Second chance stories – I cannot resist. Dearing seemed so staid and formal in the last book but we all know the silent types are the most dangerous (and passionate). This story is all about anticipation. Usually I would say “just talk about it and be done with it” but this story drew me into their secrets, the longings and their passion. Ms. Bryant knows how to reel you into a story and not let you go.

I am hoping Lindsey gets his own story. He was the comic relief and I loved him.

This is a sweet book that focuses on a couple who are already married, but managed to miss out the courtship stage of their relationship. Each sets out to woo the other, and it's very cute. However, there wasn't enough depth to it to sustain a full-length novel, and I did find myself skimming towards the end. Much is made of Jeremy's huge secret, but his worries about it do get rather repetitive, and I was relieved, rather than satisfied, when it all came out (though I did think that Charlotte forgave him rather too easily - it's not the sort of non-issue secret that earls and things usually have in romance novels, but is in fact something rather nasty that he actively did. It's a perfectly sweet read, but wasn't my favourite.

In this historical romance, a financially-minded viscount falls head over heels in love with a young music-minded lady and creates circumstances to force a marriage between them. Unfortunately, the characters were drawn fairly simply, especially the heroine--it was hard to see what had compelled the hero to such lengths when all the reader really knows is that she loves her family, playing the piano, and is attracted to her husband. While the husband is written as shy in matters of the heart, it doesn't really square with his past, and then to have the relationship not be consummated for ten months (revealed at the very start of the story), made it a novel in which I had to suspend an even greater amount of disbelief than usual when reading romance. It's a sturdy novel with potential that could have been deepened to make it a more memorable read.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Once again, Annabelle Bryant has written a romance that has you spellbound from the start. ‘London’s Best Kept Secret’ is the secret that Jeremy Lockhart, Viscount Dearing is keeping from his wife of ten months, Lady Charlotte Dearing. Jeremy has been in love with Charlotte since he heard her play the piano and saw her beauty, but he is unable to tell her how he feels. Consequently, they have barely spoken to each other during this time, a problem that Charlotte is desperate to overcome.
These were two remarkable characters, but I found Jeremy so complex. He is almost frozen by his love for Charlotte and the secret that he keeps from her. It is only when he realises that he has to make a move, that this stalemate seems likely to come to an end. I was almost cheering him on, hopefully the next page would see him ‘make a move’. Charlotte is her love for Jeremy, is such a graceful and beautiful character, yet her strength truly becomes apparent as the story unfolds.
Whilst this is part of a series, the first book in the series and its characters are subtly entwined in Charlotte and Jeremy’s story, making any reader want to go back and read the earlier book. Once again, this is a book to savour. I so look forward to reading the next in the series but also finding out more about Jeremy’s friend, Lindsey.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Anabelle Bryant dazzled historical romance aficionados with the first title in her Midnight Secrets series, London’s Wicked Affair, and she is back with a passionate, enthralling and wholly mesmerizing new novel that is absolutely impossible to put down: London’s Best Kept Secret.

Jeremy Lockhart, Viscount Dearing, is a man who is used to being in charge. A man with a sharp mind and a keen eye for monetary matters, Jeremy is a man who is always in full control of his emotions – yet just one look at the beautiful Lady Charlotte was all it took for his world to be rocked on its axis. When he had become aware of the fact that Charlotte’s father was in dire financial straits and was desperate for a way out of this pernicious predicament, Jeremy had seen the perfect opportunity to make the woman who had managed to get under his skin his forever and so he had struck a deal that had seen him gain Charlotte’s hand in marriage after paying her father’s debts. However, no sooner had he and Charlotte been declared man and wife that Jeremy had decided to go away on business for six weeks, leaving his new bride all alone in the marriage bed.

Charlotte had been drawn to her new husband from the very first moment she clapped eyes on him yet she cannot help but be baffled by him. She might bear his name and wear his ring on her finger, but her husband is a total stranger to her who spends his days shut in his office and his nights locked in his own chambers. Their conversations are brief, stilted and perfunctory and their love-making nonexistent. Charlotte has not even kissed her husband yet, however, she knows that he is as attracted to her as she is to him, but can she manage to breach the walls he had built around himself? Or is she destined to spend the rest of her married life condemned to a lonely and miserable existence?

Encouraged by her best friend Amelia, Charlotte realizes that the time has come for her to stop hiding in the shadows and to entice her husband to her bed. As Jeremy begins to spend more and more time at home, he quickly finds himself succumbing to temptation, however, away from the marital bed, he continues to be cold, distant and aloof. Charlotte is not merely satisfied with her husband’s body for she is determined to capture his heart as well, but little does she realize that Jeremy Lockhart is a man with a scandalous secret that could jeopardize everything – including their marriage.

Does their burgeoning love stand any chance of surviving with all of these obstacles standing in their way? Or is their relationship doomed to fail?

London’s Best Kept Secret is an outstanding historical romance that is liberally spiced with searing emotion, heart-pounding intrigue and red-hot passion. Anabelle Bryant is a wonderful storyteller who draws her readers in from the very first page and keeps them engrossed throughout by imbuing her story with action, humour, mystery and romance. Her characters are bold, vivacious and come to vivid life from the very moment they appear on the page.

I fell in love with brooding Jeremy and admired Charlotte’s intelligence and sensitivity. Their love story is poignant, captivating and sure to pluck at readers’ heartstrings and have them wiping away a tear or two.

Anabelle Bryant continues to get better with every book she writes and I am already counting down the days until the third gripping installment of her phenomenal Midnight Secrets series, London’s Late Night Scandal!

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. London's best kept secret was the second in this series. I enjoyed the first one but it is not necessary to have read it to enjoy this one. Jeremy fell in love with Charlotte the second he heard he play and saw her. He manipulates her father in order to gain her hand and then is consume by guilt and unable to create a happy marriage which is all Charlotte wants. The story is different and interesting. It felt a like too long and repetitive but overall it was good.

Lets just start by saying that I don’t like this premise. Hero lies, gets the heroine, and then continues to lie, and lie and lie. Heroine doesn’t have enough get up and go to get up and go, so she miserably suffers in a suffocating marriage.

Adding to the misery is overblown and misused language that began to irritate me on page 4 and just didn’t get any better.

Sorry, but I couldn’t finish; the thing I liked best about this book was the cover
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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I made sure to read the first book in this series before reading this one and I am glad that I did. While not necessary, I think that it helped explain a few of the secondary relationships in the story. This book has a unique premise for the romance; 10 months married and still no relationship of any kind between the couple. I enjoyed the budding romance. 4 stars.

Intriguing arranged marriage regency romance.

Anabelle Bryant’s London’s Best Kept Secret the 2nd book in her Midnight Secrets was a delight to read.
Charlotte and Jeremy’s relationship was a slow burn as we learn more about who they really are. As secrets are revealed the plot moves to an explosive ending followed by a lovely epilogue.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

I am going to make this review short and sweet.
I talk a lot about books I adore.
I won't talk a lot here.
Why?
Because, this book came flat for me. I love historical romance books. Read many. This one is one of them, but the storyline was just a story, the characters were just people living in that area and there was no "pizzazz" for me here.
I would recommend this book for one weekend when you want to read something light and relaxing.
Unfortunately, I wanted something more.
3/5 for me on this one only.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💋💋
Annabelle has written a stunning story , I loved every page of very addictive script, what an absolute pleasure to read such a wonderful book.
Charlotte seems so be the quiet type , downtrodden to some extent, but that's not the case , she doesn’t know her husband and that’s the problem, sold to him in a marriage to rescue her family from penury ,she is still as much in the dark about who her handsome husband is as she was when they met .
They never talk , rarely see each other , and have not consummated the marriage they both entered into willingly 10 months earlier.
Viscount Dearing is a conundrum to most , especially his wife he suspects .
After saving her family from ruin, gaining her in the process, he’s ignored her almost to the point of pushing her to leave , he knows he should rectify the problem, but he can’t bring himself to , secrets are making him feel guilt and remorse for so many things , he’s loved her very deeply for months , that’s why he did what he had to, to make sure he married her , but now it’s eating at him .
Can the two sort out their marriage?
Maybe if family and secrets didn’t exist they could ,but enemies lurk always waiting to strike, can the couple ever be happy ?
Love , love , love this book , one of my favourites in the last 12 months , so full of emotional angst and tension, not just from the H and h , but from all angles , there is so much going on , twists and turns to keep the story moving , it’s a masterpiece in writing.
I wish I hadn’t read it , just so I could read it again and get the same first feelings , never doubt it will be on my list to read again and again .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review

Guilty conscience and utter devotion are the main walking points of this story. When he wants some thing, hell do any thing to get it no matter the consequences. Shes determined to be the perfect wife to the man she owes the most gratitude to. Will his choices destroy his happily ever after? Is her devotion and hero worship all for nothing?

This story will keep you on your toes asking what's next. You'll be watching over your shoulder to see when the secrets explode because they always do.

Cant wait for more

I was excited to read this book because it uses one of my favorite plot devices: the marriage of convenience.

Viscount Dearing saves Charlotte Notley's family from financial ruin by marrying her. Yet he leaves their marriage unconsummated for months, and seems to avoid his wife, leaving her miserable and confused.

