The Secret

Highlands' Lairds, Book 1

By: Julie Garwood

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Julie Garwood captures the Highland splendor of medieval Scotland in this breathtaking love story. The inspiration for her acclaimed bestseller Ransom, this classic tale is a passionate masterpiece from one of the best-loved storytellers of all time.

Judith Hampton was as beautiful as she was proud and loyal. Her dear Scottish friend from childhood was about to give birth, and Judith had promised to be at her side. But there was another reason for the journey from her bleak English home to the Highlands: to meet the father she had never known, the Laird Maclean. Nothing prepared her, however, for the sight of the Scottish barbarian who was to escort her into his land...Iain Maitland, laird of his clan, a man more powerfully compelling than any she had ever encountered.

In a spirited clash of wills and customs, Judith reveled in the melting bliss of Iain's searching kisses, his passionate caresses. Perplexed by her sprightly defiance, bemused by her tender nature, Iain felt his soul growing into the light and warmth of her love. Surely nothing would wrench her from the affection and trust of Iain and his clan...not even the truth about her father, a devastating secret that could shatter the boldest alliance, and the most glorious of loves!

©2013 Julie Garwood (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Good fun

This book is not especially deep or complex, but it is an interesting comparison between men and women. It is a nice, fun book with good narration. I really enjoyed it.

love the book hated the narrator!

The narrator was so bad at the voices that I didn't even finish the story. She made the women sound like little girls and the men all sounded alike. I have this book in paperback and ebook and throughout the many times I've read and re-read this book their voices sounded much better in my imagination. This is one of my favorite stories but this recording left me extremely disappointed.

Loved the book!

I have read this book many times. It’s one of my all time favorites. But this is the first time I’ve listened to it. I had a hard time listening to the narrator. She does not do well when voicing for the men in the story. And, her cadence/tone is very “sing-songish.” An overwhelming number of sentences end with the same tone. It’s hard to describe this with words, but I found it irritating. But, I still live the book and author.

Loved it..

Good read. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Especially love highland love stories.

Padded

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Two romance scenes would have been enough. It felt padded with the rest of them, otherwise a good read.

Was The Secret worth the listening time?

Yes

An awesome Highland Romance

Tha audio rendition only adds more depth to a fantastic story. This whole series is overwhelming in the sincerity and adherence to the Scottish Highlander code of chivalry and forbearance.

Great story, makes me want to visit the highlands

Loved all of her books, haven't found one that didn't make me smile. Read them all

Very enjoyable!

I really enjoyed this book! All the plot twisting kept my attention. I listen to audible books while in bed. The only thing I would complain about was the changes in the men's voices especially the harpy old men would wake me up. I fell in love with characters and am shopping for another book by this author.

A Nice Try...

While I believe the writer was trying to explore and explain human motivations, the characters sometimes seemed bi-polar. The male characters zip between rage and kind understanding. And while the female characters have admirable and mature qualities, they giggle and talk like 12 years olds. This could be due more to the narrator than the writing. I think I may have really enjoyed this novel when I was 15, but it felt a bit like a waste of time as an adult.

Good story, awful reader

I liked the story even if the heroine and other females whispered way too much, but the reader...! Her speech pattern was unbearable, and the voices she did were even worse. The women and children sometimes sounded outright creepy, and the men.. some of them sounded like oily womenizers and some of them sounded like Gollum.