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Return to Ravesville #4
Deep Secrets
Agent Rafe Roper has come back from the dead to protect the only woman he's ever loved
Fate brought Rafe Roper into Trish Wright's café one stormy night. Unfortunately, their storybook romance ended far too soon when an accident took Rafe's life…and broke Trish's heart. But what his wife doesn't know—can't know—is Rafe "died" in order to protect her from the criminals he's pursuing. But taking down these particularly nasty terrorists goes from undercover mission to personal vendetta once Trish's life is put on the line. Now that his innocent bride is caught in the crosshairs, Rafe has no choice but to expose his lie and hope she forgives him. Otherwise, without her trust, they'll both wind up dead. This time for real.
Fate brought Rafe Roper into Trish Wright's café one stormy night. Unfortunately, their storybook romance ended far too soon when an accident took Rafe's life…and broke Trish's heart. But what his wife doesn't know—can't know—is Rafe "died" in order to protect her from the criminals he's pursuing. But taking down these particularly nasty terrorists goes from undercover mission to personal vendetta once Trish's life is put on the line. Now that his innocent bride is caught in the crosshairs, Rafe has no choice but to expose his lie and hope she forgives him. Otherwise, without her trust, they'll both wind up dead. This time for real.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published May 24, 2016
16 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 20, 2016
Terrific second chance story. The book opens with Trish remembering her life with her husband, and that this is the fourth anniversary of his death. She thinks back to how they met, and the short time that they had together. Her friend Milo, the cook at her diner, tries to cheer her up by offering to take her to a movie. About that time, Trish's twin sister arrives home early from her honeymoon, knowing how hard today will be for Trish. Then Milo is stabbed and left for dead outside the diner, his last words "Tell Rafe they know" driving a stake through Trish's heart. Desperately needing to get away, she takes her dog and heads to a rental cabin in the Ozarks.
While there, she is attacked, and tied up, her dog is shot, and her captors tell her that she is the means to an end. What she doesn't know is that Rafe is actually still alive. He had faked his death to protect her from the terrorists he is trying to bring down. When he finds out what happened to Milo, he's on the first plane back to Missouri to make sure that she's ok. Only to find out that she's missing and no one knows where she is.
I liked both Trish and Rafe. Their initial romance had been fast, with Rafe giving up his undercover life for her. But his belief that he could walk away was shattered when his former team members were murdered, and he knew he would be next. I liked the protectiveness that had him taking such extreme measures to keep her safe. I thought that Trish had been a little naive about him, as his paranoia about everything having a place and reactions when they weren't should have been a clue. I felt for her grief over his death, and how hard it has been to get past it. I really liked the way that she kept her head pretty well when the bad guys tied her up. Her mind was actively trying to find a way to escape. Her shock at Rafe's appearance was understandable, and I rather liked that she didn't just fall all over him.
I really enjoyed the steady buildup of the tension and action in the book. From Rafe's first inkling that something was wrong, he had a plan all ready to go. I loved his attention to detail. His involvement of Summer's husband got him the information he needed to make a start at finding Trish, and I enjoyed seeing how he did it. The number of bodies he found made him increasingly worried about her safety. Once he found her and got her away, the next steps were to end the threat. I loved seeing Trish's strength of will in convincing Rafe to give her a key role. The buildup to the final confrontation at the lake was nervewracking, and I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened. Just when it looked like all was well, there was an unexpected twist that put her back into danger. Definitely a heartpounding conclusion.
The repair and renewal of Rafe and Trish's relationship wasn't a smooth or easy thing. Trish was understandably angry at being left to suffer for four years, believing Rafe to be dead. She did get a little bit of revenge by letting him know that she had started dating again. I loved seeing how Rafe hadn't been able to stay completely away, and had taken periodic trips to Ravesville to watch her. Being together again made it obvious that neither had stopped caring, but that they did have to find a way to overcome the past before they could have a future. I liked seeing how they did it. There was also a really sweet surprise at the very end.
While there, she is attacked, and tied up, her dog is shot, and her captors tell her that she is the means to an end. What she doesn't know is that Rafe is actually still alive. He had faked his death to protect her from the terrorists he is trying to bring down. When he finds out what happened to Milo, he's on the first plane back to Missouri to make sure that she's ok. Only to find out that she's missing and no one knows where she is.
I liked both Trish and Rafe. Their initial romance had been fast, with Rafe giving up his undercover life for her. But his belief that he could walk away was shattered when his former team members were murdered, and he knew he would be next. I liked the protectiveness that had him taking such extreme measures to keep her safe. I thought that Trish had been a little naive about him, as his paranoia about everything having a place and reactions when they weren't should have been a clue. I felt for her grief over his death, and how hard it has been to get past it. I really liked the way that she kept her head pretty well when the bad guys tied her up. Her mind was actively trying to find a way to escape. Her shock at Rafe's appearance was understandable, and I rather liked that she didn't just fall all over him.
I really enjoyed the steady buildup of the tension and action in the book. From Rafe's first inkling that something was wrong, he had a plan all ready to go. I loved his attention to detail. His involvement of Summer's husband got him the information he needed to make a start at finding Trish, and I enjoyed seeing how he did it. The number of bodies he found made him increasingly worried about her safety. Once he found her and got her away, the next steps were to end the threat. I loved seeing Trish's strength of will in convincing Rafe to give her a key role. The buildup to the final confrontation at the lake was nervewracking, and I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened. Just when it looked like all was well, there was an unexpected twist that put her back into danger. Definitely a heartpounding conclusion.
The repair and renewal of Rafe and Trish's relationship wasn't a smooth or easy thing. Trish was understandably angry at being left to suffer for four years, believing Rafe to be dead. She did get a little bit of revenge by letting him know that she had started dating again. I loved seeing how Rafe hadn't been able to stay completely away, and had taken periodic trips to Ravesville to watch her. Being together again made it obvious that neither had stopped caring, but that they did have to find a way to overcome the past before they could have a future. I liked seeing how they did it. There was also a really sweet surprise at the very end.
December 1, 2019
Trish Wright has been mourning the death of her husband, Rafe Roper, for four years. Except Rafe is not actually dead! He faked his death to protect Trish, because he was actually a federal agent trying to stop an Italian mafia-style family that were funding terrorist activities. He'd put some in jail, and the family were retaliating by killing the agents who were part of the team trying to stop them. Rafe is forced to return from the dead when Trish unexpectedly becomes the focus of this family.
I couldn't connect with much in this book. It was full of info-dumps, telling and not showing, and silly plot contrivances. I didn't understand why Rafe got married at all, considering his profession, and I couldn't work out why the Maladucci family would randomly wait four years to go after Trish. I couldn't figure out why Maladucci would hire a rival family to kidnap Trish if he was going to go after her himself. None of the characters' actions and motivations made a whole lot of sense to me.
The conflict for our H and h is, of course, the fact that Rafe stayed hidden for four years despite Trish's heart being broken. Her anger is entirely justified, but the book never properly resolves it. Trish is saying near the end that she can never forgive him, but then the climax happens and she's apparently just forgiven him. Rafe never even has to grovel over his selfish actions.
When we learn that he kept an apartment opposite Trish so he could keep watch over her, and would go into their house while she wasn't there, I just found that gross and creepy. Near the end, when he's letting himself into her house yet again (despite Trish saying it's wrong for him to do this), and hopping onto her laptop to look at her dating profile, Rafe just lost me entirely. No, not the worst Intrigue hero (hello Reluctant Hero and In the Lawman's Protection), but I think he was a bit of a toad.
Trigger warning: Trish's dog Duke gets shot part way through the book and we're led to believe he's dead. However
I couldn't connect with much in this book. It was full of info-dumps, telling and not showing, and silly plot contrivances. I didn't understand why Rafe got married at all, considering his profession, and I couldn't work out why the Maladucci family would randomly wait four years to go after Trish. I couldn't figure out why Maladucci would hire a rival family to kidnap Trish if he was going to go after her himself. None of the characters' actions and motivations made a whole lot of sense to me.
The conflict for our H and h is, of course, the fact that Rafe stayed hidden for four years despite Trish's heart being broken. Her anger is entirely justified, but the book never properly resolves it. Trish is saying near the end that she can never forgive him, but then the climax happens and she's apparently just forgiven him. Rafe never even has to grovel over his selfish actions.
When we learn that he kept an apartment opposite Trish so he could keep watch over her, and would go into their house while she wasn't there, I just found that gross and creepy. Near the end, when he's letting himself into her house yet again (despite Trish saying it's wrong for him to do this), and hopping onto her laptop to look at her dating profile, Rafe just lost me entirely. No, not the worst Intrigue hero (hello Reluctant Hero and In the Lawman's Protection), but I think he was a bit of a toad.
Trigger warning: Trish's dog Duke gets shot part way through the book and we're led to believe he's dead. However
February 9, 2017
It was a well written story with enough plot twists to keep me turning the pages however I think I would have enjoyed it more if so many details of the characters would not have been told even before the story started. By the time I got to read about a certain character I already knew who it was and the part he or she was playing in the plot.
The romance of the story was well depicted though. Rafe and Trish were a sweet couple and I liked that Trish never relented her trust to anyone, not even Rafe, at least not at the beginning, which showed that although confused she was still smart enough to make practical decisions.
I liked the story enough to go back to this world and read the rest of the series. 3 stars.
- Some graphic violence but no graphic sexual scenes.
I volunteered to read this book; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.
The romance of the story was well depicted though. Rafe and Trish were a sweet couple and I liked that Trish never relented her trust to anyone, not even Rafe, at least not at the beginning, which showed that although confused she was still smart enough to make practical decisions.
I liked the story enough to go back to this world and read the rest of the series. 3 stars.
- Some graphic violence but no graphic sexual scenes.
I volunteered to read this book; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.
October 8, 2017
Awesome Series!! A must read for Romance-Suspense Fans!!!
Another one that I love!!!!
Another one that I love!!!!
Read
September 2, 2016Great ending with Duke and second chances. #coyer
July 6, 2020
Rafe Roper is a federal agent working undercover. He had tried marriage and a normal life for a short time, but criminals threatening his fellow law officers had drawn him back to undercover life. Rafe faked his own death when he went back to undercover work, so his wife thinks he is dead. Now, the criminals he is investigating are threatening his wife. Rafe will stop at nothing to protect the woman he still loves.
June 11, 2017
So of four books I read and judged for a romance writing award, I think this was my favorite. They were all contemporary short romances but this one didn't seem so convoluted but resolved in a quick and unbelievable manner. I mean, don't get me wrong, the whole plot is far fetched but entertaining. It's a nice escape read.
October 3, 2017
enjoyed reading this book and will read more of the series.
June 17, 2016
In the fourth and final book of the series we find Trish, Summer's twin waiting to close their restuarant. She is deep in thought as the day 4 years ago her husband died, even though a body was not found. Her friend Milo that works with her is trying to get her to go to a movie with him...Her sister comes home early from her honeymoon to be with her..but they find Milo dead. his last words haunt and bother Trish...In the middle of the night she goes to a cabin by the lake to get away...while there she is kidnapped...Who comes to rescue her but what she thought was her dead husband. They go through many trials and tribulations, running from bad guys and trying to stay alive..will their love stay alive? A very good read!!!
September 14, 2016
Took Deep Secrets on a mini vacation and it was the best thing that happened. I really loved the characters and the suspense build up it was great. There was enough twists, action and wanting more for Trish and Rafe kept me glued to the book; great read.
June 3, 2016
OMG!!!
What an excellent read! Well-defined story line and characters. I liked the suspense and twists and turns. Loved the ending. Keep writing, Bev!
What an excellent read! Well-defined story line and characters. I liked the suspense and twists and turns. Loved the ending. Keep writing, Bev!
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June 1, 2016Miniseries: Return to Ravesville
Read
June 1, 2016Miniseries: Return to Ravesville
June 21, 2016
I received as a goodreads giveaway. This is a quick summer read that everyone should enjoy. You cannot help pulling for Rafe and Trish. A short story full of surprises.
July 2, 2023
The whole series was good. I just wish each book didn’t end so abruptly
April 7, 2016
Enjoyed this story. Well written. Beverly Long may be my new favorite author.
April 8, 2016
The last book in a great series. I will miss the Hollister family.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews