Lord Deverill's Secret

by Amanda Grange

Coming to Brighton to enlist the aid of Lord Deverill, the town's most eligible bachelor, in uncovering the meaning of a mysterious letter she had found among her late brother's belongings, Cassandra Paxton is irresistibly drawn to the handsome aristocrat, unaware that the earl is hiding a secret of his own. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Regency, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Traditional Regency, Mystery

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Amanda Grange was born in Yorkshire and spent her teenage years reading Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer whilst also finding time to study music at Nottingham University. She has had twenty-five novels published including six Jane Austen retellings, which look at events from the heroes' points of view. She has also had two books published under different names: Murder at Whitegates Manor (as Eleanor Tyler; a Regency cosy crime murder mystery) and The Rake (as Amy Watson; a very light and frothy Regency romance).

Woman said of Mr Darcy's Diary: "Lots of fun, this is the tale behind the alpha male," whilst The Washington Post called Mr Knightley's Diary "affectionate". The Historical Novels Review made Captain Wentworth's Diary an Editors' Choice, remarking, "Amanda Grange has hit upon a winning formula."

Austenblog declared that Colonel Brandon's Diary was "the best book yet in her series of heroes' diaries."

Amanda Grange now lives in Cheshire. Her profile photo was taken at the Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton. The museum is well worth a visit!

You can find out more by visiting her website at http://www.amandagrange.com You can also follow her on Twitter @hromanceuk and find her on Facebook

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lovely story set in Regency Brighton, and I had a great time following Cassandra through her activities and adventures around the city. She was a nice little gal who wanted to make sure that her brother had not died burying a terrible secret, as a letter she had found in his things had implied. In order to put her mind at ease, she visits Lord Deverill, a most charming man with a hint of mystery behind his appealing exterior, who happened to have been an acquaintance of her brother. As the title suggests, Lord Deverill has a secret, and cannot reveal the whole truth to Cassandra without the fear of endangering her. Events don't go as planned however, as Cassandra finds herself the victim of many "accidents", and each time Lord Deverill comes to her rescue, their mutual attraction only intensifies.

I found the couple charming and the romance very cute, although the simplistic writing style did not demonstrate enough of their emotions or personality.

A few events were also a bit implausible, and the final revelation of who the villain was and what he had done seemed absurd and out of place. The appearance of the hero on the scene to rescue the heroine was moreover never explained. Aside from those minor issues though, Lord Deverill's Secret was highly enjoyable, and I liked that it was set in Brighton. It made a nice change. Of course, this book is complete with an outing at the Brighton Pavilion, and brilliant descriptions of it.

My review is very boring, but don't let that interfere with your decision in reading the book! :) It's worth a try, and reads extremely easily and fast. I'm a terribly slow reader, and in two days I was done, and left with a satisfied smile on my face. The epilogue was just icing on the cake! :D



Lord Deverill will help you and take care of you, Cassandra. Don't worry.

Buddy read with Maria :)

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I was not expected that ending! What a twist! For once, I didn't suspect who was behind all the problems!
A delightful and action packed story with two great characters at the centre! A courageous and strong-willed heroine and a masculine but caring, and very dashing (!), hero! A intriguing plot with many twists and turns - most of which I wasn't expecting!
Loved it! Bring on the next one!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassandra Paxton arrives in Brighton to throw light on his brother’s last letter, unfinished because of his sudden death. She means to meet all of his brother’s friends and ask them if they know something she does not about her brother’s last actions. But the first one she talks to, Lord Deverill, seems quite mysterious and tells Cassandra not to worry because her brother had no particular secrets and, most of all, not to search for the other friends because she can get herself into trouble, being a young woman with only a maid as a companion. Cassandra, however, is determined to uncover the truth and when her own life is threatened, she will find herself allying with the mysterious Lord Deverill who has also secrets of his own.

