[ARC Review] The Secret by Max Monroe

As someone who works in higher education, I really shouldn't love Ty Winslow's story as much as I do (can you say Title IX violations?!?), but damn. Professor Winslow is on fire inside of the classroom and out, and Rachel Rose is one lucky lady.

Ty has seen two of his brothers fall to the fortune teller's predictions, but settling down is not for him. Even at nearly forty, Ty's scene is more clubs and hook-ups instead of weddings and babies. Especially if he's going to meet an absolutely stunning, unforgettable woman at said club. Then he meets his new TA... his new TA who just happens to be his department head's daughter and the unforgettable woman he met at the club. Ty and Rachel shouldn't play games with each other. And they definitely shouldn't let those games lead to more. But has Ty finally met the one worth losing his heart (and maybe his job) for? As things get extra spicy between them, they know their secret won't remain that way forever but they're going to have a fantastic time (in every room, on every surface) while they can.

I feel like I say this with every Winslow book, but I think this Winslow brother is my favorite. Ty is everything I like in a male main character: he's hot, he's confident, and he's an academic who enjoys reading. I just love Ty's dichotomy. On one hand, he goes out all the time, picking up women who he never plans on seeing again. But on the other hand, he's very settled in his role as a tenured English professor at NYU. (I like to envision Ty as a more muscular Indiana Jones, if you substitute English literature for archeology.) I loved watching Ty and Rachel slowly get together, and I loved that Ty could be both sides of himself with her. Between the spice, the connection between the two, and their common love for literature, it was hard to find something not to like about The Secret. 

While The Secret by Max Monroe can be read as a standalone if you're looking for some hot, forbidden/forced proximity romance, I highly recommend reading The Bet and The Pact first in order to get the full Winslow family experience out of this book. The Secret was a fan-yourself level of hot, and since Max Monroe seem to turn up the heat with every book in this series, I can't wait to see what comes next for the Winslows. It was great to see so many returning characters; the Winslows really are a fantastically messed up but loving family.

The Secret is out now! A huge thank you to the authors and Social Butterfly PR for providing an advanced copy of Ty and Rachel's story!

---------------------

Release date: 4/9/22
Format: eARC
eARC provided via: Social Butterfly PR