Product Description

The stunning new summer besteller from Freya North. They drive each other crazy. And they both have something to hide. But we all have our secrets. It's just some are bigger than others! Joe has a beautiful house, a great job, no commitments -- and he likes it like that. All he needs is a quiet house-sitter for his rambling old place by the sea. When Tess turns up on his doorstep, he's not sure she's right for the job. Where has she come from in such a hurry? Her past is a blank and she's something of an enigma. But there's something about her -- even though sparks fly every time they meet. And it looks as though she's here to stay!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9192 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
`Intimate and involving chick lit where romance bubbles between a wealthy singleton and his enigmatic, down-on-her-luck house-sitter.' Metro --Metro

About the Author
Freya North's first novel, Sally, was published to great acclaim while she was still in her twenties. Her subsequent books, Chloe, Polly, Cat, Fen, Pip , Love Rules, Home Truths and Pillow Talk have all been bestsellers. In 2008 Freya North won the RNA Book of the Year award with Pillow Talk. She lives in London with her family.

Customer Reviews

Another top read from Freya North
Tess has run away from London to Saltburn with her small daughter and she more or less gives bridge builder Joe no option but to employ her as housesitter when she answers his ad. However, she doesn't fully unpack her car nor does she drive it again after she arrives. Joe on the other hand, doesn't tell her everything about the house and his life there, resulting in a shock for Tess when he is away on a work trip.

We follow Tess and Joe as they get to know each other and start to fall in love. The question is, when will they trust each other enough to tell the secrets of their past?

The north east features heavily in the book, which, as a Londoner who adopted Yorkshire as my adult home, I really like. And the theme of bridge building, both real and metaphorical, is strong throughout. The book is unashamedly romantic without being overly cliched and cheesy, very similar in tone to Pillow Talk.

Freya North's early work had a particular style that most either loved or hated. For me, she started to get really good when she introduced the McCabe sisters (Fen, Cat, Pip and their uncle). Her work from Love Rules onwards has got even better. So I was looking forward to reading this and I wasn't disappointed.

Freya North has matured into a writer who writes intelligently and with feeling about both the joy and pain of love. She's not afraid to get her main leads together by the middle (or even beginning) of a book, so we can follow their fledgling relationship as it matures through the stages of crush, lust and love. She often examines what love really means and this book is no exception.

If you liked Pillow Talk, you'll love this. It's not as serious in tone as either Love Rules or Home Truths, but if you liked those, you'll also like this.

And a last note for newcomers to Freya North's work, she writes very frankly about the bedroom antics, so if you prefer the bedroom door closed in books, be warned; but please read it anyway because she writes really well even if you feel the need to skip the steamy bits.

Strange writing style
I loved Freya North's 'Pillow Talk' so I ordered this book straight away. But, Oh Lord, what a difficult book to wade through. North doesn't write in either the present tense, or the past tense. She doesn't write from any of her characters' perspectives, but rather as an omniscient presence who hovers over everything and everyone and flits from one person's internal perception to the next. Ugh. I became very frustrated early on and had to make myself keep reading to find out how everything ends. So, yes, Freya North is a creative writer. But, no, I didn't enjoy 'Secrets.' Be prepared for a strange reading experience. Additionally, I didn't like Tess. She's thin, beautiful, ethereal, a wonderful mother, a marvelous housekeeper...in essence, quite perfect. Not a very endearing character.

Enchanting
I am not a big book reader and always have a book on holiday to rest the days away. However I now got into the routine of reading before I go to sleep. After reading a gory serial killer book I decided I wanted something a little easier to read. I brought "Secrets" on Friday evening and I could not put it down, I had finished the book by sunday afternoon. It was fantastic, easy to read and such an enchanting story line. I almost felt jealous of the charaters, such a lovely story line very well written and no there are not any major twists in the story but enough for you to keep the book in your hands to find out what happened next. I will be buying another Freya North book. Thouroughly enjoyed it. Louise x