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Summary: Touching Story
Review: A true delight to read! Sophie and Caleb's characters were well written. At first I was frustrated with Sophie's inability to stand up for herself but the story was a true journey of a woman learning self confidence after horrible dissapointments in her life. And surprise, surpise Caleb was never an irrational jerk as you see in so many romance novels. I loved the way this book ended. They truly lived happily ever after.
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Summary: Ms. London's style of narration captivates
Review: Best known for her popular Rogues' series, Julia London adopts her fluid narrative style in her latest Victorian outing. The central protagonist is Sophie Danes, sister to Julian featured in her earlier book, The Ruthless Charmer. Scandalized after her marriage to the abusive Lord Stanwood, she flees to France hefting an emotional baggage of humiliation. There she finds security in the odd social circle with the Madame Honorine Fortier as her companion. However when Honorine's whims takes them to England, Sophie grips with the malicious gossips of the ton and the pressure of her family to marry her off. Her sister Ann finds the eligible bachelor, Trevor Hamilton to be a catch and urges her to consider. She is however, attracted to Caleb Hamilton who is the bastard son of the ill Lord Hamilton and branded by the ostracizing society as the imposter to challenge the will of Lord Hamilton...Though predictible and at times slow-moving, Ms. London deftly intertwines passion and empathy for her flawed characters. Readers will embrace Sophie for her enlightenment towards pursuing her love-path and enjoy the eccentric Madame Fortier as a sub-character. It is however Ms. London's style which is reminiscent of classics writer Jane Austin that distinguishes her to be a talented storyteller - and makes The Secret Lover a royal treat.
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Summary: THE SECRET LOVER-Caleb and Sophie-SPOILERS
Review: Favorite scene with Sophie-
Questioning the boy. Favorite scene with Caleb-
Barging into the house and protecting the women from Trevor. Together-
Sophie turns down his marriage proposal.
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Summary: DISAPPOINTING ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH!!
Review: I have been an avid reader since I learned to read and have had a book in my face since Jr. High, in the 40's, when I discovered Pearl Buck. Have read almost everything from the Literary Guild to the Mystery Guild. I have read all of Julia London's books. But in "The Secret Lover" she went a long way to create a character that is so completely unable to think for herself, the most insipid, weak minded female I have ever read about. Yet at the same time created Caleb, a perfectly wonderful, kind, understanding man. Sophie actually disgusted me to the point that Ms London has lost a reader. Good luck trying to undue someone like Sophie in your next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Love it or Hate it.
Review: I have enjoyed all of Julia London's books but this one was not as enjoyable as the others. The characters although having promise just did not seem as strong as they could have been. I was very disappointed in the characterization of Julian and claudia. They went from likeable hero/heroine in their own book to what I can only describe as self-involved and unlikable. This book was saved only in my opinion by the fact that it pulled on my emotions several times and required my to reach for my kleenex. I appreciate the time period and the scandal that was attatched to those that sought divorce and the fact that society did indeed play a large part in lifestyle choices and the author being true to this concept. All in all I would have to say that you will either love this book or dislike it. It is really something you will have to decide on your own.
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: I have just read The Secret Lover by Julie London, and I think it is one of her best books ever. The story is real to life I could almost picture myself as Sophie. I have read alot of books and never before could I actually put myself in the women's place. The story was a very good one . The carator's were very good ones{believable}. But, The ending was the best one I have redin along time. It mad me cry and hope that Sophie and Caleb do meet each other by the pond in the after life.Just Wonderful!!!!! Keep up the good work Julia London.
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Summary: Julia's Best Yet
Review: I have read all of Julia London's books and this book, Secret Lover, is the best yet. She has developed the character of Sophie and made her a very likable person. And what woman would not be in love with that darling Caleb? It is hard to put down the book once you have started it. The action is fast-moving and exciting. The romance of Sophie with Caleb develops through the story just like a movie plot. This is a great read!
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Summary: Best of the Six
Review: I have read every one of Julia London's books so far. I find myself not able to wait for the next one to come out. This book, Secret Lover, was all I thought it would be, and then some. Julia writes with the kind of fast moving action that I like, yet with the in-depth character development that a good writer is known for. Every book has just gotten better and better. I cannot recommend her stories highly enough. If you start this Secret Lover, I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. The romance of Rachel and Caleb should be made into a movie. And that epiloque! It was wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Good book - not a 5 star but still good!
Review: I think the biggest problem I have with some of the London books - it takes too long to get truly involved in them. There is just a lot of extra pages at the beginning that I am tempted to skip because they drag with discription which seems unneccesary!After you get into the true plot of this book, once they are in London - and certainly when Sophie finally meets Caleb - then things start to sizzle!! The way her family was trying force/encourage a relationship with society's accepted brother Trevor - who Sophie found offensive, boring and perhaps dangerous! But Caleb was a [...]and society had deemed him a fortune hunter. Sophie is torn between the love she feels for Caleb and what her family will expect of her. This is a touching story too about the love Caleb feels for his father and how Trevor seems to be keeping Will the father away from society and in a drugged state. Of course he has dispicable motives for his actions and eventually will be revealed. The love is strong between Caleb and Sophie and people will enjoy how they respond deeply to each other. I do not understand the problem with the epilog - if a writer is not going to continue with many other books to follow in a series - why not let us know how these characters deal with their lives beyond the end of the book!!
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Summary: Okay stand alone book, but terrible sequel
Review: I too was extremely disappointed in this book. I think it was a good book, but for someone who has read all of the author's books, and invested in her other characters, I was very upset by the way Claudia and Julian were portrayed in this book. They weren't even like their original characters. This made the story difficult for me, because known characters were so OUT of character that I was distracted.
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