Review: SECRET LOVE by Christine Warner (A Sweet Nostalgic Novella)

If you’ve ever had a teenage crush and had the moxie to tell the boy how you felt, this novel is for you.  Mrs. Warner reminds us that Cupid has a way of turning unrequited love into the real thing the second time around.

Growing up, thirteen year old Lizzie Tarleton had a crush on Wayne Whitmore, her brother’s best friend. Fast forward ten years later and now he’s the principal at Saranac High School where she teaches and both of them are dealing with feelings they’ve never acted on.

This novel is set in the fifties but other than some well-placed television, musical, and fashion references you would think it was happening in modern times. The chemistry between Lizzie and Wayne will remind readers of their first encounters with infatuation; the nervousness, stolen glances, daydreams, and over-analyzing one’s actions makes you think about the sweetness of true love.  It also highlights the importance of friendship being the basis of a strong romantic connection. I enjoyed the nicknames Lizzie occasionally says to Wayne and the childhood game that led to their first kiss.

This novel is wholesome and showcases the insecurities we feel when we attempt to let our hearts lead us to happiness. Lizzie is a beautiful, strong, opinionated woman that loves her hometown in Michigan. She sees her life in Saranac as being full and satisfying, while Wayne, the handsome bachelor her family likes, longs to prove he’s moved beyond his rough upbringing.  Mrs. Warner throws them back together and before they can bask in their new found love, she gives them a realistic curve ball to test their commitment.

Give SECRET LOVE a try, I promise Mrs. Warner’s engaging writing style will make you forget about the time you’ve spend reading this sweet novella in the Sweet Fifties Series.

NOTE: ARC given for my honest review but I also purchased this novel to add to my personal collection.

---

Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends.

Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmetic.  A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities.  She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.

A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

---

---

FTC Guidelines

In accordance with the new FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials for bloggers, I am posting this statement for all visitors to my blog.

All book reviews posted represent my personal opinions. Any books that I have read and reviewed has been purchased by myself or gifted to me by the author/publisher. All reviews given for a ‘gifted’ book will be clearly identified since these books were provided at no charge.

I will never accept any monetary compensation for books that I review at the request of an author, publisher or agent. I will as of this date and in the future, inform my readers/visitors which items I am reviewing at the request of author, publisher and/or agent and I will post a disclaimer at the end of each review.

If you have any questions regarding this statement, please feel free to contact me.