I live my life to the fullest. Work hard as part of the team at Jameson Force Security but play just as hard at The Wicked Horse Vegas. I have no regrets about my life. Well, maybe just one. She was my first love and the woman I wanted to spend my life with, but one day she was just gone. Vanished without a trace. My single remorse is never being able to find out what happened to her, because no … to her, because no matter how difficult the truth may be, it can’t be as bad as never knowing at all.
Until the day my past walks through the door and brings me to my knees with the secrets she holds.
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Wicked Secrets is the eight book in this series, a second chance at love for Austin and Leighton. A beautiful heartwarming romance with plenty of kinky sexiness. There’s a reason The Wicked Horse Vegas is one of my favorite series, the stories are always decadent and wickedly hot!
I love this series and how Sawyer Bennett and this one is a great addition!
August is a former Las Vegas policeman and now works for the Jameson Force Security team. He loves to spend his evenings at the Wicked Horse and he’s pretty open in exploring that side of himself but never committing to anyone. One night after going to bed, August gets a knock on his door, when he opens it, he’s almost knocked over by the shock of the woman on the other side. Standing there is the love of his life, Tracey who disappeared without a trace 10 years ago when they were in high school.
August tried tracking her down but could never find her and now he wants to know why she’s there. It turns out Tracey has become Leighton. It seems that “Tracey’s” dad had witnessed something and had to testify against the mob and then was put in the witness protection program. The key thing was that they had to walk away from everything and not return, if they did return, they wouldn’t be a part of the witness protection program and they’d be on their own against the mob. So, they disappeared, changed everything and that’s how they lived, fearful of being caught and following the rules.
But Tracey/Leighton had a secret. She found out after disappearing that she was pregnant but now he’s sick and she’s looking for a donor and the boy’s dad, August has the potential to help him.
Saying that August is pissed is putting it mildly. He’s not going to make it easy on Leighton but he will help his son. August is definitely impressed with how Leighton raised their son and always told him the truth about his father. They were able to meld into a “family” pretty easily at least while they went through this testing.
Another thing August is pissed about is how sizzling the chemistry is between them even after 10 years and all that she did to him. But while over the years August had been out exploring his desires in the Wicked Horse, Leighton had never been with another man (although August didn’t know this). August takes her to the Wicked Horse to push her. She goes and the flood gates are opened for her as well.
This book has so much going on and Sawyer writes it in such a way that you feel like you’re a part of it. There’s the chemistry of August and Leighton, the stress of their son’s diseases, Leighton’s dad who testified and stayed back, the potential mob finding them, and will they be able to put their past behind them and become a family.
This is definitely a steamy story! This one shouldn’t be a secret for long!
** Edited to add audiobook thoughts **
4.5 Emotional & Sizzling Stars!
Wicked Secret is a captivating emotional, and sexy, second chance romance. August Greenfield is living his best life. He loves his job and works hard as part of the Jameson Force Security team in the Las Vegas office and he plays just as hard at The Wicked Horse Vegas. His work is filled with strict rules so he loves the liberating freedom and hedonism at the club. He was happy being single until the lost love of his life comes back into his life just as mysteriously as she left. He never expected to see Leighton again, thinking she had died. Now she is back with a soul shattering secret that makes him furious and causes him heartbreaking pain. August needs the Wicked Horse and to push boundaries with Leighton like never before. He wants to punish her, but his body and soul recognize that they were made for each other and his love for her never died. Leighton was forced into a situation that was far beyond her control. She has lived a life that was not her own to protect those she loved. Now she needs August’s help. He is the only man she has ever loved and never forgotten. But seeking him out puts them all in grave danger. Now she needs to trust that August and Jameson Force Security will keep them all safe. I loved August and Leighton’s journey back to each other. They helped each other heal and find hope, forgiveness, family, and love. I love that Bennett can weave all her different characters together in breathtaking and steamy stories that are so riveting and that capture my heart. She also builds exciting anticipation for future stories across her different series. I can’t wait to find out more about Malik in the Jameson series and need more about Declan in this Wicked Horse Vegas series!
Narrators Lance Greenfield, and Kirsten Leigh did an amazing job bringing this story to life. They portrayed all the characters with all their strengths and vulnerabilities making them feel very real and honest to me. Together they brought this emotional, heartfelt, hot and sexy romance to life keeping me totally engaged from start to finish.
Y’all know I love a good second-chance romance, right? Love how the lead characters have to get over whatever it was that broke things off in the first place to get them to realize that there’s still a spark, a connection between them.
And wow, do August and Leighton have some crazy things to get over in Wicked Secret. Namely the past ten years since Leighton disappeared without a trace.
But from Leighton’s ringing of August’s doorbell through the very last page, it was obvious there was still so much love simmering beneath the anger and distrust between them. And it took them a good while for everyone involved to see that the choices made, the decisions and secrets kept for so long are what made them the adults they now are. And that those choices while devastating shouldn’t keep them from living their happily ever after. I couldn’t help but root for them to figure it all out and to really trust themselves and their feelings—and trust each other too.
I really enjoyed this latest book in the fun and sexy Wicked Horse Vegas series. And I’m really looking forward to Declan’s story next!
I love a good second chance romance and Sawyer Bennett said ill see your good and bump it up to phenomenal!!!
Wicked Secret is packed with all the feels and of your life me, and the HEA that I desire with enough twist to keep you begging for me.
Outstanding!!!
5 stars
AVAILABLE NOW from New York Times Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett…
She vanished ten years ago without a trace. He spent years looking for the truth. Everything he knows will change in an instant when he opens the door to find her standing there. WICKED SECRET is a standalone second chance romance within the Wicked Horse Vegas series, with a Jameson Force Security crossover. Wickedly hot with a dash of suspense, WICKED SECRET will have you on the edge of your seat begging for more!
Wicked Secret was engaging and endearing. I enjoyed the beginning of August & Leighton’s story. The middle was a bit hard because of August’s attitude, but he managed to get his act together toward the latter third of the book. Leighton took on a bit of a punching bag mentality, which was challenging to read, but she, too, allowed her backbone to emerge, too. I was happy with the book at the end, so if you’re questioning it I recommend finishing. It’s worth it!
The emotional roller coaster that Wicked Secrets took me through. The scenes in the wicked Horse is to be expected, but the tear jerking and heartfelt moments are totally unexpected. As I said in my review of Sawyer Bennett’s last release Wylde, she is just getting better with every book she writes. She brings you into the Characters lives as if you belong there. I can’t wait to see how she continues to brings us into her new characters’ lives.
Blurb:
Those that truly know August Greenfield, will tell you that I live my life to the fullest. Work hard as part of the team at Jameson Force Security but play just as hard at The Wicked Horse Vegas. I have no regrets about my life.
Well, maybe just one.
Leighton Hale was my first love and the woman I wanted to spend my life with, but one day she was just gone. Vanished without a trace. Even my extensive contacts as part of the team at Jameson left me empty-handed in my search for answers. My single remorse is never being able to find out what happened to her, because no matter how difficult the truth may be, it can’t be as bad as never knowing at all.
Ten years later, a knock on my front door brings me face-to-face with the woman I thought I’d never see again and nothing in my life could have prepared me for the secrets she holds.
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Arc received for honest review.
Though this is a book from the” Wicked Horse Vegas” series, it also intermingles with the “Jameson Force Security” series.
August Greenfield is a former Las Vegas Policeman and a current employee of the Jameson Force Security team in Las Vegas. He enjoys being a member of the Wicked Horse and is a frequent visitor. Around 2:00 a.m. one night, August gets a knock on his door. There’s a woman standing there that August has not seen in close to 10 years, whom he believed was dead. It takes a minute for it to hit him who this person is, because even though her eye and hair color are different, there’s no mistaking that it’s his former girlfriend, first love, and thought-to-be-his-future-wife, “Tracey Glendale.” Her name now, however, is no longer Tracey, but Leighton.
Leighton has come to pay August a visit while putting herself in danger. It was never Tracey’s/Leighton’s choice to leave August and disappear 10 years ago. Her father’s testimony against a Mob incident put them both in the WITSEC protection program. She was warned she could never reach to try & contact August because it could potentially reveal where they’ve been hiding. But, leaving all that behind, Leighton has sought out August due to extenuating circumstances. She is desperate for his help, though she knows what she’s about to reveal to him will be devastating.
This book has a lot of emotions that run throughout from beginning to end. It’s really a great story about love, forgiveness & second chances. Definitely one that I thoroughly enjoyed & recommend!
Wicked Secret was another phenomenal instalment in the Wicked Horse, Vegas Series. This is a second chance, romantic suspense that I devoured in one sitting. August Greenfield is an ex-cop now working for Jameson Force Security. He frequents the Wicked Horse in his down time. He is content with his life. Leighton is on the run and has been in witness protection program and is hiding a secret that will rock August’s world. The moment Leighton shows up on August’s doorstep their chemistry was evident but due to their past there was a lot of intense emotion between these two as well! August tries very hard to keep Leighton at arms length and keeps up his anger, and defenses for a short time but soon he gives in as he will do anything for her. Leighton has had a tough life and is strong and resilient. I loved the suspense in this one. I adored the way August protects Leighton at all costs. The connection between these two was steamy, and explosive. I couldn’t get enough. I love the world that Sawyer Bennett has created with the Wicked Horse Vegas and Jameson Force Security and loved seeing the characters cross over. I also loved getting to know more about August’s billionaire friend, Declan! Can’t wait for his book next.
Thank you to the author for an advanced reader copy in exchange of an honest review.
I freaking loved this book!!! I have to admit that the first 30% of the book I was crying like a baby so be prepared with a box of tissues because you will probably need them. I devoured this book, 272 pages, and I didn’t move an inch while reading it.
Sawyer Bennett didn’t just give us another great Wicked Horse Vegas story she combined it with her Jameson Force Security series and knocked it out of the park. We have a combination of suspense with some wickedly hot scenes at the Wicked Horse AND…. a second chance at love story with a secret that will change lives forever!
Honestly it doesn’t matter if you have read any of the books in either series because this can be read as a standalone. I personally enjoy both series so I would recommend them both, if you enjoy BDSM romance or contemporary romances with a lot of spice to them then Wicked Horse Vegas is the series for you, and if you enjoy Romantic Suspense that has heat Jameson Force Security is the one for you.
Happy Reading!!!
This is book 8 in the Wicked Horse Vegas series and can absolutely be read as a stand alone. In this one we get August Greenfield and Leighton Hale’s story. August is a part of Jameson Security Force and works hard, but he also plays harder at the Wicked Horse. He lives his life fast and to the fullest and only has one regret. Not being able to find out what happened to Leighton. She was his first love and the woman he wanted to have a life with, and then she just disappeared. Now 10 years later, she knocks on the door and secrets that he never saw coming. But has to deal with just the same and figure out if his life is changed forever.
I absolutely loved most of this book! Leighton (aka Tracey) has been through things that no one wants to have to go through, especially when it wasn’t even anything that she did. But she dealt with everything to the best of her ability, all to keep the people she loved safe. I loved her and what she is willing to do for the people she cares about!! August is this hot, macho, protective alpha male who is also kinky as all get out! He introduces her to some things that I don’t think she ever thought about doing, but it is hot as all get out! I love how he steps up and helps, and never lets what happened affect how he reacts in that regard. But I didn’t like how he was constantly blaming her for choices that really were out of her control. He finally did look at the bigger picture but how he was acting at the beginning, especially when he works in security and knows how it is, it just put me off with him a bit. On a whole, loved the story and the hotness factor is sky high!
Wicked Secret is a good combination of The Wicked Horse series and the Jameson Force Series. August our male lead is employed by one and plays at the other!
This is a fun read that takes a look at what happens when your lost love shows up 10 years later with secrets and in desperate need of help. As much as August was raw and a bit abrasive at times, he was also had a sweet side that made me like him. I also really enjoyed Leighton’s character and found her to be very relatable.
The story line here pulls you in, and has you on your edge of your seat for various reasons. It’s a fast paced story that has enough going on that the budding romance almost sneaks up on you.
Ms Bennett’s talent as a author comes through loud and clear with Wicked Secret. Not only does she tell an engaging story about August, Leighton, and their family, but she also gracefully weaves in secondary characters and details that advance two different series so we are excited to see what comes next.
Enjoyable Read
Wicked Secret immediately draws you in and doesn’t waste getting to the heart of Leighton and August.
While I enjoyed this story and the characters in it, I felt the ending was rushed and would have preferred a slower pace to the resolution.
**ARC provided for an honest review**
OMG!!! OMG!!! Scorching!!! What a phenomenal story!!! Such a heartfelt book on one hand and a blistering read on the other!!! Its two worlds colliding bringing excitement, hotness, and emotional chaos!! Sawyer turns up the heat in Wicked Secret!! Phew!! Another awesome book!!!
August Greenfield lives his life fast and hard. August works for Jameson Force Security in the Las Vegas office and in his down time he loves to play at The Wicked Horse Vegas. He’s never had a meaningful relationship ever since the love of his life just up and vanished on him 10 years ago. Now imagine his surprise when he opens his front door to find Tracey Glendale standing on his front porch looking even better than she ever did.
Tracey, now known as Leighton Hale has a hell of story to tell August and it leaves him speechless. Knowing what he must do, August jumps into action to make things right but the whole time he’s still ticked off at Leighton.
As August and Leighton come together to hopefully help Leighton’s issue, the brick wall around August’s heart starts to slowly tumble down. Just when it looks like there is no hope, these two find their way back to each other and to the love that they should have had 10 years ago.
I really loved this story! It has equal parts of scorching heat and raw emotions all bundled together. I laughed, cried and swooned while reading this story! Buckle up because Sawyer Bennett is really taking you for a ride with this story!
This was a great read! August finds out he is a dad to a 10 year old son, but he is sick and needs his help. There is more to it as to why he is just finding out about his son, but the road to reconciliation isn’t always as easy as it seems. I enjoyed their dynamic and I liked the added bonus of Declan for fun!
Having been a fan of this series since the beginning, I am thrilled there is a new “Wicked” story. In the Jameson security company, there are 2 locations. Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. With this story, Ms. Bennett has thoroughly joined the Jameson Security stories with the Wicked Horse books. August (love this name) works for Jameson Security, and is a member of some frequency at Wicked Horse Vegas. He certainly is enjoying his life until Leighton knocks on his door at 3 in the morning. She is the woman who loved him as a teenager until the night she disappeared. Ten years later she is back with a past and a secret and she need August’s help. And off this story goes. There is so many emotions for this story, for several reasons, and I love how the story made me feel them all. I am a huge Sawyer Bennett fan, and for me, this is another winner.
Last thing August expects when he opens his door is his girlfriend from high that he thought had died, but there she is. Leighton and her dad went into hiding and then she found out she was expecting. Fast forward ten years and she need August help, or more importantly his son needs his blood. This book was great, Sawyer bennett has another winner in her hands!!!
August Greenfield is living the life — he’s got a great job and goes to the Wicked Horse Las Vegas whenever he wants. He’s not looking for a relationship, especially after his childhood sweetheart disappeared without a trace years ago.
When his teenage love shows up at his doorstep asking for help, He’s got all sorts of emotions to work through. He’s angry with Leighton for disappearing on him, and he’s worried that she’s really in trouble and needs his protection. And then she blows his mind with one more secret from the past that has him reeling. Let’s just say that August has a lot of time to make up for and lots to resolve in his own mind.
I did find the first part of this book a bit depressing and predictable. It takes some time for August to learn to trust and forgive Leighton, which was reasonable to expect, but it did take the escapism out of this story and replaced it with a big old pile of realism. I was happy to see the book take an upturn in the middle. The Wicked Horse does get some page time later in the book as August and Leighton work on their relationship.
Overall, the erotic romance part of this book helped to balance out the not-so-fun parts, but this was not my favorite in the series. There are some hot scenes at the Wicked Horse that helped to keep things interesting in the face of some of the almost-dire situations they had to deal with.