The Secret Life Of Bryan [Paperback]

Lori Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Bryan Kelly has a few rules. Rule Number 1: Women are for fun, not commitment. Rule Number 2: He'll do anything for his twin brother, even switch places with him to find out who's sabotaging his charity. But playing a really good guy isn't easy around a luscious Shay Sommers. Which brings him to Rule Number 3: If you can't avoid temptation, succumb with abandon...Society pages icon Shay Sommers has made her name in charity work. And she'll go to any length to help these girls from the inside out. It certainly won't be hard to act the street siren with the gorgeous man who runs the place, even if he does seem less like a shepherd and much more like a wolf...one with a hungry look that's making Shay feel she might be his next dinner...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: Ohio & Visitation, North Carolina

Sensuality: 8

When bounty hunter Bryan Kelly meets gorgeous philanthropist Shay Sommers he mistakes her for a prostitute. Despite Shay's denials, Bryan remains convinced that she's a hooker. Frustrated, Shay decides to conceal her wealthy lifestyle and moves into the Preacher's safe house to get to know some real "working women". Meanwhile, Bryan has an identity problem of his own, for he's masquerading as his twin brother, Preacher Bruce, in order to discover the identity of the person who assaulted Bruce and continues to threaten the women in his shelter. Bryan will do whatever it takes to find his brother's attacker and ensure the women's safety--especially Shay's. Both Shay and Bryan are keeping secrets that can destroy their growing relationship and neither of them are accustomed to trusting others. If Bryan can keep Shay alive, will he be able to convince her to trust him with her heart?

The Secret Life of Bryan is a sexy romance with a suspense plot set against a backdrop of gritty city streets. The secondary cast is colorful and readers will enjoy the inclusion of characters from the connected book, Say No To Joe?, in this continuation of the Winston family novels from bestselling author Lori Foster. --Lois Faye Dyer --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Booklist

When bounty hunter Bryan's twin brother, Bruce, gets roughed up, Bryan's determined to take his place until he can find out who's responsible. The problem is, Bruce is a preacher who ministers to prostitutes. Once he begins the masquerade, Bryan finds that the only thing he hates as much as pimps are the rich snooty society women who give money to programs that help the "soiled doves." Wealthy philanthropist Shay Sommers is an exception: she actually works in the shelter she funds. One night she finds herself in trouble, and Bryan comes to the rescue. He thinks she's a lady of the night, and she thinks he's a preacher, albeit rather foul mouthed. They are drawn to each other, but must keep up their charades. Fans of Foster's sexy romantic comedies, including Unexpected [BKL S 15 03], may be surprised by this dark romantic suspense's gritty realism, while fans of tales about street preachers, such as Kathryn Shay's Trust in Me (2003) and Emilie Richards' Dragonslayer (1993), will find much to like here, too. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; Reprint edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420106619
• ISBN-13: 978-1420106619
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lori Foster first published with Harlequin in January 1996. Since those early days, Lori has routinely had 6 to 10 releases a year. Lori is a Waldenbooks, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly and New York Times bestselling author and is published through Berkley/ Jove, Kensington, St. Martins, Harlequin and Silhouette.

In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times 'Career Achievement Award' for Series Romantic Fantasy.

In 2002, Lori's book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon.

In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second 'Bestselling Original Contemporary' romance for Waldenbooks.

In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the 'Bestselling Original Contemporary' romance for the BGI group.

In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times 'Career Achievement Award' for Contemporary Romance.

In 2006, Jude's Law was the "Bestselling Romantic Comedy" romance title for the BGI group.

In 2007, Lori launched a new "urban fantasy" series under the name L. L. Foster. See more on her "dark side" at www.llfoster.com

In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon's Top Ten Editor's picks in Romance.

In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance, L.L. Foster, was named Amazon's Number 1 Editors' Pick in Romance.

Lori visits daily with readers as part of the 'Running With Quills' blog at www.runningwithquills.com and at her busy message board featured on her website www.LoriFoster.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lori Foster always delivers!, March 19, 2004

By 

destiny morna "destiny21" (louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Life of Bryan (Visitation, Book 2) (Paperback)

The secret life of Bryan by Lori Foster is a great novel- it picks up the story of bounty hunter, Bryan, who was introduced in her previous novel (say no to Joe). But for those who haven't read that, this story stands on its own as well.

Bryan is masquerading as his brother, bruce, a preacher who runs a safe house for prostitutes. Bruce was attacked and Bryan is taking his place to find out why. Bryan meets Shay--a wealthy socialite who is posing as a prostitute so that she can get closer to the girls and help them. Shay and Bryan have instant chemistry but there are many lies that threaten their budding romance. Complicating things, is that someone is indeed after the preacher and now Shay as well. And it is someone they know and trust.

The story is fast paced, the ending is great- you never guess the identity of the stalker or the accomplice. It reintroduces characters from Foster's previous books- like Joe Winston, Luna, Jamie (the strange psychic). It also gives us new people to like and await their stories- like Bryan's brother bruce, Joe's sister etc.

This book has a little bit of everything- mystery, romance, suspence. Its a great summer read.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Step Into The Make-Believe World Of Lori Foster!!!, March 2, 2004

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Life of Bryan (Visitation, Book 2) (Paperback)

I have been a long time fan of this very talented author and was just recently on a trip back to the States which meant a very long airplane trip. I was so thrilled when this title was release and I found it at my local bookseller that I grabbed it without a second thought and tucked it into my carry on. My 11 hour trip was not as painful as I thought it would be once I stepped into the world that Ms. Foster has created.

We met Bryan briefly in her story "Say No To Joe" and I was thrilled to find out that this was his story. Bryan is a twin that has decided that it's his job to protect his brother Bruce a preacher and who has just recently been attacked due to the work that he does regarding running a safe-house for ex-ladies of the night. This was a no brainer as far as Bryan was concerned he would step into his brothers shoes, do what he could for the ladies under his brothers care and most importantly find out who wants his brother dead. That is until he made the mistake of trying to "rescue" a damsel in distress by the name of Shay. Now his little world has been turned upside down because he should be acting like a preacher but his thoughts are anything but heavenly. In fact Shay has knocked him right off his feet. This is a big problem for the bounty-hunter that would never trust another woman again.

Shay can't believe her good fortune when Preacher saves her from a bad situation. Shay is a do-gooder but has been labled and branded a princess with too much money on her hands and not enough stength of conviction to really make a difference. Well, she has been given the perfect chance to prove all those that don't believe in her that they are totally wrong. Now she is working on the front line so to speak. She tells Bryan that she's not a hooker but does not want the other women at the safe house to know this. She then goes about the business of drawing everyone under her spell proving that she is serious about helping these women turn their lives around. Her main problem is trying to prove to Bryan that their attraction is not wrong. This is not easy since on top of all that was previously mentioned someone is trying to close down the safe house but who and why?

This was a fast quirky page turning read. Joe, Luna, and Willow and Austin make a return performance as well as Jamie Creed all living in Visitation. The relationship between Bryan and Shay is carefully constructed and as a result although peppered with Ms. Foster trademark sensuality this is not a read that dives right into an intimate relationship between the two main character but instead slowly lead to the admission that their relationship is more then lust. This is really a must read if you are a fan of Ms. Foster. If this is a first time read for you fear not this is a stand alone book and you will not be left scratching your head as to the various relationships that are presented. If anything this will drive you to pick up more of her titles. Always a good thing if you ask me.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rollicking good time!, March 10, 2004

By 

Jana Taylor (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Life of Bryan (Visitation, Book 2) (Paperback)

Lori Foster has done it again! SECRET LIFE lets you meet Bryan who is really a bounty hunter but is masquerading as his twin brother Bruce, the preacher. Talk about a chance for interesting interaction! Bryan is a lover of all things sensual and now he has to pretend to be a man who is more concerned with the other side of life. Throw in Shay who is pretending to be something a bit different from what she truly is and naturally fireworks will fly. I adore how Lori lets the reader into the mind of her characters, especially the male mind. I highly recommend this book as a fun read. You've done it again Lori!