The Courier News
October 25, 2002

No one wants to admit it. No one wants others to know. Yet millions of adult Americans struggle silently with this every day.

The powerful, the famous, and even the everyday worker quietly find answers to cope, without letting others know.

Not a disease, not a physical disability, this problem incapacitates in a humiliating way.

Author Catherine Andorka addresses the issue head on in her hardcover book, "Once Upon a Secret." Framed in a story that has the reader skipping through the pages, Andorka underlines this “handicap” in artful byplay between two charming characters.

A rock star and a surrogate mother for her young brother tangle in Andorka’s revealing tale. Using humor and an uncommon intuition of human foibles, the book is a runaway read.

Judi Brownfield, Owner, Books at Sunset
1100 South Street, Elgin, IL

Romantic Times  Oct 1999

This genre is filled with tales of cowboys and love gone wrong. It's nice to see an author have the courage to write a non-stereotypical romance, as does Catherine Andorka with ONCE UPON A SECRET (4). Chiropractor Tori Glenn has her hands full running a practice and raising her teenage brother, Kevin. It is through Kevin that Tori meets rock star Brad Daniels, whom she treats for a hand injury. Although Brad wants her, Tori's focused on getting Kevin the education her parents wanted for him. Furthermore, Brad has a secret that affects other people's lives when Kevin drops out of high school to follow in his footsteps. It's up to Brad to convince not only Kevin but Tori of his belief in education and love.

Thanks to Ms. Andorka for a new breed of romance. Readers' note: the love scene is a definite winner.

Chandra Sparks

Victoria "Tori" Glen accompanies her fifteen-year-old brother Kevin to a rock concert where he is to interview rock superstar, Bradley "Brad" Daniels. Tori is a self-assured professional with her own medial practice who is raising Kevin alone. She is undeniably attracted to Brad, but she has no intention of becoming another notch on the belt of the man the tabloids have dubbed "Rock's Sexiest Bad Boy." Brad, whose experiences with highly educated people have not been pleasant, feels somewhat intimidated by Tori, who is not the "bimbo type" he usually pursues. But pursue her he does. Tori is gradually won over by Brad who, despite having a secret that has haunted and shamed him for years, begins to hope that he, Tori, and Kevin can become a family. When an old nemesis that knows Brad's secret and has used it against him before helps Kevin to do something that could affect his entire life, Brad is forced to come to terms with his personal demons or risk losing Tori and Kevin forever.

The romance has a nice twist--the hero, not the heroine, is the dominant protagonist. Brad is a handsome, wealthy Rock star whose bad-boy image and playboy reputation are as undeserved as his little-boy charm is disarming. He is loving, considerate, and principled, a "keeper" by anybody's standards. Tori is a nineties career woman with old-fashioned values who has handled the many challenges that life has thrown at her with equanimity and resolve, not self-pity or resentment. She deserves this hero. Their romance is enacted with refreshing touches of reticence and humor, as well as sensuality. ONCE UPON A SECRET is a charming, memorable love story destined to find its way onto many readers' "keeper shelves."

Kathleen Langan
For Painted Rock Reviews

Chiropractor Tori Glenn is raising her teenage brother, Kevin. When he has a chance to interview rock star Brad Daniels, Tori takes him to the theater where Brad and his group are performing. He is nothing like Tori had pictured; she is amazed at the mutual attraction. She has been having a little trouble with Kevin -- she believes a good education is a must. Kevin wants to play music and, during the interview, Brad says that he never finished school and learned what he knew about life and music from the "on site" method. Tension reigns from the start of this story as the protagonists try to deal with entirely new concepts. Kevin is not the only one learning about life and love. Throw in a devastating secret, a grasping ex-girlfriend, band members, and a career that keeps Brad on the road nearly all the time, and you have a slice of real life and real problems. Ms. Andorka's tight plotting keeps the story moving, and the characters' interaction with each other flows. Her strong, likeable characters make this an entertaining and thought-provoking read. VAD

ONCE UPON A SECRET by Catherine Andorka
Contemporary Romance

Hardcover:
Publisher: Five Star; ISBN: 0-7862-4601-4; (November 2002)

Location: Chicago

Tori Glenn is a Chiroprator who is raising her fifteen year old brother Keven after her parent's death. Brad Daniels is a famous rock star who is performing in concert in her area. Kevin won a state-wide contest for young journalists and has an interview with Brad Daniels. He and his sister attend the concert and have back stage passes.

While Tori is a conservative woman, she finds herself immediately attracted to Brad. She holds herself back believing he has plenty of women throwing themselves at him. She's suffered a broken heart once and is afraid to open herself up to be hurt again. Besides, they are complete opposites with different lifestyles.

Brad is not the typical rock star. He is not a womanizer and has many of the same values as Tori. Her skill as a Chiroprator comes in handy when Brad is injured by over enthusiastic fans. The first thrust of infatuation grows swiftly into love but along with their closeness is his fear that she'll find out his secret. He uses various ruses to cover up the problem which he is afraid will put an irreversible rift in their in their relationship. Even though he's a success as what he does, his self-esteem in certain areas is low.

They are two wounded souls finding love and fullfillment in each other. Despite the difficulties they encounter it is obvious these two are meant for each other. Catherine Andorka has created a female protagonist who approaches the rock scene as we might have. Brad is not the usual coke head, ego maniac star either but a man looking for acceptance, love, and family. As I read the book I was charmed by the characters, and pleased by the flawless writing style of the author.

Catherine Andorka is a shining talent. Watch her star rise.

reviewed by Bea Sheftel