Secrets at Sunset by Juliette Cross
POV: Dual 1st Person
Put out percentage: 73%
Tropes: Age Gap; Siblings Best Friend; Small Town; Pining Hero; Slow Burn
Series: Beauville Book 2
Type of Series: Series of Standalones
Release Date: August 1, 2023
Is there a 3rd act break up: No
Juliette Cross can cross between the paranormal and contemporary sub-genres with ease. Secrets at Sunset is a contemporary romance novella set in her small town of Beauville. Reed is the best friend of Anna’s older brother, and when he comes to her rescue his feelings for her change. But Anna is still young and Reed knows that she needs to grow up and spread her wings.
Anna goes to college, lives her life, and when she moves home with goals he sees that he made the right choice. Anna has one goal in life, and that is to open a dance studio. However, her family do not support her. So she recruits the man she has loved of years to help in her exchange of taking care of his home. Reed believes that he isn’t good enough for Anna, but also that she have the same unrequited feelings. Anna sees Reed as so much more than he sees himself, and I appreciate the way in which she encourages him.
He has pined for her… getting snippets of her life every moment he could.
Anna’s family was frustrating. They wanted to stifle her instead of support her, and I loved that Reed was able and willing to do that for her. Juliette Cross creates this dynamic between the two of them that shows their chemistry. Reed’s protective nature of Anna and the way in which he goes to bat for her when her family finds out her secrets is perfect.
Yes it takes them some time to come together. But the wait is worth it.
Secrets at Sunset is a novella but doesn’t feel like one. Also, these two combust when they finally come together. I was so excited to get back into Beauville, and while we didn’t visit our heroine and hero from book one… we revisited some characters that I hope are getting books.
Check out these other Contemporary Romances by Juliette Cross
Quick Shot of Romance for Bright Like Wildfire
Quick Shot of Romance for Parks and Provocation
