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Secret Bride
In order to please his dying grandmother, Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, has to find a woman to marry in fourteen days.
287 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Sharol Louise
6 books11 followersSharol Louise and her husband hail from the Pacific Northwest, where her psyche was born.
However, her body was born in downtown Los Angeles, so it took about 25 years for the two to catch up.
As a youngster, she thought people were referring to the dictionary when they said “the good book,” as she grew up in the library, escaping through fiction on travels of romance, mystery, and adventure in foreign lands.
A former docent with Seattle Public Library, Sharol is passionate about libraries, and has visited almost 200 libraries across the U.S.
She’s been known to miss her bus stop when engrossed in a novel and wishes that her books may do the same for you.
However, her body was born in downtown Los Angeles, so it took about 25 years for the two to catch up.
As a youngster, she thought people were referring to the dictionary when they said “the good book,” as she grew up in the library, escaping through fiction on travels of romance, mystery, and adventure in foreign lands.
A former docent with Seattle Public Library, Sharol is passionate about libraries, and has visited almost 200 libraries across the U.S.
She’s been known to miss her bus stop when engrossed in a novel and wishes that her books may do the same for you.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 27, 2012
I really enjoyed this. It’s more of an engagement-of-convenience story, which was fun. I really liked our H/H Alix and Damion. They had good chemistry together. Alix had a great personality; she was sweet, but also stood up for herself. Damion was a likable leading man, I actually would have liked to see them together a bit more, but the time they spend together is great. I liked that they actually got to know each other, it wasn’t the “insta-love” that happens so much in these type novels. I loved the supporting characters as well, sweet little Elizabeth and Lady Charolette. It was well written and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. I liked the setting, and while it wasn’t heavy with historical details, I still felt like I was back in Regency England (Although, I think the story technically takes place before the Regency timeperiod). Overall, a very enjoyable read and one I will definitely be re-reading. I can’t wait to read some more by this author.
Content: Clean. There may have been a bit of mild innuendo, and a few swear words.
Content: Clean. There may have been a bit of mild innuendo, and a few swear words.
January 24, 2015
I only gave this 4 stars because I love Rosehill Manor by Sharol Lousise even more, but this was a fun and touching escape. Full of wish fulfillment. A Pretty Woman type dream with historic manners. But though our romantic hero comes to the rescue, our heroine is just as feisty and independent as her modern counterpart - perhaps more so. She certainly has more class, and at times puts the manners of the aristocratic women to shame. There are also glimpses into the masterful wit of this always-worthwhile writer. If you enjoy historical romance, you won't regret running away with the Secret Bride.
May 26, 2019
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
When Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, decides to employ a woman to pose as his fiancee to fulfill his dying grandmother's final wish he doesn't know that love waits just round the corner... When Alix Adams, a poor school teacher orphaned as a child, agrees to the employment she doesn't know that Fate laughs at her plans... What they both find is unexpected - and what they both need, not knowing that they do:)
This is a charming book - that's the best word I can use to describe it. Both Alix and Damion are likeable characters that you'll keep your fingers crossed for - though I must admit I did not expect to like them so much at first. He seemed too arrogant in his aristocratic haughtiness and she seemed too stubborn and independent... But they grow on you when you get to know them - and when they get to know each other:) I like the way we discover different layers of their personalities as their relationship deepens and develops throughout the book. The secondary characters are also great - Elizabeth and the Grandmama are two of the sweetest and loveable characters I've come across in romances, and Lady Chloe is a fantastically intriguing, manipulative and spiteful viper:)
The narration of the book is very good, with Ms Jillings nicely doing different voices and conveying the emotions well. The speed of her reading is also good, and she just makes the story really come to life in her interpretation.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
When Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, decides to employ a woman to pose as his fiancee to fulfill his dying grandmother's final wish he doesn't know that love waits just round the corner... When Alix Adams, a poor school teacher orphaned as a child, agrees to the employment she doesn't know that Fate laughs at her plans... What they both find is unexpected - and what they both need, not knowing that they do:)
This is a charming book - that's the best word I can use to describe it. Both Alix and Damion are likeable characters that you'll keep your fingers crossed for - though I must admit I did not expect to like them so much at first. He seemed too arrogant in his aristocratic haughtiness and she seemed too stubborn and independent... But they grow on you when you get to know them - and when they get to know each other:) I like the way we discover different layers of their personalities as their relationship deepens and develops throughout the book. The secondary characters are also great - Elizabeth and the Grandmama are two of the sweetest and loveable characters I've come across in romances, and Lady Chloe is a fantastically intriguing, manipulative and spiteful viper:)
The narration of the book is very good, with Ms Jillings nicely doing different voices and conveying the emotions well. The speed of her reading is also good, and she just makes the story really come to life in her interpretation.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this one, it's just a great clean and classic style regency romance. Damion is a Viscount, and he receives a letter from his beloved Grandmother stating that she is dying. She has been on him for years to get married and he has decided to make her happy before she dies and get engaged -- but only as a hoax since he has no desire to really marry. He has a couple of weeks to track down a woman who will help him out with the ruse and not hold him to it in the end.... what could possibly go wrong? It's a fun, witty, and overall light-hearted romance. The narrator does a great job and I really enjoyed listening to her. Definitely, a fun read for those fans of regency romance novels.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
December 19, 2021
I listened to the audiobook of this story. I just love the narrator, Doro Jillings. She is marvelous and truly brings the characters to life. Damion must find a fake fiance and quick. He believes his Grandmother is dying and wants her last days to be happy ones. He decides on Alix Adams, a schoolteacher to fill the position, until things happen. What could go wrong with this arrangement, you asked. Just about anything. Loved the story.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.
July 16, 2025
Clean regency romance but with some innuendos which felt out of character and spoilt it IMO. Some characters were consistently good, eg, grandmother and Elizabeth, others not so much and I found the inconsistency a bit disconcerting.
August 18, 2017
Utterly delightful clean regency romance, with the humour of the great Georgette Heyer. Keep the tissues handy though as it's also a bit of a tear-jerker!
May 8, 2018
Entertaining. It was engaging, kept my interest and was a quick read.
December 21, 2022
A relaxing, enjoyable novel. The book that makes you feel you're on vacation. No bad language. Just a nice story with some intrigue.
February 16, 2017
Secret Bride seems to have been written by someone who reads Regency Romances, rather than by someone who has researched the Regency period.
A viscount mistakenly thinks his beloved grandmother is dying and needs a pretend fiancee. While traveling his eye is caught by an attractive schoolteacher helping a student out of a predicament in a tree, and he asks her to be his pretend fiancee. She brings along a young student, an orphan like herself whom she is attached to. She means to tell the viscount that the child is her sister, but accidentally says she is her own daughter. OK, fine, whatever, thinks the viscount, who then proceeds to fall in love with the schoolteacher. Obsessed with finding out who the child's father is, it still doesn't particularly seem to bother him that she has a child, or that she grew up the daughter of a laundress in a brothel, or that she is being blackmailed and gives away a precious necklace his grandmother gave her. I think this plot could have worked in better hands, but I was filled with skepticism and disbelief for many reasons.
I did like when the grandmother gave the child, who'd never had her own toy, a decoy duck to play with because it was the only toy-like thing in the house.
A viscount mistakenly thinks his beloved grandmother is dying and needs a pretend fiancee. While traveling his eye is caught by an attractive schoolteacher helping a student out of a predicament in a tree, and he asks her to be his pretend fiancee. She brings along a young student, an orphan like herself whom she is attached to. She means to tell the viscount that the child is her sister, but accidentally says she is her own daughter. OK, fine, whatever, thinks the viscount, who then proceeds to fall in love with the schoolteacher. Obsessed with finding out who the child's father is, it still doesn't particularly seem to bother him that she has a child, or that she grew up the daughter of a laundress in a brothel, or that she is being blackmailed and gives away a precious necklace his grandmother gave her. I think this plot could have worked in better hands, but I was filled with skepticism and disbelief for many reasons.
I did like when the grandmother gave the child, who'd never had her own toy, a decoy duck to play with because it was the only toy-like thing in the house.
December 28, 2013
Sweet, charming romance.
Male Lead: Damien Templeton, Viscount Woodbury, unmarried and likely to remain so. But then fate intervenes. His grandmother sends him a letter warning of her imminent demise and so Damien looks for a faux fiancee.
Enter Alix Adams, schoolteacher, random acquaintance of Damien. What is she becomes his fiancee, only temporarily, during his grandmother's visit?
A win-win situation, Alix can earn some money and have a respite from her teaching duties and Damien can have his heart's desire.
Male Lead: Damien Templeton, Viscount Woodbury, unmarried and likely to remain so. But then fate intervenes. His grandmother sends him a letter warning of her imminent demise and so Damien looks for a faux fiancee.
Enter Alix Adams, schoolteacher, random acquaintance of Damien. What is she becomes his fiancee, only temporarily, during his grandmother's visit?
A win-win situation, Alix can earn some money and have a respite from her teaching duties and Damien can have his heart's desire.
February 25, 2012
When Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, commissions Alix Adams, a young, penniless schoolteacher, to pose as his fiancée until his grandmother dies, he has no idea that his aunt is not dying and that the schoolteacher will steal his heart in this historical romance set in 18th-century England. This was an easy read.. not much historical facts, but you could picture the area and how they lived.
January 17, 2011
Historical romance in this case means that the author put the characters in fancy dresses and in a country estate, instead of jeans and high rise in the city. Other than that, no other historical accuracy here! Still, as a romance novel, it was cute, clean, simple and very easy to read. If you are looking for 'brain food', better look elsewhere...
November 5, 2013
3.5 stars. I liked the story overall. I thought when the hero was telling his ex-fiancé how he found her in a "compromised" position was pretty descriptive and it took away from the cuteness of the story for me. But I liked the heroine, I thought she was a good person and I liked her spunky personality. But my favorite character was the Grandmother, she was fun!
February 17, 2016
Fun, fast read. I really liked this book! I felt like the end was very abrupt though. I wish it had been several chapters longer. It almost felt like maybe the author was on a time crunch and so she hurriedly threw together the end. It was disappointing, because I had really grown to admire the characters and wanted their end to feel more comfortably tied up. Other than that, I really enjoyed it!
April 18, 2016
This book was a random library wondering stacks find about a viscount who's grandmother sends a letter sounding like she's dying to her favorite single grandson. He decides that to happy that he needs to find a fake fiancee. He finds an orphaned teacher who he decides will fit the bill. And of course, they are perfect for each other.
March 5, 2009
When Damion Templeton, Viscount Woodhurst, commissions Alix Adams, a young, penniless schoolteacher, to pose as his fiancée until his grandmother dies, he has no idea that his aunt is not dying and that the schoolteacher will steal his heart in this historical romance set in 18th-century England.
July 23, 2011
I really enjoy this author's writing, a real page-turner. I gave it four stars because it did have more language than I care for.
Moral Note: Some innuendos and talk about brothels, language (quite a few "gosh", a few heck, dang, and a$$, and 1 "b".) Not for teen readers.
Moral Note: Some innuendos and talk about brothels, language (quite a few "gosh", a few heck, dang, and a$$, and 1 "b".) Not for teen readers.
May 27, 2014
3.5 stars What a cute read! I read it all in one sitting because I couldn't put it down until I made sure it ended with a great "happily ever after!"
Language: mostly clean, a few swear words, heat level: mild
Language: mostly clean, a few swear words, heat level: mild
July 13, 2010
just a random pick up at the library, so far so good, very Jane Eyer'ish. Quick and easy read, really enjoyed it!
April 3, 2012
Such a good book I really liked it,it was a fast read I finished it in a day but I really liked the story.
May 5, 2012
This is the second book by this author, and is also an enjoyable historic romance. I especially liked the heroine trying to save the poor ducks.
April 25, 2015
Charming story set in 1800's England. Fast read and quite enjoyed the characters and storyline. Fun read! Clean, yay!
May 15, 2017
cute, funny
April 27, 2017
Quick read. Fast, fun and engaging.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews