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Merged #3
A Convenient Secret
I went from his off-limits nanny to his secret wife.
It started with a voice. Deep. Commanding. Unreasonably attractive.
Declan Quinn is gorgeous, impossible, and emotionally unavailable—basically the perfect recipe for heartbreak.
I was supposed to find him a nanny—not become one. One mistake later, I ended up pretending to be her.
I figured I’d be gone by the end of the day.
Instead, I stayed.
Because the twins need stability. And Declan needs help to keep them.
Somehow, we agree to the most outrageous a marriage.
I might be ten years younger than him, but I’m not naïve to believe this could be anything real. I need to stay away from the ultimate temptation that is my fake husband.
But being “married” to my billionaire boss, juggling bedtime stories and school drop-offs and a husband who barely looks at me—unless it’s with that smoldering gaze—is a lot.
Living under his roof.
Sleeping down the hall.
Keeping secrets of my own.
Secrets that could burn our world down.
A Convenient Secret is a standalone single dad/nanny billionaire romance with a possessive hero and a guaranteed HEA.
It started with a voice. Deep. Commanding. Unreasonably attractive.
Declan Quinn is gorgeous, impossible, and emotionally unavailable—basically the perfect recipe for heartbreak.
I was supposed to find him a nanny—not become one. One mistake later, I ended up pretending to be her.
I figured I’d be gone by the end of the day.
Instead, I stayed.
Because the twins need stability. And Declan needs help to keep them.
Somehow, we agree to the most outrageous a marriage.
I might be ten years younger than him, but I’m not naïve to believe this could be anything real. I need to stay away from the ultimate temptation that is my fake husband.
But being “married” to my billionaire boss, juggling bedtime stories and school drop-offs and a husband who barely looks at me—unless it’s with that smoldering gaze—is a lot.
Living under his roof.
Sleeping down the hall.
Keeping secrets of my own.
Secrets that could burn our world down.
A Convenient Secret is a standalone single dad/nanny billionaire romance with a possessive hero and a guaranteed HEA.
562 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2025
103 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Henri
25 books125 followersMaxine Henri is a contemporary romance author who infuses her stories with steamy passion and complex characters. When she's not crafting stories that will have you swooning, she can usually be found sipping on a cup of black tea while reading a good book or traveling to new destinations.
Maxine believes that stories matter. They facilitate emotional journeys, inspire and entertain. And when it comes to books and fiction, stories are a great escape and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.
Her billionaire romances are the perfect escape, offering a taste of luxury and adventure. Maxine introduces heroes who may have a dark past, but are always balanced by a lighter side. And her leading ladies? They're strong, independent women who may be a little broken, but always find their way to love.
Maxine believes that stories matter. They facilitate emotional journeys, inspire and entertain. And when it comes to books and fiction, stories are a great escape and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.
Her billionaire romances are the perfect escape, offering a taste of luxury and adventure. Maxine introduces heroes who may have a dark past, but are always balanced by a lighter side. And her leading ladies? They're strong, independent women who may be a little broken, but always find their way to love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 5, 2025
Thank you so much Hambright PR for sending me this ARC!
A Convenient Secret is the third standalone Contemporary Romance book in the Merged series and I think it’s my new favourite from this author, I went through so many emotions reading this book and absolutely loved Lily and Declan’s story.
When Lily fails to find a new nanny for Declan’s children, she takes up the job herself, thinking Declan doesn’t know who she is despite their mutual friends. But what she doesn’t know is that he has been thinking about her for months and now with her spending a lot of time with his kids and in his house, he can’t ignore the connection between them any longer, but with Lily running away from her past and the kids getting attached to her, they need to decide whether giving in to the scorching attraction between them is worth the risk.
I already loved Declan and Lily from their appearances in the previous books and I squealed when I realised they would end up together and their story was even better than I expected. It’s full of tension and angst but also family drama, suspense and beautiful family moments with Lily, Declan and the kids, Zoya and Zach, they made such an amazing family together and I loved every moment I spent reading about them. Lily was a really strong FMC, she went through so much and I loved slowly discovering her secrets, I didn’t expect some of those twists. Declan… he was controlling and a bit of a stalker (the way he was obsessed with her and his inner monologues while watching the cameras made me laugh at times) but ultimately he was just what Lily needed and they were perfect for each other, I loved how she stood up to him and how much gone he was for her from very early in the book, they made a beautiful couple and the spicy scenes had me blushing at times. I also loved seeing characters from the previous books and the glimpse into their futures, I missed them.
A Convenient Secret is a really great book that I loved and recommend to everyone and if you haven’t started this series yet, trust me, you don’t want to miss it, these books are all so good and have so many of my favourite tropes. I’m excited to read more from this author.
A Convenient Secret is the third standalone Contemporary Romance book in the Merged series and I think it’s my new favourite from this author, I went through so many emotions reading this book and absolutely loved Lily and Declan’s story.
When Lily fails to find a new nanny for Declan’s children, she takes up the job herself, thinking Declan doesn’t know who she is despite their mutual friends. But what she doesn’t know is that he has been thinking about her for months and now with her spending a lot of time with his kids and in his house, he can’t ignore the connection between them any longer, but with Lily running away from her past and the kids getting attached to her, they need to decide whether giving in to the scorching attraction between them is worth the risk.
I already loved Declan and Lily from their appearances in the previous books and I squealed when I realised they would end up together and their story was even better than I expected. It’s full of tension and angst but also family drama, suspense and beautiful family moments with Lily, Declan and the kids, Zoya and Zach, they made such an amazing family together and I loved every moment I spent reading about them. Lily was a really strong FMC, she went through so much and I loved slowly discovering her secrets, I didn’t expect some of those twists. Declan… he was controlling and a bit of a stalker (the way he was obsessed with her and his inner monologues while watching the cameras made me laugh at times) but ultimately he was just what Lily needed and they were perfect for each other, I loved how she stood up to him and how much gone he was for her from very early in the book, they made a beautiful couple and the spicy scenes had me blushing at times. I also loved seeing characters from the previous books and the glimpse into their futures, I missed them.
A Convenient Secret is a really great book that I loved and recommend to everyone and if you haven’t started this series yet, trust me, you don’t want to miss it, these books are all so good and have so many of my favourite tropes. I’m excited to read more from this author.
September 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️// 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I enjoyed this book a lot. The banter between Lily and Declan was too funny. You have the serious, grumpy, billionaire single dad and a new to the city girl with glasses, short hair and a crooked nose that tells all the story of her past that she hides very well. They were total opposite but made the perfect sense.
I love Lily so much. She’s full of sass and sarcasm. She made me laugh out loud in few scenes and her group chat with her girlfriends is hilarious! She also comes from a traumatic past which also made me tear up here and there🥹 The bond she has with Declan’s twins are so beautiful. She’s a beautiful person inside and out. She’s everything Declan needs. The chemistry is off the charts,the tension is thick and only builds up! They are fireworks in the bedroom and Declan is as feral as they come😮💨🥵 I love the way Lily makes him lose control in all the right ways. She challenges him and supports him when he needs it the most.
Declan is a workaholic who often has that dad guilt down to a T. This poor broken man went through a lot. He needs a schedule and a plan to maintain control in his life. He’s grumpy ways will have you grunting in response because he sucked in communicating, but where he’s lacking he a makes it up in his grand gestures, groveling and his bedroom talk. Him and Lily are unstoppable together!I love how their personalities crash but also makes sense. They make the perfect family with Zach and Zoya🥹 Those kids are adorable and the way Zach protects Zoya melts my heart🥹🥰
This was my first book by Maxine and will sure not be my last. Thank you so much for gifting me an early copy. I cannot wait for Xander’s book :)
I enjoyed this book a lot. The banter between Lily and Declan was too funny. You have the serious, grumpy, billionaire single dad and a new to the city girl with glasses, short hair and a crooked nose that tells all the story of her past that she hides very well. They were total opposite but made the perfect sense.
I love Lily so much. She’s full of sass and sarcasm. She made me laugh out loud in few scenes and her group chat with her girlfriends is hilarious! She also comes from a traumatic past which also made me tear up here and there🥹 The bond she has with Declan’s twins are so beautiful. She’s a beautiful person inside and out. She’s everything Declan needs. The chemistry is off the charts,the tension is thick and only builds up! They are fireworks in the bedroom and Declan is as feral as they come😮💨🥵 I love the way Lily makes him lose control in all the right ways. She challenges him and supports him when he needs it the most.
