Reluctantly returning to London for yet another Season, shy Nora Hamilton has nearly given up hope that she will ever find the love match she longs for. After all, the one man she does harbor feelings for—her closest friend, James—has made it perfectly clear he views her as just that: a friend. With James traveling half a world away and Nora’s father pressuring her to marry for wealth and status, … status, Nora is forced to set aside her desire for love and accept the future she has always dreaded. Until James returns unexpectedly and Nora’s feelings once again rush unbearably close to the surface. Determined to save what is left of their friendship, Nora ignores her own heart and allows herself to be swept up in the London Season, soon finding herself the object of two very different gentlemen’s affections. Though she should be thrilled, both men come with a glaring fault: neither is the one man who holds her heart. But there is much more at stake than heartbreak. When long-kept secrets are laid bare, Nora must face the fears that have plagued her all her life and decide what true love is worth.
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About to enter her third season, Nora Hamilton finds no joy in society or their expectations. While she would prefer to be reading a book of poetry or enjoying time with her younger siblings, her father, Lord Hamilton, has other ideas. When her father threatens to separate her from her dear siblings unless she agrees to marry Mr. Weston, Nora complies to his wishes on two conditions. One, her siblings are allowed to come to London during the season and two, she is allowed to keep her friendship with long-time friend James Allen.
Arriving in London brings all the thrills and dances you would expect in a regency romance. What differs in ‘Secrets and Suitors’ is the compelling way author Joanna Barker weaves her characters together. Each character has a thought-out history filled with secrets and lets those secrets dictate their actions, which creates a natural flow in the story. Right from the start, this story grabs your attention. Filled with rich emotions and diverse emotions from the characters, this has you crying, laughing, and everything in-between.
This story had me hooked and I stayed interested the whole way through staying up way too late at night. The characters had depth and weren’t one dimensional. Through the writing I was able to feel what they felt and was shown not told. There are layers to people and our lives and this was a good reflection of this. I was rooting for the H & h and the author had me guessing how’d it end. Knowing it was a sweet romance I figured there’s got to be a HEA but I was still wondering “what is going to happen!? Will they won’t they?”. It had good dialogue and the story flowed well. The story and characters were realisitc without too much drama or angst that’d make you roll your eyes. The author is a definite auto buy for a nice story you can escape into.
Secrets and Suitors is another delicious story by talented writer Joanna Barker. I’ve read some of her other books and loved them. She is quickly becoming a favorite author. With a setting in Regency era England and characters that came alive on the page, this tale delighted me and kept me turning the pages. James Allen is a perfectly swoon-worthy hero with his devotion and care for Nora Hamilton. Their past friendship added a special touch to their relationship. Nora is a shy, introverted heroine who wants to marry for love and has feelings for James but is being pressured into a match with another man. The chemistry between James and Nora is sure to set your heart fluttering.
With a variety of secrets and a few suitors, this story kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I liked the threads of forgiveness and the importance of family and friendship that were woven through it and all the multi-layered and colorful characters. I’m looking forward to more stories from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications. All opinions are my own.
A delightful read detailing being presented for the Season in high society.
The rules are rigid and I could definitely understand the anxiety young women faced. Way too many rules, how about just acting like
yourself and not putting on airs?
I know I could not act this way, it’s just not me but this is what’s fascinating about reading this as it’s so different from our daily lives now a days.
Secrets roam the halls of the great house and sadness has touched lives in a way the main character doesn’t understand.
There is a bit of an uncertainty in love and who Nora will end up with as her father pressures her to marry for status and wealth. What is marriage without love though?
Will Nora stand up for herself and marry for love or do her father’s bidding?
Interesting characters, I am glad we don’t live in this time period though.
Expected publication: October 1st 2019 by Covenant Communications, Inc.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This book is a must read for any fan of regency romance! The title truly is an apt description of the book. Childhood friends James and Nora promised each other long ago that they would not keep secrets from each other yet as they grow older, romantic feelings complicate things and the promise is not so easily kept. Nora, convinced of her low self-worth, is genuinely surprised to have not one, but two suitors vying for her attention…besides James whom she cannot seem to forget. Family secrets are revealed in time and all of these confusing secrets and persistent suitors force Nora to decide the kind of person she would like to be and how badly she is willing to fight for what she wants. Make sure to keep a box of tissues handy for some of the scenes between Nora and her parents – this sweet, clean romance is sure to give you all the feels!
I had the amazing opportunity to be issued an advanced copy of Secrets & Suitors by Joanna Barker and the following is my honest review of the book.
Wow! Simply wow! I thought Joanna Barker’s previous books were fantastic, but this book is even better. If I didn’t have to earn a paycheck and work, then I would’ve had this read pretty quickly. I had a hard time having to put this book down. I had to find out how Nora and James end up together. I laughed, cried, and best of all sighed while reading this book.
This book is definitely worth the read for every romance reader out there.
It was so good I didn’t want to put it down but my eyelids kept closing. I abandoned all house work and finished with a huge smile on my face! Loved it!! I related so well with Nora. And James is just the perfect man. I hope there are more stories to include Harriet, Susanna and Ralph.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists,
and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive
reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this
in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This novel is well-titled, as it is full of … … secrets and suitors! Nora’s family has never felt whole, and one of the secrets will reveal why. She learns so much about herself and her family during her third season. The side characters are well-written and help us truly understand Nora and the decisions she makes. As it is written from only Nora’s point-of-view, it is always in question if Nora will in fact end up with the correct suitor. You’ll have re-read the scene where they finally come together several times, as it is so sweet! “He does not deserve you. And you deserve far more than an unremarkable life.” Of course, there are still a few more twists as all the secrets are explained and only the correct suitor is left… and then they get their happy ending!
I have loved all of Joanna’s books, and this one did not disappoint!
Joanna Barker’s Secrets and Suitors is captivating, enchanting, and thoroughly satisfying. Just as with Barker’s other stories, the novel is crafted with charming and relatable characters, pleasant yet vexing conflict, and just enough romance and tension to demand that you continue neglecting your real life responsibilities in exchange for just a few more pages in the life of Nora Hamilton.
Nora has spent months pushing James from her battered heart. Just as she begins to believe she has succeeded, he returns and, with him, all the feelings Nora thought she had overcome. But with any London season, there are more pressing commitments and a husband to find! As Nora finds herself receiving the attention of two very sought after gentlemen, family secrets begin to unravel, and there is much more to Nora’s story than even she could have imagined.
Nora and James are the couple you root for from beginning to end. The friends that should have been more. Barker offers enough answers to keep us happy, but holds enough secrets to keep us reading. A tricky balance! Nora’s family history and relationships add a dynamic underlying element to the already interesting romantic plot. And the climax scene is one of the freshest and most entertaining I’ve read in awhile.
For any regency romance lover, Secrets and Suitors delivers. 5 stars.
Miss Nora Hamilton is about to enter her third season but her quiet shy demeanor makes her reluctant to go. After making a few calculated promises to her father, her family is suddenly thrown into the crazy planning of not only her Season but her sister Susie’s debut season.
Nora loves her sister Susanna and brother Ralph and knows that this season could be the last time she will get to spend time with them before she ultimately marries and moves away.
As the Season starts she knows she already has one suitor in Mr. Weston, someone she has nothing in common with, and barely knows. Then finds herself the focus of Lord Worthington’s attention. But neither one of them have her complete affection. That only belongs to her lifetime friend James, who seems to want to stay friends.
Nora has her secrets she’s trying to keep from her family and James, but discovers her parents and James have secrets of their own.
Secrets and Suitors is more than a clean Regency romance. It’s about family relations and healing through accepting love in our lives, and not pushing it away.
This book is well worth the 5 stars I’m giving it. Not only does it have a great story but it has wonderful word play that helps the reader feel Nora’s deep emotions.
I was given the opportunity from Covenant Communications to read an advanced readers copy, all opinions are my own.
Secrets and Suitors is a fantastic regency romance with an original plot, endearing characters, and positive messages regarding self worth and love. A fabulous read that is sure to captivate any reader.
Thank you Covenant Communications for letting me read an advanced reader copy for my honest review. This Regency Romance was a great satisfying read. I did find myself getting frustrated with Nora for not realizing sooner that James was in love with her but I did understand that it was part of how low her self confidence was. There were some twists and turns that made this story unique and enjoyable. I won’t ruin all of the surprises so if you like sweet Regency romances, this one is a great one to pick up. #SecretsandSuitors #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #HistoricalFiction
An honest review of Secrets and Suitors by Joanna Barker
(Disclaimer: let me explain that title. It doesn’t mean that my other reviews of other books are dishonest, but just that I’ve recently realized that, most often than not, I focus only on the positive aspects of a book, so this review may start a bit different than others.)
You know how you’re fairly certain that you’ve found your new favorite author, and thus you can’t wait for her next book to be just as amazing as the others you’ve already read from her? This was certainly the case for me. And yet, as I started getting to read about Nora’s life and the challenges that are arising in her life when the reader starts this book, were not stirring in me more than a bit of sympathy (as opposed to the usual “rooting for the heroine” feeling). During the first part of the book, I was frustrated with her, with the deal she strikes with her father, with her lack of faith in herself. And yet, I kept on reading. As the book wore on, I started to understand the title, since there are indeed many secrets, and at one point, up to three suitors. I even started getting frustrated along with Nora that Lord Worthington couldn’t have been her father’s first choice for her. And yet I kept on reading. And then we started getting to know some characters better. And the secrets started to unfold. And the realizations started to take place. And I definitely kept on reading.
