Condemned by Secrets

Rolling Brook #4

by Blye Donovan

Can he win her over before his investigation lands them both in danger?

The life of a small-town cop is making Luther Monroe restless, but the new girl is about to liven things up. When he stops to help this damsel in distress, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the haughty little brunette, but her perfume reminds him of his favorite candy and leaves him craving a taste of her.

Anna Hendricks has just moved to Rolling Brook to be the town’s historic preservationist. Her first day on the job, it becomes clear someone already has it in for her. But who? When the police officer willing to help her is also determined to date her, it isn’t only her job that’s threatened—it’s her heart. Will she give into his charms or will the secrets she keeps condemn her to face the threat alone?

Find out in this suspenseful, opposites-attract romance!

Genres: Contemporary

267 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2022

About the author

I write pulse-pounding romantic suspense books. With small-town settings (sometimes—but not always).

Love quirky characters and familiar landmarks that show up in multiple books of a series? You'll find those in my Rolling Brook Protectors.

My characters typically include alpha protectors, strong heroines, and dangerous villains.

Some common tropes in my books are forced proximity, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, second chance.

Want a free novella featuring a woman on the run, a former military hero, and forced proximity? Sign up for my newsletter and download your copy at: https://linktr.ee/blyedonovan.

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

“Condemned by Secrets” is a very fast-paced romantic suspense between two very likable characters.

Read full review in the 2022 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Miss Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding addition to the Rolling Brook series. Anna and Luther are a beautiful couple in this heartwarming tale of secrets, suspense and love so bright it could light up the darkest hole.
Luther walked straight into my heart. He’s a beautiful character, cheeky, happy, open, total alpha and everything you want in a man. He’s known pain in his past and while this has helped shape him into the man he is, his mothers love embedded a knowledge of right and wrong and a mile wide moral code he stands by in his professional life as a police officer and his personal life. Can’t blame him for his snack obsession, they’re my favourite so he has good taste.
Anna has been hurt in the past in a way no one should be hurt and yet she has collected knowledge and understanding in spades for her chosen profession in order to succeed by doing what she loves. I love how Blye Donovan made Anna true to life in the way her past has shaped her need to raise walls and protect herself because let’s face it we all do that.
Anna is a beautiful character, not afraid to stand up for herself, give her opinion and fight for what’s right and true.
I love the interactions between Luther and Anna. It’s beautiful and heartwarming to watch Luther work for what he wants whilst also realising that Anna is worth the work. And Anna fight to allow herself to open up and risk being hurt.
There’s no doubt the chemistry between them is off the charts, but what is more powerful for me, was the feelings growing between them. The acceptance and understanding. Their willingness to stay and fight for what they want.
They protect and fight for each other despite the evil around them, wanting justice and the truth to come out.
Blye Donovan has a wonderful ability to create this magical world we can jump into without hesitation, a world that welcomes us with open arms, but for me the thing that makes her books so beautiful is the way she creates situations that we can equate with real life.
This book is a terrific addition to the Rolling Brook series.
Couldn’t recommend highly enough.
5 stars is nowhere near enough to do this book justice.

[Charissa Gracyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste The Rainbow!
This story was sweet, suspenseful and had just enough angst to keep me biting my nails and rooting for Anna and Luther to get together. I don't do well with angst lol! But Blye does it in such a beautiful way that it's necessary for the characters' journey and when they finally do get together, it was so worth the wait! I loved the little nicknames they had for each other and I enjoy a confident hero like Luther who knows from the first moment he sees the heroine that she's what he wants and he'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. It's clear that the author also has a lot of knowledge about historical preservation and I found that very interesting. Rolling Brook may be a small town, but it is big on action, danger and suspense! Looking forward to what happens next! Great job, Blye!!

[Nooksandshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Anna moves to Rolling Creek everything seems to go wrong right from the start with a meeting not going as she hoped and then discovering a flat tire when she's more than ready to call it a day.

Up shows Luther, town police officer and official hottie, offering to help her out. When he suspects foul play concerning her tire he decides to investigate further, and thereby spend more time with Anna.

As Anna tries to keep some distance between her and Luther there seems to be no end to her hardships with her job and some of the residents in Rolling Brook. Can she truly rely on Luther? And who can she really trust around town?

Blye Donovan excels at writing small town, steamy romance combined with a heavy dose of mystery, and I love it!

I really hope there'll be more books in this series or that she'll write more in this genre 🥰

[Vicki Simonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Anna moves to Rolling Creek everything seems to go wrong right from the start with a meeting not going as she hoped and then discovering a flat tire when she's more than ready to call it a day.
Up shows Luther, town police officer and official hottie, offering to help her out. When he suspects foul play concerning her tire he decides to investigate further, and thereby spend more time with Anna.

As Anna tries to keep some distance between her and Luther there seems to be no end to her hardships with her job and some of the residents in Rolling Brook. Can she truly rely on Luther? And who can she really trust around town?

Blye Donovan excels at writing small town, steamy romance combined with a heavy dose of mystery, and I love it!
I really hope there'll be more books in this series or that she'll write more in this genre 🥰

[Nina Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two things I’m now addicted to after reading this book; Skittles and Blye Donovan’s romantic suspense. I absolutely love this story and the characters, oh the characters… I still think about them. Well, one in particular when I’m eating skittles, iykyk.

Right off the bat Anna is a strong heroine, who has such an endearing quality about her. I wanted to be her friend. And Luther, holy smokes! Blye knows how to write those protective heroes I swoon for! Luther is a bit of a charmer with a lot of a sexy protector mixed in. He’s utterly irresistible, not even the strong willed Anna could resist his charms.

I love all of the books in this series, but this one had a special element that really interests me, Anna’s love for old buildings and preservation. I was enthralled in the descriptions and could imagine them beautifully. Rolling Brook felt like a real place and I wish I could go visit.

This book has everything: tension, suspense, emotion and heat. There was a touch of angst, which I loved because it brought out so many emotions. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Blye knows how to tell a story that pulls the reader into the pages. She just gets better with every book. I love the Rolling Brook series and I can’t wait to see what Blye Donovan has in store for us next.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the Rolling Brook series. I haven’t read the first two books in this series yet but I did read the 3rd book and it was amazing. So I was looking forward to this coming out. Donovan has a way of capturing you from the beginning. This is such a good book.

Anna is new to Rolling Brook and is the new historical preservationist. But she ends up with a flat tire and Officer Luther comes to her aid. He immediately falls for her, her scent like that of skittles (his favorite). But she’s reserved, fighting her own demons from a past relationship. Luther realizes this flat was no accident. Can Anna and Luther figure out who’s behind it and why?

When she finally lets him in, wow, it gets steamy. Anna and Luther together are perfect. I loved the progression of their relationship. Full of mystery, romance, suspense, drama, angst, steam, chemistry, protection, twists and turns trying to find out what’s going to happen next. Can’t wait to read more from Donovan.

I received an arc and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

[Jens_Book_Cubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am seriously loving this series of small town romances.

This is the fourth fantastic book in the Rolling Brook Series and follows Luther, who is a town cop, and Anna, who is a town newcomer.

The story is full of intrigue, mystery, and danger. I love how Luther and Anna’s relationship develops and thoroughly enjoyed their story.

If you are a huge fan of small town romances, as I am, then I absolutely recommend this book and series.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent addition to the series. Anna is new in town and has already made an enemy or two on her first outing. She didn’t mean to. Heck, she didn’t even know that she did. But when Luther stops to help her change her suspiciously flat tire, he discovers that it was no accident. Too bad he can’t stop seeming to mock Anna during their encounter so he can maybe get to know her. Granted, there’s a bit of miscommunication between the two of them, because Luther isn’t mocking Anna at all. Oh, no. He’s falling hard for a woman who doesn’t seem to like him at all. And Anna is afraid that he’s just like a man from her past. Can these two find some common ground before things get truly dangerous?

The suspense and mystery building around who’s shady, why, and what their plan is with this town and some historic properties kept me hooked page after page. And when Luther and Anna finally get it (and themselves) together, things are looking up. For the most part. Anna is still at odds with a few people who seem content to ignore what’s best, Luther is still trying to get to the bottom of his mystery, and then things blow up in a big way. Some of the players are who you expect, but others definitely weren’t. And all of this adds up to another fantastic tale of love and danger in this small town.

Now I just wonder who the new guy or gal in town will be. Because there’s at least one vacant job to be filled and I’m sure that we’ll have another rollercoaster of a journey to love with whoever fills the spots.

[Nina F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Blye Donovan. I probably sound like a broken record by now, but every book in her Rolling Brook series that I read seals it further--it's cozy romantic suspense utopia. You can always sense who the "bad guys" are right from the start, but it doesn't stop you from reading. There's something so special about the "safe bubble" this provides. If I wanted to chew my nails off, I'd pick up a thriller. But Blye's books are absolutely perfect for whenever I feel like reading something suspensful that won't cause me any stress and, instead, offer a soothing, steamy, fast-paced read.

Anna and Luther's story is no different when it comes to the suspense plot. It follows the Blye Donovan formula I've come to love so much.
Their relationship, however, was a whole other thing. She's nerdy and holds back while he's all manly cop who goes after what he wants. Which is her. Absolutely loved it.

Also, as a fan of Skittles, I totally get Luther's obsession with them. 🤣

Highly recommend this book! If you're a fan of small towns and heartfelt characters, it'll fit in so well on your bookshelf.

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Reluctant heroine, hero falls first, opposites attract.

𝗣𝗢𝗩: Dual, 3rd person, past tense.

💔 Angst: 3/5
🔥 Spice 3/5

👤 Character development 5/5
🌍 World-building 5/5
📝 Plot 4/5

⛔CW: Verbal s3xual h@rrasment toward the heroine.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to Rolling Brook, Anna was recently hired to head the local preservation society. From day one on the job, she gets resistance from the mayor who is pushing her agenda to tear down old relics and rebuild modern buildings in their place. Luther is a police officer who assists Anna when she has a flat tire. When he realizes her tire was slashed, his need to investigate and his desire to get to know Anna lead him to draw Anna out of her protective shell.

Condemned by Secrets is a romantic suspense story with heart. The characters have depth, the plot is well developed, and the romance is sizzling. Throw in some fun with Skittles, a passion for restoration and antiques, and some great chemistry, and you have a story that is easy to read, will make you smile, and will keep you reading from page one. Blye Donovan’s Rolling Brook series gets better with each book! There is a HEA and while this is a part of a larger interconnected series, it is a standalone novel.

[Brayzen Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Condemned by Secrets is a great addition to Blye Donovan’s Rolling Brook series. Definitely my favorite book of the series so far, it has a nice level of steam and suspense. Luther is quite the charmer and he has definitely met his match in Anna. Donovan does a really nice job of establishing Anna as a strong, independent young woman, who also has scars that hold her back from moving forward in a relationship. And Luther is the perfect level of growly, persistent, but gentle protector to bring her out of her shell. The suspense and intrigue build beautifully through the story, interweaving Anna and Luther’s relationship and their jobs. Donovan uses excellent pacing to move the story forward, and her attention to detail creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. Condemned can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but the series is well worth the read as well.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book except for Luther Monroe in the beginning being a little too pushy, but he grew on me as the story went on. Officer Eye Candy and he loves Skittles. Anna Hendricks is new to town and not only is she having to deal with a pushy cop but a dodgy mayor. This story has lots of romance, suspense and mystery. Dive in a enjoy the ride

[Read All About It · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fishsticks!


This series just gets better with every single story. Luther is a small town cop. He meets Anna and there attraction is amazing.

Anna stood a couple feet away as he worked on the tire, and he smelled her perfume. It was sweet and fruity, reminding him of Skittles. He loved Skittles.

Anna is gun shy after a bad experience in college. She wants to focus on work but Officer Yummy just won’t give up.

This is a wonderful small town slow burn romance with just enough suspense to keep the pages flying.

Only one more book in this series and I can’t wait.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luther is completely Skittlicious! He is a mouthwatering, delicious man that makes you want to taste the rainbow.

Anna is the quiet new girl in town, the preservationist. The poor girl isn’t just dealing with the discomforts of a new home and job, but she lacks the proper welcoming. Someone doesn’t want her there.
Thankfully she was not alone.

Luther is charming and sometimes cocky and sure of himself while Anna is independent, stubborn, shy, and a tad insecure which I feel I can relate to the latter a lot. She was real.

The author made me fall into this story fast and hard. I was right there, feeling what Anna felt, smelling and tasting Luther. I loved how Anna kept Luther on his toes and not giving in to him, as much as she wanted to. These two are perfect for each other.

Highly recommend this suspense romance!

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange of an honest interview. The story follows Anna, a city girl who moved to the small town Rolling Brooks as a town historic preservationist and caught the eye of the Adonis looking cop, Logan. Just found out it’s actually the fourth book in a series but I think it can be read as a standalone too. I wasn’t lost when reading it. Plot wise it *sounds* interesting but the payoff isn’t there. The writing was moderate tbh and the characters weren’t that exciting. The mystery aspect was kinda obvious so where’s the fun in that. The romance between Anna and Logan is not that bad though I did get a bit annoyed with them at the beginning. Also Anna doesn’t swear and uses words like “fudgesticks”, “oh my gravy” etc as replacements.

[Cassandra's Rebellion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very intensive and raw. Be ready for a suspenseful and steamy experience.
Complementary copy of ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.

[Sandy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Anna and Luther were perfect. I'm so glad the captain is gone.