Review: Enjoy the sweetness of true love
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 7, 2014
If you’ve ever had a teenage crush and had the moxie to tell the boy how you felt, this novel is for you.  Mrs. Warner reminds us that Cupid has a way of turning unrequited love into the real thing the second time around.Growing up, thirteen year old Lizzie Tarleton had a crush on Wayne Whitmore, her brother’s best friend. Fast forward ten years later and now he’s the principal at Saranac High School where she teaches and both of them are dealing with feelings they’ve never acted on.This novel is set in the fifties but other than some well-placed television, musical, and fashion references you would think it was happening in modern times. The chemistry between Lizzie and Wayne will remind readers of their first encounters with infatuation; the nervousness, stolen glances, daydreams, and over-analyzing one’s actions makes you think about the sweetness of true love.  It also highlights the importance of friendship being the basis of a strong romantic connection. I enjoyed the nicknames Lizzie occasionally says to Wayne and the childhood game that led to their first kiss.This novel is wholesome and showcases the insecurities we feel when we attempt to let our hearts lead us to happiness. Lizzie is a beautiful, strong, opinionated woman that loves her hometown in Michigan. She sees her life in Saranac as being full and satisfying, while Wayne, the handsome bachelor her family likes, longs to prove he’s moved beyond his rough upbringing.  Mrs. Warner throws them back together and before they can bask in their new found love, she gives them a realistic curve ball to test their commitment.Give SECRET LOVE a try, I promise Mrs. Warner’s engaging writing style will make you forget about the time you’ve spend reading this sweet novella in the Sweet Fifties Series.