The Billionaire's Secret is an awesome story. Sophie and Declan are from different backgrounds. She's a teacher and he's a billionaire. There is a sense of irony in the fact that the lure of experiencing life masquerading as for her a rich society girl and him a gardening is what brought them together. Yet with so many secrets and the true circumstances of the responsibilities faced by both, can this be anymore than a holiday fling? I loved this story. With enthralling characters, a charming plot and beautiful descriptive locations The Billionaire's Secret proves to be a temptation not to be missed.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic Italian escape

Art teacher Sophie Smith takes the place her best friend Millie on a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast after Millie's cancer returns and she cannot make the trip herself. Mille will experience the trip through Sophie's daily emails.

Declan Muldoon left his family is Scotland to work as a gardener at Hotel dei Fiori, the pride of Isola del Sole and his best friend's hotel. He didn't want any part of his family's business.

Everyone thinks Sophie is a rich American on vacation and several men are vying for her attention. But Sophie only has eyes for one man, Declan, who she is becoming very good friends with. Will Sophie be able to keep Declan's attention once he finds out she is just an average art teacher and not the rich woman she was posing as?

I enjoyed all the vivid details and descriptions in the book. They made it easy to picture everything in my mind. Declan and Sophie, a rich man pretending to be average and an average woman pretending to be rich, made for a pleasurable story.

A classic romance about a young woman who goes to Amalfi a a stand in for her ailing friend and meets the man of her dreams. When Sophie meets Declan, she sees a man who enjoys the beuty of nature and expresses it in his work as a landscape artist. Sophie is drawn to Delcan and he to her even though they know their time together is limited.

This is a sweet romance with little spice. I loved the pace, the characters, and the lush descriptions. I enjoyed it so much, I bought the other books in the series to read when I realized there were more.

A wonderful addition to the Amalfi Night series. When Sophie Smith and Declan Muldoon meet on Isola del Sole neither is exactly what they appear to be. She's visiting the luxury resort and he assumes she is a rich socialite. He's working as a landscaper for the resort so she assumes he is a blue collar worker. Both will be surprised when they find out the truth about each other!

This is a good one and I definitely recommend it.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave…

The last place Sophie expected to find herself was in this luxurious hotel, surrounded by every sort of pampering possible – for the rich and famous. Trouble is, she is neither. Doing this goes against every grain of her being, but for Millie she would do just about anything. Even pretend to be someone she obviously was not.

For two weeks Sophie would pretend to be one of the rich and careless, storing every memory, every sight for her friend who was unable to make this trip for herself. Who knew that being seen as a rich woman would not be as fun as it had always seemed from afar. Being rich brought it’s own troubles, and one of those was being seen as an asset to be acquired by several of the hotel guests, rich, male guests. It would come as no surprise to anyone who actually knew her that the riches of the hotel’s gardens meant more to Sophie than the attentions of some of its guests. Here among the beauty of the gardens she could capture the sights if not the smells of this exotic slice of paradise. And if she happened to enjoy the company of a gardener by the name of Declan, who was to be bothered by that. It might not be her life she was living right this moment, but she wasn’t about to deny herself the company of an attractive man, no matter what he did for a living.

Declan was hiding. He wanted nothing to do with his wealthy family’s business and wanted to do what he enjoyed most. Creating beauty in any form. Right now that form was in tending to the gardens at his friend’s resort. He hadn’t counted on discovering Sophie. Didn’t think their light flirtation or even friendship was a bad thing. After all she was rich, pampered and only here for a short time. If she wanted to spend time with the hotel gardener who was he to deny her enjoyment. Yet, Sophie didn’t seem like the rich, spoiled women he knew. She certainly sketched like a professional, not someone idly trying her hand at drawing. She was such a delightful mix of innocence and richness. He’s feelings for Sophie surprised him and since she appeared genuinely interested in him… well, he was a man after all. A man who knew what he wanted.

The Billionaire’s Secret was such fun. Two people stepping, unknowingly, into each other’s worlds. Neither expected to find a love that would last. And they certainly didn’t expect the truth, which always comes to the surface eventually. Rich in details, emotions and a story that keeps the reader’s attention, I would recommend this novel for anyone who believes in love, no matter one’s role in life… and in possibilities. An excellent addition to the Amalfi Nights Billionaires series.

*I received an e-ARC of The Billionaire’s Secret from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

The Billionaire's Secret is book 4 in the series and I have to say it is my favorite. Sophie and Declan are from different backgrounds, she is a school art teacher and he is a businessman/billionaire. Sophie takes a trip in her friend Millie's place because Millie's cancer has reoccurred. THey decided that Sophie will go on the trip and Millie will experience everything through Sophie's eyes. Sophie arrives at the hotel pretending to be a rich American. Sophie does a good job with pretending....she has gold digging males surrounding her almost instantly. Declan appears to be the landscaper/gardener for the hotel. And he actually is for a certain special project only....but Sophie is unaware of that fact. She just knows that she is attracted to him gardener or not. I loved this story. It has great, likable characters and a nice story line. I would highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Tule Publishing for an honest review. This is definitely my favorite of the series so far (all written by different authors)! Both characters were extremely likable and you were rooting for their HEA from the first page. In fact, I want to be BFFs with Sophie. I loved how she looked at things through an artist's eyes. The author did an incredible job painting the scenes so vividly that I felt like I was right there with Sophie discovering everything. The story is sweet, simple... and slightly dreamy. I read it quickly (more novella) and was sad when I got to the last page. Since all of the characters are linked, I'm hoping we see more of the couple (books 1 and 3 are brothers and books 2 and 4 are friends of the brothers). I am so already looking into Kathleen O'Brien's other books!

Sophie is just a kindergarten teacher but she gets to go a beautiful resort where she meets Declan he thinks she is rich while she thinks he is just a poor landscaper but then the truth comes out and there worlds colide.

Art teacher, Sophie goes on her dream vacation of her life to the Amalfi coast of Italy. She stays at the Isola del Sole, she pretends she is a rich socialite when she develops a friendship with Declan, the gardener of the hotel. Declan is also not whom he is portraying, but a rich billionaire. Will their hearts survive the truth.

I am enjoying this series. Loved all of the descriptions of the scenery, felt like I could close my eyes and be there. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Sophie is on a grand adventure, her best friend and mentor has sent her to Italy in her place to see the grand beauty of Amalfi Coast. While she is there they have made a pact that she will live as a rich person and enjoy everything and just write home and tell Millie all about it. What they didn't plan on was Sophie falling hard for Declan, will she be able to keep the secret or will she be forced to tell him everything? Declan is helping out his best friend from college and he could not be more in his element of designing the gardens of the hotel for the up and coming wedding. He is happy to have something else to focus on the his family and it falling apart. He is happy the way life is going when he runs into Sophie and just knows she different there is something about her but he can't put is finger on it and he knows he want to get to know her much better even if she is her for 2 weeks and he is not looking for anything long term.

I think out of all of the 4 books in this series thus far this has to be my favorite. The characters are fun and seem real, you can some what relate to them and they don't seem out of touch. The storyline flows and has ups and downs through out but it doesn't take away from an amazing and fun story. I love visiting Italy in these book but this one just make me want to jump in the pages and visit for real. What a fun and quick love story, with just the right amount of love and chemistry that is seems perfect. You really can't go wrong with this book short and sweet.
Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from the publisher, but this review consists of my honest opinions, not influenced in any way by the author or publisher

The Billionaire's Secret is truly charming! Fourth in Tule Publishing's Amalfi Night Billionaires series this book continues the theme of luxury living among the rich and famous on Italy's Amalfi coast. Set in the exquisitely beautiful Dei Fiori hotel The Billionaire's Secret tells the story of Sophie Smith and Declan Muldoon.
This time the wealth and luxury is largely a facade as Boston schoolteacher Sophie pretends to be dripping with cash so she can learn how the other half lives and share her experiences of the languid life with close friend Milly, who had planned the trip or herself but was too ill to go ahead with it. Sophie is a likeable girl with easy charm though I found myself wondering at times why she bothered trying so hard to do all the things she thought extremely wealthy people would do when it was very clear that she was rarely happier than when she was sketching the gardens or local scenery.
Declan has left his former life to follow his passion and become a landscape designer. His best friend Matteo, owner of the Dei Fiori, has commissioned him to landscape the hotel's gardens and it is while working there that he first meets Sophie. The attraction is instant. He tries to engineer situations where they'll bump into each other but she is just as stoically trying to live the high life. I like Kathleen O'Brien's writing style. It's easy to read and relaxing. I particularly like the way she deals with the relationship between Declan and Sophie. It's natural and easy rather than spoon feeding the reader every minute detail. This book has been a pleasure to read and I look forward to more from this author.

Sophia is posing as a rich socialite at the Hotel dei Fiori near the Almalfi Coast.
She meets Declan Muldoon, landscape architect for the resort. It was a feel good romance which moved at a smooth pace with no major highs or lows. Overall an ok read.

The Billionaire's Secret was given to me at NetGalley in exchange for review. I am having pretty decent luck with the books that have this cover/publisher. Sophie takes her close friend's place on a wonderful trip to Tuscany where she pretends to be a wealthy socialite while on her trip. They are interested in seeing if that makes the trip more enjoyable and attracts more single guys to her. She meets the landscape architect, Declan, as soon as she checks into her hotel. Sophie is enjoying her trip and has found that being wealthy truly does make certain men try for her attention. As she dates and spends her days and nights enjoying her trip she also sends daily emails to her friend who is still being treated for her illness back in Boston. Both women are artists so she relays the beautiful art and architecture she sees in both words and pictures to try and help her friend enjoy the trip vicariously through her. As her trip goes on she begins spending time with Declan and they hit it off and have a deep affection for each other, but, Declan has a family secret back in Scotland that he is trying to keep private until it lands on his doorstep in Tuscany. It is interesting to see how they each handle the other’s secret when the truth is disclosed. The Billionaire's Secret tells a great story about how family can put us in terrible positions where we have to choose right from wrong and sometimes it seems like we are choosing between our family members and what we really want to do with our lives. This story does a good job of showing how the hard choices can still come out okay even when it hurts to make them.

A good story. enjoyed

The Billionaire's Secret may very well be my favorite out of the entire Amalfi Night Billionaires Series. It is certainly my favorite for now since I haven’t read them all yet. While all of this series has been good, this one makes me actually want to go to Italy to experience the beauty and magic as Sophie has done.

The romance is sweet, the characters endearing, and the drama held to a minimum. It is a well told simple romance. Easy to read and uplifting to the heart. Just what I needed, a little bit of excellent escapism.

this as a fab read, really enjoyed the characters in this book. the book was well written with a fab story line and even better characters. this book is a fun a read with plenty of romance, the story flows effortlessly which will keep you hooked long into the night.
highly recommended

I liked the book it was a nice read but still not like Katherine Garbera's. The story seemed to drag on a bit before they got into any romance at all. There was a lot of side stepping in this book & when it came time for the ending we still don't know what happened with Declan's family business other than it took half his money & his brother was in jail. A lot left unanswered. Would I recommend it yes to finish off the series I would, on it's own it's like The Billionaire's Betrayal not sure.

3.5 Pretending Who You're Not Stars * * * 1/2

This book is part of a series and of course, such is the Wendy way...I came to it without reading the other books. There were some references to other story-lines but I didn't feel as if I was confused or missed out.

What we have is Sophie play the part of a rich, pampered socialite for her beloved friend stricken with a debilitating disease. Her sculptor friend was the one who was supposed to be on this trip to the Amalfi Coast resort...experiencing all the luxury, refinement and fortune-hunting men. Although she was much older than Sophia's 26, she still had a young spirit and wanted to see how "the other half lived" before her time had come. Unfortunately, she is just not physically up to it. So they scheme of Sophia going in her place; being her eyes, ears and spirit for her and relaying everything back through photos and emails. Although this is not what either of them had wished...Sophie would do anything to put a smile of her mentor's face.

Once on Tuscany land, there is no turning back. As she sits in the limousine taking her to the resort, she goes over in her mind all of the cues she was taught ... how the rich look when dealing with the "help", how to always hold yourself a certain way and make sure to wear all of the ridiculously expensive clothes stuffed in her suitcases. It is a lot for a woman who is a straight shooter and art teacher. All of this plus the push in her ear of "land a rich one for a little fun, dear, be wild for the both of us", cannot be ignored too.

She pulls up in front of this amazing vision of beauty...the building, lands and feel is wonderful and causes her to star for a moment...then she snaps out of it, as that was not what the truly rich do. They are bored by all of it. Sophie sifts her shoulders back and walks in going to the front desk and getting herself settled. Still in awe, she goes towards the elevator and walks directly into a massive arrangement of beautiful flowers almost knocking them over with petals falling on the floor...in her shock she reverts back to who she is and apologizes to the flowers.

A voice comes from behind her saying not to worry, really the flowers should have been changed out. As Sophie looks to see who is talking with that slight Scottish brogue, she sees cut muscles from a Greek god, deep dark hair and a chiseled jaw and face look carefully at her. Where did this vision come from and just as they are about to introduce themselves, another man thrusts flowers obviously ripped from the resort's garden into her hand.

Sophie looks at the new man, all pumped up and full of himself. As this man is telling her line after line, all Sophie is interested in is this Scottish delight... why are people listening to him about the arrangement... why is he looking at her that way... and then what is this pompous guy rambling about anyway....

Oh, it finally dawns on her and Mr. Hunk agrees with a twinkle in his eye... The thrusting flower guy is hitting on Sophie... trying to make his move...As all of this is coming together, Sophie hears from the talker, "and you...what are you doing standing there... who are you..."

Well, Sophie would like to know too...Turns out the vision, the voice and the only person she would be interested in is Declan... the landscape architect for the resort...and as he puts the fortune-hunter in his place by suggesting next time use the Hotel's florial shop for his flowers, Sophie silently cracks up.

She needs to get to her suite and settle down. Her room is everything a dream would create and with her artist's eye, she logs onto her email and let's her friend know of all the adventures she just had and will be having.

As Sophie ponders, Declan, Mr. Gardens...Declan is thinking of her too...Something is off... she came into the lobby with wonder and awe in her eyes... it lit her face up and made him thrilled to see someone appreciate all they see... then in a instant all of the wonder was shut down, snuffed like a match and a distant, non caring face appeared.
Who was this woman and why the quick switches like that...

These two do a dance throughout the story and become close and caring for one another...Both have issues about money they are hiding... Both fall hard but life has a way of causing family to muck things up just when all is going great. It is Declan's family and their wanting him to return to the fold to fix things which causes the separation of these two...

This was a solid read and the lessons of being who you are at all times rang through... own your talents, own your pain... by being true... then you can share yourself with those who are willing to love you for just who you are.

Of Course, it doesn't hurt when there are hidden billionaires involved... :DDD This is a heartwarming series with just the right amount of steam and caring.

A gifted copy was provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

great book fab characters i enjoyed the chemistry and the romance. Miss O'Brien is great at her craft

A great read and so well written!

"The Billionaire's Secret" by Kathleen O'Brien is book four in the "Amalfi Night Billionaires" series. This can be read as a standalone book. This is Sophie Smith and Declan Muldoon's story.

Sophie Smith is a high school art teacher. Her mentor and best friend has planned a two-week vacation at an Amalfi Coast luxury resort but is unable to go. She wants Sophie to go and pretend that she is a rich and pampered socialite. Sophie is an average girl and not being honest is hard for her to do. But since it's her closest friend she will do it for her.

Sophie meets Declan Muldoon, who is doing a temporary gardening job for the resort owner. Declan is the black sheep of a very wealthy and powerful family who appears to need an heiress.

This is a sweet romance. The author also did a great job in the description of the gardens and sights that you felt like you were there. I enjoyed the supporting characters too. A great way to escape for a little while.

I have received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Tule Publishing, for an honest review.
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