Shelby has come back to Boone, a tiny town in southern Indiana, to stay. She is a first-grade teacher and settles into life in Boone easily, loving the small-town atmosphere after the hectic pace of life in the big city. She lives with her grandmother and becomes fast friends with her brother’s wife, Maggie. She is also dating her brother’s business partner, Sam, and living happily with her … family and friends.
But Shelby has a secret from her past, a secret she had hoped to leave behind her. When Griff Tanner shows up determined to get her back, Shelby’s peaceful, happy life is shattered. She is tormented by the secret she is keeping but refuses to share it with anyone. Desperate to get rid of Griff, she takes advantage of Sam’s feelings for her in an effort to make Griff give up on her. But she is shocked to discover that Sam is quite capable of taking her in hand when her behavior flies out of control. Still, she is determined to handle her problems on her own – without the help of her family.
When Griff’s pressure on her reaches boiling point, Shelby has to face the fact that she needs help. Will she confide in her loved ones and let them help her resolve her situation once and for all? Or will she be too ashamed to tell them the truth and make the decision to run away from her past again?
Publisher’s Note: Shelby’s Secrets is the second book in the series A Strong Man’s Hand, but can be enjoyed as a standalone. It contains elements of power exchange.
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When the past just won’t stay away
Shelby’s Secrets is the first book I have read by Kat Carrington and I enjoyed this edgy and somewhat suspenseful story. It centers around a young woman who has left the life she built in the city to return to her hometown and be with family and friends. She has made another fresh start but not all is right and soon her city past comes knocking on her door again. And as with all pasts that you run from this is one that she would rather not come to light or have anyone know about. But what can be done to keep it buried where she wants it? Add in her current boyfriend who is more than capable of taking her in hand to met out some discipline when needed.
This book is an entertaining story which contains some other elements that are lightly hinted at, told through flashback or just touched on briefly but in the end there is an HEA.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
This story is a good sequel to the first one that takes place in Boone, Indiana. We see old familiar characters, and we get to know Shelby and Sam a bit better. As the title implies, Shelby is keeping a secret that she is loathe to share as she is embarrassed by it. Shelby begins to have trouble though, especially with an ex-boyfriend, since she will not share her secret. She finally discovers that she cannot keep her secret to herself, and she must let those closest to her help her the best they can. This story contains some elements of domestic discipline, but are minor to the story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book 2 in the A Strong Man’s Hand series & if you haven’t read book 1, don’t worry. This can be read & enjoyed as a completely standalone book. Shelby moves back to the town of her Grandmother & starts a new life after a previous relationship goes wrong in unexpected ways. As part of this new life she begins a new relationship with Sam. I really enjoyed this read but it felt for a lot of the book that Shelby was using Sam’s feelings for her own reasons. Ultimately, this was resolved & a HEA completes the story.
I just loved this book. It was so well-written that it captured my mind and I was dragged along for the ride. Once I started reading I could not put it down until I read the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Second book in the “A Strong Man’s Hand” series and it is a very captivating read! The storyline is well developed and emotionally deep with ups and downs, light but tasteful spanking, a little suspense, and romance. The characters are likeable and real. An enjoyable and interesting read and I look forward to reading more from this author. Definitely recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked this second book in the series, it’s not completely necessary to read book one first but I encourage readers to do so as it’s a great read also. This book sees Shelby accepting that she needs help and overcoming her past with the firm hand of her new lover, Sam. It’s wonderfully written and a delight to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ALL THINGS IN THEIR TIME
I enjoyed the second book by a new author, Ms. Kat Carrington that had that friendly hometown feel that you get in a small town. The story has a delightful cast of characters, plenty of friendly comraderies, a touch of mystery and suspense, and a sweet new relationship forming. While this is a series, the book is well-written and will read well as a stand-alone. It will have some of the charming characters that were in Maggie’s Match. The story is about Shelby Beauchamp and a new relationship with Sam Davis, partner to Shelby’s brother, Carter.
Shelby Beauchamp returns to Boone, Indiana and her grandmother’s house. She has decided to leave her job and life in the city and become a schoolteacher in Boone. The story will have lots of charming scenes with her first-grade students. The other thing is that she is reserved about getting involved with anyone but always has a good time when she is with Sam Davis. Shelby has a dark cloud hanging over her, one that haunts her and keeps her in check. When trouble comes to Boone, she panics and even threatens to move away but GG, her grandmother, tells her that she needs to share her burdens and stop running because that is what friends and family do.
“That’s because you’re trying to do it alone. It’s too much for one person to bear. You have to let it go, let us all share it. It’s that simple.”
The plot has the good, the bad, and the ugly and how Shelby is innocently caught up in a dangerous and possibly life-altering situation. She has left the city, the life she lived there, and especially to get away from Griff Tanner. He is a smooth-talking, charismatic individual that has conned Shelby and now he has attempted to force his way back in her life, finding her in Boone, and making threats against her. Will she listen to her family and trust them and the law to help her?
The story has several scenes from the past that Shelby will share, tense moments in the present as Griff enters back into Shelby’s life, and the steadfast support of family and friends. How far will things go before Griff makes his move and causes more problems for Shelby? Will Sam be understanding or walk away? Their relationship has been escalating, especially after he spanked her for her unruly behavior—but is that enough? Sam tells her that he was patient when there is something he really wants—and that is her—but first, Shelby has to trust him completely.
“I didn’t know, either. I was so messed up. And I was so shocked when you spanked me. And even more shocked when I wanted you afterward, so badly that I couldn’t think straight. But it was like it broke everything free. Even though I was scared to death after, I think it was the beginning of letting it all go.”
The relationship between Sam and Shelby is sweet, with sizzling chemistry that smolders before it burst into flames. Sam never pushes but lets her know he cares for her, wants her, and will be patient until she is ready. But one spanking and she sets off like dynamite—yet it will take time for them to work everything out—but he is a patient man. While there are several spanking scenes, there are also several intimacy scenes that are not overly explicit. It is a story full of emotions with lots of angst, ups, and downs and a great addition to this series.
Shelby left Mike 15 years ago to become a country singer. When she returns to Phoenix for a concert, a killer decides to make her one of his targets. Mike is the detective assigned to protect her and he goes all out. This is a great continuation of the series and I can’t wait for more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book two in the Strong Man’s Hand series. Meet Shelby, she is a first grade teacher who left all the hustle and bustle of the big city to return to Boone, Indianna. But that is not all she left in the city, she left behind Griff Tanner that she has chosen and hopes to keep secret from her friends and family. Shelby is happy with her life in Boone and she starts to date Sam. A girl has got know that you leave a skeleton in your closet eventually it’s going to start to rattle so loud that you are going to have to face it. I this case, Shelby is going to have to share it in order to move past it. Does Shelby share the burden of her secrets? Can she share before it all blows up wrongly? What will happen with her new relationship with Sam? Thus is a well written story that takes place in a great small town with a bunch of amazing characters to keep you turning the pages from beginning to end. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Removing her guilt!
by sewsummore
Shelby was a young school teacher who had been conned to be an unwitting accessory to multiple robberies by her boyfriend. When she found out what type of man he was she ran away and moved in with her grandmother in a small country town. The guilt she carried made it difficult for her to move on with her life and made committing to the Sam, the new man in her life difficult. When her ex arrives in town wanting her back, she refuses to return and eventually confesses to her family and Sam. I found this book an interesting read with a happy ending. The guilt she carried almost lost Shelby her new man but with the help of her friends she survived the drama and was able to move on with her life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shelby comes home to Boone, IN to teach school. She’s not particularly interested in getting involved with anyone, but begins to date Sam. It turns out that she became involved with someone and inadvertently was helping him commit crimes when she lived in the city, and now he’s trying to blackmail her. She’s ashamed to admit what she did, and too afraid to ask for help. When she takes her frustration out on Sam, she finds herself on the receiving end of some domestic discipline. Their relationship is on a very slow burn for a while before it completely ignites. This was a really nice small-town story. Shelby and Sam have terrific chemistry, and GG is the quite possible the best and most patient grandmother ever.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book two in the A Strong Man’s Hand series a well written story that kept me turning pages, that Griff Tanner was a really evil man. I enjoyed reading Shelby Beauchamp and Sam Davis’ story and getting to know the others in Boone, Indiana. I will be reading the first book in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You can only run so far.
Shelby Beauchamp returns to Boone, Indiana and becomes the schoolteacher there. Sam Davis character is the salt of the earth. This book shows just what a strong man can do when he is in love with a lady in need of help. This was a sweet romance between a strong man and a stubborn woman who finds out that trust is all she really needed. Love the book I highly recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I received an ARC from Booksprout and this review is in my own words.
I really enjoyed this book. The author had a good command of language and the nuances that can help build suspense. She slowly moved this book in the correct direction with the dialogue and narrative making a clean ramp up to the climax. I think it could have used a little less narrative and more dialogue, but overall the way the story was handled was very pleasing.
The character depth varied, depending upon which character was on the page at the moment. I realized about half way through that this must be the second book in a series (although that isn’t something that I knew when I began reading), as a couple of incidents are mentioned in passing in the book, and the way they are written, it assumes the reader knows what those incidents were. GG was a doll, and really was a cohesive factor in the book. Without her, I believe the book may have had a problem carrying the plot along. The other characters – Maggie, Carter, Sam, Frank, and even the doctor – needed a little more fleshing out, but again that may have been done in the previous book.
I would call this book sensual, rather than steamy. The characters definitely got around to having sex in the book, as well as some domestic discipline in the form of spanking. And I found (now this is coming from someone who reads erotica) I didn’t miss it one bit. The story and suspense held my interest all the way through.
With a little less “he said, she said, he did, she did” type of narrative, this book would have improved a great deal (the narrative doesn’t have to be about what a character is doing or thinking, it can be about the town itself, or any other subject that can draw a reader into the setting – that’s the type of narrative this book needed more of).
Too Ashamed to Share
Until I finished the book, I could not put it just like with the first book in the series Maggie’s Match.
Shelby came to Boone, Indiana closer to the end of book 1 and started off there in book 2. Shelby has settled in, started teaching school, and is quite happy. Plus she is seeing and very interested in the hardware store owner’s son Sam Davis who is also her brothers business partner.
Shelby has not told anyone why she suddenly appeared in Boone and put down roots so quickly.
She dated a boy for over a year and did some things she is extremely ashamed of. She has tried to push it out of her mind. Not only that she fled when she found out what kind of man he really was.
Now Griff has come to Boone to get her back any way he can and blackmails her.
Her friends and family keep telling her they are there for her. But she is just too ashamed.
Now she has no choice she needs help. Will they keep their word and help her instead of turning their back on her?
Will Sam be able to move on when he finds out about her past and the fact she was too ashamed to tell him? Or did she not trust him enough?
I received a free copy of this book. This honest review was posted voluntarily.
This book is an entertaining story about the characters we met in Maggie’s Match. Although this story will stand alone, I enjoyed the familiarity of the small town setting as well as the characters that came from having read the first book. The plot focuses on Shelby and her budding relationship with Sam, her brother’s partner. Everything changes when Griff, her ex, comes into town wanting her back. The people who care about Shelby can see she’s troubled, but she stubbornly guards her secret, refusing to let anyone help her. This gave the story an element of mystery and suspense, which I enjoyed. I loved that when the secret was revealed, everything made sense. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is the kind of book that makes me want to move to a smaller town, where you have real friends and they have your back. Shelby has escaped a bad situation and moved back in with her grandmother, but she won’t share the details of the situation and she won’t let another man in. The unwelcome appearance of her past causes her to get closer to Sam, and he calls her on it. The power exchange in the book is positive and helpful, the characters are people you’d like as friends, and the story, particularly the ending, has great merit. My only quibble is that Shelby takes so long to share the issue with the others – that seemed somehow to detract from the strength clear in her character. I look forward to reading more of Kat Carrington’s writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shelby moves from the city to live with her Grandmother in the town of Boone. Everything is going fine until Griff shows up and intrudes into her life and actually is going to blackmail her. Her friends have tried to let her know
that they are there to give a listening ear. The guilt of what she has done is following her around like a big dark cloud over her head. She is being stalked by Griff and her friends are wanting to help her but she finally blows up at Sam. Will
he stand for it? What will be his response? There are a lot of twists and turns in this novel. You will love reading it to bring closure for Sam and Shelby.
I received a free copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed Shelby’s Secrets which is book two in the series A Strong Man’s Hand. While this book is definitely a great standalone, I can’t help but recommend the first book in the series, as it was also a terrific read. This book takes place not long after the end of book one and it continues the story of Shelby and her budding romance with Sam. Now that Shelby has moved to Boone on a permanent basis, has a great teaching job, and a new man in her life, she should be quite happy. However, her family and friends sense a growing unease and even dread in Shelby. As time goes by it seems like she’s about to burst over something. It turns out a bad situation from her past has followed her to Boone. While Shelby wants nothing more than to confide in her love ones about her problem, she is too ashamed and too scared to do so. One night when her problems overwhelm her, she explodes on Sam and soon learns that this dominant man is not going to accept such unwarranted and bad behavior. Finally Shelby feels that she can conquer her problem with the support of those she loves. The romance between Sam and Shelby is terrific. They start as friends and it moves into more in a normal, adult manner. But there’s definitely heat there! There’s a terrific mystery, a nasty villain, and lots of side plots to enjoy. Once again the writer does a terrific job of bringing small-town life to the reader. The settings and characters are such a joy. These people aren’t perfect but they’re good people who care for their friends, their families, and their community. I couldn’t wait to read book two in the series and I absolutely love it. I so hope the series is going to continue because I’m not quite ready to leave Boone and I bet you won’t be either.
This is book two of the Strong Man’s Hand series. You do not have to read book one to enjoy this story, but I do recommend it. Shelby has moved to Boone, Indiana. She wants to spend more time with her brother and sister-in-law. She moves in with GG, her grandma, and starts teaching at the local elementary school. What she doesn’t tell anyone is the reason why she has moved home. Griff Tanner was her boyfriend and they dated for over a year. But then she finds out what kind of man he is and she runs. While back in Boone, she starts to date Sam, who is her brother Carter’s partner. There is a little domestic discipline, but mostly just a great story. There is a HEA and I’m hoping that Shelby’s twin, Savannah is the basis of the next book.
I read this through KU.