Secrets & Suitors

"Secrets & Suitors" is a Regency romance, or at least a historical romance as the exact time was vague. Nora is painfully shy and doesn't view herself as much of a catch, so she's not surprised that her male best friend doesn't love her romantically and is surprised that two titled men start pursuing her. She longs to marry for love because her own parents seem nearly strangers, so she's shocked to learn their marriage was a love match. Healing comes to her family as she learns about what went wrong in their marriage, but it's also obvious to her that loving can be too heartbreaking. Maybe a comfortable home with a man who respects her is a better choice after all.

I cared about what happened to the main characters. They acted realistically and were complex. Nora grew as a person and learned from her mistakes. James helped bring out the best in her and genuinely wanted her to be happy and what was best for her. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.

Such a sweet friends-to-more regency romance, with secrets aplenty and tension pulling in every scene.

Nora is an introvert who would love to read poetry and enjoy time with her best friend, but things have been strained between them for some time after he suddenly left for Jamaica. Now, she is feeling forced to make a match and so throws herself into the season, hoping to make her own choice with a man of title to appease her father. With suitors and secrets aplenty, Nora is barely holding herself and her family together.

I related to Nora so much! A like to call her a fierce introvert... she would much rather be with only her closest family and friends or read, but she knows what's important to her and will fight for it when pushed.

I could tell from the very first chapter that so much more was happening that our heroine did not see or understand. The tension was sweet and burning. The conclusion... intense, yet (and i honestly can't tell you if it's the fact that i read a lot and recognize plot devices, or if the writing just had plenty of foreshadowing) i was never overcome with the emotion because i could sense what was coming.

Highly enjoyable, especially if you favor a friends-to-more trope.

Nora Hamilton would rather remain at home in the country than go to London for her third season--and she'd much rather spend time with her friend James, recently returned to England, than Mr. Weston, the man her father wants her to marry. But since James made it clear he doesn't return her feelings for her, she reluctantly tells her father she'll agree to marry Mr. Weston at the end of the season if her younger sister is allowed a season and her younger brother is allowed to accompany them to London. As she participates in the season, she wonders if her feelings for Mr. Weston might grow, and she also attracts the attention of an earl who seems to enjoy her company, but even with two men interested in her, she still can't convince her heart to forget James. Time is running out and she must decide what is the right path for her before it's too late.

Big sigh! This was lovely (particularly the last couple of chapters! Swoon!). Timid Nora and charming James were just terrific. I loved the moments when Nora actually pushed through her shyness and let her true self show. I enjoyed the plot; there was more going on than just a romance and the elements all fit together well. The story flowed really well, and it was just a delight to read. I read a lot of Regency romances, but this one stands out--and I've already reread the last couple chapters because they were so perfect!

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.