Lis’ Review: Dirty Little Secret by Anah Crow & Dianne Fox

Anah Crow & Dianne Fox

Dirty Little Secret

Amber Allure, May 6, 2012

Anah Crow’s website | Dianne Fox’s website | Goodreads | Buy book here

Backblurb:
When Payton’s married boyfriend stands him up for their weekend getaway, he finally realizes Dominic isn’t treating anyone on either side of the whole mess with any decency.
Payton hardly knows what to do with himself when, out of the blue, he’s rescued by the arrival of Cord, a handsome Dear Lake tour guide. Cord isn’t looking for a relationship, but he’s not going to pass on helping Payton. And when helping Payton includes drinking, flirting, dancing, and sex, that’s even better.

Yet the time they spend together makes Cord see that they’re compatible, and he’s just starting to get his hopes up when Dominic arrives at Payton’s door. Now, Payton has to decide which way he’s going to jump, and Cord has to decide if he’s going to open his big mouth and risk rejection...

Genre & Keywords: M/M Romance, Contemporary, New Love, Tour Guide, HFN

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Heat level: 2.5 out of 3 flames
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Reviewed by Lis:

Dirty Little Secret doesn’t read like the title suggests. It’s a cute, short, light read about a nice, but jaded guy who is stood up by his married boyfriend and then finds love in the last place he looked: at the bus stop.

Payton is a jaded character who knows what he’s doing is wrong. He shouldn’t be involved with a married man, but he can’t seem to help himself. When he’s stood up for a short vacation at a gay friendly resort by his lover, it’s the last straw. He’s determined to enjoy the little getaway, despite being alone. However, he’s aided when he meets Cord, an adventure tour guide, at the bus stop and he’s offered a ride.

As this is a short story, the romance quickly evolved, but that was fine for me. It was both enjoyable and hot and both characters are nice. Cord is the rough and tough flannel wearing tour guide. He’s a straightforward person who makes no bones about what he wants.
Payton is the jaded city boy who made a wrong choice, but now has the proper motivation to change himself. He’s a bit disillusioned and it shows in his character. He’s one of those people who just want to be loved.

The story holds no promises of eternal love. There is the possibility of a relationship at the end of the story, but it could also be a vacation fling. As this is a short story, it’s not elaborated on where this ‘thing’ between Payton and Cord is going, but the hint is most definitely there.

As Cord says after the inevitable confrontation with Payton’s now ex-boyfriend:

“It’s none of my business what you did before you came here, or what you do when you leave.” Cord turned Payton around to face him. “Maybe one of these days it will be […]” 

It would have been nice to read a more detailed, worked-out story, but as it is, this story works. It makes no bones that this is a short interlude and I liked it for it. It’s a short, uncomplicated, sweet story.
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