Secret Agenda

Hideaway Legacy #12

by Rochelle Alers

On paper, Vivienne Neal had a lifestyle most people would envy. Only she knows what a sham her marriage really was. So when her politician husband is killed in a hit-and-run accident, she moves to Florida and takes a job as a personal assistant to Diego Cole-Thomas, a powerful CEO with an intimidating reputation.

Vivienne's intelligence and social grace prove invaluable to Diego, and on a business trip to South Carolina's lush Low Country, their business relationship takes a sensual detour. But when threatening letters arrive at Diego's office, he realizes that Vivienne's husband's death was no accident—and that she will meet a similar fate unless they can uncover the scandalous truth together….

Genres: African American Romance, Romance

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2009

About the author

Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.

Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.

Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Reviews

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating Page Turner!!!!!!

I liked how the working relationship between Diego Cole-Thomas and Vivienne Neal evolved into a romantic one. All of the twists and turns: the real events surrounding her husband's hit and run death; the trust issues Vivienne can't seem to overcome and Diego's conflicts with his employees, made this quite an interesting story!

[CLAUDIA DAVIS-PRICE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantly Surprised

The ending was definitely different. I appreciate having a story line that doesn’t just involve sex and being caught up in the moment. The female lead has spunk but Diego really needed to get a life. No one really acts like that or maybe I just don’t know any rich bosses

[Mary Calton Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainment at it finest!

This book highlights the stubbornness of a couple that compliments as well as repels them. Those "Cole" men! The couple smoothed each others rough edges and provided the needed polish.

[Makeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfulllllll

Loved the book!!! I loved the power and tit for tat between Vivian and Diego!!! This was such a good read!!!

[Barbara Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Good plot, mystery love intrigue, scary, anticipating guest. Great love, great thinking, to anticipate what's to happen. Indicate growth from a tragedy.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series...but I thought the ending could have been better

[Phyllis Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this couple. It’s a Re-read for me

[Misherald Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rochelle Alers returns with her thirteenth Hideaway book bringing us a glimpse into the lives of the children of the men & women we fell in love with a decade or more ago.

Diego Cole-Thomas is his grand papa’s twin when it comes to running a business not only is he intimidating to many but he’s a private man who goes after what he wants and doesn’t stop till he gets it. Diego has been on the search for an assistant who can balance his life and business life but with a few stipulations so when he meets Vivienne Kay Neal he is at awe with the woman presented to him because he realizes she does not fear him, which only makes him respect her more.

Vivienne had been at odds with herself when her husband had been killed but she also knew that her marriage had been over way before it could really start. Playing the grieving widow had driven her nuts leaving her to find exile away from it all. However when she finds herself going toe to toe with Diego she refuses to become an arm ornament and she pushes his buttons to get responses to see what worked and what got what.

Diego & Vivienne cross the line of employee and employer taking an office relationship to a completely new level. Rochelle does an excellent job of allowing Diego & Vivienne playing alpha characters without taking away from the book.

I cannot wait for book number fourteen. Who will it be?

[Nikia Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breath taking!

Vivienne was very feisty, perfect match for Cole-Thomas. The ending was perfect. Each love story embarking on their own unique courtship.

[K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sorry. I did not even finish this book and I tried. I tried so hard. But this was not good at all. The character, especially the heroine was one dimensional. I also had a problem with the author spending so much time on the heroine's look. This was like a Jack and Jill club promo with the size 0 body, long hair, light skin, and light eyes. We come in all colors so I have no problem with that. I have an aunt who could pass for white while I am dark skinned. This is normally no problem, but for some reason the way Alers wrote Vivienne Neal was a little distasteful to me. I just did not like this book. I have read other Aler books so this was the exception to her normal rules. Alers has other books that are far, far better.

[agedriven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivienne Neal had to make a change in her life and divorcing her politician husband, Sean Gregory was the first step. Unfortunately, someone decided to make Sean a victim of a hit or run. Vivienne decided to pack up and move to her best friend in Florida. Low and behold she accepted a job with a rich, tyrannt named Diego Cole-Thomas and the business relationship turned to romantic one. But the pain from Vivienne's past barges into her life with Diego and both must prove their love for each other.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it but there was some things that distracted from the book and I could not give it 4 or 5 stars.

[Andrea Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

SCORE: 2.5
Main characters fit the story 3
I wasted my time reading this 2
Okay read 3
I knew that ending was coming 2
emotionally engaged in the story 2

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This read was really so I could finish a series.

[Keisha Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just Love this story.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not like the ending at all!!!!!!!