#Book Review # A Secret for a Secret by Helena Hunting

From New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting comes a new romance about trading secrets, breaking the rules, and playing for keeps.

My name is Ryan Kingston, and I’m a rule follower. I’ve never been in a fistfight. I always obey the speed limit. I don’t get drunk, and I definitely don’t pick up random women at bars.

Except the night I found out that my whole existence has been a lie.

(From the blurb)

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Fans of sports romance in general and Helena Hunting in particular will be delighted with this new instalment of All In ice hockey romance series.

Romance books are full of bad boys who swear, drink too much, treat their parents and friends with no respect and cheat on their partners. And yet, countless readers continue justifying their behaviour and finding excuses for them. There are very few (too few, in my opinion) books where the protagonist is a good man, caring and thoughtful, has principles and lives according to them. I don’t know about you, but I find this kind of guy irresistible.

Ryan Kingston (AKA King) is a goalkeeper. His job is to save and protect, be steady and reliable and have his team’s back. He is also as good of a guy as it gets. ‘A rule-follower’. No lying, drunken one-night stands, no driving over the speed limit, or anything impulsive and chaotic. Partly this can be explained by his family background. He just recently found out that his older sister Hanna is really his mother, and his caring and sometimes interfering mother is ….his grandmother. His older brother (uncle) has been in and out of prison a few times and is one of the reasons why his parents (grandparents) were very strict with Ryan and instilled in him a healthy respect for rules and acting sensibly at all times. Ryan lets his guard just once: the night when he found out that he’s been lied to all his life, shocked, upset, and confused, he gets drunk with Queenie, a beautiful and lonely girl who’s had her own share of trouble. They trade secrets and do shots, and have a wild night with no expectation to see each other again. Until Ryan finds out that Queenie is going to work as the new assistant for the team general manager. Not only that- she is also the manager’s daughter and is strictly off limits for any player on the team.

There is great chemistry and undeniable attraction between Queenie, who might have made a few serious mistakes in her life, and King, who does everything by the book and needs somebody to show him that there is a lot in life he’s been missing out on. Ryan is sweet and tender, but it also takes a special kind of girl to appreciate and love him for himself, not his money or his success or even his family. Queenie is smart, artistic, kind and generous, and needs a guy who is going to be there for her, and will help her face her insecurities and start to believe in herself.

Sweet, sexy (there are a few hot and steamy scenes in this book- this is Helena Hunting, after all) and surprisingly romantic, A Secret for a Secret is a light and enjoyable read for all fans of contemporary sports romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.