The book begins with Nora returning to her home town Lynchfield after being away for almost 20 years. Her father Ray had banned her, and she returns for his funeral, and to catch up with her family and friends.
Her sister Mary immediately takes a hostile attitude towards her, and Nora herself feels bitter towards her family and old school friend Sophie, her only friend her aunt Emmadean. There are secrets from the past which unfold throughout the story.
Initially, I found it difficult to get into the story as there are quite a few characters introduced in the opening chapters, and it takes a while before you get to know them. The book is descriptive and well written, but initially it was difficult to empathise with Nora as she seems resentful and unwilling to make amends, although as her background is explored it becomes understandable. Mainly written from Nora’s viewpoint, you gain clearer insight when Sophie adds her perspective to the story.
This is a powerful, compelling story about renewing relationships, friendships and family expectations, being true to yourself in who you are, and acceptance. This courageous story also addresses complex issues which are still common today, and is definitely worth reading.

Nora returns home after years away from her estranged father and now at his funeral the air is thick with rumours about her visit. She feels completely changed from the teenager who abruptly left but her small town still encapsulates her past. Emotions and gossip run deep, especially when Nora is reunited with her old best friend Sophie and her husband, Charlie, Nora’s ex. The two people that everyone assumed Nora ran away from when she joined the military and they’re all watching with bated breath at their reunion.
I love how flawed and relatable all of the characters are and I was very surprised that this was a Mills & Boon book (not my usual go-to genre) but Melissa Lenhardt has written a beautiful LGBT story which I enjoyed immensely.
The dynamic between Nora, Sophie and Charlie varies on their environment and demonstrates how much impact outside forces can have on a relationship despite the love that exists there. This is a book which illustrates how deeply first loves can shape us and how it is never too late for forgiveness, hope and acceptance.

I really enjoyed this book, at first I wasn't sure about it but the longer it went on, the more I got drawn in until towards the end where I was desperately turning the pages to find out whether I was going to get the happy ending I was craving.

Nora and Sophie's chemistry is so palpable and their longing fills the story with a sense of barely suppressed need that kept me up late at night unable to put the book down. I loved their relationship, and it was such a fascinating exploration of being closeted and the bravery it takes to be true to yourself in a deeply conservative environment.

I found the writing to be a bit clunky and it wasn't my typical read. i did finish it but wouldn't hurry back to read another.

When her father dies, After eighteen years away, Nora returns home to attend her dad's funeral; the dad who had sent her away after finding her in bed with her best friend Sophie. Sophie is now unhappily married to selfish pig Charlie (Nora's ex-boyfriend) and has a daughter Logan. Despite her unhappiness Sophie is hoping to protect her new life and hopes Nora's stay is short. However, your first love isn't easily forgotten and what will happen when old feelings return?
A really great emotional read - I certainly shed a tear at the end. There were some great moments and some thoroughly unpleasant characters (Charlie and Brenda) and a real emotional journey. A fantastic read.

Nora returns, after 18, years, to her small home town in Texas. How will her friends, family and lovers react. Why did she leave? Is it a mistake to return? Is she the same person, are her former friends and lovers the same people? An enjoyable love story with surprising twists.

This book was slow to start but once the story became apparent I was routing for Nora to get her girl.
Sophie was obviously trapped in a loveless marriage and had been driven to drink by living a lie. I really felt for her as she had been manipulated by her husband who was a bastard. He had played away but still wanted the church going wife so he could play at being a politician.... “Sound familiar!”
I was waiting for Logan their daughter to wake up and smell the coffee and thankfully she did but not before time.
I also really hated Brenda Sophie’s mum, she was a bigoted bitch who had helped keep the lovers apart for so many years. She deserved the slap and ostracisation she was going to get.

This arc copy was provided in exchange for a honest review for netgalley.

Nora returns to her childhood home after eighteen years, for her father’s funeral. She was sent away from her family when she was caught in bed with her best friend Sophie.

Sophie is now married to Charlie who used to be Nora’s boyfriend and has a daughter Logan. When Sophie sees Nora again all her old feelings for her return.

This is such a beautifully written love story. The turmoil of Sophie living a lie and trying to hide her feelings for Nora, growing up in a religious small town where being gay is frowned upon and considered a sin.

I was so completely hooked with this story and absolutely loved the two main characters. I may have shed a tear at the end!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Two women, separated upon disclosure of their relationship.
When her father dies, Nora returns home after eighteen years to attend his funeral; her father had sent her away after being found in a compromising situation with Sophie, her best friend.
At the funeral, she comes face to face with Sophie, who is married to and has a daughter with Charlie, Nora's ex-boyfriend.
A well-written story of sexuality and honesty, with two women, ultimately able to show their deep emotional love for each other after decades of hiding their true feelings.
I want to thank NetGalley, Mills & Boon and author Melissa Lenhardt for a pre-publication copy to review

I have to admit that this was not the usual love story scenario that I read, but it had me enthralled to the very end.
To imagine that this scenario has taken place all over the world for so many years, but not always ending in this way, saddens me because everyone deserves to love and be loved.
I hope that this book hits across the generations, making them think just that little bit more.
I certainly will be telling people to read it, and many are in book groups of some kind.
Well done on writing such a sensitive love story

I enjoyed this book. I loved the different themes it explored; sexuality, homophobia, alcoholism and Trumps America. I also loved the relationship between the female family members- such as Nora and her Aunt and Sophie and her daughter. My only issue was that at the beginning it felt a little slow.

Form the beginning, I was captured into the story of two women, torn apart as young girls, upon discovery of their forbidden love, and how they cope with being thrown together again eighteen years later.
Nora finds herself back in her hometown after eighteen years of exile, sent away by her father, after she was found in a compromising situation with her best friend Sophie.
Sent off to join the military, Nora comes to terms with her feelings, and her attraction to both men and women, as Sophie is left back home, building her own perfect future.
The twists come hard and fast, as her father dies, and she returns for the funeral, to come face to face with her childhood love, Sophie, who is married to Charlie, who used to be Nora's boyfriend.
Confused?
It will make sense once you read.
This is a beautifully told story of love reclaimed, and two women finally being able to be themselves, after decades of hiding their true selves. Set in a town filled with strict religious beliefs, and a whole new generation to think about, along with the older people, who see same-sex relationships as the ultimate sin, there are so many layers this story peels through.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Mills And Boon for an ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Despite not being a fan of people never getting over their first love stories, I really cared about what was going to happen with Sophie and Nora and found myself reading on and on late into the night to get to the conclusion. That was only once the book started going though. I nearly quit reading in the first quarter of the book, as it was trying to make the reveal of who Nora's love interest was a huge surprise. It seemed regressive to make Nora fancying *gasp* a woman! a reveal in a romance book which is supposed to be making the genre more diverse and inclusive.

The Secret of You and Me is perfect for those who love to escape into a romance novel. The characters developed well and the plot moved along naturally with some twists I wasn't expecting. Melissa Lenhardt touched on issues affecting the LGBTQ community such as coming out, not coming out, rejection, acceptance particularly in a conservative community and although I don't know what any of these things may feel like, I think she covered them naturally and in a way that lent itself to moving the narrative forward.

Thank you @netgalley for this arc.

This it has been a cute and easy read. I was attracted by the cover but found this to be a good read as well.
I have enjoyed this one and absolutely recommend it.

A nice easy read to pass the time. Characters are all relatable and mostly likeable! Mills and boon at its finest

Nora was told to leave home by her Dad. Why? She has never returned until now as he has died.
There is Sophie, her best friend from school and Charlie , her husband who was Nora's first boyfriend and their daughter, Logan.
They say we should never go back and what does it hold for Nora. Will she stay and if so will her life become the one she wants and dreamed of and whose lives will be torn apart forever? will she get a second chance?

My rating: 3.5/5

Melissa Lenhardt’s ‘The Secret Of You and Me’ has been a good read, and although I have ended up having mixed feelings about the book, I have enjoyed Nora and Sophie’s story.

‘The Secret Of You and Me’ is a story of second chances and figuring out that it’s never too late to admit to yourself (and everyone) who you are and what you feel, and accept yourself. There have been moments when I wasn’t completely rooting for Sophie and Nora, with Nora’s relationship with Alima being brushed off pretty quickly, and yet I wanted Sophie to have her happy ending. She might have done wrong and she might have lied for most of her life (to herself as well), but her coming to terms with her sexuality and her feelings have been the most important part of the story.

Characters in Melissa Lenhardt’s book are flawed, and in parts, some of their behaviour makes you not want to completely root for them. But we are all flawed, full of mistakes and often wishing we have done so many things differently. Nora and Sophie’s second chance at love may be more complex than for others as their feelings and decisions start to affect all those around them - and especially Sophie’s husband and daughter. And yet, they all deserve to be themselves, even if not everything will be perfect. That makes ‘The Secret Of You and Me’ more honest. More raw. More real.

I think I have enjoyed the first part of ‘The Secret Of You and Me’ more than the later chapters, partially due to the fact that that’s where we are introduced to all characters and they complicated stories. I think Nora has made a very interesting protagonist, with her leaving home (or more, being kicked out of the house really) at a young age and joining the military. While her career military has been mentioned multiple times, only briefly the book handled the subject of Nora’s PSTD, which I wished it was explored deeper. Although, some parts of what she has been through has been visible in the way she was responding to Sophie and the events unfolding.

Overall, it has been a powerful story, dealing with some heavier topics, while exploring the relationship between two (former) best friends as they get a second chance at friendship and love when Nora returns to her conservative hometown.

I am not a Mills & Boon regular, so I was really pleased to see an LGBTQ title being released. The Secret of You and Me has a great pace and I actively carved out time to sit and read it every day. I appreciated how the author challenged preconceptions about biphobia and how that plays out in conservative, rural America.

The only negative for me was the repetition of argument/make up which became a little predictable towards the end of the book. But, overall an enjoyable, lighthearted read.

A decent story that flowed well and didn't really lull. I was easily drawn into the world of Nora and Sophie and even though it was in first person it never felt awkward. The perspective bounced between the two of them at a sensible pace giving us an insight at the right times.
I found it a bit odd at times how much the story would veer sharply after laying out a given path though. (e.g. Nora would decide to leave then in the next scene boom she stays. Sophie decides to wait a year to split/come out then boom next scene she's out.) I get the reasoning but it gave me whiplash and left me unsteady.

Small niggles aside though it was a tale where true love shines though at the end of the day. Also refreshing to have the intimate scenes 'fade to black' if you will. Showing that you don't always need to be explicit to show intimacy.