Review: S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared

I've been waiting to get my hands on a copy of S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared by L. Marie Adeline (aka Lisa Gabriele) ever since I read the last page of the first book in the series, S.E.C.R.E.T. Adeline left us with a hell of a cliffhanger - one that a lot of readers hated. I enjoyed the first book (you can read my review here) but I liked this second book so much more.

Here's the synopsis:

Still wounded from a recent heartbreak, Cassie Robichaud throws herself into service with S.E.C.R.E.T., the mysterious organization that changed her life last year by bringing her deepest sexual fantasies to life, one step at a time. Now, it’s Cassie’s turn to guide the group’s newest candidate, Dauphine Mason, recruiting men to execute a new set of fantasies. While it gets Cassie’s mind off Will, the man she truly loves, it also gives her the chance to help watch S.E.C.R.E.T. work its magic on someone new.
At thirty-one, Dauphine is the proprietor of a New Orleans vintage clothing store—the kind of buttoned-up career woman who has no idea how attractive she really is. In order to reignite her sexual flame and reawaken her dormant heart, she must leave behind her bitter past.
As both Cassie and Dauphine navigate the rocky path between their hearts and their passions, they discover what they truly want in life and in love. SECRET Shared is a liberating, passionate and sexually charged sequel to one of the hottest new series in erotica.

I liked how Adeline wrote this book (apart from the prologue...I didn't like that. Then again, I'm not a fan of prologues in general). The chapters alternated perspectives - one chapter was Cassie, the next, Dauphine - and that worked for a few reasons. It allowed us a fresh perspective into the world of S.E.C.R.E.T. What does Dauphine think of these women and what kind of fantasies will she have? I think the two perspectives allowed us to see how far Cassie had come since the start of the her S.E.C.R.E.T. journey by comparing her to Dauphine and how she was doing. It also kept things a little more exciting because there was just plain more going on. Having two stories happening at the same time allowed us a wider view into S.E.C.R.E.T. Which leads me to my next point...

Seeing more of the inner workings of the organization was great and I think that added layer is part of what helped me enjoy this book more. We got to read about how the S.E.C.R.E.T. men are recruited and trained (and hoo boy, that training session was HOT) as well as how the organization is funded and legally run. 

I liked Cassie so much more in this book. Seeing her (continuing) growth was great and she was a really fun and interesting character to read about. She's still a little timid but she's much more alive than she was when we first met her. Dauphine was also a lot of fun. I loved that she owned a vintage clothing store and how her S.E.C.R.E.T. journey also helped her professionally. 

I loved reading SECRET Shared. L. Marie Adeline has once again succeeded in writing an intriguing story with erotic elements woven in. There's another doozy cliffhanger (why, Lisa, whyyyyy???) so I'm once again anxiously awaiting the next instalment in the series - SECRET Revealed - which is supposed to be released next year. If you're looking for a new erotic series to read - check this one out!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Random House of Canada, in exchange for an honest review.*