This is a beautiful love story of mistakes and forgiveness, growth and strength. It was kind of fun to have a story about a middle aged couple. It reminds us that live isn't just for the young. We all deserve to find our match.

I was very excited to recievd an arc from netgalley for this book. I love the author and this book did not disappoint. A wonderful story about finding love that is right for you not for who people want you to be. The characters were well rounded, and relateable. I felt a connection with them as I learned about their lives.

The author did a good job making an intriguing premise. I was so excited to read this book because of the book blurb. However, it didn't engage me as I hoped. It would. I was not fond of the first encounter. I think it was too fast. I am also not a fan of forbidden romance. I was hoping to connect more with either of the main characters, but I didn't. Though I appreciate the Author making a unique spin of this retelling, it wasn't for me. If you are interested in regency retellings/forbidden-second chance romance, this book is for you.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I hated this book at first, and then by the end I loved it.

I will always be irritated by both the stupid choices at the beginning, and the heavy pull of the physical aspect in their relationship. But the whole novel developed beautifully. Absolutely beautifully. And while I don't like the mistaken identity trope at all, the way the trope ended in this was masterfully done.

I realized at the end the tie in to Cinderella, which only elevated my opinion of the novel that much more. Plus, the adaptations of it are extremely creative.

I really struggled to get into this book. I felt as thought the beginning was a bit slow setting up the story and I wanted to be more drawn to the characters than I was. I am not a huge fan of romance between older characters and was surprised to realize that these characters were past the age of a usual courtship and romance. I felt as though the story would have been better fitted to a younger couple with the plot point featuring a mistaken identity. It just seemed a little out of character for an older man with responsibility to pretend to be a servant just to go riding. It wasn’t my favorite from this author.

A sweet, love-at-first-sight story of two people who thought perhaps love was a thing of the past for them…until, one day it wasn’t. Kenneth finds himself poised to inherit an earldom he never anticipated would be his. Rebecca is a widow trapped in a mundane existence, working for her living with her increasingly abusive father. When Kenneth and Rebecca chance upon one another, the connection is instant, heated, and unforgettable. And unfortunately, it’s also a case of mistaken identity for Kenneth meets Rebecca while posing as his valet in order to escape the pressures of his new life. But the heart wants what it wants, and Kenneth cannot forget her. Nor can he allow her to know who is really is! Continuing the ruse of being the valet to the future earl in order to continue to see the woman who makes him feel alive - well, it seems his only choice. But it can only end in disaster and broken hearts if (and when) she discovers his true identity!

This story was a heartwarming, Cinderella-like tale of second chances and fairy tale love. I found it refreshing to read a love story about two people who are more mature, both in age and in life experiences. Despite dire circumstances and insurmountable odds, the build-up and conclusion didn’t bear the same angst or heartbreak as other books of this genre often do. This is a chaste, closed-door Regency romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kenneth and Rebecca's love story is about two people who are divided by class who through by chance met and shared a passionate kiss Then the rest was history.

Kenneth wasn't totally forthcoming to who he was to Rebecca when they first met. He told her that he was valet but he is actually an heir to an estate. He kept up the ruse for a bit but was eventually found out and Rebecca struggles with the idea that such a match can happen due to their stations in life. There wasn't a lot of outside forces preventing them from being together. Rebecca was having the conflict of feeling on the inside that with her station in life that such a thing cannot happen. More of an internal struggle than anything.

You do see the abusive relationship between Rebecca and her father. She had to move in with her father again due to losing her husband. Upon living there, she did a lot of the artistic work that her father was supposed to be responsible for. Then eventually lead to him being too verbally and physically abusive towards her.

You also see the pressure that is on Kenneth to marry to have a new countess at the estate. Even though there were many eligible women in his area, he only had eyes for Rebecca. You can see his conflict of knowing he is above his station to be around her, but he cannot deny his attraction.

What I like about this story is that Kenneth and Rebecca were in their 40's. They have married and lost their spouses. They also have kids and they were naturally feeling lonely. It felt more of a mature read in this story. The ending kind of reminded me of a retelling of Cinderella which was sweet.

The only thing I wasn't too thrilled was the pace of the story, it did drag in the middle, but it picked up at the end. It is beautiful and I enjoyed this read very much.

