Customer Reviews

The Hidden Heart

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Seventy-two years old General Streathern appears near death having suffered apoplexy. Besides his beloved great-niece fourteen year old Gabriela Carstairs and her governess Jessica Maitland, his great-nephew Lord Vesey who likes young girls and the pervert's wife Leona who likes men attend the death watch. Miraculously, the retired military officer recovers and warns Jessica to take Gabriela away to her guardian Richard the Duke of Claybourne. That night a visitor kills Streathern.

After the reading of the will in which Gabriela inherits everything, Jessica flees with her charge for the safety of Claybourne because she knows that the Veseys will try to control the estate through Gabriela. Richard does not want visitors as he still mourns the loss of his wife and child four years ago in an accident but also plans to kill himself. Everything changes when the Veseys arrive because Richard refuses to hand the innocent teen to this depraved duo. Shortly afterward, whether it is the Veseys or some unknown assailant, someone wants Gabriela dead.

THE HIDDEN HEART, the sequel to the delightful Regency SO WILD A HEART, is an entertaining historical romance that readers will relish. The fast-paced story contains strong characters. Richard is a wonderful protagonist whose suicide thoughts end when he finds something to live for, the love of Jessica and Gabriela. The heroic Jessica risks her life for the safety of her beloved Gabriela who seems too mature for her age. On the other hand, the Veseys are purposely treated as caricatures of odious individuals. Thus the audience will enjoy this fun tale and demand more from the heart of Candace Camp.

Harriet Klausner

Richard Duke of Cleybourne, returned to his country estate to deal with the tragic loss he had suffered four years earlier, the death of his wife and child. Not dealing at all with his loss his intent is to kill himself and when visitors arrive he does not even want to let them in.

Jessica Maitland is a fiery flamed-haired governess to Gabriella Carstairs. Gabriella recently inherited a substantial estate when her Great Uncle is murdered. Immediately before his death he had warned Jessica that Gabriella was in danger and that she should be taken to the Duke of Cleybourne, her guardian.

The arrival of Jessica and Gabriella just might be what Richard needs to conquer his self imposed exile of the world. When the perverted Veseys arrive determined to retrieve Gabriella, Richard feels the danger to Gabriel is very real and Richard knows he cannot turn this innocent teen over to such a depraved duo. Shortly afterward, whether it is the Veseys or some unknown assailant, there is an attempt on her life.

Although I really really liked this book I have to grade it down a bit from the other two in the series. For me there were a few too many characters and it seemed the mystery plot dictated the romance rather than the romance being the central part of the story. In a way I suppose all of this confusion and suspense is what Richard needed to get himself out of his self imposed isolated world of the last four years. So while he probably needed to be thrown into murder and mayhem for me I would have enjoyed more a development of their love story. Thus while a good read not quite a five, but a strong four star book.

I adored this story. The hero and heroine are so cute. I love their confrontations and honesty with each other. The addition of several supporting characters helps keep the story moving and interesting. I love a gutsy heroine and Jessica delivers. She and Richard are the perfect duo and their love story sweeps you away.

Romantic Mystery set in the snowy English countryside circa 1800. Richard the Duke of Cleybourne returns to his country home on the 4th anniversary of his wife and daughter's tragic death. His deep despair and somber thoughts of suicide are interrupted by the arrival of his new ward and her feisty, sharp-tongued governess Miss Jessica Maitland. To further frustrate the Duke's plans, his sister-in-law and his new ward's cousins arrive. In a final blow, a vicious snowstorm strikes and the passengers of a Mail Coach must take refuge at the Castle. Next there are a series of break-ins, a murder, and an intricate mystery unfolds.

For the most part, the novel was an ok read. The romance between Richard and Jessica was sweet and their confrontations amusing. All the characters were well defined and the writing smooth, but I found the "mystery" element of the story unsuspenseful and contrived. In one passage the villain confronts someone who has proof that will destroy him. The villain get angry, kills the victim, then says "oops" I guess I should have made him reveal "the proof" before I did him in. There are lots of things like that, lots of far-fetched coincidences that are critical to the mystery and as a consequence make the whole thing less believable.

I had waited for Richard's story, hoping Ms Camp would find someone to heal his wounded heart. I read this book in record time, I couldn't seem to put it down. Ms Camp has crafted a book that will renew your faith in love. Jessica is the perfect mate for the wounded Richard.

The tension between to the two builds through the whole book. With a wealth of background characters that will remind you of a old Charlie Chan movie. This is probably not the best book in the world but it is a fun read.

This book is an equal amount of romance and mystery. Since so many others have gone over the plot and characters, I'll just say that you will not be disappointed. I wasn't and I almost expected to be after the first one in this series, but I completely enjoyed this one.

This is the first (and favorite) Candace Camp book I read. I absolutely loved it! It has a strong, smart, sexy, and fearless heroine in Jessica. I also love the hero Richard's brooding nature. He tries hard not to fall for Jessica but can't help himself. Unlike Devin Aincourt, the hero in "So Wild A Heart", Richard has no problem resisting oversexed, conniving Leona Vesey. Richard is a hero worthy of Jessica's love (and mine!).

This is my first book by Candace Camp and I was pleasantly surprised. I am not a big fan of historical English romance but this book may bring me around. I enjoyed the strong heroine character that is usually absent from these kinds of romance novels, which if probably why I generally avoid them. I will have to read the other in the series and see if this was a 'one-hit wonder' or if this is Ms. Camp's syle of writing. I enjoyed the bit of mystery at the end, which is also unusual in these types of romance novels. Well done Ms. Camp!

THE HIDDEN HEART is a wonderful sequel to SO WILD A HEART! I recommend you start with the first book then THE HIDDEN HEART and follow up with SECRETS OF THE HEART. All three books are easy to read regency romances with a flare of mystery. The stories are closely connected that it's best to start with the first in the series.

I was totally hooked with the prologue. Even though I discovered that this was the second in a series, I could not wait to read it.

Richard is a fabulous hero--very deep, emotional, and responsible, intelligent. His depression over his wife's & daughter's deaths leads him to contemplate suicide. But along comes brave, stalwart Jessica who, in her determination to protect Gabriella, is willing not only to battle his unwillingness to be the girls' ward, but also to bring him back from the brink of self-extinction. They are superb together.

Secondary characters run the gamut: Richard's sister-in-law Rachel (who stars in the next book), Jessica's ex-fiance, a Bow Street Runner, a mystery woman, and a murderous villain, among others. Several are not what they seem. The mystery is a bit convoluted, but nothing in it turned me off the book.