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The Secrets of the Heart
In Regency England, Lord Christian St. Clair leads a double life as an eligible society bachelor and as the Peacock, a mysterious champion of the poor, and engages in a dangerous and romantic flirtation with Gabrielle Laurence
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
16 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Kasey Michaels
307 books540 followersKasey Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books (she doesn't count them). Kasey has received three coveted Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, two for the historical romances, THE SECRETS OF THE HEART and THE BUTLER DID IT, and a third for contemporary romance LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (that shows diversity, you see). She is a recipient of the RITA, a Waldenbooks and Bookrak Bestseller award, and many awards from Romantic Times magazine, including a Career Achievement award for her Regency era historical romances. She is an Honor Roll author in Romance Writers of America, Inc. (RWA)
Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").
A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.
Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!
Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls
Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").
A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.
Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!
Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 14, 2007
Romance. Another attempt by me to read romance. Another failed attempt. I wanted to like this, I really did: it's one of Eliza’s favorites, and the premise sounded really fun: Christian St. Clair is a foppish, shallow, fashion-obsessed society darling (read: gaygaygay!); little do his upper-class admirers know, he’s also the Peacock, a Robin Hood-like defender of the poor (read: and a manly man! In the height of his manliness!). Also there’s some girl and they fall in love and stuff. That sounds like a good read, right?
Well, it wasn’t—at least not for me. I never liked Christian—I found him to be one of the least-convincing Robin Hood-types ever, possibly because the majority of the book takes place in high society; Michaels apparently just trusts us to assume that the Peacock’s daring-do is daring-done while we’re not looking. I also never felt like I got a handle on his love interest, Gabrielle (who Michaels randomly starts referring to as Gaby in the narration for one chapter before going back to using Gabrielle again; see my review of Bimbos of the Death Sun for more about how that DRIVES ME CRAZY). Much of the plot depends on Christian thinking Gabrielle is dumb, and then there are multiple reveals of “No, really she’s clever! She’s known all along!” despite the fact that the only examples we see of her reasoning are much closer to the “dumb” end of the scale. The whole thing—plot, characterization, the witty repartee that’s really not that witty—just seems so faux.
And then there’s one of the stupidest third-act plot moves I’ve ever seen. Also a lame and far too-easy resolution. Though I suppose, in the book’s favor, the sex scenes weren’t as awful as in Romancing Mister Bridgerton?
I was relieved to be done with this. That’s really not the reaction you want to have.
Well, it wasn’t—at least not for me. I never liked Christian—I found him to be one of the least-convincing Robin Hood-types ever, possibly because the majority of the book takes place in high society; Michaels apparently just trusts us to assume that the Peacock’s daring-do is daring-done while we’re not looking. I also never felt like I got a handle on his love interest, Gabrielle (who Michaels randomly starts referring to as Gaby in the narration for one chapter before going back to using Gabrielle again; see my review of Bimbos of the Death Sun for more about how that DRIVES ME CRAZY). Much of the plot depends on Christian thinking Gabrielle is dumb, and then there are multiple reveals of “No, really she’s clever! She’s known all along!” despite the fact that the only examples we see of her reasoning are much closer to the “dumb” end of the scale. The whole thing—plot, characterization, the witty repartee that’s really not that witty—just seems so faux.
And then there’s one of the stupidest third-act plot moves I’ve ever seen. Also a lame and far too-easy resolution. Though I suppose, in the book’s favor, the sex scenes weren’t as awful as in Romancing Mister Bridgerton?
I was relieved to be done with this. That’s really not the reaction you want to have.
Read
August 19, 2018Lord, Baron Christian St. Clair was 6 ft. 3, blonde and single. He as soon was part of the ton when he was old enough he spoke up in Parliament about the state of the poor in England. He was ridiculed and left the country for a few years. He returned a different person. This time around he dressed in bright colors and acted like he didn't have a care in the world. He was accepted by the ton and was very popular. People copied his dress and asked his opinion on lots of things. If he didn't like a play, the play failed. Christian enjoyed his popularity immensely. He still few for the poor people and behind the people's backs he did whatever he could to help them. He felt he was getting further by using action this time rather than words.
