Lord of Secrets

A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Rogues to Riches, Book 5)

By: Erica Ridley

Narrated by: Marian Hussey

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Some secrets should never be unveiled....

Heath Grenville is the problem-solver for London's elite. Unmask the devious cretin skewering the ton with audacious caricatures? With pleasure. His success should keep the powerful happy. But when his work leads him to a young lady outside his class, surely he won’t do anything so scandalous as to fall in love....

By day, Miss Eleanora Winfield is a proper, unremarkable paid companion. By night, Nora’s skillful hands sketch the infamous penny caricatures rocking high society. Nora desperately needs the money...and her anonymity. But how can she keep them both when she’s fallen for the one man whose livelihood and reputation requires him to expose her?

In the Rogues to Riches historical romance series by USA Today and New York Times best-selling author Erica Ridley, Cinderella stories aren’t just for princesses.... Sigh-worthy Regency rogues sweep strong-willed young ladies into whirlwind romance with rollicking adventure.

• Lord of Chance
• Lord of Pleasure
• Lord of Night
• Lord of Temptation
• Lord of Secrets
• Lord of Vice

©2018 Erica Ridley (P)2018 Erica Ridley

Secret kept. Fun by all

An enjoyable tale and you like Nora and Heath the minute you meet them. They were fun and they had to deal with quirky characters, as well as, well-meaning ones. The voice over performer on the audio version was really good and you enjoyed her performance. So if you get a chance give it a listen or pick up the book. Either way you'll enjoy it.

Too looooong

I skipped through about half of this book. IMHO reading Erica Ridley's books are like shooting craps. You win some..you lose some. This book is not a winner. The characters are shallow and the dialogue is immature. I'm not sure if a different narrator would have made a difference....don't think so.

What will happen when the Lord of Secrets uncovers the biggest secret of the season?

Lord of Secrets is the fifth book in the Rogues to Richard series, but it can stand alone. Heath is a problem-solver for the London’s elite, and now he must unmask the creator of the offensive caricatures. Eleanora is just a paid companion for her cousin while her legs mend, but when her caricatures show up all over London, she realizes she must keep it a secret. Their paths should never cross, but they do, and they slowly fall in love. But what happens when the Lord of Secrets will uncover the biggest secret of the season?

This book was simply fabulous! I loved how much of a feel good book it was, but I became so invested in the characters and just absolutely fell in love with Heath and Eleanora’s journey to romance. The plot line was very engaging, as I loved that the reader knew all of the secrets they were keeping from each other, but the drama that unfolds between them and the other characters helped keep me sucked in! Ms. Hussey was absolutely amazing at bringing these characters and this world to life, with her voices, tone, and accent all adding to the magic of the book. I have really enjoyed this series, and this may have been my favorite book yet! If you are a lover of regency romances, this is absolutely the book for you!

Another Hit!

I love the Rogues to Riches series and this book is no exception. I enjoyed meeting the previous characters again. Heath's sisters are just so much fun. The historical aspect (poor relations and their 'betters') was well described. I couldn't wait to see how the heroine's problem was resolved. The story kept me entertained and glued to the audiobook to the very last page. And I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. Highly recommended!

Delightfully entertaining story! Great narrator!

Another wonderful spin on the Cinderella trope, with a kind and entreprising heroine (after a little nudge from her brother) and a rather Darcyesque hero, with the little blemishes that go with that: "As a child...I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit."

Unlike Mr. Darcy, Heath Grenville, is quite immediately struck by Nora's handsome face and fun personality, and he has an open & friendly manner. However, like Mr. Darcy he is a bit too certain about what is right and wrong, leaving him somewhat too proud and with too good an opinion of the importance of the haut ton and his role in it.

Nora is a great character, coming accross as a little meek sometimes because of her humble nature & generous heart, but brave as well in her choice to continue with her caricatures, knowing full well what's at stake. I thought it was a nice change of pace to have a heroine with insecurities, both with regards to her rank and her learning disability (dyslexia).
To stay in Austen-terminology, she is far more of a Jane than an Elizabeth, and it's nice to see a more atypical heroine secure her HEA.

I like the Grenville siblings immensely, and I would have liked to have gotten more insight into their elusive father. Why is he so absent? What kind of relationship does he (still) have with his wife? How does he feel about his children?

The narration is really well done! Marian Hussey has a very pleasant voice to listen to and she excels at giving each character his or her own distinctive voice. She also definitely has the acting skills needed to draw us in the story and bring Nora and Heath to life!

Loved the story and the audioversion made me appreciate it even more!

Secret Keeper(s)

Heath Grenville is a future Baron, brother to three lively, unconventional sisters, and London’s best (only) “professional” problem solver. Eleanora (Nora) Winfield is cousin to Lady Roundtree, a poor relation who has come to be her paid companion while she recovers from a broken leg. Nora has also, rather inadvertently, become the infamous caricature artist currently creating a stir, and some scandal, in the haute ton. The very same artist Heath is trying to unmask. They meet at a ball and are immediately taken with each other. Of course they both know that they cannot court or marry because of the difference in their stations – or can they? How will Heath feel when he discovers the scandalous artist is Nora? How will Nora react when he confronts her? Will she be able to trust him with her other secret?

Lord of Secrets is a wonderful addition to the Rogues and Riches series. Heath and Eleanor are kind, caring, and protective of those they love. They are from different stations in society, but find they have common interests, especially in their love and appreciation of art. This story is interesting and heartwarming, and Marian Hussey does a splendid job of bringing it to life. The last chapter and epilogue were delightful, and the epilogue has quite a surprise. Heath’s mother and sisters were great secondary characters, as was Lady Roundtree. Captain Pugboat, the pug puppy, was sweet and provided comic relief. This is another winner form Erica Ridley.

An engaging story

Heath Grenville and Eleanora Winfield, had interests in common and both loved their siblings dearly and would do anything for them. However, socially, they were poles apart. Heath was heir to a barony and Eleanora had lived on a farm, without servants. Eleanora and Heath were such likeable characters that I enjoyed seeing their attraction grow in to deeper feelings. Although, there was a secret that Eleanora had, that would spoil everything once it was out. This story highlights the life of a companion or poor relation, certainly someone who was seen but not heard. I loved the interaction between the siblings and how this story neatly fitted in between the others in the series. The narrator’s performance was excellent and she really brought the scenes to life. She had an easy voice to listen to. This was an engaging book which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Great audio

I actually already read this story. I must say the audio was amazing. The narrator makes you feel as if you are in the same room with her. Along with the great story and characters this is certainly a winner. I received a complimentary audio and I am voluntarily reviewing.

Weak plot

Really well read but the story is very thin on plot and dialogue is pretty dull. Characters seem to suddenly change their behaviour without much explanation. Lots about what the two main characters feel..at great length - didn't really make me sympathise with either just made me want to slap both of them. Especially the hero.