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Secrets from the Edge

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Keith Williams is twenty-two and struggling to feel normal again. Once a rising super star in the competitive world of snowboarding, he’s only now healing from a horrible crash that almost wrecked his body and ripped his confidence from him.

Jesse Royce is a reporter embedded on a snowboarding documentary that Keith has agreed to be a part of. The two of them have always had a sexual attraction that’s hard to ignore. But Keith’s loss of nerve isn't the only secret he’s keeping, and while it’s tempting to give into his desire for Jesse, it might end up being career suicide.

Copyright © S.C. Wynne

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2015

12 people are currently reading
67 people want to read

About the author

S.C. Wynne

62 books588 followers
S.C. Wynne is a Lambda Award-winning author for Gay Romance. S.C. started writing m/m romance and mystery in 2013. Her characters are usually a little jaded, funny, and ultimately redeemed through love.

If you’d like to contact S.C. Wynne she'd love to hear from you. You can contact her at scwynne@scwynne.com

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5 stars
19 (22%)
4 stars
39 (46%)
3 stars
22 (26%)
2 stars
2 (2%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Simon.
639 reviews90 followers
September 6, 2021
It was OK, 2 stars. To be frank I was more than a little bored by the whole thing.
The story was weak, I know nothing about snow boarding and the characters were uneventful. Absolutely zero happens for the first 60% of the story and when something mildly interesting is introduced to the plot, we are not enlightened further.
Sorry not for me.
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,958 reviews104 followers
November 3, 2021
This is a new author for me. I enjoyed the book and liked Keith. I felt that some of the long conversations between Keith and Lance and Keith and Jesse felt a little stilted. It distracted me somewhat, but overall I will check out other books by this author.
Profile Image for S.M. Harshell.
Author 5 books46 followers
September 8, 2015
**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**

3.5 STARS

Secrets from the Edge had me very intrigued. I was interested in the characters, the plot, the mild suspense of it all and then it was just neatly tied up and done. I guess I just expected more, more drama, more back story from Keith's past, more...something.

Don't get me wrong the story was well written. The characters had depth, the athletic aspect was right on. Getting toward the end I kept looking at my percentage thinking, how is this ever going to get tied up in this small amount left? It did though. I guess after everything I just wanted more. The issues with Lance were over quickly, the big secret was revealed and everyone just accepted it and boom ending.

Up until that ending the story was believable and intriguing. I loved the suspense the secret created. I would have loved to keep going with the characters if only to dig a little deeper.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Ruthie Taylor.
3,724 reviews39 followers
September 5, 2015
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads~~

This is a good read, with an interesting story-line and some quite intense examination of what it feels like for a seriously injured athlete to come back to a dangerous sport. The added issue of a journalist being there to witness the return, and also that he is a one time conquest who never quite left Keith's imagination works well. The side characters are well described and I felt the camaraderie. yet competitive jesting between the boarders was well done.

Overall this was a treat, with a strong story and a spicy side dish of romance.

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Jamie Deacon.
Author 6 books77 followers
September 24, 2015
Like the sport of snowboarding itself on which this story is centered, 'Secrets from the Edge' is a thrill ride of highs and lows, triumphs and simmering tension. Fraught with conflict and the ever-present threat of discovery, it held me spellbound from the opening line and ended long before I was ready for it to be over. Prior to reading this novel, I knew little about snowboarding, but the author's descriptions both of the mechanics and the emotions involved are so vivid that I had no trouble experiencing everything along with the protagonist.

Before the accident, snowboarding was Keith Williams' life. It helped him move on from the grim past he wants desperately to put behind him, and gave him the opportunity to shine. With a host of medals under his belt and sponsors queuing up to throw money at him, nothing could stand in the way of Keith's talent or the daring confidence that propelled him to stardom. When a horrific crash on the slopes left his body broken and his career in tatters, he pushed away all his friends in the snowboarding world so that he could wallow in bitterness and despair.

Now, at twenty-two, Keith is set to make a comeback—physically, at least. Mentally, he has lost his nerve and fears he'll never recover it. Yet, despite his anxiety, he lets his best friend and mentor Andy talk him into taking part in a snowboarding documentary. What Keith doesn't anticipate is that Jesse Royce, a reporter with whom he has a history of attraction, will be covering the shoot. As Keith battles his inner demons, he has to weigh his desire for Jesse against the very real danger that the journalist will unearth the skeletons in his closet.

S.C. Wynne completely won me over with the heroes in this novel. Though cocky and self-contained on the surface, underneath Keith is riddled with insecurity, a fact which only renders his courage in returning to the sport all the more admirable. It was Jesse, however, with his green eyes and combination of shrewdness and teasing humor, who had my heart racing. The sexual chemistry between the two is palpable from the outset, but there's also a warmth and playful affection to their relationship that was truly wonderful to follow as it unfolded.

Written for Rainbow Book Reviews and Boys on the Brink
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,274 reviews526 followers
August 13, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars


Secrets From the Edge by S.C. Wynne was a sometimes dark and gritty look at the toll keeping secrets does to someone who lives his life in the spotlight. Keith had such deep-seated fear of being discovered—not only for he what feels is his shameful past, but also for the fact that standing at the top of a slope has him sweating in terror of falling again. It really doesn’t help him that some mysterious person is determined to unearth all that he has kept secret for so many years. On top of that, he now realizes he has real potential to develop deeper feelings for Jesse who seems willing to explore more than a simple fling. Unfortunately Keith is about to come up against his teen years in a very real way and is worried that once everyone finds out exactly whom he is they will reject him out of hand.

The way in which this author portrayed Keith was incredibly realistic. There was no easy fix for this guy; he had huge issues he had to deal with and there was no way to escape that fact. The tension that realization created within Keith was so intense, making this story grip the reader and pull them into each scene. There were times this writing was so clear and descriptive I could swear I was on the slopes. The angst and pain Keith experienced made my own heart just bleed for this man and curse those who wanted to pull him down and expose every facet of his life. The hurt that Jesse felt once Keith confessed his past life to him was just gut wrenching and I feared our guys were not going to ever bridge the gap that secret had created between them.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

Profile Image for Erica Chilson.
Author 43 books437 followers
July 30, 2015
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

3 stars

Secrets from the Edge was a bit of a surprise for me. Not entirely what I expected from a Loose ID title. Keith was at the top of Snow Boarding until a tragic accident took him out of the game for several years. He returns for a documentary being created by his friend and mentor, trying to overcome insecurities while reconnecting with the friends he's always held at arm's length, while keeping his deep secret buried. But the only problem is, an old flame- a journalist- is along for the ride, reigniting passions & digging for secrets.

Solid writing, fast-pacing, accurate emotions, and a mild mystery surrounding the secret. The reason I was surprised with this title, after reading many Loose ID titles, they aren't necessarily plot-driven. However, the small plot Secrets from the Edge had to offer was the driver of the story, with sexual tension and romance as the vehicle. The streamy scenes (I believe 2 1/2) were very mild, short (a page or two), non-explicit, and later in the story. Almost an after-thought. Which I was good with, because I read for the journey the story takes me on and believe the climax is the dessert, not the meal.

There was a slight mystery as to who released Keith's deep secret from his past, and I was disappointed this wasn't explored more. The secret is released, everything is great, and it's tied up with a tidy bow. But I wanted to know the who, how, why, where, and when of this thread that drove the storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed Secrets from the Edge. & I would read more by this author.
Profile Image for Alisa.
1,902 reviews203 followers
October 3, 2015
The world of snowboarding is the interesting backdrop of this book. Keith Williams was a rising star when a serious injury took him out of the game. He lost his confidence and most of his friends. Keith has been training again though and dreams of getting back in to the sport. An opportunity to film a documentary brings Keith back in contact with his old friends as well as an old lover he still has feelings for. Jesse Royce is a reporter for a popular magazine. He is along on the trip to document the men behind the sport. He too has not forgotten his past with Keith.

I found the snowboarding world that this was based on to be creative and interesting. Honestly I don't know enough about snowboarding to know if it was accurate enough but it still made for a great setting. I loved the scenes where they were out on the snow. The relationship unfortunately did not work as well for me. I had a hard time feeling the connection between the two men. I liked Keith a lot as a MC and his past was an interesting twist but again I just didn't feel anything between them.

This was one of those books that was middle of the road for me. There was nothing wrong with it but it also didn't wow me.
Profile Image for Justin.
600 reviews155 followers
July 30, 2015
3.5 stars

Holy shit, that was intense! Way more than I was expecting. I did not get how gritty and raw this story was going to be from reading the blurb.

Where to begin....???

The good:
- Good writing
- Good editing
- Good storyline
- Good sexy times
- A few laugh-out-loud moments
- A smidge of UST

The not-so-good, IMHO:
- I think this needs a trigger warning
- Rushed ending and barely a HFN
- A few plot holes/things left hanging or unresolved

An enjoyable story by a new-to-me author. If you're into snowboarding, you'll surely enjoy this one. If you're looking for something a little different, this one might be just what you're looking for.



Profile Image for Beth.
2,976 reviews28 followers
August 3, 2023
A quick poignant read

I’ve had this book in my TBR for a while and it finally asserted it self as I was scanning for my next book. I’m glad it did. It’s a different kind of book than what I’ve been reading so it was nice to change things up. It’s also a nicely done look at an athlete coming back from a devastating injury and worried about hiding his secrets. For once, it’s not about being gay as a professional athlete.

His anxiety ratchets up several notches when he arrives at a a gathering of athletes who are shooting a documentary on snowboarding and lays eyes on a reporter he had a short fling with and who he is afraid will ferret out his secrets.

The story arc moves well and it presents a nicely done journey of self discovery and learning to trust…not just the love interest but also fellow snowboarders as friends. The crisis moment hammers this lesson home.

It’s an uplifting and hopeful story. It was a quick read and I’m glad I finally moved it off my TBR list.
685 reviews19 followers
September 12, 2015
Over all I’ve always enjoyed this authors books and this one is no different.
Keith and mates are likable enough, the basic lingo about snowboarding was easy enough to follow. Jesse was friendly enough and all together made a nice story. The second plot twist was interesting, if not rushed at the end. and left a little incomplete. I’m thinking maybe will be continued in another book as with many of the stories that started within this story.
Keith and Jesse are cute enough together, but I actually like Keith and Lance better. That hostile love hate just worked for me!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystal Many reviews
Profile Image for Tammy.
634 reviews
February 12, 2016
3.5*

I don't know much about snowboarding but this did seem like a very realistic portrayal of the sport. A younger Keith has secrets that he does not want anyone to know about. The uncertainty of a future in the sport that he loves. I wasn't sure how he would overcome the injury. But as his confidence returns on the slopes his personal life is the pits! And Jesse the reporter did seem to make it a little harder for him, although they have a great chemistry as lovers! I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Brandilyn.
1,126 reviews50 followers
January 10, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance

I am at a loss as to what to say about Secrets from the Edge. One one hand I enjoyed the story of Keith coming back from a pretty horrific injury to begin forays back into the world he loves so much. On the other, I am left with more questions than answers when all is said and done.

For Complete review see Prism Book Alliance: http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...

Profile Image for Christine.
701 reviews4 followers
September 15, 2016
I'm divided on this book. On one point I liked Keith and his story of overcoming a terrible accident but on the other point, I feel like I was left hanging. Questions with no answers unless a book 2 is coming but as it stands right now this book left me wanting more.
Profile Image for Pat Horn.
10 reviews
July 26, 2015
Good story. It was different so I enjoyed that. Lots of humor and chemestry between the two guys.
Profile Image for Mari  Cardenas.
2,311 reviews26 followers
January 28, 2020
4.25 Stars!

After suffering a bad accident while competing 2 years ago, Keith is slowly trying to make a comeback, which isn't as it easy as it sounds, but when his best friend Andy invites him to be part of a snowboarding documentary, he just can't say no, even if it will mean not only confronting his fears, but his ex-lover and a disgruntled former competitor, on top of some secrets from his past surfacing.

I felt so much for Keith. He'd been through so much while recovering on top of him having a difficult time in the streets after his parents threw him out for being gay until Andy found him and helped him reach his true potential as a champion snowboarder. After everything he went through, it wasn't difficult to understand why Keith found it difficult to trust anyone but Andy with all his fears about competing again or why Jesse being a journalist and getting too close to him might be a problem for Keith, no matter how attracted to Jesse he was. And Jesse, well, while he seemed nice enough, it wasn't easy to gauge his motives or warm up to him without getting his POV. Still, Jesse and Keith had a lot of chemistry and it was great seeing them work on their issues to build something between them.

I loved to see Keith work to become a team player and be more open to the other snowboarders, I especially liked the scene where he cleared the air with Lance, who frankly, was a bit of a prick, LOL. I adored Reed, Greg, and Steve, who were such lovely friends to Keith, even if Keith hadn't been all that good to them before his accident. And of course, Andy, who was such a sweet guy.

Overall, this was a very good hurt/comfort story, it was riveting and I was thoroughly invested in Keith finding his HEA, the one thing that would've made it better was having Jesse's POV so I could become as interested in him as I was in Keith. Very recommendable!

*** Copy provided for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
1,195 reviews7 followers
Read
January 11, 2020
4.5 stars - Keith's comeback from a horrific fall during a competition is just starting after 2 years and at least 4 surgeries. So, while he may believe he's back to competition status physically, he's suffering from an almost crippling fear. This is just one of the secrets Keith is hiding, and there is someone who appears determined to expose his worst one.

Most of this story takes place on an 8 week snowboarding trip to make a documentary about the sport. This is the first time that Keith is back among his friends/competitors since he pushed everyone away after the accident. The situation causes tension to pile on top of his already tumultuous emotions - from a snowboarder who becomes progressively more antagonistic, an old lover who's an inquisitive journalist along to cover the filming, and then his boss who wants to change the focus of the article to shine on rumors of Keith's less than savory past.

Keith's fear, hope, and eventually exhilaration on the slopes are all showcased against descriptions of crisp mountain air; pristine, deep powder; and the thrill of the sport. His shame, insecurity, and anger resulting from being victimized in his youth and now being threatened with exposure are set against the comraderie, friendship, and support offered by those around him.

This story definitely makes you feel and experience all that Keith does as he figures out what this new chapter of his life will look like. It's scary, challenging, and worth all the emotional work.

I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews140 followers
February 17, 2020
4.5 Stars

Secrets From the Edge is a great sports romance, which is one of my favorite things to read. This SC Wynne story is sweet while also being very serious.

Keith's a snowboarder who's trying to get back to the sport after an injury. Adding to his stress is an ex coming to work with him as a reporter. The problem? Keith is closeted and does not want to be outed. On top of that, he's ashamed of his past, not wanting anyone to learn his secrets.

I enjoy the underlying angst of their conflict of interest throughout. After all, an athlete getting involved with a reporter sent to write about him isn't an easy ride.

This is a story with stellar character growth, as Keith learns about himself as well as his relationships with others. It's a fantastic story of reevaluating the benefits of friendship and love.

The teammate issues are a huge part of Keith's character development. I enjoy this, as we all know that there's always some jealousy involved. But it's his stoic nature that is his real problem with his fellow snowboarders. I absolutely love this aspect of the story, as what one sees as being self sufficient, another resents.

The writing is excellent, with stellar dialogue. The author expertly draws the reader into the tension and pull throughout. There are some great secondary characters who add a lot to the story.

Secrets From the Edge is an impressive sports romance. I definitely recommend it when you're in the mood for your next complex-athlete-falling-in-love story.
Profile Image for Dixiecowgirl.
1,437 reviews25 followers
January 9, 2020
Second chance romance with action, drama, intrigue and courage.  I loved the MC's in this story, they were well developed and as we watch Keith deal with his accident and his past it really touched my heart.  I enjoyed the supporting characters and there are some that i am hoping we get to see more of in the future.  The writing was great and the story flowed with a good pace and i was totally engaged.  I read this story in one sitting.. i was reading way to late.  

Keith and Jesse sizzle and will keep you rooting for them all though the story.  I was so happy that Keith found Jesse, he was such an amazing guy and i just loved him and Keith together. i love their connection and i would love to see another story about them as the games come closer. 

I was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my honest opinion and review.    
10 reviews
January 20, 2024
It's a... I mean... Well... Well, I read it in one go, so that's a good thing.

This book is where I started to wonder "soooo... what sort of a person the author actually is...?" (This was my fifth book from the same author.) That is due to some curious choices made with the theme and characters.

The "dope slope terms" made me feel like a granny listening to teenagers talk.

At first I felt annoyed with the characters, but kept reading thinking there will be some reason behind it. I suppose there was. I guess I dropped most of that annoyance along the way. Except that so many characters using a phrase "Hellz yeah" (yeah, with the z) almost made me roll my eyes out of my skull.

But feelings and personal growth were involved, along with a happy ending, so I guess it's like a "positive three star rating".
Profile Image for Teal Wolf.
3,414 reviews26 followers
January 7, 2020
Secrets From the Edge by S c Wynne is a contemporary m/m romance between an injured snowboarder making his comeback and the reporter who is writing the story of his team. There is also a second chance element to it. The story is well written, Interesting and fun. There is drama, secrets, action and steam. The characters are interesting and entertaining.
Definitely a satisfying read.

I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Profile Image for Rachelle.
77 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2020
I absolutely love Ms. Wynne's writing skills.

This story did not disappoint. This was an interesting read. Good strong story line, slow burn and it gave you an internal view of what challenges a person might face through the healing process of a severe injury.

Keith and Jesse's characters blended beautifully together and made you fall into the story. Overall, this was a great book and I would definitely recommend it.

I've received this ARC and willingly and honestly leave my review.
Profile Image for Anja.
1,300 reviews8 followers
January 11, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Keith has some issues caused by his accident two years ago. Now he's with some friends back in the snow to have some fun and having make a film out of it. It's not quite a story of how he manages to get back on his board but rather about friendship and trust. Unfortunately, the last part about opening up to friends only gets clear near the end of the book, so it took some time to get behind the backround.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,963 reviews16 followers
January 11, 2020
Such a sweet second chance at love and more. Keith is going through a lot and I just wanted to hug him. This isn't just a romance between Keoth and Jesse but also about friendship and loyalty with the other characters too. I just absolutely love how S.C Wynne has made a romance that is HOT. However also then proves that just because you think that you don't have any friends they are there to pick you up.
Profile Image for Renee.
1,502 reviews8 followers
January 12, 2020
Keith is trying to recover from an injury. When he is asked by his friend to be in his documentary about snowboarding, he is equally excited and dreading the appearance oof his former lover Jesse.

Good second chance romance. Keith was very vulnerable. Jesse was supportive in his time of need. Good chemistry and pacing. Secondary characters were interesting and allowed Keith to grow. A good read.
Profile Image for melek.
1,191 reviews10 followers
January 31, 2018
keith has recently just come back from an injury that place 2 years ago he was in an darkplace at the time. Now he they are covering an documentary with him in it along with his friends.
To cover the story is jesse an reporter They once were together before the accident, But thats not they also found out about keith past true or not will the past effect the future.
Profile Image for Katie Townsend.
1,278 reviews20 followers
January 7, 2020
Keith and jesse story was heartbreaking heartwarming beautiful but emotional journey i loved every word

Every word in secrets from the edge was moving powerful meaningfull and also a story about courage it was incredible
9 reviews2 followers
November 16, 2020
This was a pretty good book but, while enjoyable and engaging, it has quite a few problems. The biggest one was how Keith’s past being revealed was handled. About halfway through the book is when the big conflict arises. The magazine that Jesse (Keith’s love interest) works for is writing an article that would expose that Keith’s past as a prostitute. The author handled the events surrounding this quite horribly, in my opinion. For one, Jesse was the one who was writing the article at first, and seemed to have no serious qualms about doing so (besides a quick, token protest to his boss) until he changes his mind about writing it after having sex with Keith. The fact that he was the one who was writing this article on Keith’s past was almost just brushed aside. When Keith tells his best friend, and the man who got him off the streets, what the magazine is planning on writing about him, he brushes it aside and starts telling a Keith how good Jesse would be for him. And when Keith mentions that a Jesse is the one writing the article, Andy just brushes past that like it doesn’t matter. And when the article is published, Keith’s attitude does a 180 when he announced that he’s glad the article was written because it took a weight off of his chest. No way would he suddenly have such a change of heart. And I can’t believe Jesse stay working there afterwards. The magazine took the story of Keith, the man he’s sort-of dating, being raped as a teen, and used it to make a profit, and Jesse is still happy to be employed there? I don’t care if they swung the story so it showed Keith in a positive light. They still made money off of Keith having to have sex for money and food to survive.

And after all of that, there are a bunch of loose-ends that the author doesn’t bother to tie up. Who was the source for the article? Was Jesse sleeping with his boss? The ending was completely rushed, and I was left with a bunch of questions. So on the one hand, the author does a “great” job of tying the conflict of Keith’s past being revealed into a nice, tidy bow. But in her attempts to make everything end a-okay, she skips over a lot of things that would have made the story more complete and given it more substance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Maureen.
3,881 reviews39 followers
August 1, 2022
Not really my thing but I did finish, mostly because I liked the two main characters, Keith who is attempting a comeback to his sport after a devestating injury, and Jesse a journalist following the progress for a story. Most of the others were nasty or wise cracking, except for faithful friend Andy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews