Whole secret admirer schtick stunk. ( )

Solid 4.5 i really enjoyed this and it was my first book by this author. I can’t wait to read Natalie’s I have a feeling that one will be just as sparks and fun as this one! ( )

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
The Vine Mess series #1. Contemporary romance. Opposite attraction.
Julian moves back home to his family estate temporarily to focus on writing a book. He’s distracted by the pretty gardener that keeps her own schedule and always seems a bit familiar. Hallie had a crush on Julian back in high school and she’s determined that now he’s back, she is going to get his attention as well as a kiss.

Julian is a bit rigid in his schedule and it takes the impulsive Hallie to wake him up. The two are opposite in views and opinions but attracted and interested enough to pursue. The story is cute but could have done without the added complication of the secret admirers letters. I found it hard to believe they just didn’t automatically just assume it was the other. Yes, they had a suspicion but the letters then lended to a second relationship, lying, hiding and guilt which made it all too complicated.

Of course, it’s a romance and we can guarantee a happy ending.
A bit of humor, some sweet and sexy time and ultimately a love connection. ( )

Again, I think I should avoid Tessa Bailey books going forward. (S) ( )

Pop Quiz: What do you do when your crush of 14 years unexpectedly comes back into town? Why get drunk and write an anonymous letter professing all of your feelings of course! Having an adult conversation would have been far too easy and that’s just not the Hallie Welch way! In fact, Hallie’s way of doing things is what makes Secretly Yours so joyous that you can’t help but deal with the smile that will refuse to leave your face.

Night and day have more in common than Julian and Hallie. For Hallie, life has been a whirlwind adventure of different places, different roles, and different people. She doesn’t know the meaning of the words structure, anchored, and predictable – at least not without her late grandmother’s help and guidance. For Julian, time and a stringent schedule is a way of life, a way of surviving. Without the knowledge of how every minute is dictated, the phantom of anxiety lurks, waiting to take hold of him yet again. To keep it at bay, he has to avoid chaos at all cost, until the chaos is a beautiful blonde gardener whose smile could give the sun’s rays a run for their money. Little does he know this “chance” encounter has been a dream in the making for the past fourteen years. Having realized her high school crush was back in town, Hallie is prepared to do what it takes to pick up where they left off.

What I liked about it: Bailey’s characters are always such a work of care, duty, and dedication and this book is no exception. Hallie’s inner monologue kept me in stitches! Her personality was so energetic on paper that you couldn’t help but feel good and smile when she interacted with people.

What I love about it: So much praise to how Bailey handled the topic of anxiety! I loved that she didn’t romanticize it. Julian didn’t have this debilitating thing that was cured by “the power of love”. She shows the big, the bad, and the ugly that doesn’t play favorites and takes no prisoners.

As far as the spicy level of the story, come on – this is Tessa Bailey! That’s like asking if the sun is hot or if a wheel is round! Her method of creating the most sensational scenes never ceases to amaze me.

There is not secret (couldn’t resist) how much readers will love this book! A sweet treat of hope that only unrequited love can give, sprinkled with a second chance encounter, and a gooey center of grumpy vs sunshine will leave you wanting more (with good news that book #2 – Unfortunately Yours – drops June 6, 2023!) ( )