Customer Reviews

Secret Desire (Arabesque)

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

 

 

Secret Desire was a truly wonderful novel -- I just couldn't put it down. I have been reading Ms. Forster since I discovered her novel "Sealed with a Kiss" which remains one of my all time favorites. Secret Desire as I recall is the first novel in which Ms. Forster has done a sequel. The lives of both Kate Middleton a bookstore owner and Luke Hickson a police detective was an interesting one filled with a lot of initial unanswered questions which Ms. Forster concluded with all the answers coming to light. Kate and Luke met under very unusual circumstances but their attraction to each other allowed them both to overcome the devastation of marriages through the deaths of their spouses to once again find that special person. Each had obstacles to overcome in order to reach that ultimate achievement but in the end, Love, Trust and Honesty came through. I recommend this book highly as it offers much to its readers. Enjoy!

After the death of her loveless husband Kate decides to pack up and relocate. She is afraid of threats that her late husband has made about her in-laws. Once she arrives she opens her own bookstore. Within the first week a man comes in and ties her and her son up looking for unknown items. While driving home Luke can't believe his eyes when he sees this.

Once he rescues Kate they begin to take action in protecting her and her child. The relationship starts out rocky because they both have been hurt in prior relationships.

Although the action starts pretty fast there are some slow periods when you just want to know who is out to get Kate and why. But all in all you will enjoy this book as well as all of Gwynne's other novels.

I love you Gwynne but this one was rather weak. As much as I loved Amanda and Marcus in Beyond Desire I couldn't wait to read Luke's story; unfortunately I was disappointed. I know that I'm biased---being the ex-wife of a police officer but you lost me with the lack of emotion from Kate and her son after the robbery in the very beginning of the book! Kate and her son have been tied up all night no one knows that their there and when they are blessed enough to be found by Luke---there are no tears, no fear, shaking, shock, embarrassment or need to use the restroom---nothing! But you start flirting and go out to eat; and then your rescuer has the nerve to correct your son's behavior because he doesn't want his milk! Please, YOU JUST MET--and HELLO-they've just been tied up all night!! There isn't a "real" black woman alive that would let a man she just met start telling her what her kids need after only knowing him an hour---I don't care how bad her kids are! Luke didn't come across as warm and loving like he didn't in Beyond Desire; he was to arrogant for me and played too many head games!

I AM AN AVID READER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION, AND I MUST SAY THAT SECRET DESIRE WAS ONE OF THE MOST HEART RENDERING BOOKS I'VE READ IN MONTHS. THE WAY THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES THE FEELING AND RAW EMOTION BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS IS PHENOMINAL! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS BOOK AND I PLAN TO PURCHASE ALL BOOKS WRITTEN BY THIS AUTHOR.

Captain Luke Hickson is an attractive widower who has a past that he doesn't want to relive. He is very elusive, that is until Kate Middleton and her son come to town. Kate is being targeted by someone and Luke will not rest until he finds the culprit. In the meantime, he is trying to resist the chemistry between him and Kate, at least until after she is no longer under his protection. That is easier said than done because Kate has found her wings after being in a loveless marriage for 10 years. She is ready to test those wings and Luke is the man she wants.

The characters and storyline of Secret Desire are very realistic. The characters can be related to someone you know and the storyline of fear to get involved with someone after you have been hurt is very realistic. However, the word choice is not that of everyday conversation which makes it hard to read at certain points. The story also does not connect well at certain times. Forster does do a good job with the suspense element of the story. She keeps you guessing as to who is terrorizing Kate until almost the end of the story.

Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban Reviews

To her late spouse's lawyers in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Kate Middleton sounds as if she was released from prison instead of a ten-year marriage. The death of her controlling husband in a car accident is a blessing to Kate. Inheriting a portion of Nathan's estate, Kate places most of that in a trust fund for their child Randy and uses the rest to purchase a bookstore in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia.

However, her new life has problems as the bookstore is robbed and police officer Luke Hickson arrives to free the handcuffed Kate and Randy. Luke likes the independent Kate and tries to help Randy by enrolling him into the local Police Athletic League. However, a deep lasting relationship seems impossible as Kate revels in her independence while Luke fears commitment after the death of his wife. Suspicious accidents follow Kate's every step leaving her to wonder if Nathan is reaching out from the grave to harm her. She turns to Luke for the protection of Randy more than herself because she wonders who will keep her safe from her attraction to the police officer.

Gwynne Forster shows why she is an award winning romance writer with her latest ethnic romantic suspense thriller, SECRET DESIRE. The story line is filled with action that grabs the audience because the key cast members come across as genuine people needing reader empathy. This is another triumph for contemporary fans, especially ethnic romance readers, who expect and always receive the best from the fabulous Ms. Forster.

Harriet Klausner

Again Forster has done it with another great book. "Secert Desire" had me hooked from the very start. I love Forster and all but, she usually starts out slow and builds from there, but this one she jumps right in. I love it! This novel had a great storyline and some great characters. It must be nice to have someone to call on when one needs help. Kate was one of those people, because Luke was always there for her when she need it the most. A truly great read!

The reader of this novel is in for a gradual magnetic lure into the lives of both Luke and Kate. Both characters' reserved composure and their distintive traits, camoflage the fiery and passionate emotions that eventually erupt page upon page. Gwynne Forster, unveils characters of deep substance along with secondary supportive characters who round-out the story's rough edges. The plot has predictable moments as well as a bombshell revelation. Luke is sagacious and Kate ardent; their combined chemistry creates a good and pure love story.

This book was a very slow read, the first 13 chapter were slow, and there are only 15 chapter in the whole book. I was very disappointed. I love the plot, but it was very slow and I felt like Luke was playing games with Kate. He was teasing her too much, it took forever to get to the GOOD PART.

I have always loved books by Mrs. Forster and I look forward to reading her love stories. However, with Secret Desire, I was completely disappointed with how slow and long this book was. Even the flow of the story was not smooth and seemed sort of thrown together with a story line that could have been written better. I am still a fan and look forward to future books, but I would not suggest this book for reading.