Blog Tour Stop including Excerpt, Teasers & Review – Secrets by Jessica Frances

 

Title: Secrets

Series: In Midsummer, #4

Author: Jessica Frances

Genre: M/M Romantic Mystery

Release Date: November 6, 2020

Goodreads

Amazon

 

Blurb

One storm. One Santa Claus. One stalker. One secret. One surprise. One question. One answer.

Christmas is meant to be a jolly time of year, right? So, why is everyone acting like the plague is around the corner? Every year, I’m always the grumpy guy. Yet, this year, I might as well be sunshine personified.

Conner is definitely hiding something from me, River is unusually moody, and the townspeople have clearly lost their minds. Unfortunately, I can’t arrest everyone in my life and demand they explain themselves … can I?

Since my relationship with Conner is becoming more vital to me than ever, I need to find out what has everyone acting so strange. This Christmas will be the first for Conner and me together. I need to make it special. That means I have to ensure nothing can come between us. Not a Hollywood hunk, not a creepy stalker, and definitely not a snowstorm.

So, will we make it through our first Christmas together? Or will this end up being the worst day of the year?

 

 

 

Excerpt

I can’t help the nagging feeling that something is going on with Conner. I don’t want to be that stereotypical partner with trust issues, but I also can’t ignore that he’s been secretive lately. Sometimes, when I ask him what his plans are for the day, he even sounds evasive.

Old fears have resurfaced from the out-of-character behavior, and I’m not proud to admit that I followed him a time or two. Each time, I found him having deep conversations with our town mayor, June Fuller, who had offered him an event planning job, which he accepted. So, as far as I know, they’re just discussing and planning for the next year’s events.

Knowing he wasn’t lying to me should have meant my fears were alleviated. He wasn’t cheating. He wasn’t looking for a way to get out of Midsummer and leave me. He was having business meetings.

Then, why the secrecy?

I eye my boyfriend, looking over his lean form, toned to delicious proportions due to his obsession with hiking; the scruff over his face after not shaving for a couple of days; the wavy, dark blonde hair that is sticking up, likely from excessively running his hands through it; and the way his tongue peeks out before he bites into his lower lip as he contemplates who knows what.

I’m completely in love with Conner, have been for months. But, am I missing something? Have I become too lax in our relationship?

“Conner, is everything okay?”

His gaze snaps to me and, when he speaks the words, “What do you mean?” he says them too quickly and defensively.

“You’re acting … I don’t know. Strange? Is something wrong?”

“No, no, of course not,” he assures me, and I think he’s telling the truth, but how can that be? I know something is wrong or, at least, bothering him, so why won’t he come to me about it?

 

 

4 of 5 Stars

This book picks up right where the last one left off and is therefore not a standalone. I like the Christmas theme and that the secret wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.

I like getting Rocky’s point of view because it shows how vulnerable he feels in their relationship. When we’re reading from Connor’s POV, he seems like a jerk sometimes. I also liked that they were able to find some alone time and get some traction on their relationship in this one even though there was a lot of focus on other characters. This book seemed to be more relationship-centric for these two. They communicate better and they get some of their personal issues out in the open.
Rocky is starting to mend his relationship with his brother as well which I loved.

I’d love to see the relationship develop between Henry and Bryan more. I didn’t like seeing the jerk deputy again and I hope we don’t see him in the next one.

I definitely am in for the next book, especially after how this one ended!

 

 

In the Series

Stranded (In Midsummer #1)

→ Amazon

 

Seperated (In Midsummer #2)

→ Amazon

 

Secrets (In Midsummer #3)

→ Amazon

 

Author Bio

Born and raised in South Australia, Jessica spends her days working in a bakery, afternoons catching up on lost sleep, and nights reading and writing. Writing has always been a passion of hers, however it wasn’t until recently that she decided to put pen to paper and make things official.

Social Media Links:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessica-Frances-Author-156139237914619

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7236316.Jessica_Frances

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Frances/e/B00H3YLSAM

Website: http://jessicafrancesauthor.blogspot.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_frances_author/