Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Secret
SERIES: Love in O’Leary
AUTHOR: May Archer
NARRATORS: Iggy Toma & Alexander Cendese
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 9 hours and 58 minutes
RELEASE DATE: October 8, 2019
BLURB:
Micah: Constantine Ross is a cocky, provoking little…yeah. And I swear, I’d think that even if his family’s business wasn’t my biggest competition. It’s time someone taught the man a lesson or two about life. At least that’s what I tell myself when I offer him a job. Call it my good deed for the year…maybe the century.
But now he’s in my shop. In my space. In my every damn thought. In. My. Bed.
And how the hell am I supposed to resist him?
Constantine: I’ll be the first to admit I’ve royally screwed up, but what can I say? I was a stupid teen who lost his dad and spiraled out of control. Almost a decade later, I’m still trying to make amends. The last thing I need is my family’s arch-nemesis wading into my life like he’s got all the answers. Except…I really need money, and the arrogant jerk offered me a job.
I can deal with Micah’s attitude. My attraction to him? That’s different. He’s my boss, not my boyfriend. And he’s way too old for me. But God, he’s gorgeous. Dominant. Compelling.
I don’t want to want him…. But I can’t turn away.
REVIEW:
Constantine Ross can’t seem to buy a break. He also can’t seem to outrun his image as the charming, unambitious, goof who made some bad decisions as a teenager. He’s a bi-guy who doesn’t go home alone from the town’s bar and he doesn’t appear to be serious about anything. But when his car breaks down for good after he helps his little brother out without their mom finding out, his day goes from bad to worse after his mother lays him out in front of Micah Bloom, hot guy and his family business’s new to town competition.
When Micah overhears something he shouldn’t and he makes a decision to offer Con a job on the DL so that Angela Ross doesn’t find out, he thinks maybe he really has lost his mind. But as he works with Con, he can’t help not only the attraction but the growing admiration for someone the town has written off as a flake. Con is a hard worker and he’s smart. He has bigger ideas than anyone has ever given him credit for – including his own family. But the attraction? That could be a problem.
When they finally give in – after a particularly bad day for Con – Micah doesn’t know what to make of it and Con is stunned. And then kinda pissed off when Micah acts like everything is still the same. But they really can’t just go back to employer/employee. Except what does that exactly make them then? When a series of events leads to a big reveal and blowup with Con’s family, it becomes clear that while Micah really does care for Con and wants to help him see himself the way Micah sees him, Con still has a lot to work through. Lucky this is O’Leary! And a lot of meddling and well-meaning friends and family get into the act to save both Micah and the Ross family business.
This series is one of my favorite finds of 2019. I loved the books so much, I’m now doing the audios. May Archer’s town and characters are so relatable. Con Ross is the younger brother of Dr. Julian Ross, DVM from The Gift. He’s very much the middle child and he’s got a lot of stuff he’s had to deal with already in his young life. Micah has a reputation of being rigid – particularly with his younger siblings who he cared for growing up. His business and his ability to provide are paramount in his mind. He’s never really met anybody like Con before – he’s both a challenge and a breath of fresh air. Their banter and chemistry is amazing and keeps the story rolling along. I loved watching them figure out their relationship and figure out themselves in the process. This whole town is just the best. I love that everyone helps when the chips are down. Con and Micah’s families are integral to their story and their lives, so it’s fitting that they share the stage here. Con may be my favorite Ross brother, and that’s saying something because I LOVE Julian. Once again the narrating due of Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendes doe a fantastic job with the voices of Con, Micah and the other cast of O’Leary characters. I really love this team and I hope I get to hear more of them.
RATING: 
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