REVIEW: Secrets in Valentine Valley by Emma Cane

In Secrets in Valentine Valley (Valentine Valley #6.5) by Emma Cane, Since Daniel Sweet’s girlfriend Kristin blindsided him with her unexpected disappearance a year and a half ago, he’s begun to question everything. Including trusting his instincts, having believed they had a strong relationship that had a future. But just when Daniel was starting to put his past behind him, Kristin shows up in town with a boatload of secrets and a dangerous criminal following her every move. Daniel probably shouldn’t trust or protect her after all she’s put him through. But he has no other choice when it’s obvious that he still cares for her deeply.

‘No wonder he hadn’t been able to move on. Just a couple of days together had shown him how strong his feelings for her were–and that kind of love would never die.’

Kristin Butler was warned when she went into Witness Protection that she had to leave her old life behind. And that meant not contacting Daniel again until a gang leader she testified against is behind bars. She regrets having to leave with no trace and just wants to make sure that the love of her life is doing okay. But showing up in Valentine Valley puts a target on not only her back but on Daniel’s as well, and before long they’re on the run to his cabin in the woods. Close proximity brings back all of the feelings she’s tried to keep at bay, proving they’re still meant to be together. But will Daniel understand when she tells him the truth behind her actions or will he push her away?

‘She was lying to him–she might have to keep lying to him. Oh God, she didn’t even know what she was going to do. How could she let his kisses distract her?’

Secrets in Valentine Valley was a quick novella that packed quite a punch emotionally. A dangerous situation put two former lovers’ lives on the line, forcing them to try to ignore their feelings and their pain over the past eighteen months and instead focus on staying alive.

This was a novella that could easily be read as a standalone or as part of the wonderful Valentine Valley series. (A series I highly recommend to small town romance lovers!) And while it was pretty short, coming in at around eighty pages, author Emma Cane did a great job as always with setting the scene, exploring the emotions, and bringing on the romance. This being a reunion story, we found out bits of Daniel and Kristin’s history and could see how strong of a tie they had together up until she had to suddenly disappear.

Kristin and Daniel really did have lots of passion still smoldering between them which made being together again complicated. Also making it difficult was how they were such upstanding individuals who wanted to do the right thing. That was basically what led Kristin to have to go into Witness Protection and leave Daniel with no goodbye and with no way to find her again. She risked her life to bring a criminal to justice but never forgave herself for how she had to leave. I really thought her feelings about the situation seemed genuine and it was easy to sympathize with her regrets. I also felt badly for Daniel, a man who cared deeply for her, and how it drove him to rethink his instincts and his trust in people. Again, this was a fairly brief story so things worked out quite fast, but it didn’t take away from the happy ending that these two deserved.

If you’re looking for a fast story to read with an exciting plot, several big secrets to uncover, and a second chance romance for added depth, Secrets in Valentine Valley will be just the thing for you.

Book Info:

 Published November 19th 2016 | by Gayle Kloecker Callen | Valentine Valley #6.5

Welcome back to Valentine Valley, where love can overcome danger and secrets…

Daniel Sweet thought he’d found the woman of his dreams—until she suddenly left Valentine Valley without a word of explanation. A year and a half later, Kristin Butler is back, on the run from a killer, under Witness Protection, and soon hiding out in a cabin with Daniel. She’s kept him in the dark about so many things, but he’s determined to discover all her secrets, even if it means risking not just their lives but their love.