Hollywood Secret: An enemies-to-lovers, secret celebrity romance (The Discreet Duet Book 1) Kindle Edition

I loved this book! An emotional, dramatic love story between a girl who has survived tragedy and is searching for her way, and a broken man who is hiding from the world. It’s my first read by Nicole French, and I loved her writing as she sucked me straight into Maggie and Will’s story, and I couldn’t put this book down!Maggie moved from her small home town to New York City with dreams of a career in music, but it all went horribly wrong and she was left emotionally scarred and understandably terrified. She is now back home in the town that never really accepted her, with the aim of rebuilding her life and caring for her alcoholic mother. She is slowly and quietly trying to find her way back to herself, but while doing that she repeatedly runs into a bearded, shaggy-haired, yeti-looking man who is gruff, broody and immensely rude. Sure, he comes to her rescue a couple of times, but he’s a complete jerk about it. But Maggie can’t help but be intrigued and she pushes to engage him - a move that pays off when he responds to her - and something begins to develop.What Maggie doesn’t know is that Will is actually Fitzwilliam ‘Fitz’ Baker – former child star turned huge Hollywood star, believed by the world to be dead. For four years Will has lived in isolation by the lake, interacting with nobody and literally hiding from the world, and that’s just the way he wants it. Until Maggie comes along.This is not a neat and tidy romance. Will has demons, and they are fierce. It’s not easy, but everything between them is natural, their feelings growing and shifting without any effort. It’s just that neither of them are expecting it, and Will in particular has no idea how to handle it. He makes mistakes – big ones – and they have a rough time with it, but there’s no denying their chemistry.Even with its heartache and angsty moments, this romance completely captured my heart. It has a sense of innocence about it as they both feel things to a depth they haven’t experienced before, and the intensity of everything between them and the passion that they have for each other is steamy, swoony and just gorgeous!I loved Maggie. She’s been through so much, and she hasn’t escaped unscathed, but she is bravely pulling her life together, facing up to her past and trying her best to move forward, and I really admire that about her. The book is written entirely from her POV, and while I love a dual POV book, I love the sense of mystery that we get while trying to figure out just what is going on in Will’s head while he and Maggie are first battling it out, and then falling for each other. It adds to the intensity of the story, and I’m looking forward to learning more about Will in the next book.Throughout the whole book while we are falling in love with these characters there is this sense of anticipation tingling in the background of the story as we wait for the fallout of Will’s and Maggie’s pasts to catch up to them in the present. They both have major things going on personally, and the story builds wonderfully to its inevitable ending that has me desperate to know where it’s all going to go from here.I loved this book. The writing is engaging and emotive, and the story completely sucked me in. It’s raw and it’s messy, but there’s so much emotion between these broken characters, I felt everything! I loved their story and can’t wait for more.

4.5 Stars!With every new book, Ms. French continues to amaze me with her vivid and beautiful stories. Her imagery of both characters and locales makes it seem like you are seeing her words unfold right before your eyes.When Fitz Baker, mega-star actor, disappeared, the world mourned. At the same time of Fitz’s disappearance, a man named Will quietly and unobtrusively moved into the community surrounding Newman Lake. Also during this time, Maggie Sharp is chasing her dream of making music in New York.Fast-forward four years and Maggie is on her way home to Newman Lake to lick her wounds and to take care of her mother. Newman Lake is the last place she wants to be, but she has no other options. With little money, and a heap of guilt and shame weighing her down, she immerses herself once again in the community where she never felt like she belonged.After a solitary existence, Will finds Maggie injured on his property and a connection is immediately formed, even in the face of their animosity. Over the course of a few weeks their bond strengthens and their feelings grow.But secrets have a way of coming to the surface, no matter how deep they are buried. And when they are unleashed, Will and Maggie’s lives may be changed forever.The cliffhanger ending of the story will have the reader desperate for book two.

I read this book a good while ago and I don't know why I didn't review it. So after reading Here coms lies about Xavier and Francesca and Sophie, I had to read this book again and it was as good as it was the first time, no it was better than reading it the first time because I was trying to get through with it to read another of Nicole French's books at the time. So, I dislike and love the ending of this book I can't wait to read the next book in this duet series again. I love the unlovable Fitzwilliam Baker and of course his soulmate Maggie Sharp. I like how Nicole covered the issue of mixed race and how someone is treated because of how they look and how she covered the story of Fitz baker. Fitz Baker is an actor who felt that life was so overwhelming at twenty something years old and that he wasn't loved by this mother enough other than as a way to gain wealth, that he felt that he needed to fake his death and live by his self without reaching out to any one for at least four years until life drove Maggie Mae aka Maggie Sharp home and two broken people find each other. It really is a good book, and I can't wait to read the Finale of the Discreet Duet. I like that these people in these books eventually know each other, and they find their way into each other's stories so flawlessly, I commend Nicole French for that. I would recommend this book and any book of Nicole French. This was a good read, actually it was awesome.

This book is so different than all of the same old romance storyline that flood the market. Some twists in the plot leaves you curious to keep turning the pages even in the wee hours of the morning!

This is part 1 of a 2 parter. I don’t have part 2. She has returned from NY to her Washington State small town to escape the horrors of her extremely wealthy violent ex who she finally got put in jail for his rapes… for all of 6 months. She feels less than in her town cause her mom is a drunk and she is a half black illegitimate woman often put down by the town. He is a former actor who (unbeknownst to her or town) fakes his death 4 years ago and has been in hiding … she literally falls into his ‘yard’ in a bike accident and he looks like bigfoot. The story takes us to the point in their love story where they admit their love … and then the paparazzi finds him and it all blows up… and part 1 ends. You’ll have to read part 2 to find out if they manage to get away from paparazzi and her paroled ex. PS. There is lots and lots of sex.

I loved this story of being true to yourself! Finding love despite being broken. Repairing yourself to accept the truth of who and what you are. I loved Will and Maggie's story. Ms. French has a way of gripping you to see the fine details of her characters. She writes so well. I love her books!

I like authors who, when they write their stories, manage to do so in such a detailed way that it makes it easy for me to mentally picture what I read. In this novel, from the first pages I saw myself catapulted into a film, one of those that have always kept me glued to the screen without ever diverting my attention. It's the same effect this story had on me. Lots of action, many well-described characters, adrenaline-filled situations, a dose of mystery with very interesting historical references. Accurate and fluid writing.

Maggie has left New York to go home after the trauma of an abusive boyfriend who is now in jail. She is facing the loss of a career in music and going home to an alcoholic mother who doesnt want to stop drinking. She meets Will several times and each time he really doesnt want to talk to her. He has his own demons, mainly he has been away from life for four years living by the lake and no one knows him. There is an intensity between the two of them almost like lost souls who need each other to survive. The writer captures their love. Will has so many secrets and Maggie doesnt think she can survive the lies anymore especially as her ex Theo is now taunting her.

I would have given it five stars if there was no cliffhanger. I would've loved a happily-ever-after, especially after the emotional rollercoaster this book is. The writing is beautiful and I savoured each word.This is the first time I'm reading a book written by this author. Will definitely be reading more.

All I can say is how do you get an HEA after this? This book picks you up, keeps shaking you and won't let go!! Their story! Talk about angst and life secrets! Just WOW! And the creepy ex still out on the periphery!! Going to read the next book tonight! Cannot stand to wait!!So well written Ms. French