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Open Secrets (Infidelity #5) : An open marriage drama
There’s only so much a marriage can hold before it breaks.
From the outside, Maria and Lyle Connelly have it four kids, a house that fits their chaos, his Army career, her thriving clinic. But beneath the picture-perfect surface lie cracks neither of them want to name. Years of deployments, family rifts, and one choice that changed everything—an open marriage.
It wasn’t cheating, not really. They both had permission. They both thought they could handle it. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and what began as a way to protect their love nearly destroyed it.
Now, with Lyle’s career winding down and Maria building a future of her own, the Connellys find themselves tested in ways they never imagined. Because the hardest battles aren’t fought on distant soil—they’re fought at home, between two people who love each other enough to try again, even when trying hurts.
Open Secrets is a raw, emotional story about love, loyalty, and the fragile line between freedom and betrayal inside a marriage.
Content This novel deals with abortion. If that theme is difficult or triggering for you, you may wish to skip this book.
From the outside, Maria and Lyle Connelly have it four kids, a house that fits their chaos, his Army career, her thriving clinic. But beneath the picture-perfect surface lie cracks neither of them want to name. Years of deployments, family rifts, and one choice that changed everything—an open marriage.
It wasn’t cheating, not really. They both had permission. They both thought they could handle it. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and what began as a way to protect their love nearly destroyed it.
Now, with Lyle’s career winding down and Maria building a future of her own, the Connellys find themselves tested in ways they never imagined. Because the hardest battles aren’t fought on distant soil—they’re fought at home, between two people who love each other enough to try again, even when trying hurts.
Open Secrets is a raw, emotional story about love, loyalty, and the fragile line between freedom and betrayal inside a marriage.
Content This novel deals with abortion. If that theme is difficult or triggering for you, you may wish to skip this book.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 19, 2025
I am all for reading cheating books however none of them are ever good bc the FMC are usually complete losers.
This book paints the picture that ageing as a woman results in getting cheated on. Like getting old is a problem and the women fault. There’s nothing uplifting in this story just a stupid woman looking for reasons to why she wasn’t enough while accepting MMC excuses of how long they’ve married to stay together and the whole protecting my family and kids excuse (her stupid excuse)
Imagine kids growing up in environment where two delusion people stay together for the sake of time already spent together and the kids while being completely toxic. And it’s usually the loser desperate woman (like this FMC) fighting to stay with the scumbag after he’s gone out and collected every single STD there is out there. Clearly I dislike this story.
This book paints the picture that ageing as a woman results in getting cheated on. Like getting old is a problem and the women fault. There’s nothing uplifting in this story just a stupid woman looking for reasons to why she wasn’t enough while accepting MMC excuses of how long they’ve married to stay together and the whole protecting my family and kids excuse (her stupid excuse)
Imagine kids growing up in environment where two delusion people stay together for the sake of time already spent together and the kids while being completely toxic. And it’s usually the loser desperate woman (like this FMC) fighting to stay with the scumbag after he’s gone out and collected every single STD there is out there. Clearly I dislike this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2025
3.5 stars. This is kinda tough to review. Both MMCs had fault, and problems. But I found more fault with Lyle than Maria. Which goes to show it takes a special kind of woman to be a military wife. They start having major problems once their daughter Rain becomes sick. Lyle starts to volunteer more for deployments because it was hard to see his daughter so ill. I'll write down below the triggers because I didn't see any. Anyways, Maria really did have a horrible time. A woman who slept with Lyle when him and Maria were separated let slip a big secret he told her to his mother. Which resulted in his family abandoning Maria and his kids. This woman also lied about what actually happened because she wanted Lyle herself. Then comes the ultimatum from Maria and she says stay or we open our marriage. Talking about his deployments. Now here's the deal. She was an idiot. No doubt about that, but what we don't know until later is that Lyle wasn't unhappy about opening his marriage. He saw his friend doing it and he wanted to sleep with someone else because he was lonely on his deployment and when they were living in different states. Also, the biggest problem was he created the rules of the open marriage and broke them entirely for more than a year by sleeping with the same woman. That's not an open marriage. That's a mistress. A relationship. Maria never wanted to open their marriage though she suggested it. She wanted him to finally chose her over the Army and he didn't. There's lot's of shit that happened and they do work it out, but I'd like to know if he was taking ow out to dinner. Or even maybe taking trips together. The author never goes into detail, so I felt we only got half the story about this relationship. Maria slept with two men them felt horrible after each encounter and couldn't continue, but Lyle does with ow for more than a year. That's where I'm having trouble with this. Plus, the author tied everything up really quickly. And you know? Maria wasn't the best woman. She had too much pride and could be a bitch, but what she was dealing with. With the constant deployments. The constant abandonment. I actually would have divorced Lyle. He disrespected her left and right. By keeping the woman around as a friend who let Maria's big secret out, to basically having a relationship with one woman for more than a year when he made the rules of always not knowing the person they slept with. He was constantly thinking of himself and covering his own ass. Overall though they both had their own problems from childhood. From parent abandonment, Maria. To generational military enlistment, Lyle.
TWs: abortion, and childhood cancer. Specifically leukemia.
So a tiny rant. Which may result in people disliking me. Now I myself am not a very political person as it only shows to divide. Not unite. So I don't like that in my books. This book to me was political in showing the author's stance and I choose to not read books like that, but I guess an author isn't really going to put that in their warnings. "Religious nuts," as the author called them, aren't the only one's who are pro life. And if I lose people who follow me on here, so be it. I'm not religious and I'm pro life, but I'd never stop someone's choice. That's on you, and what you feel is best for you. But it's so weaponized now on both sides which is another reason I don't take part in the two party system. Dislike me if you want. I don't care. It's a huge part of this book which is why I'm bringing it up. It's one of the major catalysts of their problems.
Edit: abortion was mentioned in TW, but not childhood cancer which I have a problem with. I thought it was important to mention. Also, maybe reading the book before this one is a better choice. Markus is mentioned here and I think he was the A hole from book 4.
TWs: abortion, and childhood cancer. Specifically leukemia.
So a tiny rant. Which may result in people disliking me. Now I myself am not a very political person as it only shows to divide. Not unite. So I don't like that in my books. This book to me was political in showing the author's stance and I choose to not read books like that, but I guess an author isn't really going to put that in their warnings. "Religious nuts," as the author called them, aren't the only one's who are pro life. And if I lose people who follow me on here, so be it. I'm not religious and I'm pro life, but I'd never stop someone's choice. That's on you, and what you feel is best for you. But it's so weaponized now on both sides which is another reason I don't take part in the two party system. Dislike me if you want. I don't care. It's a huge part of this book which is why I'm bringing it up. It's one of the major catalysts of their problems.
Edit: abortion was mentioned in TW, but not childhood cancer which I have a problem with. I thought it was important to mention. Also, maybe reading the book before this one is a better choice. Markus is mentioned here and I think he was the A hole from book 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2025
Infidelity series…
I think this is book 4 or 5 in the series. I didn’t care for this one as the previous books. I liked the female lead, Maria, but I didn’t like the male, Lyle, at all. He put no effort into the marriage and simply said “OK” when she gave the ultimatum about being present or letting her date. And then he entered into a friends with benefits relationship for a year. Instead of fighting for his wife and marriage, he goes to another woman. This man was just terrible. Plus that wasn’t the only dumb decision he made.
And Maria only gave that ultimatum to wake him up. She didn’t really want an open marriage.
Anyway, a decent read but I didn’t find it to be anything special. It’s good but not spectacular.
I think this is book 4 or 5 in the series. I didn’t care for this one as the previous books. I liked the female lead, Maria, but I didn’t like the male, Lyle, at all. He put no effort into the marriage and simply said “OK” when she gave the ultimatum about being present or letting her date. And then he entered into a friends with benefits relationship for a year. Instead of fighting for his wife and marriage, he goes to another woman. This man was just terrible. Plus that wasn’t the only dumb decision he made.
And Maria only gave that ultimatum to wake him up. She didn’t really want an open marriage.
Anyway, a decent read but I didn’t find it to be anything special. It’s good but not spectacular.
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October 1, 2025I can’t give even give a star. The MMF is bitch. The MMC is a wimp. The author doesn’t seem to know a lot about the Army and pay scales. A deployed LT and a doctor can well afford to pay out of pocket for an experimental procedure. The whining she did because the military healthcare wouldn’t pay. fYI no healthcare company pays for experimental care. She doesn’t like being alone, so she decides to tell her husband they need to open the marriage. ridiculous. The story was a train wreck.
October 3, 2025
This was the final book in the series, and honestly, my favourite. Like the earlier books, cheating (or at least blurred boundaries) plays a role, so I knew what to expect going in. But this one really hit me emotionally.
