Three Little Secrets (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "They found him alone in the stable yard..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lady Bessett, Lady Treyhern, Sir Alasdair (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While it's standard practice for books in a romance trilogy to share unifying elements—such as setting, characters and themes—few recycle plot devices as blatantly as the tales in Carlyle's historical Little trilogy (One Little Sin; Two Little Lies). In this third installment of the Regency saga, Carlyle spins a story of long-separated lovers who reunite, but only after much argument, miscommunication and the revelation of a baby's less-than-surprising true parentage. The plot will ring familiar to Carlyle's fans, primarily because it's a carbon copy of Two Little Lies. As in Lies, the hero and heroine—in this case hardened businessman Merrick MacLachlan and his former beau, Lady Madeleine Bessett—meet by chance in London and then spend the bulk of the book casting each other longing looks, declaring they want nothing to do with one another and indulging in angst-ridden personal flashbacks; it all grows tedious fast. It's a testament to Carlyle's skill that her characters engage despite the familiar setup, but in the end, they aren't dynamic enough to satisfy the story line or the reader. This book may contain Carlyle's signature sensuality, but it lacks the complexity of plot and character that made her earlier romances shine. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* When Lady Madeleine Bessett purchases a new home just outside London, she doesn't expect the wealthy developer to turn out to be her husband, Merrick MacLachlan. Thirteen years ago Madeleine eloped with Merrick, but Merrick disappeared during their honeymoon. Told that their marriage had been annulled, a desperate Madeleine married again, but this time not for love. Now, the recently widowed Madeleine has moved to London seeking help for her troubled son, Geoffrey, but she isn't sure that she can live in the same city as the notoriously ruthless and coldly businesslike Merrick. The one thing about which Madeleine is certain, however, is that if Merrick discovers her secret, he can ruin her life all over again. In her usual brilliant fashion, Carlyle brings her Sins, Lies, and Secrets trilogy to a splendid conclusion with a dark, deliciously sensual, richly emotional story of two people who are given another chance at love. With its exquisitely complex characters and luscious writing, Three Little Secrets is simply superb. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (March 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743496124
• ISBN-13: 978-0743496124
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #182,516 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tinged with Betrayal, Bitterness...and Hope, March 26, 2006

By	K. Montgomery "http://lurvalamode.wordpress.com" (Columbus, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reading through reviews of "Three Little Secrets", I was almost convinced I wouldn't like the book. Accusations that Carlyle recreated the same storyline as in the previous title, "Two Little Lies", the same emotional turmoil, well, it almost made me dislike the book before I'd even read it. Who does want to read the same story when they're expecting to get something new? Yes, the third in Carlyle's latest series does bring to mind some of the same emotions and heartaches that the couple went through in "Two Little Lies", but I firmly believe that the author did a splendid job of creating fresh characters with totally different circumstances.

In the foolish frenzy and emotional rush that is youth, Merrick MacLachlan and Lady Madeline elope under the influence of their first love. A hasty marriage in Gretna Green though, is not enough to keep the hands of fate from ripping them apart most cruely. In this case, they have Maddie's father to thank for that. The meddlesome lord, who has political aspirations on the brain, is furious that his daughter, his one chance at a grand political alliance, has lowered herself to marry a businessman. Thinking that Merrick accepted payment to leave her from her father and signed papers for an annulment, she tearfully returns home and weds a man of her father's choosing. Thirteen years later, with a troubled son in tow, she comes back to London to find help for him. When fate brings her together once more with Merrick, old bitterness and hurts cannot help but come to the surface. And Merrick is bitter beyond imagining. Neither want the other, neither wants to feel anything for the other, but both are helpless to deny that under all the anger and grief, there may still be something worth fighting for.

Merrick and Maddie's story is very different from the previous book's. Sure, the intense emotions will bring to mind Viviana's intense temper (heroine in "Two Little Lies"), but Maddie's situation couldn't be more different. She and Merrick had the kind of strong and intense love, that once denied, twisted over time to the kind of gut wrenching agony that can only ignite when they once meet again. Of course, they must still care for one another if they are bothered by eachother still. I do agree with some reviewers' assessments about Merrick: he was very cold, very cruel and I did not like the way he treated Maddie or the names he called her at times. I cannot blame him though for his other intimate relationships he had aside from her. After all, she does marry another man and lives with him for many years. My only other complaint is that I do wish their resolution could have been reached before the very end of the book. Other than that, this is just the kind of historical I enjoy, but only occasionally. The intense and sometimes disturbing emotions that are rampant throughout this book are not for the faint of heart and not for me with every book. But I do enjoy a good tear jerker from time to time and I enjoyed the in-your-face emotional storm that Carlyle has taken readers through with her latest series. Maddie's son, Geoffrey, was very interesting as well and his own personal dilemma is not one readers usually see in these mainstream historical romances. If you like characters that are well-rounded and emotionally engaging give this one a try. Don't forget about the previous two, "One Little Sin" and "Two Little Lies". A great series and one for my keeper shelf.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Third of the Trilogy - Tormented Hero, May 29, 2006

By	E. Lynch "romance book fanatic" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read all three of the Sins, Lies and Secrets Trilogy. Since I read them all out of order, I can tell you they are still good stand-alone but much better to read in order since they over-lap. Also the characters are recurring and it is nice to revisit them all later! The third book also mentions "the gypsy's curse," but it is not the overwhelming premise. This book was a shade darker emotionally than the others.

Merrick MacLachlan is the most tormented of the three men in the trilogy. He has loved and lost ... his wife, his looks, practically his humanity! He lives only to work and also there is the warped thought of revenge. His wife, Lady Madeleine has also lost what she once had. The most weak-willed of the three heroines in these stories, she has good reason to be. She was very young when she and Merrick eloped and beatings from her father after the marriage was annulled have done serious damage to her spirit. But these many years later, after marriage to an older gentleman and travel around the world, she has come back as a widow to settle in London with her young son. Her son is "different" and she seeks to find out what is wrong with him. She is not the same woman as when she was young and meetings with Merrick lead to fights - but later to a realization that they both had been lied to! Can the years of self-loathing be overcome? What of her son's illness?

I felt this couple had the most to overcome for there to be a successful reconciliation. It was accomplished in a very interesting way. I liked when they moved to Scotland and granny. This was a wonderful finale to the series ... you mean there are no more???? Well worth reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's No Secret... This is Great!!!, June 25, 2006

By	Adonia "I Read Things" (Nashville) - See all my reviews

I have never been more surprised by a book than I am by Three Little Secrets. I wasn't particularly interested in reading the last of this trilogy (books one and two were pretty good).

There isn't a lot of romance in the traditional sense here until the end. It is the story of two people terribly hurt by each other and their coming to terms with this after finding themselves unexpectly together again.

The development of the characters in this book is so complete that I fully understood their emotions. This was a big misunderstanding that I felt was completely believable (which is rare). I was as excited about Geoff's storyline as I was about Merrick and Madeleine's.

I couldn't put this one down. I highly recommend!!!