Sierra Dean

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

Keeping Secret delivers the story that I'd expected from the previous installment. McQueen's finally growing into her new roles, the love triangle gets a much needed shakedown and this is the wolf-iest book yet. The story is no less action-y than its predecessors but there is a notable shift from assassin drama to powerful supernatural leader dilemmas which is exactly what I wanted to see happen. Prepare yourselves for the new and improved Secret McQueen!

The last show more three books have all focused on Secret's vampire half while as this story brings her furrier side to the forefront. Finally! The moment I've been waiting for! There are significant differences between the two species and Sierra uses them to her advantage in this installment. The undead are all about "me, me, me" while as wolves are all about the pack. As protector and future Queen, Secret must adapt and learn to put the needs of others before her own and that personal sacrifices are a daily fact of life. Her character goes through some pretty significant changes in Keeping Secret and by the end I was actually proud of how far our little assassin has come.

I didn't think that it was possible for me to detest Lucas any more than I already do but lo and behold, I was wrong. The werewolf king gives douchebag a whole new meaning in this book. He just expects Secret to fall in line and happily go along with whatever hair-brained idea he dreams up. Fans of this series know that our girl is no shrinking violet but apparently Lucas thinks otherwise. Fool! If it were up to McQueen they would get married Vegas-style but because she's trying to be a good Queen she bites her tongue and lets Lucas plan the wedding. That was her first of many mistakes. However, leave it to Lucas to make the dumbest, most obvious faux pas of all time. Secret's reaction is priceless and a re-read worthy moment.

Sierra's writing is gripping no doubt about it; from her killer one-liners at the end of each chapter, to her trademark snark and jaw dropping cliff hangers. She drives her series forward like no other author I've ever read. It's like a freight train, there's no stopping it. Her books are hard to put down and Dean forever leaves readers wanting more.

Keeping Secret is balls-to-the-walls, oh-la-la, no holds barred, pure epicness. I want the next book now, now, now! *stomps feet* Best. Installment. Yet. show less

I did not read this series, I've inhaled the fucker!!!!

And right now i would agree to do some right dodgy stuff to get my hands on this book.....

Can't wait is an understatement!!!

PS: Lucas is a right manipulative shit and i hope he gets his nutsack trapped in an elevator door!!!!


This book delivered everything the series promised. I am glad that Secret finally stood up against Lucas and am happy to see him getting what he deserves. The ending was very good. It leaves so many open show more possibilities for the next one.

And now again....we wait.... show less

4.5/5
It's not for the first time I find myself between books, not knowing what to read next, and Secret McQueen's adventures provides this mind-numbing, snarky and noir-ish entertainment that leaves me strangely perky and refreshed.

I've said that already, - Secret is a blond, perky, miniature... She plays on her blondness, and enjoys it immensely. Snark is coming off of her in spades. She also has a very messy love life, and "trouble" as a middle name.

If in book#1 she confronted an evil show more werewolf, and in book#2 an evil vampire, book#3 is completely out of her comfort zone. Secret is asked to find Lucy, missing niece of were-ocelots Queen, and accidentally at the same time, her ex-boyfriend Gabriel asks for her help to prove he is not guilty of murder of a college girl.

The investigation reveals not your average villain, but something much more sinister and alien, and as usual, Secret ends up fighting for her life and the lives of those she love for all it's worth.

At the same time, Lucas, the asshat King of Werewolves, whom I really dislike, continues to trick Secret into strengthening their soul-bond while she struggles to maintain her relationships with his lieutenant, Desmond.

See, I don't get that. I don't get Lucas and Secret. She doesn't particularly feel for him, and that link between them is nothing more than forced metaphysical bullshit. I would dearly love it gone. I hope that if he pushes her hard enough she will snap out of it. Desmond on the other hand, another part of the soul-bond, is someone you feel for and root for. He is lovely and genuine.

Holden, Secret's vampire mentor, makes a cameo appearance as well. I like Holden, ladies. He is a keeper as well. Devious and cheeky, dead sharp and sexy. There are sparks between him and our blondie, and I hope there will be some sort of development between them without slipping into Anita Blake territory.

Overall, fast, straightforward and very enjoyable urban fantasy. All three books are very much recommended. show less

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.

No character in the history of Urban Fantasy has had to work for their HEA as hard as SECRET MCQUEEN, and still, she’s not quite there yet. There’s the small matter of the zombie apocalypse left to deal with. I knew Sierra Dean was going to go big, but I had no idea the extent of it until I got my grabby hands on A SECRET TO DIE FOR, and read and read until I collapsed in a heap of fan-girl bliss. This is how a heroine of McQueen’s caliber is supposed to go show more out—in a devastatingly wonderful, blood-soaked supernova of FUCK YEAH! All of this series’ characters are in it to win it, some survive, and some don’t. I devoured this book with a tissue in one hand and a beer in the other, and I strongly advise you to do the same.

First off, let me start by saying that the final Big Bad was SICK, and not just because she was named after one of my favourite blogger peeps. The army of the walking dead that has invaded New York was a surprise in that they aren’t real. You see, zombies don’t exist in this particular paranormal universe, so to defeat them Secret had to dig deep to uncover their source. And, what better way than enlisting the help of her vampire warden bloodhounds? Oh right, she pissed off the council AGAIN, and must hit pause to stand trial while the city is burning. McQueen’s secret is out, so is Juan Carlos (Ah, HA!), and the apocalypse wouldn’t be a party without the fae king himself offering up some underhanded help.

When I said that all of this series’ characters make a final stand, I do mean ALL, which is precisely how an end installment should play out. Heck, even Morgan, the conniving werewolf that was exiled to Siberia, drops in to stab Secret in the back for old time sake. I loved this last hoorah with Tyler, O’Brian, Mercedes, Reggie, Clementine, Desmond, Sutherland, Genie, Holden, Sig, Siobbhan, Shane, Keaty, Calliope, Aubrey, aannnd yes, Lucas too. It hurts me to say this, but I can’t justify hating him anymore after his actions in this novel. Multiple characters don’t make it out of this one alive, however there was one death in particular that cut me to the core, and I still haven’t quite forgiven Dean for pulling that trigger.

Last but definitely not least is Secret, her badass-ery somehow managed to reach whole new levels of amazeballs, and that pesky prophecy that’s been riding her coattails for several installments now came true in the most unlikely of ways. I bawled, I cheered, I flailed, and I fan-girled ’til I could fan-girl no more. I was beyond thrilled with how Dean ended things; the way she dotted her i’s, and crossed her t’s was sublime. I felt sorry for the loser in the Secret / Desmond / Holden love triangle, but there’s no arguing the fact that McQueen chose the right man for her. The only thing that’s allowed me to sleep through the night now that this series is over is the knowledge that there’s a spin-off launching next year.

A SECRET TO DIE FOR was the best early Christmas present that Sierra Dean could have possibly given me. Secret McQueen, you will be missed! show less