I loved this charming Regency romance featuring a quest for second chance love between a wonderful hero and heroine in their 40s. The attraction is instant, but deceit and class distinction throw a wrench into the relationship! Encased in a fairy tale atmosphere reminiscent of Cinderella, the unique plot twists and turns with some surprises as it flows smoothly toward a satisfying ending. The characters, primary and secondary, are engaging and realistic. If you are looking for a light and entertaining Regency read, this one is sure to delight.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I literally read this in less than 12 hours. I could not put it down! I truly enjoyed the whole storyline! Josi just know how to write such amazing descriptions and her plots are out of this world! I am surprised everytime! The swooniness was awesome and I loved the characters! Kenneth and Rebecca were such well fleshed out characters!! I will read this one again!

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 chemistry, that I could really detect between the two of them.

And while romances don't always have a strong plot going on otherwise, this had practically nothing to help it along, which is a real shame when the romance itself is dull and lackluster. 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.

Not one I would ever come back to, so hopefully Kilpack's next is more of a hit with me!

I received this ARC from NetGalley. I love Josi Kilpack's books and this one does not disappoint. When a hidden Earl and a widow have a chance kiss, it leads to a 2nd chance romance for both of the main characters. This book contain romance, 2nd chance love, and finding true love. A great read if you like regency romance books.

I wish it had been longer! It was far too short so the story or characters weren’t really fleshed out very well. However, I loved that the characters were over 40!

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

This is a fun romance based on a case of mistaken identity.
It’s a mixed class, second marriage, clean historical romance.
The relationship began with a surprising kiss but became a lovely friendship which was challenged when Rebecca realized Kenneth was the earl, not the valet.
It’s a beautiful romance with a somewhat surprising HEA.

Rebecca Parker is a lonely, Forty-Two-year-old, widow, and a mother. She had a daughter that she loved immensely. They lived with her father, and it was not a happy house. To get away from her father, it was an abusive relationship, she thought she would marry and settle in a loveless marriage. Her husband had been dead about eight years.

Malcolm Henry was his Valet, but he was more than a Valet. He was also a dear friend and served with him in the Navy. Kenneth Bartholomew Winterton was the heir to his uncle. His cousin had died, and the title would come to him. Malcolm and Kenneth would trade clothes and shoes. He would slip out of the carriage and get on a rented horse so he could ride. His uncle did not allow it except to use it for limited use convenience. He was running the horse and almost ran over her. She had to jump into some bushes. It was such a lovely story. They got to know each other. They met in town about once a week.

They were older but still had to fight, including themselves. Round and round they went. They felt they could not ignore the difference. The biggest problem for them was a different status. He is an Earl and she worked as a maid. I loved this gentle and loving story.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it
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Josi S. Kilpack has written another great regency romance!

The Valet's Secret centers around Rebecca Parker and Kenneth Winterton. After Kenneth nearly runs Rebecca over, the pair share a kiss. However, when Kenneth introduces himself, he uses his valet's name: Malcolm Henry. But when he's true identity is revealed, will Rebecca forgive the lie? Or will the fairytale romance have a not so happy ending?

I really enjoyed this! The Valet's Secret has some Cinderella elements, which was pretty cool to see! I also liked the two leads. It's interesting to note that the two leads are older, with Kenneth being 48 and Rebecca being in her early/mid 40s. Also, even though there's some insta-love, the author makes it make sense. Also there's some interesting dialogue concerning age gap relationships, especially with Kenneth and how he does not like 19 year-olds trying to flirt with him, which is kind of refreshing in this genre.

All in all, I really liked reading this regency fairytale. It was a sweet tale of two people discovering their own fairytale, when at least one of them believes that they have outgrown fairytales.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC! I really appreciate the opportunity to read this.

TW/CW: domestic abuse

Oh, this book was such a delightful read! It has Cinderella vibes going on, but not so much that it overtakes the story. In all honesty, when I began reading it, I forgot that the description mentioned it being a "Regency Cinderella Story" and didn't much notice the similarities until the book was almost completed.

The book was charming, sweet, and heartwarming. The biggest surprise to me was that the main characters weren't your typical 20-30-year-olds. Rebecca was 42 and Kenneth was 47 (or 48? it was mentioned once at the beginning of the book.) with grown children. It was refreshing to see characters who are mature.

Both Rebecca and Kenneth are dealing with their new seasons of life; both having lost their spouses several years prior. Kenneth having to step into his unexpected inheritance as an earl and Rebecca having to deal with working and living with her abusive father.

This was the first book that I've read by Jose Kilpack, but I will definitely be reading more from her!

Note: I received an early copy through #netgalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rebecca Parker, a widow, a maid, and a Silhouette artist’s assistant met the Earl heir apparent of Lord Brenston, who was disguised as Valet, because of an energetic and stubborn horse. And that chance encounter led them to build a budding relationship despite the Earl’s falsehood at first, then a few misunderstandings, and their social class distinction.

This is such an interesting read. I am amazed how much the Author put much thought into retelling the Cinderella Story without it being too predictable. It’s quite smart of her to portray the usual characters of the story in different ways, for example, Lady Beth is like the Stepmother in Cinderella but in the book, she’s the cousin of the Earl, a.k.a the Prince Charming.

Overall, I’m giving this book a 3.5. Although I like how it's written as a retelling of Cinderella, I wasn’t particularly fond of how both the ML and FL breach propriety so much that it sometimes became unbearable to me. I’ll recommend this book to those who like a fairy tale love story.


Got this from Netgalley, courtesy of the Shadow Mountains Publishing (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely adorable take on the Cinderella fairy tale! The Valet’s Secret pulls you in quickly with the very different lives of Rebecca and Kenneth. Their first kiss was quick and a sweet, slow romance followed! I loved that Rebecca has such a positive attitude. She did not feel sorry for herself, nor does she depend on others to take care of her. She is independent, strong and self-reliant. Rebecca has been raised to know ‘her place’ and does not try to veer from it.

In the same way, Kenneth was not raised to be an earl, but due to the death of the earl’s son, now finds himself as the heir. He, too, understands ‘his place’ and what is expected of him. Yet, he cannot stop thinking about Rebecca, nor stop wanting to spend time with her.

These two have not been able to spend very much time together, but both know there is a connection to the other that neither can explain. With a little help from the baroness or their own ‘fairy godmother’ their dream could come true. Of course, there has to be the villain of the romance who tries to keep them apart.

Another aspect I enjoyed about Rebecca was her desire to try to have a relationship with her father. She continued to respect him even in difficult circumstances. Yes, there are times we need to step away from relationships that are hurtful. Needless to say, I loved this romantic tale and find I am really enjoying Josi Kilpack’s writing more each time I read one of her books!

This was a lovely, Maid in Manhattan/Cinderella love story with the second chance at love trope.

Rebecca, the female main character, was enjoyable to read. She’s a driven and independent (for the time period) woman. I liked how she continued to find her own way during her struggles, but she was also wasn’t too prideful to accept help.

Kenneth, the male main character, is one of my favorites I’ve ever read in this type of romance. His inner commentary on his new station, how he “should” behave now versus how he wants to behave, etc. were all so fascinating to me and really well-written! He didn’t seem like every other love interest, like cookie cutter, and I really appreciated that.

Pros: the maturity of the characters—it was something I hadn’t read before, usually everyone is so young, and I found I enjoyed it. The writing was well done, easy to follow, great imagery, great storytelling! The plot was excellent and the different ways the characters had chance meetings (the dinner, the silhouette drawing) didn’t feel forced, but organic and natural. The cheeky glass slipper comment/getting locked in a room and kept from the ball were fun little touches!

Con: it’s really not even a con, so I had to put it here, but I would have loved an epilogue!

This is a gentle historical romance featuring more mature characters who have both been married before and find a second chance at love. There is no melodrama or histrionics; instead we have two very nice and sweet people dealing with life in their middle age. In this particular instance, there is also a class distinction that is the cause of their romantic difficulties.

Story: Rebecca Parker had a happy marriage but, upon her husband's death, returned to live with her unreasonably demanding father. Unhappy but resigned, she has a chance encounter with valet Malcolm Henry one day and finds her heart fluttering again. But "Malcolm Henry" is in reality and Earl - widower Kenneth Winterton. And he will most assuredly lose his position should he remarry to a commoner.

Those looking for a "Georgette Heyer" rather than bodice ripper will enjoy this undemanding read. Yes, characters do feel simplistic and lacking nuance or depth (read: flaws). But this does harken back to old fashion romance reads when people fell in love immediately and the next step was marriage rather than sex. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.