Christian was known as 'The Peacock'. He visited the owners of mills and employers of the labor class of people. He forced them to not hire children and raise their wages while insisting on reducing their work hours. There was one in particular that he was currently pestering. He burned Symington's house down and when that didn't work for this mill owner, he snuck into his house and took him outside naked. He tied him up to a fountain in the town's square. It was an overnight trip and no one suspected him.
Gabrielle Laurence had red hair and St. Clair's attention to her had made her popular this Season. She was in London trying to find a rich husband in order to keep her property. Her father gambled what little he had and Gabrielle needed money to try and hold on to what he had left her. She was waiting for him to sell her home and she wouldn't have anyplace to go should that happen. She had brought her friend Elizabeth to stay with her.
Gabrielle and St. Clair often argued. She insisted that she hated him but felt funny inside when he was around. She didn't know what that meant. She thought that St. Clair disliked her too and was surprised when others mentioned that he might be falling for her. She tried not to think about it but realized that she might be falling in love with him. He had already realized that he might be in love with her and was doing his best to forget about her. Gabrielle might just be his downfall should they get too close.
Gabrielle was getting to know St. Clair through their conversations. She guessed that he might be smarter than he let on. She made references to him being 'The Peacock' not realizing that just how accurate she was. St. Clair's friends were getting worried about Christian, Kit, getting to close to getting himself caught. They felt that Christian was enjoying the attention he was getting by the ton to stop what he was doing. They didn't want him to lose sight of the cause he was pursuing.
Kit was good at planning out how to do things and thinking on his feet. He and his three friends rescued a man blamed for setting the fire to Symington's house. He got his information from a mill worker's wife, Sal. Her husband had been smashed in a mill accident and the owners didn't pay his wife for her loss. She was even sent a bill for the loss of the carpet that he had died on. Kit had to set up a rescue for her too.
Christian realized that he had to throw Gabrielle off his trail so he arranged to kidnap her while she thought she was being brought to meet 'Peacock'. Christian didn't realize that she was certain it was him in part due to when they left his home heading out to the country, his butler gave away his secret. Gabrielle was watching as he pointed to Christian's coat and held up a peacock feather.
Kit invited Gabrielle for a ride the day before he took her and Elizabeth went along as a chaperone. Elizabeth was walking by herself giving Kit and Gabrielle time to talk when she came upon a poor family. Elizabeth purchased a 6 yr old Lily from her parents. The evening that Kit had arranged to take Gabrielle away with him, he invited her to dinner and they three women showed up. One of Kit's friends, George Trumble, had also been invited saying he wanted to meet Elizabeth. He had heard what she had done in saving the young girl and wanted to meet her.
They met and Kit arranged for George, Elizabeth and Lily to eat in a separate room while he convinced Gabrielle to go with him in order for her to meet 'the Peacock'. She saw Frapple's message and wondered how long Christian was going to pretend that the peacock was someone else. Gabrielle had told Kit that she wanted to help the peacock on one of his adventures and went along with the pretense. He was trying to scare her off and found that she could cook and clean. He realized that there was more to Gabrielle than being wealthy. George had mentioned that she wasn't just a rich girl like most of the ton members.
Kit found out that Sal had been arrested and he needed Gabrielle's help to get her out of jail. He didn't want too but he felt like he was out of options. He dressed her as a whore and she got the jailer with the key away from the building so that the peacock could get the key and get to Sal. The poor of the community were determined to storm Symington's townhouse because he refused to treat them as the peacock had instructed. Kit didn't want any bloodshed so he set up an explosion to take place thus destroying the townhouse. The town's members couldn't storm the house now so Symington wouldn't get hurt. He and another member of the ton, Lord Buxley, were having dinner in the house but the servants had all been warned and had left the property. Gabrielle, dressed as a whore, ran into and knocked Lord Buxley down when she saw him headed for the jail building with a weapon. This allowed Christian time to get away safely while grabbing her on his way. He passed Sal off to his friends to take her safely away while he headed back to the cabin with Gabrielle. She had noticed one of the men dressed up as the peacock while they were on their adventure. She also noticed that he had trouble mounting and dismounting from his horse. It was Kit's butler, Frapple.
They went back to the cabin and Gabrielle insisted that she needed a bath. They had to go to a nearby pond. Kit knew it was going to be difficult to be with Gabrielle while she bathed and them both being alone without clothes. She told him that she couldn't swim. She knew he was watching her after she told him not to and went under the water. He came to her rescue to find out that she had planned it that way. They ended up kissing and made love on the bank that night. She insisted he admitted to being the peacock and telling her that he loved her. She admitted that she was in love with him too.
They were together for a few more days and had been invited to dine at Lord Buxley's. They spoke about getting married and he told her that there was no way she was getting out of that taking place and soon. They were worried that Lord Buxley might recognize her but Christian told her that he had plans to distract him.
Gabrielle told Kit that she had enough adventure after the rescue to last her for a lifetime and Kit knew that he was also through being 'The Peacock'. He didn't want anyone to get hurt and it was getting to dangerous. He felt that if he were to continue, lives would be lost and that wasn't what he wanted.
They were preparing to go to Lord Buxley's for dinner when Elizabeth and Gabrielle talked. Elizabeth told her that George had bought the three mills owned by Symington and he would be running them. Her and George were going to be married and they were going to try and find Lily's brothers and sisters to bring them into their house. Gabrielle told Elizabeth that she was going to be marrying Christian. They then left for dinner telling Frapple to prepare dinner for them because they would be back within two hours.
They went to dinner and after some time, Lord Buxley brought up the fact that Gabrielle had been seen in Little Pillington on the night that Sal escaped. Christian announced to Ariana that her father also owned mills and told him she was ashamed of him. Christian went on to explain that Lord Buxley was there on the pretense of arresting Sal and finding the peacock when he himself was 'The Peacock'. Anthony protested by the costume the peacock wore was in his bedroom and there was also the clothes worn by Gabrielle that night along with a red haired wig. Kit told everyone that Buxley was the peacock and Ariana had helped him. The clothes were all the proof they needed. Ariana was shocked but knew there was no way out. Kit told them that they needed to elope and head maybe to America to live out the rest of their lives. Ariana's father would never take her back in for fear of others finding out about the mills. He was also forced to resign from the government for fear that Kit would tell others. Kit was going back to Parliament as a member.
Elizabeth passed out and missed most of the conversation as Kit twisted the truth to make Buxley and Ariana appear to be lovers working together. They all had a good laugh while they headed back to Christian's home for dinner.
They were heading upstairs when Gabrielle mentioned to Frapple that she would send some liniment delivered to him for his soreness from riding as the peacock that night. Kit was surprised to learn that Gabrielle had known it was him pretending to be the peacock. He asked her how long she had known who the peacock was. She assured him that she knew before they first slept together.
Christian was known as 'The Peacock'. He visited the owners of mills and employers of the labor class of people. He forced them to not hire children and raise their wages while insisting on reducing their work hours. There was one in particular that he was currently pestering. He burned Symington's house down and when that didn't work for this mill owner, he snuck into his house and took him outside naked. He tied him up to a fountain in the town's square. It was an overnight trip and no one suspected him.
Gabrielle Laurence had red hair and St. Clair's attention to her had made her popular this Season. She was in London trying to find a rich husband in order to keep her property. Her father gambled what little he had and Gabrielle needed money to try and hold on to what he had left her. She was waiting for him to sell her home and she wouldn't have anyplace to go should that happen. She had brought her friend Elizabeth to stay with her.
Gabrielle and St. Clair often argued. She insisted that she hated him but felt funny inside when he was around. She didn't know what that meant. She thought that St. Clair disliked her too and was surprised when others mentioned that he might be falling for her. She tried not to think about it but realized that she might be falling in love with him. He had already realized that he might be in love with her and was doing his best to forget about her. Gabrielle might just be his downfall should they get too close.
Gabrielle was getting to know St. Clair through their conversations. She guessed that he might be smarter than he let on. She made references to him being 'The Peacock' not realizing that just how accurate she was. St. Clair's friends were getting worried about Christian, Kit, getting to close to getting himself caught. They felt that Christian was enjoying the attention he was getting by the ton to stop what he was doing. They didn't want him to lose sight of the cause he was pursuing.
Kit was good at planning out how to do things and thinking on his feet. He and his three friends rescued a man blamed for setting the fire to Symington's house. He got his information from a mill worker's wife, Sal. Her husband had been smashed in a mill accident and the owners didn't pay his wife for her loss. She was even sent a bill for the loss of the carpet that he had died on. Kit had to set up a rescue for her too.
Christian realized that he had to throw Gabrielle off his trail so he arranged to kidnap her while she thought she was being brought to meet 'Peacock'. Christian didn't realize that she was certain it was him in part due to when they left his home heading out to the country, his butler gave away his secret. Gabrielle was watching as he pointed to Christian's coat and held up a peacock feather.
Kit invited Gabrielle for a ride the day before he took her and Elizabeth went along as a chaperone. Elizabeth was walking by herself giving Kit and Gabrielle time to talk when she came upon a poor family. Elizabeth purchased a 6 yr old Lily from her parents. The evening that Kit had arranged to take Gabrielle away with him, he invited her to dinner and they three women showed up. One of Kit's friends, George Trumble, had also been invited saying he wanted to meet Elizabeth. He had heard what she had done in saving the young girl and wanted to meet her.
They met and Kit arranged for George, Elizabeth and Lily to eat in a separate room while he convinced Gabrielle to go with him in order for her to meet 'the Peacock'. She saw Frapple's message and wondered how long Christian was going to pretend that the peacock was someone else. Gabrielle had told Kit that she wanted to help the peacock on one of his adventures and went along with the pretense. He was trying to scare her off and found that she could cook and clean. He realized that there was more to Gabrielle than being wealthy. George had mentioned that she wasn't just a rich girl like most of the ton members.
Kit found out that Sal had been arrested and he needed Gabrielle's help to get her out of jail. He didn't want too but he felt like he was out of options. He dressed her as a whore and she got the jailer with the key away from the building so that the peacock could get the key and get to Sal. The poor of the community were determined to storm Symington's townhouse because he refused to treat them as the peacock had instructed. Kit didn't want any bloodshed so he set up an explosion to take place thus destroying the townhouse. The town's members couldn't storm the house now so Symington wouldn't get hurt. He and another member of the ton, Lord Buxley, were having dinner in the house but the servants had all been warned and had left the property. Gabrielle, dressed as a whore, ran into and knocked Lord Buxley down when she saw him headed for the jail building with a weapon. This allowed Christian time to get away safely while grabbing her on his way. He passed Sal off to his friends to take her safely away while he headed back to the cabin with Gabrielle. She had noticed one of the men dressed up as the peacock while they were on their adventure. She also noticed that he had trouble mounting and dismounting from his horse. It was Kit's butler, Frapple.
They went back to the cabin and Gabrielle insisted that she needed a bath. They had to go to a nearby pond. Kit knew it was going to be difficult to be with Gabrielle while she bathed and them both being alone without clothes. She told him that she couldn't swim. She knew he was watching her after she told him not to and went under the water. He came to her rescue to find out that she had planned it that way. They ended up kissing and made love on the bank that night. She insisted he admitted to being the peacock and telling her that he loved her. She admitted that she was in love with him too.
They were together for a few more days and had been invited to dine at Lord Buxley's. They spoke about getting married and he told her that there was no way she was getting out of that taking place and soon. They were worried that Lord Buxley might recognize her but Christian told her that he had plans to distract him.
Gabrielle told Kit that she had enough adventure after the rescue to last her for a lifetime and Kit knew that he was also through being 'The Peacock'. He didn't want anyone to get hurt and it was getting to dangerous. He felt that if he were to continue, lives would be lost and that wasn't what he wanted.
They were preparing to go to Lord Buxley's for dinner when Elizabeth and Gabrielle talked. Elizabeth told her that George had bought the three mills owned by Symington and he would be running them. Her and George were going to be married and they were going to try and find Lily's brothers and sisters to bring them into their house. Gabrielle told Elizabeth that she was going to be marrying Christian. They then left for dinner telling Frapple to prepare dinner for them because they would be back within two hours.
They went to dinner and after some time, Lord Buxley brought up the fact that Gabrielle had been seen in Little Pillington on the night that Sal escaped. Christian announced to Ariana that her father also owned mills and told him she was ashamed of him. Christian went on to explain that Lord Buxley was there on the pretense of arresting Sal and finding the peacock when he himself was 'The Peacock'. Anthony protested by the costume the peacock wore was in his bedroom and there was also the clothes worn by Gabrielle that night along with a red haired wig. Kit told everyone that Buxley was the peacock and Ariana had helped him. The clothes were all the proof they needed. Ariana was shocked but knew there was no way out. Kit told them that they needed to elope and head maybe to America to live out the rest of their lives. Ariana's father would never take her back in for fear of others finding out about the mills. He was also forced to resign from the government for fear that Kit would tell others. Kit was going back to Parliament as a member.
Elizabeth passed out and missed most of the conversation as Kit twisted the truth to make Buxley and Ariana appear to be lovers working together. They all had a good laugh while they headed back to Christian's home for dinner.
They were heading upstairs when Gabrielle mentioned to Frapple that she would send some liniment delivered to him for his soreness from riding as the peacock that night. Kit was surprised to learn that Gabrielle had known it was him pretending to be the peacock. He asked her how long she had known who the peacock was. She assured him that she knew before they first slept together.
January 4, 2018
Give me one good reason why this book was written and also I should think that there is something very wrong with me that I spent so much time reading this book possibly because I expected a lot from this author.
This is an American writer' s version of The Scarlet pimpernel -a really bad version. The moment the hero enters on the stage saying sacree tonnerre whatever it means- no French Man would recognise those words but Americans sure would because that is their idea of how French is spelt. And then there is one of the hero' s friends who keeps winking and when anybody asks him why he is winking he says am I winking ?
Then there is the heroine ' s stupid swooning friend who keeps dangerous letters and lists around so that they can very easily fall in the hands of the Enemies but then that is what you are going to expect from a totally ridiculous story. I had nothing better to do so so I managed to go through 45 pages but after that I said 'no more no more' because I don't like to make myself suffer.
This is an American writer' s version of The Scarlet pimpernel -a really bad version. The moment the hero enters on the stage saying sacree tonnerre whatever it means- no French Man would recognise those words but Americans sure would because that is their idea of how French is spelt. And then there is one of the hero' s friends who keeps winking and when anybody asks him why he is winking he says am I winking ?
Then there is the heroine ' s stupid swooning friend who keeps dangerous letters and lists around so that they can very easily fall in the hands of the Enemies but then that is what you are going to expect from a totally ridiculous story. I had nothing better to do so so I managed to go through 45 pages but after that I said 'no more no more' because I don't like to make myself suffer.
April 27, 2019
This book is an 'updated' version of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Why the author thought anyone would be interested in rehashing an old story is beyond me. I finished the story but without much interest.
Christian St Clair is the fop of the ton; he is fashionably dressed, endlessly entertaining, and spends his midnight hours trying to make things easier for the downtrodden in Great Brittain. Everyone wants to find out who THE PEACOCK is -- some to see him hang and others want to bask in his reflected persona.
The first half of the story was fairly interesting, then it devolved into a mish-mash of various events.
Christian St Clair is the fop of the ton; he is fashionably dressed, endlessly entertaining, and spends his midnight hours trying to make things easier for the downtrodden in Great Brittain. Everyone wants to find out who THE PEACOCK is -- some to see him hang and others want to bask in his reflected persona.
The first half of the story was fairly interesting, then it devolved into a mish-mash of various events.
September 3, 2013
At first I really liked it. Though it was a rather trite plot (think Scarlet Pimpernel), the characters were kind of interesting. And the girl meets boy, girl hates boy, girl loves boy (and vice versa) back and forth was touching at first. But the love scenes were unnecessary to the story line and lacking in any believable passion. I'm not a total prude, and I realize that much historical fiction includes sex. But this wasn't done tastefully or well.
October 7, 2021
dnf, enough said
August 8, 2021
Grazie a questo libro ho avuto l'opportunità di conoscere questa scrittrice. Sotto molti punti la trama può ricordare il famoso romanzo "La primula rossa" di Emma Orczcy con la differenza che il romanzo è ambientato interamente in Inghilterra, il nome dell'eroe è Il Pavone e si batte per salvare i lavoratori delle fabbriche che sono costretti a lavorare in pessime condizioni e con salari da fame.
Per la prima metà del libro mi sono un po' annoiata forse perché mi sembrava alquanto familiare vedere il protagonista maschile vanesio in società e di notte pieno di ideali che lotta contro i soprusi. Devo dire però che alla fine si è rivelato più movimentato e appassionante.
Il livello di sensualità è chiaramente bassino, inoltre, la storia è stato più incentrata sulle vicende de "Il Pavone" e della sua lotta contro i padroni delle fabbriche. E' stata perfino aggiunta un'ulteriore simpatia tra due personaggi secondari.
Il cattivo di turno è solo incaricato di catturare il nostro eroe ma non è proprio un vero malvagio (non uccide né è violento o sadico) è solo un fervente conservatore. Dunque ho trovato la soluzione finale decisamente troppo ingiusta ma la scelta è stata fatta per dare la possibilità ai due protagonisti di uscirne indenni. Sono contenta invece per il trattamento riservato a Lady Ariana (Il personaggio negativo).
In conclusione, mi aspettavo di meglio.
Per la prima metà del libro mi sono un po' annoiata forse perché mi sembrava alquanto familiare vedere il protagonista maschile vanesio in società e di notte pieno di ideali che lotta contro i soprusi. Devo dire però che alla fine si è rivelato più movimentato e appassionante.
Il livello di sensualità è chiaramente bassino, inoltre, la storia è stato più incentrata sulle vicende de "Il Pavone" e della sua lotta contro i padroni delle fabbriche. E' stata perfino aggiunta un'ulteriore simpatia tra due personaggi secondari.
Il cattivo di turno è solo incaricato di catturare il nostro eroe ma non è proprio un vero malvagio (non uccide né è violento o sadico) è solo un fervente conservatore. Dunque ho trovato la soluzione finale decisamente troppo ingiusta ma la scelta è stata fatta per dare la possibilità ai due protagonisti di uscirne indenni. Sono contenta invece per il trattamento riservato a Lady Ariana (Il personaggio negativo).
In conclusione, mi aspettavo di meglio.
May 15, 2023
When first starting this book, I instantly found it being established as a mashup of familiar vibes - A Christmas Carol meets Robin Hood meets Bridgerton. Unfortunately, the excitement at this prospect was quickly dashed as the story became dull and the characters hard to like. Instead of finding a Wesley (Princess Bride) or Stede Bonnet (OFMD) duo-like personas, Christian a.k.a. the Peacock came off as more like Gilderoy Lockhart (Harry Potter). Gabrielle was hard to pinpoint what she was like as new bits of information were revealed from her being Christian's favorite for the season (thus his supposed patronage), the background of her family, and the adventurous side of her as she dives further into the mystery of the Peacock. While certain scenes of their romance was charming, they felt seperate rather than a chain of events to their eventual happily ever after; I would have liked to have seen and known more on how Christian came to know of Gabrielle in the first place to rally her during the season. Overall, while an interesting concept, I didn't feel it was conveyed very well; I especially noticed this when I only spent a couple days away from continuing my reading progress and upon returning to the book, I briefly wondered what had happened when I last read as I could not easily recall the events.
May 6, 2018
I think this story must be a tribute to the Scarlet Pimpernel. At least, it reminds me of the classic. It's also a very nice read.
October 30, 2015
THE SECRETS OF THE HEART was a fun Regency romp that reminded me just a little of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. The reminder was aided by a number of beginning of the chapter quotes from Baroness Orczy.
Baron Christian St. Clair is his generations Beau Brummel and Byron. Popularity in the ton rises and falls on St. Clair's whims. He has chosen to elevate to social prominence Gabrielle Laurence who has come to London to find a wealthy husband to save her impoverished estates before her father finally manages to gamble them away. While she is grateful for St. Clair's assistance, she thoroughly dislikes the power that his approval has over her success. The two spend almost every meeting verbally sparring with each other.
Gabrielle's rise to popularity has really put the former star of the ton - Lady ArianaTredway - in an uncomfortable position. She's jealous of Gabrielle's new social prominence and eager to remove St. Clair from his position of power.
Meanwhile, titillating the ton is the Peacock who is riding around and righting wrongs when evil factory owners mistreat their employees. This isn't a good time in England. The soldiers who fought against Napoleon have been mustered out into an economy that has no jobs for them. Besides raids on mill owners, the Peacock pens heart-rending missives to the newspapers which St. Clair delights in quoting. The Tory government wants the Peacock stopped!
Since St. Clair is the Peacock we see how his original good intentions are getting lost in the adrenaline inducing activities that he and his gang of friends are doing. When Gabrielle gets involved, the Peacock decides he has to retire. But there is one more thing he has to do: convince Tory Lord Buxley and the lovely Ariana that their conviction that he is the Peacock is mistaken.
I loved the way Gabrielle and St. Clair go from enemies to lovers. And I loved the complex plot that gave all the good guys a happy ending finally worked out.
Baron Christian St. Clair is his generations Beau Brummel and Byron. Popularity in the ton rises and falls on St. Clair's whims. He has chosen to elevate to social prominence Gabrielle Laurence who has come to London to find a wealthy husband to save her impoverished estates before her father finally manages to gamble them away. While she is grateful for St. Clair's assistance, she thoroughly dislikes the power that his approval has over her success. The two spend almost every meeting verbally sparring with each other.
Gabrielle's rise to popularity has really put the former star of the ton - Lady ArianaTredway - in an uncomfortable position. She's jealous of Gabrielle's new social prominence and eager to remove St. Clair from his position of power.
Meanwhile, titillating the ton is the Peacock who is riding around and righting wrongs when evil factory owners mistreat their employees. This isn't a good time in England. The soldiers who fought against Napoleon have been mustered out into an economy that has no jobs for them. Besides raids on mill owners, the Peacock pens heart-rending missives to the newspapers which St. Clair delights in quoting. The Tory government wants the Peacock stopped!
Since St. Clair is the Peacock we see how his original good intentions are getting lost in the adrenaline inducing activities that he and his gang of friends are doing. When Gabrielle gets involved, the Peacock decides he has to retire. But there is one more thing he has to do: convince Tory Lord Buxley and the lovely Ariana that their conviction that he is the Peacock is mistaken.
I loved the way Gabrielle and St. Clair go from enemies to lovers. And I loved the complex plot that gave all the good guys a happy ending finally worked out.
June 13, 2008
Sigh.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. Unfortunately, the male lead, Christian, was intensely grating. While I recognize he was adopting a persona not unlike Ramon in "Zorro: The Gay Blade" in order to throw off people watching him, the persona was...like Ramon with two cups of annoying added. Gabrielle seemed very cookie-cutter. I actually wanted to get to know some of the friends of the main characters a little better.
Meh. If you are looking for a very predictable Regency, this is probably the stuff.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. Unfortunately, the male lead, Christian, was intensely grating. While I recognize he was adopting a persona not unlike Ramon in "Zorro: The Gay Blade" in order to throw off people watching him, the persona was...like Ramon with two cups of annoying added. Gabrielle seemed very cookie-cutter. I actually wanted to get to know some of the friends of the main characters a little better.
Meh. If you are looking for a very predictable Regency, this is probably the stuff.
December 25, 2017
So, the female mc was starting to get on my nerves, the male mc was a bit better. Frapple was too funny. Overall a nice read, although the ending could've been a bit longer (a few more pages were appreciated).
EDIT: 2nd read on December 2017
Why did I gave three stars to this book?!
I still kind of like this book, kind of. The heroine still get on my nerves for the first half of the book, the same goes for the hero (though, for the second half). Still like Frapple the butler, though. Also, the ending was so-so and not 100% to my taste.
EDIT: 2nd read on December 2017
Why did I gave three stars to this book?!
I still kind of like this book, kind of. The heroine still get on my nerves for the first half of the book, the same goes for the hero (though, for the second half). Still like Frapple the butler, though. Also, the ending was so-so and not 100% to my taste.
November 11, 2011
reminds me of the story of robinhood. peacock championing workers and giving them what they need like money, food, etc. it was confusing at firsy of the identity of the peacock, but it never occured to me that it was frapple. the love story between gabrielle and christian was little, i was expecting that they are on the courting stage, but not since gabrielle dislike christian at first. looking forward to more of kasey's works and hope that it gets better.
August 2, 2016
Once = Good, Twice = Wonderful
Ahh, perhaps encroaching older age & diminished capacity ARE good for something! One can reread great books with the same enthusiasm as youth without a hint of guilt or remorse. And "la", remain in the comfort of ones own home without all the bother of travel. No long lines, security checks, screaming toddlers and their irate mothers. Truly there is always a positive to be found if you just spend the time to look for it.
Ahh, perhaps encroaching older age & diminished capacity ARE good for something! One can reread great books with the same enthusiasm as youth without a hint of guilt or remorse. And "la", remain in the comfort of ones own home without all the bother of travel. No long lines, security checks, screaming toddlers and their irate mothers. Truly there is always a positive to be found if you just spend the time to look for it.
September 30, 2009
Great story, using the Scarlet Pimpernel plot. I just wish the publisher had made this clear somewhere on the book cover. The hero is almost a replica of the original Scarlet Pimpernel, so it would have reassured me that the author wasn't being unoriginal. Instead, she was writing her own version in regency London. Very well written, very engrossing and amusing dialogue.
July 1, 2013
I enjoyed this story, the romance is nicely crafted and the story entertaining, if I wasn't short of space I would have kept hold of this one.
The plot is amusing and very reminiscent of the Scarlet Pimpernel (with quotes from the Baroness as chapter headings)
The plot is amusing and very reminiscent of the Scarlet Pimpernel (with quotes from the Baroness as chapter headings)
July 21, 2015
Beach-read book.
Robin Hood remake.
Robin Hood remake.
Read
June 24, 2018I stopped reading because I'm not interested in a Robin Hood type story where a hero behaves like a villain. Even though the reason is noble.
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