Book Review: S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared by L. Marie Adeline

S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared

by L. Marie Adeline 

Release Date: October 15, 2013

Source: Publisher

Summary: And so begins S.E.C.R.E.T. II, which opens with Cassie's initiation into this mysterious organization, one that helps women experience their most potent sexual fantasies. Cassie spends the next year as a "S.E.C.R.E.T. member-at-large," not quite a guide, she'll assist Committee members (including two new ones, Kit DeMarco and Angela Rejean) in recruiting men and helping to execute a new inductee's fantasies. 

After a false start with the first potential inductee, Cassie makes the acquaintance of Dauphine Gray, a 31-year old who works at the Funky Monkey vintage clothing store on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Geeky, gawky and easily distracted, Dauphine has no idea how attractive she really is because her face is forever in a book. Reading is her passion, music is her pleasure, and Dauphine's all but given up on sex, especially after a painful rejection that still haunts her. Then Cassie and the women from S.E.C.R.E.T. show her it's possible to reignite that flame.

Meanwhile, Cassie must work through her resentment over losing Will to Tracina and their future baby. But when paternity questions surface, Tracina threatens to expose Cassie's S.E.C.R.E.T. membership to the one man both women love. Will Tracina expose Cassie to Will, and if she does, what will he make of his secret love's S.E.C.R.E.T. life?

Review: That's right, Cassie is back at S.E.C.R.E.T., but this time as an actual member. While the first book following Cassie's journey didn't really give me anything to love, I just couldn't put down the second book to the series. 

Now that Cassie has gone through S.E.C.R.E.T.'s program, she's now working as a member, recruiting new men and women to join the organization. And Dauphine is the perfect new candidate. Hiding behind her vintage clothing business, Dauphine is just as shy and reserved as Cassie was before she joined the program. While helping Dauphine discover her womanhood, Cassie is still dealing with losing Will and trying to find a new flame of her own. 

Like I said, I could not put this book down. I loved how the chapters switched between Dauphine and Cassie, so you never get bored with either of the character's storyline. I really loved Dauphine and I think she was the absolute perfect character to introduce into the story. Her sense of style sounded really cool and I loved how she was such a strong woman who's owned her own business since her early twenties, but still had no idea how to be comfortable with her body. 

And let's not forget about Cassie! It was a lot of fun seeing how much she's grown since the first book, and how she has to deal with finally discovering her feelings for Will, only to have to give him up. While she tries to find some romance in her life, it's like nothing can live up to Will. 

I had a problem with how weird the timing was in the first book, where months at a time were skipped, but I think that problem was definitely fixed in this book. I didn't feel like I was missing out on any part of their lives and the pacing was perfect as we switched between Cassie and Dauphine's lives. 

Overall, the second book to the S.E.C.R.E.T. series was even better than the first. With strong characters, tons of hot guys, and many great storylines, you can't go wrong with this one.