He isn't avoiding her because he despises her, of course-- he's doing it because he feels guilty and is harboring secrets that could ruin his marriage.

The first half of the book is stronger than the second half. It explores Dearing's and Charlotte's personalities, goals, interests and insecurities. It captures the little things he does, like listen to her play the piano from the corner of the room where she can't see him (a little creepy, but also romantic), her love for her ridiculous kitten, her relationship with her family, his relationship with his best friend, etc.

Then it loses the plot a bit. It turns out Charlotte has secrets too! And the way she handled at least one of them led me to a major eye-roll (funnily enough, it never bites her in the end. Which is odd). The secrets get unraveled, and all is forgiven.

I skimmed at least the last 50 pages, because I couldn't bring myself to care about why she forgave him or why he forgave her. I stopped being invested in them, and I think it's partly because they seem like character cutouts to me. He's handsome, smart and awkward. She's pretty, dutiful and an accomplished pianist. But I never felt like either of them had much distinctiveness. The dialogue between them is stilted even after they've resolved their differences. In some ways, this book felt like a well-researched, paint by numbers story. It lacked enough distinctiveness, punch and resonance. At the same time, I can't say it was poorly written-- it's a well written, well constructed plot and book. I just didn't care much about either of them by the end. I'd give this 3.5 stars.

London's Best Kept Secret is a fabulous historical romance by Anabelle Bryant. Ms. Bryant has provided readers with a well-written book and furnished it with outstanding characters. Charlotte was hoping to have a love match when it was time for her to marry. She was instead, forced to marry a stranger to help her father's finances. Jeremy saw Charlotte across a room and wanted her enough to sabotage her father's business dealings until he was on the brink of bankruptcy and then swooped in to offer to marry Charlotte. Jeremy and Charlotte's story is loaded with drama, misunderstandings, guilt, spice and humor. I enjoyed reading London's Best Kept Secret and look forward to reading more from Anabelle Bryant in the future. London's Best Kept Secret is book 2 of the Midnight Secrets Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete story, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Jeremy and Charlotte's story! Since meeting them in the first book in the series, I've wondered what their story was and Bryant didn't disappoint!

It was love at first sight when Jeremy laid eyes on Charlotte and with all her beau, he would do anything to make her his. But he might have gone a bit far to win her as his wife...what will she do when she learns the truth?

After reading the first book in the series, I was so interested in reading Jeremy and Charlotte's story. He appears to be so cold when he is around her, but he does little things that make you think there is much more to the story...which there was. Charlotte just wants to have a loving marriage and even though they didn't marry for love, she thought it would grow with time. But not if her husband never spends time with her. I loved watching these two come together and it broke my heart when Charlotte learned the truth about her how her marriage came to be. But as we know, it all works out in the end.

I'm excited to see what Bryant comes up with in the next book in the series!

This was the case in which I had too high of expectations regarding the storyline of this book. London's Wicked Affair was a great story and hinted at something interesting between the marriage of Jeremy Lockhart, Viscount Dearing, and his beautiful bride Lady Charlotte. Instead, there ended up being a weird eager between two other characters that fueled the story. The original misdeeds by the hero should have been enough to carry the story. All the added lies of omission by Charlotte and her sister just seemed to appear and disappear and didn't really add to the story. I have enjoyed so many other books by this author that I am assuming this was just a rare 'miss' for me.

I just couldn't get into this book. Confusion and lie after lie kept me from enjoying this story. Sorry.

In Anabelle Bryant’s second book, London’s Best Kept Secret (Midnight Secrets), she, as an author, faces an interesting and intriguing dilemma – the hero and heroine are already married… to each other! What to do?Secrets, of course! Big, unimaginable secrets and small, innocent or naive secrets with several of varying degrees in between!
Jeremy Lockhart, Viscount Dearing finally has the woman of his dreams; but at what cost? He has schemed, manipulated and lied to get her…so, what’s the problem? If his machinations and manipulations come to light, he fears he will lose her and in so doing, will lose any respect, esteem and admiration she and her family members have for him.
But Charlotte Lockhart, Lady Dearing has her own secrets. Okay, perhaps hers are not as earth shaking as those of her husband…but they’re secrets all the same!
He fears losing her; she fears an empty marriage with no hope for her future! Then, there’s the kitten and the piano and the delightful miscommunications between these two. Oh, there is a key and a mysterious box. I love all of this!
Along with the post-wedding courting (is there such a thing) there are more secrets and intrigue…a nasty character…a well-meaning friend…misconceptions and misunderstandings…with some very, very steamy romance!! Fear not, all will end happily; or will it?!
I am not one to give away plot lines or tell too much; but trust me, this book was most enjoyable…I shed a few tears but it isn’t what you think! This book truly touched me in a personal way…brought back some happy and sad memories.
I cannot wait for the final book in the Midnight Secrets series!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this delightful and romantic book. I especially enjoyed the dialogue and the musings of the two main characters. Did I say there was a kitten?

The moment Jeremy Lockhart, Viscount Dearing, set eyes on Lady Charlotte Notley he knew he had to have her for his wife. The lovely Charlotte was the toast of the season and since he lacks skill at speaking to ladies when his heart is involved, Jeremy used his business acumen and manipulated matters to ensure Charlotte was betrothed to him and not one of the many other suitors circling her. Now he keeps the secret of his rescue of her family from financial ruination to himself and hopes to move on to a happy marriage despite the guilt that wracks him.

After months of marriage, Lady Charlotte can't understand why her husband remains so coldly polite and distant with her, only to give her fleeting glimpses that seem indicative of a true regard. They had a short betrothal and no courtship, but she's been hopeful that their relationship would develop into a content marriage. Charlotte is attracted to her husband and she thinks he has at least some feelings for her so she sets out to entice him. Unbeknownst to her, shy and awkward Jeremy is hiding a passionate nature and just doesn't know how to show it to her. Given his manipulation of her, Jeremy is afraid he'll lose Charlotte if she were to discover his secret, but he eventually realizes he doesn't really have her now anyway, so he vows to begin courting his wife in earnest. This decision conveniently comes at the same time a lonely Charlotte vows to attempt a flirtation with her husband.

Jeremy decides he must make Charlotte fall in love with him if there is to be any chance of their relationship surviving the revelation of his manipulation. Charlotte is just as determined to earn his love, but just when the two finally become more intimate, Charlotte's sister comes to her with a dire situation, causing Charlotte to keep secrets from Jeremy and he begins pulling away yet again. With so many secrets and elements working against them it seems unlikely these two will actually achieve the happy marriage they both crave.

Both Charlotte and Jeremy were adorably lonely and unsure of how to approach each other. We get insight into both of their thoughts and a lovely dramatic irony that they're both thinking the same things, unbeknownst to one another. There's some delightful sexual tension here, with both characters very attracted to one another but very unsure of what their reception will be and afraid of rejection. I thought it interesting and refreshing that we had a hero who falls head over heels for the heroine first. We also have our hero doing something morally wrong and quite selfish in the name of love. There was lots of delightfully Downton Abbey-esque drama and Jeremy was almost too romantic to be born. This was so incredibly well-written that I didn't mind the slight tend to tediousness of the plot; this was quickly remedied anyway and the writing was just a pleasure to read. My only complaint was that Charlotte never confided in Jeremy about the reasons for her secrecy when she was helping her sister. Other than that, this was a great book and I'll look forward to the next in the series.

I am frail that thi book was really not ,y cup of tea. The premise/trope - Marriage of Convenience is one I like, unfortunately this one was overwritten, and interminable.

Jeremy Lockhart, Lord Dearing fell completely for Charlotte Notley, the moment he saw her playing the piano at a society function. He realises she is a popular debutante, and is determined to secure her as his wife. He offers to clear her family’s debts if she will wed him, which she does unhesitatingly to save her family. She hoped they would grow to have an affection for each other. It has been ten months, and they are still almost strangers to one another. Lord Dearing is tormented by the methods he used to secure Charlotte, and his guilt stops him spending time with her or even consummating the marriage. Charlotte doesn’t understand why her husband is so stern, uncommunicative and distant from her. How will they resolve the difficulties between them, and how will Jeremy confess his secrets.

The set up and plot could have been brilliant. Unfortunately the lack of communication between them and the will they won’t they resolve their differences goes on for far too long, and then when Dearing has to confess his wrongdoing Charlotte just accepts it, which I found very unsatisfactory. The interaction between Dearing and his friend the Earl of Lindsay are annoyingly vague and cryptic, and the friendship doesn’t ring true early on. Later on the reason for the complication in Jeremy and Charlotte’s relationship also feels contrived.

I found the character of Jeremy was obviously very driven and decisive when he expected his plan to marry Charlotte, but he then dithers so much afterwards, this didn’t hold together for me. Charlotte was very sweet and forgiving, but also came over as a bit of a doormat, she didn’t press to know what was going on ever, she also didn’t object to any denigration of her abilities because of her gender. Both her father and Jeremy both believe a woman can’t understand financial documents for instance.

I found the prose overwritten in the main, and a trifle florid in parts, how do you “manoeuvre with eloquence” when horse riding,

Just not my cup of tea, which is a real shame as I was interested in the premise of the book.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own. Posted on Goodreads