Thank you for the arc…as always, the author provided us with a delightful story with solid characters that you feel like you “know”. It’s always a joy to read one of her books

Really liked this book so I read it in a couple of days. I am a fan of Ruth Cardello since finding one of her books. I enjoy the entire family stories.If you haven’t read any of the Ruth Cardello’’s Corisi Billionaires series after reading this book you will be a fan & hooked to read the previous series and be on the wait list for the next book.

Normally the fake fiancé story line is one that I usually struggle with, but Ruth Cardello has a way of taking these story lines and making them her own so perfectly.

Christof and McKenna were a perfectly opposite pairing that worked so well in The Secret One. Loved this story!

Have you ever come across a book that reminded you of why you began reading in the first place? The Secret One was that book for me! A page turner, that I absolutely loved! Seriously I could not stop reading! This sweet and sexy romance kept me hooked from page 1! Christof and McKenna were such fun and easy characters to fall in love with. Happy reading everyone

This was okay for me. The writing wasn't bad, but it was confusing. I haven't read any of the other books from this author, so there were A LOT of people and situations to try to keep straight. The other thing that really bothered me was their initial meeting and them meeting again. They act like they're the loves of each others lives, but don't remember their initial meeting? That's just hard for me to believe. Like I said, the writing wasn't bad, so I would be willing to give this author another read. Maybe I would start with the beginning of a series though.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

The Secret One is the third Corisi Billionaires book, and Christof and McKenna pack the same punch as the rest of Ruth's books.

Seven years after they parted ways, Christof and McKenna find their way back to each other, and their connect is evident. Corisi family secrets are learned, and Christof is absolutely transformed by McKenna's love. Who knew he could be this sweet?

You can always count on Ruth Cardello to write an interesting plot with just enough drama and intrigue to be interesting. And her characters are always so layered and complex, just like real people. The on-going Corisi family drama adds a great touch across the series, too.

In this steamy third book in New York Times bestselling author Ruth Cardello’s Corisi Billionaires series, a trip to Italy could jump-start a lasting relationship - but only if all that’s hidden comes to light.

When Christof meets a beautiful mechanic on the side of the road, he knows they’re meant to be. His family, however, needs him and his mediation skills in Italy, where decades of secrets and betrayal could cost them everything. His mother is convinced a fiancée would help smooth things over. But he’d be nuts to ask a woman he just met to participate in such a farce.

Men always find something about McKenna they want to change - her independence, her success, the grease that clings to her after a satisfying day in the garage. So when she starts falling for a handsome billionaire, she doesn’t believe it will last. Their engagement is fake, but the sparks that fly when they’re together are too real to resist.

If Christof and McKenna trust themselves and each other, Italy will jump-start a love as intimate as it is intense. If not...their relationship isn’t the only one on the line.

Cardello did it again! I absolutely adored this one and highly recommend this series to all the romance lovers I know.

I love this author however this book wasn’t for me. Not bad but not as great as the others. I won’t go into specifics so as to not turn anyone off of it. This again just wasn’t for me.

***ARC Provided by the Author via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

Christof and McKenna were fun. I loved their initial meeting, the sparks they had from it, and that they both went their separate ways for years after, while still holding on to the things that impacted them about one another.

This was a funny take on the fake relationship/engagement trope, as it's usually the idea of one of the people in the couple to fake a relationship, not the idea of the rest of the family, which gave it an interesting twist while also feeling like less of a "fraud" which can be the downfall of some of the books in the trope.

This was a fun read, the relationship between Christof and McKenna felt real, and genuine, despite the fact that it was partly the exact opposite.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

I love this series but this one was just ok. It may be me as I've struggled to get into books recently but it was missing that something more.

The Secret One by Ruth Cardello is book Three in the Corisi Billionaires Series. This is the story of Christof and McKenna. I have read the previous book and really enjoyed them. I did feel this book could be a standalone book if you wish to do so. Christof happens to meet McKenna and he has a instant attraction to her. Mckenna to is drawn to Christof but has been proven in the past to distrust the staying power of a relationship. I am a huge fan of this author's writing. I do recommend this book.

The Secret One is the third book in the Corisi Billionaires series. This book is told from dual points of view from Christof and McKenna.

Christof and McKenna met 7 years ago at random at a bar. Christof doesn't remember much from the night as he was drunk. 7 years later and there is chance meeting when Christof's car breaks down and McKenna sees him on the side of the road and offers to help with his car since she owns a car repair shop. McKenna isn't sure what to think of their new friendship and keeps her business a secret at first as men always wants to change what she does.

As their friendship grows Christof has some family issues and his parents asked him to go to Italy and try to resolve it. They suggest Christof take McKenna as his fake fiancée to try to help ease some of the drama in the family. McKenna agrees and as they are in Italy they both start to have feelings for each other.

Will their fake relationship turn into more? Will Kristoff resolve his family issues? Will Kristoff want McKenna to change who she is?

I really enjoyed this story as well as the other books in this series.

Picking up a Ruth Cardello book you know that you will be swept away with a tale of love.

McKenna & Christof after years apart take the windy road back to love. Ruth’s weaves a story that will captivate and enthrall you and make you wish that men like Christof existed!

A perfect autumn read

I don’t read romance often so I feel that I was not the target audience for this book. It sounded like the type of romance I veer towards when I do reach for some but it wasn’t what I was expecting. There was nothing wrong with the book in any way. I thought the writing was good, the characters were developed well as well as the plot but it just wasn’t for me over all. I would check out more by this author in the future though because I think future stories by them may be more up my alley.

Christof and McKenna are smoking hot together in The Secret One by Ruth Cardello. This book was a great escape with it's sexy and sassy heroine and the super hot Christof who will rock you to your core. The Secret one is fast paced, sexy, and easy to get lost in.

💙 Great family conclusion💙

While this is the third book in the series, they are all stand-a-lones and Author Ruth Cardello does give a succinct run down of the underlying family plot to date, meaning that you won’t be left in the cold if The Secret One is your first book. But, I do recommend starting at the beginning because the first two books are great reading.

Christoff and Mack are great together. I love everything about them from their initial interaction through to their serendipitous meeting seven years later. Ms Cardello has given us a beautiful and encouraging couple who are both strong unconventional characters and bring out the best in each other.

In this book, the secrets are really starting to come out of the woodwork, all started in book one by a determined nine-year-old girl on a mission to complete her father’s family tree, in spite of the road blocks that adults had put in her way. She wasn’t to know the level of danger that had been involved in their keeping, and now it is Christoff and his levelheadedness who had been tasked to bring two angry sides of the family tree together without destroying each other.

This was a great family conclusion. 4.5 Stars

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.
Yes! This book was amazing. Cultural heritage and educational adventures in this book with a large amount of humor and romance will keep you awake and entertained.

Received as an advanced reader copy through netgalley.com

I LOVED this book. I love the writing and the characters. I think Alex is one of my new favorite characters. She is tough, goes after what she wants and is kinda nerdy at times. Loved it. Really enjoyed all the back and forth between her and Mason. No spoilers but it is a must read

The third book in this series. It opens with a young man at a bar going over and speaking to a young woman who has lost her father. Both are grieving for different reasons. When he asks her a question, she tells him she wants to own and open a race track. He tells her to put it on paper then do it.
Years later McKenna owns that race track now. She has that and a few friends, for every time she goes out with a guy, he wants to change from being a grease monkey. Now she figures why even try. Leaving the track, she spots a stranded driver and though she likes the car she does happen to notice the handsome man. After some banter with Christoph, she feels like she knows him but knows that cannot be. He is drawn to her as well and when he goes to her garage with a race track, he decides to ask her out to dinner, which after some banter back and forth she agrees.
Meanwhile, his family needs him to go to Italy and negotiate with another side of the family one that does see the family but is upset that he was turned away for something his father did many years ago. His mother says going to Italy would be good to take a fiancée with you it would help with the negotiations.
The only person he can think of is McKenna but it is too soon to ask. He does anyway. Wanting to say no. her crew tells her to go at least for the trip instead of working all of the time. She decides to go and really this is where the story takes off. With all of the family in Italy and the history of the family which I found very interesting. Of course, Christoph has to undo a mistake he makes and he puts himself out there hoping she will take him? See what happens with them and the secrets behind the family. A very good story. With good characters.

4 stars

The Secret One by Ruth Cardello is a well written and very entertaining read.
I enjoyed the storyline, it kept me turning the pages and held my interest all throughout the book and I loved watching the relationship between Christof and McKenna unfold.

Overall, The Secret One is a great addition to the Corisi Billionaires Series and I highly recommend it.

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*