Customer Reviews

A Lady's Secret

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A Lady's Secret combined everything I like best about the romance genre, along with refreshingly new settings and plot twists. The typical features I expect - handsome hero, beautiful adventurous heroine, boy-meets-girl-loses-girl-finds-girl plot, a bit of mystery - were all there and comfortingly familiar.

Jo Beverley, however, added enough new elements to make this book stand apart. Her time period (Georgian) is a bit early than than the usual Regency period, allowing us to enjoy a new, but not drastically new, historical context. Part of the book takes place in the French countryside, rather than strictly in London and England, and her heroine hails from Italy. Again, this allows the author to introduce us to new perspectives and broader horizons, while still staying close to the genre I enjoy.

Her hero and heroine are both a delight. I liked them and sympathized with them. Both characters make mistakes and are quite human.

The "secret" referred to in the title is a realistic one, and something that certainly occurred yet is rarely addressed so openly. This is an intelligent book that an intelligent reader will take pleasure in reading.

I was especially delighted to reunite with the Malloren clan in this book. Rothgar is one of the most outstandingly unique characters in romance, and I was delighted at the plot twist that brought him into the story.

In fact, I wish there could have been more Malloren involvement in this book. I recommend all of the books in the Malloren family saga.

Robin Fitzvitry, the Earl of Huntersdown, is en route home from Versailles. When he spies a nun muttering curses, Robin cannot help but smell a mystery; and Robin loves a good mystery. The lady going by the outrageous name of Sister Immaculata needs to escape her traveling companion, Lady Sodworth, and the Lady's two spoiled brats. Seeing some amusement as he travels, Robin offers to help the Sister reach England as quickly as possible. During the ride, Robin intends to learn all the secrets the good Sister is hiding.

Petronilla "Petra" Maria d'Averio has spent years with her widowed mother in an Italian convent. Recently her mother has died, leaving Petra in danger. Her only hope is to reach England and locate her father, who has no idea she even exists. Her father is an English lord, so there is a chance he will not want anything to do with her. First, though, Petra must reach England. She is being pursued by a possessive and dangerous man. Therefore, she jumps at the offer from Robin. He clears does not believe Petra is a nun and has made it clear that during their travels he fully intends to coax all her secrets from her. The travel time should not be more than a few days, but Petra finds herself becoming attracted to the young aristocrat - whoever he really is. But Robin is her only hope.

***** Author Jo Beverley has a one of the best imaginations I have encountered in years! Those few days of journey for the main characters are filled with not only Petra's pursuers, but also unexpected dangers. Petra's secrets are neither blurted out from the start, nor kept hidden until the end of the story. Instead, they begin to slowly emerge during her travels with Robin. Once in England their adventures get even more complicated, involving a prayer book. Absolutely terrific! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I really liked these two leads. Very nice combination and their chemistry was undeniable. There's definitely a love-at-first-sight thing going on, but really they seem so made for each other it's perfectly believable.

One complaint I have -- and this goes for a lot of books that are part of a 'world' or series -- is that when a character that is known from another book is mentioned, I really want to see that character and sooner rather than later. Several characters were mentioned here and we went through half the book before we ever got to see them. The reason this is a peeve of mine is that the knowledge we're going to see them or might see them is a distraction from the current story at hand. So it's best to get it out of the way in my opinion.

I would have liked to have seen more of the Mallorens. And a little more emotion on their part. They seemed to be lacking their usual spark. I would have liked for them to come in sooner so we could spend more time with them and see some things from their POV. As it was they seemed to be lifeless props. And some events that were important and would have been nice to actually see were handled with a quickie hindsight summary.

But as usual Jo Beverley wins me over and I give it four stars. I love the Malloren series, but whenever I pick up a new installment I want Mallorens. All of them. Please.

Looking forward to more books in this world. JoBev seems to be setting up an off-shoot with this hero and his friends. At least I hope that's what is happening because I always want more!

The Georgian world of the Mallorens that Jo Beverley does so well sparkles as always, and this one was much more engaging than I found her last few forays into that world. The characters face one adventure after another as they travel through rural France and England, and the fast paced action will keep you riveted. The chemistry is strong, and the characters likeable. In addition to the protagonists, she revisits some old favorites, and introduces a few new characters whose stories I hope will follow soon. My only complaint was the inordinately frequent use of the word 'cock', in every conceivable context - it became sort of a plot point, but it got old quickly. But certainly not enough so to detract from the overall fun of this book.

An Italian `nun' on-the-run in France is aided by a handsome English earl in this entertaining road-trip romance. Sister Immaculata, real name Petra D'Avario, is fleeing from a powerful married Milanese count that is obsessed with making her his mistress. Petra is desperate to get to England and the safety of her aristocratic English father - who does not even know she exists! At a difficult point in her travels she meets Robin, a charming English tourist, who persuades her to accept his help in getting to England. Petra dresses in traditional religious garb, but Robin doubts she is truly a nun and shamelessly flirts with her as he tries to uncover her secrets. Robin views their journey as a fun adventure to relieve his boredom. He does not foresee the danger ahead from the count's brutal henchmen, nor the threat to his carefree bachelor days from his brave and beautiful damsel in distress.

Jo Beverley is a consistently good writer - she really has a beautiful writing style - and I have a soft spot for road-trip romances. This one is lighthearted with good pacing, lots of action, first-rate dialogue, and a fun and likable hero and heroine. Perilous moments abound, but the bad guys are essentially cartoon characters who do not harm the story's optimism. There is good chemistry between Petra and Robin but, alas, no great heat, with their love scenes few and far between. In fact, soon after the couple becomes intimate, they are separated for 136 pages - one-third of the story! Events remain quite interesting during this interval, and the intrepid pair sweetly pines for one another, but it nonetheless takes something away from the romance. Overall, this is an entertaining, involving, and well-written tale of hope and faith...but one that recommends itself more for the general story than for the intensity of the love affair. 3 1/2 - 4 stars

I own every novel Jo Beverley has ever written. As I mentioned in another review, she's been on my auto-buy list for years. Because of that, I can forgive the occasional less-than-stellar novel, and of course there's been one or two here and there (one or two of the Mallorens, perhaps three of the Rogues). With the first novel in her Secrets series, we seem to have another very uneven book, with a less-than-fascinating heroine and a hero I found myself actively disliking at times.

Robin, Earl of Huntersdown, runs into a nun at an inn in France. A cursing nun, in fact. She appears to be running away from an overbearing matron whose children she was caring for. Being bored and facing a long journey, Robin takes the nun in his carriage. And here's reason one for starting to dislike him: despite the fact that, at this stage, he has no reason to believe that she is anything other than what she claims to be - a nun - he tries to seduce her. In a pretty determined fashion, too. Yes, this is the Georgian period and mores were somewhat different then, but I don't care for overbearing sexual predators as the heroes in my romance novels, thanks.

However, after a while I decided that Petra - the 'nun' - wasn't much better than Robin. Having secrets is one thing; lying, and lying again, yet still expecting the man you're lying to to continue to protect you is something else again. By the time Petra ran away from Robin - while apparently believing herself in love with him - I'd lost patience with her.

I also almost gave up on this book during the first half. The journey through France is one of the most tedious pieces of exposition I have read. Of course it's good to get the period details right, but don't overload the reader with trivial details! (And the 'adventure' at the hut in the middle of nowhere was really too much for me. I didn't enjoy it - quite the opposite - and it didn't appear to add to the story). As for the dog, I wanted to shoot it.

What kept me reading, and saved this book somewhat, was the change of pace once the couple reached England. Yes, I was irritated with Petra for running, but I became interested in Robin's family and his foster-brother, Thorne (whose story I do hope is better than either this book or the second in the series). Petra's true identity was an interesting revelation also, and overall the latter part of the book was considerably better than the first. However, it's not a book I'd be in a hurry to read again, unlike the two previous instalments in the Malloren series, Winter Fire and A Most Unsuitable Man, both of which I loved.

When I began reading this book, I thought uh-oh I'm not gonna like this one. But I trudged through and began enjoying the story after about the first 130-150 pages. There were a couple of times while reading those first chapters that I wanted to quit reading it but I like Jo Beverley's books so that kept me going. There was just too much unnecessary dialogue that muddled down the story and the characters weren't properly introduced (to the reader that is), so I really couldn't grasp what I was reading or attach myself to the characters at first - definitely wasn't feeling their chemistry then. Although they were doing a lot of talking I didn't know them and wasn't learning much about them - very generic. I felt that what occurred in those 150 pages could have been written much more effectively in about 20 pages. There were also a few incidents that just didn't make sense -e.g. someone trying to pass as a nun threatening to "piss" on the guy...hmmmm (the cursing was plausible because she didn't know anyone else was listening).

After I began to know the characters I began to enjoy the story - quite entertaining from that point until the end. It was worth the read in spite of my earlier criticism. So if you find yourself bogged down at first, keep going, it gets much better.

A Lady's Secret

Whenever someone disparages my taste for romance I ask whether they've actually read any romances and if they haven't I recommend that they read something by one of the genre's best writers. Quite frequently it's something by Jo Beverley. Ms Beverley has wit, humour and intelligence, all of which she brings to bear when she constructs her intricately plotted historical romantic adventures. This time she brings us a classic road story. When Robin Fitzvitry, the Earl of Huntersdown spots a nun swearing in the yard of inn on the road home from Versailles he is intrigued. When he meets the nun's shrew of an employer and her brats he offers his assistance. As they journey to England Robin and Petronilla "Petra" d'Averio face murderous thugs chasing them and peasants up to no good. All the while the attraction that grows between them threatens to make both forget the promises and vows they are meant to be keeping.

This is fun, fun, fun but I don't class it with the very best of Jo Beverley's Georgian books as Petra can be a little annoying but I know I'll read it several times and award it a place on my keeper shelf.

This was a very enjoyable book. It started out a little differently with a nobleman becoming fascinated with a cursing nun. Sister Immaculata, or Petra as she is later found out to be, has been traveling from Italy and is trying to get to England. Enter Robin; a nobleman who has just come from Versailles and is on his way home to England. They decide to travel together (which stretches credulity) and we are treated to a fun journey filled with half-truths, insults, and desire.

I very much so liked Petra and her outlook on life. Here finally was a heroine who was presented as level-headed and actually stayed level-headed. Even though she occasionally indulged in fantasies of Robin and got distracted at times, she always came back to herself and continued with the path she had set. I liked that she didn't abandon all her plans and become unable to think beyond Robin the minute she met him. I also liked the lack of woe is me about her past with Ludo.

Robin was a pretty good guy, even though he didn't seem to be able to take anything seriously if they weren't in immediate danger. That isn't a bad thing though. His light hearted attitude gave the journey a very fun feel to it. I think Petra's attitude toward his obligatory stroking and petting was very realistic and in keeping with her level-headed attitude. The aftermath of the first love scene emphasized her feelings on that very well. One thing that bothered me about him was his interactions with his mother. She was very interfering and felt a bit spoiled. Robin made her butt out on some points and hired someone who wasn't her spy, but he didn't seem to mind her prying conversations that much. I couldn't help but think mama's boy and get a little sneer.

The only major problems I had with the book started when Petra got to her father. I never got a sense of adjustment or any real closeness to them. I read the author's note and apparently the family is part of a series, so maybe I was supposed to care about them and know how they would feel already? If so, it doesn't really help her new readers. Petra's lack of upset about her father's lack of attachment toward his past with her mother was refreshing.

I liked the dueling views of what was going on with Petra and Robin while they were apart. I was irritated by the fact that they were separated for so long though. I also never got a real sense of why Petra had to get to her father alone. I would fear rape if I were traveling alone like that. When Petra and Robin reunited I was left feeling dissatisfied. All of a sudden everything will work out without any reservation or problems? No more discussions and growing as a couple? I couldn't help but be reminded that they had only spent a few days together and start to doubt the strength of their attachment for the future.

Overall a good book with enjoyable characters and well written prose. The relationship seemed a little weak, but the bones were there and it would have been great if they were built on a little more.

Jo Beverley's writing is usually a cut above the crowd and this book is no different. Set in the Georgian period (fifty years earlier than the Regency) and revisiting some characters from previous novels, this works really well as a standalone novel and an introduction to Beverley's style.

When Robin Fitzvitry, the Earl of Huntersdown, is travelling back to England from some time spent in Versailles, he is rather surprised to come across a cursing nun at an inn. He soon rescues Sister Immaculata from her drudgery as companion to a shrieking woman and her two children and they travel together onward towards England.

Things aren't quite as they seem, however. Sister Immaculata isn't quite a nun; Robin isn't quite who he introduced himself to her as - a gentleman, Mr Bonchurch - and both have other things to hide. They travel into danger at an isolated farmhouse as Sister Immaculata, Petra d'Averio, is pursued by a man from her home in Milan. Petra is travelling to London to meet her father for the first time, an English aristocrat, but she won't tell Robin who he is. Robin, for his part, wants Petra for his mistress but knows she can be no more to him because of her illegitimacy. As they travel together through France, across the Channel and as Petra strikes off on her own across Kent and Sussex the story keeps the reader's interest and the characters are great. The little papillon dog Coquette is amusing and both Petra and Robin are well drawn with enjoyable conversations between them.

The basic premise, that Petra would indeed go off with a strange man she meets at an inn, I found a bit difficult to believe but the rest of the story was a great read with interesting locations, historical details and a few plot twists. This is a book to enjoy.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008