An opposites-attract, wrong-side-of-the-tracks, secret identity romance from a New York Times bestselling author: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 … 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 bestselling 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
more
Love has a way of making two worlds collide. From the moment they met, it was love at first sight and I knew it was going to be interesting to see how they got together. The story keeps you on the edge on your seat wondering how and when he will find out about the caricatures. I loved that it overlapped a bit with Lord of Pleasure. His sisters add so much to things and so does her cousin.
Nora does what she has to so that her family is taken care of even something she doesn’t want to. I loved her right away with her attitude towards things and her skills. She didn’t hold back when someone did or said something wrong.
Heath does his job very well, but its not the dream he has. I loved how much he loved his sisters and that his work helped them. He may put family and keeping the tons secrets, but he listens and understands too.
Nora and Heath are absolutely adorable together. Once again, Erica Ridley brings to life a wonderful set of characters and reunites us with some favorites from other books. Filled with humor and (of course) introspect of love verses what they hold as their personal values, we are challenged to consider our own thoughts of motivations and perspectives and how they play into our relationships with others. I love how Erica Ridley always brings more to the table than what is expected and I was once again satisfied by my time spent in her world.
Thank you to NetGalley, Erica Ridley, and Webmotion for the opportunity to read this story and share my thoughts and opinions with others.
Lord of Secrets by Erica Ridley is book Five in the Rogues to Riches series. This is the story of Heath Grenville and Eleanora ‘Nora’ Winfield. I have read the previous books, but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Nora appears to be all things proper but there is something she is hiding due to needing money badly. So being attracted to Heath is a big problem because he usually solves other peoples problems and brings puzzles to light. But neither can seem to help stop the growing feelings even when both know that they shouldn’t be feeling this way.
This was a fun read that I found hard to put down. I have really enjoyed this series and this book just added to that love.
AN ABSOLUTE JOY!!!
Talk about kicking it in the sticks. Ridley did a remarkable job balancing the events with all the twists, turns and surprises around every corner. Its a true joy to read this page turning tale. The characters and scenes were intriguing, complex and realistic. With scenes so vividly detailed and descriptive that it gives the illusion you were right there in the middle of ground zero with them. It was fascinating following the characters as their personalities transformed and blended. Great job Ripley, thanks for sharing this awesome read with us.
4.5 stars.
Heath Grenville, is heir to the Grenville barony, older brother to Dahlia, Camellia and Bryony and the secret-keeper/problem solver of the ton. He has promised his mother that he will pick a bride this season and marry. His bride will of course have the proper bloodlines, wealth and connections to be a future Baroness and while he secretly has hopes and dreams of a much different life, he accepts that this is the life he was born into and has a duty to the title.
Eleanora “Nora” Winfield is Heath’s complete opposite, orphaned and taken in by her ailing grandparents, Nora has worked non-stop for years trying to keep her family fed. When the chance to act as a temporary companion to her distant cousin arises, she takes it. London society has been an eye opening experience for Nora. In London she is invisible and as a paid companion, she is treated pretty much as a servant. Nora has secrets too, first she has problems reading and writing and second she is an artist. For fun she sent some cartoonish drawings home to her family and is horrified to learn that her brother sold them and the publisher wants more – paying more than she is earning as a companion! She doesn’t like the idea of doing scandalous cartoons, but how can she deprive her family of the much needed funds?? She reasons that she is not creating gossip and she is never intentionally cruel. She meets Heath at a ball and is immediately smitten – as is he. He is disappointed to learn that she is not of his class and therefore is not baroness material – but he can’t seem to stay away.
When Lady Roundtree (Nora’s cousin/employer) hires Heath to unmask the mysterious cartoonist – they end up spending more and more time together. After a print of his sister is released, Heath is furious and redoubles his efforts to find the artist. He also decides that Nora is the woman for him despite the difference in their stations and decides to court her.
But when Nora’s secrets are revealed, will Heath be able to forgive her for her deception?
I thought this was a great read, not too heavy, but clearly giving insight into the class differences in regency England. I loved Nora, she is a loving, loyal and generous person, Heath was a wonderful friend and brother, but a bit of a snob. The secondary characters are great and his sisters are priceless, the love scenes are warm and well done. I did feel like the ending/conflict resolution was a bit rushed and quickly resolved. I loved that the last chapter was 4 months later and then there was an epilogue as well – BONUS! This book is the fifth book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone title with no problems. If you have been following the series, you will probably recognize some events as this book’s timeline is the same as Lord of Pleasure.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an uncorrected eARC provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Nora is a paid companion who needs the money to send back to her family. She is also a very skilled artist and draws infamous caricatures of the ton so she needs to stay anonymous. Being discovered would most likely get her fired and she needs that money! Heath is a member of the upper class and is also a very skilled and well known problem-solver among the ton. Heath does not like these caricatures and is determined to find out who is behind them. The two of them meet one evening when Nora accidentally spills lemonade on Heath, and then things start to get very interesting. Heath is very attracted to Nora, and Nora is attracted to him; however, each thinks that it would not be wise to pursue a relationship because of the difference in class. Will Nora’s identity be discovered? Will the two of them be able to overcome the obstacles in front of them? Read this very entertaining story to find out.
This story was a joy to read. The characters were so lovable and interesting. The plot was sweet and enticing. It had lovely humor throughout which I love in my books. It also moved at a very nice pace. I enjoyed the story from start to finish. Very well done! Very lovely romance! I will be reading more from this author.
A great story of two people with secrets. Heath who is in line for a barony and Nora, a country girl now lady’s companion for a distant cousin. Heath helps those with matters of reputation and Nora draws caricatures of them. When Heath falls in love with Nora he doesn’t realize she is the one he has been hired to expose. The interaction between these two is perfect. I received a complimentary copy and I am giving a review voluntarily.
Lord Heath prides himself on living the life of a perfect gentleman. He follows all the proscribed societal rules of the day to the letter. At thirty two, his mother is nagging him about finding a wife. He accidentally “bumps into” Nora at a social gathering, finds her delightful and wants to learn her identity. Come to find out, Nora is a paid companion to a Countess, and as such, is not an eligible young lady for courting- IF Heath continues to follow “the rules”.
Nora finds Heath incredibly attractive, but sees him as too far above her station, so she is determined to simply be friendly. As the time passes, and these two people are brought together by circumstances more and more frequently, they each fantasize about breaking the rules, and becoming involved with each other.
But, Nora has a secret. It may be insurmountable. It could destroy what little chance the two have at a future.
This is a really fun story with a cast of colorful that left me smiling more than once. I recommend this book to readers of historical romance who enjoy humor and heat with their hea. This is the fifth in a fun series, and I am really looking forward to the next!
Love this series. Great characters.
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. Heath is trying to unmask the unsavory artist. 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?
This is the fifth book in and 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. Heath’s mother and sisters were great secondary characters, as was Lady Roundtree. Captain Pugboat, the pug puppy, was sweet and provided comic relief. Their story is interesting and heartwarming. The last chapter and epilogue were delightful, and the epilogue has quite a surprise. This is another winner form Erica Ridley. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC from the author. The review is my own.
Heath Grenville is the heir to a baronetcy and is part of the London elite. He is known as the problem-solver among the Ton. His mother is pressuring his sisters to find husbands, so Heath tells his mother he is looking for a wife to take pressure off of them.
Miss Eleanora Winfield was raised on a sheep farm by her grandparents and as they age, Nora and her brother have been running the farm. Her cousin is in need of a paid companion and summons Nora to London. At one of the many balls, Nora spills a drink on Heath. Heath is intrigued by the young woman and disappointed to find out that she is a paid companion. He is drawn to Nora and starts finding ways to visit her cousin so he can see Nora.
Nora is intrigued by the handsome heir, but she has a deep secret that she can’t even divulge to the Ton’s secret keeper. Will it get in the way of their love?
I absolutely loved this book. I liked how as the story progressed, Nora’s character developed. She started off meek and shy. By the end of the book, she was confident and in love with Heath. I also liked how her relationship with her cousin grew into a friendship. The caricatures were a brilliant sub-plot. I liked how Nora used a caricature to subtly get back at a dandy who made fun of Lady Roundtree.
I received a complimentary ARC from the author and NetGalley Thank you!
He’s the smartest person in the room, except when it comes to matters of the heart. Heath is a whiz when it comes to solving a problem, but clueless when it comes to love. Tasked with unveiling a nuisance, he ends up finding his heart. Eleanora is used to being overlooked. Standing in the background is just one of her many talents. When her other secret starts to make waves within the upper class, her greatest wish could prove to be her undoing. Lord of Secrets is about taking risks. Eleanora and Heath are two lonely hearts looking to find a home. Life has a way of placing a person right where they were meant to be. There’s pleasure wrapped up in this heartwarming scandal.
A delicious romance from beginning to end! Miss Eleanora Winfield had a hidden talent. She could draw the most fabulous caricatures of the high society Ton and make money that she desperately needed. How harmless you say? Well it has come to the attention of Heath Grenville, who takes a task and solves it to find the artist behind the pictures. I mean there was a drawing of one of his sisters!! Of course Heath has no idea who the culprit behind the drawings are, but when he meets Nora, a lady’s companion, he is very attracted. The wonderful characters come to life and it was such an enjoyable, fun story that I could only smile. What will happen when Heath finds out it is Nora behind the drawings? Can they find their happy ever after? As with all of Erica Ridley’s books, you will be entertained and anxiously awaiting her next story!!
I love reading Erica Ridley books because the story draws me in and I feel like I am there. It was great to see the next in the Rogues to Riches series. I enjoy re-visiting couples from the other books. This book took place concurrent with some of the other books but it didn’t compromise the story at all. Great entertainment!
Regency romance at its best, this lighthearted and witty story gave me something to smile about and to enjoy. The story of the Grenville family has been woven into the rest of the series, so that if the reader is following Rogues to Riches, they are not strangers. In spite of this, the book is a standalone and ends on a happy note. The book is well written and kept me turning the pages. There were also a number of object lessons, giving the one something to think about. I loved Heath’s character and have always enjoyed reading about him as he sets about resolving the issues of the day. Nora, on the other hand, is more of a problem than he at first anticipated, especially when she realises that what started out as an enjoyable way to communication with her family, has become a force to be reckoned with. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Lord of Secrets is a fine addition to Erica Ridley’s Rogues to Riches series set during the Regency period. It is another story about a member of the Grenville family which has been in several of the previous four books. Though this is a standalone piece, reading is enhanced if the earlier works have also been read.
Heath Grenville is known as a “fixer” for problems that members of the ton are experiencing. He does this not to make money but to help out friends as well as family members. He is attracted to Miss Eleanora Winfield at a society function, not realizing she is a paid companion to a member of the ton. Nora’s position is only temporary until her employer recovers from an accident, but she desperately needs the funds from her employment to send back home to her grandparents and brother to help support them and their sheep farm. Nora spends any free time drawing, which she greatly loves. By attending to her employer at society functions she is able to observe and note more and more members of the ton. She adroitly captures their mannerisms in caricatures, sharing and sending them home to her brother. Unknown to Nora, her brother passes them on to someone who contacts someone else who is able to publish them and send desperately needed funds back to the family. Once she finds out about this, Nora realizes this is a godsend so she can earn more funds by continuing with the caricatures about society members. She doesn’t do it because she dislikes the ton, but because her family needs the funds to save their livelihood.
The more they see one another at society events and in public venues, the more attracted Heath and Nora are to one another. Nora knows there is no future between them as she is a commoner, and Heath knows he must marry someone from his own class. They also are at cross purposes with one another. He is focused on finding and revealing the person perpetrating the caricatures and she is desperate to help out her family. Will they be able to move beyond their differences and find a HEA?
This was an engaging story with likable primary and secondary characters plus lovable Captain Pugboat. It captured well the differences between the classes and the Regency period. A very good read. Looking forward to the next in the series.
I received an ARC of this work and voluntarily offer this unbiased review.
Rating: 4.5
Lord of Secrets by Erica Ridley
Rogues to Riches #5
Heath Grenville will one day be a Baron so his image and honor are highly prized and ingrained into him. With such personally held high standards he has equally high expectations for the woman he will marry – a woman unmet but expected to be proposed to within the year. When he meets Miss Eleanor Winfield he is immediately intrigued but…there are reasons that keep him from becoming engaged in pursuit…at least for a while.
This is a love story that deals with the wealth vs poverty, what one is willing to do for family, perceptions and misperceptions and ultimately one of love and the fact that it is not always easy but definitely worth working for. I love this author and enjoyed this book immensely. I am eager to read the next book in the series and wonder, as it will be the last in the series, if there will be more books to deal with Eleanor’s younger brother and Heath’s unwed sister…the one that is not assigned a book yet. At times I found Heath to be a bit unbending and unwilling to see both sides of a situation. I admired Eleanor’s strength and willingness to care for her family even when it might impinge on her own wellbeing. AND I liked the way the two managed to work through their issues to find a HEA together.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Lord of Secrets (Rogues to Riches, #5) by Erica Ridley is a fun, romantic Regency Romance. While #5 in this wonderful series, it can be read as a stand alone.
This is the story of Heath Grenville, the ton’s problem solver and Miss Eleanora Winfield (Nora). Nora has a huge secret, one that can could the budding romance between herself and Heath when he learns her secret.
Well crafted with charming and engaging characters. The storyline fun, humorous, with interesting dialogue, secrets, romance, a villain, an adorable pug puppy, and a HEA. The reader will find reocurring characters from Ms Ridley’s previous books, which is always wonderful to visit with again. I enjoyed Heath and Nora’s love story, their challenges and their relationship. For a fun romp in Regency England, pick up LORD OF SECRETS by Erica Ridley. Makes for some wonderful summer reading. Strongly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy, however, all opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.5
Heath Grenville is the problem-solver for London’s elite. He wishes to unmask the devious cretin skewering the ton with audacious caricatures.By day, Miss Eleanora Winfield is a proper, unremarkable paid companion to Lady Roundtree. By night, Nora’s skillful hands sketch the infamous penny caricatures rocking high society. Nora desperately needs the money for her family
This is the fifth in the series & whilst it could be read on its own, why would you when the whole series is so very good. Heath & Nora are immediately attracted to each other & this only grows the more they meet, they also like each other & find that they can talk about anything & their love of art is another draw. Whilst I loved the growing romance I also thoroughly enjoyed Nora’s relationship with Lady Roundtree, through in a pug puppy & my enjoyment was guaranteed. There are also cameo appearances from characters from earlier books in the series & also from the Dukes of War series, which I love . I impatiently await the next in the series.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Miss Nora Winfield is a simple farm girl earning some extra money by being her cousins paid companion. She draws caricatures to send home to her family to tell of her time in London. When she finds that one of her anonymous caricatures has been sent in to a local newspaper she is horrified until they offer her more money than she can imagine. Mr. Heath Grenville is the man people turn to in London to help hide their secrets. When he meets Miss Winfield he is captivated. “With her soft pink gown and lustrous red curls, she more than stood out from the sea of pastel hopefuls. Wide blue eyes, blushing cheeks, lips a perfect, dusty rose…..He’d let the red-tressed goddess go without ascertaining her name or securing a spot on her card. And in doing so, he seemed to have lost the intriguing young lady entirely.”
But Miss Winfield’s anonymous caricatures are shaking the Ton to its core. Heath is hired to find the name of the secret culprit. Will he uncover Nora’s secret? What can she a simple farm girl do about her own heart towards Heath?
Wonderful book. I truly enjoyed it.