Hearts and Hidden Secrets Anthology with Devney Perry, Helena Hunting, Lauren Blakely, Tijan -review & excerpt tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 26, 2025
Some secrets are meant to be kept, but love will find a way. Hearts and Hidden Secrets explores the bonds of family and the mysteries that lie just beneath the surface. Whether it’s single parents, surprise pregnancies, or long-lost connections, these heartwarming stories show that love can heal even the deepest wounds.
Includes:
Dandelion Diary by Devney Perry
Where It Begins by Helena Hunting
Stud Finder by Lauren Blakely
and
Jonah Bennett by Tijan
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THE DANDELION DIARY by Devney Perry
THE DANDELION DIARY is the second instalment in Devney Perry’s contemporary, adult MAYSEN JAR novella series, a part of the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights . This is divorced, single father and landscaper Jeff Dawson, and twenty-eight year old English Teacher Della Adler’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Jeff and Della) THE DANDELION DIARY follows the building but forbidden relationship between our story line couple. Jeff Dawson is a divorced, single father, of twelve year old daughter Katy but in recent days Katy appears to be struggling with her mother, and behavioral issues at school. Meeting Katy’s teacher, Della Adler finds Jeff considering a future with our story line heroine but dating a student’s parent is forbidden, and when their relationship is revealed, Della Adler must make a decision regarding her future, going forward.
The relationship between Della and Jeff is one of the forbidden Katy knows that to ‘date’ a student’s parent may threaten her career. Jeff Dawson is about to take over the operation and ownership of Alcott Landscaping but having Della by his side would be worth the effort going forward. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.
THE DANDELION DIARY is a fast paced, quick read focusing on secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is engaging and inviting; the romance is flirty and seductive; the characters are dynamic and determined.
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WHERE IT BEGINS by Helena Hunting
WHERE IT BEGINS is the prequel novella in Helena Hunting’s contemporary adult PUCKED erotic, romance series. This is forty-two year old single father and pro hockey scout Sidney Butterson, and thirty six year old, single mother/accountant Skye Hall’s story line. WHERE IT BEGINS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Sidney is the father of Miller’ Buck’ Butterson (Pucked Up 2), and Skye is the mother of Violet Hall (Pucked 1).
Told from four first person perspectives (Skye, Sidney, Violet and Miller) WHERE IT BEGINS focuses on the building romance and relationship between Sidney and Skye. Having met at a coffee shop, Sidney Buterson asks Skye Hall out for a date but from the outset of their growing relationship, everything goes wrong, a circus of catastrophes follows in their wake, and a team of horny teenaged hockey players adds fuel to the already raging fires. From one catastrophe to another, Sidney and Skye struggle for some time alone but Sidney’s son Miller is about to learn a hard lesson is responsibility and life.
The relationship between Skye and Sidney is one of immediate attraction but Skye struggles with Sidney’s career in hockey, having some experience with an ex she has fought hard to forget. Sidney knows Skye is the woman to claim his heart but one disaster after another constantly pushes the couple apart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate-Skye knows what she wants, and isn’t afraid to ask.
Meanwhile, we are up close and personal with the budding relationship between soon-to-be step siblings Violet and Miller. Miller’s propensity to party, and Violet’s need to be a fixer.
WHERE IT BEGINS is a fun, humorous, and entertaining story of family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is captivating; the characters are quirky and charismatic; the romance is provocative and impassioned.
•••••••
STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely
STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely is a stand alone, contemporary adult, romance story line set in the author’s Big Rock World, and latest installment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is business entrepreneur Dylan Parker, and matchmaker Evie’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Dylan and Evie) STUD FINDER focuses on the search for a woman for Dylan Parker. Taking matters into his own hands, APP developer and successful businessman takes out an online ad to procure the perfect woman but finds himself inundated with messages from h*ll. Enter matchmaker Evie, his sister’s best friend, and the woman with whom he will fall in love. What ensues are Evie’s attempts to get to know Dylan, in the hopes of finding him someone to love.
STUD FINDER is a quick read; a fun and sexy story of friends, family, flirty banter, and falling in love. Several non-dates find our leading couple drawn to one another but Evie struggles with falling for a client-a client, for whom, she is contracted to find love. The premise is heartwarming; the characters are sassy and energetic; the romance is passionate and inspiring. STUD FINDER is a delight to read; a playful and encouraging story line with a happily ever after.
••••••
JONAH BENNETT by Tijan
JONAH BENNETT by Tijan is a contemporary, adult, erotic, romance novella found in the author’s BENNETT MAFIA series, and the latest instalment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is Dr. Jonah Bennett, and forensic technician Carson Dayley’s story line. JONAH BENNETT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Carson and Jonah) JONAH BENNETT follows in the aftermath of the murder of Jonah Bennett’s fiancée, and Jonah’s attraction to the forensic technician Carson Dayley. Months would pass, the murder would go unsolved and Jonah never forgot about our story line heroine until the day she walked into one of the family owned nightclubs, a coincidence the Bennett family suspected to be orchestrated by someone else. Believing she was in town for her sister’s upcoming wedding, Carson never expected to come face to face with the grieving fiance, the man who stirred something deep within our story line heroine but a man whose family secrets ran dangerous and dark; a family who was now holding our heroine hostage as they searched for the truth. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Carson and Jonah ,and the potential fall-out as the Bennett family has been targeted for sins of the past, and our heroine is currently in the direct line of fire.
The relationship between Carson and Jonah begins tempestuously as the Bennett family doesn’t trust our story line heroine. While Kai and Tanner Bennett begin to uncover the truth, Jonah’s relationship with Carson begins to turn into something more, something wherein Jonah become guardian and protector of the woman with whom he is falling in love. the $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters include the Bennett family siblings: Kai and Riley (Bennett Mafia 1), as well as Tanner and Brooke, several security personnel, Carson’s co-workers, and the discovery of Jonah’s extended family, a family he never knew but had always wanted to know.
JONAH BENNETT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, trust, relationships, family and love. The premise is emotional, dark but captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are strong-willed, colorful and intense.
Copy supplied for review
Reviews by Sandy
“There are no rules against a friendship.”
“And what if I wanted more than friendship?” He relaxed in his chair, holding my gaze for a long moment. There was desire in his eyes. In his voice. Never in my life had anyone so clearly wanted me. Certainly not Luka.
Yes, I wanted more than friendship. I wanted it so badly I ached. But…
“It’s not allowed. Not while Katy is my student.”
“All right.” He leaned forward, elbows to knees. “Friends.”
“Friends.” I forced a smile despite my sinking heart. Standing, I made my way to the entryway, every step heavy like my shoes were wading through wet concrete.
Jeff followed, taking my coat off the hook where he’d hung it earlier. Then he held it open, but instead of sliding my arms inside, I inched closer.
“What if I wanted more than friendship?” I whispered.
What if I wanted him to kiss me? Right here. Right now.
No one in the world would have to know. Just…us.
His eyes flared, his arms dropping to his sides, my coat still clutched in a hand. “Della,” he warned. “You’re shredding my willpower here. You’d better go before it snaps.”
“Then give me my coat.”
He didn’t move.
So I closed the gap between us, feeling bold for the first time in my life. He made me comfortable enough to do that. To break the rules. To throw caution to the wind and just be desired.
His scent, citrus with woodsy undertones, invaded my nose. Damn, but he smelled good.
I was seconds away from rising up on my toes and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth when footsteps pounded down the stairs.Where It Begins
“You don’t want to date me.”
He cocks his head, a wry grin turning up the corner of his mouth. “I don’t?”
I shake my head. “I’m a lot to deal with on a good day, and this verbal diarrhea stuff happens more than I’d like.” I need to stop talking.
There are ten seconds left on the crosswalk. Nine. Eight…
I bite my lips together and make another terrible decision to distract Sidney and to keep myself from spewing more nonsense. I grab his tie and push up on my toes, mashing my lips against his.
For a moment, he stands there, unmoving and unresponsive. And then his palm settles on my lower back and he pulls me against him, the front of our bodies flush. His hand slides upwards, between my shoulder blades and then under my hair, gently upping the back of my head as he angles his and parts his lips.
I do the same and his tongue slides against mine.
And I completely forget that this was supposed to be a distraction tactic. I release his tie and run my hand over his firm chest and grip his shoulder. I’m still holding my coffee in the other hand, which isn’t the most convenient, but it’s half full and dropping it so I can wrap myself fully around this man is both wasteful and littering. So, I keep holding it with one hand and him with the other.
Heat slams through my veins and desire makes everything below the waist tingle. I suck his bottom lip and he makes a low sound in the back of his throat when I follow with teeth.
The sound of horns blaring and someone calling out, “Get a room!” as they pass reminds me we’re on the sidewalk, across the street from my work.
I pull away and consider running across the street, but apparently, we’ve been making out so long the light has changed again.
I open my mouth, but for once, no words come out.
“I disagree.” Sidney’s eyes are hooded, and his gaze lingers on my lips.
“With what?”
“You said I don’t want to date you. And I disagree. I would very much like to see you again.”
Stud Finder
Dylan sets a hand on my arm. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
“No,” I say quickly. Too quickly. I’m not trying to seduce him at all.
I open the door, and a perfectly modulated blast of cool air greets us. We stroll across the navy carpet to a king-size bed perfectly appointed with a gorgeous white duvet and mountains of blue velvet pillows. I gesture to it, as if I’m a saleswoman, showing it off. “Tell me. Doesn’t this bed make you want to do everything on it?”
Then, to demonstrate my point, I fall back onto it, like a snow angel.
I prop myself on my elbows and meet his eyes. His green irises darken, and his lips part. He stares at me, and something shifts. The look in his eyes is no longer challenging. He’s not asking me to prove a point. His eyes are hungry. He stares as if he’s considering my question seriously, and I realize that maybe it does sound as if I’m trying to seduce him. I’ve pushed the limits here. I’m in a hotel room, trying to prove a point to a client, and in reality, my skirt is riding up my thighs, and I’m sprawled on a pristine, inviting bed.
This kind of bed is designed not only for sleeping, but for the best kind of sex in the world—hotel sex. The kind of loud, dirty, wild sex you can have when you don’t have to make the bed in the morning.
For a flash, I see Dylan hovering over me. Pinning my wrists. Pressing his body against mine. A wave of heat washes over me, and my skin is flush, my heart slamming hard against my chest.
I want that.
I want to feel that abandon.
And that goes against my personal code of ethics as a matchmaker—thou shalt not fall for a client.
I glance down, and see my skirt is riding up. It hits mid-thigh, revealing more of my legs. I tug it, and when I look up, Dylan is staring at me with darkened eyes. “Yeah. This bed makes me want to do everything on it.
Jonah Bennett
When I looked back up, my hand on the sink behind me, I saw a ghost. Well, not a ghost, but whoa.
My eyes bulged, and my heart dropped. “You’re…”
Jonah Bennett.”
My brain clicked, and I clamped my mouth shut, two seconds from spilling and showing how much of a stalker I was.
His hotness had not dimmed at all. Jesus. This guy just got better. It was such a shitty thing for me to think, but grief made him sizzle. He had a five o’clock shadow going, and the whole angry/stricken vibe just emanated from him.
I was speechless, and I was never speechless. I always had something to say.
Might’ve been why my brain was working overtime.
God.
I wanted to have this guy’s children.
I was hungry for him.
So embarrassing.
He raised an eyebrow, watching me. He stood over me, perfect position for, you know… Here I was on my knees—and there went another staccato drumline in my lady parts. My clit was getting in on the action.
I needed a life. That was my problem.
First time leaving the state, taking time off, and here I was: about wetting myself because I was hot for a grieving guy who looked like he wanted to murder me.
HELENA HUNTING
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
FOLLOW: NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of The PUCKED Series, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance to romance comedy, sports romance and angsty new adult romance.
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LAUREN BLAKELY
A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October she’ll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter
Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads
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TIJAN
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores.
Connect with Tijan
Facebook/ Twitter / Reader Group / Goodreads/ Bookbub/ Website/ Amazon Author Page
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DEVNEY PERRY
Devney is a USA Today bestselling author. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her husband and two sons. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop. Devney loves hearing from readers! Connect with her on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devneyperrybooks/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2N1u9xz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devneyperry/
Website: https://devneyperry.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/devneyperry
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15854913.Devney_Perry
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/devneyperry/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/devney-perry
Very nice anthology, with some very good authors.
Terrific reviews, thanks Sandy
Very nice reviews, thank you
Great reviews, Sandy. This looks like a very good anthology.
Looks good, thanks again
Fantastic review and excerpt, thanks
Great review, Sandy. Thanks.
Terrific review, SAndy. Looks very good.
Thanks for the great review and excerpt
Amazing review, thanks🌺
Looks great Sandy, thanks
Thanks for another wonderful review and excerpt.
nice reviews and excerpt.