Declan is a workaholic who often has that dad guilt down to a T. This poor broken man went through a lot. He needs a schedule and a plan to maintain control in his life. He’s grumpy ways will have you grunting in response because he sucked in communicating, but where he’s lacking he a makes it up in his grand gestures, groveling and his bedroom talk. Him and Lily are unstoppable together!I love how their personalities crash but also makes sense. They make the perfect family with Zach and Zoya🥹 Those kids are adorable and the way Zach protects Zoya melts my heart🥹🥰
This was my first book by Maxine and will sure not be my last. Thank you so much for gifting me an early copy. I cannot wait for Xander’s book :)
September 22, 2025
⭐️4🌶️3💧0
Did I finish this book in one day? Yes I did. I really enjoyed this grumpy billionaire single dad nanny romance! And the twin? Sooo freaking cute!! I did spend a good portion of this book trying to work out the fmc’s secret, but it definitely wasn’t want I expected!
And not in a bad way!
#aconvenientsecret #maxinehenri #smutreader #darkromancereader #steamybooks #bookrecs #steamyreads #audiobook #bookaholic #readingtime #bookshelf #instabooks #bookblogger #bookreview #booktok #reading #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #goodreads #aussiebookstagrammers #aussies #australianreaders #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #instabook #booksofinstagram #booksarelife #spicybooklover
Did I finish this book in one day? Yes I did. I really enjoyed this grumpy billionaire single dad nanny romance! And the twin? Sooo freaking cute!! I did spend a good portion of this book trying to work out the fmc’s secret, but it definitely wasn’t want I expected!
And not in a bad way!
#aconvenientsecret #maxinehenri #smutreader #darkromancereader #steamybooks #bookrecs #steamyreads #audiobook #bookaholic #readingtime #bookshelf #instabooks #bookblogger #bookreview #booktok #reading #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #goodreads #aussiebookstagrammers #aussies #australianreaders #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #instabook #booksofinstagram #booksarelife #spicybooklover
September 4, 2025
Maxine has done it once more and produced an utterly amazing book that could not have been better in any way. I loved the plot and basis of this book all around and discovering more layers of our two main characters was such a treat as well!
The book follows Declan, the one brother we have been waiting on, the single dad with twins, since I was introduced to this series, this has been a book I have been craving and to have finally read it feels amazing. Well, Declan gets paired with his substitute nanny Lily after she forgot to contact the agency to hire him yet another nanny for his two children so she ends up stepping in even though having no childcare experience, and is a danger to all in the kitchen. They both knew of each other though as Declan's brother's wives and all friends with Lily but the two of them never seemed like a possibility.
There is a lot to unravel in this book, we get to see the truth behind Lily and what she has gone through which certainly changed Declan's perspective of her and I suppose watching her take care of his kids might have swayed him as well as those two mean the world to him.
As per all of Maxine's books, this one could not have been smooth sailing either, it levels out and then sinks on one side over and over but that just makes the books even more addictive! I loved every second that I was reading this book and it was just utterly perfection really! I can't wait to see Lily, Declan, and the twins in future books and see how they have progressed as a family!!
The book follows Declan, the one brother we have been waiting on, the single dad with twins, since I was introduced to this series, this has been a book I have been craving and to have finally read it feels amazing. Well, Declan gets paired with his substitute nanny Lily after she forgot to contact the agency to hire him yet another nanny for his two children so she ends up stepping in even though having no childcare experience, and is a danger to all in the kitchen. They both knew of each other though as Declan's brother's wives and all friends with Lily but the two of them never seemed like a possibility.
There is a lot to unravel in this book, we get to see the truth behind Lily and what she has gone through which certainly changed Declan's perspective of her and I suppose watching her take care of his kids might have swayed him as well as those two mean the world to him.
As per all of Maxine's books, this one could not have been smooth sailing either, it levels out and then sinks on one side over and over but that just makes the books even more addictive! I loved every second that I was reading this book and it was just utterly perfection really! I can't wait to see Lily, Declan, and the twins in future books and see how they have progressed as a family!!
September 10, 2025
Wow, I finished this 400 page book in one day! I love a good single dad/nanny romance. So much goes on its like where do I start? Lily is a concierge for rich people and Declan is her grumpy, broody, demanding client. A mistake caused her to have to have to fill in as his nanny for his twins. What starts as temporary becomes permanent, and then a marriage of convenience in secret ensues. Lily is running from her past and hopes it doesn’t catch up with her. Declan tries so hard to push her away. But these two are just like magnets towards each other and can’t stay away. There is a lot they both overcome and have to go through, but in the end it’s worth it. I loved Declan and his kids so much!
September 5, 2025
When Lily Thorne tried to find a nanny for Declan Quinn, she somehow becomes said nanny herself. His twins need a stable family life and somehow she goes from new nanny to wife as well!! What’s a girl to do…say no? She might have started as a concierge for the rich and powerful but one move welcomes her into their world. Can it last? I really enjoyed their own internal battle to stay away from each other even though they both had a connection. A really enjoyable romance with adorable children moments and sweet interactions. The both deserved happiness after all they’ve been through. A beautiful romance. Told in first person and dual POV.
September 17, 2025
The chemistry was absolutely breathtaking, where they could identify each other just by hearing their respective voices. Marvellous. I loved and enjoyed every bit of it. It’s the first book I have read from the author, and I am a fan now. The story had every element of being happy, sad, jolly, and a sense of loneliness, as well as everlasting friendship, and the little kids are adorable.
Lily is adorable and is so intelligent & compassionate. She’s a great human being. She won my heart the moment she decided to be the nanny. Declan was grumpy and is a softy only for her. I love that trope. The kids were great, and they are little hellions. Their antics were so cute and lovable. Once properly started, I couldn’t put it down, and it continued late into the night, but it was incredibly satisfying. Do try.
It’s a 4.5⭐️ for me.
Lily is adorable and is so intelligent & compassionate. She’s a great human being. She won my heart the moment she decided to be the nanny. Declan was grumpy and is a softy only for her. I love that trope. The kids were great, and they are little hellions. Their antics were so cute and lovable. Once properly started, I couldn’t put it down, and it continued late into the night, but it was incredibly satisfying. Do try.
It’s a 4.5⭐️ for me.
September 18, 2025
Format: 📱 eBook 📱 (ARC)
Henri is a new to me author, and I'm so glad I took the chance on this book as it was a fun read! She manages to pack so much heart and emotion into Lily and Declan's story, and has filled it with fantastic banter, tension, humour and spice.
I love that Lily is hiding something, and though you get hints throughout the story of just what it is, it still takes you by surprise with the reveal. Her secrets had me hooked; wanting to find out what was going on in her past (and present) to make her who she is.
Declan was the perfect grumpy, single dad billionaire who just needed help in seeing what was important in life.
Really enjoyed this read (I read it in two sittings, that's shows how much it hooked me) and I'm definitely diving back to the other books in this series, as the other characters have piqued my interest, and I really enjoyed Henri's writing.
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.
Henri is a new to me author, and I'm so glad I took the chance on this book as it was a fun read! She manages to pack so much heart and emotion into Lily and Declan's story, and has filled it with fantastic banter, tension, humour and spice.
I love that Lily is hiding something, and though you get hints throughout the story of just what it is, it still takes you by surprise with the reveal. Her secrets had me hooked; wanting to find out what was going on in her past (and present) to make her who she is.
Declan was the perfect grumpy, single dad billionaire who just needed help in seeing what was important in life.
Really enjoyed this read (I read it in two sittings, that's shows how much it hooked me) and I'm definitely diving back to the other books in this series, as the other characters have piqued my interest, and I really enjoyed Henri's writing.
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.
September 24, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW ✨
A Convenient Secret is the latest and probably now my favourite in the Merged series.
I don’t think I need to say we all know the power of a voice… If you don’t, Declan and Lily certainly do! Their push-pull relationship is full of banter, connection, spice and tension! What more could you want from the two leading characters?
Declan is dominant, demanding and devastatingly hot. He’s all about order, schedules, and control.
But then there comes Lily; all sunshine, brown eyes and tanned legs. Declan can’t escape her, can’t ignore her, can’t not fantasise about her!
Put them together in one house, two kids with secrets that could burn everything and you’ve got yourself a must read.
Tropes:
💐Age gap
💐Single Dad/ Nanny
💐Forced Proximity
💐Obsessed Billionaire
💐Marriage of Convenience
💐Grumpy/ Sunshine
💐Slow Burn
💐Found Family
Get on over to Kindle Unlimited and see how Declan and Lily’s story unfolds for yourself!
A Convenient Secret is the latest and probably now my favourite in the Merged series.
I don’t think I need to say we all know the power of a voice… If you don’t, Declan and Lily certainly do! Their push-pull relationship is full of banter, connection, spice and tension! What more could you want from the two leading characters?
Declan is dominant, demanding and devastatingly hot. He’s all about order, schedules, and control.
But then there comes Lily; all sunshine, brown eyes and tanned legs. Declan can’t escape her, can’t ignore her, can’t not fantasise about her!
Put them together in one house, two kids with secrets that could burn everything and you’ve got yourself a must read.
Tropes:
💐Age gap
💐Single Dad/ Nanny
💐Forced Proximity
💐Obsessed Billionaire
💐Marriage of Convenience
💐Grumpy/ Sunshine
💐Slow Burn
💐Found Family
Get on over to Kindle Unlimited and see how Declan and Lily’s story unfolds for yourself!
September 14, 2025
The other 2 books in this series were perfection so I expected nothing less than the best for this book. & of course Maxine Henri delivered.
September 18, 2025
*Book review: Maxine Henri’s A Convenient Secret: A Single Dad/Nanny Age Gap Billionaire Romance.
Thank you to the publisher and HambrightPR my gifted ARC of this steamy, surprisingly emotional, and thoroughly bingeable romance.
This book grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. It’s got everything you want in a billionaire romance—sharp suits, private jets, emotionally stunted men with sculpted jawlines—but it’s also got heart, wit, and a heroine who’s far more than just a stand-in nanny. The story kicks off with a classic case of mistaken identity and snowballs into an outrageous but weirdly believable fake marriage, all while juggling twin toddlers, unresolved trauma, and slow-burn longing that practically lights the page on fire.
Declan Quinn isn’t your typical romance billionaire. Yes, he’s rich beyond reason. Yes, he’s unfairly attractive. But he’s also emotionally unavailable in the most compelling way—gruff, guarded, and completely undone by the quiet chaos of his children and the woman who suddenly walks into their lives. Enter our heroine, who starts the book looking for a nanny for Declan, and ends up pretending to be one herself after one ill-timed emergency. Cue a domino effect of unexpected choices, reluctant alliances, and a marriage of convenience that’s anything but convenient.
What makes this story stand out is the way Henri balances the ridiculous with the real. Sure, the plot is high-concept romance candy, but the emotional threads are genuine. These characters aren’t just walking tropes—they’re people carrying fear, guilt, hope, and the kind of wounds you can’t always see. Watching Declan slowly lower his defenses is one of the best slow-burn payoffs I’ve read all year. He’s not an easy man to love, but that makes it even sweeter when he finally lets himself fall.
The age gap dynamic is written with care and intention. It’s not just there to add spice (though yes, it does add plenty of spice)—it’s used to show the difference in where they are emotionally, in how they’ve experienced life, and what they still need to learn from each other. Our heroine might be younger, but she’s no wide-eyed innocent. She’s smart, strong, and self-aware, and she gives as good as she gets when Declan tries to shut her out.
And then there are the twins. Some romance books toss kids into the mix as plot accessories, but Henri actually lets them be real little humans—loud, messy, and essential to every moment of this story. Watching our heroine bond with them made me fall for her even harder. She’s not just playing house—she’s building something fragile and real, even if it’s all supposed to be temporary.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a proper fake-marriage romance without all the delicious tension that comes with sharing a roof, a routine, and a bed they definitely aren’t supposed to touch. There’s one hallway scene that lives in my head rent-free, along with a quiet, devastating moment in the kitchen where Declan says, “You make this house feel like it’s not just mine anymore.” That line? That line wrecked me.
Henri has a real gift for pacing. She gives us just enough to keep us hungry, never too much too soon, and when things finally boil over—both emotionally and physically—it’s incredibly satisfying. The writing itself is sharp and clever, peppered with just enough wit to keep things fun even in the heavier moments. There’s banter, but there’s also silence, longing, and the ache of two people who want to trust each other but don’t know how yet.
And the ending? Perfect. No sudden twists, no out-of-nowhere drama—just two people finally choosing each other, fully and without pretense. The HEA lands like a warm blanket and a deep breath after a storm.
If you love fake marriage romances with high stakes and higher emotions, if you swoon for grumpy billionaires who fall hard, if you want a heroine who actually deserves the spotlight she’s given—A Convenient Secret delivers. This is the kind of book that scratches the romance itch while still hitting you in the feels. A must-read for fans of The Nanny, Marriage for One, or anything that involves chaotic children, emotionally constipated men, and slow-burn tension that finally explodes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BillionaireRomance #SingleDadRomance #FakeMarriageRomance #AgeGapRomance #RomanceBooksOf2025 #ARCReview #MaxineHenri #KindleRomance #SlowBurnRomance #PossessiveHero #NannyRomance #BookLoversUnite #RomanceBookReview #NetGalleyReads #AConvenientSecret #SpicyReads #RomComWithHeart #SeptemberReleases #BookstagramRecs #RomanceTropeGoals
Thank you to the publisher and HambrightPR my gifted ARC of this steamy, surprisingly emotional, and thoroughly bingeable romance.
This book grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. It’s got everything you want in a billionaire romance—sharp suits, private jets, emotionally stunted men with sculpted jawlines—but it’s also got heart, wit, and a heroine who’s far more than just a stand-in nanny. The story kicks off with a classic case of mistaken identity and snowballs into an outrageous but weirdly believable fake marriage, all while juggling twin toddlers, unresolved trauma, and slow-burn longing that practically lights the page on fire.
Declan Quinn isn’t your typical romance billionaire. Yes, he’s rich beyond reason. Yes, he’s unfairly attractive. But he’s also emotionally unavailable in the most compelling way—gruff, guarded, and completely undone by the quiet chaos of his children and the woman who suddenly walks into their lives. Enter our heroine, who starts the book looking for a nanny for Declan, and ends up pretending to be one herself after one ill-timed emergency. Cue a domino effect of unexpected choices, reluctant alliances, and a marriage of convenience that’s anything but convenient.
What makes this story stand out is the way Henri balances the ridiculous with the real. Sure, the plot is high-concept romance candy, but the emotional threads are genuine. These characters aren’t just walking tropes—they’re people carrying fear, guilt, hope, and the kind of wounds you can’t always see. Watching Declan slowly lower his defenses is one of the best slow-burn payoffs I’ve read all year. He’s not an easy man to love, but that makes it even sweeter when he finally lets himself fall.
The age gap dynamic is written with care and intention. It’s not just there to add spice (though yes, it does add plenty of spice)—it’s used to show the difference in where they are emotionally, in how they’ve experienced life, and what they still need to learn from each other. Our heroine might be younger, but she’s no wide-eyed innocent. She’s smart, strong, and self-aware, and she gives as good as she gets when Declan tries to shut her out.
And then there are the twins. Some romance books toss kids into the mix as plot accessories, but Henri actually lets them be real little humans—loud, messy, and essential to every moment of this story. Watching our heroine bond with them made me fall for her even harder. She’s not just playing house—she’s building something fragile and real, even if it’s all supposed to be temporary.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a proper fake-marriage romance without all the delicious tension that comes with sharing a roof, a routine, and a bed they definitely aren’t supposed to touch. There’s one hallway scene that lives in my head rent-free, along with a quiet, devastating moment in the kitchen where Declan says, “You make this house feel like it’s not just mine anymore.” That line? That line wrecked me.
Henri has a real gift for pacing. She gives us just enough to keep us hungry, never too much too soon, and when things finally boil over—both emotionally and physically—it’s incredibly satisfying. The writing itself is sharp and clever, peppered with just enough wit to keep things fun even in the heavier moments. There’s banter, but there’s also silence, longing, and the ache of two people who want to trust each other but don’t know how yet.
And the ending? Perfect. No sudden twists, no out-of-nowhere drama—just two people finally choosing each other, fully and without pretense. The HEA lands like a warm blanket and a deep breath after a storm.
If you love fake marriage romances with high stakes and higher emotions, if you swoon for grumpy billionaires who fall hard, if you want a heroine who actually deserves the spotlight she’s given—A Convenient Secret delivers. This is the kind of book that scratches the romance itch while still hitting you in the feels. A must-read for fans of The Nanny, Marriage for One, or anything that involves chaotic children, emotionally constipated men, and slow-burn tension that finally explodes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BillionaireRomance #SingleDadRomance #FakeMarriageRomance #AgeGapRomance #RomanceBooksOf2025 #ARCReview #MaxineHenri #KindleRomance #SlowBurnRomance #PossessiveHero #NannyRomance #BookLoversUnite #RomanceBookReview #NetGalleyReads #AConvenientSecret #SpicyReads #RomComWithHeart #SeptemberReleases #BookstagramRecs #RomanceTropeGoals
October 5, 2025
My first book by Maxine Henri and another author to go on my favourites list. I really enjoyed this one so much and can’t wait to read more of Maxine Henri’s books.
Spice: 3/5
Lily Thorne has lived in New York for 18 months and for all of that time she’s been looking over her shoulder wondering if her past might catch up with her. She works for Summit Solutions, a concierge service to the rich and famous and despite it sounding glamorous it is anything but that. However, one of their clients, Declan Quinn, intrigues Lily and she feels a magnetic pull towards him. When Declan is in need of a nanny for his two twins, Zoya and Zach, it slips Lily’s mind to organise one and in a desperate attempt to keep her job she calls in sick and ends up rushing to his house on a Monday morning under the pretence she is the new nanny. Declan sees through this but agrees she will stay a week until they have a new nanny in place. However, in that week Zoya and Zach bond quickly to Lily and she to them, Declan finds himself not wanting her to leave and nor do the children, so before even thinking about it he asks her to stay on as the children’s nanny and before Lily knows not only is she nannying for Declan but also living with him and the children too. When Declans’ ex-wife, Kendra, suddenly has a change of heart and decides that she wants custody of the children, despite already abandoning them twice in their short lives, Declan is desperate to protect them and so consults his lawyer. The lawyer says that the best way to block Kendra’s attempt is to marry and therefore prove he has a stable family unit. So, Declan and Lily talk and decide on a marriage of convenience to keep the children from Kendra. Both Lily and Declan are attracted to each other but of course won’t let the other know, however will they give in to their feelings for each other and make this marriage of convenience a true and proper marriage?? And with Lily, who has a past that’s she’s hiding from, surely a chance at future happiness is too risky?! Will Lily continue to outrun her past or will it finally catch up to her? And if it does what happens to the happy little family bubble, both her and Declan have created for Zach and Zoya?!
This was such a good read. I really liked Lily and despite Declan presenting a very different front to the world, I found myself laughing at how he talked to himself and how different it was to the persona he was around everyone else, including his family. I adored Lily’s girlfriends’ group and also the messages between them were brilliant and gave a great insight into how tight the girls friendships were, and I adored how they all just let Lily be Lily instead of pushing her about her life before she met them. I was really intrigued about Lily’s past, and I admit I did a lot of thinking when I wasn’t reading the story – always the sign of a good book for me- but I didn’t figure it out and when her backstory eventually came out it was a really good twist that I did not see coming at all so that was great writing from Maxine Henri.
Overall, this was a really great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a spicy romance, I can’t wait to see what Maxine Henri comes out with next however in the meantime I will be checking out the books she has already written, especially Merged #1 and #2. A solid 5 star rating for a book that made me think about it when I wasn’t reading it!
Thank you to Maxine Henri, Hambright PR and BookFunnel for my advanced reading copy. Out now.
Spice: 3/5
Lily Thorne has lived in New York for 18 months and for all of that time she’s been looking over her shoulder wondering if her past might catch up with her. She works for Summit Solutions, a concierge service to the rich and famous and despite it sounding glamorous it is anything but that. However, one of their clients, Declan Quinn, intrigues Lily and she feels a magnetic pull towards him. When Declan is in need of a nanny for his two twins, Zoya and Zach, it slips Lily’s mind to organise one and in a desperate attempt to keep her job she calls in sick and ends up rushing to his house on a Monday morning under the pretence she is the new nanny. Declan sees through this but agrees she will stay a week until they have a new nanny in place. However, in that week Zoya and Zach bond quickly to Lily and she to them, Declan finds himself not wanting her to leave and nor do the children, so before even thinking about it he asks her to stay on as the children’s nanny and before Lily knows not only is she nannying for Declan but also living with him and the children too. When Declans’ ex-wife, Kendra, suddenly has a change of heart and decides that she wants custody of the children, despite already abandoning them twice in their short lives, Declan is desperate to protect them and so consults his lawyer. The lawyer says that the best way to block Kendra’s attempt is to marry and therefore prove he has a stable family unit. So, Declan and Lily talk and decide on a marriage of convenience to keep the children from Kendra. Both Lily and Declan are attracted to each other but of course won’t let the other know, however will they give in to their feelings for each other and make this marriage of convenience a true and proper marriage?? And with Lily, who has a past that’s she’s hiding from, surely a chance at future happiness is too risky?! Will Lily continue to outrun her past or will it finally catch up to her? And if it does what happens to the happy little family bubble, both her and Declan have created for Zach and Zoya?!
This was such a good read. I really liked Lily and despite Declan presenting a very different front to the world, I found myself laughing at how he talked to himself and how different it was to the persona he was around everyone else, including his family. I adored Lily’s girlfriends’ group and also the messages between them were brilliant and gave a great insight into how tight the girls friendships were, and I adored how they all just let Lily be Lily instead of pushing her about her life before she met them. I was really intrigued about Lily’s past, and I admit I did a lot of thinking when I wasn’t reading the story – always the sign of a good book for me- but I didn’t figure it out and when her backstory eventually came out it was a really good twist that I did not see coming at all so that was great writing from Maxine Henri.
Overall, this was a really great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a spicy romance, I can’t wait to see what Maxine Henri comes out with next however in the meantime I will be checking out the books she has already written, especially Merged #1 and #2. A solid 5 star rating for a book that made me think about it when I wasn’t reading it!
Thank you to Maxine Henri, Hambright PR and BookFunnel for my advanced reading copy. Out now.
September 25, 2025
(I received an ARC for this book)
a more detailed list of trigger warnings will be at the bottom of this review, to avoid spoilers
there’s an accidental incident between MCs that causes an injury, after a life threatening situation the FMC suffers from PTSD that includes nightmares, custody battle after parent abandonment
Declan Quinn is just trying to stay afloat and keep his kids happy. He was perfectly fine with just replacing every nanny that walked out. But when Lily comes into the picture unexpectedly, he realizes that life had so much more to offer. Declan and Lily are so used to hiding their true selves. From the world, from themselves, from each other. But their (shared) close friends have always been supportive, something was just missing. They unexpectedly become each other’s missing piece. A safe space neither were prepared for. This is NOT a simple “falling for the nanny” romance. It’s bigger, louder, and more heart wrenching than I had ever planned on! And toss in the convenience of marriage, and my heart went on a high speed roller coaster! I really loved the fact that the characters, who were so used to depending on themselves, grew to understand (because of each other) that it was okay to lean on someone else, trust someone else. That it didn’t mean they were weak, it only made them stronger individuals.
Full transparency: I was torn between four and five stars. While I loved 99.9% of everything about this book, a couple things just felt too drawn out (and sometimes forgotten/ignored). Some parts read dark and unforgivable, and unnecessary. But also…I loved that. So I’m definitely giving this FIVE stars because it brought me so much dang joy! -And also, it’s been about a week between finishing the book and writing this review, and I am definitely happy with giving this five stars!
My Favorite Quotes:
• “You’re not erasable.”
• “You wouldn’t be able to walk after I’d be done with you, and yet you’d beg me for more.”
• “Don’t mistake my restraint for lack of desire.”
• “You want to be a good girl for me?”
• “Take me. Make me scream your name.”
• “I want to be the woman you deserve.”
• “You’ve stripped me of control, of reason, of sanity.”
• “Your existence arouses me.”
• “You’re it for me. I will only ever love you.”
• “Have me, wreck me, own me, but first, kiss me.”
• “I want you to see what you do to me.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
4/10 Age Gap
4/10 Forced Proximity
6/10 Marriage of Convenience
4/10 Second Chance
10/10 Single Parent
5/10 Slow Burn
9/10 The CEO Type
SPOILER Trigger Warnings include:
After being trapped in a fire caused by a family member, the FMC suffers from PTSD. She was also bullied as a child by this person. Because of her PTSD, the FMC accidentally stabs the MMC in a moment of panic.
a more detailed list of trigger warnings will be at the bottom of this review, to avoid spoilers
there’s an accidental incident between MCs that causes an injury, after a life threatening situation the FMC suffers from PTSD that includes nightmares, custody battle after parent abandonment
Declan Quinn is just trying to stay afloat and keep his kids happy. He was perfectly fine with just replacing every nanny that walked out. But when Lily comes into the picture unexpectedly, he realizes that life had so much more to offer. Declan and Lily are so used to hiding their true selves. From the world, from themselves, from each other. But their (shared) close friends have always been supportive, something was just missing. They unexpectedly become each other’s missing piece. A safe space neither were prepared for. This is NOT a simple “falling for the nanny” romance. It’s bigger, louder, and more heart wrenching than I had ever planned on! And toss in the convenience of marriage, and my heart went on a high speed roller coaster! I really loved the fact that the characters, who were so used to depending on themselves, grew to understand (because of each other) that it was okay to lean on someone else, trust someone else. That it didn’t mean they were weak, it only made them stronger individuals.
Full transparency: I was torn between four and five stars. While I loved 99.9% of everything about this book, a couple things just felt too drawn out (and sometimes forgotten/ignored). Some parts read dark and unforgivable, and unnecessary. But also…I loved that. So I’m definitely giving this FIVE stars because it brought me so much dang joy! -And also, it’s been about a week between finishing the book and writing this review, and I am definitely happy with giving this five stars!
My Favorite Quotes:
• “You’re not erasable.”
• “You wouldn’t be able to walk after I’d be done with you, and yet you’d beg me for more.”
• “Don’t mistake my restraint for lack of desire.”
• “You want to be a good girl for me?”
• “Take me. Make me scream your name.”
• “I want to be the woman you deserve.”
• “You’ve stripped me of control, of reason, of sanity.”
• “Your existence arouses me.”
• “You’re it for me. I will only ever love you.”
• “Have me, wreck me, own me, but first, kiss me.”
• “I want you to see what you do to me.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
4/10 Age Gap
4/10 Forced Proximity
6/10 Marriage of Convenience
4/10 Second Chance
10/10 Single Parent
5/10 Slow Burn
9/10 The CEO Type
SPOILER Trigger Warnings include:
After being trapped in a fire caused by a family member, the FMC suffers from PTSD. She was also bullied as a child by this person. Because of her PTSD, the FMC accidentally stabs the MMC in a moment of panic.
October 3, 2025
4.25/5 stars. This is my first book from Maxine.....and I was drawn in before I was approached with the purple cover, tropes of age gap, grumpy, single dad, fake marriage, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I want to read more from Maxine.
Declan is the grumpy single Dad to twins, and can we take a minute to appreciate how bloody cute these two are, with the boy being the absolute mini me of Declan. But, being the busy businessman he is, he requires a nanny, but so far, he hasn't been able to keep one longer than a few days.
Lily has escaped to New York, hiding behind a poor 'disguise', and is working for a recruitment agency. The highlight of her day is a certain man's voice.......and he needs her to find him a new nanny. He is always terse and short with his interactions, but despite this, she is intrigued with the man, and as it happens, he is too. They are part of a wider social group with colleagues and friends, so it's not long before they 'meet' again. However, Lily has forgotten to secure a nanny for Declan, finds herself without a place to live and is on his doorstop to step into the role, albeit temporarily.
There is an age gap, but Lily has experienced a lot within her life, and where that life threatens to follow her, and Declan has worked hard for years to keep his ex-wife away from the children she abandoned, so having someone get close to him and his kids is something that this time, can't be plotted and scheduled within the organisation of his life. These two are like moths to a flame for each other, and when Lily proposes a solution to a brewing custody battle, neither banked on their relationship heating up. There is so much that happens with these two, Declan trying to control the narrative and Lily for the first time in her life, wanting to take a hold of her own life, which up until that time she moved away, had been controlled by everyone. I enjoyed this book, with all the ups and downs, twists, grovelling and love that these two went thru for each other. Will be reading more from Maxine.
Declan is the grumpy single Dad to twins, and can we take a minute to appreciate how bloody cute these two are, with the boy being the absolute mini me of Declan. But, being the busy businessman he is, he requires a nanny, but so far, he hasn't been able to keep one longer than a few days.
Lily has escaped to New York, hiding behind a poor 'disguise', and is working for a recruitment agency. The highlight of her day is a certain man's voice.......and he needs her to find him a new nanny. He is always terse and short with his interactions, but despite this, she is intrigued with the man, and as it happens, he is too. They are part of a wider social group with colleagues and friends, so it's not long before they 'meet' again. However, Lily has forgotten to secure a nanny for Declan, finds herself without a place to live and is on his doorstop to step into the role, albeit temporarily.
There is an age gap, but Lily has experienced a lot within her life, and where that life threatens to follow her, and Declan has worked hard for years to keep his ex-wife away from the children she abandoned, so having someone get close to him and his kids is something that this time, can't be plotted and scheduled within the organisation of his life. These two are like moths to a flame for each other, and when Lily proposes a solution to a brewing custody battle, neither banked on their relationship heating up. There is so much that happens with these two, Declan trying to control the narrative and Lily for the first time in her life, wanting to take a hold of her own life, which up until that time she moved away, had been controlled by everyone. I enjoyed this book, with all the ups and downs, twists, grovelling and love that these two went thru for each other. Will be reading more from Maxine.
October 6, 2025
𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
𝐹𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝐵𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝐴𝑔𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑝
𝐺𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑦 𝑋 𝑆𝑢𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑑/𝑁𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑦
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙡.”
This was my first book by Maxine Henri, and I can confidently say I will be adding her to my list of favorite authors. I loved everything about this book; it had me hooked from the very first chapter. I was eager to discover what Lily was hiding, and as her friends kept guessing, I was right there with them. The book surprised me— I never guessed the true secret, which is one of the things I loved about this book.
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡. 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚, 𝙪𝙥𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚, 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩. 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙨. “𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙩.””
This book was charming, spicy, and had me laughing out loud. I love a great book with sharp banter, and this one absolutely delivered. Lily is fun, sassy, and beautiful inside and out. Declan, on the other hand, is a dedicated workaholic who needs to let go of control. Lily is exactly what he needs to loosen up and enjoy life.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡, 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
When Lily forgot to find a new nanny for Declan’s children, she had to think quickly and decided to take on the job herself. Lily brought a shining light into Declan’s kids’ lives. Even though Lily fell into the nanny role easily, she just wanted to help Declan out, as she had been crushing on him for months. However, she never expected that he would feel the same way about her.
“𝙎𝙤 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩.”
A big thank you to Hambright PR and Maxine Henri for the gifted ebook! Overall, this was a fantastic book that I can easily see myself rereading in the future. 4 stars.
𝐹𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝐵𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝐴𝑔𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑝
𝐺𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑦 𝑋 𝑆𝑢𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑑/𝑁𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑦
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙡.”
This was my first book by Maxine Henri, and I can confidently say I will be adding her to my list of favorite authors. I loved everything about this book; it had me hooked from the very first chapter. I was eager to discover what Lily was hiding, and as her friends kept guessing, I was right there with them. The book surprised me— I never guessed the true secret, which is one of the things I loved about this book.
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡. 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚, 𝙪𝙥𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚, 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩. 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙨. “𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙩.””
This book was charming, spicy, and had me laughing out loud. I love a great book with sharp banter, and this one absolutely delivered. Lily is fun, sassy, and beautiful inside and out. Declan, on the other hand, is a dedicated workaholic who needs to let go of control. Lily is exactly what he needs to loosen up and enjoy life.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡, 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
When Lily forgot to find a new nanny for Declan’s children, she had to think quickly and decided to take on the job herself. Lily brought a shining light into Declan’s kids’ lives. Even though Lily fell into the nanny role easily, she just wanted to help Declan out, as she had been crushing on him for months. However, she never expected that he would feel the same way about her.
“𝙎𝙤 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩.”
A big thank you to Hambright PR and Maxine Henri for the gifted ebook! Overall, this was a fantastic book that I can easily see myself rereading in the future. 4 stars.
September 18, 2025
This book was everything I was expecting and then some!! I love forbidden romances and Maxine Henri brought a magnificent story with the best plot, amazing characters and twist and turns I didn't see coming.
This is the third book in the Merged Series and follows Declan, a single dad of twins running a multimillion company along with his siblings. He desperately needs a nanny for his twins and this is where by accident gets paired with Lily a woman who has invaded his thoughts in more than one occasion since meeting through his sister in law.
Lily Thorne has been trying to hide from her past live. By accident she is now the nanny of Declan's twins. Now she is under the same roof as him and the more he tries to avoid her the more determine she is to break his tough exterior. When Declan needs help in order to fight his ex and her demands she is more than willing to help, and help she does by marry him.
Now the tension between Declan and Lily is all consuming and their push and pull is magnificent, they both have many ups and downs, they both have their own traumas and they have many bumps on the road specially after Lily's past life comes back to hunt her but I loved the plot in general and the authentic bond Lily creates with the twins and how she is able to bring Declan out of his protective walls.
This story was so well done and if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?
-Secret Identity
-Single dad/Nanny
-Age Gap
-Billionaire
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-My wife
-Secret Relationship
October 19, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5stars
Thank you @hambright_pr for the gifted arc 💖.
✨What it is about:
A nanny mix up turns into a fake marriage. Now Lily is living with Declan, a broody single dad, helping with his children, and pretending to be his wife. There’s a problem, there are secrets being kept, and so much tension, the fake marriage is starting to feel real.✨
💭My thoughts:
This is the third book in the Merged series by Maxine Henry, but it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed reading Lily and Declan’s story. It was entertaining, easy to read, and the characters were well developed.
The chemistry and tension between them were palpable, and I loved the subtle sense of mystery surrounding Lily’s background and Declan’s custody case throughout. I liked the slow buildup to their relationship and enjoyed the twist when Lily’s secrets were revealed.
It was quite the journey these two went on together. Their dynamic worked. I loved seeing the little things they did that brought them closer, bit by bit. And though they each made mistakes, it was fun following them through it all until they reached their HEA.
Another great story by Henry!
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Read if you like:
🪻Marriage of convenience
🪻Forced proximity
🪻Single dad x nanny
🪻Age gap
🪻Grumpy x sunshine
🪻Slow burn romance
🪻Hidden identity
🪻Found family
🪻Dual POVs
⚠️CW: Adult language, explicit sexual content, mentions of being locked in a room during fire, injuries from a fire, night terrors, abuse by a family member, estranged parental relationship, mentions of custody battle, mentions of maternal abandonment.
Thank you @hambright_pr for the gifted arc 💖.
✨What it is about:
A nanny mix up turns into a fake marriage. Now Lily is living with Declan, a broody single dad, helping with his children, and pretending to be his wife. There’s a problem, there are secrets being kept, and so much tension, the fake marriage is starting to feel real.✨
💭My thoughts:
This is the third book in the Merged series by Maxine Henry, but it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed reading Lily and Declan’s story. It was entertaining, easy to read, and the characters were well developed.
The chemistry and tension between them were palpable, and I loved the subtle sense of mystery surrounding Lily’s background and Declan’s custody case throughout. I liked the slow buildup to their relationship and enjoyed the twist when Lily’s secrets were revealed.
It was quite the journey these two went on together. Their dynamic worked. I loved seeing the little things they did that brought them closer, bit by bit. And though they each made mistakes, it was fun following them through it all until they reached their HEA.
Another great story by Henry!
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Read if you like:
🪻Marriage of convenience
🪻Forced proximity
🪻Single dad x nanny
🪻Age gap
🪻Grumpy x sunshine
🪻Slow burn romance
🪻Hidden identity
🪻Found family
🪻Dual POVs
⚠️CW: Adult language, explicit sexual content, mentions of being locked in a room during fire, injuries from a fire, night terrors, abuse by a family member, estranged parental relationship, mentions of custody battle, mentions of maternal abandonment.
September 9, 2025
Lily and Declan's story in A Convenient Secret had me in my FEELS. 🥹
Declan is grumpy, demanding, broody, and one hell of a single dad to twins. And Lily? She came to NYC with secrets of her own. Looking to escape her past, and finding herself enthralled with Declan, well more specifically, his voice at first. 🤭
I love the dynamic between these two when Lily becomes his nanny. Declan really goes out of his way to ignore their chemistry and stay away from her. But it could never last forever. The tension is so exciting to read and I love all the little moments they share that bring them closer without them even realizing. Sharing a whiskey, connecting over Zach and Zoya, the protective energy they have over one another.
The twins really stole my heart too. I had so many moments laughing, tearing up, and heart clenching with them. Zach and Zoya are a great representation of how different twins really are. They are their own people and have their own interests and fears. There's just something about vulnerable characters that get to me!
If you love age gaps, billionaire romance, single dad/nanny, marriage of convenience, and touch her and ☠️, then you'll absolutely eat A Convenient Secret up!!
There's so much to enjoy here and I really feel like Maxine does a great job of showing a realistic take on relationships with secrets and extra responsibilities! I devoured this book! 💛
This is an ARC review I am leaving voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
Declan is grumpy, demanding, broody, and one hell of a single dad to twins. And Lily? She came to NYC with secrets of her own. Looking to escape her past, and finding herself enthralled with Declan, well more specifically, his voice at first. 🤭
I love the dynamic between these two when Lily becomes his nanny. Declan really goes out of his way to ignore their chemistry and stay away from her. But it could never last forever. The tension is so exciting to read and I love all the little moments they share that bring them closer without them even realizing. Sharing a whiskey, connecting over Zach and Zoya, the protective energy they have over one another.
The twins really stole my heart too. I had so many moments laughing, tearing up, and heart clenching with them. Zach and Zoya are a great representation of how different twins really are. They are their own people and have their own interests and fears. There's just something about vulnerable characters that get to me!
If you love age gaps, billionaire romance, single dad/nanny, marriage of convenience, and touch her and ☠️, then you'll absolutely eat A Convenient Secret up!!
There's so much to enjoy here and I really feel like Maxine does a great job of showing a realistic take on relationships with secrets and extra responsibilities! I devoured this book! 💛
This is an ARC review I am leaving voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
September 11, 2025
Wow! This book and couple have me hooked. The chemistry, steam, the way they were obsessed, the spice, yearning, and not being able to get enough of each other 🥵✋️🫦 Thank you so much, Maxine, for the ARC 🥹
Declan Quinn 🫦 Daddy?! This man made me giggle, raise my standards, blush, cackle, and fall hopelessly in love! He drove both Lily and I insane from page one. Tall, handsome, intelligent, a billionaire, touch her and die, single dad, older, obsessed with his nanny turned wife, won't let her go, loves to grovel, dominant, filthy mouthed, will do anything for her, celibate, and a stalker 🫦 Declan seems cold and aloof at first, but when you finally see him, you can't stop loving him. I adored his scenes with his twins 🥹 They're adorable!
Lily Thorne 👑 Queen Lily 🧎♀️ She is incredible and had me cheering her on immediately! I don't even blame her for falling for Declan as much as she did because, same. When I tell you, she has this man on his knees 😏 Beautiful, intelligent, independent, sassy, brave, innocent 😏, protective, cute af, caring, loves to rile him up, loves her friends and adores the twins, obsessed, feisty, and incredibly strong 🥹 Lily is on the run and works at a recruitment agency 🤭 where she always answers Daddy's calls!
This was brilliant and everything I needed! The writing, characters, and storyline are *chefs kiss* Thank you so much, Maxine 🥹 I can't wait to read more of your work and catch up on the masterpieces I've missed 😩🫦
Declan Quinn 🫦 Daddy?! This man made me giggle, raise my standards, blush, cackle, and fall hopelessly in love! He drove both Lily and I insane from page one. Tall, handsome, intelligent, a billionaire, touch her and die, single dad, older, obsessed with his nanny turned wife, won't let her go, loves to grovel, dominant, filthy mouthed, will do anything for her, celibate, and a stalker 🫦 Declan seems cold and aloof at first, but when you finally see him, you can't stop loving him. I adored his scenes with his twins 🥹 They're adorable!
Lily Thorne 👑 Queen Lily 🧎♀️ She is incredible and had me cheering her on immediately! I don't even blame her for falling for Declan as much as she did because, same. When I tell you, she has this man on his knees 😏 Beautiful, intelligent, independent, sassy, brave, innocent 😏, protective, cute af, caring, loves to rile him up, loves her friends and adores the twins, obsessed, feisty, and incredibly strong 🥹 Lily is on the run and works at a recruitment agency 🤭 where she always answers Daddy's calls!
This was brilliant and everything I needed! The writing, characters, and storyline are *chefs kiss* Thank you so much, Maxine 🥹 I can't wait to read more of your work and catch up on the masterpieces I've missed 😩🫦
September 14, 2025
I could not wait for this book, and wow, Maxine delivered. I was dying to dive into Declan and Lily’s story, and it exceeded every expectation. This is hands-down my favorite in the series, and that’s saying a lot because I adored the first two. I devoured it in one sitting. No breaks. No regrets.
Declan? Broody. Responsible. Controlling. Sexy. And that filthy mouth? Chef’s kiss. I literally fell asleep mid-read, 2am, dropped my phone, woke up my husband, but I was determined to finish. Declan’s a single dad who thrives on control, and Lily? She’s the storm that upends his carefully built world. Chaos, secrets, and sizzling tension follow.
Lily’s fighting for control of her own life, but Declan makes her question everything. Their banter? Epic. I laughed out loud more than once. The push and pull between them is magnetic, the tension, the stolen glances, the voice that melts you. They’re both carrying trauma, and watching them navigate that while falling for each other was raw and beautiful.
The spice? HOT!! But it’s not just heat, it’s layered with emotion, pain, and growth. Declan’s inner monologue is everything. These characters have depth, and their evolution throughout the story is so satisfying.
And the kids? Absolute scene-stealers. Their antics and conversations had me grinning. Plus, seeing familiar faces from earlier books made it feel like coming home. It’s not just a romance, it’s a family.
Declan? Broody. Responsible. Controlling. Sexy. And that filthy mouth? Chef’s kiss. I literally fell asleep mid-read, 2am, dropped my phone, woke up my husband, but I was determined to finish. Declan’s a single dad who thrives on control, and Lily? She’s the storm that upends his carefully built world. Chaos, secrets, and sizzling tension follow.
Lily’s fighting for control of her own life, but Declan makes her question everything. Their banter? Epic. I laughed out loud more than once. The push and pull between them is magnetic, the tension, the stolen glances, the voice that melts you. They’re both carrying trauma, and watching them navigate that while falling for each other was raw and beautiful.
The spice? HOT!! But it’s not just heat, it’s layered with emotion, pain, and growth. Declan’s inner monologue is everything. These characters have depth, and their evolution throughout the story is so satisfying.
And the kids? Absolute scene-stealers. Their antics and conversations had me grinning. Plus, seeing familiar faces from earlier books made it feel like coming home. It’s not just a romance, it’s a family.
September 15, 2025
What a ride! A Convenient Secret by Maxine Henri had me hooked from the start. I’ve read my fair share of billionaire romances, but Maxine’s writing stands out: sharp, funny, and so easy to fall into. I laughed out loud more than once.
Declan’s kids were adorable, especially Zach with his grown-up way of speaking. I know a couple of kids like that and it always makes me smile. And while Declan and Lily’s relationship is built on shaky ground, the slow-burn tension and that one “f*ck it” moment (yes, the actual conversation where Declan says it) had me fully invested.
This was my first Maxine Henri book and, while part of a series, it works perfectly as a standalone. That said, I now want to go back and read the others because I need more of this friend group in my life (Celeste, Saar, and yes, Cora too, I’ll be keeping an eye out!).
There was a twist I didn’t quite see coming. It didn’t throw me completely, but it was a refreshing change from the usual beats in billionaire romances, and I appreciated the new angle it gave the story.
If nanny, age gap, or billionaire romance is your thing (or you just love a fake marriage set-up with a lot of heart), you’ll fly through this one like I did. One sitting. Zero regrets.
Thanks to Hambright PR for the ARC of this fantastic read!
Declan’s kids were adorable, especially Zach with his grown-up way of speaking. I know a couple of kids like that and it always makes me smile. And while Declan and Lily’s relationship is built on shaky ground, the slow-burn tension and that one “f*ck it” moment (yes, the actual conversation where Declan says it) had me fully invested.
This was my first Maxine Henri book and, while part of a series, it works perfectly as a standalone. That said, I now want to go back and read the others because I need more of this friend group in my life (Celeste, Saar, and yes, Cora too, I’ll be keeping an eye out!).
There was a twist I didn’t quite see coming. It didn’t throw me completely, but it was a refreshing change from the usual beats in billionaire romances, and I appreciated the new angle it gave the story.
If nanny, age gap, or billionaire romance is your thing (or you just love a fake marriage set-up with a lot of heart), you’ll fly through this one like I did. One sitting. Zero regrets.
Thanks to Hambright PR for the ARC of this fantastic read!
September 18, 2025
Nanny. Fake wife. Billionaire boss. Single dad. TEMPTATION.
I am absolutely reeling from this book—Maxine Henri’s A Convenient Secret was everything I adore in romance and more.
Declan Quinn. Swoon. He is the broody, emotionally guarded billionaire single dad I didn’t know I needed in my life, and he completely wrecked me in the best way. The way he loves his twins had my heart melting, but it was his slow-burn, all-consuming pull toward Lily that had me fanning myself and clutching my Kindle. 🔥
And Lily? She’s sunshine, resilience, vulnerability, and strength rolled into one. The chemistry between her and Declan isn’t just sparks—it’s a full-on wildfire. Every stolen glance, every almost-touch, every smoldering stare across the room had my heart racing.
This book gave me it all: the slow-burn tension, the off-limits temptation, the fake marriage with so many feels, and the ultimate swoony payoff that had me grinning like a fool. There were moments I laughed, moments I wanted to scream at them to just give in already, and moments that had me tearing up because the love was that real.
If you’re looking for your next obsession—THIS. IS. IT. A Convenient Secret is an emotional, sizzling, unforgettable read that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Declan Quinn and Lily? They own my heart. 💖
I am absolutely reeling from this book—Maxine Henri’s A Convenient Secret was everything I adore in romance and more.
Declan Quinn. Swoon. He is the broody, emotionally guarded billionaire single dad I didn’t know I needed in my life, and he completely wrecked me in the best way. The way he loves his twins had my heart melting, but it was his slow-burn, all-consuming pull toward Lily that had me fanning myself and clutching my Kindle. 🔥
And Lily? She’s sunshine, resilience, vulnerability, and strength rolled into one. The chemistry between her and Declan isn’t just sparks—it’s a full-on wildfire. Every stolen glance, every almost-touch, every smoldering stare across the room had my heart racing.
This book gave me it all: the slow-burn tension, the off-limits temptation, the fake marriage with so many feels, and the ultimate swoony payoff that had me grinning like a fool. There were moments I laughed, moments I wanted to scream at them to just give in already, and moments that had me tearing up because the love was that real.
If you’re looking for your next obsession—THIS. IS. IT. A Convenient Secret is an emotional, sizzling, unforgettable read that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Declan Quinn and Lily? They own my heart. 💖
September 19, 2025
A Convenient Secret is book 3 in the Merged series and it did not disappoint! I have been waiting for this one and can say this one and this couple are my favorite of this series! Declan and Lily, their chemistry and connection suck you in and you can't help but devour their story!
We’ve met our couple, Lily and Declan in the first two books but didn't fully know about them. Lily is an adorable 25 year old running from a harsh past and trying to carve a new life out for herself who becomes the nanny to precious twins Zoya and Zach and brings so much life to this family. Decaln is a 35 year old, total alpha/broody, gorgeous billionaire struggling to raise two precious twins by himself after experiencing much loss. This is a beautiful story of these two learning to love and accept love fully while struggling with their pasts. The age gap is perfect. This has such a great slow burn, such great angst. And when these two come together, the passion and spice is so hot! Throw in a lot of secrets, a “fake” marriage, it was just such a great story!
This book was so emotional. It had all the feels. I couldn't put it down! Go read this series, it’s so good!
Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💜Age Gap
💜Single Dad/Nanny
💜Forced Proximity
💜Obsessed billionaire
💜Marriage of convenience
💜Grumpy/Sunshine
💜Slow burn
💜Found family
We’ve met our couple, Lily and Declan in the first two books but didn't fully know about them. Lily is an adorable 25 year old running from a harsh past and trying to carve a new life out for herself who becomes the nanny to precious twins Zoya and Zach and brings so much life to this family. Decaln is a 35 year old, total alpha/broody, gorgeous billionaire struggling to raise two precious twins by himself after experiencing much loss. This is a beautiful story of these two learning to love and accept love fully while struggling with their pasts. The age gap is perfect. This has such a great slow burn, such great angst. And when these two come together, the passion and spice is so hot! Throw in a lot of secrets, a “fake” marriage, it was just such a great story!
This book was so emotional. It had all the feels. I couldn't put it down! Go read this series, it’s so good!
Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💜Age Gap
💜Single Dad/Nanny
💜Forced Proximity
💜Obsessed billionaire
💜Marriage of convenience
💜Grumpy/Sunshine
💜Slow burn
💜Found family
December 3, 2025
Once again, this book did not need to be nearly 600 pages long. When I saw the page count I thought I accidentally clicked a link for a romantasy book. Most of the book is one note with both Declan and Lily hiding a secret, both being attracted to each other, and both hiding their relationship from their friends/family. When the big bad truth comes out, Declan eventually holds it against her for causing drama in his life. She tried to tell him multiple times but they kept getting interrupted. At least she tried. Declan meanwhile didn't even attempt to tell her his secret which was, honestly, so lack luster. I was expecting drama but there was none with his "secret". There was no custody drama when that was the whole reason they got married. It was like the synopsis that I read isn't even factored into the book as a major plotline. The third act breakup was annoying to say the least because Declan isn't emotionally mature enough to see what's in front of his face. His kids did a better job of handling Lily leaving than he did, and he's the adult. He was such a hypocrite with Lily!
Spice was good and we do get a decent amount of it. The banter between the guys and girls is good. Ok read but not the best in the series at all. Zoya and Zach were adorable and I wish we got more of them and Declan as a dad.
Spice was good and we do get a decent amount of it. The banter between the guys and girls is good. Ok read but not the best in the series at all. Zoya and Zach were adorable and I wish we got more of them and Declan as a dad.
September 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, though it feels a little different from Maxine’s other novels. Usually her stories take me through every emotion, with characters who start out as strangers or enemies before slowly becoming lovers. Here, Declan and Lily already know each other through their friend group, and both are secretly pining from the start. There’s no big drama in the beginning- just some awkwardness and the uncertainty of not knowing what the other is feeling.
The tension between them is strong, and their lack of communication only adds to it. At the same time, Declan is doing his best to be a great dad to his twins, Zach and Zoya. They’re absolutely adorable, and Lily fits into their lives so naturally.
There are a few hiccups along the way as Declan and Lily try to keep their "fake" marriage under wraps, but watching their relationship grow is lovely. Declan makes such a wonderful MMC- he’s a total cinnamon roll when it comes to Lily, even if he’s a little intense at times. What sets this apart from other Maxine Henri books I’ve read is that there’s never real dislike or animosity between the leads. They both try to fight their feelings but fail miserably, and that makes the story even sweeter.
If you’re looking for a feel-good romance with a beautiful found family dynamic, you'll definitely want to add this one to your TBR!
The tension between them is strong, and their lack of communication only adds to it. At the same time, Declan is doing his best to be a great dad to his twins, Zach and Zoya. They’re absolutely adorable, and Lily fits into their lives so naturally.
There are a few hiccups along the way as Declan and Lily try to keep their "fake" marriage under wraps, but watching their relationship grow is lovely. Declan makes such a wonderful MMC- he’s a total cinnamon roll when it comes to Lily, even if he’s a little intense at times. What sets this apart from other Maxine Henri books I’ve read is that there’s never real dislike or animosity between the leads. They both try to fight their feelings but fail miserably, and that makes the story even sweeter.
If you’re looking for a feel-good romance with a beautiful found family dynamic, you'll definitely want to add this one to your TBR!
September 2, 2025
Age gap
Single dad
Nanny
Forced proximity
Billionaire
Marriage of convenience
Grumpy/sunshine
Slow burn
Found family
Obsessed MMC
HEA
Need I say more? This book is jam packed with so many of my favorite tropes! I loved being surprised by the secrets being kept as they were revealed ( yes there are more than one) I loved that it was like peeling an onion, so many layers to the story and as you progress through the story you’re peeling away at more layers. I love that the book didn’t feel like it was so short that things are rushed or that it is so long it feels like it drags on, this book was the perfect happy medium. The main characters are portrayed in such a realistic relatable way from maneuvering single parent life while trying to balancing a work life and a budding relationship all at once. I loved the interaction with the children in this book as well. I’ve read many books where when the kids say things and it’s very apparent the writer must not have children because they have had dialogue that a child that young would never say, they make them sound way too grown but this book did an awesome job on looking into the mind of a child and the things that would be said for kids that age.
#HPRAConvenientSecret
#MaxineHenri
#HambrightPR
Single dad
Nanny
Forced proximity
Billionaire
Marriage of convenience
Grumpy/sunshine
Slow burn
Found family
Obsessed MMC
HEA
Need I say more? This book is jam packed with so many of my favorite tropes! I loved being surprised by the secrets being kept as they were revealed ( yes there are more than one) I loved that it was like peeling an onion, so many layers to the story and as you progress through the story you’re peeling away at more layers. I love that the book didn’t feel like it was so short that things are rushed or that it is so long it feels like it drags on, this book was the perfect happy medium. The main characters are portrayed in such a realistic relatable way from maneuvering single parent life while trying to balancing a work life and a budding relationship all at once. I loved the interaction with the children in this book as well. I’ve read many books where when the kids say things and it’s very apparent the writer must not have children because they have had dialogue that a child that young would never say, they make them sound way too grown but this book did an awesome job on looking into the mind of a child and the things that would be said for kids that age.
#HPRAConvenientSecret
#MaxineHenri
#HambrightPR
September 7, 2025
An Absolutely Captivating Read!
From the very first page, A Convenient Secret by Maxine Henri drew me in with its compelling characters and intricate plot. Henri masterfully weaves a story filled with suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me hooked until the final chapter. The way she explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption is both heartfelt and thought-provoking.
The protagonist’s journey is beautifully portrayed, making it easy to connect with her struggles and triumphs. Henri’s writing style is smooth and engaging, effortlessly balancing moments of tension with tender, introspective scenes. The pacing is perfect—fast enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, yet slow enough to savor the emotional depth.
What truly sets this book apart is Henri’s skill in creating a layered, believable world that feels both real and immersive. It’s a story that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to revisit these characters again.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves a well-crafted, emotionally rich romance with a touch of mystery. Maxine Henri has truly delivered a gem with A Convenient Secret—a must-read that I will be recommending to all my friends!
From the very first page, A Convenient Secret by Maxine Henri drew me in with its compelling characters and intricate plot. Henri masterfully weaves a story filled with suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me hooked until the final chapter. The way she explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption is both heartfelt and thought-provoking.
The protagonist’s journey is beautifully portrayed, making it easy to connect with her struggles and triumphs. Henri’s writing style is smooth and engaging, effortlessly balancing moments of tension with tender, introspective scenes. The pacing is perfect—fast enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, yet slow enough to savor the emotional depth.
What truly sets this book apart is Henri’s skill in creating a layered, believable world that feels both real and immersive. It’s a story that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to revisit these characters again.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves a well-crafted, emotionally rich romance with a touch of mystery. Maxine Henri has truly delivered a gem with A Convenient Secret—a must-read that I will be recommending to all my friends!
September 10, 2025
There is nothing about A Convenient Secret that didn’t work for me—I devoured every word. Declan Quinn has officially ruined all other book boyfriends for me; he’s grumpy, guarded, and completely obsessed in the most delicious, slow-burning way. The forced proximity, the fake marriage, the age gap—it all just worked, and somehow made their chemistry feel even more electric. Watching him go from cold billionaire boss to fiercely protective (and secretly soft) husband had me swooning hard. And don’t even get me started on the twins—they brought so much warmth and heart, I felt like part of their found family.
The single dad/nanny setup gave me butterflies from page one, but it’s the emotional depth that made this story unforgettable. Maxine Henri nailed the grumpy/sunshine dynamic without it ever feeling cliché, and the slow burn? Torturous in the best way. Every glance, every almost-kiss, every late-night hallway moment built to something that felt earned—and when it finally ignited? Worth. Every. Second. Declan might be emotionally unavailable, but the way he quietly claimed her—with every action, every sacrifice—had me melting. I don’t know how Maxine will top this, but I’ll be first in line when she tries.
The single dad/nanny setup gave me butterflies from page one, but it’s the emotional depth that made this story unforgettable. Maxine Henri nailed the grumpy/sunshine dynamic without it ever feeling cliché, and the slow burn? Torturous in the best way. Every glance, every almost-kiss, every late-night hallway moment built to something that felt earned—and when it finally ignited? Worth. Every. Second. Declan might be emotionally unavailable, but the way he quietly claimed her—with every action, every sacrifice—had me melting. I don’t know how Maxine will top this, but I’ll be first in line when she tries.
September 18, 2025
Thank you to Hamburg PR for the ARC!
Lily Thorne is working as a concierge for the ultra-wealthy when her demanding client, Declan, suddenly needs a nanny for his twins. What starts as a temporary solution turns into something much deeper as Lily steps into the role herself.
I loved the bond Lily formed with the twins. It was so nice to see it grow as it felt sweet, genuine, and gave the story so much heart. Declan and Lily’s chemistry was undeniable, even as they both tried to fight it. While I had a little trouble with Lily’s lack of experience where she quickly dove in headfirst, and the connection between her and Declan grew in a way that kept me reading on.
There’s a marriage of convenience element that felt a bit unnecessary, but I really, really enjoyed the moments when both Lily and Declan faced their pasts. Lily's kept you guessing all along. That’s where the story took an unexpected (and welcome!) turn for me.
If you enjoy emotional depth wrapped in a swoony, high-stakes romance, this one’s worth picking up!
Tropes you’ll find inside:
✨ Age gap
✨ Single dad
✨ Workplace/nanny romance
✨ Billionaire romance
✨ Found family
✨ Marriage of convenience
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3 spice)
Lily Thorne is working as a concierge for the ultra-wealthy when her demanding client, Declan, suddenly needs a nanny for his twins. What starts as a temporary solution turns into something much deeper as Lily steps into the role herself.
I loved the bond Lily formed with the twins. It was so nice to see it grow as it felt sweet, genuine, and gave the story so much heart. Declan and Lily’s chemistry was undeniable, even as they both tried to fight it. While I had a little trouble with Lily’s lack of experience where she quickly dove in headfirst, and the connection between her and Declan grew in a way that kept me reading on.
There’s a marriage of convenience element that felt a bit unnecessary, but I really, really enjoyed the moments when both Lily and Declan faced their pasts. Lily's kept you guessing all along. That’s where the story took an unexpected (and welcome!) turn for me.
If you enjoy emotional depth wrapped in a swoony, high-stakes romance, this one’s worth picking up!
Tropes you’ll find inside:
✨ Age gap
✨ Single dad
✨ Workplace/nanny romance
✨ Billionaire romance
✨ Found family
✨ Marriage of convenience
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3 spice)
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