Review: Living in Secret – Jackie Ashenden

Posted January 25, 2015 by Cocktails and Books in Reviews / 0 Comments

by Jackie Ashenden

23718624She always tried to be good, but now he needs her to be bad…

Living In…, Book 3

Lawyers Connor and Victoria Blake had a high-powered marriage to match their meteoric careers—until a secret from Victoria’s past came back to haunt her. A year after it all fell apart, Victoria is ready for a new job, a new town.

Instead of signing the divorce papers, though, her husband has a tempting proposal—one week of no holds barred before moving on with their lives. She’s never stopped wanting him, but he’s always kept the deepest part of himself locked away.

Connor already endured one brutal betrayal in his life, and Victoria’s cut him to the core. But during a naughty game of one-upmanship with a sexy stranger, he sees a different woman, whose warmth and passion he craves like a drug.

In one week they expose dark passions that set them both free. But amidst searing desire that should fuse them together, Connor is coming to the brink of a decision to choose what’s more important. The last secret he’s holding inside, or the woman he can’t let go.

Warning: Contains a man coming to terms with his inner darkness, a woman ready to match him kink for kink, secrets, lies, and a marriage getting its sexy back. Could take readers on a one-way ticket to WTF city.

Series: Living In… #3
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Karen
Rating:
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Reviewer’s Thoughts

LIVING IN SECRET is a provocative story about a married couple on the verge of divorce.  Connor and Victoria have been married for five years and they separated a year ago.  Now, Victoria is ready to move on and doesn’t understand why Connor won’t sign the divorce papers.  Their marriage didn’t work because they each have secrets and they weren’t willing to share them with each other.  They married for convenience not love because neither one of them wanted to get involved in an emotional relationship.  They are successful attorneys driven with ambition and only passionate about their job.  Once they separate, they start to question their marriage and themselves.  They care about each other, but neither one of them willing to open up and share their feelings.

I feel sorry for Connor and Victoria.  They each have painful pasts and they now must decide if they want to put an end to their marriage.  Sadly, they are so afraid to show their emotions, they think it’s easier to end their relationship, than share their pasts with each other. 

Jackie Ashenden is a great storyteller and she writes a sexy, intense story.  I wanted Connor and Victoria to have their happily ever after.  They are too hard on themselves and have suffered enough.  There are some hot, steamy scenes, filled with passion and some kink.  They discover after five years of a passionless marriage, they like dirty talk and rough sex.  Connor and Victoria must both open up and bare their soles if they want their marriage to work.  This is the third book in the Living In series and each one is a stand-alone.