The reason why I love Regency novels is basically connected to the fact that I love Regency manners. I like the way men behaved when in the presence of a lady (I am talking of real men, not scoundrels!), I like the importance they gave to propriety and I like all the things they did, such as going to balls, riding, visiting with friends. I know nowadays we still do these things, but in a different way. Men do not ask women to dance by saying “Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?”, that is what I am trying to explain. There is a great lack of elegance, at least according to my own experience. Therefore, when I have a chance to read a novel like “Lord Deverill’s Secret”, I always find myself wondering where men like Justin Deverill are (if they happen to exist).

I loved Justin’s heart. He did anything to protect Cassandra and for several reasons (which I cannot tell without spoiling the story!), but I believe, besides his affection, he acted like that because of his sense of honour, and I loved that! He was the proper knight in shining armour, he was always there to help and save her, and this was utterly romantic! OK, perhaps I am gushing over him just a little bit but believe me, he was very endearing. As for the heroine, Cassandra, I loved her as well. The author depicted a lovely, nice and also brave character who faced some dreadful situations with determination and self-confidence, at least she tried by not letting the others know what there was in her heart. I liked that she made her decisions not only for her own sake but especially to protect her little sister, and I loved Cassandra’s tenderness every time her sister was mentioned.

However, I was not too fond of the predictability of the story. I did not understand who the villain was (I have blamed another character throughout the whole book!), but some moments were a bit far-fetched as if the author wanted to create more suspense and add mysterious details where it was not necessary. Besides, I felt a little confused when the protagonists tried to understand who the enemy was by listing all his/her bad actions without having actual proofs. I confess I got lost in some occasions because I could not figure out whom they were talking about! There were some minor characters mentioned a few times I could not remember. Probably that is just me, though.

Nevertheless, “Lord Deverill’s Secret” is a nice, light story I enjoyed reading and it helped me relax as the plot is not complicated and flows with ease. I would recommend it to Regency enthusiasts.

[Gigi Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful tale of romance and intrigue from the acclaimed author, Amanda Grange.

Arriving in Brighton, Cassandra Paxton had one important task-to uncover the meaning of a letter she'd found amidst her late brother's belongings. She knew of only one man who could help her: Lord Deverill, who just happened to be the most eligible bachelor in all of Brighton.

But what she didn't realize-until it was too late-was that the handsome earl had a secret of his own. One that might prevent him from telling her the truth-and one that made a marriage between them impossible. Which was most unfortunate, considering the way his gentle touch made Cassandra's pulse quicken.

My Thoughts...

This was just the kind of "Mind Candy" I needed this week, since I wasn't feeling super all week. I just wanted something that wouldn't make me think to deeply, and a story easy to follow. This book fit the bill...

This was a light-hearted historical romance with a little mystery thrown in, my favorite kind of reading. It was a fast paced and easy book to read. All-in-all I found it a charming and delightful little read. I enjoyed it enough to award it 4 stars.

This book is from a part of my personal library on my TBR pile. Will that pile ever get smaller? I just received a book from an author in the mail today to read and review...."So many books, so little time..."

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just okay for me. I liked the overall premise and characters, but found myself skipping a bit. Cassandra was likable enough, as well as Justin. I felt like Cassandra forgave Justin rather quickly, I thought that could have been dragged out a little more and built up some tension between the two. The mystery was okay, the villain was a bit of a surprise. The ending was fun, and overall it was an enjoyable story.

Content: Clean romance.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. It keeps you guessing as to who is really after Cassandra the whole book. Again true love triumphs but not until the very end. And do they stay poor? The characters are very well crafted. I enjoyed this book so much.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. A couple of things made this a mediocre book. One was the setting was early 19th century England. But it could have been 1810, 1910, 2010.... the way the characters interacted and spoke did not put the book appropriately in its chosen setting. The only thing that attempted to put you in the time period was they rode on horses and in carriages. But the relationship between the two protagonists was too familiar, too fast. "Call me Justin." "Okay! We've only known each other for about five minutes, but I'll immediately become that familiar with you." That's not how it worked in 1810 England.

Second - written in too simplistic a manner. Too much exposition in some places, not enough in others. SPOILERS AHEAD! There's nothing, nothing about Justin being a spy and then suddenly, he is. Very little about the Napoleonic wars, but gosh, Napoleon is planning to invade.

This book could have benefited from an editor with a hefty red pen.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was tough going. The heroine was much too "modern" for the period (for example, she spent a lot of time in rooms alone with gentlemen -- or nearly so), the secret wasn't much of one, and the writing was clear but dull, dull, dull. I confess I skimmed a lot of it. A disappointment, because some of A. Grange's Austen fan fiction is ok.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good - some mystery nice twist

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

1805 - Brighton

Miss Cassandra (Cassie) Paxton has arrived at her family’s town home in Brighton to prepare to sell it. Her parents have passed away from Cholera and her brother died in a horse riding accident leaving her to raise her younger sister, Lizzie. Unfortunately, the family finances are so low that selling the Brighton home will provide some needed monies to put toward upkeep of the family home outside town. While in Brighton, Cassie plans to spend some time with her friends, Maria and Harry Winter, and investigate the meaning of an unfinished letter found in her brother, Rupert’s pocket when he died. Rupert eluded to the fact that he had done something wrong and he wanted to atone for it.

Cassie decides to call upon Lord Deverill who knew her brother to ask for his help with the meaning of the letter. Justin Deverill readily agrees to help her but Cassie feels as though he is hiding something.

As Cassie and Maria attend and enjoy many of the delights of Brighton, Cassie is the victim of what appears to be attempts on her life. Telling herself that these things were just accidents she still can’t help but worry. She sees Justin at many social events and he finally confesses to her that she needs to be careful for someone means to harm her. Who would want to harm her and why? Could that be tied to her brother’s unfinished letter?

This was a sweet romance intertwined with a mystery that keeps the reader guessing. I enjoyed the descriptions of the events of Brighton and can see how it was and continues to be a very popular place. The characters were well-developed and I highly recommend the book.

[Elen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a well written story - actually, the word that first comes to my mind is 'well balanced'. A decent mystery(although the attacker was quite obvious from his first appearance, the author kept a good chase by mixing two mysteries) for once, which is as rare in this genre as original plot. The romance is good, nice characterization which does not impede the reading - it's easy to think someone like Cassandra could have existed, a rare pleasure to read about since I was desperate to avoid shockingly anachronistic bluestockings or lady detectives. Two charming, eligible earls courting her went a bit overboard, but the author not fixating on her looks helped negate the impact. I would have said the author shows promise if this were her first book - seriously, some conversations ,manners of addressing and general details along the line would have been drastically better with good editing and would have been understandable if this were her first book. Some assembly or party scenes felt uncomfortably like she was thinking of parties she went to while writing dialogues. 3.5

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed Titanic Affair, so I thought I would try something else by the same author. The book is simple and charming, but completely unbelievable. I'm not an expert on early 19th century behavior, but I just didn't believe that people in that time would behave the way some of the characters did. Endings must not be Grange's strong point because the ending of this book was almost ridiculous. The bad guy explains everything before trying to kill the heroine, who was of course saved by her "knight in shining armor." This bad guy was also kind enough to wait while the heroine and knight professed their love for each other (for two pages) and only then deal with him. And I'm supposed to take this seriously? Finally, in my personal taste, I don't like the cover. It makes the book look like a trashy grocery store romance novel...which may be all the book aspired to be...which would also explain why I didn't like it.

[Dancer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple trip to Brighton turns into a summer of adventure for Cassandra Paxton when she encounters the enigmatic Lord Deverill. She believes him to be a friend of her dead brother, but she soon finds there is more to him than meets the eye. Lord Deverill is hiding a secret . . .
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

As I said in my review of Harstairs House, I am an Amanda Grange fan, especially of her Austen series. What I am discovering is that she has difficulty ending a story when its her own. She rambles on and one, and then rushes the ending. I am certain that her publisher limits her word count and therefore she has a weak ending. There is a HEA, but it's a bit ridiculous to think that an oak tree falls down and the family finds a treasure of jewelry to solve their money problems. It's also a bit of a stretch to have someone try to kill Cassandra simply because of her brother's perfidy. All in all, it's a mediocre read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author has written many books based on the male perspective of many of Jane Austen's books. Titles like, Mr Darcy's Diary, and Mr Knightley's Diary. I read the former awhile ago and wasn't overly wowed by the book. I thought if I tried one not based on someone as superb a writer as Jane Austen that the book might be better. I truly enjoyed "Lord Deverill's Secret". My only complaint is that I thought the book could have been so much longer. Grange could have really developed the main characters. We could have gotten a better sense of who they were. I would have loved to have know more about the work that Lord Devereill did. We know he worked for the prince, but beyond that we don't gain much. I wanted more and believe this author can deliver more. It was a super quick read- clean and happy and true love and all, but too short.

[Moopies · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book made me laugh out loud. It was ridiculous, in a good way.

The writing wasnt very gripping, but I did find it interesting. I am sure if I had been bothered to check, all the references and words would have been accurate. I thought it was interesting insights into life at that time, an interesting take as well, Loving marriages just don't seem realistic to me XD. This is what I think one of those Darcy detective stories would be like.

The end had me chuckling very much, Everything I wanted to happen, happened. I am content.

Now I can see why my teacher gave me such an outstanding grade when I was 15.

[Jennifer Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this because I had liked Mr. Darcy's diary. The writing in this, though was so inferior, I felt like I had wasted my reading time. The plot was sketchy, and I didn't care for the characters particularly. The romance wasn't very convincing. It wasn't very mysterious, either, as I could guess the basics of what would happen from the beginning. I'm going to return the other book I have by her unread. Maybe I'm being a little harsh. I did read the whole thing, after all.

[Englishrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be highly enjoyable. The whole premise of the book is well thought out and written. The conflict between the characters is believable and fun. I love the way the characters interact and how side characters play into the story. There are definitely some good surprises and turns in the storyline. The conversations are so well written, especially between Deverill and Matthew Standish that it made it a delight to read.

http://cleanromancereviews.blogspot.com

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several of this author's books recently and they were starting to feel quite formulaic to me so I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. The romance was more subtle and therefore more believable. Not so much drama and angst as in the others. The story was suspenseful with some interesting and unexpected twists. And finally an appropriate and satisfying ending. Really liked this one.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! It takes place in the early 1800s in England. Cassandra goes to Brighton to clean out the family's town home in preparation to sell. While there, she has many social adventures. I love historical fiction full of romance and suspense. It was very clean as well, which is a big plus for me.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light-hearted easy to read historical romance with a little mystery thrown in. It is my first book by Amanda Grange, but I will seek out more! Definitely not deep, but just right when you want a good story where you don't have to think too much but want to enjoy the story.

Also, the romance is clean! Hurray for Ms.Grange!!

[Janis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not as good as her 'diaries', this book is a nice, clean, quick read. I like the characters, but they are not really developed. I also like that her books aren't like typical romance novels. It IS possible to like someone without jumping into bed after a kiss or two.

[Spring Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! I enjoy period romances that are clean. This one also had a bit of intrigue. I had some idea of who was behind Cassandra's mishaps, which made it slightly predictable, but a nice read nonetheless.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love it, but like Mr. Knightly's Diary, it just didn't satisfy. Then the ending came out of nowhere and left me thinking, "huh?" It was engaging enough to read in just over a day, however, and as I'm in love with all things Regency, it was fun.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say, that this is my favourite Amanda Grange novel that I've read, so far! It was engaging, and there was more than one mystery. One I figured out pretty quickly, but the other caught me by surprise near the end of the novel.

I loved it!

[Jaime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Unimpressive. Nowhere near the author's achievement with Mr. Darcy's Diary.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me captivated from the first page. I love regency novels and this one was clean too, which is always a bonus.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. Totally predictable, but fun to read.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer the Jane Austen male character diaries although this was a pleasant yet predictable read.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot line was pretty interesting. I didn't really care for the epilogue.

[Line · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice "no-brained" romance novel. Meaning I can read it and be entertained yet not need much brainpower to do so. Not much thinking involved.