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A Secret to Keep
Keeping secrets is a horrible way to live. Sloane Davis should know. She’s kept her son a secret from his father for almost a year. Now, her worst nightmare is coming true. Her ex is re-entering her professional life in the midst of the biggest project of her career. She's about to come face to face with the only man she’s ever loved - her son’s father. Gates McCall is a brash man. He hasn’t always been this way, but when Sloane walked out on him, something inside him broke. When his company's newest acquisition brings the two of them together once more, little does he know seeing her will bring back a flood of memories, feelings, and an unexpected surprise.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2015
40 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Railyn Stone
7 books114 followersRailyn Stone is a contemporary romance author, whose work includes The Christmas Tree Guy, A Secret to Keep, Restored Hearts, Lest We Aren't Forgiven and Love and Loopholes. She likes to write about characters that will make you love them, hate them and fall in love with them all over again
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
dnf
December 1, 2016
DNF 30%
I don't mind stories where the mother keeps the baby a secret from the father for a short time, if it's for a good reason. Sloan didn't have a good reason at all. She's just an immature asshole that not only hid her pregnancy from the father for no good reason, she lied and manipulated the situation so he wouldn't find out about their kid even after they ended up working together again. I hated everything about her stupid ass. Figured I better quit while I'm ahead.
May 25, 2015
I received this arc book from net galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
I have realized that how you feel about characters in a book can influence your enjoyment in reading that book and I must admit I did not like Sloane at all. First and foremost is the fact of her keeping her child a secret from his father, Gates. This is not because he was a serial killer or any other kind of criminal, but because of assumptions she
made on what kind of father he'd be. Who does that? Yes, he was a workaholic who had a cold domineering father, is that grounds for depriving him of an opportunity to be a father? Hardly!! At no point did she redeem herself in the book, I found her to be selfish, self centered and whiny, not to mention a huge liar. The whole issue of "should I tell?" went on and on, did she really think she could keep the secret forever? And if she told, would it be because it was the right thing to do or because she thought it would be found out.
I think realistically the future of Gates and Sloane relationship is very unlikely. I am all for second chances for a relationship, have read many enjoyable books that explored that, but this wasn't her leaving the cap off the toothpaste one time too many. She never told him about his son and he missed out on moments he will never have. I know how annoyed I felt when she apologized over and over, I am pretty sure that would get old soon. And then he starts with the apologies. I wasn't a huge fan of Gates, he seemed to throw his money around everywhere and he was all furious and a bit vindictive one minute, then it's like he no longer resents what she has done and all is okay.
Now there were some hot sexy moments that were quite enjoyable to read, I didn't mind that at all, even if the dialog was rather sappy. I did also find some other parts to be a bit over descriptive.
Perhaps this just wasn't the book for me. I found it dragged and was repetitive and I had zero interest in finishing it although I did. This book could maybe appeal more to someone who devours romance novels but it just didn't work for me.
I have realized that how you feel about characters in a book can influence your enjoyment in reading that book and I must admit I did not like Sloane at all. First and foremost is the fact of her keeping her child a secret from his father, Gates. This is not because he was a serial killer or any other kind of criminal, but because of assumptions she
made on what kind of father he'd be. Who does that? Yes, he was a workaholic who had a cold domineering father, is that grounds for depriving him of an opportunity to be a father? Hardly!! At no point did she redeem herself in the book, I found her to be selfish, self centered and whiny, not to mention a huge liar. The whole issue of "should I tell?" went on and on, did she really think she could keep the secret forever? And if she told, would it be because it was the right thing to do or because she thought it would be found out.
I think realistically the future of Gates and Sloane relationship is very unlikely. I am all for second chances for a relationship, have read many enjoyable books that explored that, but this wasn't her leaving the cap off the toothpaste one time too many. She never told him about his son and he missed out on moments he will never have. I know how annoyed I felt when she apologized over and over, I am pretty sure that would get old soon. And then he starts with the apologies. I wasn't a huge fan of Gates, he seemed to throw his money around everywhere and he was all furious and a bit vindictive one minute, then it's like he no longer resents what she has done and all is okay.
Now there were some hot sexy moments that were quite enjoyable to read, I didn't mind that at all, even if the dialog was rather sappy. I did also find some other parts to be a bit over descriptive.
Perhaps this just wasn't the book for me. I found it dragged and was repetitive and I had zero interest in finishing it although I did. This book could maybe appeal more to someone who devours romance novels but it just didn't work for me.
December 28, 2015
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an hones review
OH WOW YEAH I SAW EVERYTHING COMING BUT WOW YEAH THIS BOOK IS LOVE YES OMG THIS IS SO RIGHT EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS FRUSTRATING BUT ENDED BEAUTIFULLY BOOK LIKE RIGHT FREAKING NOW YES YES
And yes to starting new traditions *wink*
YOU CAN READ MY FULL REVIEW AT NERDYCHAMPAGNE
OVERALL, A Secret To Keep is such a magnificent, emotional, sweet read. There’s the right amount of friendship, family, and romance. It’s just perfect in that way. I have written out everything I can say (complains and love and all that jazz) and I can definitely say that this is one great of a flawed book. The characters were stereotypical but alive. Love was always there in one way or another and this is a wonderful tale on how love can be. Also, you shouldn’t make decisions that are not for you. And really, if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. This is that kind of book that’ll make you sigh after you read it and you’re just oozing with love and sweetness, and perfection through the mistakes. The characters may be overly annoying that edges to frustrating but they are lovable. If you really connect with Sloane and Gates, this is one hell of an emotional roller coaster. I can tell you that because I was that deep with this book. A Secret To Keep is well-written, and is a definite must-read. If you’re a sucker for romance, you should really try this. Because you know, love is complicated and it makes you lose your mind. Hmm. Yup. That pretty much explains this whole book. And again, whatever’s meant to be will work out eventually.<3
OH WOW YEAH I SAW EVERYTHING COMING BUT WOW YEAH THIS BOOK IS LOVE YES OMG THIS IS SO RIGHT EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS FRUSTRATING BUT ENDED BEAUTIFULLY BOOK LIKE RIGHT FREAKING NOW YES YES
And yes to starting new traditions *wink*
YOU CAN READ MY FULL REVIEW AT NERDYCHAMPAGNE
OVERALL, A Secret To Keep is such a magnificent, emotional, sweet read. There’s the right amount of friendship, family, and romance. It’s just perfect in that way. I have written out everything I can say (complains and love and all that jazz) and I can definitely say that this is one great of a flawed book. The characters were stereotypical but alive. Love was always there in one way or another and this is a wonderful tale on how love can be. Also, you shouldn’t make decisions that are not for you. And really, if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. This is that kind of book that’ll make you sigh after you read it and you’re just oozing with love and sweetness, and perfection through the mistakes. The characters may be overly annoying that edges to frustrating but they are lovable. If you really connect with Sloane and Gates, this is one hell of an emotional roller coaster. I can tell you that because I was that deep with this book. A Secret To Keep is well-written, and is a definite must-read. If you’re a sucker for romance, you should really try this. Because you know, love is complicated and it makes you lose your mind. Hmm. Yup. That pretty much explains this whole book. And again, whatever’s meant to be will work out eventually.<3
June 19, 2015
Railyn definitely reels the reader in with a hook of a title and plot line. I jumped at the opportunity to review this novel through Loving The Book. I love the friends of the main characters in this novel, and their down to earth appeal and advice to Sloane and Gates, who both desperately need some wisdom in their lives. I also appreciate the interracial couple...with so much hate in the world, I LOVE a story that shows unity among individuals no matter the skin color or background.
I do say, as a Jesus follower, I wish there were spiritual elements, though, Railyn does not profess to be a Christian Author. Her characters, Sloane and Gates, were intimately involved before marriage, which, God can totally redeem all situations, circumstances etc, if she'd allow. Both main characters have internal struggles that are very real, and I applaud Railyn for being so honest with her characters thoughts/feelings. That whole "I do what I don't wanna do" thing discussed in the Bible is definitely going on in this book, but without a God factor. The pacing was a bit too slow, however, I really did want to know how the book ended, so Railyn kept me hanging in there! :)
I give this book 3 stars.
I do say, as a Jesus follower, I wish there were spiritual elements, though, Railyn does not profess to be a Christian Author. Her characters, Sloane and Gates, were intimately involved before marriage, which, God can totally redeem all situations, circumstances etc, if she'd allow. Both main characters have internal struggles that are very real, and I applaud Railyn for being so honest with her characters thoughts/feelings. That whole "I do what I don't wanna do" thing discussed in the Bible is definitely going on in this book, but without a God factor. The pacing was a bit too slow, however, I really did want to know how the book ended, so Railyn kept me hanging in there! :)
I give this book 3 stars.
May 23, 2015
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am going to be honest and say that A Secret to Keep was kind of a tough read. I really liked the premise of the story; but it felt like Sloane’s “secret” was just dragged on and on.
I spent most of the time reading this book really annoyed with Sloane. Her actions…especially all of the lies to cover up her secret were irritating. Despite a few frustrating moments; I really liked Gates a lot. It was easy to understand the struggles and pulls that he felt in his life. I, also, loved the other characters – Chase, Liyah and, even, Evan showed what it is like to have true friends that will stick by your side through anything.
Once the secret was finally revealed, though; I really started to enjoy the book and was glad that I kept reading.
I am going to be honest and say that A Secret to Keep was kind of a tough read. I really liked the premise of the story; but it felt like Sloane’s “secret” was just dragged on and on.
I spent most of the time reading this book really annoyed with Sloane. Her actions…especially all of the lies to cover up her secret were irritating. Despite a few frustrating moments; I really liked Gates a lot. It was easy to understand the struggles and pulls that he felt in his life. I, also, loved the other characters – Chase, Liyah and, even, Evan showed what it is like to have true friends that will stick by your side through anything.
Once the secret was finally revealed, though; I really started to enjoy the book and was glad that I kept reading.
June 5, 2015
This book....This story...LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! From beginning to end this book had me. I laughed and cried and every emotion came out.
Sloane does what she thinks is right with the information she has. She's trying to do what's best for her son and herself.
Gates, where do I start, he's yummy of course, but man I fell for him, in so many ways.
This book is not smut by any means, it's sexy, and sweet and everything in between.
Great HEA. So glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one <3
5 stars from this smut lover for this amazing book!
Sloane does what she thinks is right with the information she has. She's trying to do what's best for her son and herself.
Gates, where do I start, he's yummy of course, but man I fell for him, in so many ways.
This book is not smut by any means, it's sexy, and sweet and everything in between.
Great HEA. So glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one <3
5 stars from this smut lover for this amazing book!
December 5, 2015
Loved it! Gates and Sloane used to be engaged but Gates, as CEO kept, putting his business life ahead of his love life. So Sloane walked away. Now a year later, they are face to face. Gates is the power behind building a new hospital that holds the key to Sloane's financial future. Will he okay the deal or kill it when he discovers the secret Sloane has been hiding since she left?
May 31, 2015
I absolutely love the story of Sloane and Gates. Oh boy did I get the feels while reading his book.
February 8, 2019
I really enjoyed this book!! It was a true joy to read. It was a feel-good romance!
May 22, 2015
This is the second book by author Railyn Stone. And I couldn't wait to get my grubby little hands on her next book, after reading her debut novel The Christmas Tree Guy. I was so happy to have a chance to review this book and I loved A Secret to Keep just as much. Mrs. Stone definitely has a fan in me.
I have to say I have a love/hate or not really hate, but extreme dislike relationship with Sloan. She was definitely a character that was strong, independent, fierce and protective. She obviously cared very much for her friends and her aunt. And would do anything for her baby boy. But there were other times I wanted to reach in the book and shake her, because she was being so stubborn. But by the end of the book I was liking her again.
I loved Gates character. He's tall, dark and sexy. Doesn't hurt either that he runs his own business. I just loved everything about him. Even when I probably shouldn't have and he was being a semi-jerk. Though I wouldn't have expected him to act any differently after finding out about his son.
This book touched a special place with me by the end of it. I went through something similar with one of my children, that Sloan and Gates go through with their son Brayden. It made the book and characters feel more relatable, at least to me. This book made me laugh and made me teary-eyed. There was second chances, finding each other again. And no book would be complete without a little bit of drama. I also loved the secondary characters in this book, they played a huge part in Sloan and Gates life's. They showed they were loyal and you don't have to be related by blood to be family.
I'm giving A Secret to Keep 4.5 Stars Out of 5 and would definitely recommend it!!!!
***I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher for my honest review***
I have to say I have a love/hate or not really hate, but extreme dislike relationship with Sloan. She was definitely a character that was strong, independent, fierce and protective. She obviously cared very much for her friends and her aunt. And would do anything for her baby boy. But there were other times I wanted to reach in the book and shake her, because she was being so stubborn. But by the end of the book I was liking her again.
I loved Gates character. He's tall, dark and sexy. Doesn't hurt either that he runs his own business. I just loved everything about him. Even when I probably shouldn't have and he was being a semi-jerk. Though I wouldn't have expected him to act any differently after finding out about his son.
This book touched a special place with me by the end of it. I went through something similar with one of my children, that Sloan and Gates go through with their son Brayden. It made the book and characters feel more relatable, at least to me. This book made me laugh and made me teary-eyed. There was second chances, finding each other again. And no book would be complete without a little bit of drama. I also loved the secondary characters in this book, they played a huge part in Sloan and Gates life's. They showed they were loyal and you don't have to be related by blood to be family.
I'm giving A Secret to Keep 4.5 Stars Out of 5 and would definitely recommend it!!!!
***I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher for my honest review***
June 21, 2015
A Secret to Keep has all the makings of a good book with a bunch of drama.
Sloane has a secret and it is so big that when Gates walks back into her life she fears the worse will happen.
She stresses so much I swear she was going to have a stroke. She no way, no how wants Gates to find out what her secret it.
See Sloane and Gates were engaged at one time. He was loving, caring and gave all his attention to Sloane. Then when Gates went to take over the family business he turned into his father. It was all work, work, work. No time for a personal life. Well there was but Gates's father didn't want Sloane in the picture. He done his best to keep them two apart. His ploy played out so well too.
Sloane didn't feel loved anymore. She packed up and walked away from Gates, breaking both their hearts.
Gates and Sloane both fight their feelings for one another. They act like they hate each other when they are in the same room. Staring at one another, giving one another the stink eye. However....when they are alone with each other the sparks fly and that magnetic pull is so strong they can't stay away from one another.
Through the whole book Sloane worries how Gates would act once he found out what she was hiding. It kind of got boring at that point. Yes I like drama in a book. Hell curse them out, throw things at them. But don't sit there worrying on every other page how the guy is going to act. Sloane did wrong. She should of known that Gates was going to show up in her life again at some point.
All in all this was OK for me. The 4 stars because of the drama. Would I recommend this book? Yes of course. I am not going to tell you how it ends though. Do they make up? Do they keep fighting each other? Does Sloane tell Gates her secret? You have to read it to find all this out.
Sloane has a secret and it is so big that when Gates walks back into her life she fears the worse will happen.
She stresses so much I swear she was going to have a stroke. She no way, no how wants Gates to find out what her secret it.
See Sloane and Gates were engaged at one time. He was loving, caring and gave all his attention to Sloane. Then when Gates went to take over the family business he turned into his father. It was all work, work, work. No time for a personal life. Well there was but Gates's father didn't want Sloane in the picture. He done his best to keep them two apart. His ploy played out so well too.
Sloane didn't feel loved anymore. She packed up and walked away from Gates, breaking both their hearts.
Gates and Sloane both fight their feelings for one another. They act like they hate each other when they are in the same room. Staring at one another, giving one another the stink eye. However....when they are alone with each other the sparks fly and that magnetic pull is so strong they can't stay away from one another.
Through the whole book Sloane worries how Gates would act once he found out what she was hiding. It kind of got boring at that point. Yes I like drama in a book. Hell curse them out, throw things at them. But don't sit there worrying on every other page how the guy is going to act. Sloane did wrong. She should of known that Gates was going to show up in her life again at some point.
All in all this was OK for me. The 4 stars because of the drama. Would I recommend this book? Yes of course. I am not going to tell you how it ends though. Do they make up? Do they keep fighting each other? Does Sloane tell Gates her secret? You have to read it to find all this out.
June 8, 2015
A Secret to Keep by Railyn Stone was a novel that left me in tears. I felt the passion that Stone wrote with in my bones. This was my first novel from her, and I know that I am going to love future novels from her.
The heroine, Sloane, was a character that was thriving. At first, she was hard to connect with because I just didn’t agree with her decisions. However, as the book went on, I started to respect her more and more as a mother and a person. Sometimes in life you have to do what you feel is best, and at the time it may seem right, when others disagree. She is one of those character that you want to reach in and shake, but isn’t that the beauty of a character? The ones that make you feel like you know the personally, and want to physically hurt to knock some sense into. (Ha-ha!) But seriously, Sloane deep down is a beautiful woman, inside and out, that loves the people in her life to no end.
My favorite character in the book was Gates. In all honesty, at the beginning I didn’t like him. He seemed smug and rude, but when you started to see things in his POV you grow to love him. As a mother, the tears poured from my eyes every time Gates and his son Brayden connected. Your heart aches for him at the loss of almost a year with his son, but seeing and feeling him fall in love with him was a feeling that left your heart full and warm. You could see that Gates wanted to be better, he wanted to be a dad, and he wanted to be the one for Sloane. Everyone struggles with insecurities and I think in this novel, you see it from all sides.
A Secret to Keep is full of love, loss, sexual tension, sadness, and forgiveness. You are happy, you are angry, you are sad, and then you are in love. Give this author and this novel a chance. I feel that the characters, and the plot, are relatable and real. Read it and open your heart and mind to the world of Sloane and Gates.
The heroine, Sloane, was a character that was thriving. At first, she was hard to connect with because I just didn’t agree with her decisions. However, as the book went on, I started to respect her more and more as a mother and a person. Sometimes in life you have to do what you feel is best, and at the time it may seem right, when others disagree. She is one of those character that you want to reach in and shake, but isn’t that the beauty of a character? The ones that make you feel like you know the personally, and want to physically hurt to knock some sense into. (Ha-ha!) But seriously, Sloane deep down is a beautiful woman, inside and out, that loves the people in her life to no end.
My favorite character in the book was Gates. In all honesty, at the beginning I didn’t like him. He seemed smug and rude, but when you started to see things in his POV you grow to love him. As a mother, the tears poured from my eyes every time Gates and his son Brayden connected. Your heart aches for him at the loss of almost a year with his son, but seeing and feeling him fall in love with him was a feeling that left your heart full and warm. You could see that Gates wanted to be better, he wanted to be a dad, and he wanted to be the one for Sloane. Everyone struggles with insecurities and I think in this novel, you see it from all sides.
A Secret to Keep is full of love, loss, sexual tension, sadness, and forgiveness. You are happy, you are angry, you are sad, and then you are in love. Give this author and this novel a chance. I feel that the characters, and the plot, are relatable and real. Read it and open your heart and mind to the world of Sloane and Gates.
May 27, 2015
(This review is based on ARC e-book generously provided from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.)
Sometimes it just takes being in the mood for a particular storyline in order to fully appreciate it. Apparently that was the case for me while reading A Secret to Keep by Ms. Stone, as I did enjoy this 334 page predictable, mildly angst-filled romance. Though the book cover and synopsis pretty much reveals the story, I want to point out there are times when it is perfectly fine to get exactly what you are expecting. The author’s writing style seemed to flow effortlessly, and she did a good job with character development and keeping the storyline focused. It did seem to take a considerable amount of time for the hero to discover he was a father (40% into the book) and even longer for the hero/heroine to start to become a couple (70%). The back and forth struggle of the heroine to reveal the truth then the same angst on the hero’s side of things did start to get tiresome. The good news is the story was not rushed, and the HEA ending was wonderfully sweet and very romantic.
Overall, if you are looking for a romance that is not dark, twisted, and only has a couple of steamy scenes to cleanse your reading palate, you might want to consider A Secret to Keep. It worked for me.
Sometimes it just takes being in the mood for a particular storyline in order to fully appreciate it. Apparently that was the case for me while reading A Secret to Keep by Ms. Stone, as I did enjoy this 334 page predictable, mildly angst-filled romance. Though the book cover and synopsis pretty much reveals the story, I want to point out there are times when it is perfectly fine to get exactly what you are expecting. The author’s writing style seemed to flow effortlessly, and she did a good job with character development and keeping the storyline focused. It did seem to take a considerable amount of time for the hero to discover he was a father (40% into the book) and even longer for the hero/heroine to start to become a couple (70%). The back and forth struggle of the heroine to reveal the truth then the same angst on the hero’s side of things did start to get tiresome. The good news is the story was not rushed, and the HEA ending was wonderfully sweet and very romantic.
Overall, if you are looking for a romance that is not dark, twisted, and only has a couple of steamy scenes to cleanse your reading palate, you might want to consider A Secret to Keep. It worked for me.
June 11, 2015
5 Stars is,just aren't enough!!
Railyn has once again BLOWN me away with her writing!!! This book caught my interest from the very first page turn!! First of all the storyline is fantastic! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and then cried some more!! She very easily sweeps you into a world that to most would seem as make-believe and makes it believable. Sloane and Gates are faced with many challenges, some would see as insurmountable, and through them find their true "north" with a lot of love and faith. Railyn has a true knack for writing into her stories some of the most phenomenal secondary characters too. It would be interesting to learn of their life's journeys and how they got to become the strong people that they are in the story.
Railyn you are a beautiful woman of God and have a sweet spirit..... thank you for sharing your stories with us!!! Her books are a most read.
Railyn has once again BLOWN me away with her writing!!! This book caught my interest from the very first page turn!! First of all the storyline is fantastic! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and then cried some more!! She very easily sweeps you into a world that to most would seem as make-believe and makes it believable. Sloane and Gates are faced with many challenges, some would see as insurmountable, and through them find their true "north" with a lot of love and faith. Railyn has a true knack for writing into her stories some of the most phenomenal secondary characters too. It would be interesting to learn of their life's journeys and how they got to become the strong people that they are in the story.
Railyn you are a beautiful woman of God and have a sweet spirit..... thank you for sharing your stories with us!!! Her books are a most read.
May 23, 2015
First, I would like to thank NetGalley, Railyn Stone and 5 Prince Publishing for providing me a copy of this book so I could bring you this review.
A Secret to Keep by Railyn Stone was filled with secrets, lies, confrontations, emotions, heartache, revelations, sexual tension, romance, passion, change, and forgiveness. This book will pull on your heart strings, make you smile, and even shed some tears (at least I did).
Out of all the characters in the book Victor was the one I despised. He was a cold-hearted, mean, insensitive man! How dare he say what he said to Slone. Had I been in the same position I would have done the same thing.
Slone had such a great support system in Lilah, Chase and Auntie Avery. No matter what life threw at her she could always count on them.
Railyn’s dedications and acknowledgements in the book were very heartfelt and sweet to read
A Secret to Keep by Railyn Stone was filled with secrets, lies, confrontations, emotions, heartache, revelations, sexual tension, romance, passion, change, and forgiveness. This book will pull on your heart strings, make you smile, and even shed some tears (at least I did).
Out of all the characters in the book Victor was the one I despised. He was a cold-hearted, mean, insensitive man! How dare he say what he said to Slone. Had I been in the same position I would have done the same thing.
Slone had such a great support system in Lilah, Chase and Auntie Avery. No matter what life threw at her she could always count on them.
Railyn’s dedications and acknowledgements in the book were very heartfelt and sweet to read
June 8, 2015
Good read
A few people have complained about the author writing part of this book in the past,that the book is slow in the beginning....well..a good story teller has to explain a story since there were no prequels...we are being given a reason why the main character kept her son a secret from the dad....granted she came across selfish and scared...that's her story..is this book worth the price...yes...did move a little slow at times...yes..but all the characters made this a great story...there are a lot of quick stories out there...especially billionaires this and that...This is a good story
A few people have complained about the author writing part of this book in the past,that the book is slow in the beginning....well..a good story teller has to explain a story since there were no prequels...we are being given a reason why the main character kept her son a secret from the dad....granted she came across selfish and scared...that's her story..is this book worth the price...yes...did move a little slow at times...yes..but all the characters made this a great story...there are a lot of quick stories out there...especially billionaires this and that...This is a good story
December 1, 2015
Sloane is a strong, determined woman that just wants a good life for her little boy. Gates is, of course, a sexy multi-millionaire that has decided work is more important and less heartbreaking.
A Secret To Keep was a sweet read. I completely understood why Sloane did what she did and I don't blame her one bit! Sloane and Gates had an undeniable connection and I'm glad that the book ended the way it did.
This book contains drama, secrets, some sexy time, second chance romance, an interracial couple, and a HEA.
A Secret To Keep was a sweet read. I completely understood why Sloane did what she did and I don't blame her one bit! Sloane and Gates had an undeniable connection and I'm glad that the book ended the way it did.
This book contains drama, secrets, some sexy time, second chance romance, an interracial couple, and a HEA.
June 21, 2015
Enjoyed this book is was a good secret book
Loved how you got to know the characters and where they come from. It is always good when you have family and friends that you can always depend on to help you in lives tough situations. I was happy they finally found their way back to each other. I think she prematurely, but sometimes in real life that is what we do we act before thinking.
Loved how you got to know the characters and where they come from. It is always good when you have family and friends that you can always depend on to help you in lives tough situations. I was happy they finally found their way back to each other. I think she prematurely, but sometimes in real life that is what we do we act before thinking.
September 1, 2015
This book was so lovely, I can't believe I just found to read now. I felt butterfly on my belly most time.
May 11, 2016
I *really* wanted to like this story, as I love the secret baby trope but the heroine was UNBEARABLE. So I dnfed @ 27 %.
May 2, 2022
So the secret baby trope (which I’m currently binging a little) is super difficult to do well. And here it wasn’t. I mean I really just… couldn’t. In one paragraph she’s claiming her reason for not telling him was that she was worried about what kind of father he would be and what life her son would have but then in the next she admits she knows he would be a great father.
How can she love him and want to have a family with him one day and then as soon as she’s pregnant have no idea about his character??? It was just too far fetched.
It was obviously just her being selfish and scared of something however the measly explanation about the end of their relationship gave no clear insight into what it actually was that she was scared of nor what really led her to leave. Consequently it was impossible not to just resent her immaturity and selfishness. I couldn’t get in to their romance when she didn’t seem to care about their son at all and was wishy-washy about him.
I literally just skimmed to find out where she tells him and it’s more than halfway through the book and only after he confronts her thinking she cheated and it’s not his.
I never write truly negative reviews but this was just utter shit
How can she love him and want to have a family with him one day and then as soon as she’s pregnant have no idea about his character??? It was just too far fetched.
It was obviously just her being selfish and scared of something however the measly explanation about the end of their relationship gave no clear insight into what it actually was that she was scared of nor what really led her to leave. Consequently it was impossible not to just resent her immaturity and selfishness. I couldn’t get in to their romance when she didn’t seem to care about their son at all and was wishy-washy about him.
I literally just skimmed to find out where she tells him and it’s more than halfway through the book and only after he confronts her thinking she cheated and it’s not his.
I never write truly negative reviews but this was just utter shit
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2017
Don't even bother with this book. Sloane is by far the worst female lead in a romance that I've ever read. Didn't even read the book but scanned to the end to see what happened.
February 4, 2019
Some Secrets are not meant to be kept
Loved the ending. The heroine just got on my last nerve though not a big fan of wishy washy decisions or people.
Loved the ending. The heroine just got on my last nerve though not a big fan of wishy washy decisions or people.
October 12, 2022
Wow this book with snatch you right in right from the start! I wasn't too sure if I would be able to get into but I was hooked from the start! Great read and highly recommended!
November 18, 2015
Book – A Secret to Keep
Author – Railyn Stone
Star rating - ★★★☆☆
Plot – gives too much away, far too soon.
Characters – I find Sloane to be a wreck and Gates as the Alpha male with a soft side
Movie Potential - ★★★☆☆
Ease of reading – some sticky sentences that don't gel properly.
Cover – a bit bland, but fits the story
Suitable Title - Yes
Would I read it again – Currently Undecided
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
This review contains spoilers, because it's impossible to explain how this book made me feel, without them.
~
The first thing I have to say is that this book made me angry. Like, homicidal angry. I also have a few things to declare, before I go into my review:
1 – Railyn Stone is a new-to-me author
2 – If I hadn't agreed to review this book for the blog tour, it would have been a DNF by Chapter 5
3 – The more I read of the book, the more I gain an appreciation – if not quite an understanding – of the story
Because I've had such a struggle with the book, it's making reviewing it really hard, so I'm going to try to keep to bullet points and a brief explanation of those points, if I can.
This book sounded so interesting:
“Keeping secrets is a horrible way to live. Sloane Davis should know.
She's kept her son a secret from his father for almost a year.
Now, her worst nightmare is coming true. Her ex is re-entering her professional life in the midst of the biggest project of her career. She's about to come face to face with the only man she's ever loved - her son's father.
Gates McCall is a brash man. He hasn't always been this way, but when Sloane walked out on him, something inside him broke. When his company's newest acquisition brings the two of them together once more, little does he know seeing her will bring back a flood of memories, feelings, and an unexpected surprise.”
The story had so much potential, but the execution of the plot and the personality of the MC 'Sloane' don't show off this great story to the potential it could be.
If this entire book had been in Gates' POV, I could have easily given it a 4 or 5 star rating and a glowing review. Because it's in Sloane's POV and she's made to be a victim, when – to me – she's nothing more than a selfish user, I can't go beyond 3 stars. And that's being generous. For me, Gates' POV and his character save this book from being a train wreck.
The main plot is this → Sloane and Gates were engaged, about a year ago. She left because she didn't get along with Gates' father, Victor, who thought she wasn't good enough, because she wasn't a 'Blue Blood'. When Gates started working more and she found one innocent text from old friend Allie, who Victor did approve of, Sloane's insecurities make her stupid. (Sorry, but it's true) She leaves Gates, without warning, leaving a Dear John letter with his best friend. She doesn't once stop to talk it out with him, to confront him or ask him to stop working so much.
So she leaves.
A year later, Gates shows up at her job and suddenly has control over a project dear to her heart. Whether they get the project or whether a big-rich company gets the job, balances on Gates being happy and convinced. So what does Sloane do? She panics, worrying that he'll look at her and know she's kept his 9-month old son a secret. So although this big project is on the line, she infuriates, accuses and mistreats Gates at every opportunity, blaming it on HIM. As if he's always been at fault.
Then, through a series of ridiculous lies (again, I'm sorry) Sloane gets herself so far from the truth, that her time to tell Gates the truth runs out.
Chaos ensues, hearts are broken, feelings are hurt and lies are exposed.
~
So, apparently my review is too long for Goodreads, so here's a link to the full thing: Full Review: A Secret to Keep
Author – Railyn Stone
Star rating - ★★★☆☆
Plot – gives too much away, far too soon.
Characters – I find Sloane to be a wreck and Gates as the Alpha male with a soft side
Movie Potential - ★★★☆☆
Ease of reading – some sticky sentences that don't gel properly.
Cover – a bit bland, but fits the story
Suitable Title - Yes
Would I read it again – Currently Undecided
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
This review contains spoilers, because it's impossible to explain how this book made me feel, without them.
~
The first thing I have to say is that this book made me angry. Like, homicidal angry. I also have a few things to declare, before I go into my review:
1 – Railyn Stone is a new-to-me author
2 – If I hadn't agreed to review this book for the blog tour, it would have been a DNF by Chapter 5
3 – The more I read of the book, the more I gain an appreciation – if not quite an understanding – of the story
Because I've had such a struggle with the book, it's making reviewing it really hard, so I'm going to try to keep to bullet points and a brief explanation of those points, if I can.
This book sounded so interesting:
“Keeping secrets is a horrible way to live. Sloane Davis should know.
She's kept her son a secret from his father for almost a year.
Now, her worst nightmare is coming true. Her ex is re-entering her professional life in the midst of the biggest project of her career. She's about to come face to face with the only man she's ever loved - her son's father.
Gates McCall is a brash man. He hasn't always been this way, but when Sloane walked out on him, something inside him broke. When his company's newest acquisition brings the two of them together once more, little does he know seeing her will bring back a flood of memories, feelings, and an unexpected surprise.”
The story had so much potential, but the execution of the plot and the personality of the MC 'Sloane' don't show off this great story to the potential it could be.
If this entire book had been in Gates' POV, I could have easily given it a 4 or 5 star rating and a glowing review. Because it's in Sloane's POV and she's made to be a victim, when – to me – she's nothing more than a selfish user, I can't go beyond 3 stars. And that's being generous. For me, Gates' POV and his character save this book from being a train wreck.
The main plot is this → Sloane and Gates were engaged, about a year ago. She left because she didn't get along with Gates' father, Victor, who thought she wasn't good enough, because she wasn't a 'Blue Blood'. When Gates started working more and she found one innocent text from old friend Allie, who Victor did approve of, Sloane's insecurities make her stupid. (Sorry, but it's true) She leaves Gates, without warning, leaving a Dear John letter with his best friend. She doesn't once stop to talk it out with him, to confront him or ask him to stop working so much.
So she leaves.
A year later, Gates shows up at her job and suddenly has control over a project dear to her heart. Whether they get the project or whether a big-rich company gets the job, balances on Gates being happy and convinced. So what does Sloane do? She panics, worrying that he'll look at her and know she's kept his 9-month old son a secret. So although this big project is on the line, she infuriates, accuses and mistreats Gates at every opportunity, blaming it on HIM. As if he's always been at fault.
Then, through a series of ridiculous lies (again, I'm sorry) Sloane gets herself so far from the truth, that her time to tell Gates the truth runs out.
Chaos ensues, hearts are broken, feelings are hurt and lies are exposed.
~
So, apparently my review is too long for Goodreads, so here's a link to the full thing: Full Review: A Secret to Keep
May 2, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Railyn Stone is a new to me author, but with the beautiful cover and blurb for A Secret to Keep, I knew I wanted to read this book. I went into this one with no expectations, and I did enjoy parts of this story. While I liked a lot, there were also some things that didn't work for me. I think that Railyn Stone is a promising author though, and I will look for more from her in the future.
Sloane Davis has been keeping a huge secret from her ex, and she knows that she needs to tell him the truth. Not only does she know she needs to talk to him, but all her friends and family remind her as often as possible. But Sloane had her reasons for doing what she did, and she walked out on her fiance Gates McCall because he wasn't the man she fell in love with anymore. Now that Gates has reentered her life though, she knows that it is time to finally come clean and let him know that they have a son together. But with the awful way they left things, they are both struggling with what being around one another again means. Can Sloane finally let Gates in on her secret and move forward, or will thing end in heartbreak once again?
I both liked and disliked Gates and Sloane. They each had their issues, and they both had their reasons for their actions. While I was annoyed with each of them at different times throughout this story, I did think that they both made mistakes that any of us would make. They were only human, and each of them had their flaws. Though I don't agree at all with Sloane keeping Brayden a secret from Gates, I do understand that she thought that she was doing what was in his best interest. I think that she should have let him know though before she just assumed that she knew how he would act. But I did really like that once the truth came out that they were both able to begin to move forward with their lives and they both did a pretty good job of adjusting to their new circumstances. The one thing that was clear throughout this story though was the fact that their feelings for one another had never gone away. Though they both needed to talk to one another and communicate better, it was easy to see how much they both still cared even if they didn't want to.
Overall, this book was good and I enjoyed it for the most part. I will admit that I think Sloane was a bit ridiculous at times and I didn't like her for much of the first half of this book. She was weak and annoying, and I hated that she would admit she needed to be honest with Gates and then use every excuse in the book not to. I wanted her to be accountable for her actions and be the responsible adult she should have been. I also felt like a lot of the first half of the book sort of went in circles. Gates would show up and Sloane would "attempt" to tell him the truth with a reason each time why she never actually did. Then her friends or family would lecture her and she would get irritated with them for saying the same things over and over.Then she would justify her keeping it a secret all to wind up right back where she started again. This happened on repeat, and it got a little old. The second half of the book things started to change though, and I was glad that I had stuck it out to get there. I think that this was a good story that could have been great, but just suffered a bit with execution. If Sloane wouldn't have been so hard to like at first and the first half of the book wouldn't have been so repetitive, I think that it would have been a much better story. I will give Railyn Stone a shot in the future though, and I think that if you can get past the few issues I mentioned that this might be one worth checking out if you like the secret baby trope.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
Railyn Stone is a new to me author, but with the beautiful cover and blurb for A Secret to Keep, I knew I wanted to read this book. I went into this one with no expectations, and I did enjoy parts of this story. While I liked a lot, there were also some things that didn't work for me. I think that Railyn Stone is a promising author though, and I will look for more from her in the future.
Sloane Davis has been keeping a huge secret from her ex, and she knows that she needs to tell him the truth. Not only does she know she needs to talk to him, but all her friends and family remind her as often as possible. But Sloane had her reasons for doing what she did, and she walked out on her fiance Gates McCall because he wasn't the man she fell in love with anymore. Now that Gates has reentered her life though, she knows that it is time to finally come clean and let him know that they have a son together. But with the awful way they left things, they are both struggling with what being around one another again means. Can Sloane finally let Gates in on her secret and move forward, or will thing end in heartbreak once again?
I both liked and disliked Gates and Sloane. They each had their issues, and they both had their reasons for their actions. While I was annoyed with each of them at different times throughout this story, I did think that they both made mistakes that any of us would make. They were only human, and each of them had their flaws. Though I don't agree at all with Sloane keeping Brayden a secret from Gates, I do understand that she thought that she was doing what was in his best interest. I think that she should have let him know though before she just assumed that she knew how he would act. But I did really like that once the truth came out that they were both able to begin to move forward with their lives and they both did a pretty good job of adjusting to their new circumstances. The one thing that was clear throughout this story though was the fact that their feelings for one another had never gone away. Though they both needed to talk to one another and communicate better, it was easy to see how much they both still cared even if they didn't want to.
Overall, this book was good and I enjoyed it for the most part. I will admit that I think Sloane was a bit ridiculous at times and I didn't like her for much of the first half of this book. She was weak and annoying, and I hated that she would admit she needed to be honest with Gates and then use every excuse in the book not to. I wanted her to be accountable for her actions and be the responsible adult she should have been. I also felt like a lot of the first half of the book sort of went in circles. Gates would show up and Sloane would "attempt" to tell him the truth with a reason each time why she never actually did. Then her friends or family would lecture her and she would get irritated with them for saying the same things over and over.Then she would justify her keeping it a secret all to wind up right back where she started again. This happened on repeat, and it got a little old. The second half of the book things started to change though, and I was glad that I had stuck it out to get there. I think that this was a good story that could have been great, but just suffered a bit with execution. If Sloane wouldn't have been so hard to like at first and the first half of the book wouldn't have been so repetitive, I think that it would have been a much better story. I will give Railyn Stone a shot in the future though, and I think that if you can get past the few issues I mentioned that this might be one worth checking out if you like the secret baby trope.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
May 30, 2015
When I read the premise to this story I was intrigued. I wanted to know their backstory and why she would keep the baby a secret. I wanted to know how they would navigate this deception and move forward. In essence, as a mother who could not think of keeping a secret like this and for that long, I really wanted to get inside Sloane's head to understand her motives and be taken on a journey through their relationship that fostered empathy from me and satisfaction that she did the right thing. Unfortunately, this book fell short of the mark for me.
I assumed the reasons for keeping Dylan a secret would be extreme, but I never really felt a deep connection with Sloane that enabled me to fully sympathise with her. I thought that as a fiance, she would be able to voice her concerns with Gates about why she wanted to run. With the terrible behaviour of, and pressure from his father, I understood why she got cold feet, but what I couldn't understand is why she didn't talk to Gates and fight harder for their relationship. I moved forward, however, but emotionally I kept stepping back farther from Sloane with each new deception. I did understand why she was hesitate to come clean with Gates for the exact reasons that ended up playing out in the story, but the particular lies she told, the way she told them, just irritated me, and in the end, I just didn't believe her reasons for what she did. So many times I was wanting her to be the mature adult, to stand up to what she had done instead of digging her grave further, each time she spun a new story, each time she recklessly dragged her friends into her lies. Each to their own though. I guess if I had personally experienced first hand what Sloane had, then maybe my view would be different but I don't think so.
As for Gates, I did sympathise with him more than I did with Sloane, apart from one section of the book, and I felt that he was more relateable to me than Sloane. He didn't totally grab me however, and this disappointed me. He had his own baggage but when we find out his headspace just before Sloane left him, I was again frustrated with their lack of communication and wondered why he had not talked to Sloane and explained to her why he was acting that way. This just didn't sit right with me considering they were engaged.
Overall, I was just left feeling flat. I really didn't feel convinced that they had resolved their past issues and I don't know why. I am all for angst and unusual plots, I thrive on them actually, wanting to feel strong emotions when I read a book but I just didn't get the satisfaction that I wanted and I didn't get the growth in their relationship that I wanted. I felt that Gates learned lessons and his character did evolve but I felt that Sloane's character didn't evolve as much as I would have liked.
copy kindly provided by Netgalley, the author and publisher
I assumed the reasons for keeping Dylan a secret would be extreme, but I never really felt a deep connection with Sloane that enabled me to fully sympathise with her. I thought that as a fiance, she would be able to voice her concerns with Gates about why she wanted to run. With the terrible behaviour of, and pressure from his father, I understood why she got cold feet, but what I couldn't understand is why she didn't talk to Gates and fight harder for their relationship. I moved forward, however, but emotionally I kept stepping back farther from Sloane with each new deception. I did understand why she was hesitate to come clean with Gates for the exact reasons that ended up playing out in the story, but the particular lies she told, the way she told them, just irritated me, and in the end, I just didn't believe her reasons for what she did. So many times I was wanting her to be the mature adult, to stand up to what she had done instead of digging her grave further, each time she spun a new story, each time she recklessly dragged her friends into her lies. Each to their own though. I guess if I had personally experienced first hand what Sloane had, then maybe my view would be different but I don't think so.
As for Gates, I did sympathise with him more than I did with Sloane, apart from one section of the book, and I felt that he was more relateable to me than Sloane. He didn't totally grab me however, and this disappointed me. He had his own baggage but when we find out his headspace just before Sloane left him, I was again frustrated with their lack of communication and wondered why he had not talked to Sloane and explained to her why he was acting that way. This just didn't sit right with me considering they were engaged.
Overall, I was just left feeling flat. I really didn't feel convinced that they had resolved their past issues and I don't know why. I am all for angst and unusual plots, I thrive on them actually, wanting to feel strong emotions when I read a book but I just didn't get the satisfaction that I wanted and I didn't get the growth in their relationship that I wanted. I felt that Gates learned lessons and his character did evolve but I felt that Sloane's character didn't evolve as much as I would have liked.
copy kindly provided by Netgalley, the author and publisher
May 22, 2015
A Secret to Keep is a story written from the alternating POV of Sloane and Gates. While I had some issues with the way the characters were created, overall this was an okay story.
Here's what I loved about this book:
1. The heroine of this story was a beautiful black woman. Very rarely I do come across book that the heroine isn't the typical Caucasian woman, so I really love when an author mixes it up and shares the love.
2. I'm a totally sucker for second chance romances so I was really excited to see that an adorable little boy was added into the mix.
3. The supporting characters were amazing. Sloane had best friends Chase and Liyah, while Gates had Evan and Angelica. These supporting characters stood by their best friends through thick and then, and were always willing to tell them when they were wrong.
4. While I struggled with part of the beginning and middle of the story, I really loved how it all worked out in the end. I loved how they Sloane and Gates came together when it really mattered.
5. I'm a total sucker for an epilogue and I loved the way that this one ended. It really helped wrap up the whole story and made it feel complete.
Now for what I wasn't overly thrilled with:
1. While I understood in the beginning of the story why Sloane had left Gates and kept Braydan a secret from him, as the story progressed and began to get a little frustrated with her. She seem to do everything in her power to rationalize the reason that she shouldn't tell Gate's the truth once he came back into her life. Then to top it all off she began to fabricate a huge lie to keep it all a secret. I found myself often frustrated with her as a character which hindered my ability to really become one with the characters and the story.
2. The was that Gates reacted after the secret was exposed drove me nuts! I was all for Team Gates up until that point, and was really taken back by how he handled the situation. Again, this situation had me struggling to sympathize with the characters really enjoy that part of the story.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
Here's what I loved about this book:
1. The heroine of this story was a beautiful black woman. Very rarely I do come across book that the heroine isn't the typical Caucasian woman, so I really love when an author mixes it up and shares the love.
2. I'm a totally sucker for second chance romances so I was really excited to see that an adorable little boy was added into the mix.
3. The supporting characters were amazing. Sloane had best friends Chase and Liyah, while Gates had Evan and Angelica. These supporting characters stood by their best friends through thick and then, and were always willing to tell them when they were wrong.
4. While I struggled with part of the beginning and middle of the story, I really loved how it all worked out in the end. I loved how they Sloane and Gates came together when it really mattered.
5. I'm a total sucker for an epilogue and I loved the way that this one ended. It really helped wrap up the whole story and made it feel complete.
Now for what I wasn't overly thrilled with:
1. While I understood in the beginning of the story why Sloane had left Gates and kept Braydan a secret from him, as the story progressed and began to get a little frustrated with her. She seem to do everything in her power to rationalize the reason that she shouldn't tell Gate's the truth once he came back into her life. Then to top it all off she began to fabricate a huge lie to keep it all a secret. I found myself often frustrated with her as a character which hindered my ability to really become one with the characters and the story.
2. The was that Gates reacted after the secret was exposed drove me nuts! I was all for Team Gates up until that point, and was really taken back by how he handled the situation. Again, this situation had me struggling to sympathize with the characters really enjoy that part of the story.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
June 7, 2015
I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review
Ratings: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by: Akeisha
While browsing NetGalley for my next read, I came across A Secret to Keep.
Initially, the blurb is what really drew me to this story. Overall, I thought the story was an ok read. With this story there was so many things that could have been added to make me fall in love with the story a little more.
First, let me start with what I did like about this read.
After reading 'A Secret to Keep', I realized I don't read a lot of books with interracial couples. I loved how Gates loved everything about Sloane (curly hair, her skin, etc.). I love it when characters have strong and funny individuals around them and I really appreciated how Sloane's friends and aunt was always there to protect and assist her. The story has a HEA which I appreciated.
What I didn't like about A Secret to Keep.
I felt that the secret that Sloane was keeping shouldn't have been a secret. Sloane had so many times to reveal what she was hiding from Gates however she felt it was in her son's best interest to keep lying. I wanted to stand behind her decisions and say ” Yes, you go girl you are doing the right thing”. Instead I just could not understand her reasoning behind the entire situation. Just thinking about Sloane stirs up a little anger and frustrated in me. I found myself questioning the age of Sloane and a few times Gates. Sloane sounded between the ages of 19-21, inexperience and immature(Sorry).
Overall, I wish the story would have had a better pace and have that element to keep me engaged. I wanted Sloane to be a little more confident and actually reason with herself when it came to her decisions. I wanted to feel that connection I love to make with the characters of a book. A Secret to Keep does bring out emotions like anger and frustration.
Was this one good? It took me a few days to read this and I wished I had a better review for the author. I commend the author for putting out her thoughts and allowing me to read this title.
Ratings: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by: Akeisha
While browsing NetGalley for my next read, I came across A Secret to Keep.
Initially, the blurb is what really drew me to this story. Overall, I thought the story was an ok read. With this story there was so many things that could have been added to make me fall in love with the story a little more.
First, let me start with what I did like about this read.
After reading 'A Secret to Keep', I realized I don't read a lot of books with interracial couples. I loved how Gates loved everything about Sloane (curly hair, her skin, etc.). I love it when characters have strong and funny individuals around them and I really appreciated how Sloane's friends and aunt was always there to protect and assist her. The story has a HEA which I appreciated.
What I didn't like about A Secret to Keep.
I felt that the secret that Sloane was keeping shouldn't have been a secret. Sloane had so many times to reveal what she was hiding from Gates however she felt it was in her son's best interest to keep lying. I wanted to stand behind her decisions and say ” Yes, you go girl you are doing the right thing”. Instead I just could not understand her reasoning behind the entire situation. Just thinking about Sloane stirs up a little anger and frustrated in me. I found myself questioning the age of Sloane and a few times Gates. Sloane sounded between the ages of 19-21, inexperience and immature(Sorry).
Overall, I wish the story would have had a better pace and have that element to keep me engaged. I wanted Sloane to be a little more confident and actually reason with herself when it came to her decisions. I wanted to feel that connection I love to make with the characters of a book. A Secret to Keep does bring out emotions like anger and frustration.
Was this one good? It took me a few days to read this and I wished I had a better review for the author. I commend the author for putting out her thoughts and allowing me to read this title.
June 9, 2015
A Secret to Keep, Railyn Stone
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
I enjoy novels set around this kind of story, but sadly this one was just meh...OKish but nothing special for me. It started well, and when Sloane and Gates relationship began to deteriorate I really felt for her. A Dear John letter though? Cowardly way out.
Then she finds out she’s pregnant and doesn’t tell Gates. She has this idea that as his father was a bad dad, and Gates has recently become more and more like him ( hence the break up) that her child deserves more, and she doesn’t tell him about Brayden. Its the kind of storyline that I’ve seen done well before, but in this book it just wasn’t backed up with enough evidence.
Then Gates renters her life, and from then on it seemed to be one lie on top of another, and a constant backward and forward “shall I tell him, yes I will, no I won’t,” with her aunt and friends telling her he has a right to know. It became boring, all the angsting about the decision, and where I had first admired her I got really irritated at the way she dragged her friends in without thinking about their position. They were a fabulous support and if I was Chase’s girlfriend Hannah, I’d have been saying “ her or me mister – you choose” as Sloane's faffing about was having a terrible effect on their relationship. She really abused their friendship IMO.
There really wasn’t enough story here to keep me interested, usually there’s more day to day issues and other things that keep the tale fresh, but this was just one long, long plot of Sloane, Gates and Brayden, and The Decision and for me it palled...I needed more variety, more interest, more evidence of her stance that Gates had changed. Allie the would-be girlfriend could have been made so much more, and plots like that expanded to add interest.
Stars: two. Just didn’t cut it for me. as ever this is just one opinion, and others will feel differently.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
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