Her family is the reason his brother went to prison.Thad Truax is focused on getting the shop he owns with his brothers on the right side of the law and turning a profit, but he’s not against the idea of romance. So when he sees a beautiful woman along the river, he doesn’t hesitate to strike up a conversation that leads to friendship.Unfortunately, by the time he realizes who she is, he’s … friendship.
Unfortunately, by the time he realizes who she is, he’s already falling for her.
After the awful incident that split their town and ended up with Thad’s brother in prison, Justice Hopkins could never be seen in public with Thad Truax. But there’s another, even more explosive reason they can’t be together.
Still, they can’t keep pretending to be strangers during the day while stealing sweet kisses at night under the willow tree.
Can they bring their relationship out to their family and friends without it destroying them?
Reviews for The Small Town Boy’s Secret Romance:
★★★★★ “Mystical; magical and tremendously emotional journey of two people who really cared for each other. How they intertwined throughout was captivating.” – Judi
★★★★★ “Sometimes Christian fiction can be rather bland, skipping character development or not choosing challenging issues with which to deal. But Jessie is not the usual writer.” – Sara
★★★★★ “The characters are real and vulnerable. The relationship is grounded and based upon a foundation of solid principles. Their chemistry is yummy and keeps the plot moving nicely.” – Brandon
★★★★★ ”I like the deep conversations these two share as they reveal things to each other that have caused their trust issues.” – nanc
★★★★★ “It seems every time I pick up a Jessie Gussman story I get a fantastic read!” – Jan
Books in The Small Town Boys series:
- The Small Town Boy’s Redemption
- The Small Town Boy’s Secret Romance
- The Small Town Boy’s Second Chance
more
The Small Town Boy’s Secret Romance is full of emotions. Thad was a man that did not trust women. He thought all women would leave after a while as that has been his experience. They could not be trusted as his baby brother Blade was accused and convicted of attacking the town judge’s 16 year old daughter Mariam and served time in prison for it. No one believed him and there was no actual evidence to prove it. So when Thad seen a beautiful woman doing yoga poses on a flat rock on the Riverside Trail he had to pull over to talk to her. They spoke to each other but was interrupted by the growling of a puppy in the bushes. A bike rider came along scaring the puppy off and called the girl Justice. They did not exchange names but that name was different and the only girl he knew with that name was the sister of Mariam! Their families hated each other. They kept seeing each other after dark on the trail and decided to have a secret fantasy life. They kept getting closer to each other and finally she asked his name and immediately recognized him as the brother of Blade. Their meetings kept going so well and they started to liking each other. They were meeting every night after dark on the trail as they needed to keep it from both their families. They soon started falling in love. Thad wanted to take their romance public but Justice wanted to think about it. Thad didn’t know if she was embarrassed as she came from a higher social life than his family did but, her sister Liberty was engaged to his brother Blade. While waiting for her decision, Richmond Rebels received an email from the large trucking company they had competed for the fleet contract that was given to an all woman garage just opened. It was expressing thanks to Justice, the bank branch manager for approving their new trucking company in Miami. It also stated that the all women garage that was awarded the fleet contract was personally funded by Justice. This did not sit well with anyone at the Richmond Rebels garage. Thad decided he needed answers and a decision from Justice.
This was a perfect read to start my Friday off right! I liked it so much more than I thought I would (I had some issues with how quickly the first one wrapped up.) I love a pleasant surprise! Like finding a $20 in my coat pocket that I hadn’t known was there. 🙂
The characters are real and vulnerable. The relationship is grounded and based upon a foundation of solid principles. Their chemistry is yummy and keeps the plot moving nicely. Their voices are distinct. I’m reminded of the importance of being vulnerable when developing, repairing, or maintaining a relationship. I’m also reminded of the hand God plays: He can bring perspective to situations that adds to our understanding and increases our capacity to love.
Beautiful! I can’t wait to read the next one!
Oh, and the conflict resolution and wrap-up of the story were just right. Bravo! I must say, the romance scenes were so sweet, real, and yummy. It was just the right balance of tingles and trust for me. So sweet and beautiful.
I received an ARC of The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance from the author and I’m voluntary leaving my honest review
What i liked about The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance:
– a secret romance
– the story has a dog in it
I mixed feeling while reading The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance i think it was because i didn’t get attached to Thad and Justice like i did Blade and Libby from The Bad Boy’s Forever Girl but overall I enjoyed the story.
Thad and Justice’s background stories will back your heart and the last time they meet in their spot make your heart sad but Thad and Justice have moments together that will make you keep reading.
The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance by Jessie Gussman (5 stars)
Although this is fine as a stand-alone, it will have more depth and meaning if you read the first book in the series.
Thad and Justice are the ultimate star-crossed lovers. But not only because of their families. They are also held back from love by long-held prejudices and fears.
It’s interesting (and lovely)to watch the transformations/confessions each needs to make before they can truly come together emotionally.
Another wonderful book by Jessie Gussman!
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance had me hanging with the same question all throughout the book: how is this going to play out? How are these two going to make it work? Well, I must say Ms. Gussman managed to give both Thad and Justice, and the reader, a satisfying conclusion to this kind of wild ride.
The book in itself follows the same time frame as the previous one, while also giving enough information as to know which brother is next and who’ll be his love interest.
This story also deals with the theme of sexual assault and portrays it in a respectful, sensitive, and non-graphic way. On the other hand, there’s also mention of people going to church, and there’s (at least) one conversation where God’s mentioned, but it’s never to the point of it being preachy (it’s more like the characters are grounded in their faith, so God and living a Christian life are just parts of who they are).
A great continuation of this series and I can’t wait to read Foster’s story! ~ 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed reading The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance. This book is interesting and fun to read. The characters are great. I love their dynamics together. The plot is interesting. This is a wonderful sweet romance.
You know a writer is worth reading when there’s something you really don’t like in a book and you can still give the book five stars. Although I didn’t love the premise of why these two thought they couldn’t or shouldn’t be together (if you read the first book in the series, I feel like this premise should already be resolved and doesn’t seem like that much of a mountain to climb) I still love the chemistry and the emotions Jessie Gusman can evoke as I fall in love with her characters. I feel like I’m moving into these fictional town as I read through her series.
Let me tell you a secret…
You are missing out if you haven’t read Jessie’s stories yet…they are awesome!
“Their eyes met, and they stared at each other, breathing fast together, their breath mingling in the night air that took it away, flowing sweetly between them, brushing their skin like the touch of an angel’s wing.”
It seems every time I pick up a Jessie Gussman story I get a fantastic read! This one is no exception! Thad and Justice meet by a rock at the river while she is practicing her yoga. He had a reputation as a bad boy but Justice sees him as kind and compassionate and she feels she can trust him. Thad feels he can trust Justice but she has decided she doesn’t need a man in her life. They agreed to be just friends secretly by the river. Will this work for them? I highly recommend you read this to find out what happens!
I received an advance copy of this book and I voluntarily wrote an honest review.
As if this family hasn’t done enough to this family now Justice has our Bad Boy Thad all twisted up in his feelings. It’s a great read with both of these two going through their own changes and new personal growth. She has a thing about men since they have been her own personal threat to her success in the past. The old boys club has not allowed her entry so no she isn’t a fan. When circumstances bring her across Thad’s path her world is flipped when she finds him to be all that she wasn’t looking for and afraid to find. He can’t possibly deal with who she is and how their families connect so this, whatever this is has got to be a secret.
You gotta love these two, especially since they are both so twisted up from the past but have big loving hearts. This author does these stories well and keeps them clean and with an inspirational message that rings loud and clear without taking you out of the story. Absolutely loved it.
The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance is a fascinating, sweet and clean romance. This is a stand alone, but I think the way the timeline of the first book in this series overlaps with this one is unique and interesting. The realistic characters and original storyline make the pages turn quickly.
I received an ARC and have chosen to give my honest review.
If you like underdogs, this is the series for you. The Truax boys are a family of brothers who have “made good”, against the odds. Despite being neglected children, these brothers are now hardworking, productive citizens. Their story is a Cinderella story of sorts.
Thad Truax has finally met a woman who makes him want to spend time with her. Unfortunately, he knows from experience that women are selfish and always leave. Why then is he compelled to sneak around to spend time with the man-indifferent Justice?
A sizzling-clean tale.
I received an ARC of this story, and I am leaving a voluntary review.
This is a cute book!
The main people in the book were rounded out well letting us know their outlooks, helping us understand why they said and did things. Essential in my opinion. It made for good reading.
This book Follows The Bad Boy’s Forever Girl, but can stand alone. Both books are good!
I agree with a previous reviewer:…”the Truax brothers need to meet the Baxter brothers!!”
After living a very sheltered life, I know that not all of the kids I grew up with experienced the same. I look at the adult version of the kids I knew…and wonder. Meanwhile life has continued to get more challenging as the years have passed. This series is showing what has happened in the lives of opposing families that have greatly formed how they respond now as adults. Ultimately each person has to decide what kind of person they will be, but seeing some of the challenges faced gives a new perspective.
I requested an ARC and am willingly leaving my impressions.
The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance was a wonderful parallelling story to The Bad Boy’s Forever Girl. I really like this new series by Jessie Gussman. And the characters Justice and Thad were so cool. I really liked and admired how they handled their very tricky situation. And the Beau thing was adorable. I read an ARC and this is my honest review.
I loved reading The Bad Boy’s Secret Romance. Considering the past history with their families, it is a good think that the developing friendship and later love between Thad and Justice was a secret for so long. This is a clean, Christian, heart warming, well written story. It is interesting that the time line runs concurrent with the first book. This book stand alone but it is even better when you have read the first book. I am thoroughly enjoying the Truax brothers stories.
This is a fun, second story in the Richmond Rebels Sweet Bad Boy Romance series. It was cute because it involved the two main characters, Thad and Justice finding an abandoned puppy in a park by the river. I liked the private world that Thad and Justice wove around their special place by the river where the world could not judge them for their pasts and they would not judge each other. It was interesting how their pasts effected and shaped their present relationship. I liked how both characters were able to put their guards down and be themselves even though they knew about each other and what had happened to their families. It was also interesting how this book and the previous one are overlapping in time as both stories are basically happening at the same time. I really liked how this story ended and I look forward to the rest of this series too! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
I never thought I’d be interested in “bad boys” romance stories but the bad boys in this series are goodhearted men who are rough around the edges and, although they are rising above their tough upbringing, they are having trouble with overcoming the way the public perceives them. I really loved this story of Thad and Justice who have an instant attraction when they meet along a walking trail by the river and together try to rescue an abandoned puppy. They continue to meet secretly and as they talk about their experiences and really listen to one another their feelings grow into love. It’s such a great story and it emphasized to me that today with social media and the ten second soundbites on the news—people rarely take the time to listen and try to understand a different point of view, to have civil disagreements instead of instant judgments. You should try this book even if “bad boys” are not your cup of tea. You’ll be glad you did!
Highly recommend! I received an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.
River companions.
This is the next installment about the Truax brothers and this is Thad story. Like his brother he has the name of bad boy perhaps he has done a few shady things now and then but that does not make bad. When a growl comes out of the bushes, Justice and Thad meet on Riverside Trail. Their families have a history if you have read the first book you will understand right off. What I liked about this one is that I have seen couples like these two who needed to keep a friendship under wraps because of family. I enjoy the story and I liked the ending. Realistic and good characters woven in an honest and very well-written story I recommend this one. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Really enjoyed reading this book. Great story and interesting, well written characters. Thad is a very confident person but has some hang ups as a result of his background that he needs to understand. Seeing how Justice overcomes her prejudices regarding men was insightful.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.