A secret society of women, 12 months, 1 recruit, 10 steps, 9 fantasies, and 1 decision. The society's newest recruit is a rundown waitress, going nowhere fast. Cassie couldn't remember the last time she looked into the mirror and saw the fun vibrant personality; she once was, looking back at her. She is the perfect candidate. With the guidance of the counsel and some added incentive, Cassie is given the means to discard and repair her damaged self-worth and esteem. The concept of S.E.C.R.E.T. is alluring to say the least. Think about it, is there really a woman as broken down as Cassie out there who wouldn't want a new lease on life. Especially if that life came without out any form of judgment or limits. For me, the fact that each step is tailored specifically to certain personality characteristics is fascinating (it wasn't just about the sexual gratification), the fantasy had to challenge something about yourself and affect your inner persona in a positive manner. The society custom designs these fantasies and scenarios to coincide perfectly with the challenge and personal struggle Cassie felt she faced in re-finding her identity. Once the contract was signed, sealed, and delivered Cassie flew blind. She wasn't allowed even the tiniest minute detail. In addition, the identity of the others involved must always be kept a secret; never can the fantasy take on a personal twist. In the end, it all came down to whether or not Cassie had the courage and desire to be whole and vital again. This alone was my absolute favorite part about this adventure. I had so much fun following her journey, and if she completed the task, I cheered her on. I felt as though I was living my own fantasy through Cassie.

Overall, on my second read through I found there was more about this story I liked than the first time, however, I  still didn't love it as much as I thought I would. S.E.C.R.E.T. had the capacity to be extremely naughty and scorching. Unfortunately, I never quite reached this stage; I think the reason for this is I struggled in my connection with the heroine while she was physically involved in her fantasies. Outside of those fantasies I absolutely adored her, and I often related with her.The fantasies felt lacking in description, the chemistry and interactions she felt with the men just didn't hold up to it's potential. Even though Cassie was meeting strangers, the encounters should have still held a seductive and tantalizing edge to them. Sadly, the fantasy's that involved no physical penetration were hotter than the ones that did. Those seemed to carry a more descriptive and alluring feel to them, however those scenes still lack the push they needed to be downright dirty! With that said, I have to give the author tons of credit because each scene she wrote was unique and creative. I just needed a bit more oomph.

I would recommend this book based on the first half of my review and the plot alone.