Secret Fantasy (NYT Bestselling Author)

by Carly Phillips

Book Overview

Juliette Stanton is ten minutes away from vowing to love, honor and cherish a scheming mobster-connected liar. For the rest of her life. And so with the media watching her every move, the high-profile... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037377351X
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: HQN
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.6" x 0.6" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Re-release from 2001....Simple, Sweet, light romance

This is re-release from 2001 -short afternoon read. The concept is that Juliette is the daughter of Senator and because of mob connection she cancels her wedding. A Chicago report gets wind of her Secret Fantasy vacation to excape the scandal and signs himself up for same vacation spot. Simple, Sweet, light romance. If you enjoy this genre I would suggest; Tangled Up In Love, Talk Me Down andThe Bachelor (The Chandler Brothers, Book 1).

I'm Hooked

I am hooked on this series! Carly Philips has created an unbelievable setting and then allowed the reader to find the things that make it all seem possible. This is not a book where you will sit back and say, that could happen to me, but it is a book where you will sit back and say - wow! i wish that could happen to me!

Sexy and Seductive

Do *you* have a secret fantasy?I do. But it's better left secret. Instead, I'm content to read and enjoy the stories in Harlequin's Fantasies, Inc. series. Carly Phillips' entry, SECRET FANTASY, is no exception. Reporter Doug Houston's fantasy is to become part of Juliette Stanton's fantasy. Along the way, he hopes to uncover the real reason she fled her wedding and re-establish his credibility as a reporter after a bad lead wreaks havoc with his professional integrity. Juliette Stanton, aka Runaway Bride, is desperate to find some peace and quiet. Away from the media hounds that smell the scent of scandal and will stop at nothing to ferret out the truth behind her run from a marriage to an influential politician. Little did she know that that the dark-haired charmer selected to play the key role in her fantasy was only after one thing: Her story. But as Doug gets to know Juliette better, he realizes there is more to life than `a story.' And along the way, both learn to follow their hearts. I've been a fan of Ms. Phillips for a long time and SECRET FANTASY didn't disappoint me. Her characters (who come alive with real problems and real dialogue) work to overcome the odds, culminating in a fulfilling and satisfying ending. Fans will be happy to learn that this author has an upcoming entry in the Blaze! Sexy City Nights series, titled Body Heat. I was lucky to have received an advance reading copy and can only say that if Body Heat is any indication of the quality of the new Blaze! imprint, then readers have much to look forward to.

Fantastic fantasy

Chicago Tribune reporter Doug Houston comes to Fantasy, Inc. to allegedly atone for a story he wrote based on a tip from a girlfriend that proved false. He believes the reason Juliette "The Runaway Bride" Stanton jilted her fiancé is because she found out Stuart Barnes was money laundering. However , it turns out he has no real proof and his reputation is on the line. He tells Merrilee Schaefer-Weston that he needs to make it up to Juliette. Merrilee accepts him as a client because she sees the opportunity for Doug to learn that humans make mistakes and still can share a happy ever after. Juliette, daughter of a senator, flees to the Florida Keys Fantasy Island to escape the relentless grilling of the media who want to know why she dumped Stuart just before the ceremony. Doug lied to Merrilee as he believes Juliette knows that Stuart is involved in illegal activities and that she can clear the reporter's reputation. However, on the Key, Juliette and Doug begin to fall in love, but he surely is only using her for his own gain. The second tale in the Fantasies, Inc. series holds up against the strong debut story (see SEDUCTIVE FANTASY by Janelle Denison). By doing so, Carly Phillips places geometrically increased pressure on the next author Julie Kenner to keep the quality level high. The story line is heated entertainment as the lead characters come to the Keys with their own needs, but leave with much more just as readers will too due to Juliette hooking the audience and even that rat Doug gains empathy. This passionate temptation will not stay secret as fans will relish the second trip to fantasy island.Harriet Klausner

Sizzling! Very highly recommended

In Harlequin Temptation's tantalizing miniseries Fantasies, Inc., Merrilee Schaefer-Weston lives vicariously through the happiness of others. For a hefty fee, she brings guests to Fantasies, Inc, a cluster of four, lush, paradise resorts off the Florida Keys. A stickler about client confidentiality, Merrilee offers people's deepest, most private secrets and desires. At the end of their fantasy, guests have a choice of walking away and continuing as they were before, or accepting a risk that changes their lives. The second novel of this miniseries by Carly Phillips is named for the island SECRET FANTASY. Juliette Stanton was branded Chicago's Run-Away-Bride, an unwilling public figure following the scandal of her aborted wedding. She had trusted Stuart because he was a childhood friend and she thought that she knew him well. A man who intended to use her senator father's connections had previously hurt her. So while their physical relationship was lukewarm at best, Juliette wanted to trust Stuart who had always been a part of her life and felt safe. Then she learned that Stuart didn't want her at all, just her connection to winning her father's soon-to-be-vacant senate seat. Minutes before their wedding ceremony, Juliette walked in on Stewart while he was talking to a reputed mob boss. If he went down, Stuart threatened to take her father down with him. Now she's off to Secret Fantasy for pampering and relaxation.Reporter Doug Houston is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. He had been involved with a woman for two years but couldn't commit. He and ex both worked and played together, and he trusted the information his ex provided. When he didn't come through a commitment, the information she recently provided regarding money laundering and Juliette's former fiancé suddenly became unverifiable, but not before it reached print. Doug still believes his story to be true, and Juliette to hold the answers. While Doug isn't looking to expose Juliette in any way, he does want to take down her ex-fiancé. Before his fantasy even begins, Doug feels guilt over the charade of using his fantasy and Juliette to get his story.Time on Secret Fantasy brings out Juliette's spark and intensity. Doug can't resist being attracted to her energy and excitement. Juliette's transformation since her wedding day was almost as intriguing as the story he was supposed to be persuing. Juliette's ready for a week of decadence and sin. A sexy stranger will fill the bill perfectly. Only one fear remains, that she hasn't left the press behind. She doesn't want headlines regaling her secret fantasy to haunt the last few months of her father in office.Marilee is bound by ethics to allow her guests to reveal their identities and backgrounds when and if they choose. When Juliette confines that she wants Doug to be her fantasy man, Marilee allows them to work it out, not believing Doug is out to hurt Juliette. But Doug may be the one at risk as a result of his own fantasy. He certainly ne