Lady Lyte's Little Secret [Mass Market Paperback]

Deborah Hale (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin Historical | Publication Date: January 1, 2003

Lady Felicity Lyte is in a quandary. How can she tell her lover that she's conceived his child? For, even though Hawthorn Greenwood will surely make an honorable offer of marriage, she means to marry for love alone!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For Felicity there was nothing more inconvenient than a lover who refused to gracefully take his leave. Felicity enjoyed her brief affair with Hawthorn "Thorn" Greenwood, but as soon as she realizes that she's pregnant, she knows she must end their liaison because once this reliable, trustworthy gentleman discovers her condition, he'll insist on marrying her. With memories of her former marriage still fresh in her mind, the last thing Felicity wants is another man taking control of her life. However, when Thorn's younger sister Ivy elopes with Felicity's nephew Oliver (characters introduced in Hale's novella "Cupid Goes to Gretna Green" in The Love Match [2002]), the two are forced together again as they race after the young lovers to prevent a hasty wedding in Scotland. Hale skillfully matches up Thorn, a sensible man who discovers how much fun being a bit scandalous can be, with Felicity, a woman who gradually learns to trust others, as realistically flawed characters and a poignant, emotionally satisfying romance blend seamlessly together in this superbly written historical regency. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373292392
• ISBN-13: 978-0373292394
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,182,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After a decade spent tracing her ancestors to their roots in Georgian-era Britain, Deborah Hale learned a great deal about the period and uncovered enough fascinating true stories to inspire her fiction plots for years to come. In 1997, Deborah won Romance Writers of Amercia's Golden Heart award and several months later sold her winning manuscript to Harlequin Historical. Since then she has written many historical romance novels with a variety of settings, as well as two other-world fantasies for Luna Books. In the pilot episode of the hit television series "Hustle" one of Deborah's books was used in a key scene! Deborah lives in beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada, a place steeped in history and romance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another terrific read!, May 5, 2003

By 

Barbara Phinney (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady Lyte's Little Secret (Mass Market Paperback)

The only reason why I didn't read LLLS in one sitting is because I have kids who need food. I was engrossed from the first line and Ms Hale never let me go until the end. As usual, her hero is a warm, wonderful man, so complex and intriguing, and her hero instantly lovable and oh so realistic. When Lady Felicity finds herself in the family way, she knows she could never ask Thorn to marry her. She'd had her fill of men who didn't love her. And she cares too much for Thorn to force him into a loveless marriage. Other delightful circumstances abound as Felicity and Thorn attempt to thwart another young couple but along the fast and delicious journey they find their own happiness.
I highly recommend this book! Ms Hale has outdone herself, indeed!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hijinks and high spirits -- Highly recommended, January 14, 2003

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady Lyte's Little Secret (Mass Market Paperback)

When she learns of her pregnancy, Lady Felicity Lyte immediately ends her affair with Thorn Greenwood. Many years of chastisement by her husband for not bearing him an heir, while his offspring proliferated even under her nose, convinced Felicity that she was to blame. Now widowed and believing herself barren, she has embarked upon a bold affair with Thorn, only to end it rather than reveal her condition. Unfortunately, her nephew seems to have eloped with Thorn's sister Ivy, leaving it to Felicity and Thorn to stop their hasty marriage before they spend a lifetime of repentance.

Conservative Thorn reveled in his affair with Felicity, exhilarated by his own scandalous behavior. While he did not bore Felicity, he had failed to truly excite her either, until his impromptu visit following Ivy's elopement. Suddenly his bold determination elicits regret in Felicity for ending their affair before the Season ended. Moreover, they soon find themselves joining forces to find their wayward kin and fighting their ever-growing attraction.

Author Deborah Hale creates an unexpected treat with LADY LYTE'S LITTLE SECRET. Her unorthodox characterizations that take advantage of the loopholes created by a society provide a delightfully fresh heroine and an unexpectedly fun hero. Felicity is an admittedly selfish woman who develops into something more. Especially likeable because of her maturity and boldness, Felicity propositions the man of her desire, expecting to be able to be able to neatly control the situation. On the other hand, Thorn recognizes the fact that he is not the type of man who would ordinarily capture the attention of such an intrepid woman. As a result, this lighthearted romp will keep readers decidedly amused even as they revel in Hale's absorbing style. LADY LYTE'S LITTLE SECRET comes highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An annoying premise stretched out too long, January 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady Lyte's Little Secret (Mass Market Paperback)

After indulging in a brief affair with the every responsible Thorn Greenwood, Lady Lyte is expecting. Rather than entering marriage with a duty-bound husband, she breaks off the affair only to be brought together with him again by the machinations of his niece and her nephew. Two classic plot devices in use here: (1) chase to Gretna to catch eloping youngsters forcing fighting couple into proximity, and (2) a pregnant woman breaking off an affair to avoid forcing a man to dutifully propose. I dislike device (2) when it involves a man who would obviously love to be a father. It just seems mean and selfish...especially since she seemed to have no intention of telling him. Made me dislike her. I disliked the device (1) in this story because the manipulative girl was annoyingly obnoxious about her "victory" and because the chase seemed to go on forever. So in summary, I thought it was a weak story. I kind of liked Thorn and Felicity's nephew, Oliver, but not enough to recommend the story.