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filthylittlereader's review
5.0
We all knew Margie's story would blow us away! That's a GIVEN with CD Reiss! Be prepared to do some cross referencing between the other Drazen series as you read because that's a given as well. All I know is I.NEED.MORE.MARGIE. That ending was too open for me. We all expected a CRAZY TWIST because we were forewarned. BUT...for a certain series, that twist will change EVERYTHING you thought you knew and nothing will be the same!
emertainment's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
phoenixinthecity's review
4.0
Just finished and I'm still in a bit of shock. But first, the story. It was a bit of a challenge to follow because the timeline flashed back and forth - but then again, Margie never struck me as a particularly straightforward person with all her secrets and badass-toughness in all the glimpses I'd had of her in the books about the Drazens who've come before her.
She was always the get-shit-done eldest sister who fixed things and it was amazing to see that developing in her younger self. I couldn't make sense of her relationship with Indy/Drew and Strat at first, but then I realized that the story is less about them than it is about Margie...in this way it didn't feel like your typical romance where the hero and heroine meet cute, fall in love, are torn apart by some conflict and then finally make up and live HEA. This was a story about Margie/Cin and her coming of age.
As to the secret revealed? Wow! I feel the need to go back and re-read all the Drazen books to see what little tells I missed. On a separate but related note, I love now knowing the lineage of the Pledge given its first introduction into the Drazen siblings' rules of engagement.
Finally though, I feel like this book left me with more questions than answers - like what happened to Indy/Drew after Margie passed the NY Bar and joined him in Manhattan? Why is Margie so resolutely single as a mature woman? I need more!!!
She was always the get-shit-done eldest sister who fixed things and it was amazing to see that developing in her younger self. I couldn't make sense of her relationship with Indy/Drew and Strat at first, but then I realized that the story is less about them than it is about Margie...in this way it didn't feel like your typical romance where the hero and heroine meet cute, fall in love, are torn apart by some conflict and then finally make up and live HEA. This was a story about Margie/Cin and her coming of age.
As to the secret revealed? Wow! I feel the need to go back and re-read all the Drazen books to see what little tells I missed. On a separate but related note, I love now knowing the lineage of the Pledge given its first introduction into the Drazen siblings' rules of engagement.
Finally though, I feel like this book left me with more questions than answers - like what happened to Indy/Drew after Margie passed the NY Bar and joined him in Manhattan? Why is Margie so resolutely single as a mature woman? I need more!!!
mwlgal's review
4.0
Good story, didn't grab me like others in series. I wanted more from Margie, such a powerful character.But still worth reading. This is not a standalone! I cant stand waiting for following in series so would not have read if I had known. Would have waited for story line to be complete
belladonna_loves_to_read's review
5.0
If you’ve yet to read any of CD Reiss’ work, this book is designed to be read as a standalone. At the back of Secret Sins is the first book in the Submission series, Beg. So, if you like this story, you can continue on with the Drazen family.
I devoured this book.
DEVOURED.
IT.
The title, Secret Sins? Totally apropos.
You might want to put a pillow on the floor so you don’t hurt your jaw when it drops.
‘Cause let me tell you, it’ll drop HARD.
I can’t get enough of the Drazen family and ever since I met Margie in the Submission series, and then in the Corruption series and Forbidden, I’ve wanted to know more about her. The Margie in those books has a tough edge to her personality, a straightforward tenacity combined with a razor sharp wit. She’s the fixer, the rock, the one with all the answers. Here, in this book, we get to see the genesis of that, of her as a person. And never in my wildest dreams did I see any of this coming!
Told in first person, the book masterfully weaves back and forth through time to tell her story. CD’s writing has a lyrical quality that I can’t help but get swept up in. The dialog is fresh, the scene setting is period correct and so vivid I could close my eyes and reach out and touch it. Like a movie playing just for me. But, what I loved the most, was how emotionally invested I was in Margie. Her joy was my joy, and her pain was my pain.
This book slayed my emotions and had my brain spinning in ways I wasn't fully prepared for. It’s one you find yourself so surprised by you end up talking out loud. You may not want to read this one in public… Just sayin’.
Brava!
Advance copy received from the author as part of a limited distribution for my honest review
I devoured this book.
DEVOURED.
IT.
The title, Secret Sins? Totally apropos.
You might want to put a pillow on the floor so you don’t hurt your jaw when it drops.
‘Cause let me tell you, it’ll drop HARD.
I can’t get enough of the Drazen family and ever since I met Margie in the Submission series, and then in the Corruption series and Forbidden, I’ve wanted to know more about her. The Margie in those books has a tough edge to her personality, a straightforward tenacity combined with a razor sharp wit. She’s the fixer, the rock, the one with all the answers. Here, in this book, we get to see the genesis of that, of her as a person. And never in my wildest dreams did I see any of this coming!
Told in first person, the book masterfully weaves back and forth through time to tell her story. CD’s writing has a lyrical quality that I can’t help but get swept up in. The dialog is fresh, the scene setting is period correct and so vivid I could close my eyes and reach out and touch it. Like a movie playing just for me. But, what I loved the most, was how emotionally invested I was in Margie. Her joy was my joy, and her pain was my pain.
