Dirty Little Secret - Review

Dirty Little Secret

by Jennifer Echols (Goodreads Author)

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…

Source: eARC for Honest Review from MTV Books via Edelweiss
Genre: YA/New Adult

My Review...

Bailey was once a shining star with her beloved sister Julia.

But Julia got chosen and Bailey was left as the dirty little secret and was forced to give up her love of music in fear that she may ruin her sisters career. 

Bailey's Grandpa realizes the true tragedy in this and let's Bailey still play music.  This is where she starts to re-invent her self.

With this transformation she meets Sam who is just as passionate and talented at music but the love' em and leave' em type of guy.

Instantly they are drawn together musically and physically but Sam has a one track mind on being famous no matter what the cost is.

With Sam also came a world of baggage with Charlotte who was quite the bitch and Ace with unrequited love but Bailey has a way at seeing things in a different light and has an ability in putting things together they way they should be.

Bailey is lost in a world that has let her go and tried to keep her secret.  She has lost her ability to trust in her talent and be part of something that people would actually want her. I was appalled with her families treatment of Bailey and understood her choices and personal dilemmas.

For Sam he has his own issues but wants to be with Bailey until he finds out the truth of her family. Then he tries to use her. Sam starts to be a douche and force Bailey to use her families connections as well as "love her" and let her go. For Bailey she wants to make it on her own and not through her families connections. 

Bailey is torn between her new potential relationship, her love of music and her family.

I liked Sam and Bailey together but I was shocked how quick their relationship escalated and how quick they gave up "things" and fell in love. It was hard to swallow that all of this could go down in ONLY 4 days.

Bailey's reality forced her to see the truth that her sister is just as talented as her and it was time to give up her grudge because family does come first (well at least it does for the sisters).

For Bailey and Sam why does it have to be one or the other? Why can't you have a relationship and music?  A hard lesson to grasp when you are young but a good lesson to learn.

4 fiddle fantastic thumbs up

Lauren