What He Doesn't Know (Best Kept Secrets)

“The ring on her finger was a symbol of her commitment to another man. That alone should have sobered me. That alone should have been at the forefront of my mind, but it wasn’t. Charlie Reid was married, she was Charlie Pierce now, and still, it didn’t matter. I loved her, anyway.” Wild. Chaotic. Turbulent. Heart wrenching. That’s what this book is. I’m breathless after finishing. And I’m saying this right now, What He Doesn’t Know is hands down one of the best and most intense reads I’ve ever read. I am BLOWN AWAY by the ride I went on! As a fan of Kandi’s previous books, I can tell you that this is undoubtedly her BEST BOOK TO DATE—best writing, best plotting, best every. single. damn. thing. I went into it knowing my heart was going to bleed, knowing I would be left raw, teetering at the edge of a cliff and needless to say, both those things happened in spades. Now, I feel so messed up, so destroyed and consumed and giddy and elated. I didn’t even sleep last night. I obsessed over every detail. This story was an adrenaline rush, a gut punch that began with a powerful prologue and ended with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger! And I knew, God did I know, that this was going to HURT SO GOOD. And it delivered. Steiner holds nothing back when it comes to angst! From the moment we meet Charlie and Cameron (our married couple) to the second Reese reappears in Charlie’s life you feel the tension start to kindle. Charlie (our heroine) holds secrets in her lifeless eyes that compels the reader to pay attention. You feel pulled toward the messy drama, knowing Cam and Charlie’s relationship is broken yet at one time it wasn’t. At one point this married couple was blissfully happy and full of life and possibility. Then you meet Reese and see that he and Charlie go way back, all the way to childhood. There’s a bond there that’s already been cultivated by time and memories. As the chapters progress and the story unfolds, you be come tethered to the what’s happening. I swear, it’s addictive. I couldn’t read fast enough. I almost wanted to look ahead to see what would happen next I was so buzzed over this trio of characters. I lived for the feels, was entrenched by them. And holy books, are those emotions POWERFUL. CHAOTIC. One minute I raged, the next I cried, and then I felt guilty for getting angry and upset. It’s emotionally complex. Understanding the breakdown of Cam and Charlie’s relationship leaves you devastated and conflicted. Charlie is a lovable character who breaks your heart. She’s been frozen out by her husband and the moments of rejection are a palpable, living thing—something I think every woman can relate to. This story is juicy, told from different pov’s. It’s got endless twists and turns you’ll NEVER SEE COMING, moments that’ll leave your jaw hanging open. This is a tale of sticky boundaries and blurred lines. A story of broken hearts and mistakes. A book of black and white and grey areas in life. If you are a person who loathes when people cheat in novels, this isn’t your book. LINES ARE CROSSED! It’s wicked, messy, heartbreaking. People aren’t perfect. They do things that might not seem right to you but feel right to them. Most times the road to happiness is paved with stones from hell. I believe that. Always have. Overall, the first part of this duet slayed me. I am overwhelmed with emotion for it. I feel like this review is long-winded, scattered, and intentionally vague but I really don’t want to tell you major details. I went into it this untainted by opinion and I came out of it absolutely spellbound and desperate for more! It is without a doubt a top recommendation. My most FAV read of the year. And I really hope you take a chance on this masterpiece. It’s truly unforgettable. "They say there are two sides to every story, and it was in that moment, in that dark, desperate snapshot of my life that I realized I hadn’t asked him for his."

What an intense and emotionally taxing story. I cannot believe what just went on in this book. I had it all figured out, until I didn't. This was my first book to read from Kandi Steiner. Needless to say, I will quickly be reading another. She has quite the way with a love triangle. Charlie and Cameron's relationship is a hot mess. It went from one tragic event to a full blown tragedy. Reese, Charlie's childhood crush, waltzes into the middle of this sad drama fresh out of his own traumatic experience. He takes it upon himself to blow on the smoldering embers buried beneath this set lighting the whole stage on fire. These three and all their angst literally had me reading until I could not keep my eyes open any longer. I then awoke in the wee hours of the morning to continue reading. I could not get to the end of thia book fast enough. The story was suspenseful and highly addictive. I really don't know how I feel about what happened. I was cheering for one male character and then, suddenly, I was cheering for the other. The whole time I just wanted the girl in the middle to make a choice. I cannot wait to witness the finale of this epic love triangle. Kandi Steiner is wicked and cruel, but she really is a genius in the art of writing romantic triads.

I know a lot of romance readers hate love triangles but this book is the PERFECT demonstration of precisely why I love them so much. I love anything that makes me FEEL THINGS while I read, anything that rips at my heartstrings, that creates a tug of war in my mind and, love them or hate them, that's what a good love triangle guarantees. Kandi Steiner creates a wholly immersive, heartbreaking scenario with What He Doesn't Know and the reader can't help but be swept away in Charlie's battle between two men who both hold keys to her heart. I'll say it again, I love a good love triangle. But more, I love EXACTLY what Steiner crafts here in this angsty, complicated, heart wrenching storyline. What He Doesn't Know delivers the ULTIMATE twisty dynamic, a web of lust and pain where I truly did not know what to hope for, what I wanted to come of this love triangle, what path I hope Charlie will take. Cameron--What can I say, I'm like a moth to a flame for a man who keeps the heroine at arms length, who hurts her without reason but who has potential to redeem himself. I longed to understand what was happening in his mind, why he grew so distant. And I think the romantic in me that craves seeing a stoic, removed man brought to his knees is what kept me silently rooting for him to fight for what was his. But Reese--the forbidden fruit from Charlie's youth who's just come home and brought her life full circle. Well, I couldn't help but root for him in this situation too. He is devoted and charming and sweet and he's everything I should want for Charlie. He's everything I wouldn't blame Charlie for wanting for herself. He's everything good and warm and fulfilling for a woman who's been emotionally neglected and he's exactly why I was fully connected to the torturous tug-of-war going on in Charlie's heart. My heart feels battered and bruised after reading this book. This brutality, this frustration, this unbelievably heart wrenching turmoil demands that the reader feel just as torn as our girl. It's so painful to read this story but I was ADDICTED. Addicted to the heartache. Addicted to the war. Addicted to both of these men and completely consumed by them both. What Steiner crafts here KILLED ME but it hurts so damn good. I could not get enough. I couldn't get enough of these men and the starkly different ways they love. I REALLY couldn't get enough of Kandi Steiner's lush writing style. I was as lost in this storyline as I was in her stunning words. I've only read a small handful of books from this author but this one takes the cake. This is a beauty, a torn and tattered beauty of a romance and knowing that it's only the beginning is so deliciously thrilling for me. I know there's more angst to come, more heartache, more push and pull. And as much as I know it'll hurt, there's nothing I crave more in a good love story than that deliciously brutal pain. I need more now. I'm terrified and excited and completely intoxicated by this story. I can't wait for what's to come.

I am very torn about this book. It was well written, kind of suspenseful but not in an action type of way. The way it began, you know how it ends, and I spent the whole book like when is it going to happen? But the author does a nice job of building the relationship so you know why it happens. I knew there was going to be cheating going into this book, but as a married lady I just don’t really enjoy that. I know there is no book without that aspect, but if your marriage has gotten that bad, what harm do you do yourself to have a conversation about it before rushing off and having an affair? No ones marriage is always easy, but I just spent the whole book thinking why doesn’t she just say what she is thinking to Cameron. When she attempts to try to connect with him and fails, those are opportunities to speak out. I don’t know. I guess I was hoping she would maybe be tempted but her husband would win before any cheating happened.

4 stars! Many of you who follow my reviews should know by now my reading tastes fall under ANGST. Anything angst, I gobble it up! So when Kandi Steiner, an amazing author known for ANGST, releases a duet that revolves around a love triangle, you bet I was ALL OVER THAT. I bought the book right away, there was only one problem: the second book wasn't out yet. So, I sat on my butt and waited to start the first book until the second one was out. And I made it... almost. I made sure to preorder the second book so it would hit my kindle at 9pm (thank you PST) and I wouldn't have to wait. Well now it's 11:30 pm, I have work tomorrow and I am DYING to start the second book! Clearly I didn't think this through. What He Doesn't Know is about Charlie, a woman in a broken marriage who has lost herself. When a childhood friend and love Reese, returns to town and begins teaching at the same school she does, feelings are bound to blossom. But Charlie is torn, because despite everything, she loves her husband. But Reese may be the only one to turn Charlie back into the woman she was. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Kandi Steiner is an author I am always meaning to read more of. This book hit the spot perfectly in terms of reading mood and angst. I have my favorite guy, but I don't want to say anything because I am worried he will not be picked. I desperately want to peek at the end of book 2 but also don't want to cheat, so we will see how long I'll last, shall we? Anyways, both books are out now, so if you are intrigued go ahead and one click. There's nothing to be scared of as they are both available and no waiting!

Have you seen that GIF? The one with the little girl crying while banging on a window? I think if you search crying or emotions on the Facebook GIF search, she pops up. Know which one I mean? Well that, that exact GIF is me, but replace the child with me, a 28 year old overcome with SO MUCH EMOTION and TURMOIL and stuck behind a glass wall of INTENSE, TURBULENT feelings. What He Doesn't Know blasted it's way into my heart and soul. It ripped me wide open and it burned. It hurt and my heart ACHES but oh my goodness if that wasn't one of the best, if not THE BEST angsty romance I've ever read. And yes, that means it tops A Love Letter To Whiskey. In fact it OBLITERATED it. That was my fave read of 2016. It was my fave Kandi Steiner book. But not anymore. This one is and to be honest, it will be my top read of 2018 I already know it! Kandi Steiner is a wordsmith. She has this inate ability to build and craft and produce the perfect build up to a story. She magically inserts you into her story and makes you feel every single pull, every little tug, every little spark. Not every author is able to infect a reader so strongly from the very start but Kandi Steiner can. And she does, she pushes and pulls you in this directions, then BANG! Quick as a flash you're thrown another way. Then you're dragged right back again. But this build up, this flawless, slow burn, step by step build up takes you through every emotion, it makes you feel and like a wave it pulls more water up with it and surges higher and higher and higher until it reaches the peak with no other way to go but DOWN. And then it crashes and burns and HURTS but that hurt is addictive. It's actually empowering and as strange as it sounds it's BEAUTIFUL. I don't know how Kandi does it, I really don't but it's like she literally holds your heart in the palm of her hand, and she has full control over it. Despite the fact that it's pretty broken right now and the road to recovery is going to be BRUTAL, I know that by the end it will be okay. I trust Kandi, I trust her words and I for one cannot wait for the next part. Kandi, I applaud you, for getting yourself through this book, for making it as real and emotional as you can. Never once did What He Doesn't Know feel over the top or over done, it held realness the whole way through and it consumed every single part of me! There aren't enough stars in the world for this. There never will be!

WOW, just WOW!!! What a journey this book is... The highs and lows, the deepest lows. Charlie has been married 8yrs, for the last 5yrs her marriage has been non-existent. She walks through her days like a spectator to her own life. Just when she thinks there is something hopeful to be about in her marriage, reality hits and she once again realises she is kidding herself. They are 2 strangers sharing a house, not a home. It's an empty shell what used to be a home. When Reese her childhood crush and the first man she ever loved, returns to town and teaches at the same school as Charlie. He is astounded by the woman in front of him. She exists and is a hollow, soulless shell. He is still in love with her and when she eventually opens up about her tragedy, about why she is like she is, he understands her hurt and her pain in a way that her husband never could. This is the story of 3, mainly seen from Charlie and Reese's POV. One chapter from Cameron's. This is their journey of a loss so deep, one could never imagine coming back from it. It either makes you or breaks you. Reese understands about loss, he knows how to empathise and be there for Charlie. When decisions are made and the truth slaps you in the face..What do you Do? Give up and walk away or stay and fight? Is there even a chance of fixing what you broke? Does it even matter anymore? Does it matter that you broke your vows when the one person in your life needed you the most? YES, all of it matters and all of it stacks against you when there are decisions to be made. Do you even deserve a chance? Find out in book 2 of the series to see where these 3 people's journeys take them. Brilliantly written, steady, flowing storyline, developed characters. You feel their hurt, pain, loss and betrayals. You feel the fledgling seeds of hope and the way those seeds are crushed, time and again. You feel all of it. This is an emotional book..it grips you from the first page and drags you through to the last. Such exquisite story telling to be found in this book. Kandi is a master at her art. My first time reading her work, definitely not the last. A well deserved 5 star rating. I don't give them easily, unless it is a book such as this. Made me cry= 5/5 Angst= 5/5 Characters =5/5 Storyline=5/5 Chemistry=5/5 Friendship=5/5 Hope=5/5 Despair=5/5 Rollercoaster of emotions=5/5 There was nothing in this book that disappointed, that I would have written differently.

What He Doesn't Know is the first book in an adult contemporary romance duology. This book takes place in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The narrators are Charlie (woman) and Reese. We also get a bit of Cameron's POV. Charlie is a 30 year old kindergarten teacher who is married to Cameron. Reese is a pianist and music teacher who was Charlie's first crush. The book starts off dramatically, but then goes back 2 months to show us how everything led to what we were shown in the prologue. I'm not sure what I think about the author telling us so much upfront, but then going back 2 months. Normally this would not be my thing. But here it did sort of make me more interested in the story. I liked this book. However it definitely felt like it took too long to get back to what happened at the start. The last couple of chapters to me were the strongest. This book ends with a cliffhanger ending. The reveal at the end totally blew my mind. I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. However, I wanted more. The first chapter implied to me that this book would be filled with cheating and betrayal. And while these are definitely topics in this story I just wish that the author had really gone for it. This book features a love triangle. But after reading the first book I definitely knew who I wanted Charlie to end up with. And it seemed obvious who she would pick. I am anxious to read the continuation of this story.