Can she use her power of persuasion to catch a thief?
RONE Awards Finalist, Raven Awards Finalist/Best Cover
The Flirt:Lady Willow Douglas holds the power of persuasion and can charm any man to do her bidding. But when her skill doesn’t work on Sir Conrad Lockwood, he becomes a thorn in her side. The autumn festival is about to start, and Willow is distracted from her duties of being in the … Sir Conrad Lockwood, he becomes a thorn in her side. The autumn festival is about to start, and Willow is distracted from her duties of being in the queen’s secret society called the Followers of the Secret Heart – a group of strong women. Instead, she decides she wants to find a husband from all the rich, single, eligible noblemen who are arriving at the castle. But to her dismay, she discovers that her father, Rook (Legendary Bastards of the Crown) has hired Sir Conrad as her guardian until his return.
The Guardian:
Sir Conrad Lochwood arrives at the earl’s festival, hoping to find a ward for his sister since the death of their parents. What he finds instead is the haughty girl, Willow, that he remembers from childhood that he used to pull pranks on just to make her scream. In exchange for what he wants, he promises Willow’s father that he will watch over her until his return from Scotland. But Willow has turned into a beauty through the years and he finds himself attracted to her. Keeping her away from the men is going to be a challenge.
When a visiting earl’s prize ruby is stolen, Willow takes it as her personal goal to find the theif. But Conrad’s challenge is to keep her away from the men . . . and hopefully closer to him instead.
Can a strong woman who is determined to catch a thief accomplish her task before a dashing knight steals her heart away?
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For the second book in this series, we are following Willow’s story. Even though these are part of a series, this book does well as a standalone, but there are instances and characters mentioned from the first book that will enhance this story for you, so I really recommend you start at the beginning with Fia’s story to get all the background.
I can honestly say, I couldn’t stand Willow in the beginning of this book – but out of respect for the author, I hung in there and kept reading. She acted like a spoiled brat who thought of no one but herself. But as I read, I saw the transformation take place and watched the growth of Willow. Blessed with the powers of persuasion, in the beginning she only used the ability to get what she wanted – but later on uses it to help catch a thief. There are some good twists and turns that did surprise me, and the author managed to change my feelings about Willow. So even if you don’t like Willow in the beginning, keep reading – it’s worth it in the end. Reviewed by Cyrene
Elizabeth Rose has once again worked her magic in Seductive Secrets, the second offering in her Secrets of the Heart series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Highland Secrets, and this one is just as delightful. Seductive Secrets is an engaging story about a heroine whose powers of persuasion are remarkable, a knight assigned to look after her, an elusive thief, secrets, misunderstandings, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sweet, growing romance between two main characters. This is a standalone work. Though not required, enjoyment is enhanced if Highland Secrets is read first. This is now my favorite Elizabeth Rose series and I highly recommend this book.
Fun book with interesting characters.
Lady Willow Douglas is the rather spoiled daughter of Rook, one of the Legendary Bastard triplets. She uses her uncanny way to persuade others to do her bidding. Unfortunately that leads some people to think badly of her.
Sir Conrad Lochwood has just had to assume the care of his sister. She is a very nervous and needy girl who he hopes will get better by being fostered into a woman’s care. That is why he agreed to the deal Rook proposed.
This is an amusing story full of chaos, mostly caused by the females in it. Although the males are also easily distracted and not well organized.
It is part of a series but easily read on its own. I can’t wait to read the next book.
This second book of the series is just as good as the first. Willow’s and Conrad’s story is full of cross-purposes, misunderstandings, and thievery. And of course rocky romance. I received an arc of this book.
2nd book in the Secrets Of The Heart series
Can be read as a stand alone novel
Willow, a fun loving, flirty young lady wishes to stay at her guardians castle while her 2 cousins are escorted back home by her father, for the birth of her cousins first child.
Willow’s father hires Conrad, to look out for Willow while she attends festivities in exchange for Willows mother to take in Conrad’s sister Hazel.
Willow remembers Conrad as a skinny, unattractive boy who tormented her.
But now Conrad is a handsome knight , who is there to protect her from all the other men. But who will protector her from Conrad.
Bravo Elizabeth Rose Bravo!! Seductive Secrets, Willows’s story, is book 2 in the Secrets of the Heart Series. I loved this one as much as I loved the first book in this series Highland Secrets, Fia’s story. Though it can be read as a standalone I highly recommend you read the first book to get the whole story. I have read many of Elizabeth’s books but I think she has really outdone herself on Seductive Secrets and is by far my favorite, along with Highland Secrets, of any of her books. This story is so creative and original and you can’t help but fall in love with her wonderful characters. I can’t say enough about this book and series. This story has secrets, death, a thief, an assassin, kindness, misunderstanding, an agreement, protection, a secret garden, being vain, competition, annual festival, caring, promises, understanding, flirtation, schemes, trust and so much more. Travel back to medieval England with Willow, you won’t be disappointed.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
A Talent for Persuasion.
Willow is a daughter of one of the legendary triplet bastards of the Crown who since she was eight has been fostered with her cousins by Lord Beaufort. Now eighteen, she loves pretty clothes, jewellery and flirting. Since her cousin Fia married she is keen to find a husband of her own and is excited about her guardian’s annual festival to which several eligible men are coming. Unfortunately her father turns up to take her and her cousins to Scotland, as Fia has just given birth to a daughter. She eventually persuades him to leave her behind but not before he has saddled her with the bane of her childhood, Conrad the Cur, who is tasked with keeping men away from her. She does find that his looks have improved since she last saw him but that doesn’t mean she wants a jailer spoiling her fun. A spate of thefts makes her turn detective, leading to some sticky moments. Another enjoyable story from Ms Rose.
Can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seductive Secrets by Elizabeth Rose is a historical romance. Ms. Rose has delivered a book that is well-written. The characters aren’t exactly lovable. Willow, the heroine of this tale is spoiled, greedy, stubborn and vain. She kind of turned me off on this story. Conrad, the hero, is a bit spineless. Willow and Conrad’s story has plenty of drama, spice and suspense. Seductive Secrets is book 2 of the Secrets of the Heart Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book that I received from a third party. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It took me a while to warm up to Willow. She was such a selfish and superficial person. As the story played out, I got to see more of who she really was and why she did what she did. Conrad was a rather patient young man and took his responsibilities seriously. This was a reunion type of tale, together now they were grown up. There was a lot of sneaking around and doing the right thing when needed.
I received an ARC of this story, and this is my unsolicited review.
This is the second book in the series and though I liked the story line, I wasn’t overly fussed with the characters. I know Willow’s character was to be spoilt and beautiful and her talent to flatter men but I don’t normally like girls like that. She did improve as the story progressed. Conrad I felt never grew up. I could only imagine him as a boy. I was a little sad that the other girls from the series where not in the book. This was still a nice clean read and now I am ready for the next one. I received this book as an ARC.
This second in the series is wonderfully written.
Willow is the daughter of Reed and she is also a member follower of the secret hearts. The queen gives the girls the hearts broaches and Imanie teaches them the ways of the heart group before she passes away.
Willow is headstrong and stubborn. She has a gift of making anyone do what she wants with the power of persuasion.
When her father Rook, comes to take the girls to see Fia, cousin to Willow, after the birth of her daughter, Willow is not wanting to leave the festival that is going to take place at the castle of her foster family. She is really upset when Rook sets her old nemisis, Conrad, to be her guardian while she is at the castle without her cousins.
Will they be able to ever get along? no spoilers! you have to read it to find out. 🙂 you won’t be sorry to read this second book in the Secrets of the Heart Series.
Three cousins, granddaughters of King Edward, the eldest daughter of each of the Legendary Bastards of the Crown are called to the king’s deathbed to receive a bequest from Queen Philipa. The girls are allowed to choose one of the late queen’s crowns as a gift and given a heart pendant, the symbol of the special group of women known as the Followers of the Secret Heart. Each of the girls is trained to use their talents to become strong and powerful women. Willow’s talent is persuasion, but she has until now used it only for her own benefit. Perhaps the time has come for her to learn to use her talent for the good of others.
Seductive Secrets is the second book in Elizabeth Rose’s Secrets of the Heart series.
The story of Lady Willow Douglas and Sir Conrad Lochwood is an interesting and sometimes humorous love story. These two have known each other since childhood. They are not, at the beginning of the story’ particularly fond of each other. Conrad, at the request of her father, does his best to keep her away from the men gathered for a festival and tournament and out of trouble. She is not happy about his guarding her and gives him the slip every chance she gets. They are both quite determined to fight their growing attraction for each other. This one looks like a long, uphill climb to HEA.
A creative and unpredictable story and a range of wonderful characters keep you turning pages right up to the end to see what happens next, or at least what Willow will do next. Conrad and Willow are great together and opposite each other. There is mystery when a series of thefts occur in the castle, a tournament with brides as prizes, and Conrad’s younger sister who needs a friend (maybe Willow). This series just gets better. I look forward to the next book. I recommend this one and the series.
Willow has the power of seduction to persuade men to do her bidding when Conrad shows up from her past she wants to be annoyed with him but she is drawn to him. But with a thief, an assassin and other nobles looking for a wife all come together, Conrad will be pulling his hair out trying to keep her safe.
A member of the queen’s special secret group of strong women, Lady Willow also has the powers of persuasion that works very well in charming men. But surprisingly it does not work on one man, Sir Conrad Lockwood. Her father has hired him to keep her away from all the men until his return. Willow has decided it is time for her to marry so Lockwood is a pain. Since her cousin Fia’s wedding she wants to be just as happy.
When a gem is stolen from a visiting earl, she wants to put her powers to work to find the ruby. Of course Conrad dogs her every step. He had been a pain when she knew him as a child and nothing has seemed to change.
This is a fun story to see what happens to Willow and Conrad. The twists and turns and the schemes afoot will make you turn every page until the end.