About the Book:

Nurse Nyla Franklin knows three things to be true. Taking care of others brings more joy than a basket full of kittens. A triple-fudge sundae can cure just about anything. And no good ever comes from keeping a secret… So when her best friend spills his biggest one ever, Nyla knows she’s not just holding a secret. She’s holding a ticking time bomb.

Mr. Always Does the Right Thing Leo Sayre knows three things to be true. Piloting smokejumpers over burning forests is the best job in the world. His best friend Nyla is the smartest, funniest, and okay, sexiest woman ever. And pain meds are apparently his truth serum. Now his post-surgery confession has everything flipped upside down and turned inside out… including his relationship with Nyla.

Secrets have a way of piling up, and it’s just a matter of time before someone lights a match. Because while the truth can set you free, it can also burn completely out of control…

Each book in the Where There’s Smoke series is STANDALONE:
* The Two-Date Rule
* Just a Little Bet
* The Best Kept Secret

My Thoughts:

Note: I received an eARC through NetGalley. The review reflects my honest opinion.

The Best Kept Secret is a romance between Nyla and Leo, who come together as a result of an unexpected secret that is revealed by Leo. Nyla has difficulties keeping secrets and usually ends up revealing everything. The book is a part of a series but can also be read as a stand alone. This is the first book that I am reading by the author.

This book then follows the after effects of the “big secret” which Leo reveals to Nyla which leads to a whole lot of dragged out family drama. I did not fully enjoy this part of the book and also how the characters react when the secret(s) are revealed. I felt that a lot of the plot points fell into place too easily and this also made me think that characters were rather two dimensional.

I did enjoy the relationship that Nyla and her older sister, Leo’s ex-wife, share. I also liked how Nyla got along with her nephew. These were well depicted by the author. I felt a little awkward about the relationship that develops between Nyla and Leo, but eventually it does fall into place.

Overall this is a decent one time read especially for those who enjoy lots of family drama and a whole lot of romance.