Bottom Line? This was way too drawn out. I stopped caring for these people midway through book 2. But I finished, so it gets 3 Begrudging stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t know what happened. It had so much potential. Or maybe I had unrealistically high expectations? That must be it because everybody else seems to have loved it. to put it simply, it was boring. Boring in a way that kept you reading anyway because you kept thinking, it’s going to get better, but it never did. I’m still not sure what exactly Beau was brooding over. What the hell his secret was that made him the antichrist. This final book in the main Rochester Trilogy wraps up Beau and Jane’s story arc nicely - and leaves the door open for a spin-off or two - but it also left me feeling a little annoyed by certain plot choices. Portions of this review can apply to the entire trilogy, and I’m looking at it through the lens of a Jane Eyre retelling as well as judging it on its own merits as a contemporary romance. And the drama is so repetitive. They get insecure, then they have sex, they say something dramatic during sex, then they get insecure again, then they have sex again. It’s further proof that something you say during sex is not reliable. Oh my God, in chapter 7, they didn’t even say anything, they only assume what each other are thinking. Remember in the first book where Jane kept spouting off facts from a Pamplet Concerning Foster Kids? Remember how she didn't want to be a teen pregnancy statistic so she insists on condoms... and remember how in book 2 condoms aren't ever mentioned at all? Well that comes to its predictable conclusion. Why make such a big deal about condoms if you aren't going to give us a discussion between the MCs about forgoing condoms? Or use it in another way for drama and relationship development? Also, wasn't dude a major manwhore with other major whores prior to becoming Paige's guardian? And didn't he also have that Zoey person hanging in his bedroom in book 1, convincing Jane that he slept with her (even if he didnt, she assumed he did)? Why wasn't there a discussion as to his sexual health prior to ditching the condoms? Ugh.

Apart from the repetitive monologues, and random drama (that really was not explained/ fleshed out properly), one of the main things I didn't like about this book was the actual plot itself/ reveal to the series as a whole.

My love was dangerous for so long. To me. To everyone else. I never thought I'd feel this kind of obsessive love again, but it's here." It hurts to be this hard. Hurts more than I can explain. The hurt rises through my abs to my chest. I'm one long chain of need for Jane Mendoza." There was so much that could have done, with a good fleshing out, the drama written out properly, so it takes the reader along. Instead, if felt more narrative. I didn’t feel part of the story at all. I hated how Jane didn’t change either. anyways, who wanna be my beau to my jane? pls DM me asap... i'm a material gurl prr 👅💅🏻. (i cannot believe i said that) After that initially terrifying moment though, Best Kept Secret started off with a bang, with the supposed villain having been revealed. But in true Warren style, there is always this lingering suspense about who the real villain is, and that is what makes the author’s writing so intense and unputdownable.Jane is more capable than she was in the past, she is still unsure of her place in Beau’s life. Though he definitely wants her in his bed. The mystery behind the murder of Beau’s brother is a good storyline and the cast of characters in this story was terrific. I really liked Beau’s best friend Mateo, Jane’s friend Noah, Emily and Paige. This was a great ending to the trilogy and I loved the Jane/Rochester romance.

After the cliffhanger that the previous book ended in, I started reading this with literally my breath held in. It was silly maybe, but I felt so scared for Jane, especially after all she went through in life already. Why does Skye Warren make her protagonists suffer so much? But I do love all the wonderful things that happen after, so it’s okay, I guess… The bright side was Jane’s development as a character. She’s grown and matured over the course of the trilogy which I liked. Oh and there’s a HEA. A predictable one but a HEA nonetheless. I don't know where I got the idea that I wouldn't be enough for him. He's more than enough for both of us, even at his most broken." In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this billionaire and nanny romance with a hint/inspiration of Jane Eyre. Beau and Jane had incredible chemistry with each other and the love scenes were highly charged and erotic. I only wish their story was longer because I will miss these two and Paige dearly. As a whole, this series was another very solid read by Skye Warren even though I wouldn't exactly categorize this as a "dark romance." Beau and Jane had some kinks but it wasn't the main focus of their romance. I loved how Beau was gruff and inexperienced when it came to expressing his emotions and feelings. However, once he realizes his love for Jane, he is the type of person who will never let her go. Fans of Skye Warren will absolutely love this series and those who have been reading the Rochester trilogy will be satisfied with the final chapter of Beau and Jane's story. That’s all I have to give you on this magnificent trilogy except that maybe all three of these books were so climactic and well thought-out, that they are all part of my top reads for this year. Do with that information what you will :)Beau is the dark, broody, silent type Alpha male. He is used to the party and playboy life. That is until his niece came along. Jane on the other hand is innocent and has a very low self esteem. Her issues were problematic throughout the book when it came to her doubting Beau's feelings left and right. But she is fiercely strong and brave.

Albeit enjoying more of Jane and Beau, this last instalment felt a bit forced. I will concede it ties up all loose ends, all those buried secrets are revealed (ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʟ sᴍᴏᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏ ᴍᴇᴀᴛ) but there is little flesh on the bones. Most of the book was a set of repetitions, I appreciated reading Emily’s POV, otherwise Jane and Beau’s reflections were redundant thus unnecessary. Rather than a third book this felt like a long epilogue.She then abandons her daughter and blames the hero for not helping her with her marriage (to his brother), despite not telling him anything and just magically hoping he knows all of her problems. This trilogy should have been a duet - this last installment felt like a lot of filler - repetitive thoughts of unworthiness from Rochester. There were also some typos 😱 and it was pretty short. Emily's justification was horrible- I'm sorry but you cheated on your bf with his brother, got married to said brother- and still managed to act as if it wasn't your own fault? And then she went ahead and cheated on her husband too. Well, my synopsis above does make it feel like it is only Beau Rochester’s story when it is clearly not. Narrated from both Jane and Beau’s POV in the first-person, the story beautifully concluded the Rochester trilogy. You don't understand how badly I wanted to DNF this one- but a part of me was actually pretty curious about how the series would end- and the disappointment I feel is genuinely worrying 💀.