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Peril & Persuasion #0.5
The Secrets He Keeps
A fearsome woman.
Callista Hale is the beautiful proprietor of London’s most elite brothel. When a new gentlemen’s club positions itself to lure away her wealthy clientele, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her business. Even if it means accepting a wicked offer from the club’s mysterious and sensual owner.
A man of experience.
From the moment he meets Madam Pendragon, Erik Maxwell vows to have her in his bed. Her sharp mind challenges him while her lush body sparks every fantasy he’s ever had. But he’ll have to use everything he knows about desire to get past the jaded lady’s formidable walls.
An offer too wicked to resist.
If the man believes he has the talent and skill to seduce her, Callista will gracefully accept his defeat—and his exit from London—when he fails. And he will, of course.
Unless, seduction isn’t all Erik Maxwell has in mind.
Previously published in the Have Yourself a Merry Little Secret collection
Callista Hale is the beautiful proprietor of London’s most elite brothel. When a new gentlemen’s club positions itself to lure away her wealthy clientele, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her business. Even if it means accepting a wicked offer from the club’s mysterious and sensual owner.
A man of experience.
From the moment he meets Madam Pendragon, Erik Maxwell vows to have her in his bed. Her sharp mind challenges him while her lush body sparks every fantasy he’s ever had. But he’ll have to use everything he knows about desire to get past the jaded lady’s formidable walls.
An offer too wicked to resist.
If the man believes he has the talent and skill to seduce her, Callista will gracefully accept his defeat—and his exit from London—when he fails. And he will, of course.
Unless, seduction isn’t all Erik Maxwell has in mind.
Previously published in the Have Yourself a Merry Little Secret collection
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2020
16 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Amy Sandas
107 books342 followersMy love of romance began one summer when I was thirteen and complained of boredom. I ended up with one of my mother's Barbara Cartland books and an obsessive interest that expanded from there. My affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities.
I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!
I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 23, 2022
Not your usual short story. Callista owns a brothel and Erik wants to teach her about intimacy. Enjoyable as a different type of historical as it is more about seduction with a touch of romance. I plan to read the rest of the series and rate this 3.5*
September 4, 2022
Callista Hale is the madame of London’s most elite brothel. But when a new, mysterious club pops up, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her business…even if it means accepting a wager from the club’s owner, Erik Maxwell.
Quick little novella in between books.
Tropes: Anti-Heroine, Older Couple, Wager
Steam: 1
Quick little novella in between books.
Tropes: Anti-Heroine, Older Couple, Wager
Steam: 1
October 8, 2022
This novella is SO good. Amy sandas is a new favorite. The chemistry is UNMATCHED. LITERALLY MY KINDLE WAS SIZZLING FROM ALL THE TENSION
April 6, 2021
Loved this story.
It was a super short read and part of a collaboration but so damn good.
I have read all the other books she has out and loved them.
what a great writer.
It was a super short read and part of a collaboration but so damn good.
I have read all the other books she has out and loved them.
what a great writer.
December 21, 2020
Have yourself a merry little secret-box set
The secret he keeps-3 (not into the story)
The secret he keeps-3 (not into the story)
January 19, 2021
If a story could be seduction, this one wins. A slow seduction that will leave you hot and bothered. Two mature characters, Erik and Callista, know what lust is but when it comes to love and seduction, Erik is ready to bring Callista along for the most enjoyable ride of her life. The pages of this story sizzle with heat. An amazing story.
I read this a part of an anthology.
Merged review:
If a story could be seduction, this one wins. A slow seduction that will leave you hot and bothered. Two mature characters, Erik and Callista, know what lust is but when it comes to love and seduction, Erik is ready to bring Callista along for the most enjoyable ride of her life. The pages of this story sizzle with heat. An amazing story.
I read this a part of an anthology.
I read this a part of an anthology.
Merged review:
If a story could be seduction, this one wins. A slow seduction that will leave you hot and bothered. Two mature characters, Erik and Callista, know what lust is but when it comes to love and seduction, Erik is ready to bring Callista along for the most enjoyable ride of her life. The pages of this story sizzle with heat. An amazing story.
I read this a part of an anthology.
Read
October 21, 2021The Secrets He Keeps, Book 0.5 of the Peril & Persuasions series, was about Miss Callista Hale "Madam Pendragon", the owner of London’s most elite brothel, and Mr. Erik Maxwell, the owner of a new gentlemen’s club that threatens Callista's business.
In an attempt to get Erik to close his business down in order to prevent him from taking business away from hers, Callista went to see him. When it became apparent that he would not do so, Erik then made a proposition. If he could not seduce her within the remaining twelve days of the year, he would acquiesce to Callista's proposal to shut down and leave London forever.
These two main characters were both strong-willed, arrogant, pushy...and hurting from their pasts in one way or another. Callista, being a child of the rookery, grew up as a prostitute who eventually managed to own and run one of the more successful brothels in London...so profitable, in fact, that she put many other places out of business. Erik, on the other hand, grew up with a traveling troupe that took him to many countries. He ended up in London, opening his sown gentleman's club that offered a unique service.
While the storyline and plot were well written, they really didn't make any sense. As popular and successful as Callista's business professed to be, why did she feel threatened by Erik's club? Why did she feel it necessary for him to close it down and leave? It was as if fear was the driving force behind her demand.
Though the title of the book was, "the secrets he kept", it really wasn't about secrets at all, so the title didn't fit the story. If it had been titled something like, "the seduction he sought" or something even remotely to do with the actual story, it would have been better.
There really wasn't much angst or drama. There was absolutely no humor. It was actually a darker story than it needed to be. The romance...wasn't really romantic at all. Though there was plenty of passion, it was actually just...sex for sex's sake. The two main characters spent very little time developing a relationship otherwise. Definitely not a five-star story.
In an attempt to get Erik to close his business down in order to prevent him from taking business away from hers, Callista went to see him. When it became apparent that he would not do so, Erik then made a proposition. If he could not seduce her within the remaining twelve days of the year, he would acquiesce to Callista's proposal to shut down and leave London forever.
These two main characters were both strong-willed, arrogant, pushy...and hurting from their pasts in one way or another. Callista, being a child of the rookery, grew up as a prostitute who eventually managed to own and run one of the more successful brothels in London...so profitable, in fact, that she put many other places out of business. Erik, on the other hand, grew up with a traveling troupe that took him to many countries. He ended up in London, opening his sown gentleman's club that offered a unique service.
While the storyline and plot were well written, they really didn't make any sense. As popular and successful as Callista's business professed to be, why did she feel threatened by Erik's club? Why did she feel it necessary for him to close it down and leave? It was as if fear was the driving force behind her demand.
Though the title of the book was, "the secrets he kept", it really wasn't about secrets at all, so the title didn't fit the story. If it had been titled something like, "the seduction he sought" or something even remotely to do with the actual story, it would have been better.
There really wasn't much angst or drama. There was absolutely no humor. It was actually a darker story than it needed to be. The romance...wasn't really romantic at all. Though there was plenty of passion, it was actually just...sex for sex's sake. The two main characters spent very little time developing a relationship otherwise. Definitely not a five-star story.
March 31, 2021
5 STARS, HISTORICAL ROMANCE ERA, SEDUCTION, SEX
This is a different stripe of a romance story & the drama consists of the build up of emotions plus love both poured into the act of seduction that will lead eventually to the full act of physical sex. Seduction is a sensual act that can be a 24 hour thing to some, which I think being with a man like Erik Maxwell would be like. Erik, the ultimate promise of slow sensory sensitive seduction from the time one wakes up to a well satisfied sleep, if both are agreed.
Calista Hale or Mrs Pendragon, a most sexy sensual beautiful Lady of the demi-monde of London, she owned the most prestigious whore house, membership only in London. She was self made, rich, & powerful & all men desired her in some way. Even if she just smiled a recognition at one or touched a shoulder in passing these men of high society, rich, political, & royalty would be happy. She didn't service men.
This exciting interesting novella that would be great to get your other, to read after you, appreciates the act of seduction. Erik Maxwell was not from London but had been there a year & already met powerful men for friends. Now, Mrs Pendragon was at his door & we are off on an experience experiment.
Recommend
P.S. Full Sexual Activity
This is a different stripe of a romance story & the drama consists of the build up of emotions plus love both poured into the act of seduction that will lead eventually to the full act of physical sex. Seduction is a sensual act that can be a 24 hour thing to some, which I think being with a man like Erik Maxwell would be like. Erik, the ultimate promise of slow sensory sensitive seduction from the time one wakes up to a well satisfied sleep, if both are agreed.
Calista Hale or Mrs Pendragon, a most sexy sensual beautiful Lady of the demi-monde of London, she owned the most prestigious whore house, membership only in London. She was self made, rich, & powerful & all men desired her in some way. Even if she just smiled a recognition at one or touched a shoulder in passing these men of high society, rich, political, & royalty would be happy. She didn't service men.
This exciting interesting novella that would be great to get your other, to read after you, appreciates the act of seduction. Erik Maxwell was not from London but had been there a year & already met powerful men for friends. Now, Mrs Pendragon was at his door & we are off on an experience experiment.
Recommend
P.S. Full Sexual Activity
February 3, 2021
I read this as a story in the "Have Yourself A Merry Little Secret" anthology collection. This was my favorite novella. Callista is the owner/madame of an elite brothel. She has learned that men are not to be trusted, and enjoys being the dragon lady. When she visits a newer establishment to get a handle on the competition, she meets Eric Maxwell, an older gentleman who insists he is not competition. He is intrigued by her, and makes a bet with her that he intends to win. I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the writing. It was a different spin, no virgins here. The writing is evocative and sensuous. I'll be looking for more of Amy Sandas's books.
June 4, 2021
2 Stars
Well written and interesting. Loved the older silver fox hero Erik. He was wonderful with a fascinatingly colorful past. I did not like the heroine Callista. She was supposed to be this jaded madam and she was but...she was TOO jaded IMHO. It was exhausting and irritating with how cynical she was towards Erik. It didn't present her in a good light and so I felt Erik could do better by the time the end came.
Well written and interesting. Loved the older silver fox hero Erik. He was wonderful with a fascinatingly colorful past. I did not like the heroine Callista. She was supposed to be this jaded madam and she was but...she was TOO jaded IMHO. It was exhausting and irritating with how cynical she was towards Erik. It didn't present her in a good light and so I felt Erik could do better by the time the end came.
July 26, 2021
Very Enjoyable Story!
Fast paced, easy to read novella with a different trope from the stories I've been reading recently. It also has a pair of very interesting characters.
The communication between the main characters while they sort out what they want from each other is quite entertaining and they eventually find their common ground.
All in all, a very enjoyable story and I would be happy to read other books by this author.
Fast paced, easy to read novella with a different trope from the stories I've been reading recently. It also has a pair of very interesting characters.
The communication between the main characters while they sort out what they want from each other is quite entertaining and they eventually find their common ground.
All in all, a very enjoyable story and I would be happy to read other books by this author.
December 26, 2021
A note to be aware of, there is some language and steamy scenes in the story line.
Callista comes from a very hard childhood and yet she has made a career as a successful business woman as a madam. Maxwell also comes from a troubled background, but still has a belief in marriage, love, family and the marital boundaries of the bedroom. The two come to battles of the will...read on to find out who wins or do they both win?
Callista comes from a very hard childhood and yet she has made a career as a successful business woman as a madam. Maxwell also comes from a troubled background, but still has a belief in marriage, love, family and the marital boundaries of the bedroom. The two come to battles of the will...read on to find out who wins or do they both win?
May 4, 2025
It was pretty good. I had no trouble accepting how wary and jaded she was considering h background but it did make you feel sorry for Erik. I also wish we knew more about him than he traveled a lot and had many lovers. I also felt his “seduction” was just being a decent person with a tiny amount of wooing, which I guess works for a jaded madam but felt there should have been more groundwork to make the “connection” seem more real.
February 10, 2021
New London businessman and ex-lothario Erik Maxwell takes on brothel owner/manager Callista Hale in the hopes of making her his. But Madame Pendragon is a tough nut to crack. A sensual, absorbing read.
I read this story from an anthology that is no longer available to purchase, Have Yourself a Merry Little Secret.
I read this story from an anthology that is no longer available to purchase, Have Yourself a Merry Little Secret.
January 11, 2021
This is the 1st book I read by Amy Sandas. This book's storyline was okay. The
characters were okay. The ending was okay. This story needed hot 🔥 & steamy.
characters were okay. The ending was okay. This story needed hot 🔥 & steamy.
December 25, 2021
Read in Have Yourself A Merry Little Secret
May 20, 2025
Not a historical romance IMO
Got about half way in nd it didn't catch my interest. DNF
Got about half way in nd it didn't catch my interest. DNF
December 29, 2020
I finished this short story/book a little bit ago and I had trouble staying interested in it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews