I didn't expect Beau and Jane's epic ending to hit me with so much angst! Best Kept Secret by Skye Warren was intense, heartaching and heart stopping. A hint of darkness. An edge of suspense. The all consuming soul deep love with electrifying chemistry. This trilogy is perfection! 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. From the beginning, Skye has woven a story that is atmospherically consuming- evoking the gothic tone and tenor of Bronte’s original in a way both nostalgically referential but clever and fresh. The unsettling and complicated and long buried family secrets, dark secrets, a imposing manor-type house precariously isolated on a misty cliff, the subtle moments of terror embused in the suspense, and cast of brooding and perplexing characters has given the Rochester Trilogy the same gothic flair that made Bronte’s work so maddeningly transfixing. And as I’ve said before, Skye Warren’s take on romantic suspense is perfectly poised to deliver on a story that embodies that tone, she’s an author who has excelled at atmospheric, romantic and suspenseful story telling. 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. It was just too predictable I the sense that you know what’s going to happen from 2/3’s of the way through book 2. It also feels like the author loses the focus on the storyline and just starts pushing an agenda. There’s absolutely no effort to create plot twists and to maintain the essence of the story that the series begins with.

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.Both Beau and Jane struggle with annoyingly low self-esteem (“I’m not good enough for them, they deserve so much better than me! Not being with me is what’s best for them”) and never seem to be listening when they point blank tell the other I WANT YOU AND ONLY YOU (this happens repeatedly. Ad nauseam.) This is my personal preferences showing here, but I hate this trope. Sorry not sorry lol. The first half of the overall story was very much inspired by the classic tale, Jane Eyre, but Warren has given the final leg of Jane’s and Beau’s story her own. 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. 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. In the original, what makes their final happiness so deeply touching is that Rochester has redeemed himself without Janes help - he was so sure she would be his redemption because he was “rescuing” her, but when she left he had to save himself instead - it’s what makes him truly worthy for Jane to return to him. I don’t really see a parallel redemption in Beau Rochester.

We’re here! This is where it ends right where it all began, with Jane and Beau. This journey was long, filled with grief and pain but a glimmer of light finally came up on the horizon, hope wasn’t lost and family love eventually won. The story did feel a bit anticlimactic but the sweet epilogue made up for it. Especially considering how serious and brooding Rochester still is regarding everything, especially Jane. It felt special, their kind of love. 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." I loved this final book in Beau and Jane's story. They were as explosive as ever together. Beau's angst was a palpable entity - he was desperate and needy for her, yet intense fear made him send Jane away. When she returned, I felt the sharp keenness of his feelings for her and his desire to keep her close and never let her go. Jane was courageous, loving and patient. I pitied her self-doubt, which made her blind to Beau's feelings and motivations when it came to her. My heart thumped resoundly at the level of Beau's devotion and desire for Jane. He was the epitome of tortured, alpha hero. The whole trilogy was a compelling read, with echoes of the original Jane Eyre adding to the gothic feel of the story. This story had drama, raw sexuality, suspense, and stunning tenderness. A wonderful, absorbing read! This book literally feels like an end result of the current political climate in the USA and the author just wanted to highlight her perspective in light of it all (the whole anti police agenda). It just felt forced.

The Finale for Beau and Jane's story is here! I have been waiting so long for this book, especially after that crazy ending of book 2. That was a cruel cliffhanger 😂🥺 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." 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.