3.5 stars
I think the story overall was alright. It was very insta-lovey, which I did expect based on the blurb it was just so much more than I anticipated. They meet and speak like all of 4 times before the end of the book.


Also the plot with the uncle and how quickly he changed his mind at the end (with no explanation) just did not make any sense to me. If he's gonna do a complete 180 like that I need some explanation.

Also the issue with FMCs dad was just solved too quickly without any real answers???

Finally MMC mentions he has sons all of like twice in the book, but I felt like at the beginning it was hinted as if it was going to be more? Or maybe I just mis interpreted that.

It's been a long time since I've read a historical romance this good! I'm a sucker for any Cinderella-inspired stories, so I was very eager to pick up THE VALET'S SECRET -- and I loved it! It was a beautiful, heartfelt romance, and the nods to the classic fairytale were a really fun inclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This historical sweet romance set in regency era. We follow Kenneth, future earl, and Rebecca, maid.

This was such a sweet love build up between our older couple to navigate their new normal and their romance side and we got to see both point of view which I LOVEEEE to read.

We can read and understand their struggle to find each other😍😍😍 and how their heart call for each other😉 . Besides that, we can see Kenneth struggle to fit himself to become the new heir and Rebecca to find herself again after the death of her husband and her abusive father. I also love how Rose love and care about her mother so much!

AND THE ENDINGGG GAAHHHH. ALL SMILES FROM MEE🥰

even though I like the ending, I hope I can read more about Kenneth and Rebecca after they got together and grow together

Thankyou Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the arc

This book was just ok for me. I found that it lacked excitement. The characters were staid and boring. I didn't really believe the outcome.

Even though I tend to go and love books more if the main characters are closer to my age I really enjoyed this book! The characters are more mature and both had already have a love life beforehand, which adds to the allure!
I would definitely recommend this book!

A chance encounter and a kiss in the woods bring two lonely hearts together, but will a difference in class and situation keep them apart?

Kenneth is heir to an earldom, once a soldier he never expected to find himself a titled landowner. A chance encounter with a beautiful widow leaves him unwilling to settle for less than love match as the pressure mounts for him to choose a wife.

A sweet clean Regency romance, with a love at first sight beginning. I liked that the story featured more mature characters with grown children from their previous marriages. It was a quick read, enjoyable, but hard for me to get into as I'm not a big fan of love at first sight. Rebecca is a hardworking woman, who is ready to branch out on her own now that her daughter is settled. While Kenneth is adjusting to her change in circumstance. A sweet read with a happily ever after.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sorry this took me so long to review, I think because I found it a bit uninspiring. But not totally horrible.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC,

While there was quite a bit I like about this story, the pacing was pretty slow, and the h&h have trouble finding time for each other. I would have liked more initiative typically in a hero. And, while there was some character development, there were areas that were unexplored — like the relationship between the hero and his sons. Possibly there were just too many characters to fully explore some of this relationships? There was a small side plot on Rebecca's side with some familial drama, but that was pretty much it. Their insta-attraction, while perhaps understandable and believable, just wasn't enough to drive their story forward.

One thing that sets this regency romance apart is that the main characters are both in their 40's, with Kenneth being nigh on 50. I appreciated having a romance with older characters and having second chances at love now their first loves have passed on, but young or old, their romance isn't very compelling. Sometimes the words were there to tell me they felt attraction to each other, but there was no spark, no real chemistry, that I could really detect between the two of them.

A charming story of mistaken identity that veers into deception. The hero needs to come clean with the heroine about who he is (not a valet!), but how? Will their burgeoning relationship be destroyed because of the fiction on which it was founded? As always, Kilpack delivers an original take on a Regency trope.

as somebody who lived in york and whose academic research is centred around regency england, i knew this was MY book!!!! i loved this so so much and i will definitely be rereading this!!!!

Such a romantic story. Reminded me of 'Ever After'. Definitely, worth reading it!

Thank you #NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for giving me the opportunity to read this.

This was a nice Cinderella story but I found it hard to get into the story.

A huge thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Valet's Secret by Josi S. Kilpack was a 3⭐️ for me. JSK is one of my favorite authors. She writes wonderful romance but this one didn’t have that effect. I think it’s a “it’s me not you” situation.
Will I read another by her? Absolutely❣️
Thanks Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley.

This was a cute story - however, the characters were a bit old for my tastes. But the author did a good job with the story, that’s just a personal preference.

This second chance romance for two people who have loved and lost was so heartfelt and tender. The author was adept at weaving together the threads of hope into even the most difficult circumstances.

Rebecca Parker had a happy marriage, but is now widowed and her only child is grown and moved a short distance away. Rebecca helps her ill-tempered father with his art, and her life is very predictable and quite lonely—until she’s nearly run down on the road by a man riding on a spirited horse. When he comes to her aid there is a feeling and connection between them that she’d never thought to have again. They give in to a forbidden kiss, and it’s as if Rebecca has come alive again. This chance encounter gives her hope that perhaps she truly can have love in her life once more.

Unbeknownst to her, she has not kissed a valet, a man of her station, but Kenneth Winterton, the heir to an earldom. Kenneth feels the same connection to Rebecca, but now caught in his web of lies, he doesn’t see a way to tell her of his deception without hurting her. When she is hired to help serve at a dinner party given by a baroness, she is stunned to see the “valet” she kissed sitting at the table. Realizing he is not who he said he was, she is broken-hearted and rebuffs his apologies, but can’t deny there is something between them—a connection that seems to get stronger whenever they are together. But he’s the heir to an earldom and she’s an artist’s daughter. There doesn’t seem to be any common ground for them to base a romance on. True love comes at a price, but are they willing to pay it?

I loved this gentle romance and how our hero and heroine found a piece of their heart that they thought was gone forever. It is somewhat unusual to find historical romances that feature people later in life, but I found it refreshing. Their insecurities about what others would think of them, including their grown children, and whether their differences were too great to possibly make a life together, is still relatable today. There were little shades of a Cinderella story with evil relatives, a beautiful gown and slippers that somehow don’t stay on their owner, but there are some unexpected twists as well that kept me turning pages. The Valet’s Secret is a slow-build romance that’s perfect for a lazy summer afternoon of reading.

If you are a Jane Austen fan, you will love this Regency Cinderella story. I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I hope Kilpack will be writing another one like this.

Ugh, I couldn’t get enough of this story! To read something so pure, sweet and very romantic is the most awesome thing. The writer did a wonderful job of telling a story of two different lives that by some miracle comes together. Malcolm and Rebecca renews all my hopes and joys of believing that you will find that one true love no matter what life you live. Ahhhh. This story was unbelievably beautiful. Get ready for this page turner that offers the excitement of falling into that right moment of finding love. I know for a fact that the writer did a delightful job with the plot to this story.

This cinderella retelling is so good! I love this proper romance so much! I always think of Josi Kilpack and her culinary mystery books but she is quickly becoming one of my favorite regency romance writers. If you love fairy tells you’ll love this one! Give it a go, it won’t disappoint!

I liked this story! So many romances feature the young and carefree. This one involves a couple past the very prime of their lives which made for a richer backdrop. It made for a fun and easy read that any historical romance fan will enjoy.

I loved this book! I found it different and refreshing. I Liked that the characters were older and had grown children. Loved the Cinderella aspects to it. Forbidden love trope was so fun! And the kisses were just so perfect. Such a fun unique regency!