books and have read many more than once. This one is special-great love scenery-feels like you’re right there. Can’t wait for Jackson’s new books, but in the meantime I don’t mind revisiting the old ones. Bravo!
What can I say? I’m such a huge fan. I have all of her books and have read many more than once. This one is special-great love scenery-feels like you’re right there. Can’t wait for Jackson’s new books, but in the meantime I don’t mind revisiting the old ones. Bravo!
May 21, 2017
I am almost caught up on this series. Loved the characters and the story line.
June 2, 2018
Did heart romantic
Very good story! I would recommend this book for every young college student to read. It clearly states that you can achieve your college degree and find love!
Very good story! I would recommend this book for every young college student to read. It clearly states that you can achieve your college degree and find love!
October 7, 2018
I've always enjoyed the westmoreland series bit I especially loved this book.
June 5, 2020
I can’t get enough of these MEN!!
February 16, 2021
Another winner from Brenda Jackson
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