There was so much hope, love, humor and devastation wrapped into Secretly Hers, book two of Sterling Canyon series written by Jamie Beck. This book addressed so many emotions, life trials and lessons that allowed me to follow along with more than the simple satisfaction of a romance novel. My heart ached for Kelsey from the very beginning. Kelsey wanted a husband and children so deeply that she lost sight in the falling in love part and the desire towards a life partner. Trip was that classic, yet swoon worthy male that wanted the least bit of connection possible other than the connections between the sheets. His past is what made him, shaped him to be so cynical to not knowing what "love" even meant and why anyone would even desire it. Kelsey opened him up to see and feel more. They faced a tragic and heart-wrenching time and that connection forced them one way or the other - go their separate ways or realize what they could have would be real, rare and lasting.
There were other aspects to this book that I thoroughly liked such as the backstories that stayed afloat throughout the book - Grey and Avery, Kelsey at the Inn, the friendship between Avery, Kelsey and Emma, Trip's family dynamic and others.
The book cover is sweet, inviting and fits perfectly to match the contents of Secretly Hers.
This author has a gift to add many layers to her stories and develop them into series. After just a handful of her books, I have already grown extremely fond of Jamie Beck's writing and her vision to pack flair, wit, charm and substance into her books. I would highly recommend this book along with the rest of the series. ( )

This book by Beck is a quick read romance, and a good one at that. The plot is a little different from most romance books so it was interesting from that point of view. She is able to make the characters knowable and believable and their situations or background differ and therein is the rub. I enjoyed reading it.

J. Robert Ewbank author 'John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church" ( )