Book Review for SECRETS by Angela Verdenius

Welcome to Hope Bay, a small Australian seaside town where dreams come true, some souls come to mend, some to start again, and family and friends mean everything.  Be prepared to laugh, cry, and live!
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Working at the local GP Practice was a new beginning for RN Emma.  Then along came her new boss, and suddenly her peace of mind - shaky to start with - was thrown into turmoil.  Not only does she find him attractive, but she has a secret - a secret that could have unpleasant consequences.
Why, oh why, did he have to come along now?
Shane was instantly bowled over by the pretty, curvy nurse, and not just because she knocked him off his push bike at their very first meeting.  It’s going to take more than charm to win this woman’s heart, but he’ll do whatever it takes.
He hadn’t planned on using her cat to get to her, but a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.
But when he discovers her secret, will he believe her…or will any chance at new beginnings and love turn to ashes?

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This story hit me directly to my heart and mind, on several occasion I laughed until I cried and then laughed again. The tale is whimsical and sassy, it ardently embraces life, and I miss the world she created after the book was over. These, Angela Verdenius' stories, are the books that cheer me up, inspire, and take away from any book-slump I fall into. 
One of the reasons I love these books so earnestly is the characters. They are just like us, they have faults and weaknesses, they have curves and scars, they have succeeded and failed, they live normal lives in a small town community that knows them, embraces them as they are, and gives them a good, solid ground to grow to be the best version of themselves. 
Emma and Shane have an unexpected and rather funny meet-cute, yet the chemistry is immediate, and the connection between them is not only on a physical level, but they also want to get to know each other as colleagues and friends. I adored how the relationship developed, how they found their way to each other, and how Emma's secrets were resolved. It felt real, it felt genuine, and the way Shane won Emma over both cracked me up and made me swoon. 
The group of friends Emma and Shane are part of is a hoot. They made me laugh out loud with the cheeky banter yet through it all comes clear the love they have for each other and how they would be willing to do anything for each other, protect each other if needed. 
The author provides a dictionary to those who struggle with the Aussie slang. That is very considerate of her, though I have always been able to figure the words out from the content they are in. The books are easy to read and enjoy, I don't feel any cultural or language barriers while reading them.
A heartfelt tale of love, life, family, and friends. A story that delivers laughs, smiles, tears, and feels while inspiring and encouraging to make most out of life, to dare to fall in love, to accept ourselves as we are, and embrace the environment we live in and the opportunities given to us. A story that genuinely, earnestly delivers positive vibes and message of acceptance while entertains. Yes, I loved it!
~ Five Spoons!

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A member of both the Romance Writers of Australia & the Australian Romance Readers Association, I live in Australia, where I am happily ruled by my cats. When not procrastinating and sneaking peeks at books, or at work as a nurse, I can usually be found at my trusty computer… procrastinating by playing on the internet…
I started writing sci-fi romance some years ago before spreading my wings and writing contemporary romance . But there’s always room to spread my wings further!

So, apart from romance, I also wrote a short horror story (Zombie Hospital - I mean, get it? I love zombies and I'm a nurse...I was influenced by night shift, I tell you!) I love supernatural horror films (not slasher...they make me queasy and cringe) and I stand up and say proudly - ZOMBIES RULE! They are truly the coolest of the monsters.

Reading has always been my escape, writing my dream. Horror, crime, mystery, thrillers, humor, myths, legends, fantasy and history ,there are no limits to the wonders to be found. And romance? Well, that adds the spice, hope and happiness ever after…

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