Secret baby and long lost romance brings together a sizzling story! Great read that I couldn’t put down!

This books was a pleasant wayto pass the time but not really memorable. I would recommend Harlequin readers to grab a copy for their wait in the doctors office or for a long flight while on vacation.

They were young and romantic, and love definitely did not live up to the test of parental disapproval. No longer the poor and underprivileged young man, Graciano might have left his past behind, but it's definitely not forgotten as evidenced by him paying an astronomical amount of money he pays to bring Alicia to his island home to seek his revenge.
Despite every good intention of coming clean and telling Graciano that their long-ago encounter had resulted in a child, Alicia is swept away by Graciano's magnetism and finds herself once again in thrall before being unceremoniously returned to her home in England.
Perhaps one more time might be a charm but this time the truth is taken away from Alicia's hands when a sporting accident brings Graciano and Alicia to the hospital and all is revealed. Can it be forgiven, and a way created for the future. Clearly these are romances and happy endings are the norm.

I loved this book about Graciano and Alicia. Graciano being a street kid after losing his parents in a car accident and his brother to the foster system. He loved Alicia and was broken after she chose her father and let him throw Graciano out in the street years ago. Alicia end up pregnant and her minster father sent her away. They meet again at an auction where she is auction her time for Charity. Alicia has become a well known event planner. And as a benefit to the charity she is part of the auction portion, her services as an event planner will be a huge monetary perk to the charity. But before the auction begins Alicia bumps into none other than Graciano. A shock to both as they have not seen each other in ten years. Alicia has something she has to share with Graciano, but he at first wants nothing to do with her. Each is right in their on right but they also begin to understand and see that there really were two sides and each had valid feelings and actions for what happened. But in all this unraveling of the past a secrets looms large in Alicia's mind and heart. Alicia and Graciano have a daughter. And though she reached out to Graciano when she first learned she was pregnant he wanted nothing to do with her and he shut her out of his life. All in all I loved the book.

This is my first time reading a book by Clare Connelly. This is the 1st book “The Long-Lost Cortez Brothers Series”. Graciano and Alicia were young teenagers and in love. Alicia’s father is a minister and he accused Graciano of assaulting Alicia and Alicia didn’t correct her father. I guess I understanding Alicia being silent and not correcting her father. Alicia’s father sends her away and she has a daughter Annie. Alicia and Graciano meet again 10 years later at an event where she auctioning her services as an event planner. Graciano jumps at the chance and wins the services. Graciano takes Alicia away and the two are still very much attracted to each and the chemistry is great. Graciano learns he is a father when Annie has accident and Alicia has to rush home.

How will Graciano feel when he learns that he has missed out on 9 years of Annie’s life, what will he do, can Alicia and Graciano get pass their differences and raise Annie together?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Presents Romance and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

The Secret She Must Tell the Spaniard by Claire Connelly is a delightful secret-baby second chance romance. Young lovers Alicia and Graciano were cruelly separated by her father but are able to find their way back to love.

The h, an event planner, is bought at a charity auction by the H., with whom she had had a relationship when she was 16. He had been accused of raping the h by the h’s father. He is now a billionaire and has revenge on his mind.
I was given a copy from NetGalley.

Quick Summary: Heartbreaking and hopeful

My Review: The Secret She Must Tell the Spaniard by Claire Connelly was a classic Harlequin. This story was about young love, opposites attract, betrayal, lost love, secrets, yearnings, chemistry, angst, revenge, misunderstandings, and poor closure. It was also about an inevitable encounter, unsuccessful attempts at taming an unquenchable desire, and finding forever in a second-third chance.

As with other HP reads, much of what this romance couple experienced could have been dealt with by simply having a much needed conversation from the jump. Still, the up and down moments, the rising emotions, and the seemingly never-ending conflict points only added to the story.

About the Characters:

The unresolved issue that Graciano had with his past was addressed in a big way, by the end of the book. It definitely piqued my interest. Questions were asked and answered, but still there has to be more. What's next?

Alicia was a simple and yet complex character. She was a good and decent person, without a doubt. What she did, however, was questionable. Were her choices the best ones possible?

My Final Say: I thoroughly enjoyed this romance. Readers who find the classic Harlequin formula appealing will really like Graciano and Alicia's story.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley. Appreciation is extended to the author and to the publisher. The words I have shared are my own and were submitted freely without any influence from the aforementioned.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was two young lovers (she was 16 and he was 18) who were done wrong by her father. Alicia's Father was a minster and when he discovered that the two were a couple and had slept together he threatened Graciano our hero with jail time for rape if he didn't disappear from their lives. Alicia was present when all this came down and was paralyzed with fear and did nothing to protect or champion Graciano from her father or his accusations. Graciano of course left and with all the anger and hurt he made something of himself.

We open with Alicia working a charity that she put together. Alicia has become a well known event planner. And as a benefit to the charity she is part of the auction portion, her services as an event planner will be a huge monetary perk to the charity. But before the auction begins Alicia bumps into none other than Graciano. A shock to both as they have not seen each other in ten years. Alicia has something she has to share with Graciano, but he at first wants nothing to do with her. As the auction begins and Alicia's services are being auctioned who bid's and wins for her services, none other than Graciano.

The story takes off from there as the two navigate a past full of angst, hurt and secrets. Graciano takes Alicia to his private island for a week of planning for an event for his company. Of course during that time the two rehash the past and their versions and perspectives of what transpired. Each is right in their on right but they also begin to understand and see that there really were two sides and each had valid feelings and actions for what happened. But in all this unraveling of the past a secrets looms large in Alicia's mind and heart. Alicia and Graciano have a daughter. And though she reached out to Marciano when she first learned she was pregnant he wanted nothing to do with her and he shut her out of his life.

I struggled with the beginning of their story. I felt as if I was dropped into the middle of a story, way to0 abrupt and somewhat confusing to grasp until you get further into the book. It all eventually came together and made sense but at that point I wasn't that engaged in their relationship or HEA.
I also had a hard time with the development of their HEA, it was abrupt at times and the word that comes to mind is choppy. Also the revelation of their daughter at the end seemed abrupt and not really as meaningful as it could have been if it was introduced a little sooner then at the end.

Side note for those who want to know about whether it's safe. Hero was with OW after their separation. Heroine was celibate.