Customer Reviews

Secret Fantasy (Sensual Romance)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Be aware that this is a re-print, it's only 200 pages long, and there is little-no substance to plot. It doesn't even have real heat in the sex scenes, at least not enough to keep me interested.

If you want to read a story about a perfect and rich senator's daughter falling in love with a reporter (who is also perfect in body) on a tropical island... perhaps this is for you. For me though, it was too perfect, the 'danger' went away without any real conflict or satisfying resolution, and all of the supporting characters (who seemed potentially interesting) didn't get time or opportunity to enrich the story.

For me, the cover is the best part of this book.

i usually love Carly's books. I didn't realize this was an old one until i had it home. this was truely awful. predictable fluff. i ended up skimming most of it. sorry. will look forward to her next new one

Secret Fantasy by Carly Phillips is one of those stories that you read that is quick and easy and is a light romantic read. Fleeing from a scandal, Juliette Stanton is a run-away bride who goes to a fantasy island where she hopes to live out a secret fantasy of being the center of a guy's universe. She meets Doug Houston, and from day one she is smitten. But Doug is actually an undercover reporter trying to get a scoop on a story. He is everything that Juliette has ever wanted from a man, but she doesn't know that he is hiding secrets such as who he really is and what he wants from her.

While this isn't a long book, it's a quick read that gets right to the point and the point is secret fantasies. I thought it was fun and sometimes a bit raunchy, but nothing over the top and nothing to make the reader cringe. It's a good, girly book that I think most genre romance readers would love. I read it along with Beverly Hills Adjacent.

Do *you* have a secret fantasy?

I do. But it's better left secret. <grin> Instead, I'm content to read and enjoy the stories in Harlequin's Fantasies, Inc. series. Carly Phillips' entry, SECRET FANTASY, is no exception.

Reporter Doug Houston's fantasy is to become part of Juliette Stanton's fantasy. Along the way, he hopes to uncover the real reason she fled her wedding and re-establish his credibility as a reporter after a bad lead wreaks havoc with his professional integrity.

Juliette Stanton, aka Runaway Bride, is desperate to find some peace and quiet. Away from the media hounds that smell the scent of scandal and will stop at nothing to ferret out the truth behind her run from a marriage to an influential politician. Little did she know that that the dark-haired charmer selected to play the key role in her fantasy was only after one thing: Her story. But as Doug gets to know Juliette better, he realizes there is more to life than `a story.' And along the way, both learn to follow their hearts.

I've been a fan of Ms. Phillips for a long time and SECRET FANTASY didn't disappoint me. Her characters (who come alive with real problems and real dialogue) work to overcome the odds, culminating in a fulfilling and satisfying ending. Fans will be happy to learn that this author has an upcoming entry in the Blaze! Sexy City Nights series, titled Body Heat. I was lucky to have received an advance reading copy and can only say that if Body Heat is any indication of the quality of the new Blaze! imprint, then readers have much to look forward to.

The second installment of Harlequin Temptation's Fantasies, Inc. miniseries takes us to the island of Secret Fantasy...

Juliette Stanton just wants to get away from it all. Tagged Chicago's Runaway Bride by the press for breaking off her wedding to her Senator father's protegee, only Juliette and her former fiancé know the truth. All her life, Juliette had been known as the good girl, just as her twin sister, Gillian, was the wild child. Doing what was expected of her, Juliette became engaged to her childhood friend thinking that years of caring would make a basis for marriage. When her fiancé's business partner was caught laundering mob money, she believed Stuart's denials of involvement. However, when she catches him meeting with a reputed mob leader just minutes before the ceremony, Juliette realizes that she has been living a lie. Now, in a carefully planned escape, she is heading to Secret Fantasy to live out her dream -- to experience the luxury of being catered to and doted upon by a very special man...to forget the hurt of a broken engagement.

Reporter Doug Houston is desperate. Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned and Doug's career is in trouble because of it. His recently ended relationship had involved business and pleasure. His girlfriend had access to information that proved useful to him in the past, but when he broke up with her, she gave him information on Juliette Stanton's fiancé which he inexplicably couldn't confirm once the story ran. Hearing about the aborted wedding makes him think there must be a connection to his story, so now Doug has arranged to be at Secret Fantasy to fulfill the Runaway Bride's dreams while hoping to salvage his own. Will they get both their fantasies fulfilled?

Exotic and steamy, SECRET FANTASY was a joy to read. It was certainly fun to read Juliette shed her inhibitions and become a sensual creature comfortable in her own skin. Providing an interesting contrast is Doug's character as he grapples with his goal of salvaging his career and his guilt over hiding his true identity from Juliette. If you can't get away to your own island retreat, steal away for a few hours with SECRET FANTASY.

TheSchemer

I am hooked on this series! Carly Philips has created an unbelievable setting and then allowed the reader to find the things that make it all seem possible. This is not a book where you will sit back and say, that could happen to me, but it is a book where you will sit back and say - wow! i wish that could happen to me!

Secret Fantasy by Carly Phillips is a typical light romance read. For me what made it a bit unique was the way that Juliette and Doug, who previously seemly ruined her life by outing her now ex-fiancee's mob links, meet. Juliette's sister sends her to the island where dreams are supposed to come true. This was about the only really interesting part of this book.

This book was super short and had very little plot. If you are looking for a simple sexy read this might be a good choice but we aware that this is reprint and is only 200 pages long.

This is a great "beach book". A book to just escape into and forget about all your troubles. It is light and fun. If you are looking for some amazingly profound read, this is not for you. But, Carly does do an excellent job of making the characters someone you can care about.

Phillips adds just enough of a twist to bring the plot and characters out of the shadows. It's a light, fun, fast read.