Secret Simon

A Haven Hart Novel

By: Davidson King

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, John Solo

Length: 4 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Simon

Being the nephew of one of the most infamous mob bosses in the world isn't easy. Our family has enemies everywhere, and no one is safe without protection. Here I am at college with a fresh start, a new last name, and secrets hidden from those around me - life is going according to plan. Then one day on campus, I see him...and I want him to strip me bare...in more ways than one.

Rush

Abernathy is more than just the university I attend. It's my destiny, my namesake. Singing and entertaining are who I am, but my father wants me to major in something more appropriate for the name I carry. I've resigned myself to being who my father wants, doing what he wants. Then Simon comes into my life...and turns everything upside down. Now I have a reason to fight for what I want.

Who knew our love story would lead to secrets revealed, murderous plots, and finding our forever buried under so many lies? Hopefully we'll live long enough to see it.

Contains mature themes.

©2021 Davidson King (P)2021 Tantor

Good book

This book was a perfect ending to a great series, sorry to see it end

Good story, sometimes strange narration

I liked everything about it except that one of the narrators put on a voice for Snow that sounded like the old lady who owned Tweety Bird. It was nothing like any of the other narrators have voiced him and it didn’t work for me. There were also times when the same narrator seemed to have done “pickups” in a different sound recording environment and there were sometimes jarring differences in the sound production from one moment to the next. Other than that, another good sequel in this series. Going to listen to the next one now.

It’s no SECRET how much I ❤️Simon and Rush!

**This review is strictly for the audiobook. I already screamed about how much I loved this book when it dropped a few months ago.

I have been (not so patiently) waiting for this audiobook because of how much I adored Simon and Rush, but I have to be honest that I was a little concerned that it wasn’t Joel and Philip narrating. While I absolutely adore John and Alexander, I was concerned that they were new to my beloved Haven Hart series. I’m woman enough to backpedal a bit and admit I had absolutely nothing to fear! John and Alexander were AMAZING. For real! If you’ve listened to the rest of Madam King’s Haven Hart books, you have absolutely nothing to fear with listening to these two narrate. JOB WELL DONE TO ALL! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brilliant blend drama/rom-suspense-lots of heart

Original Audiobook Review April 2022:
How in the world has it taken me so long to listen to Secret Simon?!?!?!?! The audiobook was released last October and here it is nearly May, again HOW? Oh well, no matter how long it took for me to listen, I've listened and once again I fell even further for Haven Hart. Having recently read book 2, Head Rush, everything was fresh in my mind but that didn't lessen the depths I fell again for Simon and Rush. Truth is, there's not much more I can say to the story itself or the storytelling genius that also goes by the name of Davidson King.

What I will say is this: I never listened to a dual narration before King's audios and was leery going in but loved it instantly. I'm not sure why I had any hesitancy because I love the old radio shows of the 30s and 40s and a good audio portrayal always reminded me of the classic radio platform. Truth is John Solo and Alexander Cendese bring so much passion and strength to the characters that I can almost hear Harlow Wilcox breaking in with the ad for spark plugs he pitched on Suspense all those years ago. Not only do they bring Simon, Rush, and all the characters to life, I can hear the sound effects, I can hear the studio audience gasping with "oohs" and "ahhs" with each new revelation.

Another winning combination of author's words and narrators' voices to heighten the enjoyment of Secret Simon, the new Haven Hart-connected journey.

Original Review June Book of the Month 2021:
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! OMG! The Force is with us all! We have a new Haven Hart book by Davidson King!!!!!!

Okay, I got that out of my system, lets continue.

I should start by pointing out as the author mentions at the end of the blurb, Secret Simon is not linked to the original 7 book arc, story-wise at least. We see a few of the characters and of course "Simon" is Eight all grown up(he's still Eight to Snow but I have a feeling Snow will still be calling him Eight when he's 60). So if you haven't read Davidson King's Haven Hart universe you can start here although I don't know that I would want to, you won't be lost in any way, shape, or form. To be honest, I am a series-read-in-order kinda gal and Haven Hart is one of my all time favorite series of all genres.

Secret Simon. Flat out brilliant! This story has it all(okay there's no sci-fi or apocalyptic end of the world stuff although going after Christopher Manos' family probably won't end well for anyone) romance, mystery, heat, action, friendship, danger, love, family, and it wouldn't be Haven Hart without mayhem and plenty of well . . . heart(see what I did there😉😉).

Lets talk characters. Simon has become as wonderful an adult as he was when we first met him at 8. He may be blood to Christopher but Snow has made a lasting impression on him as well, which will only enhance his future role in the Manos family. Now, in case you haven't read Haven Hart's original 7 book arc, I won't go into too much detail for the I'm-a-spoiler-free-zone kinda gal but I will say there is a very important reason the book is titled Secret Simon. Don't worry, just because I won't spoil anything, the author doesn't leave you up in the air with a hundred questions of "why? what? who? or where?", King makes sure you got a feel for what's going on. As for Rush? He has a future written for him but is it the future he wants to write for himself? Yeah, you know what's coming: you have to read for yourself to find out. Trust me you will enjoy every minute of finding out. Put the two together and the chemistry just screams out at you.

What more can I say? I could say a lot but I'm going to end here or I'm afraid the longer I go on the more chance I'll get loose lipped(or loose fingers) and reveal more than I want. So I will just say this: Secret Simon has reinforced my love of Haven Hart and proven to me that it is an author's universe that belongs on my short list of "Whether they write a 4 paragraph holiday coda or 100 full length novels I'll be first in line to gobble them up". Davidson King once again provides her readers with an unforgettable tale that entertains and captures their attention from beginning to end, further cementing her place in the world as a topnotch storyteller.

Love this book!

I already have this book on kindle and so excited it went to audio. I love love John Solo! First time listening to the other narrator and I enjoyed Rush’s voice. The only issue I had was second characters Snow and Chris’s voice under Rush POV. It made me cringe a bit but there weren’t so many. Still love it.

Wish it would be longer

First of all I love this series so much .. the manos family!!! Love them!
My only problem with this one is that the story was too short! I feel like it could have been longer, the love between them was too instant un like the previous books, I wanted them to get to know each other better and longer, the villains in this book, didn’t like how the story led to them, but of course Davison king was amazing in the writing of the witty conversations and funny moments.. sorry that this is the end of the manos family.. lucky that I can listen to this books whenever I miss them..

Really enjoyed it!

4.5 Stars

Secret Simon is book 8 of the Haven Hart series and it follows Simon, who we met when he was 8 years old in the first book, Snow Falling, as Christopher Manos's (Haven Hart's crime lord) nephew. Now, he's all grown up and enjoying his second year of college, living 5 hours away from Haven Hart and his uncle and his uncle's husband, Snow, under a new identity so he can have some semblance of a normal life. There he meets Rushmore Abernathy III, Rush, the son of the family who founded the college they're at, and they fall hard for each other, but danger looms on the horizon as the crime lord from the Irish mafia sets his sights on them. 

I really suggest you read Secret Simon and Head Rush after reading at least a few of the first books in the series, but I think they stand well on their own, although you might want to meet several of the players afterward. 

I really liked the man Simon has become, he wants to take over from his Pops and is willing to do whatever is needed to protect those he loves. I liked Rush, too, although he seemed out of his depth in some instances, which made it more realistic all things considered. They had great chemistry and I just adored them together.

It was great catching up with Christopher and Snow and some of the other Haven Hart men, and I really enjoyed how things played out in this installment, although not everything was resolved. Thankfully, I had the Head Rush arc waiting for me after I finished Secret Simon, so I could read them back to back and I didn't have to wait.

I think both John Solo and Alexander Cendese did a good job with their performance, although I felt like Simon's voice was too soft sometimes and I found it difficult to follow what he was saying. But other than that, I found it enjoyable.

Very recommendable! 

Great Book

I loved meeting Simon in the earlier books and knowing him as a kid now all grown up. He is such a good character and I love Rush. Happy they found happiness for now. The make a cute couple and great team. Also enjoyed the little bit of Snow and Christopher we got in the story…

the voice narratives expressed the main characters perfectly.

I miss the original voice actors from the prior series, and appreciate the change of actors to represent a different generation.

Great story wrong narrators!

I was looking forward to Simons story but this just didn't work for me! loved Snow & Chris's appearance but wrong narrators for this sequel.