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Secrets Under the Covers
Two long-time friends…one impulsive seduction…zero percent chance their lives will ever be the same again.
The peace Helen Mansfield struggled to achieve after the death of her husband is threatened when she discovers a lump in her breast. Determined to keep the alarming news to herself until the biopsy results are revealed, she sets out to wring every drop of delight from her days.
Nathan Spieth stood by his wife while she fought and ultimately lost her battle with cancer. Since then, he’s devoted his energy to rebuilding the career that he neglected during her final years, and all his hard work is about to pay off.
As neighbours and friends, Helen and Nathan’s lives have been woven together for more than twenty years. One impetuous, impassioned night might destroy everything they share—or prove to this fiercely independent woman and determinedly solitary man that love is always worth the risk.
The peace Helen Mansfield struggled to achieve after the death of her husband is threatened when she discovers a lump in her breast. Determined to keep the alarming news to herself until the biopsy results are revealed, she sets out to wring every drop of delight from her days.
Nathan Spieth stood by his wife while she fought and ultimately lost her battle with cancer. Since then, he’s devoted his energy to rebuilding the career that he neglected during her final years, and all his hard work is about to pay off.
As neighbours and friends, Helen and Nathan’s lives have been woven together for more than twenty years. One impetuous, impassioned night might destroy everything they share—or prove to this fiercely independent woman and determinedly solitary man that love is always worth the risk.
- GenresContemporaryRomance
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2022
21 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Margriet
24 books100 followersBrenda Margriet writes savvy, slow burn, contemporary romances with ordinarily amazing characters. In her own ordinarily amazing life, she had a successful career in radio and television production before deciding to pilfer from her retirement plan to support her writing compulsion.
Readers have called her stories “poignant,” “explicit and steamy,” “interesting, intriguing and entertaining,” and “unlike any romance you’ve read before” (she assumes the latter was meant in a good way).
Subscribe to Brenda’s newsletter and you’ll immediately receive a free read. You’ll also tag along with her dog-walking adventures, find out what she’s reading when she should be working, and other randomness…along with all her writing news, of course!
https://www.subscribepage.com/brendas...
A quick note to those reading Brenda's reviews on Good Reads. Her star rankings might seem on the low side. It's not because she's mean, just picky.
Readers have called her stories “poignant,” “explicit and steamy,” “interesting, intriguing and entertaining,” and “unlike any romance you’ve read before” (she assumes the latter was meant in a good way).
Subscribe to Brenda’s newsletter and you’ll immediately receive a free read. You’ll also tag along with her dog-walking adventures, find out what she’s reading when she should be working, and other randomness…along with all her writing news, of course!
https://www.subscribepage.com/brendas...
A quick note to those reading Brenda's reviews on Good Reads. Her star rankings might seem on the low side. It's not because she's mean, just picky.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 24, 2022
This book gets one star because the author can spell and doesn’t make any terrible grammatical errors and because none of the writing is weirdly stilted and one star for all the weird BC content that makes me simultaneously nostalgic and so glad that I moved.
But Helen is awful. She’s selfish, oblivious to the feelings of those around her, and spends most of the book with her wrist glued firmly to her forehead. She’s exhausting, and if I were Nathan I would have moved to the Island as fast as I possibly could. I’m related to enough people like Helen that I don’t actually want to read about them.
The conflict isn’t very interesting, since it almost all comes from Helen’s self-centredness, rather than any actual points of friction between Helen and Nathan, but, since we’re supposed to like Helen, the book refuses to acknowledge when she’s treating Nathan or anyone else badly and more or less assumes that her behaviour is justified. It also refuses to explore any of her so-called issues that cause her behaviour so that you understand where she’s coming from.
But hey, it was free.
But Helen is awful. She’s selfish, oblivious to the feelings of those around her, and spends most of the book with her wrist glued firmly to her forehead. She’s exhausting, and if I were Nathan I would have moved to the Island as fast as I possibly could. I’m related to enough people like Helen that I don’t actually want to read about them.
The conflict isn’t very interesting, since it almost all comes from Helen’s self-centredness, rather than any actual points of friction between Helen and Nathan, but, since we’re supposed to like Helen, the book refuses to acknowledge when she’s treating Nathan or anyone else badly and more or less assumes that her behaviour is justified. It also refuses to explore any of her so-called issues that cause her behaviour so that you understand where she’s coming from.
But hey, it was free.
October 18, 2022
Good seasoned romance
This is the first book I've read by this author. It's nice to read a story about an "older" seasoned couple. The portrayal was fairly accurate, for the most part. I would have liked to have seen a conversation or at least a deeper internal monologue about how Helen's experiences with her controlling mother contributed to her reluctance to ask for help. I don't think she ever really explained any of that to him.
This is the first book I've read by this author. It's nice to read a story about an "older" seasoned couple. The portrayal was fairly accurate, for the most part. I would have liked to have seen a conversation or at least a deeper internal monologue about how Helen's experiences with her controlling mother contributed to her reluctance to ask for help. I don't think she ever really explained any of that to him.
October 31, 2022
Realistic and Inspiring
Love, romance, passion… they don’t end at 35. And no doubt, this story has all three of those components. But it doesn’t end there. The author explores real life issues, the influence of past wounds, and the push-pull of personal dreams and family responsibility. And she wraps it in a Nathan coloured bow.
Love, romance, passion… they don’t end at 35. And no doubt, this story has all three of those components. But it doesn’t end there. The author explores real life issues, the influence of past wounds, and the push-pull of personal dreams and family responsibility. And she wraps it in a Nathan coloured bow.
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July 27, 2023Finally! A story truly written for me
At 76, I have a full blown addiction to romances. I've read older (not my age but at least over 50) men and 30 something women and vice versa kind of stories. It always makes me grateful someone recognizes sexual thoughts and desires don't fade away as we age. This was just wish fulfilment with BOTH protagonists fully mature. Now I'm waiting for someone to write an elder love story and I'll devour it as well.
I appreciate that the plot did not just substitute older characters in a tale about young people's concerns. Instead, she was willing to tackle our worries -- failing health, children's concerns, and trying to determine our best financial investments to provide for our future.
Well done and heartfelt thanks, Ms Magriet! Keep 'em coming! I'll keep buying.
At 76, I have a full blown addiction to romances. I've read older (not my age but at least over 50) men and 30 something women and vice versa kind of stories. It always makes me grateful someone recognizes sexual thoughts and desires don't fade away as we age. This was just wish fulfilment with BOTH protagonists fully mature. Now I'm waiting for someone to write an elder love story and I'll devour it as well.
I appreciate that the plot did not just substitute older characters in a tale about young people's concerns. Instead, she was willing to tackle our worries -- failing health, children's concerns, and trying to determine our best financial investments to provide for our future.
Well done and heartfelt thanks, Ms Magriet! Keep 'em coming! I'll keep buying.
Want to Read
February 14, 2026🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (9/3/2022)! 🎁
August 18, 2022
So great that more romance authors are writing stories where the main characters are of a “mature” age! Just because someone is over 50 (or 60 or…you get the idea!), they can still be looking for that right One. In fact, a lot of older adults have maybe lost their spouses, the children are raised, their careers are winding down, etc. They have more time for finding someone special…or maybe that someone special is right next door!
Such is the case with Nathan and Helen. Helen is a retired art teacher (now working at a tattoo shop) whose husband passed away 3 years ago. Her longtime neighbor, Nathan, has been widowed for 5 years. Their families have been “neighbor” friends for some time but Helen has seen more of Nathan since her husband passed as they’re members of the same book club.
When Helen receives some disturbing news, she turns to Nathan, at first out of a need to reaffirm herself but her reasons change. And for Nathan, he’s been attracted to Helen for some time but only until she makes an overture does he respond in kind.
But these are two individuals with a lot more responsibilities than many younger lovers. And while some uncertainties lie ahead in some areas of Helen’s life (being vague to avoid spoilers!), and Nathan has important decisions he too must make, can they explore the possibilities of being together?
A heartwarming story with wonderful characters that feel so real, they could be your friends!
Such is the case with Nathan and Helen. Helen is a retired art teacher (now working at a tattoo shop) whose husband passed away 3 years ago. Her longtime neighbor, Nathan, has been widowed for 5 years. Their families have been “neighbor” friends for some time but Helen has seen more of Nathan since her husband passed as they’re members of the same book club.
When Helen receives some disturbing news, she turns to Nathan, at first out of a need to reaffirm herself but her reasons change. And for Nathan, he’s been attracted to Helen for some time but only until she makes an overture does he respond in kind.
But these are two individuals with a lot more responsibilities than many younger lovers. And while some uncertainties lie ahead in some areas of Helen’s life (being vague to avoid spoilers!), and Nathan has important decisions he too must make, can they explore the possibilities of being together?
A heartwarming story with wonderful characters that feel so real, they could be your friends!
February 1, 2025
As I get older, I want to read books about people my age. I'm so tired of reading about teenager and 20 year-olds.
That's why I love Brenda Margriet. I got my library to order the Silverberry Seduction series and I started with book #3 (Turn the Next Page), as I own and have read Book #2.
This story was just so sweet! It's how the Silverberries started! As a boring book club.
It involves two friends who are neighbors. Have been for years. Then Helen gets the news that there's a lump in her breast. Breast cancer runs in her family and she's convinced that she will have cancer. Having just had my first mammogram and a similar situation, this resonated with me.
So, that night, she asks Nathan, her neighbor, to have sex. They do. It's great! And now they have to figure out what to do next.
I really enjoy these books because they are set in Canada, which is the home of my ancestors, and I love reading about this country.
Anyway, I highly recommend! On to fourth book in the series!
That's why I love Brenda Margriet. I got my library to order the Silverberry Seduction series and I started with book #3 (Turn the Next Page), as I own and have read Book #2.
This story was just so sweet! It's how the Silverberries started! As a boring book club.
It involves two friends who are neighbors. Have been for years. Then Helen gets the news that there's a lump in her breast. Breast cancer runs in her family and she's convinced that she will have cancer. Having just had my first mammogram and a similar situation, this resonated with me.
So, that night, she asks Nathan, her neighbor, to have sex. They do. It's great! And now they have to figure out what to do next.
I really enjoy these books because they are set in Canada, which is the home of my ancestors, and I love reading about this country.
Anyway, I highly recommend! On to fourth book in the series!
August 25, 2022
Helen , a widow ,and Nate a widower have been next door neighbors for many years. Their families have always been close so it was only natural that they would come to rely on and support each other. Secrets abound here as one 's feelings are a bit more than friendship. Helen is also about to face a crisis and who does she turn to? I loved the characters and storyline. I especially liked that I could relate to the age group.
September 15, 2022
A heart-warming story of neighbours who have both lost their partners to cancer. When Helen finds there is a possibility she has breast cancer she looks for affirmation of life in her neighbour Nathan's arms. It should have been a once only event but Nathan has other ideas. A wonderfull story about second chances and taking life one day at a time and just maybe it's ok to lean on someone for support.
May 28, 2023
Helen finds a lump & she decides to keep quiet about it, & just live life to the fullest in the meantime. Nathan is trying to sort himself out a bit after losing his wife to cancer, he's in line for a job where he'll have to move away from where he currently lives. They have been neighbors & friends for years, until one night that could end up changing things for both of them.
This was a nice story, with the twist right from the start, quite original.
This was a nice story, with the twist right from the start, quite original.
November 6, 2024
This is a fun, entertaining read. Nathan and Helen are interesting, intriguing, relatable, complex, strong, complicated, wounded, entertaining characters. These two were fun to spend time with. I enjoyed the path their romance took to get to their HEA. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. While the story deals with some hard topics (cancer, loss) Margriet handles them with depth of understanding and compassion that comes across in the writing.
October 14, 2022
Wonderful!
Great second time around love story. Neighbors for years, both have lost their spouses to cancer! She has a cancer scare so before her biopsy, proposes that they have one night of sex together! This is what happens after.
Great second time around love story. Neighbors for years, both have lost their spouses to cancer! She has a cancer scare so before her biopsy, proposes that they have one night of sex together! This is what happens after.
October 25, 2024
As an ex-widower, this was a journey I experienced. The questions and answers and solutions were very much my own. Great character development, situations and twists made every chapter fun to engage. Didn’t realize how enjoyable the story arc would become for me.
March 25, 2023
mf - white MCs - neighbors to lovers - best friends to lovers - widowed MCs - mature (50s) romance - novella - single parents - small town - 4 stars. Fun read!
December 26, 2024
Kinda boring.
Also the point of narration bothered me for some reason. Also, a few sentences were missing words or weirdly formulated as if the sentence changed halfway
Also the point of narration bothered me for some reason. Also, a few sentences were missing words or weirdly formulated as if the sentence changed halfway
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews