“This is a story I will definitely read again and again. It is one of the most touching, yet entertaining stories I have read this year.” Charissa from Joy in the Moments ★★★★★I have a famous secret, but it’s not the biggest one I keep.From an outside view, my life would be the definition of boring. I’m married to a landscaper, albeit a very attractive one, I drive an old cheap car, and I write … one, I drive an old cheap car, and I write articles for an online magazine. So, maybe I’ve been a constant fixture on the New York Times Best Sellers list for the last few years, but that secret is locked safely in my attic.
Here’s a word of advice. If you want to keep a secret, don’t tease your mother-in-law about what’s in that attic, especially when her life goal is to save her son from you. Now that my famous secret is out, past acquaintances willing to do anything to get their own fifteen minutes of fame are lying to the media about me. But my biggest problem isn’t the lies in the press, it’s the truth I’m forced to face. The secret I’ve kept from everyone, even my husband, the man I love, the first person who made me feel like I belonged somewhere.
Now I have no other choice but to tell the truth and face my biggest fear, that Peter and I were never meant to be together and my secrets could take him away too.
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Jennifer Peel did not disappoint in The Secretive Wife! We all know secrets cause issues and that exactly what happens in this book- the results in relationships when secrets are kept.
Peter and Delanie are this beautiful couple! Her identity not revealed to protect her. They are living an amazing love story until she gets exposed as the top selling romance author!
I had some many emotions while reading this book. As Delanie and Peter started falling apart, my heart broke for them. I love the family and friends who truly help Peter and Delanie. Peter’s dad was so well written!
The depths of true love come out in this book for all the relationships. Delanie and Peter together- love them so much! I cannot wait for Avery and James next! Love this series!
Jennifer Peel has done it again! I started reading this book and I didn’t put it down. These are the best books ever. After I read the first one for free with Kindle unlimited, I purchased all three the moment I finished it. This book was absolutely wonderful. I love a book that sucks you and a makes you FEEL what the characters are going through. Yep, I cried right along with Delanie. You won’t regret the purchase. GREAT BOOK!
Absolutely hands down an emotional read that is well worth shutting your world out and getting lost in the pages of this book.
Delanie has secrets, little ones and big ones. There are reasons for the way that she is and she is protecting them the only way she knows how, by keeping them close the cuff. When one of her biggest secrets is revealed – her world as she knows it implodes. When she releases her biggest secret, her world is completely shattered. As I have said, this book will make you cry, make you cheer, hope and want to slap someone.
I’m enjoying the Decker family drama and romance so much!
After reading The Secretive Wife’s predecessor, The Sidelined Wife, I knew I had to have more. Delanie and Peter’s story is just as addictive as Samantha and Reed’s was. The characters in this story come to life and are so easy to relate to.
I must say that Delanie had me bawling my eyes out at one point and then Peter delicately picked up all of the pieces. These two are just meant to be!
There’s one character I’m struggling with and that’s the infamous mother-in-law. Sarah Decker is something else!
I wouldn’t recommend it because the books are so good but I believe you could read books one and two in the More Than A Wife series as standalones. Moving on to book 3.
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars!! If you’ve read The Sidelined Wife (if you haven’t read it you really should) you already know that Peter’s mother, Sarah, does not like Delanie or approve of Peter and Delanie’s marriage. Peter used to be a priest, and she feels Delanie led Peter astray from his true calling. Delanie’s nose stud and arm tattoo don’t help either.
Delanie and Peter have a tightly guarded secret that no one (friends or family) knows about. When Sarah talks them into using their new home to host a wedding reception for Peter’s sister Sam and her new husband Reed, she betrays their trust by invading their privacy in the worst possible way, and their closely guarded secret is suddenly out there for all the world to know. In less than a day Delanie and Peter’s almost idyllic life is shattered and they have to deal with the ramifications of his mother’s actions–paparazzi, tabloids, media, and lies being told by people who want some time in the spotlight, no matter how fleeting it may be.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse for this couple who are so deeply in love, Delanie has one last secret that even Peter doesn’t know about. Will they be able to get through this and come out on the other side?
The way Jennifer Peel writes her characters is one reason she’s one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. I immediately get sucked into her character’s stories. Every. Single. Time. I knew from friends who’d already read this book that there would be drama and heartbreak, but I had no idea how this book would make me feel. It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished it, and I still see red when I think of what Peter’s mother did to them. She went from being mean and dismissive toward Delanie to doing something that I consider to be hateful and almost vindictive. As much as she claims to love her son Peter, she wasn’t thinking about what her actions would do to him. I still feel that she should have been punished more than she was.
I can’t really relate to Delanie’s character but I still felt for her through all the heartache she went through. Delanie deserved respect from her mother-in-law if only because Sarah’s son loved her. It took Peter far too long–4 years–to stand up to his mother (and grandmother) about how they treated the woman he loved.
I liked that the book is told in Delanie’s voice so we hear all her thoughts and how she perceives things. She has a wicked sense of humor. I loved hearing about Sam and how she was doing and looking forward to reading Avery and James’ story.
This book contains mild language, closed-door implied sex between a married couple, some innuendo.
Delanie had the most unusual childhood. All she ever wanted was to fit in… to feel loved… to live a normal life. But with Cat and Ron as parents, that would never happen. It wasn’t until she met Peter that she ever felt love. But with him being a Priest, they would never be able to act on their love for each other.
Peter had never met anyone like Delanie before. There was just something about her that drew him in and had him questioning what he wanted out of life. They tried to stay apart but the heart wants what the heart wants. Peter made the decision to leave the Priesthood and build a life with Delanie. He didn’t make that decision lightly. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was his life.
For the last four years they have lived in bliss. Their love for each other growing stronger every day. The only thing that could make it better would be if Peter’s mom, Sarah, liked Delanie. But she has made it painfully clear every chance she gets that she strongly disagrees with their marriage. It seems she’ll stop at nothing to tear them apart.
But their blissful life is about to be turned upside down. Who would have ever thought that a last minute party at Delanie and Peter’s house thrown together by his mother would reveal a secret that they had been keeping from their family. The more they try to keep everything under control, the more secrets arise. Delanie and Peter are filled with hurt, frustration, doubt, anger and defeat. They don’t know who to trust, who to turn to, or where they go from here. It seems like the entire world is against them.
When Delanie is hit with the ultimate betrayal, she’ll have to decide what she really wants. She knows that Peter would be better off without her but just thinking about letting him go breaks her heart and leaves her feeling like a shell of a person. But when she receives the news that her and Peter have been longing for, she doesn’t know if she could ever give him up.
Delanie may not know this, but she should never under estimate a man in love. Peter may be a putz at times and might not always know the right things to say but he will fight tooth and nail to keep her in his life. He’s determined to show her exactly where she belongs… show her how much he truly loves her… and show her that, when it comes to the two of them, even though the road is wrought with trials, tribulations and setbacks, love will always, always conquer all.
*dreamy sigh*
WOW! All I can say is the feels! Oh my gosh you guys! The feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeels! I just can’t even right now! Delanie and Peter… *sigh* Their story is SO real… SO raw… SO heart-achingly beautiful! To love each other so fiercely, so strongly, I can’t even begin to describe it to you! You just HAVE to read this book! But fair warning… make sure you have a lot of tissues close by! You will most definitely need them!
I am LOVING this series! It is SO good! Both books have stayed with me long after I finish them… and I LOVE it when that happens! I can’t WAIT for James and Avery’s book!
Ms. Peel has definitely done it again! She’s an AMAZING author! Just when I think I have found my favorite of hers, she releases a new book. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pick a favorite of hers. They just keep getting better and better!
Ah, Mrs. Peel, you’ve done it again! This book is full of fabulous characters and complex depth. I never get tired of a Jennifer Peel tale. I just wish we could plug that brain of hers into a computer and download all the stories that lie in wait.
Jennifer has done it again. This book is fantastic!
I’m extremely grateful daylight savings time ended Saturday night. I was still awake and reading when the clocks turned back an hour at 2 am. That extra hour of reading time saved me from being completely exhausted on Sunday because this was a book I couldn’t put down!
I loved these characters. Can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Content: Mild language, closed-door implied sex between a married couple, some innuendo
Another great Jennifer Peel book. It makes you want to laugh and cry right along with the characters. Can’t wait for Avery’s story.
I just finished this book a few minutes ago and I am so looking forward to the next book in the series!
Where do I start? Secondary characters! When Mimsy and her ” boyfriend” showed up at a party “dressed up” and I read what they looked like I started laughing so hard and bookmarked it to read to my daughter. Mimsy may be old but she acts like someone in her twenties. She causes a lot of amusement and embarrassment for her family.
I loved watching Joseph grow as a person over the course of two books and he was one of my favorites.
Susan…..how do I put this nicely? I didn’t like her in the first book and really didn’t like her most of this book. I hated all of the problems she caused for not just Delanie and Peter ( I mean a ton of problems) but how she treated most of the family.
Joan was hilarious, outspoken, loyal and so wonderful. I loved every scene she was in.
Now onto Delanie and Peter! Oh my goodness! Delanie is such a strong character, who has such a wicked sense of humor, caring but snarky. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for what is right and help people.
She has a hate/hate relationship with her mother-in-law Susan. Susan doesn’t like this tattooed, nose ring wearing woman who has stolen her son’s heart and they butt heads often. So when Delanie has the rug yanked out from under her courtesy of Susan and is devastated, I wanted to sob along with her. I walked into a store with my daughter and I kept thinking about Delanie and Peter and I was so sad and wanted to cry again.
Peter and Delanie have such a wonderful, strong, passionate marriage that it hurts when all of kinds of tribulations hit them in a short period of time.
I love this book!!!!!!!
It has some mild curse words nothing bad, it is a clean read.