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Secrets In Love
Lillian Shaw is a disabled young woman, thanks to a hit and run that happened when she was 11. She keeps to herself, finding solace in her mother, her best friend Niecy, and nursing school. All she really wants is a little male affection which is something she never received from her rolling Stone of a father. But once she does get it, she's surprised and hurt by who it's really from....
Terrance 'Baby' Cassiano is the man in the streets. He moved that weight and had the money to show for it. But....he also had a secret, one only his best friend Ricco, Niecy's older brother, knew about. And it all revolved around the woman he had been feening for since she was 18. Once he finally gets her, his lies and secrets find him and exposes him to reveal something that stuns the one woman that holds his heart...
Terrance 'Baby' Cassiano is the man in the streets. He moved that weight and had the money to show for it. But....he also had a secret, one only his best friend Ricco, Niecy's older brother, knew about. And it all revolved around the woman he had been feening for since she was 18. Once he finally gets her, his lies and secrets find him and exposes him to reveal something that stuns the one woman that holds his heart...
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2019
129 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Bennett
40 books72 followers26 yr old writer and mom who's here to add a flare to your mundane romance novels. We all know love isn't easy, so why does every book we come across describe it as such? Love is a journey, one with many elements including drug addiction, mental illness, and physical disabilities.....or fantasy. You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Yvonne-Benne...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 11, 2019
I tried this author again because I thought my last review of her last book was really harsh. After reading this I realize my criticism was correct.
I wasn’t a fan of this story either and that’s primarily because the story had so many plot holes and the timeline is really off. How did the heroine graduate from nursing school but still working at a Waffle House three years later? I’m not even sure she went to nursing school or just got her CNA certificate. Then there is the big secret he was keeping from her, which she knew, so why be upset about it? There was so many things that didn’t make sense to me. But if you like a hood story about a dope boy falling in love with the girl next door this may be the book for you.
I wasn’t a fan of this story either and that’s primarily because the story had so many plot holes and the timeline is really off. How did the heroine graduate from nursing school but still working at a Waffle House three years later? I’m not even sure she went to nursing school or just got her CNA certificate. Then there is the big secret he was keeping from her, which she knew, so why be upset about it? There was so many things that didn’t make sense to me. But if you like a hood story about a dope boy falling in love with the girl next door this may be the book for you.
February 4, 2024
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
S P O I L E R S
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
OK OK OK. Secrets In Love has (had) potential 3.5 ⭐
☺️Lillian
▪️Sweet - kind - beautiful - yet insecure due to her limp.
▪️Hardworking, good head on her shoulder,
▪️in college ▪️Very outspoken ▪️very honest
However, when it comes to Terrance she is a mess
▪️The Bad Boy she tried to avoid
▪️ Tried to stay away from him
Tina: Even though she didn't like him, she didn't interfere with their relationship. Their relationship was amazing. She could go to her Mom without judgement.
⭐ I'm glad she told her dad off.
Because listen, that BS of not being there for his child. Yet he was wanting to run shit, has audacity written all over it.
🥰Niecy: she is that friend we all need in our lives.
▪️She held nothing back
🤔Terrance
▪️ I'm still on the fence about him
➡️He gets mad
▪️brings another woman around her. That's fuck boy energy.
➡️ Never really explaining/communicating or just speaking to her with common decency at times. Just demanding her to listen to him.
⭐ Points for telling her that Greg was a loser.
🫣Greg
▪️who DENIES their children and say some lame shit like
😏I wAs goInG to tELl yOu lAtEr
A deadbeat that's just trying to only get sex.
🤣🤣🤣He called her a gold digger 🤣🤣🤣
She set that shit straight quickly
▪️ Lillian always called him out. (Especially, when she knew he was trying to run game on her )
1st let me say this; I enjoy reading Yvonne Bennett's Books.
With that being said.
So many questions. The confusion, the incomplete transition to another part, the no information of how, when, where, what, why.
🚨HOW did Greg find out, about Terrance hit and run, if ONLY Rico and Terrance knew?
▪️ Incomplete no further information
🚨 If Terrance is 31 doesn't that make Lillian 21/22 since she was 11 when the accidental Hit and Run happened
⭐Kudos for not trying to get with her at 15years old.
I'm still a little creeped out at him being 28 looking at her when she was 18. Yet, he "waited" until she was 21.
🚨WHY, why why why why why is she STILL WORKING AT WAFFLE HOUSE (3 years later) when she GRADUATED FROM NURSING SCHOOL!!!!!
▪️why move out of a house and move into a Townhouse?
-is this a starting over move for them
🚨 Lillian KNEW that Terrance was the one that hit her.
▪️When did she remember/get her memory back
▪️Is her middle name Denise or Felicia?
🚨Why not be mad at Rico? He covered it up as well!
S P O I L E R S
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
OK OK OK. Secrets In Love has (had) potential 3.5 ⭐
☺️Lillian
▪️Sweet - kind - beautiful - yet insecure due to her limp.
▪️Hardworking, good head on her shoulder,
▪️in college ▪️Very outspoken ▪️very honest
However, when it comes to Terrance she is a mess
▪️The Bad Boy she tried to avoid
▪️ Tried to stay away from him
Tina: Even though she didn't like him, she didn't interfere with their relationship. Their relationship was amazing. She could go to her Mom without judgement.
⭐ I'm glad she told her dad off.
Because listen, that BS of not being there for his child. Yet he was wanting to run shit, has audacity written all over it.
🥰Niecy: she is that friend we all need in our lives.
▪️She held nothing back
🤔Terrance
▪️ I'm still on the fence about him
➡️He gets mad
▪️brings another woman around her. That's fuck boy energy.
➡️ Never really explaining/communicating or just speaking to her with common decency at times. Just demanding her to listen to him.
⭐ Points for telling her that Greg was a loser.
🫣Greg
▪️who DENIES their children and say some lame shit like
😏I wAs goInG to tELl yOu lAtEr
A deadbeat that's just trying to only get sex.
🤣🤣🤣He called her a gold digger 🤣🤣🤣
She set that shit straight quickly
▪️ Lillian always called him out. (Especially, when she knew he was trying to run game on her )
1st let me say this; I enjoy reading Yvonne Bennett's Books.
With that being said.
So many questions. The confusion, the incomplete transition to another part, the no information of how, when, where, what, why.
🚨HOW did Greg find out, about Terrance hit and run, if ONLY Rico and Terrance knew?
▪️ Incomplete no further information
🚨 If Terrance is 31 doesn't that make Lillian 21/22 since she was 11 when the accidental Hit and Run happened
⭐Kudos for not trying to get with her at 15years old.
I'm still a little creeped out at him being 28 looking at her when she was 18. Yet, he "waited" until she was 21.
🚨WHY, why why why why why is she STILL WORKING AT WAFFLE HOUSE (3 years later) when she GRADUATED FROM NURSING SCHOOL!!!!!
▪️why move out of a house and move into a Townhouse?
-is this a starting over move for them
🚨 Lillian KNEW that Terrance was the one that hit her.
▪️When did she remember/get her memory back
▪️Is her middle name Denise or Felicia?
🚨Why not be mad at Rico? He covered it up as well!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2023
Waffle House Forever
I want to start off by saying, this story has a good foundation.
But..
The delivery was a bit off, which impacted my rating.
Baby being the perpetrator of a hit and run that left a child disabled, is beyond distasteful. Him later finding said child, Lillian, to be attractive.. is just disturbing.
His friend Rico appeared to have more angst and guilt about the situation, than Baby did.
The stereotypical deadbeat dad part, hood rat acting best friend, repetitive mentions about how the best friend was Afro-latina.. didn't add to the story. If anything, it took away from it.
It was kind of weird how Lillian was set to be involved with Greg, so soon after being with Baby. I wish author's would have different reactions for the FMC/LM other than always rushing straight to another person just to cover hurt feelings or to make their love interest jealous.
This scenario happens in literally almost every romance novel and it's ridiculously over used.
The unclear parts are..
If no one supposedly knew who caused the hit and run, how did Greg find out? And, why wouldn't he use that information to get Baby into more trouble?
Why skip over them getting married and just mention the ring, and that she forgave him.. and had supposedly been in love with him since she was younger, but it was a secret? A secret from the story, too? No where in the story did it indicate Lillian had a previous crush on Baby. She acknowledged he was nice looking and so on, but was uncomfortable with how he pursued her. Even her inner dialogue didn't infer she had a deeper interest.
But, suddenly, at the end its just thrown in that she also had a secret it it was regarding her love for him.
Realllly.
Why was she still working at the Waffle House when she graduated from nursing school?
She ended up living her parents worse nightmare. Finished school, but not working as a nurse. Has a child, and I guess is married or engaged to man who traps for a living. Also, still working at the Waffle House. Sorry, but this is not a HEA. This is Waiting to Inhale, the sadder version of the original movie.
Why did they live in a townhouse when he had a big beautiful home, they'd lived in before?
The story is interesting and I'm not going to suggest that it's not worth reading. However, if the author decides to re-release in the future.. a better ending (much better) would probably take the overall rating up closer to a 5.
I want to start off by saying, this story has a good foundation.
But..
The delivery was a bit off, which impacted my rating.
Baby being the perpetrator of a hit and run that left a child disabled, is beyond distasteful. Him later finding said child, Lillian, to be attractive.. is just disturbing.
His friend Rico appeared to have more angst and guilt about the situation, than Baby did.
The stereotypical deadbeat dad part, hood rat acting best friend, repetitive mentions about how the best friend was Afro-latina.. didn't add to the story. If anything, it took away from it.
It was kind of weird how Lillian was set to be involved with Greg, so soon after being with Baby. I wish author's would have different reactions for the FMC/LM other than always rushing straight to another person just to cover hurt feelings or to make their love interest jealous.
This scenario happens in literally almost every romance novel and it's ridiculously over used.
The unclear parts are..
If no one supposedly knew who caused the hit and run, how did Greg find out? And, why wouldn't he use that information to get Baby into more trouble?
Why skip over them getting married and just mention the ring, and that she forgave him.. and had supposedly been in love with him since she was younger, but it was a secret? A secret from the story, too? No where in the story did it indicate Lillian had a previous crush on Baby. She acknowledged he was nice looking and so on, but was uncomfortable with how he pursued her. Even her inner dialogue didn't infer she had a deeper interest.
But, suddenly, at the end its just thrown in that she also had a secret it it was regarding her love for him.
Realllly.
Why was she still working at the Waffle House when she graduated from nursing school?
She ended up living her parents worse nightmare. Finished school, but not working as a nurse. Has a child, and I guess is married or engaged to man who traps for a living. Also, still working at the Waffle House. Sorry, but this is not a HEA. This is Waiting to Inhale, the sadder version of the original movie.
Why did they live in a townhouse when he had a big beautiful home, they'd lived in before?
The story is interesting and I'm not going to suggest that it's not worth reading. However, if the author decides to re-release in the future.. a better ending (much better) would probably take the overall rating up closer to a 5.
December 15, 2019
Could have been better
First of all the cover was misleading. I expected a bwwm novel and it clearly wasn’t. The writing style isn’t really my favorite but I suppose the book was leaning towards the urban genre. What I really find disappointing and nonsensical was the ending. One, why is she still working at Waffle House now that she’s a nurse? If they are back together, why give up a nice big house with a garden for a townhouse ? And more importantly, if she knew all along that it was him why all this song and dance about not trusting him and breaking up? Completely bizarre. As for Rico, who needs friends like him. The accident was supposed to be a secret between Bay and him, he’s blabbed to him mom and who knows who else. Greg mentioned a secret so who knows. As for Ms Pat, for her to say that’s the only reason she can think of Baby wanting to be with Lillian is pity, it’s just foul.
First of all the cover was misleading. I expected a bwwm novel and it clearly wasn’t. The writing style isn’t really my favorite but I suppose the book was leaning towards the urban genre. What I really find disappointing and nonsensical was the ending. One, why is she still working at Waffle House now that she’s a nurse? If they are back together, why give up a nice big house with a garden for a townhouse ? And more importantly, if she knew all along that it was him why all this song and dance about not trusting him and breaking up? Completely bizarre. As for Rico, who needs friends like him. The accident was supposed to be a secret between Bay and him, he’s blabbed to him mom and who knows who else. Greg mentioned a secret so who knows. As for Ms Pat, for her to say that’s the only reason she can think of Baby wanting to be with Lillian is pity, it’s just foul.
November 18, 2021
every time
Baby Casiano makes a mistake in his younger years that costs Lillian Shaw dearly. But he can’t get her out of his mind, and what’s done in the dark always comes to light.
I have said it once before and I’ll continue to say it: Christine Gray really picked a good one with Yvonne Bennett. Bennett really knows how to write a compelling story.
A big conversation in the BWWM community is about why some of us prefer the Mafia Books over the hood books. I’ve officially seen Bennett do both, and I think she really does her best to bridge the gap. I spent most of the book forgetting that Baby isn’t meant to be black, and it turned out a much better experience than another book I read that was mislabeled for an opposite situation.
Honestly, if you like Yvonne Bennett’s style, this one is definitely for you.
Baby Casiano makes a mistake in his younger years that costs Lillian Shaw dearly. But he can’t get her out of his mind, and what’s done in the dark always comes to light.
I have said it once before and I’ll continue to say it: Christine Gray really picked a good one with Yvonne Bennett. Bennett really knows how to write a compelling story.
A big conversation in the BWWM community is about why some of us prefer the Mafia Books over the hood books. I’ve officially seen Bennett do both, and I think she really does her best to bridge the gap. I spent most of the book forgetting that Baby isn’t meant to be black, and it turned out a much better experience than another book I read that was mislabeled for an opposite situation.
Honestly, if you like Yvonne Bennett’s style, this one is definitely for you.
December 12, 2019
Rushed towards the end
The book has potential. I wish the book had a little more plot to it. Towards the end the author definitely started rushing the story along. I also wish the character's age weren't so far apart. I feel like Baby could have been 16 or 17 when the story takes placeand Lillian 11. The ending from Lillians pov was pitiful. It deserved a flashback and Baby knowing also.
The book has potential. I wish the book had a little more plot to it. Towards the end the author definitely started rushing the story along. I also wish the character's age weren't so far apart. I feel like Baby could have been 16 or 17 when the story takes placeand Lillian 11. The ending from Lillians pov was pitiful. It deserved a flashback and Baby knowing also.
December 16, 2019
Secrets
Woooooooooow...So Lillian knew all along that it was Baby who was driving with Rico who had it her all along!!! What I didn't understand was Lillian and Niecy graduated nursing school so why was Lillian still working at Waffle House three years later. That just didn't make any sense. I'm glad that Lillian found out the truth about Greg and I wonder how he knew who hit Lillian. I'm glad that everything worked out for Baby && Lillian and Champ && Niecy in the end.
Woooooooooow...So Lillian knew all along that it was Baby who was driving with Rico who had it her all along!!! What I didn't understand was Lillian and Niecy graduated nursing school so why was Lillian still working at Waffle House three years later. That just didn't make any sense. I'm glad that Lillian found out the truth about Greg and I wonder how he knew who hit Lillian. I'm glad that everything worked out for Baby && Lillian and Champ && Niecy in the end.
February 25, 2020
Arrrrr !
Okay, I need a little more explanation than what was given about Lillian’s secret! Like when did she remember exactly? Why did she keep it to herself all those years? What was to be gained from doing it the way that she did? Then the drama that unfolded when it was revealed, what was that for? Did Baby renovate the house after trashing it? Why didn’t Lillian ever use her certificate for nursing? I could go on!
Okay, I need a little more explanation than what was given about Lillian’s secret! Like when did she remember exactly? Why did she keep it to herself all those years? What was to be gained from doing it the way that she did? Then the drama that unfolded when it was revealed, what was that for? Did Baby renovate the house after trashing it? Why didn’t Lillian ever use her certificate for nursing? I could go on!
January 4, 2021
Great story line
I really enjoyed the story line of this book but could only give it 4* because the grammar was very poor. This book also used a lot of slang terms that I was not familiar with, which made some of the sentences difficult to understand. But saying all this, I would still recommend this book, you just have to be patient. This book needed a page that would translated the slang used and a better proof reader.
I really enjoyed the story line of this book but could only give it 4* because the grammar was very poor. This book also used a lot of slang terms that I was not familiar with, which made some of the sentences difficult to understand. But saying all this, I would still recommend this book, you just have to be patient. This book needed a page that would translated the slang used and a better proof reader.
January 5, 2021
Ok
The beginning to the end didn't have a flow to it. The story line is all over the place. There were a lot of spelling errors. Some parts of the story ways confusing. Lillian finished college but then the story just stops there. Baby or Terrance smh was in love really? Then the ending she knew he ran her over come on????? Really! I strongly suggest you redo this storyline it has potential to become something great!
The beginning to the end didn't have a flow to it. The story line is all over the place. There were a lot of spelling errors. Some parts of the story ways confusing. Lillian finished college but then the story just stops there. Baby or Terrance smh was in love really? Then the ending she knew he ran her over come on????? Really! I strongly suggest you redo this storyline it has potential to become something great!
December 13, 2019
Bruhhh!
All I’m going to say is that this might be the most boring book I’ve read for the year. I don’t even think I’m in the mood to discuss the faults. I’m not telling anyone not to read it because what I wrote is my opinion, maybe someone else might like it
All I’m going to say is that this might be the most boring book I’ve read for the year. I don’t even think I’m in the mood to discuss the faults. I’m not telling anyone not to read it because what I wrote is my opinion, maybe someone else might like it
April 1, 2024
ummmm
It was good until the end. I am not sure what happened but how can a person graduate from nursing school then still end up working at the Waffle House two years later ? The ending didn’t make any sense to me and needed to be expanded upon more .
It was good until the end. I am not sure what happened but how can a person graduate from nursing school then still end up working at the Waffle House two years later ? The ending didn’t make any sense to me and needed to be expanded upon more .
December 10, 2019
Very Good!
I loved the dynamic between Baby and Lilliane. I love that Baby wasn’t gonna let shorty go no matter what and wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
I loved the dynamic between Baby and Lilliane. I love that Baby wasn’t gonna let shorty go no matter what and wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
December 11, 2019
Baby
It was nice having a disabled heroine who was loved. I love how Baby's character was written. I'm absolutely in love with him. Alpha but still sensitive and vulnerable.
It was nice having a disabled heroine who was loved. I love how Baby's character was written. I'm absolutely in love with him. Alpha but still sensitive and vulnerable.
December 12, 2019
Love it
I love This ebook, true love☺ I would like more books like this one ☝...I can't wait for the next one!!!
I love This ebook, true love☺ I would like more books like this one ☝...I can't wait for the next one!!!
December 16, 2019
Very good.read
This book was good. It show you how life can change in the blink.of an eye. I'm glad for the happy ending.
This book was good. It show you how life can change in the blink.of an eye. I'm glad for the happy ending.
January 6, 2020
A Good Read
I like this storyline, I like the characters it was a good read. It would be nice if the author developed the other characters and their storyline.
I like this storyline, I like the characters it was a good read. It would be nice if the author developed the other characters and their storyline.
January 16, 2020
Ok read
The story would have been
better without the bad language , it takes away from the story for me. This book is for a younger generation .
The story would have been
better without the bad language , it takes away from the story for me. This book is for a younger generation .
June 17, 2020
No times 1000
This book was not for me. We as women got to do better than this. This is not a story this is an obituary of a young woman of color.
This book was not for me. We as women got to do better than this. This is not a story this is an obituary of a young woman of color.
December 6, 2020
Baffling
Sooooo Lillian went to Nursing School, graduated and just continued to work at the Waffle House? That's baffling. I assumed that she would get a Nursing job.
Sooooo Lillian went to Nursing School, graduated and just continued to work at the Waffle House? That's baffling. I assumed that she would get a Nursing job.
March 19, 2022
Ok
I'm not sure I got the story? I found this a little boring, I'm still waiting for the punch line?! Bit surprised, as I've read other books by this author that I enjoyed.
I'm not sure I got the story? I found this a little boring, I'm still waiting for the punch line?! Bit surprised, as I've read other books by this author that I enjoyed.
July 12, 2023
Letdown
Really disappointed with the ending,honestly not thrilled with the whole story. Hard to stay invested in the story, really wanted to like it.
Really disappointed with the ending,honestly not thrilled with the whole story. Hard to stay invested in the story, really wanted to like it.
July 23, 2023
Love...love....love....
This was such a breath of fresh air to read i was hooked from start to finish!!! And the ending was truly brilliant!!!
This was such a breath of fresh air to read i was hooked from start to finish!!! And the ending was truly brilliant!!!
January 8, 2020
Lillian Shaw lives with her loving and supportive mother, has a childhood best friend named Niecy, works in a diner, and is studying to become a nurse. Also, Lillian has a disability caused by a hit and run accident as a child. Terrance aka "Baby" is the neighborhood drug dealer, who only has eyes for Lillian but she doesn't know it. He has wanted Lillian for a very long time but all they do is butt heads when around each other. This is their story. I really enjoyed their story. Don't want to give away too much.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews