The Hidden Heart [Mass Market Paperback]

Laura Kinsale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1986

When her eccentric naturalist father dies on the upper reaches of the Amazon, young Lady Tess Collier sets out to follow his last wishes: return to England and marry well. But Tess, who had accompanied her father on his expeditions since childhood, is as unconventional as she is beautiful.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When her eccentric naturalist father dies on the upper reaches of the Amazon, young Lady Tess Collier sets out to follow his last wishes: return to England and marry well. But Tess, who had accompanied her father on his expeditions since childhood, is as unconventional as she is beautiful. She falls in love with Gryphon Meridon, a sometime privateer and blockade runner who is afflicted with a serious lack of selfworth that stems from a childhood tragedy. Although he and Tess share one rapturous kiss, he believes himself unworthy of her. Tess then turns to Stephen Eliot, who has more than enough skeletons rattling around the closets of his estate. Gryphon eventually returns to save Tess from Stephen. And once Gryphon sheds his neurosesalong with his clothesthis book proves most satisfying.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Author

Update on Kindle editions 10/2010: Some of my ebook editions have been removed temporarily while the copy errors noted by alert readers are being corrected and new digital covers created. The affected books are THE PRINCE OF MIDNIGHT, UNCERTAIN MAGIC, MIDSUMMER MOON, SEIZE THE FIRE, and THE HIDDEN HEART. My thanks to readers for bringing my attention to this problem. I appreciate your patience! We'll have the New and Improved editions available soon and I'll note that here.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (April 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380750082
• ISBN-13: 978-0380750085
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Finally, my Medieval Hearts series is now available for the Kindle. Looking for an unusual romance where the dark, tortured character is the heroine instead of the hero? FOR MY LADY'S HEART is Melanthe's story. Then in SHADOWHEART, the assassin Allegreto will take you deeper into his black heart than you may have thought you were willing to go...

I've designed the new covers myself, and it's been great fun. One of the perks of ebooks is a bit more author input on covers. Wait till you see the new MIDSUMMER MOON cover...hedgehogs anyone?

***
Laura Kinsale is a New York Times bestselling author and both winner and multiple nominee for the Best Book of the Year award given by the Romance Writers of America. Her novel FLOWERS FROM THE STORM was chosen by readers of Glamour Magazine and the Washington Post as one of the Greatest Love Stories of All Time.

Laura believes that a romance novel can be more. More fascinating characters than you ever anticipated. More unexpected depth. Emotion to engage your heart and your mind. Stories that keep you awake and words you will remember long after you close the book.

Whenever readers list their "Desert Isle Keepers," the books they couldn't live without, Laura Kinsale's award-winning historical romances are included near the top.

Why a puppy for an author photo? There have been a few fake author pages on the web purporting to be Laura. So whenever you see a picture of Ventoux the Peter Pan of Great Pyrenees dogs, you know it's authentic Laura Kinsale.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Kinsale Keeper, October 15, 2003

By 

Jane James "homeschoolmum" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hidden Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

As her first novel, this book is somewhat different from Kinsale's others. Not quite as intense, but still far different from the typical historical romance light reading.

The heroine finds herself suddenly needing to deal with the ton, after basically being raised in the jungles by her father. She's afraid she won't fit in, and she's struggling to make her way in society alone.

The hero is an outcast, too, and very quickly we see that these two people are going to need to find each other while trying to navigate their way through high society of Regency England.

There is more action in this book than other stories Kinsale has written, and the hero is somewhat less the tortured hero needing saving from himself. His problems are very real, but they are more external than internal. The hero himself is pretty well-adjusted. Which works, since the world around him seems to really be trying to do him in, and he's got enough troubles as it is.

I found the heroine to be very sweet, and I really enjoyed reading about the troubles she had dealing with high society in Regency England. As an American, I am sure I would have the same problems, thrown into a similar situation. It was interesting to see that period described from this viewpoint.

This is a phenomenal book for a first novel!

If you haven't read "The Shadow and the Star", I would recommend reading this one first, then following up with "The Shadow and the Star", since it's sort of a sequel (although I think "The Shadow and the Star" is my very favorite historical romance.)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darling and disturbing, July 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hidden Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

What sets Laura Kinsale's books apart from the rest of the slush of the genre is her sunshine-and shadows juxtaposition. There is a true sweetness and charm to Tess that isn't stupid or sappy, and there's a sadness to Gryf that makes him much more than the cliched Hero of Dark Forbidding Secrets. I thought the pacing was excellent and the time spent apart is minimal (heck, there's even a whole year deleted for that reason). Buy this book and then get _Shadow and the Star_, its sequel, which I believe to be one of the most appealing yet unconventional romances ever written.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tortured Hero - Love Lost, Found and Fought for, June 23, 2004

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hidden Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

Lady Tess Collier, had led a most uncommon life living in some of the world's most unique and wild places as she accompanied her explorer father, the Earl of Morrow, on his many expeditions. When her father, the Earl, lay dying, he made her promise to return to England and marry well. He appointed a good friend as trustee over her substantial inheritance and instructed him to enlist the aid of a young sea captain to both sail her home and once there to act as a friendly advisor to investigate and try to guide her in selecting an honorable husband.

Gryphon Meridon, was a man with a mysterious past who had lost much in his life when as young boy of 12 his loving family had been massacred in a brutal raid by pirates. The act of piracy had been engineered by a distant cousin who stood to inherit the title and wealth of the Marquess of Ashland - a title that rightfully belonged to Gryphon. Carrying an enormous amount of baggage Gryph had not allowed himself to feel love as he'd done some things as a blockade runner and privateer that he'd not been proud of but had served as a necessary means of survival. When he met Tess his heart was immediately engaged from the moment he saw her. Though placed in the position of keeping unworthy suitors from her door and knowing that no matter what he felt, he was the most unworthiest of all, Tess managed to wring a proposal from him. Treacherously betrayed by a vain and selfish woman who told her lies, Tess, somewhat insecure herself, accused Gryph who in shock over the death of a dear friend, could not defend himself. Tess, hurt and disillusioned, married the one man who Gryph had been trying to protect her from. Two souls, who truly were meant for one another would then be torn and tossed into a cruel world that only faith and a deep healing love would be able to save.

This was a really good, intense and sometimes disturbing love story. Tess, was a delight, an intrepid explorer in the wilds of a jungle, yet like a lamb led to a slaughter when it came to the `civilized' London ballrooms where danger came in the guise of civility. Gryph whose life from a very young age had been one long trial of endurance was portrayed as a savvy yet wounded young man who had endured so much loss that guarding his heart against what he surmised would be eventual pain was very disturbing to me. Adventures and settings to other locales around the world were deliciously described as both protagonists followed each other to try and work things out as danger and treachery followed. This was a well-plotted and proficiently detailed journey of two worthy individuals who through their trials earned the right to happiness. For those who are looking for a wild and action packed emotional roller coaster ride with a courageous story of love lost and finally found then look no further as this book should satisfy all of those needs in this reissue. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---