The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) by Jessica SorensenPublished March 26th 2013 by Forever
Paperback: 309 pages
Series: The Secret
Genre: New Adult Contemporary RomanceHeat Rating: Steamy
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Mature Content Advisory, must be 18+ for sexual content and language
Summary from Goodreads
If you loved Beautiful Disaster then you're ready to discover . . .
THE SECRET OF ELLA AND MICHA
A rule-breaker with a fiery attitude, Ella always wore her heart on her sleeve. Then she left everything behind to go to college, where she transformed into someone who follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. Now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. But once there, Ella fears that everything she's worked so hard to bury might resurface-especially with Micha living right next door.
Smart, sexy, and confident, Micha can get under Ella's skin like no one else. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. If he tries to tempt the old Ella to return, he will be impossible to resist. But what Ella doesn't realize is that when she left, she took a piece of Micha's heart with her. Now he's determined to win back the girl he lost, no matter what it takes.
If you loved Beautiful Disaster then you're ready to discover . . .
THE SECRET OF ELLA AND MICHA
A rule-breaker with a fiery attitude, Ella always wore her heart on her sleeve. Then she left everything behind to go to college, where she transformed into someone who follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. Now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. But once there, Ella fears that everything she's worked so hard to bury might resurface-especially with Micha living right next door.
Smart, sexy, and confident, Micha can get under Ella's skin like no one else. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. If he tries to tempt the old Ella to return, he will be impossible to resist. But what Ella doesn't realize is that when she left, she took a piece of Micha's heart with her. Now he's determined to win back the girl he lost, no matter what it takes.
Growing up in a rough part of town, Ella was a fiery rule-breaker who wore all her emotions on her sleeve. Easily provoked, she spoke her mind, and had a difficult time following the rules. After one night that changed her life forever, Ella bailed to college where she transformed into somebody completely different. But who you are underneath cannot be hidden no matter how many layers you build on top.
Micha is smart, sexy, and charming. He knows Ella most of his life and knows exactly what buttons to push to get her riled up. When Ella disappears on him after that one night, his world is flip upside down when a part of his heart goes with her. Now he won't stop at nothing to get back the girl he lost, no matter how hard it might be.
Why did I take so long to read this?
Oh gosh. I am wary of over hyped books ever since I bit into it and crashed hard with a bunch of them but not with The Secret of Ella and Micha. What a beautiful and somewhat haunting love story. Micha knows everything about Ella including her deepest and darkest secrets. The girl he grew up with suddenly stole his heart after an earth shattering kiss then took it with her when she decided to disappear.
I loved the writing and the deep storytelling. I found the story so good and engrossing I couldn't put it down. The best part? I already had book 2, so I took that jump into book 1 and did not regret it not even for a second.
The tension between them is amazing. It's hot and it sizzles throughout the book. You cannot help but find yourself holding your breath wondering what will happen next. Especially with Micha's charm that made me melt every time he was around Ella. I liked that it wasn't so angst that it made you want to throw your book against the wall out of anger. I actually found myself enjoying everything with the amount of balance Sorensen provided in her writing. The relationship Ella and Micha shared was so beautiful and sometimes downright sad, that it really stole my heart from the start.
I was expecting a cliffhanger, but I am not sure if the ending can be justified as that. It does leave it open for new problems in the next book, so I am looking forward to reading it, but overall I thought the end was solid.
Books in this genre are so popular, I just can't seem to get into it. lol- I like dystopian so much more :) great review!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes have a very difficult time reading them too, why I wait sometimes in between them. I still feel like they are adult more then anything, but yea :)
DeleteLove to hear it as beautiful story! This one is on wishlist because I like the sound of their relationships and haunted pasts
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised as well, did enjoy everything about it.
DeleteI've heard wonderful things about this author and this series. I'm not always big on the NA books, but some surprise me and end up being wonderful. I'll have to be sure to give this one a try!
ReplyDeleteI had to take that chance too Candace, because some 'NA' books have let me down.
DeleteI'm so wary of over-hyped books. Sometimes, they firmly deserve it; sometimes, they don't. This one sounds like it deserves it!
ReplyDeleteI been wary of this one too, but I had book 2 and just felt like it needed a shot!
DeleteSo happy to hear you loved this, I really like her work, it is always fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ali :D
DeleteI really enjoyed this Jessica has a way with words that just make you feel the characters raw emotions.
ReplyDeleteyeah that's it! she really did, made you feel like you are there.
DeleteOkay, okay ... I will get this one. I actually really like the sound of Ella.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Ella. She was kick ass and broken at the same time. But somehow real.
DeleteI've been on the fence about this series since it seems like something I'd enjoy but also struggle with. I'll definitely have to add it back to my TBR now, though. Wonderful review! :)
ReplyDeletebeen in the same place Keertana! I do hope you enjoy it if you do give it a shot.
DeleteI love a good romance and have been looking for some more NA to read. The writing even sounds amazing! I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for this.
ReplyDeleteI read this one shortly after release, and liked it. I don't think I was overwhelmed as everyone else, and I don't know why. I am shocked I haven't read book two, given that ending. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! Great review, Lily!
ReplyDeleteoh it sounds like a great book and I love the cover! I confess I'm curious about the heroine, I love my characters like that and I understand poor Micha. Your review really makes me want to discover their story and what happenned between them.
ReplyDeleteI really need to this series. So happy you liked this one.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you ended up loving this book Lily, I hope you end up enjoying the second books just as much! Fab review! :)
ReplyDeleteI've read some of Sorensen's other books and I really enjoyed The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden. I agree she has a nice balanced writing style. I am surprised to her that there isn't really a cliff hanger, as all her books I've really have had one! I am definitely planning to start this series of hers soon :)
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of Contemporary or NA, but glad you enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeletePhew, like Amy says above, I'm glad that this book has closure!!! I like her writing but I just finished Breaking Nova last night, my first time reading one of her books and it only had about 50% closure. I've already found out there's only another 50% closure on the next book. I'm definitely adding this book to my TBR b/c of what you said about hyped up books and not being disappointed in this one and the fact that there's some sort of ending :D
ReplyDeleteAwesome review!!!!!!
I'm so wary of hype books as well and I have gotten burned quite a few times. My first ever Jessica Sorensen book was Lila and Ethan's story which I highly enjoyed and I'm planning on reading Ella and Micha's story someday, but not soon, because, well.. Violet and Luke was pretty much the same thing just with a little variations here and there and I don't appreciate that kind of thing. Anyhow, I'm glad you liked the story and the writing. I hope you'll fall even more in love with this world and its characters in book 2 and 3 :) Great review, Lily!
ReplyDeleteI'm sooo glad you loved this, Lily! I've been meaning to read this series - I even own the books. ;) Looks like I'm going to be kicking myself for not having read them sooner, huh? Great review!
ReplyDeleteI think I won't be reading this, not exactly my type, but I'm glad ou enjoyed it despite the hype!
ReplyDeleteFor this one I really wouldn't call it a cliffhanger. Well I had worse cliffhangers.
ReplyDeleteAhh okay I have one of hers that's been sitting on my review pile for ages but yeah the hype of them so made me put it aside. I'll have to drag that out soon I think. Glad to hear she lived up to it for ya :)
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