So, why did I have to repeat a certain phrase three times in my review? Because. This. Book. *stares off into the distance* OK, really. Because I had to stop and realize a couple of things: A. Ms. Barker not only made me feel all the cozy and fluttering feelings but pretty much all of them, period. And B. even though I may not have enjoyed every scene in this book, she kept me turning the pages to find out how it all would turn out. And that, people, is how you know you’ve read something from a greatly talented author.
So, my favorite part in all the book? That. Ending. Seriously, oh, that ending! it certainly delivers and makes up for all the things Nora and Mr. James Allen had to go through. ~ 5 stars and completely recommended.
Nora’s story is one that I will not soon forget. I was pulled into her story and held captive until it reached its end, I could not stop reading. I needed to know what was going on with Nora and James. Was there some misunderstanding or what had happened? And then in waltzes Mr. Weston whom her father wants her to marry but can she possibly find another she would love or can she love him? What of James? This story is not just another regency romance, it is so much more. It is a story of friendship, love, deceit, secrets, and redemption. There are so many layers and watching the story unfold is one of the most beautiful things I have read in a long time. Hands down this is one of the best books of 2019. A story full of depth and masterfully woven, Barker has written a stellar novel. I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is an awesomely sweet Regency Romance. Told in the first person POV it is the story of Nora during a period in history when women were expected to marry for wealth and a good position in society. Nora made her debut in society 3 years prior and now her younger sister is of an age that she needs to enter society but cannot until Nora marries. Her father is forcing her to marry Mr. Weston whom she does not love so she tries to find a replacement that will fulfill the requirements even though she is in love with James her lifelong friend. This story takes many turns and will keep you guessing until the end. And what a sweet ending it is. I highly recommend this book to Regency Romance fans. Thanks to the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Nora always wanted to be in the background at social events and after two seasons in London she still hadn’t had a serious suitor. After receiving pressure from her father, she makes a bargain with him that she will marry Mr. Weston (a man she barely knows) if her two younger siblings are allowed to join her for the season in London. She also makes her father agree that she can continue being friends with her childhood neighbor James.
After time away at his family plantation, James is suddenly back in Nora’s life. He wants to still be her friend, but there is often a seriousness about him.
“A fancy could be forgotten, and I was determined to forget it.”
While back for a third season, Nora is torn between her feelings for James, a new acquaintanceship forming with Lord Worthington, and a commitment to Mr. Weston.
“James was my best friend, yes, but my heart yearned for so much more. He was the one who understood me best, who made me laugh, who listened to me.”
Nora has a completely different relationship with each of her three suitors. She and Mr. Weston are practically engaged, and she doesn’t even know his first name.
“He had run halfway across the world the last time I had given signs of having feelings for him. What would he do now if I were to give the slightest hint that he still held a piece of my heart?”
When Nora and James are together it feels like the air in the room changes. They are comfortable with each other because of being best friends growing up, but now there is tension and secrets between them.
“I would pay dearly for such a skill right now, to peer into his mind and discover all his tightly held opinions and secrets.”
This book is told in the first person, so we only know Nora’s point of view. When I first started reading it, I wished it also told James’ point of view. I was often wondering what was going on in his head. As it turns out, I loved that there were things I didn’t see coming. I was truly surprised by some of the secrets, and I liked that I didn’t know what would happen next.
I liked that it was not just about the romance, it was also about a broken family trying to find their way.
Besides the strong main characters, there were some lovable side characters like Ralph. He was absolutely adorable. Ralph’s relationship with Nora reminds us that we have to be careful with the promises we make, and his relationship with James made them both even more endearing.
Secrets and Suitors is a sweet story that also has a lot of deeper meaning. This book earns a well deserved five stars.
I don’t even know where to start…Joanna wrote such a fascinating character in Nora. She’s shy and reserved, but not necessarily polite and demur. She yearns for romance, but is able to be practical. She can be both selfless and self serving. She was so very unique and yet so very human, I liked her immensely.
Each of Joanna’s books have immediately pulled me in, to not just the story, but the whole experience. A well written romance usually follows a pattern, and the more of them you read, the more you are able to anticipate the pattern. (ie. Cue appropriate tension, and this is the moment when they recognize their feelings for each other, and this is about when all heck breaks loose, and close with an excellent denouement.) A good story naturally follows this pattern, a great story follows the pattern without your anticipating or expecting it. This is how Joanna writes. I’m always curious where she’s going next. On the other hand I never anticipate what’s coming, because I’m have too much fun with the page I’m on. That largely has to do with her ability to write with so much emotion.
The thing I admire the most about Joanna’s writing, including this one, is her stories are not just romances. At their roots, their about love; sisterly love, parental love, family heartbreak and healing. Though the chemistry is there, it’s more about connections, and that is what makes a story timeless.