Letters to a Secret Lover [Hardcover]

Toni Blake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2008

The last thing she needs right now is a man . . . Lindsey Brooks had it all-an awesome job doling out advice to the lovelorn, a fabulous high-rise apartment, and a to-die-for fiancé. But then she got dumped-wearing nothing but a "Kiss the Cook" apron-and desperate to escape, she retreats to a tiny Montana town to reclaim a family treasure. She never dreamed anyone would try to stop her-or that he'd be sexy as sin. Too bad she finds such a hot one . . . Rob Colter isn't into relationships-but Lindsey sees Rob as the perfect guy to help her "get back on the horse." The sex horse, that is. Unfortunately, he comes complete with a mysterious past, which gets even more mysterious when she finds his passionate letters to another woman-whose name happens to be tattooed on his chest. And too bad he has so many secrets . . . Now Rob's dangerous past is about to catch up with them both. And if that's not horrible enough, Lindsey is falling for him-hard. For a girl who usually has all the answers, Lindsey is up to her neck in trouble.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Avon Books; Book Club Edition edition (2008)
• ISBN-10: 0739496697
• ISBN-13: 978-0739496695
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,445,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Toni Blake's love of writing began when she won an essay contest in the fifth grade. Soon after, she penned her first novel, nineteen notebook-pages long, and announced to her mother over breakfast one day that she was going to be a writer when she grew up. Since then, Toni has become the author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels. Her work has been excerpted in Cosmo, she's been a recipient of the Kentucky Women Writers Fellowship and a nominee for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, and she's also had more than forty short stories and articles published. Toni lives with her husband in the Midwest and enjoys traveling, genealogy, crafts, and snow skiing. Learn more about Toni and her books at http://www.toniblake.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, sexy romance, May 27, 2008

By 

Jennifer Ray (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters to a Secret Lover (Avon Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

A disastrous break-up headlining the scandal sheets sends Lindsey Brooks heading for cover in the most unlikely of places for a chic woman about town such as herself - the small town of Moose Falls nestled in Montana. All she is looking for is a little peace and quiet far away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago and its busy paparazzi and the chance to reconnect with her late aunt through her home town. She certainly never expected this sedate little town and its denizens to launch a soul searching journey of self that leads her to some rather surprising revelations about her life in Chicago and her future.

Of course, the hunky recluse Rob Colter has more than a little to do with that... Antisocial doesn't even begin to describe the man who now owns her aunt's home and canoe rental business. But a man's secrets sometimes demand he keep to himself, and Rob's secrets have the power to destroy the home he has found in Moose Falls.

But as Rob and Lindsey spend more and more time together, neither can deny the intense attraction that threatens to develop into something much more lasting than a mere fling. And it is just that kind of attachment that can endanger everything that Rob has.

What can I say? With each new release, Toni Blake's writing talent impresses me more and more. Letters to a Secret Lover is the latest release from her, and it can only build both her reputation and her fan base. With a story as inspiring as it is sexy, she has crafted a romance that will have you dabbing your eyes with a tissue one moment, and squirming in your seat the next!

Both Lindsey and Rob go through intense personal journeys in this book, both separately and together. The lessons they learn from each other and from their friends are some that will undoubtedly reach many a reader with their absolute truth.

Lindsey's growth is more blatant, as she matures from a frivolous girl-about-town sporting Manolo Blahnik shoes on her feet, to a woman who soon emulates her aunt's place as the heart and soul of the close-knit community of Moose Falls, complete with the much more practical Keds tennis shoes. Of course, Lindsey doesn't give up her Manolo's completely, just as she doesn't lose the vivaciousness and sparkle that are an inherent part of her personality. But the sparkle is tempered with a depth that perhaps was always there, but buried beneath the gilt and glitter of a life in the public eye.

Rob's transformation is slower, and is fairly well contained to his relationship with Lindsey throughout most of the book. The man that appeared gruff and uncaring at the beginning of the book is soon revealed as a man who is deeply afraid of losing the one place that has ever felt like a home to him, and so keeps to himself for fear of his sordid past will be exposed and he will lose everything.

The interspersion throughout the story of mysterious letters penned by Rob pouring his heart out to a mysterious woman do much to show this man's ability to love, even before he is able to finally open up to Lindsey. Of course, the fact that Lindsey accidentally finds these letters soon after she realizes she loves him do just as much to create romantic uncertainty on her part, being unsure whether the man she loves still loves another.

In the end, LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER culminates in a disastrous showdown with Rob's past, in the most unlikely of ways. For Rob, the absolute worst that could happen, does. But our hero still has much to learn before the end of the book - including a woman's capacity for love and a town's capacity for compassion.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great from Toni Blake!, June 22, 2008

By 

S. M. Lutz (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters to a Secret Lover (Avon Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I cannot say enough good things about this book, I absolutely love it! Toni Blake has written another great read with LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER. The plot is great, the town and its inhabitants are well-developed, and the chemistry between the hero and heroine is so good it is combustable. Like all of Toni Blake's books you can expect a story filled with humor and hot sex scenes.

After an embarassing encounter with her fiance and a window washer, Lindsay Brooks decides to get away from the gossip. Suddenly single and questioning her qualifications as a relationship columnist she runs to Moose Falls, Montana where she spent a summer years ago with her Aunt Millie. She hopes to buy back her Aunt's canoe livery, which is now owned by the sexy flannel-wearing recluse Rob Colter.

Rob Colter had his own reason for moving to Moose Falls, and his own reasons for being a recluse. Lindsay wants to get to know her Aunt Millie by experiencing the things she loved and Rob relucantly agrees to help. Slowly Lindsay is able to penetrate his tough exterior and gains confidence in herself as well.

As city girl Lindsay exchanges her Jimmy Choos for Keds and Rob learns to let people into his life, there is a secret from Rob's past that may threaten it all.

LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER has it all; romance, humor, and mystery. If you like contemporary romances this is definitely one to pick up! Hope Toni Blake bring us back to Moose Falls in future books.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute and Sexy Wilderness Romance That Will Make you Smile (B+ Grade), June 1, 2008

By 

K. Garrabrant "Katiebabs" (Bloomfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Letters to a Secret Lover (Avon Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Toni Blake can sure write romances that are borderline erotic, but still have a great plot, some laughs and her heroes are oh so incredible! She has done it again with Letters to a Secret Lover and is one of Avon's great, not to be missed authors
Lindsey Brooks' fiancé dumps her after a seduction attempt where she was only wearing in high heel stilettos and an apron. She decides to go lick her wounds in a small town her Aunt Millie has lived. Lindsey feels guilty because she lost touch with Millie, who, last summer before she died, wanted to will Lindsey her old canoe livery; where people can rent canoes to take out on the lake. But Lindsey was too busy with her engagement and writing an on-line blog and syndicated advice column called "Love Letters", so she forgot to respond. Now she has come to Moose Falls to see if she can buy the livery back and figure out what went wrong with her love life.
The owner of the livery, Rob Coulter, is a hermit. Lindsey is not one to give up, and since she drove all this way to the middle of nowhere, she is not leaving until she talks to Mister Mysterious. When Lindsey finally meets Rob, things don't go that well at all because Rob is rude and a bit mean. Even though she thinks he is one hot man who wears flannel very well, she will try figure out a way to get on his good side.
Rob just wants to be left alone. Not even this city girl who seems a bit flaky, but very cute, will convince him otherwise. But, Lindsey is Millie's niece and Millie helped him through so much. So, he decides to allow Lindsey to walk in Millie's shoes, so to speak. As things progress between the two, Rob begins to enjoy having Lindsey around more and more.
Rob makes the mistake of getting a look at Lindsey's leopard print bra, and he has no choice but to kiss her and things progress from there. Things are amazing between the two, but Rob is still so secretive about his past.
Letters to a Secret Lover is a funny, emotional and very sexy romance. Lindsey is a city girl who wants to discover her connection to her deceased aunt who comes to mean so much to her. Rob is an added bonus and it's really cute to see him succumb to Lindsey's charms. These two have one scorching love affair and the love scenes are excellent. The mystery that surrounds Rob is a well written one that will keep the reader guessing. And when you find out what Rob has gone through, you want to wrap him in your arms, much like Lindsey has done.
The town of Moose Falls seems like its own character and is very vital to the story. The townspeople are a quirky bunch but a joy to read about.
Letters to a Secret Lover was a pleasant surprise that made me laugh out loud, gasp in surprise, and go gaga over the major loving between Rob and Lindsey, who can't keep their hands off of each other. Kudos to Toni Blake for another great read!

Katiebabs