The story follows Lyle and Maria, who have been married for years and have two children. Lyle is in the army, constantly volunteering for deployments, while Maria struggles at home as both a mother and a military wife. Their youngest daughter was seriously ill with leukaemia, and on top of that Maria is overworked, isolated, and overwhelmed. Family drama only adds to her burden — Lyle’s religious parents cut ties after learning about her past abortion, and Maria has no real support system.
The book alternates between the present and the past, showing us how Lyle and Maria met at 18, their breakup over his army career, Maria’s unexpected pregnancy, and her decision to terminate. Lyle supported her at the time, but after that they went separate ways until reuniting in their mid-20s.
In the present, Maria’s breaking point comes when she kisses another man, Sasha. She admits it to Lyle and, in desperation, gives him an ultimatum: either leave the army, or let her date other men. She expected him to finally choose family — but instead, he agrees to an open marriage. For about three years, they both explore other people, though the book doesn’t show any details of that period. Eventually, Maria realises she can’t live with it any longer. At dinner one night, after a tense moment with Lyle’s friend, she tells Lyle she wants to close their marriage. He admits he hasn’t been with anyone for over a year, and they both decide to recommit to each other.
But their problems don’t end there. Therapy sessions bring buried issues to light, especially the devastating truth that Lyle confided in Rebecca — a woman he once slept with — about Maria’s abortion. For years Maria believed Lyle’s sister had betrayed her, and it cost her support and family relationships she desperately needed. This revelation is raw and heartbreaking, and one of my favourite, most powerful scenes in the book.
The story also touches on blackmail, family confrontations, and the couple’s painful miscommunication. One subplot involves a woman from Lyle’s open-marriage past turning up claiming she’s pregnant with his child, which forces more difficult conversations and reveals.
What really stood out for me was how authentic Maria’s pain felt. Her exhaustion, her resentment, her loneliness — it was written so realistically that you can’t help but sympathise. Lyle, meanwhile, is frustrating. His pride, his obsession with the army, and his lack of awareness of how much Maria carried on her own made me want to shake him. But despite his flaws, you can tell he truly loves her, and in the end, he finally chooses her over his career.
The open marriage/cheating aspect didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. To me, it felt less like betrayal and more like a misguided, desperate attempt by two broken people to cope. It wasn’t a love affair — more a symptom of their loneliness and miscommunication.
If I had one critique, it’s that I wish the book had shown more detail about their open marriage period and the aftermath. I also wanted more angst at certain points — especially when Maria finally breaks down and lays everything out. A temporary separation or serious talk of divorce might have added the emotional punch Lyle honestly deserved.
Overall though, this was an incredibly emotional, messy, and heartfelt conclusion to the series. It’s not for readers who hate cheating tropes, but if you look deeper, the real story is about marriage under pressure, pride, miscommunication, and ultimately, love and survival.
To clarify: during the three years of their open marriage, Lyle only slept with one woman — the same woman who later tries to blackmail him — while Maria slept with two men. Maria’s experiences were miserable; she admits she couldn’t enjoy it because all she ever thought about was Lyle. From his side, some readers were shocked that his fling lasted about a year, but the book makes it clear that it wasn’t a continuous relationship. At one point, he even says they only hooked up a couple of times. It wasn’t dinners, dates, or anything emotional — more of a casual friends-with-benefits situation with a woman who worked at a bar. So while it stretched over time, it wasn’t a serious or ongoing affair. In fact, that one connection feels far more impactful than Maria’s two random encounters, making it a bigger emotional gut punch for her.
Knocked down one star only because I wanted more depth in certain areas, but otherwise, this was a brilliant and moving read.
The story follows Lyle and Maria, who have been married for years and have two children. Lyle is in the army, constantly volunteering for deployments, while Maria struggles at home as both a mother and a military wife. Their youngest daughter was seriously ill with leukaemia, and on top of that Maria is overworked, isolated, and overwhelmed. Family drama only adds to her burden — Lyle’s religious parents cut ties after learning about her past abortion, and Maria has no real support system.
The book alternates between the present and the past, showing us how Lyle and Maria met at 18, their breakup over his army career, Maria’s unexpected pregnancy, and her decision to terminate. Lyle supported her at the time, but after that they went separate ways until reuniting in their mid-20s.
In the present, Maria’s breaking point comes when she kisses another man, Sasha. She admits it to Lyle and, in desperation, gives him an ultimatum: either leave the army, or let her date other men. She expected him to finally choose family — but instead, he agrees to an open marriage. For about three years, they both explore other people, though the book doesn’t show any details of that period. Eventually, Maria realises she can’t live with it any longer. At dinner one night, after a tense moment with Lyle’s friend, she tells Lyle she wants to close their marriage. He admits he hasn’t been with anyone for over a year, and they both decide to recommit to each other.
But their problems don’t end there. Therapy sessions bring buried issues to light, especially the devastating truth that Lyle confided in Rebecca — a woman he once slept with — about Maria’s abortion. For years Maria believed Lyle’s sister had betrayed her, and it cost her support and family relationships she desperately needed. This revelation is raw and heartbreaking, and one of my favourite, most powerful scenes in the book.
The story also touches on blackmail, family confrontations, and the couple’s painful miscommunication. One subplot involves a woman from Lyle’s open-marriage past turning up claiming she’s pregnant with his child, which forces more difficult conversations and reveals.
What really stood out for me was how authentic Maria’s pain felt. Her exhaustion, her resentment, her loneliness — it was written so realistically that you can’t help but sympathise. Lyle, meanwhile, is frustrating. His pride, his obsession with the army, and his lack of awareness of how much Maria carried on her own made me want to shake him. But despite his flaws, you can tell he truly loves her, and in the end, he finally chooses her over his career.
The open marriage/cheating aspect didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. To me, it felt less like betrayal and more like a misguided, desperate attempt by two broken people to cope. It wasn’t a love affair — more a symptom of their loneliness and miscommunication.
If I had one critique, it’s that I wish the book had shown more detail about their open marriage period and the aftermath. I also wanted more angst at certain points — especially when Maria finally breaks down and lays everything out. A temporary separation or serious talk of divorce might have added the emotional punch Lyle honestly deserved.
Overall though, this was an incredibly emotional, messy, and heartfelt conclusion to the series. It’s not for readers who hate cheating tropes, but if you look deeper, the real story is about marriage under pressure, pride, miscommunication, and ultimately, love and survival.
To clarify: during the three years of their open marriage, Lyle only slept with one woman — the same woman who later tries to blackmail him — while Maria slept with two men. Maria’s experiences were miserable; she admits she couldn’t enjoy it because all she ever thought about was Lyle. From his side, some readers were shocked that his fling lasted about a year, but the book makes it clear that it wasn’t a continuous relationship. At one point, he even says they only hooked up a couple of times. It wasn’t dinners, dates, or anything emotional — more of a casual friends-with-benefits situation with a woman who worked at a bar. So while it stretched over time, it wasn’t a serious or ongoing affair. In fact, that one connection feels far more impactful than Maria’s two random encounters, making it a bigger emotional gut punch for her.
Knocked down one star only because I wanted more depth in certain areas, but otherwise, this was a brilliant and moving read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
Cheating = yes, they had an open marriage, BUT the H violated the rules of that agreement but being in an exclusive situation with the OW. This violation makes it cheating for me.
Grovel = H needs to realize that his absence in the marriage has adversely affected his wife and kids. H also protected a lie for years that led to the h being ostracized by the in-laws and her own father. H starts therapy, helps get the h into therapy and marriage counseling.
OW drama = situationship OW tried to blackmail the H. Lie OW was allowed to hang around for years. Comeuppance? S-OW gets taken down by the h and H's sister then run out of town. L-OW gets cut out of the H and h lives.
Good view into a marriage that experimented with the open marriage concept and the breakdown of communication.
Grovel = H needs to realize that his absence in the marriage has adversely affected his wife and kids. H also protected a lie for years that led to the h being ostracized by the in-laws and her own father. H starts therapy, helps get the h into therapy and marriage counseling.
OW drama = situationship OW tried to blackmail the H. Lie OW was allowed to hang around for years. Comeuppance? S-OW gets taken down by the h and H's sister then run out of town. L-OW gets cut out of the H and h lives.
Good view into a marriage that experimented with the open marriage concept and the breakdown of communication.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2025
Second chance romance with a marriage in trouble.
The cheating isn’t really cheating as it’s an open marriage turned bad.
The issues that couples face are not related to the cheating as they both did and agreed to it.
It’s secrets, untold truths, miscommunication and family pressure on top of that the Covid happened, a very sick child and a blackmailing OW!
It’s family drama at its finest. A lot of therapy is needed !!
I enjoyed the story and I could relate to the mental pressure and stress that being a mum of 4 and an army wife.
The FMC was very relatable and the MMC wasn’t the bad person but they were both victims of their circumstances and judgmental people!
The cheating isn’t really cheating as it’s an open marriage turned bad.
The issues that couples face are not related to the cheating as they both did and agreed to it.
It’s secrets, untold truths, miscommunication and family pressure on top of that the Covid happened, a very sick child and a blackmailing OW!
It’s family drama at its finest. A lot of therapy is needed !!
I enjoyed the story and I could relate to the mental pressure and stress that being a mum of 4 and an army wife.
The FMC was very relatable and the MMC wasn’t the bad person but they were both victims of their circumstances and judgmental people!
October 4, 2025
I really enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster, but I just couldn’t connect with the male lead. He didn’t feel like he deserved everything the main character did to save the relationship — or her forgiveness, honestly. While she goes to therapy and puts in real work to grow and heal, he just kind of acknowledges his mistakes and acts on them in a superficial way, without showing any real depth or genuine remorse. Sure, the book gives us a happy ending, but seriously, how much pain and humiliation is a woman supposed to go through to get there? I had fun reading it, but it definitely left a bitter aftertaste.
October 1, 2025
The story line is common in the military
All.accept for.open marriages ,conduct unbecoming an officer, or a non commissioned officer and if the problem takes away from ones duty, the soldier will be written up and careers were ruined for.far less . Either way that soldier and his wife would have the attention of the community the live in . Word gets around and wives talk . One of the best channels of.communication in existence
All.accept for.open marriages ,conduct unbecoming an officer, or a non commissioned officer and if the problem takes away from ones duty, the soldier will be written up and careers were ruined for.far less . Either way that soldier and his wife would have the attention of the community the live in . Word gets around and wives talk . One of the best channels of.communication in existence
October 10, 2025
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single likable character in this book. Both leads are selfish, bad communicators, self-destructive, immature, etc. I guess it’s good they stayed together to spare the rest of the world from their awfulness. I didn’t like how the abortion topic was handled either.
2 stars because it was entertaining enough for me to finish it, but I’m not glad I read it.
2 stars because it was entertaining enough for me to finish it, but I’m not glad I read it.
October 29, 2025
Read the Infidelity series.
Have to say each book had it's own infidelities.
But book 5 definitely was an unexpected journey for a married couple that loves each other. Twist and turns that led them astray. When clearly neither really wanted to from the start.
They held together in the end. And see each other's struggles and strengths.
An eye opening story.
Good ending for TB Violet series.
Have to say each book had it's own infidelities.
But book 5 definitely was an unexpected journey for a married couple that loves each other. Twist and turns that led them astray. When clearly neither really wanted to from the start.
They held together in the end. And see each other's struggles and strengths.
An eye opening story.
Good ending for TB Violet series.
November 1, 2025
DNF
I am sorry. I am a fan of the authors other books. They are re reads for me. There were parts of this book that were too political. It could have been dealt with differently. I want to escape when I read. We all have political opinions and not everyone's is the same but I don't want to read about them in a book that is in the romance genre.
I am sorry. I am a fan of the authors other books. They are re reads for me. There were parts of this book that were too political. It could have been dealt with differently. I want to escape when I read. We all have political opinions and not everyone's is the same but I don't want to read about them in a book that is in the romance genre.
September 29, 2025
I don’t like politics in my books
I realize these are fiction but when authors decide to criticize real politicians that’s where I draw the line. Saying something along the line “hey even rapists can be president” not cool!
I realize these are fiction but when authors decide to criticize real politicians that’s where I draw the line. Saying something along the line “hey even rapists can be president” not cool!
October 8, 2025
This one was tons better than Absolution but still a bit forced. I mean come on he just agrees to open marriage and he stays friends the Bethany or whatever woman. Then he barely had to apologize for all that. Whatever
October 29, 2025
a bit different as the woman here proposed the open marriage arrangement but dear God the man was a complete loser, stupid, incompetent, in his own world jerk. one of the least likeable characters
October 26, 2025
Its a book about a couple that decide to open their marriage instead of actually talking, which while unrealistic gave some pretty good drama.
My favorite part has to be where the father beats his own son when he thinks he's cheating. (he's not)
I also liked how the abortion was a choice. Whenever a topic like abortion is introduced into a story, it's usually a necessity because of rape.
Good ending.
My favorite part has to be where the father beats his own son when he thinks he's cheating. (he's not)
I also liked how the abortion was a choice. Whenever a topic like abortion is introduced into a story, it's usually a necessity because of rape.
Good ending.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews