Friday, April 19th:  From the TBR Pile

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

(Secret #1)

by: L. Marie Adeline

Publishing Date: 2/5/13

Publisher: Broadway

Genre: Erotica

Source: Provided by Publisher

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description:

In S.E.C.R.E.T there are… No Judgments. No limits. No shame. 

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.

My Review:
No Judgments.  No limits.  No shame.  <----- Sign me Up.  =)
"S.E.C.R.E.T" is the first book to L. Marie Adeline's SECRET novels...and it definitely had some very HOT moments.

It opens up with Cassie Robichaud, who has it rough since she left her home state with her husband to make a life in New Orleans.  Unfortunately, her life is turned upside down the minute her husband changes and suddenly passes away tragically.  The moment her husband dies, she lives a life that is predictable.  She even has her boss at the diner tell her she needs to get out more and experience life.
When she ends up coming across a woman's personal journal that shares her experiences with men, Cassie starts thinking she is missing out on what life has to offer.  She has only been with one man, her husband, and she has not really done anything for over fives years.
What Cassie does not realize is her life is about to do a 360, the minute she picks up that woman's journal.
She's about to find out about the underground society that helps women like Cassie experience life again and have Cassie live her most intimate fantasies that she has always wanted.

This book definitely is about growing as a person sexually, emotionally, and physically.  It shows how a woman like Cassie can become confident in herself and what she can do and believe me there were several scenarios where Cassie definitely had to be confident.  She was tasked to complete nine lessons that would help her complete her journey with S.E.C.R.E.T.  After those were completed, she would be able to follow her own path or become one of the full-time members at the underground society.
She definitely was one lucky woman who got to fulfill her fantasies with nine sexy men.
Oh boy...was she lucky...and made me think that I could not do some of the stuff she did.

I loved this novel the minute I read the first page, to the middle pages, but once it got to the very end, I was really disappointed.  I did not like the ending.  I actually was in shock on what the ending was for Cassie. I was hoping for something else.  I loved how L. Marie Adeline kept me on the edge of my seat with everything that Cassie went through, but I felt she deserved something better at the end.  She needed it, actually.  I have no idea what the author will do next, especially in the second book.  Will she continue on with Cassie's story, or someone else's.  I'm hoping Cassie's story continues.

If you want a book that teaches you to be confident about your life (especially sexually) and what you can accomplish....because believe me after reading Cassie's story, you'll want to have your own list of fantasies made up....then definitely read this book.
If you can handle a book that throws you off at the end, then this book is for you.
I liked this book, but like I stated, the ending ruined it for me.  Will I read the second book...most definitely.
I have nothing against what the author did.  In fact, I give her applause for doing something different.
I really, really, really loved the idea of this secret underground though.  =)  Makes me wonder, if secretly there are ones out there.