A SECRET BETWEEN FRIENDS – Christine Rimmer
A Perfect 10
Bravo Family Ties , Book 7
Harlequin Special Edition #3135
ISBN: 978-1-335-18032-2
April 2026

Contemporary Series Romance

Medicine Creek, Wyoming – Present Day

Riley Thompson and Josh Bravo are both single parents, and their sons are best friends. A few months ago, they started a friends-with-benefits affair, which they kept secret from everyone. But now Riley has a problem, and she isn’t sure how to tell Josh. She’s pregnant with his baby after the birth control failed. Every time Riley starts to tell Josh, he gets amorous with her, and she’s lost. However, she is three months along, and she can’t put it off. Finally, Riley tells Josh, and he wants to do the right thing by marrying her. She refuses, as she is afraid of giving her heart to someone. Riley has already lost her husband, father, and mother. She can’t lose anyone else that she cares for.

Josh agrees with Riley to coparent their child without marriage, but he must admit that he wishes she would change her mind. He is divorced, and his ex-wife keeps finding excuses to have him come over to her place. However, Josh’s feelings are with Riley now, and the baby they’ve made. It’s not love—or is it? 

A secret fling between friends results in a baby for them in A SECRET BETWEEN FRIENDS. Because their sons are besties, Riley and Josh see each other a lot. A night palling around resulted in a romp between the sheets. They decided not to tell anyone, especially their kids, as they continued their affair, with no promises of commitment between them. But with Riley’s pregnancy, everything is upended. In this tale, some people are happy about the pregnancy, but there’s always someone who voices their concerns. Mainly, it is about their plan not to marry. Josh wants them to become one happy family unit, but Riley keeps resisting.

A SECRET BETWEEN FRIENDS is filled with emotion and plenty of love scenes as they can’t keep their hands off each other. It’s clear to readers that Riley and Josh are in love with each other, though it takes up most of this tale before even one of them realizes it. Along the way, they’re growing closer. I really loved this book as once I started reading it, I could hardly put it down. It’s really a beautiful tale of best friends finding love together. I was rooting hard for them to declare their love for each other. That is why I’m giving it one of RRT’s Perfect 10’s. Once you start reading A SECRET BETWEEN FRIENDS, you will see what I mean. 

Patti Fischer