The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon Book #6) Dan Brown

 

The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)

By: Dan Brown

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌘- (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Historical Fiction

Length: 688 Pages

Pace: Slow

Moods: Adventurous, Challenging, Dark, Informative, Mysterious, Tense 

Release Date: September 9, 2025

        I always eagerly anticipate a Dan Brown release. The Secret of Secrets was pre-ordered well in advance. I greatly appreciate the amount of work and research that goes into each of Brown's books. He always builds amazingly wonderful, engrossing, fictional stories built around very real non-fiction topics. Because of all the work involved in developing these books, I am comfortable waiting patiently for each new installment. When this story released on September 8th I dropped everything else I was reading and immediately took up The Secret of Secrets. I am sad to say it was an extremely slow and tedious read. I found I was forcing myself to read a little each day just to get through to the end. 

    The back story revolves around noetic science, which is the study of human consciousness and a person's intuition, telepathy, precognitive abilities, energy healing, etc. A topic that I find incredibly interesting. I enjoyed learning more about the subject, including a failed project the United States secretly lead called Stargate. Unfortunately, some sections of the book got too technical and read like a operator's manual. This book could have benefited from some serious editing.

    This does not deter me from reading future Dan Brown books. It is quite possible the depth of the topic was too great for me. As mentioned, I enjoyed the topic of noetics and found some of the twists in the story to be surprising and entertaining. As usual with all of Brown's books, I found myself doing my own research into may of the items mentioned just to learn more about what was factual and subject matter of the story as a whole. I am always amazed at how much I learn from Brown's stories. 

Synopsis:

    Robert Langdon once again finds himself embroiled in international chaos. It seems ironic that how easily trouble finds him. While visiting Prague with Katherine Solomon, an old friend and love interest, the couple find themselves fighting for their lives from many different agencies. Solomon, is in Prague giving a presentation about her field of study, noetic science while at the same time promoting her upcoming book. Unfortunately, someone is going to extreme measures to destroy her work and possibly her.

    The city of Prague is ancient and Brown's story is built on the backdrop of old churches, castles, lore and history. As usual, Langdon's deep knowledge of history and iconic images are valuable to him as he navigates his way out of each of the troubles he encounters. 

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Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9) Carrie Ann Ryan

 

Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌗 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fake Relationship, Friends to Lovers

Length: 382 Pages

Pace: Medium

Moods: Emotional, Hopeful, Happily Ever After

Release Date: September 8, 2025

        Last Chance Seduction is Lexington Montgomery's happily ever after. Lex is the adopted son of Beckett Montgomery and Eliza Wilder Montgomery; it was actually shocking to me once I realized who his parents were as it feels like just yesterday Eliza and Beckett were earning their own happily ever after and adopting new additions to the Wilder/Montgomery clan. 

Synopsis:

        Mercy's story is one of great emotion, having lost both her parents at a relatively young age, she was left at the alter on her wedding day and on that same day her twin sister fell terminally ill. After moving away from Colorado and allowing herself to take two years to grieve, Mercy has come home. She has no family to rely on and only a handful of close friends, most of whom live long distances away. It was quite the surprise when she learned her new neighbor was Lexington Montgomery. And their re-introduction wasn't the greatest. Lex is remodeling and all the construction is quite disruptive to Mercy's personal business.

        Lex has secretly had feelings for Mercy since they were children and she for him. A close friend of Lex's swooped in and claimed Mercy as his own first. What was a best friend to do except step back and let two people he cared for greatly have their chance at love. As a leading member of one of the up and rising Montgomery construction businesses, he puts his all in getting the biggest get. Unfortunately that leads to faking a relationship with Mercy to make a good impression on a potential client who looks favorable on those in a committed relationship. It doesn't take long for the fake relationship to become something more.  

        I love, love, love that Eliza Wilder-Montgomery came in full force and embraced Mercy as one of her own, regardless of whether or not Lexington had feelings for Mercy. It was impossible to not cheer for Mercy to find some wonderfulness for herself and Eliza and Brooklyn, Lexington's cousin and business partner, were a support system Mercy didn't realize she needed. I loved everything about Mercy, she is a successful narrator for audio books, she is an introvert, has a cat named Mr. Darcy, she even references the most wonderful scene from Pride and Prejudice. Lexington is a little overbearing at times, an extreme alpha male, but ultimately, like most Montgomery's, he understands what it takes to make a person happy. Another great installment to the Montgomery Legacy.

 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.                                            

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