The Heart's Secrets

by Ruth Ryan Langan

Dublin O'Driscoll leaves her Irish home and travels to turn-of-the century San Francisco to unravel the mystery of her birth and encounters two men determined to make her their own

Genres: Historical Romance

Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

Ruth Ryan Langan (aka Ruth Langan) is an award-winning author of romance novels. She is a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award winner and has twice been nominated for Romantic Times Reviwers' Choice Awards, for Jade and Return of the Prodigal Son. She has spent much of her career writing historical romance novels for the Harlequin Historicals line of category romances. Many of her book are set in medieval times, while others are western romances. She has also written some contemporary romances, and often includes elements of suspense in her novels.

Langan began her writing career in secret. Her family discovered her writings when her children came home unexpectedly from school one day and found her writing. When Langan's husband was told of her hobby, he bought her an electric typewriter "because 'writers need tools'". Her first book was published by Silhouette Books in 1981 after an editor picked it out of their slush pile. After the first sale was completed, Langan got an agent.

Langan is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America. She has five children and lives with her husband in Michigan.

Has also written under the name of Ruth Langan and R.C. Ryan

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story opens with Dublin O'Driscoll learning that she was not the person she thought she was and that she would have to go to San Francisco to find her past and her future.  After getting a job as a scullery maid, she soon finds out who her grandfather is -- one of the most wealthy men on the West Coast.  Meeting her grandfather has significant effects on her grandfather.

As this great story unfolded, it was obvious who Dublin's father must be.  Before coming to a rousing end, even San Francisco's earthquake of 1906 had a part to play in this novel.  Dublin's need for revenge almost destroys her ultimate happiness.  A great read! Overall score = 4.5 stars.