Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Release Date: July 16, 2013

Publisher: MTV Books

Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288

From the author of the “real page-turner” (Seventeen) Such a Rush comes an unforgettable new drama that follows friends-turned-lovers as they navigate the passions, heartbreaks, and intrigue of country music fame.

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

My Thoughts: I love love LOVE Jennifer Echols so every time she releases a new novel, I must have it now!

Picking up Dirty Little Secret would be a fun way to spend an evening outside sitting on the porch. Her books are always such a delight.

Dirty Little Secret was no exception. I enjoyed reading it quite a bit. It wasn't my very favorite of hers but I still enjoyed it.

We are introduced to Bailey who is living in the shadow of her sister. Her sister is about to make it in the big league of music while Bailey sits on the sidelines playing her fiddle. Her parents made her move in with her grandfather for the summer and she’s not supposed to go anywhere near music. But her  grandfather does support music so helps her get a simple job playing.

But nothing can be simple for Bailey. Her parents think of her as an embarrassment and boy does this linger on her self esteem. I felt her pain.

She then meets a boy named Sam. Sam is kind of complicated. He has dated a lot of girls and none of them last. He’s also amazed by how well Bailey can play and thinks she’s the missing element in his band. It isn’t easy for Bailey to just fall into this band. She’s fighting personal and physical obstacles.

I really liked Sam but I wanted more of his back story too fast. I’m glad we did find out more about him though and what made him the way he was. Half the time I wanted to hug him and the other half smack him. He was a very emotional and confusing guy alright.  I also really liked all the side characters in this one.

I’m glad with the way things ended and I’m glad everything came together so we could see what happened behind the scenes with Bailey and her family and Sam and his life.

I really enjoyed this one by Echols but I didn’t love it like the others. I still really really liked it but not as much as some of her others.

Overall:  Great novel. Echols is one of my favorite authors and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I can’t wait to see what she writes next! She is a must buy and must read for me!

Cover: Like it! Like the cowgirl boots and the guitar. Very cute and creative cover.

What I'd Give It: