The Secret of Val Verde

by Judith Polley

Antoinette Dubec arrives from France to wartorn Mexico in 1866 to learn of the death of her soldier father. Against the advice of the strangely fascinating Major Chavez, she decides to stay to investigate her father's death and avenge him, if necessary. Her investigations lead her into high adventure, danger, intrigue, jealousy, passion and even prison before her father's untimely death is avenged.

Genres: Historical Romance

245 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Pseudonym used by Judith Hagar. AKA Valentina Luellen and Helen Kent.

Reviews

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Judith Hagar wrote numerous romances under 3 pseudonyms, one of whom was Judith Polley. I first discovered this author when I read The Serpent and the Dove aka The King's Shadow. Like The Secret of Val Verde aka Val Verde, it was a romance with some non-fiction mix. Whereas the previous story took place in 1600's England, the setting here was 1800's Mexico.

The story was 'kisses only', but make no mistake, it was still a romance. Not everything went as planned and the author included a Big Misunderstanding but it did not bother me as much as some previous romances I have read.

Also, be aware that this is what I consider a vintage historical romance. At times, the narrative is gritty and when the H and h disagree, it is said with considerable fury. All in all, it was a satisfactory read.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Mexico 1866 at the time of the Mexican Revolution and the coming to an end of French rule and the French Emperor Maximillian and the rise of Mexican Independence. Thus the heroine is French and the hero is Mexican complicating the romantic development.

Also wrote as Judith Hagar and Valentina Luellen.

[Kyra J. Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual her style of writing is fantastic with a twist till the end

[Lana Sweetness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, i read it multiple times!

[Diletta Nicastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith Polley è uno dei tre pseudonimi usati dalla scrittrice Judith Hagar (gli altri sono Valentina Luellen e Judith Stewart), che sotto questo nome ha scritto 4 romanzi (solo questo arrivato in Italia).
A differenza di altri libri dell’epoca editi da Oscar Mondadori in paperback, non mi sembra che vi siano riduzioni o tagli e anche le pagine con la versione americana coincidono (225 in Italia e 224 negli Stati Uniti).
Passione, avventura, incendi, rapimenti, devastazioni, prigione, vaiolo, inganni, bugie, paura, sacrifici, travestimenti. In questo romanzo accade di tutto e coinvolge fin dalla prima pagina, raccontando anche una forte ed intensa storia d’amore lontano dai soliti schemi.
Mi è piaciuta moltissimo l’ambientazione, originale e molto ben descritta. Conoscevo poco della situazione in Messico nella metà dell’Ottocento (sapevo solo che qui Massimiliano d’Austria fu giustiziato). Leggere il romanzo mi ha fatto comprendere meglio la situazione economica e politica di questo paese (a partire dal sostegno di Napoleone III, ma anche alla mancanza di intervento nel momento del pericolo finale), mostrando luci ed ombre in entrambe le fazioni.
Le descrizioni della corte di Massimiliano d’Austria e della sua triste consorte sono spunto di grande riflessione, mostrando quanto potere e denaro non possano regalare la vera gioia ad una famiglia (la moglie di Massimiliano, Carlotta del Belgio, tenta disperatamente di rimanere incinta e non solo per dare un erede all’Imperatore del Messico).
La figura di Antoinette rimane molto impressa. Forte e volitiva, è anche una donna capace di amare e di fare qualsiasi cosa pur di salvare o proteggere le persone che ha accanto.
Bellissimo il personaggio della nonna di Chavez, anziana donna dallo sguardo acuto che trova subito un’affinità con Antoinette e spinge il nipote a passare oltre i suoi pregiudizi e ricercare la felicità ove e quando possibile. Sebbene compaia in pochissime scene è uno di quei personaggi che rimangono dentro e che quasi riassumono al loro interno tutto il libro.
Consigliatissimo. Ma attenzione. L’intreccio è piuttosto complicato e bisogna seguirlo con attenzione per non perdere tutti ‘i segreti di Val Verde’.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably would rate this 4 or 4.5 because of the last third of the book, for the first two thirds of the book my review is that it was a good book, I enjoyed the 2 main characters and thought they were nicely fleshed out and had good romantic development too and I thought the story interesting with an exciting backdrop of 1866 Mexico, and very pretty artwork on the cover, so was really enjoying it, but I also know when the couple get togther a good bit before the end of the book, this usually just means that we are going to suffer lol and as usual I was correct. I don't think there was anything even wrong with the last third other than the fact I was just so annoyed with the heroine, without spoiling the actuality of it, she finds out " the secret of val verde" about two thirds through the book and how she behaves when she finds this out annoyed me to no end as she would not listen to reason or justification and was horrible to the hero even though he was risking his life for her at the time, and she got people killed and almost killed by what she does so I was fuming and literally did not want the hero to forgive her, but she did somewhat redeem herself by the end so I digress, also wanted a bit more from the ending, there was no conversation between them, it was just a narration so was dissapointed with that especially after the anger I was put through I expected to be compensated at the end lol.
Anyway the reason I was so annoyed reading it was because I was enjoying the overall book a lot and was heavily into it. Overall I recommend and I'm still giving it a 5, based on the fact I read it in 2 sittings and was waiting to see what happened next and was into it to the point I was screaming at the heroine lol. I have just finished the book so my feelings are fresh, if I waited till tomorrow to write this I probably would be less annoyed, others might not even find it annoying.

[Louise Broadfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the longest masquerade book i have read.
it started off good then got a little boring and then picked up again.
i wish we got the hero point of view and sew the death of that nasty captain
but o well. still a good read

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abbandonato. Troppo sessista secondo me.

[Amrita Midha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to read. :)