Shh… It's Our Secret

Very nice!! I'm pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book! I just wasn't sure about but at first, its a little different than what I'm used to reading but I really enjoyed reading this book! It was funny, very unique, had some steam to it and the storyline was very interesting!! I highly recommend this book! Its well well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

*****4.5 stars*****
A cute family based book about finding your voice through music with a little bit of a romantic side plot.

Content and trigger warnings: References to death, sadness, slight alcohol abuse, sexual innuendo, references to sexual activity.

What's the plot: Violet works at a failing bar and has a secret that could change everything and help her makeshift family after losing her parents at a young age. But she won't Kai is a music producer looking for some space away from his house after guests show up whenever and take over his privacy. Kai stumbles upon the bar Violet works at and finds out her secret, thus changing her life forever.

What I liked: I liked the familial aspect that was a major part of the book and how Violet was entirely loyal to her family, real or makeshift. I liked most of the side characters and how they each had a very different personality. I loved how coffee was just a huge part of the book, even though it didn't represent anything but it was always just there. Music was such a major part of how the plot developed and I liked how it was always there and always related to what happened next. I loved Violet's character development and how she goes from being very timid to her own woman. It was nice to see her stick to her values and not give them up, no matter the pressure.

What I didn't like: The first 50-60 pages were a bit slow, but after that the plot picked up and it was hard to put down. Also some of the decisions the characters made, I didn't agree with though I understood why they were there. SPOILERS: Violet forgiving Mollie so easily was definitely something I didn't like because of how much her character had grown over the course of the book. It was understandable it just felt too simple. Also I understood Kai had a lot to do with him being a music producer and having to travel a lot, but it kind of felt at times that he did not care enough for Violet to say no to his bosses and make time for her. NO MORE SPOILERS. Overall there weren't many complaints.

TL;DR- A good read with good characters and a great plot, just a little slow at first with a few questionable decisions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review!!

Shh... It's Our Secret...

I really liked this book. It's a love story, but it's also a story about growth and overcoming one's own fears.
Violet has quite an awful life. Her boss/boyfriend is a piece of garbage, she sees this, but is not ready to do something about it, at least, not yet.
She runs his café, mostly out of loyalty to her regulars, who are a true family for her.
Suddenly, her life starts changing, and she starts growing up.

I must admit I did not care for all of the characters. Her two best friends and her sister think very poorly of her. Cole is only looking out for himself.
Kai learns how to treat her and respect her, so, even though I don't like all he does, all in all, he's ok.
Trina and Danny were my favorites, without a doubt.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Great, fast read with interesting characters and good plot. I was pleasantly surprised when it quickly drew me in. Violet is a bit of a mess in her personal life but the regulars in her coffee shop are very devoted to her. When she meets Kai she's just been dumped by her live in boyfriend who also owns the coffee shop. Kai swoops in and changes everything. I had a hard time liking him in the beginning because he wasn't honest with Violet but everything works out in the end. I kept thinking this would be a good Hallmark movie.
Thanks to NetGalley and BHC press for my copy of this book.

This book was very cute and multiple people can relate to it. The main theme was getting over someones fear and hurt and moving on with their life which a lot of people are afraid to do. The reader watches as the main character wants to be a singer but is too scared to sing in front of anyone because it reminds her of her memories with her parents that are no longer alive. She doesn't want to share her voice with anyone, not even her own sister. Over time, she slowly gains confidence because she realizes that people actually like her singing. She tries to remain under cover but her secret gets out. So she has a choice to make: go back in her shell or embrace her new life. With the help of friends, family and a new love she breaks free of the hurt that she has held on for far too long and learns that her dreams can come true.

Great, fast read with interesting characters and good plot.

Violet - girl with secret which can change not only her life and Kai, music producer, looking for bit of peace and quiet from his stressful work.

What will happen when these two meet?

Can they help each other?

Read to find out!

Violet has an amazing singing voice. However she stopped singing when her parents past away. That tragic event affected Violet in so many ways. She allowed people to walk all over her. She meets a friend that helps build her strength, confidence, and love of singing. Changes occur in her life that bring her back to life.
This was an easy read, sweet read.

Shh... Can I tell you a secret?
I finished this in a day!
I have read several of Lizzie Chantree's books already, she is an extremely versatile author, and this book is another little gem in her book jewels.
Violet loves to sing. She has since she was young, but the joy of singing ends when her parents pass away.
Since then, she's hidden her talent, singing in secret, and succumbed to an awful relationship. The only silver lining in the cloud that is her life, is the cafe she works at, and the family she has built from her regular customers.
Life takes a huge turn when music producer Kai walks into the cafe and hears her voice.
All in all, an enjoyable read, quick and easy, and the happy ending we all want!
Many thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Violet has a secret that she's determined to keep, but when Kai walks into the cafe where she works and into her life, finding out the secret, Violet is frantically trying to convince him to keep it for her, lest her life, and the lives of those she loves, be ruined forever.

I love books about communities.
I love books that feature music.
I love books that follow a character who discovers their own inner strength.
So I absolutely loved this gorgeous book!

Brimming with fascinating, lively characters and an interesting venue, I soon found myself willing Violet on with her life after her difficult years with her ex boyfriend and the terrible loss of her parents in her teens. I adored how she looked after her regular customers, and in return was loved by them all. It’s true to say that friends are the family that you choose for yourself ❤️
Kai was brilliant for seeing how special Violet was, not only her vocal ability but as an important part of the community. It was fabulous how he considered her needs and wishes, especially as Violet struggled before with relationships.
A positive and uplifting story that definitely made my heart sing 😊

A slow start to a good book.

This is a book about family loyalty, secret talent, insecurity and the need to learn how to get past old transgressions.

Violet works at a run down bar in serious need of help - a real influx of money is the answer.

And how to find that money drives this in a few directions.

Violet works through family obligations, professional relationships and coming to terms with following dreams.

I absolutely loved this book. I am not the fastest reader but I raced through to the end in 2 days.

The main character Violet is a bit down trodden and lacks in self confidence, but that all changes when life kicks her when she is already down one too many times.

She has amazing regulars at the place she works who she loves like family.

You have hunky men, great strong friendships that are tested, music, laughter, sadness, steamy kisses, heartache and betrayal.

What more can you want from a romance novel?

Loved it and fully recommend it. I loved Lizzies writing style.

Thank you to Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review!!

My rating: ★★★


Good plot, interesting characters, loved how Violet slowly came out of her shell and found her inner strength, also, finding her voice as well.

Overall a fun, enjoyable read.

Loved it. A delightful story about friends, the music business, the coffee cafe' business and so much more. A sweet romance. Interesting character growth. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Oh, Lizzie!! You have done it again! I had such a lump in my throat by the end of the book it was unreal. I knew to expect something like that when I read this book as it is the way but I had to grab a glass of water this time!! This is such a lovely story of love, loss ad growth. Violet, crippling shy and completely downtrodden thanks to her idiot ex-boyfriend Liam. He took everything from her, he broke her. Then Kai, a meeting by chance, changes everything she knows and holds on to dearly.

I love stories where things can happen to people. A bit like Sliding Doors, the what-ifs, and this is a HUGE what if. If Kai had not been in the café that day when Violet was singing who knows where she would be now.

The supporting cast are a delight! I loved Esme and Doris, Cole, Danny and Trina, plus Violet’s best friends. All played a part in her journey. All testing her and supporting her in different ways. The proper little family. There a whole host of characters who will stay with you and can I have them as my friends?

I found this was a book I wanted to keep reading, even though it was way past my bedtime one night I still wanted to stay up and read it. I was sucked into the world Lizzie had created and I didn’t want to leave. I loved the café/bar of Shh…it’s our Secret and would love for it to be a real place. It sounds like a lovely welcoming and special place, plus I love live music! Family is definitely who you make it and it is something I have always thought, this book just reconfirms that for me!

I always snap up any book that Lizzie’s writes, I know I am behind but I have them on my bookshelf shouting to be read. To me, she is a magical storyteller who allows me some time to get sucked into a happy place for a few hours and enjoy the words in front of me.

I had been waiting for this book for ages and was absolutely thrilled when I saw it on my Kindle! This is the story of Violet, who we meet as a very broken, very bullied shell who is nervous about life and not trusting of her own abilities. From the start I was a little mesmerised from the narrative voice, the fact that the story is told a certain way made it more wistful and beautiful for me and really made me savour it. This is very much a rock star romance and I loved the tale of violet trying to figure out where her heart was in so many ways. The musical aspect so the whole performance and money aspect is done really well and added to all the tension and drama. All in all one that those who love their romances will devour. Thanks so much to the publishers for the book in return for an honest review.

I finished this book in one sitting. It was such a cute book. The writing, characters, setting, everything was perfect.
From the very first chapter I could tell that I was going to like this book. This was my first Lizzie Chantree book and I loved her writing sooo much. Can't wait to read more.

A great unexpected read. Friendships are at the heart of this book, the storyline is refreshing and I do love it when the main character can stand up for herself. A must read.

Another author I love having on my reading list as I know I'm going to enjoy her writing!

Violet's life isn't wrapped in luxury; in fact, it's about as far removed as it is possible to be. Working in a run-down cafe bar, the regulars are like family to her and they watch out for each other. But Violet has a secret, soon discovered by Kai who takes to visiting the coffee shop early each morning - when he stumbles upon the secret she hides so well. With a stressful job, Kai has moved to a nearby home to find some rest and relaxation but, as a music producer, the songwriters and musicians have followed him there - hence his down time with Violet's coffee each morning. With Violet's self-confidence at an all time low, can Kai help restore that and support her to be all he thinks he knows she can be?

This is a truly tempting story, and a very different one. With a lot of details about the music business, I imagine the author did a fair bit of research into this one which has paid off as it is delightfully entertaining. Filled with an array of characters from all walks of life, Lizzie Chantree knows how to sweep her readers off their feet and keep them focused until the very last. Circumstances have allowed Violet to get downtrodden and circumstances again lift her up. I thought it was pretty obvious where the story was going, but there are lots of twists and turns before the end, making it all very interesting and keeping the reader on their toes. A nice, bright read full of optimism made this one I'm happy to recommend and give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I never like to retell the story when I write a review, because the author always does it so much better – I always try not to stray beyond the “blurb”, but you’ll notice that this one is particularly enigmatic and doesn’t give many clues about the story that’s about to unfold. I guess that’s the thing about secrets – and the importance of keeping them is rather central to this lovely, very different and well-told story.

The story develops from that pivotal moment when Kai, a big name in the music industry, walks into the neglected and run down café bar that Violet runs, desperate for a coffee and an escape from the demands of his busy life. Violet’s life has hit a bit of a low too – the bar is owned by her feckless boyfriend, who fails to appreciate that she’s the only one keeping the business going. I really liked Violet from first encounter – although the book does start with an intriguing glimpse of the present day, and how things have changed – with her edge of sadness after the loss of her parents, her strong friendships, her closeness to her sister and her young family. And the bar itself is a daytime refuge for the lonely – a lovely group of real characters who Violet has taken to her heart.

And now I have the dilemma of whether to share Violet’s secret – and I won’t, but I will say that Kai’s involvement in the music industry is fairly central to the story. But this is a story full of secrets, and the importance of keeping them – always a challenge, and beautifully handled, with quite a few surprises along the way. But it’s also a story about belief and courage, about taking chances in life and trusting others, about following your dreams, all wrapped up in a really original story that kept me entirely hooked as it unfolded.

The settings are excellent – the café bar itself as it undergoes some major changes, and then there’s Kai’s palatial home with some great insights into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. There’s a satisfying romance too, and a strong focus on families and friendship. It’s a story that hinges on the strength of its characters: it’s told mainly from the viewpoints of both Violet and Kai, and that takes you nicely inside their thoughts and feelings, but the supporting cast is strong too. I particularly liked the collection of misfits who frequent the café, and who support Violet as much as she’s always supported them – with a special mention for Esme and Doris, sharing their slice of cake and acting as a bit of a Greek chorus, with loudly voiced opinions on Violet’s life and just about everything else. And that supporting cast is very much part of the story – their lives change along with the fortunes of Violet and the café, and in a way that’s particularly heartwarming and uplifting.

Other than the opening chapter, the way the story is told is linear – and if I have a small criticism, I think I might have liked to see a little more variation, maybe to experience some scenes from Violet’s early life that so shaped her, rather than the “telling” that sometimes engages a little less.

But I did really enjoy the author’s writing – she’s a good storyteller, and this was a book that engaged me throughout, an easy read but with real originality and plenty of emotional depth. Something a bit different, and I enjoyed it – I’ll look forward to reading more from Lizzie Chantree.

This a story all about finding your voice, both figuratively and literally. Violet is a woman who gives too much, sacrificing her needs for those around her. She struggles to speak up for herself and also lacks the confidence to use her wonderful singing voice—due to the trauma of losing her parents. That is, until her real friends help her to overcome her fears, along with a new, handsome and sexy friend—Kai, who just happens to be a hot shot music producer...

A lovely, lighthearted story that was easy to read, infused with humour and peppered with bittersweet sentiment.

I really resonated with this as I a musician myself and that’s why i always get excited to read a book related to music.

I loved the storyline and how the characters are built.
I also loved how it focused on Violet finding who she was by finding her voice.

This is a great fluffy and sweet book that you can devour.

Shh...It's Our Secret is a book that I am surprised is not getting more attention. I was not familiar with Lizzie Chantree and was not sure what to expect. To be honest, I started this book several times and just didn't give it enough time. I am glad that I didn't give up on this story.

Violet is the manager of the local coffee shop/bar. Her boyfriend who is the owner of the establishment is a no good loser. Liam treats Violet despicably but Violet feels trapped in the situation.

What happens next is a sweet story that shows once again that we are better together. This is an eclectic group of people that grow on you. This book starts out slow but then picks up so don't give up like I did originally.

The only reason that I did not give this story 5 stars is because I would have loved the secondary characters to have more of a role, to have their stories deepened and the overall story longer.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.