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The Secret Christmas Ciphers
Abigail can’t explain, even to herself, why she married Derek after he’d asked her to wait for him and then became engaged to someone else. If his poor fiancée had not died, he would now be wed to her instead of Abigail. But then Abigail begins uncovering some of the secrets that are a part of her husband’s life and wonders if perhaps there is hope for their marriage after all.
Derek, Lord Westdale, wasn’t sure why Abigail married him; she obviously despised him. On the other hand, he knew exactly why he was marrying her: she was the only woman he would ever love, despite his having offered marriage to another. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to convince Abigail that he never really betrayed her after all.
Can their decoding of a secret Christmas cipher bring an end to their misunderstandings and help them create their own special Christmas tradition?
Derek, Lord Westdale, wasn’t sure why Abigail married him; she obviously despised him. On the other hand, he knew exactly why he was marrying her: she was the only woman he would ever love, despite his having offered marriage to another. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to convince Abigail that he never really betrayed her after all.
Can their decoding of a secret Christmas cipher bring an end to their misunderstandings and help them create their own special Christmas tradition?
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2012
12 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Carolynn Carey
35 books20 followersCarolynn Carey is an award-winning romance author of both sweet contemporaries and of historicals set in the Regency period.
In addition to writing, she loves to read, knit, and, on occasion, crochet if the pattern is super easy.
She lives in Tennessee, where her recent small-town contemporary novels are set. Family is important, both in her writing and in her real life.
In addition to writing, she loves to read, knit, and, on occasion, crochet if the pattern is super easy.
She lives in Tennessee, where her recent small-town contemporary novels are set. Family is important, both in her writing and in her real life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 7, 2018
Frustrating with too much Plot Convenience
I am seriously annoyed by the sledgehammer ending of obviousness. I would have preferred Derek decided to explain to Abigail his reasons for engaging himself to Melonnie without the Convenient as the night is dark plot point character of unnecessary need arriving to absolve him.
+++
So I was getting into this book quite a bit, even if I did want to whack Derek upside the head. I more or less guessed why he engaged himself to Melonnie pretty quickly and found his dithering over not telling Abigail why pointless and aggravating. All he had to say was 'She was my best mate's gal, she was pregnant and I promised my now dead best mate I'd take care of her. Please don't tell anyone'.
I feel like Abigail would have obliged him.
Meanwhile I was irritated with Abigail who's inability to commit to why she married him--in her own mind!--was frustrating. Did she marry him to find out the truth? Maybe. Did she marry him because she didn't want to be beholden to her father and stepmother? Maybe. Did she do it to make him as miserable as he made her? Maybe.
As a couple the two never felt...passionate. A lot is made of how much Derek thought of her and how much he loved her. Even as he ran around being a 'wastrel' to help the home office he thought of her.
I want to point out that he was a womanizing, gambling, drunkard--so your basic nobleman rake in hysterical romances--and you don't get that reputation without actually being some of those things occasionally. Yeah the rumor mill can be embellished, but you can't turn a meek bookworm into a womanizing rogue that scandalizes the ton regularly by saying 'Oh my he's a rogue!'. Sadly gossipmongers are smarter then that (Who knew?).
Back to point - that which I was most interested in (the ciphering) was barely a plotpoint beyond making Derek seem 'mysteriously engaged' in something for Abigail to find out and miraculously know quite a bit about (she read all the books in his father's library. Yes so him and his father are secretly helping the Home Office with their skills yet have DOZENS OF BOOKS on the subject hanging out in the library.) so they can grow closer, pen a sappy note in code, and blah blah blah Plot Convenient Character Shows up to make it clear to Abigail that Derek engaged himself to Melonnie under DURESS and you know it all worked out since she's dead anyhow.
I can't help but wonder if Plot Convenient had shown up and Melonnie had lived to marry Derek if things would be quite so kosher.
I am seriously annoyed by the sledgehammer ending of obviousness. I would have preferred Derek decided to explain to Abigail his reasons for engaging himself to Melonnie without the Convenient as the night is dark plot point character of unnecessary need arriving to absolve him.
+++
So I was getting into this book quite a bit, even if I did want to whack Derek upside the head. I more or less guessed why he engaged himself to Melonnie pretty quickly and found his dithering over not telling Abigail why pointless and aggravating. All he had to say was 'She was my best mate's gal, she was pregnant and I promised my now dead best mate I'd take care of her. Please don't tell anyone'.
I feel like Abigail would have obliged him.
Meanwhile I was irritated with Abigail who's inability to commit to why she married him--in her own mind!--was frustrating. Did she marry him to find out the truth? Maybe. Did she marry him because she didn't want to be beholden to her father and stepmother? Maybe. Did she do it to make him as miserable as he made her? Maybe.
As a couple the two never felt...passionate. A lot is made of how much Derek thought of her and how much he loved her. Even as he ran around being a 'wastrel' to help the home office he thought of her.
I want to point out that he was a womanizing, gambling, drunkard--so your basic nobleman rake in hysterical romances--and you don't get that reputation without actually being some of those things occasionally. Yeah the rumor mill can be embellished, but you can't turn a meek bookworm into a womanizing rogue that scandalizes the ton regularly by saying 'Oh my he's a rogue!'. Sadly gossipmongers are smarter then that (Who knew?).
Back to point - that which I was most interested in (the ciphering) was barely a plotpoint beyond making Derek seem 'mysteriously engaged' in something for Abigail to find out and miraculously know quite a bit about (she read all the books in his father's library. Yes so him and his father are secretly helping the Home Office with their skills yet have DOZENS OF BOOKS on the subject hanging out in the library.) so they can grow closer, pen a sappy note in code, and blah blah blah Plot Convenient Character Shows up to make it clear to Abigail that Derek engaged himself to Melonnie under DURESS and you know it all worked out since she's dead anyhow.
I can't help but wonder if Plot Convenient had shown up and Melonnie had lived to marry Derek if things would be quite so kosher.
June 22, 2016
a very sweet, quick and easy historical romance, perfect while sitting in a queue.
November 21, 2020
The story was good. The action rose and fell well. The main characters all had growth arcs that made sense. The conflict was handled well.
It was a “sweet” story, but still spicy.
For me, it would've been better without that hint of paranormal stuff in the epilogue.
It was a “sweet” story, but still spicy.
For me, it would've been better without that hint of paranormal stuff in the epilogue.
December 8, 2019
Very sweet love story
A lovely story about a couple who seemto marry for the wrong reason, But it's for the right reasons after all
A lovely story about a couple who seemto marry for the wrong reason, But it's for the right reasons after all
November 11, 2020
Short, sweet story that ties together well in the end. I wish it went into a little more detail at points.
December 14, 2020
Christmas heart
This was so sweet. I loved the second chance romance in the story and the epilogue was strange but sweet.
This was so sweet. I loved the second chance romance in the story and the epilogue was strange but sweet.
February 10, 2013
Originally Posted on By the Broomstick
A quick read this regency romance follows a couple who met & fall in love as children & then life intervenes and they drift apart.
OMGosh, this reminds me so much of Matthew & Mary *from Downton Abbey, not the being in love since children part but the rest* they were so in love but let other things come in between them. Abigail loved her friend's older brother, and they learnt together all about each other as they grew up, he asked her to wait for him when he went to school and she did. Everyone expected them to marry, then came the news from London, Derek was engaged to another woman. Abigail has been dealt a blow she hasn't found a way to recover from, then Derek returns home and she finds herself standing at the altar marrying him even though she has no idea why. She's decided to make him pay for everything; but the Derek she knew & the one she is married to are two different men. this new Derek is more secretive than before she then discovers that her husband is working for the government and decodes ciphers as part of the war effort. With this she decided to help him & slowly they begin to bond.
I enjoyed reading this & feeling like I was there.Well written, engaging a very good Christmas read. It was both good & sweet, It gave me a bit of a break from high suspense novels I'm a huge fan of & made me love the characters even more. I really loved the epilogue, with the future Lord & his wife. Very endearing. I hope there are more from this author, she's new to me but I like her writing.
Hope you enjoy!!
A quick read this regency romance follows a couple who met & fall in love as children & then life intervenes and they drift apart.
OMGosh, this reminds me so much of Matthew & Mary *from Downton Abbey, not the being in love since children part but the rest* they were so in love but let other things come in between them. Abigail loved her friend's older brother, and they learnt together all about each other as they grew up, he asked her to wait for him when he went to school and she did. Everyone expected them to marry, then came the news from London, Derek was engaged to another woman. Abigail has been dealt a blow she hasn't found a way to recover from, then Derek returns home and she finds herself standing at the altar marrying him even though she has no idea why. She's decided to make him pay for everything; but the Derek she knew & the one she is married to are two different men. this new Derek is more secretive than before she then discovers that her husband is working for the government and decodes ciphers as part of the war effort. With this she decided to help him & slowly they begin to bond.
I enjoyed reading this & feeling like I was there.Well written, engaging a very good Christmas read. It was both good & sweet, It gave me a bit of a break from high suspense novels I'm a huge fan of & made me love the characters even more. I really loved the epilogue, with the future Lord & his wife. Very endearing. I hope there are more from this author, she's new to me but I like her writing.
Hope you enjoy!!
November 28, 2012
Abigail waited to wed Derek, but he never returned home. When he finally came back for her, she agreed to wed him, but with a bitter heart. Derek came back with a bad reputation and secrets. He wants to return to a time where Abigail loved him, but too many secrets need to be kept for King and country.
Carey's Regency romance is also a mystery that brings the couple closer together and farther apart as they discover each other's secrets. The novel concludes at Christmas with a happy ending. The epilogue jumps to the future (2075) and the discovery of old ciphers from the book. That was strange and bit out of place. I prefer historical fiction novels that remain in their respective time period (unless the preface is the future or modern times and the future/modern times returns at the end).
