Secrets and Seduction

The Billionaire Spy Series

by Amaryllis Lanza

Can the willful and independent Mariana handle the sting of being taken in hand by the billionaire spy?

When crisis-management and PR specialist Mariana Stein meets a handsome and charming tree surgeon, William Smith, in the frostbitten orange orchards of Orlando, she feels a powerful attraction and breaks her strict rules about mixing business and pleasure. When she meets up with Smith again, by chance, on his turf in the hills of Connecticut, she discovers that this green-thumbed man of her dreams is an onion, with many layers, each of them more intriguing than the next, and as likely to make her laugh as make her cry.


William Smith has learned to manage his multiple roles well, over the years, always governing himself by what is expected of a man, to protect and defend the most vulnerable. In, Mariana he has found his one true match, and there is no way he can afford to let her slip through his fingers. They marry in a rush, but Mariana’s stubborn streak is vexing, and could prove lethal. Can he get his delightful and independent new bride to obey him, for her own good? He’s determined to succeed or to die trying. The family paddle might help. As the couple begins their life together, Mariana learns Will’s big secret—and she’s only scratched the surface.

Can the willful and independent Mariana handle the sting of being taken in hand by the billionaire spy? She’s willing to stand by her man, though sitting by him might prove painful.

This is book one of the series but can be enjoyed independently.

Publisher’s Note: This contemporary romance includes elements of danger, suspense, mystery, intrigue, action, adventure, sensual scenes, and power exchange. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

254 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2020

About the author

Fiery romance and suspense author Amaryllis Lanza took the road less traveled early on and has enjoyed many adventures in far flung places. She’s settled for a while in the green and rolling countryside of Northern Europe where she shares her life with her lovely husband and her frolicking cats.
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She particularly loves stories in which alpha males meet feisty females and get in all sorts of trouble but ultimately find true love. She doesn't shy away from dark themes, blazing hot and edgy scenes or complex characters. Writing has been her dream (and her compulsion) since she was a girl and she feels blessed to be able to do it professionally now that she's (mostly) an adult.

If you like your billionaire romance, jerk romance, dark romance, cowboy romance, paranormal romance or name-your-flavor of romance to have a memorable cast, a plot that surprises, scenes hot enough to melt the ice shell on Europa, with plenty of wit and sexy banter then you are her kind of people and are bound to love her fictional worlds.

When she’s not writing (and reading) racy romance, suspense, and urban fantasy Amaryllis works as a freelance journalist.
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Get in touch, seriously, or follow on social—she loves to hear from readers!

Reviews

[L.A. Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of a great series. I started with book 2 (which I loved) and had to go back and read this one.

[lovelust andbloodygoodbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to begin with this book, being in third person it was a bit odd to me at first as I have become so used to reading in first person however the book itself and the storyline is enjoyable and good.

Marianna is a PR and marketing specialist who is top of her game. A bad relationship from the past has set her back emotionally but when she goes to florida to help out on a job she is blown away by the tall and handsome Will. Marianna fights him off for all of 2 seconds and then concedes to the attraction and they spend a night of memorable passion together.

Will is the Head of a very secretive organisation. He leads a life with many roles, many secrets but is very old fashioned and used to people's compliance. After pining for Mariana for 2 weeks he thinks his chances of seeing her again are slim however he attends a job with one of Mariana's clients and ends up running into her.

These 2 move so fast they literally get married within a week and the rest is history until will reveals most of his secrets to Marianna who has lots to get her head around and also getting to see the other side of the man she has married.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a nice read my only critique would be that some of the feelings and sexual scenes were rushed or brushed over quickly. Which for me meant I felt detracted from the events and feelings taking place and a bit like an outsider. Although I would like to see where takes the other books in this series.

[Amy Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mariana Stein, a PR consultant who handles crises for big names in the art fields, is helping a friend in Orlando, Florida, where she meets Will Smith, an arborist hired by the same corporate citrus farm when disease ravages their crop.
They spend an unforgettable night together, and then she is fired from the job the following morning. Will fell for her that night, and while she is drawn to him, she hesitates, wondering if it's a one-night stand,
They both end up on the same estate in New Jersey, and then end up at his lake home in Connecticut. She admits to him that she loves him too, and after their second night together, they are engaged. In less than a week, they are married.
All is not as it seems, however. Mariana knows Will is keeping secrets. He has told her as much. Once he does share with her, it will take time to get used to, but they get their HEA, which is the best part of the story.
This book has a complicated storyline, and it is not a quick read. It is, however, quite entertaining, and I definitely recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah | Retro Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mariana Stein is a confident woman who knows what she wants. And one night, what she wants is Will Smith. But after one passionate night, Mariana doesn’t think she’ll ever see Will again... not that she can stop thinking about him, and the night they shared. Little does she know that Will feels the same way that she does. And when fate caused them to run into each other again, Mariana agrees to give Will a real chance. But Will has secrets of his own, secrets that he can’t tell Mariana yet. Secrets that he will only be able to tell her if she becomes his wife...

Wow! This book was full of action and zeal, and had an air of danger that was really interesting to see play out. Will is definitely not the kind of guy he seems at first, but that doesn’t make him any less of a great character! Mariana is beautiful and charming, and she and Will together make a handsome, passionate couple. I will be reading book 2 to find out what happens next with this couple!

I received a free copy of this book from the author, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

ew
Donna L
3.0 out of 5 stars Worth The Effort
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2020
I found this story hard to follow at times.I was in a
state of confusion not really understanding the plot.
I did enjoy the emotional connection between Will
and Mariana, but even Mariana seemed confused by
Will’s secrets.

Will was a simple but old fashioned man who gained
satisfaction from being a tree surgeon.He kept his cards
close to his heart.He knew that Mariana was meant for
him after one night of passion.Mariana did not believe
in mixing business with pleasure until she met Will.His
offer of a new life left her reeling.Were they moving too
fast.
“I will be your home,your comfort, and your shelter.”
“I will be your family if you let me”.

This story includes some discipline scenes and secrets.
The sexual tension between Will and Mariana was like
a hot flame that ignited with a passion.This book takes
all your concentration,but that’s not necessarily a bad
thing.

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mariana meets the handsome and charming Will Smith in the frostbitten orange orchards of Orlando, FL. She feels a powerful pull and attraction towards Will and breaks her rule about mixing business with pleasure. She meets up with Smith again on his turf in Connecticut. She finds that he has no green thumb but he's and onion with lots of layers. Will Smith finds his true match in Mariana and within a week they are married. But Mariana is stubborn, delightful and independent and he needs her to obey him so he can keep her safe. He finally uses the family paddle. As they begin their life together Mariana learns Will's secret but there are still layers under the surface. This story includes danger, suspense, mystery, adventure, action hot sexy scenes and spankings. Love the story. I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pico1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable story about Mariana, a successful owner of a PR-publicity business, and William, who she met and had a one night stand with – but meets again and they fall into instant love, marrying before she knows much about him beyond the fact that he is an expert with trees and plants. After their marriage, she learns she has married an extremely complex and wealthy man, and while they get to know each other better, the sex is enjoyable and she learns that he has a dominant streak to match her submissive one, so she ends up with some spankings as well. The complexity of William, as a person, and the strength of Mariana, remind me a little of Howard Roark and Dagny Taggart from Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” – although this book is a much shorter and less worked out story. I liked the characters, and the story moved quickly and in an interesting way. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marybeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a complicated story. You really need to read closely to follow the plot. Mariana is a young woman who handles crises for actors, etc. She also does PR for her corporate clients. She meets Will, a tree arborist and it is as lightning struck for them both. Will is mysterious and doesn't really let anyone know who he really is. But he loves Mariana and he talks her into marrying him quickly. They have a sort of power exchange with Will being the dominant. They have a HFN and it looks like the next book will continue the story line.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Mariana who is a PR rep., and William who is a tree surgeon. They meet they hook up, Mariana doing a favor for a friend, then is fired. Will and Mariana hook up for a one night stand. Then meet again and hook up get engage and within a week are married. Will has secrets and told Mariana that he has secrets. He also used discipline to keep Mariana in line. The secret that comes out is a big one. The characters are great and the story was really good. Well written and I just love it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Renee (BookLoveWithRenee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets and Seduction • The Billionaire Spy Series Book 1
@amaryllislanza
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is a complex story of knowing true love when it finds you unexpectedly & learning to trust without knowing the full story. As evident in the title, there are secrets, steamy seduction, and a little bit of mystery.

I really enjoyed this story. The beginning started off a little slow for me, so it took a while to suck me in. Once it did, I was hooked! I'm very much looking forward seeing where Will and Mariana's adventures take them. Overall, this plot is intriguing & leaves me wanting more!

This book is also written in 3rd person, which is not a favorite writing style for me. This is just my personal preference. I feel like 3rd person can be impersonal & take away from the story's potential.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are great and engaging and the storyline kept me entertained throughout the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Louise Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sexy romantic suspense. A millionaire, a spy, and a romance. What's more to love?

[L.A. Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read book 2 of the series so I had to go back and read this one! It's just as great as the other and guess what there are more to read!! Looks like it's a must read series.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crisis-management and PR specialist Mariana Stein was at a job and met handsome tree surgeon William Smith in frostbitten orange orchards in Orlando she breaks her number one rule, gives in to their attraction, and mixes business with pleasure. When she meets him accidentally in the hills of Connecticut she discovers he is just like an onion with many layers that are as likely to make her laugh as they are to make her cry. William Smith has learned to manage multiple roles well so they are as expected and protecting and defending the most vulnerable. Mariana is his one true match and he just cannot afford to let her slip through his fingers. In a rush, they marry but her stubborn streak is vexing to him and could potentially prove lethal. Can he get his delightful and independent new bride to obey him for her own good? He is determined to succeed and hopes that the family paddle will help him. As he reveals his big secret can she be taken in hand by the billionaire spy even though sitting might prove painful?

I enjoyed this story. It was an unusual book that contains a mystery, some deception, trust issues, a little power play between consenting partners, and some really big secrets that I fear will be compromised as the series progresses and William struggles to keep a lid on Mariana and her dangerous (yet delightful) willful nature? The language used was clear and easy to understand. The story flow was logical and made sense. Contains some mature content .