This book slayed my emotions and had my brain spinning in ways I wasn't fully prepared for. It’s one you find yourself so surprised by you end up talking out loud. You may not want to read this one in public… Just sayin’.
Brava!
Advance copy received from the author as part of a limited distribution for my honest review
hawful's review
3.0
From C.D. Reiss' review: I designed this to be your first CD Reiss book or to be read IN ANY ORDER with the rest of my books. So if you haven't read me before or if you've only read some of my books, just dive in here!
Yeah, you really can't just read these in any ol' order. I'm gonna call BS on that.
So... I'm torn.
We met the Drazen family in 2013 (I'm a fan, which is why this has 3 stars; not 2). To change such a pivotal thing makes this not a win for me.
And THIS was not reflective of the book itself:
"I loved them both.
They say three's a crowd, but maybe I liked crowds...until the one thing I wanted to keep was stolen out of my arms."
It's a mixed bag all-around.
I fucking LOVE Margie. She's a fuckin' boss!
But the nod and winks to the reader were really distracting and took away from what was a very short story.
And, I might be the only one here, but I got REALLY confused with Indy and Strat. I kept have to go back and forth, ESPECIALLY when the name Drew was thrown in, too.
Yeah, you really can't just read these in any ol' order. I'm gonna call BS on that.
So... I'm torn.
We met the Drazen family in 2013 (I'm a fan, which is why this has 3 stars; not 2). To change such a pivotal thing makes this not a win for me.
And THIS was not reflective of the book itself:
"I loved them both.
They say three's a crowd, but maybe I liked crowds...until the one thing I wanted to keep was stolen out of my arms."
It's a mixed bag all-around.
I fucking LOVE Margie. She's a fuckin' boss!
But the nod and winks to the reader were really distracting and took away from what was a very short story.
And, I might be the only one here, but I got REALLY confused with Indy and Strat. I kept have to go back and forth, ESPECIALLY when the name Drew was thrown in, too.
jazzy_belle's review
5.0
We all knew Margie's story would blow us away! That's a GIVEN with CD Reiss! Be prepared to do some cross referencing between the other Drazen series as you read because that's a given as well. All I know is I.NEED.MORE.MARGIE. That ending was too open for me. We all expected a CRAZY TWIST because we were forewarned. BUT...for a certain series, that twist will change EVERYTHING you thought you knew and nothing will be the same!
meggie82461's review
5.0
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I so should’ve seen that twist coming, but I totally didn’t!
I’ll write a longer review when the conclusion to this duet drops in a few days, but let me just say that CD Reiss is a genius! Only she could make this story deeply moving and heartbreaking. In anyone else’s hands, it would just be a drugged-out, cheap sex-fest, but instead, it’s the emotional journey of three complicated people who make plenty of mistakes in the name of love, youth, and friendship. They’re far too young to understand the implications of these mistakes, but that doesn’t keep the consequences from happening.
I adored Margie in Jonathan’s story, and I love her even more in this one. Even her mistakes turn into gold. I didn’t always love Drew in the past, but in the present he’s utter perfection. And poor Strat- I believe that he was overlooked, that he felt more and loved harder than anyone. Always sacrificing, until he was empty and there was nothing left to give.
Finally, the setting jumps between the 80s and 90s- does it get much better than that?! Add the rock and roll scene, and this is like a fantasy world. This story is definitely hot, but the emotional intimacy is what really sets it apart. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us, because anything is possible in the Drazen family!
****And holy shit, I just realized the implication of the heart defect!!!!!!!!!
I so should’ve seen that twist coming, but I totally didn’t!
I’ll write a longer review when the conclusion to this duet drops in a few days, but let me just say that CD Reiss is a genius! Only she could make this story deeply moving and heartbreaking. In anyone else’s hands, it would just be a drugged-out, cheap sex-fest, but instead, it’s the emotional journey of three complicated people who make plenty of mistakes in the name of love, youth, and friendship. They’re far too young to understand the implications of these mistakes, but that doesn’t keep the consequences from happening.
I adored Margie in Jonathan’s story, and I love her even more in this one. Even her mistakes turn into gold. I didn’t always love Drew in the past, but in the present he’s utter perfection. And poor Strat- I believe that he was overlooked, that he felt more and loved harder than anyone. Always sacrificing, until he was empty and there was nothing left to give.
Finally, the setting jumps between the 80s and 90s- does it get much better than that?! Add the rock and roll scene, and this is like a fantasy world. This story is definitely hot, but the emotional intimacy is what really sets it apart. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us, because anything is possible in the Drazen family!
****And holy shit, I just realized the implication of the heart defect!!!!!!!!!
nbiblioholic's review
4.0
What strikes me as funny as all hell right now is that I still don't know how old Margie/Cin was! LOL WTH?! This story was about rock 'n' roll in the 80s, being young and making some really dumb decisions, drugs, secrets, extreme denial, and unexpected second chances. Told from Margie's POV, every other chapter allows us to see the history and connection she shared with both Drew/Indy and Strat. It was a little confusing to me because so much was left unsaid or seemed to happen in the backgroud, and there wasn't a lot of resolution, but it was still an entertaining read.
