The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (The Secret #3) by Jessica Sorensen

On the surface, Lila Summers appears to have it all - flawless good looks, expensive clothes, a perfect smile. Below the surface, she is anything but perfect. Struggling to keep the demons of a dark past at bay, she engages in reckless behavior to stay numb and hide the truth. Only one person has ever seen behind the facade - Ethan Gregory.

Ethan is the opposite of everything Lila has been taught to want. He's tattooed, poor, and doesn't give a shit about material things. Thrown together as they helped their best friends, Ella and Micha, get together, Ethan and Lila formed a connection that neither one expected. But Ethan has rules. No relationships. Ethan learned long ago that relationships lead only to heartache. Friendship is all he is willing to offer Lila.

Ethan's resolve will be put to the test as everything in Lila's life begins to crumble. Ethan is determined to be there as her friend, but as they grow closer and closer, Ethan finds it harder and harder not to cross the line. As the line between friendship and love blurs, Lila and Ethan must face the demons of their past and decide once and for all whether the connection they have is worth risking it all for.

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This book...I don't even know where to start talking about this book. It was AMAZING! It is PERFECT! After reaching the last page, all I could do was hug my Kindle to my chest. I love these characters and the connection I felt to them was even greater than my connection to Ella and Micha. As far as spin offs go, this is by far one of the best that I have read. Sometimes these books can turn out to be really short fluff pieces, but not this one. It stands on it's own, and although I highly recommend it, you don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one.

The sexual tension between these two characters is crazy good and frustrating, and watching them fight it makes for an angst filled emotional journey from start to finish. It was such a pleasure to watch the walls these two characters had built crumble around them, as they slowly gave into each other. Both Lila and Ethan are saved and transformed by love and that's what the sappy, hopeless romantic in me loves most about this book. Not to mention Ethan is totally hot and deserving of the title of Book Boyfriend :)

Jessica Sorensen is one of my favorite new adult authors and has the amazing ability to write these love stories that are tortuously fantastic. Her characters are raw and real, and their stories are angst-filled, emotional page turners. The Temptation of Lila and Ethan is no different. Fantastic 5 start read.

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Up Next in The Secret Series...
Coming December 2013...

The day Ella has waited for is just around the corner. It's the day she'll marry Micha, the love of her life, the light that guided her out of the darkness. It looks like it will be the perfect Christmas-until an unexpected package arrives with a harsh reminder of Ella's past. Suddenly Ella doesn't feel as confident about her future. Can she really have a "happily-ever-after" if she's never even seen one?

Micha will stand by Ella no matter what she's going through-though he worries that she might leave him standing at the altar again. When he's offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tour with his favorite bands for three months, Micha knows he can't leave Ella behind. But can he ask her to uproot her life to join him on the road?

Now Ella and Micha must find a way to balance their fears, their dreams, and their love . . . if they ever want to hear wedding bells.