Jake has nothing to offer Frankie, but he can't keep away. He has to see her one more time. To know she's moved on. And she has. She's now a single mother, running a successful business, and still hating Jake for letting her down so badly.

Jake is still way too sexy for his own good, or hers. And after twelve years, Frankie's hormones are suddenly out of control.

But Jake knows she's strictly off limits. His past still haunts him and the deal he once made is in danger. Secrets he's kept from her for twelve, long years threaten to destroy any relationship they might ever have.

Reviews

4.5 Pixies: "Keeping Secrets is a wonderful story that will keep you engrossed until the finish. This book has a little of everything in it. We have two people who fell in love at a young age, made promises and dreamed of a future together and then, in a blink of an eye, they're torn apart by her parents. I was excited to see these two meet up again, to see what kind of sparks would fly or what bad things would happen. This was my favorite part of the entire story.
I really enjoyed watching Frankie and Jake fight for their lives together, also, seeing Frankie and her parents interact. Her father never forgave her for some of the stuff she did as a teenager, and he throws it in her face whenever he can. Now he has to take it like a man and I loved it. Keeping Secrets by Cindy Crane is a must read. I am looking forward to seeing what she writes next." -- Becky Gaede, Dark Angel Reviews

4 Stars: "Keeping Secrets is a delightful love story. My favorite character was Debs. Cindy Crane offers readers a story that is life-like. Fans of romance will enjoy Keeping Secrets by Cindy Crane." -- Review Your Book

4 Books: "This is a story of two people with very different backgrounds. Jake and Frankie belong together, but the shadows and secrets of the past present an almost insurmountable barrier to their happiness. The author, Cindy Crane, is careful not to divulge those secrets until close to the end and kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the sights and scenes in Frankie's old neighborhood, as well as the minor characters who were her friends. Ms. Crane takes us on a journey through the rough streets to find the love that Frankie believed she had lost forever. A moving tale of courage and perseverance, and well worth reading." -- The Long and The Short of It - Romance Review

Excerpt

Then he spotted her by the bar. She was laughing. Her mouth curled into a perfect arc, revealing her lovely white teeth. Her cheeks were like two perfect rosy apples beneath eyes that twinkled with open pleasure as she tilted her head in such a familiar way, enjoying the conversation with those around her.

She was as lovely as ever.

His heart leapt and his pulse quickened afresh as he excused himself, pushing through the bodies until he was standing by her. Her clean scent invaded his senses-fresh shampoo and musky body lotion, tickling his nose and throat. It sent shivers of excitement down his spine and up into his scalp until even the hairs on his head prickled with outrageous delight.

"I'll get that," he said huskily, the words whispering softly across her cheek and ear.

Frankie froze as she felt his breath drift gently across her skin, caressing every cell, stimulating every nerve ending. The hairs at the base of her skull stood to attention, sending a wave of anticipation throughout her entire body. Even her toes tingled.

She swallowed hard, the words sticking in her throat, her vocal chords paralysed. She just raised her lovely eyes to look at him, her companion at the bar immediately forgotten. Jake smiled down at her, and she caught her bottom lip with her teeth. Twelve years, and the feeling, flooding her senses, was so familiar it might have been only yesterday.

Squelchy liquid turned her stomach to mush and trickled into her legs, making her grab the edge of the bar. She steadied herself as he ordered himself an orange juice and grasped the two glasses in hands that looked just too deliciously familiar: long, straight fingers with tips so sensual they used to drive her into frenzied need with every stroke as they travelled round her body. She could barely breathe. After every vow she'd ever made, her body was betraying her big time, dragging every basic, lustful need from the depths of their prison.

Thank goodness there was a free table with a couple of chairs. She wasn't sure she was steady enough on her feet to have a civil conversation.

In fact, she wasn't sure she was ready for any conversation.

He had no right to look the way he did after all this time.

He was way too sexy for his own good.

He'd filled out well. He'd matured; his shoulders broader, his chest wider. But the sooty lashes framing his dark brown eyes were just as she remembered. Gorgeous, sexy, come-to-bed eyes that had scoured her body, burned into her soul, thrilled her with their passion, their desire, until she'd been barely able to breathe.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Tendrils of heat were snaking around her insides, spreading outwards, her skin flushing. The tips of her breasts tingled with expectation and lust. Twelve years and he still did it for her.

"You look good," he complimented. His smile was a half-smile, tentative, trying to control the uneven thud of his heartbeat with a display of confidence that almost didn't work. He knew she hated him, had told him so in the last letter he opened. He still had it, had them all but for the final three he returned unopened. He'd never found the courage to throw then away.

But she still wasn't talking. She was still probably deciding when to slap his face, call him unforgivable names and to humiliate him in front of everyone here. And she'd deserve every bit of revenge she could muster.