Customer Reviews

Best Kept Secrets (Sepia)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Best Kept Secrets is the sensual new novel by best selling author Rochelle Alers. It is the story of the matriarch and patriarch of the infamous Hideaway Series. We are introduced to Samuel Cole, a Negro returning from war torn Europe, striving to begin a lucrative business in Havana, Cuba. Determined to becoming an entrepreneur separate from his brothers back in Florida, Samuel is not initially successful. Undaunted, Samuel surges forward and finds success in Costa Rica. While on his initial visit to Havana, he becomes enchanted with one Marguerite-Josefina Diaz, affectionately know as MJ to friends and family. A stunningly beautiful, convent-educated and opinionated woman, MJ too is quite taken aback by Mr. Samuel Cole.

She, too has dreams of faraway places and liberation from the restraints put upon women in her native land. So enchanted with the lovely Marguerite-Josefina, Samuel promises to keep in touch and true to his word, his return to Havana is greatly welcomed by a smitten MJ. Romance blossoms for the two resulting in marriage thus beginning the Cole-Diaz saga.

Upon returning to the states, Samuel is determined to succeed but neither has truly anticipated the harsh realities on the horizon. Secrets overshadowing the growing empire that Samuel has created, the harsh realities of social bias and the Depression test the strength of their commitment to their empire and to one another.

Ms. Alers has created yet another sensual novel providing history of the opulence of Cuba and growing diversity of Florida.

Michelle
APOOO BookClub

If you have ever read a single book in the Hideaway series, then I'm sure you'll love this one. This is the story of how it all began. Before there was a Martin or David Cole, or a Joshua Kirkland. There was Samuel Cole and Marguerite- Josefina Diaz.

If you have read the complete series then I'm sure somewhere in the back of your mind you have wondered how did Sammy and M.J. get together. Well now the truth is unvieled in Best Kept Secrets.

This is story starting with how Samuel Cole started the company that would become ColeDiz, that would be the familys legacy. It details how Sammy wooed and married M.J. But the best part is knowing the how and why of Samuel's relationship with Joshua Kirkland's mother.

When I found out this book was coming out I wondered if it could possibly measure up to the powerful series Ms. Alers has created. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I bow down before you this book is just as incrediable if not more so than anything you have written.

Oh my goodness, she did it again!! I was spellbound as I read, Best Kept Secrets. I could not put it down and just read and re-read until I was finished(4:00A.M.)yawn. I did not know whether to laugh, cry, rage, or spit, so I did all of them.

Yes, I now understand Sammy, but what pain actions can cause. MJ what can I say, you came into your own here after being in the background. I was sorry for Teresa, and the love that was doomed from the beginning. She sat a ball in motion, however, and got more than she bargained for. Everett, you should have done better by your family and yourself.

Again, just WOW!! Not only did Ms Alers take us back to the beginning of the Cole family legacy, but she gave a great history lesson at the same time.

What will Ms Alers do next? Buy her book to see why she is one of my favorite authors, and will become one of yours.

Nothing compares to this. I was so mesmerized by this book that it took me days to pick up another book. I kept going back and picking this one up to go over scenes that kept me drawn to the dynasty. I now understand MJ's hardness as a wife and mother. Because she was a mother-in-law from hell I thought. I also understood Sammy and his apparent protectiveness of his dynasty. When I heard that there would be a beginning to the Hideaway Series I checked every week to see if it would come earlier. To see the characters and there personalities come to life. If I could have given this book 10 stars I would give it gladly. Ms Alers my hat is off to you, consider your self blessed with a skill of words. What's Next?

I have waited for this book to come out, all of us who are familiar with the Hideway Series wanted to know how Samuel and MJ came about, well this book will let you know. All I can say without giving the story away is that I no longer dislike Samuel, he is a man, but all I can say, Ms Teresa is not so innocent, I can feel MJ's pain, I would not have went about it the way Samuel did, but he loved MJ more than he loved Teresa, and yes, he did love her(Teresa).......Again if you read Hideway....Martin and Parris' story, then you will understand why Samuel did not like Parris, I read it, and I am like oooooohhhhh, now I see!!!!!!!!! Samuel was guilty of loving two women, and there is a such thing as loving two people, he just loved one more than the other

I must agree with all the praise that is being showered on Ms. Alers (ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!)But there is only one thing that has given me slight pause; and that's the era's in which the children were born. Now, I've just started to re-read (HIDEAWAY) again and there is just no way that (Martin) was born in the 20's.

Or, Joshua in the 40's I believe it was. I would just like to understand Ms. Alers thinking behind that. But other than that (BEST KEPT SECERTS) was the perfect beginning to a (STELLAR) series.

This book had me captivated and mezmerized from the first page to the last. The details and the progression of events were perfectly synchronated. This book answered every question that you wondered about from the original series, specifically the Joshua, Teresa, Samuel, Everett connection and what Samuel had to do to keep MJ from leaving him.

I am simply amazed and in awe of Ms. Alers talent and can bearly comprehend that she wrote all of the other books first -- and then -- this one.

I actually did not like the book that started the series (Martin and Parris - I did not like Parris from the beginning even before she was adducted), but Hidden Agenda (my favorite) and Vows (#2) pulled me into the Saga and from there, I read all of the books in the series. Then along came "Best Kept Secrets". The best of the best in my opinion.

I am now compelled to read the entire series all over again - even "HideAway" -- and -- Ms. Alers is now in a tie with "Brenda Jackson" as my favorite author. I truly enjoyed this book.

I usually don't write reviews, but I couldn't stay quiet about this book. Best Kept Secrets was great!!! An all nighter where you have to know what's going to happen next. We finally got to see how the Cole Family was started and it was well worth the wait. We're only one month into the new year, but I say Best Kept Secrets is book of the year.

I have enjoyed the book it was very interestine. i love reading rochelle alers books she bring the books and the characters alive's.

As an avid fan of the Hideaway Series, I often had questions as to why Samuel Cole was a little left of center with the love of his family. My questions were definitively answered in BEST KEPT SECRET, the prequel to the series.

The lives of Samuel Cole and Marguerite Josefina(MJ) Diaz, the patriarch and matriarch of the Cole-Diaz dynasty, unfold in dramatic fashion. Samuel is driven by the desire to prove his father wrong, and that grit and determination is what drives the story. Failure was not an option because his father's legacy was always on the periphery like an electric prodder. Samuel's destiny started after he returned from the war with black market items, which he used to finance his dream. He journeys to Cuba to set the wheels for his dream in motion. That dream is manifested when he meets his wife, Marguerite and an astute business partner, Everett Kirkland. Samuel's partnership with both parties become his spring board and almost his demise. MJ has dreams of her own and Samuel is her ticket to achieve those dreams. Her plan start out on firm ground but, Samuel's actions compel her to face some cruel truths that could sabotage her journey. Samuel helps Everett restart his life but, later the relationship of the two men take an unprecedented turn. All parties returned to Florida and their lives took wings. Samuel's dynasty was on a firm foundation until he, being the selfish, driven man that he was, committed a grave faux pas, he had a liaison with his secretary. The results of that involvement creates a secret that changes the course of five lives and left readers drained.

I loved this story! Ms. Alers did a wonderful job with the plot and back-story, it was amorous, heartbreaking, pulsating, and redeeming. She added great substance and also supplied enough infidelity, unorthodox cover-ups, and double standards to fill four-hundred plus pages. I can honestly say this is the first Romance I've read where at the story's end, I could not embrace the hero and I was undecided about the heroine. I especially recommend this book, for Hideaway fans. For me it is the most dramatic story in the Series, Ms Alers, this one took me there!

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers