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Secrets #1
Seductive Secrets
To survive, she'll have to trust him with all her secrets. The Secrets Trilogy book 1 Nick is back. After eight years of facing public scandal and private humiliation with her head held high, Isobel's courage fails when the man she never stopped loving returns and asks her to marry him. Once he discovers her secret, he won't visit her bed more than once. And she can't bear his rejection. Nicholas, Marquis of Cardington, is confident he can cope with the baggage Isobel carries from her first marriage. It doesn't matter that the beautiful widow once left him to elope with another man. After all, he was partly to blame for that disaster. All that matters is he has always loved her, and now she's free to accept his proposal. Only on their wedding night does Nick learn the terrible secret Isobel has harbored for eight long years. To win his wife's trust will take every ounce of tenderness he possesses-when what he really wants is to show her the passion he saved for her and her alone. But just as Isobel begins to believe her heart is safe with Nick, the blackmailers who drove her first husband to suicide reappear. And they want their pound of flesh. Isobel must finally trust Nick will all her secrets-and her life-or their enemies will destroy them both. Keep a man handy for judicious use during the graphic sensual sex scenes. A fire extinguisher might be useful, too.
262 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2009
11 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Connolly
132 books311 followersI was born in Leicester, England, and lived in our cobbler’s shop with my parents and sister. It was an old house and most definitely haunted, but I didn’t find out until I left that my great uncle had hung himself in the living room! But I think our ghost might have been older than that. It was built on the site of the old Roman cemetery, and the land had been constantly inhabited, being in the centre of town. Then, when the council bought the house from us to build a road, my grandfather retired and my father went and worked for the Post Office. My mother was a sample machinist; that is, she worked with designers on the prototypes (models or samples) of garments. So I was very well dressed! We bought a relatively modern house in the country, and my mother was blissfully happy. It’s all very well living in a large old house, but it’s a dreadful task to keep it clean and warm!
My mother's side of the family are Romany gypsies, although sadly we haven't any of the old trailers that are so astonishingly beautiful. I was taught to read the Tarot cards, and I usually use two packs; the Rider pack for simple readings and the Crowley Thoth pack for the complex stuff.
I've always had an interest in the paranormal and it's been a delight to be able to put some of this into my novels.
My mother's side of the family are Romany gypsies, although sadly we haven't any of the old trailers that are so astonishingly beautiful. I was taught to read the Tarot cards, and I usually use two packs; the Rider pack for simple readings and the Crowley Thoth pack for the complex stuff.
I've always had an interest in the paranormal and it's been a delight to be able to put some of this into my novels.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 30, 2009
Okay, so a review said this was a hot romance novel. I say, not any more then any other romance novel. Connolly is a quick read, and interesting. Each of her books have a handful of characters that really catch your interest.
March 21, 2018
This trilogy is such a comfort read for me. I periodically reread all three books, even though my TBR pile is threatening to topple over and bury me.
July 10, 2017
First read 2012.
Reread July 2017.
Reread July 2017.
November 12, 2017
I didn't love everything about this book. I found the characters interesting but not particularly likable. I was hooked by the plot and I'm going to try another book by this author.
June 25, 2022
Have it paperback love it.
September 5, 2011
I’ve read Ms Connolly’s Richard and Rose series and loved it to death. Now I’m loving this series to death. Ms Connolly is so adept at writing historicals that I can’t fail to fall in love with every one of them once I start reading. I love the way, with her historicals, she has a mystery that needs solving. Also love the way she has a large cast of characters yet I never get lost as to who is who. I think it’s because she imprints each one so firmly in my mind upon their first appearance—what they look like, how they act, who they are to the main characters—that the next time they appear I remember them instantly. Everyone comes together at certain points during the mystery solving, and it really creates such a gorgeous blending of people all out to find the truth that I sigh with contentment at finding an author who ticks every single historical box for me.
The arcs of Nick and Isobel are wonderful. Nick, jilted by Isobel years ago, went on to bed many women in a bid to forget the one woman he’d ever truly loved. Isobel suffered a marriage of hell with the man she eloped with after jilting Nick. This could be called karma biting her on the bottom, or it could be called a huge mistake in life, or even events between herself and Nick, which caused her to jilt him, sending them both in directions they never should have taken. It all makes for a delicious, tense, emotional journey when they get back together.
People don’t understand why Nick would want to marry the woman who jilted him, but love is a powerful thing, and no matter what happened in the past, he can no longer run away from the fact that he adores Isobel. She, on the other hand, is a somewhat frightened lady due to the horrors she suffered with her now-dead husband, Harry. He killed himself—and boy, do you want to know why. Isobel is shocked to discover the real reason behind why she was treated as she was, and after she marries Nick, the past that she thought she’d laid firmly to rest returns to haunt her in the form of some nasty piece of work sending her letters that never should have found their way into the blackmailer’s hands.
Isobel’s apprehension on their wedding night is totally understandable, and ladies, Nick’s reaction will melt your heart. At that point, I adored him myself, and I smiled knowing I could join them on their journey where he taught Isobel that sex wasn’t a dirty thing but something to be treasured.
As always (and I love this fact!), we have a baddie, one written so incredibly well that dislike will ooze out of you every time this person appears. And then we have the “whodunit?”, where you try and work out what the hell happened and who was responsible, only to find you were wrong all along. This part of reading a Ms Connolly book is so engrossing—my fave part when I have to shock that I was wrong, yet at the same time a pleasurable discovery because then all the clues slot into place.
Top image: As the travel-stained vehicle drew to a halt, the great doors at the top of the sweeping flight of stairs were thrown open and an august personage emerged from the darkness within.
Top image #2: …she leaned forward to impart a confidence, her smooth round shoulders rising gently out of her gown…
Top image #3: He put his finger to his lips, musing, and then spun back to face Hugh, his coat swirling about him with the sudden movement.
Top sound: Isobel looked up as the gentle hiss of petticoats heralded the arrival of Miss Marwick.
An absolutely wonderful read once again from Ms Connelly. I won’t lie, I am a huge fan. She takes me back in time to a place where I see all the lovely furniture, the clothing, the manners, the workings of a household with maids and whatnot— the whole historical shebang. She was, in my opinion, born to write these books. Stunning author, stunning plots, and one extremely happy reader! Join me in the Lynne Connolly Appreciation Society! Get yourself over to Samhain and purchase a Lynne Connolly historical title today. I’ll even say I guarantee you’ll love whatever you pick.
The arcs of Nick and Isobel are wonderful. Nick, jilted by Isobel years ago, went on to bed many women in a bid to forget the one woman he’d ever truly loved. Isobel suffered a marriage of hell with the man she eloped with after jilting Nick. This could be called karma biting her on the bottom, or it could be called a huge mistake in life, or even events between herself and Nick, which caused her to jilt him, sending them both in directions they never should have taken. It all makes for a delicious, tense, emotional journey when they get back together.
People don’t understand why Nick would want to marry the woman who jilted him, but love is a powerful thing, and no matter what happened in the past, he can no longer run away from the fact that he adores Isobel. She, on the other hand, is a somewhat frightened lady due to the horrors she suffered with her now-dead husband, Harry. He killed himself—and boy, do you want to know why. Isobel is shocked to discover the real reason behind why she was treated as she was, and after she marries Nick, the past that she thought she’d laid firmly to rest returns to haunt her in the form of some nasty piece of work sending her letters that never should have found their way into the blackmailer’s hands.
Isobel’s apprehension on their wedding night is totally understandable, and ladies, Nick’s reaction will melt your heart. At that point, I adored him myself, and I smiled knowing I could join them on their journey where he taught Isobel that sex wasn’t a dirty thing but something to be treasured.
As always (and I love this fact!), we have a baddie, one written so incredibly well that dislike will ooze out of you every time this person appears. And then we have the “whodunit?”, where you try and work out what the hell happened and who was responsible, only to find you were wrong all along. This part of reading a Ms Connolly book is so engrossing—my fave part when I have to shock that I was wrong, yet at the same time a pleasurable discovery because then all the clues slot into place.
Top image: As the travel-stained vehicle drew to a halt, the great doors at the top of the sweeping flight of stairs were thrown open and an august personage emerged from the darkness within.
Top image #2: …she leaned forward to impart a confidence, her smooth round shoulders rising gently out of her gown…
Top image #3: He put his finger to his lips, musing, and then spun back to face Hugh, his coat swirling about him with the sudden movement.
Top sound: Isobel looked up as the gentle hiss of petticoats heralded the arrival of Miss Marwick.
An absolutely wonderful read once again from Ms Connelly. I won’t lie, I am a huge fan. She takes me back in time to a place where I see all the lovely furniture, the clothing, the manners, the workings of a household with maids and whatnot— the whole historical shebang. She was, in my opinion, born to write these books. Stunning author, stunning plots, and one extremely happy reader! Join me in the Lynne Connolly Appreciation Society! Get yourself over to Samhain and purchase a Lynne Connolly historical title today. I’ll even say I guarantee you’ll love whatever you pick.
January 14, 2011
Seductive Secrets was a fun and fast read. I like Lynne Connolly's writing style. Previously I've read 2 of her 'Richard and Rose' books from another of her series and found them enjoyable as well.
In Seductive Secrets the main male lead Nick fell in love with Isobel when she was 14 and he was 18 and he wanted to marry her... But as we well know in these romances, nothing ever works out as it should!
After he slept his way through London and she ran off with a man who had no interest in her as a woman... They finally get together... but of course her self esteem was rock bottom and he was the perfect hero who loved her, who always loved her and had no problem with taking things slowly and showing her she is to be loved and worth the wait...in the meanwhile one of his former mistresses (who is married to his cousin and heir lives in the same house!) This mistress was determined to get Nick back in her bed and did all kinds of things to make you hate her! There was blackmail and suicide and more blackmail and more suicide... It was a twist here and a turn there until the very end...
No rocket science here and certainly not a literary masterpiece but it kept me wanting to turn the next page which is a good thing.
In Seductive Secrets the main male lead Nick fell in love with Isobel when she was 14 and he was 18 and he wanted to marry her... But as we well know in these romances, nothing ever works out as it should!
After he slept his way through London and she ran off with a man who had no interest in her as a woman... They finally get together... but of course her self esteem was rock bottom and he was the perfect hero who loved her, who always loved her and had no problem with taking things slowly and showing her she is to be loved and worth the wait...in the meanwhile one of his former mistresses (who is married to his cousin and heir lives in the same house!) This mistress was determined to get Nick back in her bed and did all kinds of things to make you hate her! There was blackmail and suicide and more blackmail and more suicide... It was a twist here and a turn there until the very end...
No rocket science here and certainly not a literary masterpiece but it kept me wanting to turn the next page which is a good thing.
May 17, 2012
3 and a half stars
March 17, 2013
This is not a hot romance novel as they sell it. Okay read, could be shorter.
historical
January 3, 2019To survive, she ll have to trust him with all her secrets.
The Secrets Trilogy book 1
Nick is back.
After eight years of facing public scandal and private humiliation with her head held high, Isobel s courage fails when the man she never stopped loving returns and asks her to marry him. Once he discovers her secret, he won t visit her bed more than once. And she can t bear his rejection.
Nicholas, Marquis of Cardington, is confident he can cope with the baggage Isobel carries from her first marriage. It doesn t matter that the beautiful widow once left him to elope with another man. After all, he was partly to blame for that disaster. All that matters is he has always loved her, and now she s free to accept his proposal.
Only on their wedding night does Nick learn the terrible secret Isobel has harbored for eight long years. To win his wife s trust will take every ounce of tenderness he possesses when what he really wants is to show her the passion he saved for her and her alone.
But just as Isobel begins to believe her heart is safe with Nick, the blackmailers who drove her first husband to suicide reappear. And they want their pound of flesh.
Isobel must finally trust Nick will all her secrets and her life or their enemies will destroy them both."
The Secrets Trilogy book 1
Nick is back.
After eight years of facing public scandal and private humiliation with her head held high, Isobel s courage fails when the man she never stopped loving returns and asks her to marry him. Once he discovers her secret, he won t visit her bed more than once. And she can t bear his rejection.
Nicholas, Marquis of Cardington, is confident he can cope with the baggage Isobel carries from her first marriage. It doesn t matter that the beautiful widow once left him to elope with another man. After all, he was partly to blame for that disaster. All that matters is he has always loved her, and now she s free to accept his proposal.
Only on their wedding night does Nick learn the terrible secret Isobel has harbored for eight long years. To win his wife s trust will take every ounce of tenderness he possesses when what he really wants is to show her the passion he saved for her and her alone.
But just as Isobel begins to believe her heart is safe with Nick, the blackmailers who drove her first husband to suicide reappear. And they want their pound of flesh.
Isobel must finally trust Nick will all her secrets and her life or their enemies will destroy them both."
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews