Review: S.E.C.R.E.T Shared (Secret#2)

Title: S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared (Secret #2)
Author: L. Marie Adeline
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: Erotica
Length: Novel
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 2
Sexual - 4

"I, Cassie Robichaud, solemnly swear to serve S.E.C.R.E.T. to the best of my abilities. I
will do what is necessary, what is right and what is within my power to assist in the execution of sexual fantasies for our participant(s)..."

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?

I think this will be the last one in this series for me.  I just can't get into the storyline.  This one begins with the mysterious Dauphine experiencing a Secret fantasy.  Then it jumps back in time to the beginning to show how she got into Secret.  It was very disjointed and hard to follow the time line.  It seemed much more like individual little episodes than a cohesive story.

Dauphine's story was unique though.  Her journey through Secret was quite different from Cassie's and ended much differently as well.  We have a return "bad guy" and Cassie once again loses her happy ending at the last second.  Dauphine has quite the fairy tale happy ending and it was just far to easy to be true and it wasn't satisfying at all.

It was very interesting to see more of the inner workings of this secret club.  I got to see a training session with a new guy as well as see how the organization is financed.  It's too bad that was the most interesting part - I had really hoped for more out of this one.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: S.E.C.R.E.T (Secret #1) 

Review: S.E.C.R.E.T. (Secret #1) by L. Marie Adeline

Title: S.E.C.R.E.T (Secret #1)
Author: L. Marie Adeline
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Erotica
Length: Novel
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 2
Sexual - 4

Cassie Robichaud’s life is filled with regret and loneliness after the sudden death of her
husband. She waits tables at the rundown Café Rose in New Orleans, and every night she heads home to her solitary one-bedroom apartment. But when she discovers a notebook left behind by a mysterious woman at the café, Cassie’s world is forever changed.

The notebook’s stunningly explicit confessions shock and fascinate Cassie, and eventually lead her to S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T, an underground society dedicated to helping women realize their wildest, most intimate sexual fantasies. Cassie soon immerses herself in an electrifying journey through a series of ten rapturous fantasies with gorgeous men who awaken and satisfy her like never before. As she is set free from her inhibitions, she discovers a new confidence that transforms her, giving her the courage to live passionately. Equal parts enticing, liberating and emotionally powerful, S∙E∙C∙R∙E∙T is a world where fantasy becomes reality.

I was really hoping for a little more from this one.  The overall concept of the story was great.  Cassie has fallen into a horrible rut.  After her alcoholic husband died, she kind of sank into herself and hasn't come up for air (or sex).  Five years later and she's still stuck.  She stumbles upon an organization that helps women in her sort of position open themselves back up again.  The regain their confidence, their passion, and awaken their sexual desires.  Cassie has doubts at several stages along the way - who wouldn't - but chugs along through the 10 step program.  This reminded me a bit of what AA is describes as.

The downfall is that it didn't seem like enough really happened.  A whole year goes by in the story, but I felt like her SECRET encounters were the only thing she had in her life - and the whole point of the group is for the opposite to happen.  The encounters were fun and quite exciting - and they did teach her valuable lessons about opening herself up to new possibilities.  I just wish more "real" life had happened in between them for her to explore as well.

I will admit that I was hoping for just a smidge of romance to pop out of the story somewhere - even if it wasn't a prevalent topic.  But I was sorely disappointed.  There really isn't a happy ending for Cassie and her personal life.  She does complete the program, but I'm not sure how much better her life really is now. There is a sequel and since it's already on my shelf I'll give it a go to see if the series turns into anything better.

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