Secrets

Rating:
Summary: nice romantic follow-up to SCANDAL
Review: "Secrets" is the second in a trilogy penned by Heather Cullman (the first was "Scandal"), and I'll admit, I do think that it is the better novel of the two. (By the way, it's not necessary to read first "Scandal" in order to figure out what's going on).

Christian English has a lot to be grateful for: once he was a slave, but after having been rescued by his benefactor, Gideon Harwood, Christian is now not only a freed man but also a relatively rich one. Only the fact that he still has no memory as to his real identity and as to how he ended up on a slave block in Algiers still frustrates and haunts him. Christian would dearly like to know who he truly is, if he has any family, and more importantly if he is married or not, because Christian has fallen in love with Gideon's sister, Bethany, but has resolved to say nothing about his true feelings because of his uncertain status. That is until a chance encounter at the Harwoods' Christmas ball gives Christian an inkling as to who he might be. Christian is overjoyed: not only does he have a real identity now, but he can also court Bethany properly as is her due. But for Bethany, this new knowledge spells the end of all her hopes and dreams. For Bethany, unfortunately, has a few skeletons rattling in her closet, and she knows only all to well that she is no match for the 'real' Christian. Will Christian's and Bethany's love prevail, or will the dictates of society tear the two apart?

What I really liked about "Secrets" was that the love that Christian and Bethany feel is readily evident from the very beginning. It made for a refreshing change. The novel was nicely paced, even if things did drag a bit for a while after Christian had discovered who he really was. The characters were all rather well developed; and I especially liked the manner in which the authour showed us how much Christian had changed, and how he was (still) intrinsically the same. However I did think that some characters (like Christian's parents) could have been developed more. The same could be said for the villain of the piece. While it was fairly easy to figure out who had betrayed Christian, it would have been nice if this character had been developed more. On the whole though, if you're looking for a romantic and sweeping historical novel, you won't regret picking up "Secrets."

Rating:
Summary: nice romantic follow-up to SCANDAL
Review: "Secrets" is the second in a trilogy penned by Heather Cullman (the first was "Scandal"), and I'll admit, I do think that it is the better novel of the two. (By the way, it's not necessary to read first "Scandal" in order to figure out what's going on).

Christian English has a lot to be grateful for: once he was a slave, but after having been rescued by his benefactor, Gideon Harwood, Christian is now not only a freed man but also a relatively rich one. Only the fact that he still has no memory as to his real identity and as to how he ended up on a slave block in Algiers still frustrates and haunts him. Christian would dearly like to know who he truly is, if he has any family, and more importantly if he is married or not, because Christian has fallen in love with Gideon's sister, Bethany, but has resolved to say nothing about his true feelings because of his uncertain status. That is until a chance encounter at the Harwoods' Christmas ball gives Christian an inkling as to who he might be. Christian is overjoyed: not only does he have a real identity now, but he can also court Bethany properly as is her due. But for Bethany, this new knowledge spells the end of all her hopes and dreams. For Bethany, unfortunately, has a few skeletons rattling in her closet, and she knows only all to well that she is no match for the 'real' Christian. Will Christian's and Bethany's love prevail, or will the dictates of society tear the two apart?

What I really liked about "Secrets" was that the love that Christian and Bethany feel is readily evident from the very beginning. It made for a refreshing change. The novel was nicely paced, even if things did drag a bit for a while after Christian had discovered who he really was. The characters were all rather well developed; and I especially liked the manner in which the authour showed us how much Christian had changed, and how he was (still) intrinsically the same. However I did think that some characters (like Christian's parents) could have been developed more. The same could be said for the villain of the piece. While it was fairly easy to figure out who had betrayed Christian, it would have been nice if this character had been developed more. On the whole though, if you're looking for a romantic and sweeping historical novel, you won't regret picking up "Secrets."

Rating:
Summary: Recommended
Review: Christian English owes his life to friend Gideon Harwood who rescued him from slavery in the Middle East. Gideon brought Christian home with him to England, offering a life to replace the one that Christian cannot remember. Even his name comes from his most recent experiences since amnesia has robbed him of his past. Now he has fallen in love with Bethany, a resident of Gideon's home. But without a past, Christian has no future to offer her.

Bethany keeps her own secrets intentionally. Horrendous circumstances once forced her to exchange her body for the care of her younger sister. She had become the mistress of a member of the aristocracy, but her subsequent pregnancy resulted in rejection. Tragically, the child was stillborn. Now she passes as a widow but knows her past does not bear scrutiny. When Christian proves to be a member of the ton, she believes she must give up all hope of their ever being together.

Author Heather Cullman pens a tender tale of love in Regency England with SECRETS, which explores the era's sordid side while delicately maintaining the rich emotional nuances of a finely crafted love story. Christian's transformation from rake to gentleman in the wake of his time in slavery reveals the power of second chances and the genuine goodness of his heart. Bethany's profound challenges expose the difficult challenges of her era as she struggles to overcome her shadowy past. SECRETS comes recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The second in a trilogy...
Review: He had been enslaved by an Indian mogul and had no memory except that his name was Christian. He was rescued by fellow Englishman Gideon Harwood. Christian returned to England with his new found friend in hope of learning who he was. He fell in love with Gideon's sister, Bethany. Yet without knowing who he was or if he had a wife somewhere, Christian could do nothing.

Then a miracle happened during a party. Someone recognized him. Not only was Christian unmarried, but he was also Marquess of Northwick, believed to have been killed by pirates at sea. But finding out he had a title and was unattached did not solve all his problems. Christian's memory was still mostly blank. Bits and pieces popped up at strange times. In addition, his family did not want him to marry Bethany, a commoner. They had another deb picked out for him. And if things could not get worse, he kept having "accidents" that nearly kill him!

As much as Bethany loved Christian and was happy that he found his family, she knew she could not marry him. Her past was marred and her family kept her secret quiet. Christian knew the truth of her past, well as much as her own family knew, and did not care. But Bethany withheld a vital name from her past. A name that could easily get Christian killed and her family shamed.

**** This is the second in Heather Cullman's Regency trilogy. Fans of this author get to see how Gideon and his family are doing since the previous book. It began with such a bang that I was enthralled from the first page. Readers see just a bit of what poor Christian went through while he was being sold as a slave.

This is a provocative tale that I was hard pressed to set aside when my reality intruded, and I could hardly wait to get back to the story. Recommended! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Well Done Sequel
Review: Setting - Algiers and Regency England ---- In this second book of Heather Cullman's trilogy (definitely can stand alone), you are reintroduced to Christian English, the extremely handsome man without a past who had been rescued by the former book's hero, Gideon Harwood. Right from the start the book grabs you with its graphic description of the Algerian slave market, the humiliation and the atrocities heaped upon those slaves considered to be prime for the more depraved buyers. After Christian was rescued by Gideon, they stayed on the continent long enough to amass a fortune and return to England as very wealthy men. With no memories of who he was, Christian was welcomed into Gideons home, and falls in loves with Gideon's beautiful sister Bethany, but is frustrated in his inability to declare himself with no memory and the possibility that he might already be wed. At Gideon's Christmas celebration, invited members from the ton recognize Christian as being the eldest son and heir to the Duke of Amberley. As thrilled as Bethany is for Christian's good fortune, and loving him as much as she did, she was more than aware that, with this disclosure, her status was far below what would be acceptable as the proper wife to the heir of a dukedom!

Bethany, on the other hand, has her own secrets. Bethany had, before her brother returned home triumphant, in order to save her younger sister been compelled to become the mistress to a member of the ton. Becoming pregnant, she was abandoned and her child stillborn. In order to cover up the truth and provide a way for her to make a suitable marriage, her family had Bethany posing as the widow of wealthy sea captain. For Christian, the circumstances of Bethany's past did not make any difference to him as he was totally in love with her goodness, kindness and gentle ways and now the way was clear for him to declare himself properly. In the meantime, strange accidents began to occur to Christian as he was fast discovering that the person he had been in the past was not the person who had emerged after his experiences as a slave.

The plotline here was really quite good, and the character development of Christian and Bethany was extremely well done. I especially liked the way Christian came to realize that he was now a better person after having the life altering experiences as a slave rather than the privileged life as heir to a Duke. The secondary characters were warm and engaging, especially Christians brother and sisters. While I felt that the villain could have been developed more, it was easy to figure out who it was. The romance angle and the warm familial affection was very well done and certainly engages your emotions so that, as a whole, I feel confident in recommending this both as a very nice sequel or stand alone regency romance for lovers of the genre. *** Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com

Rating:
Summary: Well Done Sequel
Review: Setting - Algiers and Regency England ---- In this second book of Heather Cullman's trilogy (definitely can stand alone), you are reintroduced to Christian English, the extremely handsome man without a past who had been rescued by the former book's hero, Gideon Harwood. Right from the start the book grabs you with its graphic description of the Algerian slave market, the humiliation and the atrocities heaped upon those slaves considered to be prime for the more depraved buyers. After Christian was rescued by Gideon, they stayed on the continent long enough to amass a fortune and return to England as very wealthy men. With no memories of who he was, Christian was welcomed into Gideons home, and falls in loves with Gideon's beautiful sister Bethany, but is frustrated in his inability to declare himself with no memory and the possibility that he might already be wed. At Gideon's Christmas celebration, invited members from the ton recognize Christian as being the eldest son and heir to the Duke of Amberley. As thrilled as Bethany is for Christian's good fortune, and loving him as much as she did, she was more than aware that, with this disclosure, her status was far below what would be acceptable as the proper wife to the heir of a dukedom!

Bethany, on the other hand, has her own secrets. Bethany had, before her brother returned home triumphant, in order to save her younger sister been compelled to become the mistress to a member of the ton. Becoming pregnant, she was abandoned and her child stillborn. In order to cover up the truth and provide a way for her to make a suitable marriage, her family had Bethany posing as the widow of wealthy sea captain. For Christian, the circumstances of Bethany's past did not make any difference to him as he was totally in love with her goodness, kindness and gentle ways and now the way was clear for him to declare himself properly. In the meantime, strange accidents began to occur to Christian as he was fast discovering that the person he had been in the past was not the person who had emerged after his experiences as a slave.

The plotline here was really quite good, and the character development of Christian and Bethany was extremely well done. I especially liked the way Christian came to realize that he was now a better person after having the life altering experiences as a slave rather than the privileged life as heir to a Duke. The secondary characters were warm and engaging, especially Christians brother and sisters. While I felt that the villain could have been developed more, it was easy to figure out who it was. The romance angle and the warm familial affection was very well done and certainly engages your emotions so that, as a whole, I feel confident in recommending this both as a very nice sequel or stand alone regency romance for lovers of the genre. *** Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com