Reviewed from a Kindle copy.
Carey's Regency romance is also a mystery that brings the couple closer together and farther apart as they discover each other's secrets. The novel concludes at Christmas with a happy ending. The epilogue jumps to the future (2075) and the discovery of old ciphers from the book. That was strange and bit out of place. I prefer historical fiction novels that remain in their respective time period (unless the preface is the future or modern times and the future/modern times returns at the end).
Reviewed from a Kindle copy.
December 17, 2012
Good story about two people who grew up together and feel in love only to have a misunderstanding nearly tear them apart... even though they do get married.
Abigail doesn't want to forgive Derek for hurting her when he proposed to another woman who has since died leaving Derek's father and Abigail's father to arrange their marriage to each other. Why she agreed she can't figure out but she refuses to let Derek have any husbandly rights.... maybe.
It was a very sweet story with a truly good secret and a wonderful conclusion. This story actually made me wonder about some of the other characters (Derek's sisters) and if they too would have stories.
Abigail doesn't want to forgive Derek for hurting her when he proposed to another woman who has since died leaving Derek's father and Abigail's father to arrange their marriage to each other. Why she agreed she can't figure out but she refuses to let Derek have any husbandly rights.... maybe.
It was a very sweet story with a truly good secret and a wonderful conclusion. This story actually made me wonder about some of the other characters (Derek's sisters) and if they too would have stories.
December 10, 2012
Regency, Christmas, Romance. All great things, but I love this book for the rest of what it offers. A smart heroine, a childhood crush, an honorable man, a dash of intrigue, and a woman rewarded for doing what she knows she must. Ms. Carey's novels never disappoint, and The Secret Christmas Ciphers is no exception. I highly recommend The Secret Christmas Ciphers to all readers, even those who aren't normally inclined to read regency. This story moves fast, and the regency details add to the story but do not slow the pacing.
November 30, 2012
3.5 Stars. I think the leading man is lucky things worked out. I don't see why he had honor in fullfilling his vows to everyone, but the woman he loved. He was often an ass to her. Again, if it was me I would have ended up without a love story... I would not have found forgiveness in my heart, acceptance without explaination, and understanding what is truely important. She had faith and forgiveness and it worked out great for them:)
December 12, 2012
It started off great: two people who hate each other forced to marry one another. Turns out they used to be in love but due to other circumstances, they now don't like each other. Or do they? It was cute, and while the characters obviously have to end up HEA, I would have liked the love/hate duality to have been played out a bit longer. She got over her anger entirely too fast. But again, it was cute. A quick read, but nice for the holidays.
December 24, 2015
This was just an ok read for me. I enjoy seeing two people who were in love, work past old hurts to love again, but I felt the whole cipher thing was too much. It took up too much of the story and made it drag along for me. I found myself putting the book down for days just to try and get through it. It could have been a great little historical short romance, but with all the boring stuff, it just made it an "ok" book.
November 27, 2012
A rather nice , albeit short, Regency romance story. There is not too much to complain over, save for the story arc would have benefited from quit a bit more elaboration. For me, the transition between: I hate you and I love you and mistrust and trust happened far too quickly. Not a bad story, though.
December 6, 2012
I was hoping for more "ciphers" as well as more romance. sigh.
Does anyone know how to link the amazone reviews & the goodread reviews together so that you only have to do it once?
Is it wrong to expect something to be awesome?
Does anyone know how to link the amazone reviews & the goodread reviews together so that you only have to do it once?
Is it wrong to expect something to be awesome?
January 2, 2013
I gave it only two stars. I felt the author did not really get into the meat of the book. Their could have been so many cute things added about ciphers between the two of them, but she had very little. I felt it ended abruptly.
August 26, 2016
4 Stars Light sweet clean Christmas Harlequin style historical romance with no explicit sex and a moral married hero and heroine. Main conflict revolves around the mystery of husband's inexplicable past and present behaviors. Light gothic touch HEA.
June 5, 2012
Another sweet romance by Carolynn Carey. I really enjoy this one.
November 14, 2012
This was a very sweet Regency love story that I very much enjoyed!
February 21, 2013
Short and sweet! Touching little love story.
December 28, 2012
Light, easy read.
December 30, 2012
3.5 stars
February 11, 2013
Secrets because of war always create misunderstandings, quite interesting to read how they are resolved.
February 23, 2013
Cute story. I only wish it was a full-length novel, instead of so short. The epilogue wasn't even necessary--I think the story stands fine without it.
May 13, 2013
I enjoyed the characters. It was somewhat predictable but an enjoyable book just the same.
July 26, 2013
Very sweet fun historical romance. Just the thing for some light Christmas reading!
December 29, 2013
Good job it was such a short book as I would never have bothered finishing it..
January 22, 2014
2 1/2 out of 5
November 29, 2014
Not my type of book with the sexual references. Not as bad as some, but not what I'd call squeaky clean either. I won't be reading it again.
dnf
July 11, 2015This was the one I came the longest with but this was stupid, so DNF
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews