"A journey of self-discovery and a sweet love affair"

While trying on wedding dresses, and feeling inadequate about her dress size, Cari overhears a conversation revealing family secrets about her uncle and her parents' relationship. She is despondent as she thinks about her inattentive fiancé, Anthony. Cari runs out of the dressmaker's and goes back to work at her father's bookstore. As she is closing, she is startled by a debonair client, Jake, and is immediately attracted.

As Cari uncovered lies and deceptions between her parents and her uncle, and discovers her fiancé's unfaithfulness, she is confused and uncertain, her world seems turned upside down. She turns to the love and support of an older man, Jake, to find self-confidence and forgiveness for her family.

At the heart of this story is a journey of self-discovery for Cari and her sweet love affair with Jake. Despite the age difference, their attraction for each other seems plausible as it is based on their common interests and needs. I think their relationship would have been a stronger story without the "Family Secrets" of the title. Unfortunately, the family conflicts and the other characters' motivation seem contrived and more of a distraction than enriching the characters' development. Cari's motivation and actions do not seem consistent. A personal peeve is that on several occasions, Jake and Cari have unprotected sex while Cari is upset and drunk, without any discussion as to the consequences.

Sensuality: Straight sex between the hero and heroine. Rated Hard R, erotic, by the publisher.

Reviewed by Karen Williston for Sensual Romance.

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted February 24, 2003

Summary

While selecting a wedding dress for her upcoming nuptials, Carissa Evans overhears her mother reveal a shocking family secret. Startled to learn the truth, Cari ends up turning to Jake Hall for comfort, an attractive, older man she barely knows...

Sexual Content: Hard R. Genre: contemporary.