Customer Reviews

Valerie's Secrets (The Nightengale Legacy Of Sin And Betrayal)

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

 

 

The second book of the Nightengale legacy is told from her son's point of view, who has been locked up for a two month period for having a sexual relationship with what turned out to be his half sister and she does not approve of it... and yet she is having a relationship with her gardener who is half her age. Sick and twisted but I love it!!!

The first book in this series was an unpleasant one - and it had nothing to do with the incest and violence in there. I'm fine with (entirely fictional) tales of shocking sordidness, but the writing is simply awful. In the previous novel, we were introduced to Valerie Nightengale, a character that we initially assume we should feel sorry for because of what her parents did to her (including a horrible birthday present) However, the plot here was extremely poorly handled. To write a good 'shock story' you must also make it believable and give the characters some credibility. Here, none is given.

Valerie is a vain woman, and her experiences in her childhood have not humbled her or given her any love or empathy or others. She is a downright unlikeable character - you just couldn't feel bad or sorry for her at all despite the abuse her parents put her through (including a terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE 13th birthday present from Daddy in the form of rape)

The events in this book and the first are just so contrived as to be nonsensical and over the top. I simply could not take the story seriously. At all.

If you couldn't stand Valerie in the first book, you certainly won't like her in this one. Her character is just downright abominable - and it's not even the kind of 'love to hate' villain. There are no redeeming qualities about her and it seems as if she actually enjoyed what her parents did to her and the very, very, VERY screwed up person she becomes. There is no self-examination by Valerie or any of the other characters, so they come across as cardboard and comical - in a sad way.

It's as if this series is meant to be a parody of the Gothic genre - except that it fails in this way as well. Valerie tries to cover up secrets with MORE secrets to the point it just gets ridiculous.

If you like good stories featuring incest and secrets, check out the 'Flowers in the Attic' series by V.C. Andrews or the 'Wideacre' series by Philippa Gregory.

This second in the series grabbed me quite quickly and it was very hard to put down. I really enjoyed this character (Jon [Nightengale] Preston, son of Valerie Nightengale and Jack Preston from the first book [Valerie]); and I was also very intrigued by him. This story had my own imagination reeling!! Just received the third book of the series [Valerie's Winter of Sinners] and I'm looking forward to getting started on it and seeing where this ones takes me!! I expect it will be pretty darn interesting!! My, my... what a family!!

My, my, my!!! If I thought the first book was good, this second one had me on the edge of my seat!!! Hearing the story from Valerie's son Jon, had me just as entwined as the first! I purchased Secrets on Friday and was done reading late night Saturday! YES! It was just that good! Mr. Foxworth really knows how to keep his readers enthralled!! I simply could not put this book down! Needless to say, no housework was done until after the entire book was consumed! I applaud Mr. Foxworth yet again for such great work!! I am mighty glad I stumbled upon his books! I am very much looking forward to the next book - Sinners! I appreciate your hard work Mr. Foxworth! Take a bow!