She's a damsel in distress, but he's no hero. With his brother’s sudden death, Bradley Lenning has inherited a burden no man can carry, at least not one who sees himself as the comedic relief in everyone else’s lives. Left with an estate steeped in debt, a name connected to scandal, and a family full of women under his care, he sees no way out of his current troubles that does not require a complete sacrifice of everything he’s ever wanted—including the enchanting Miss Diana Cattering. Controlled by a despicable uncle and an abusive cousin, Diana Cattering’s only hope for freedom lies in an unexpected exile. But even freedom requires a cost. Diana is forbidden from contacting the mother she’s been separated from for the past four years and the man she’s swiftly coming to love—a daunting feat when she finds herself two miles from his country home. Then again, what her oppressors don’t know can’t come back to haunt her…or can it? Pulled into a quest for Diana’s freedom, will Bradley be able to find his own before she walks away with his heart?
It was so much fun visiting with the Merry Men of Eton again! I’ve been patiently waiting for Bradley’s story, and it was worth the wait!
Bradley and Diana are reunited shortly after their stay at Lord Pembrose’s house party. Except now, Bradley is taking over his brother’s title after his sudden death. Along with all the debt he left, plus taking care of his family and brother’s family. Diana is still under the guardianship of her cruel Uncle, while also being physically and emotionally abused by his daughter. When Bradley discovers the abuse Diana has to endure, he sets out to rescue her, regardless of the risk to his heart.
Teah is wonderful at writing stories with heartfelt scenes, realistic characters and moments with just the right amount of suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
Bradley was just wonderful! He loved his family so much and sacrificed everything to take care of them. He had me giggling with his witty dialogue and bubbly personality! He would light up the page whenever he was on it! And the way he loved Diana….gah, it was so dreamy! I don’t know how you couldn’t not love him!!
Diana’s character was written so well! She endured so much pain and heartache, and seeing her realize her self worth was truly magical! Bradley helped her discover her how brave she was, and that she was worthy of so much love and affection. I was overjoyed with happiness when Diana finally stood up for herself! I think her transformation was my fav part of this book! She realized how brave she was all along!
And I can’t forget the Merry Men of Eton! I just love them all and how they’re always there for each other. Frederick cracked me up and I know his book is gonna be a doosey!! And Mrs. Marrol!! That woman was the sweetest angel! Mr. Tate also captured my heart and now I need to see him get his HEA!!
Things I Loved: 🍁Dried Flowers 🍁Mrs. Marrol 🍁Toy Soldiers 🍁Prudence 🍁All the Blushes 🍁Frederick and the Mistress Chamber 🍁Mr. Tate 🍁Eton Nicknames 🍁Friendships 🍁The kiss!! 🍁The declaration in the rain!! 🍁Marley
This is book 3 in the series, but can be read as a standalone. Though to me, it’s so much better if you read these in order! I can’t wait for the next book so I can visit with these wonderful characters again!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
This is the third in the Merry Men of Eton series. Whilenit can be read as a standalone, this takes place immediately following Book 2, Secret to an Earl's Heart. It would make certain situations in this book more understandable. I had read book 2, but it has been several months ago. I didn't remember everything that had happened as clearly as I would have liked. The Merry Men of Eton return as well. It is nice to know their background from previous books.
Bradley and Diana became acquainted during that book and continued their friendship here. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. They both had some serious issues they were dealing with. Because of those, this book is a bit heavier than the previous one. There are some troubling events that take place that I haven't read about in any previous regency era historical romance. I will mention more specifics at the end of this review as trigger/content warnings.
That is one thing I do appreciate about Teah Kemp Weight's books. She teaches me something in each of them.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book and am happily leaving an honest review.
Content / Trigger warnings : Physical abuse, fighting, mentions of gambling and prostitution, death of family members, grief.
Bradley is trying to climb out of the hole his brother’s death left behind. Diana is trapped in a horrible abusive situation. Their relationship is filled with sunshine and fun until it’s not. I really liked Bradley’s friends who brought encouragement and humor to the pages. Bradley needed it. 😂
The biggest growth happens as Diana learns to stand up for what she truly wants in life. And go after it. It’s sweet.
Though it’s part of a series, it stands alone. The abuse is handled well, but I do not have any experience with that kind of a thing. I would not have stood for it, but I’m a different person from a different time. I think it has more serious tones than the previous book although there are so many stories and situations that are filled with laughter.
I reviewed a complimentary copy, but a positive review was not required.
"You can make mistakes in childhood and still be good. Nowhere does it say our childhood antics make us rotten. If so, I am fully decomposing."
"You do not find yourself witty? She had always considered Mr. Lenning's turn of phrase quite intelligent. "Not particularly. I have simply been the comic relief between the dramatic acts of people's lives." "You profess something so profound as that, and yet you do not think yourself a wit?"
Read if you like: * 3rd book in series / can be read as a stand alone (however it is much more enjoyable as a series since the characters cross over) * Friends to more * Slow burn Romance * Friends who are like family * Strong character arcs * Well developed and instrumental side characters * Witty banter
Secrets of Fallow Hall deals with some very heavy moments/topics (physical abuse, death of a family member) but is well balanced with an incredibly sweet love story.
Bradley (Mr. Lenning) brings humor and joy to any situation he is in. He is adept at making others smile and diffusing tense situations with his humor and quick wit. He is a stand up gentleman who finds himself (after the unexpected death of his older brother) struggling under the burden of his brother's considerable debts.
Diana Cattering has lived under the abusive rule of her uncle and cousin since the death of her father. With the help of Bradley's good humor and differing perspective and the kindness of her cousins, Diana learns to stand up for herself and to acknowledge her own worth.
I loved watching the relationship between Diana and Bradley develop. The humor, wit, and kindness in their interactions brought a levity to some of the harder moments. There was a feeling of being in the right place with the right person whenever they were together.
Favorites: * The Merry Men and their nicknames * Bradley's quick wit * Ill named Prudence * Friendships (both between the Merry Men and between Diana, Sybil, and Eliza) * Mrs. and Mr. Marrol * Sir Anthony and Charlotte * Toy soldier confidantes
I enjoyed the glimpses we got of both Fredrick and Eliza. Their story is coming next and I couldn't be more excited for the fireworks that I am sure will come from these two!
This book might be my favorite of the series yet, or maybe I’m just falling more and more madly in love with this cast of characters. . . Either way, this one was a HUGE win for me. READ IT! It’s so good!
As always, the writing is phenomenal. It’s clean, clear, and keeps you engaged without ever bogging you down with clunky or boring language. It’s honestly one of the best styles of writing I’ve had the pleasure to read.
The tension remains high in this story from start to finish. There’s obviously the relational element to the story—will the guy get the girl—but there’s also some incredible character arcs running in this one that add to the additional tension. Bradley is struggling with family drama and financial woes, and Diana is dealing with HUGE family drama and the potential of having her future destroyed by embittered family members. The high tension definitely kept me turning pages!
I loved the relationship between Bradley and Diana, and Diana in particular develops as a character in such beautiful ways that you can’t help but feel satisfied by the end.
Another thing that I love about this series that this book does exceptionally well: the secondary characters are all active, alive, and fully fleshed out. You never have random blob characters floating across the pages, existing and being useless. No, even the secondary characters have personality, and they draw out the personalities of Bradley and Diana that much more. I LOVED the trifecta of Bradley, Nicholas, and Fredrick in this one. I have a soft spot for brotherly type relationships, and those dudes are a blast to read when they get together. Their friendship is beautiful, but their comedy together. . . Oh my gosh, it was fun getting Fredrick into the mix, we’ll just say that.
I highly recommend this entire series. It is so exceptionally well written and such a pleasure to read. Give these a try, you won’t be disappointed!
The death of Bradley's brother landed him with an estate he doesn't feel competent to look after and a mountain of debts he may never climb out from under. Unfortunately, that makes it impossible for him to pursue Diana, however attractive he may have found her at the house party. But Diana has troubles few are aware of, and when Bradley can do something to help, it's not in his nature to walk away. When her uncle's machinations land her near his estate, the temptation to see her is too strong to resist - but is he merely setting them both up for heartbreak? Or can some solution be found before it's too late?
For everyone who loves a good villain in their stories, this has a couple of beauties! Poor Diana is well and truly beset and needs all the help she can get to escape - or does she? I love the way that we gradually uncover the reason behind her passivity, and still more the way that Bradley helps her see things in a more reasonable light. The relationship between the two is touching, not least because it focuses on them as people rather than as a pretty face and a bunch of muscles - and people who are well worth getting to know because they're trying to help each other not get what they can out of a relationship. All in all, clean and well written, with interesting characters and a very satisfying ending. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series - recommended.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
"Secrets of Fallow Hall" is a beautiful and heartfelt story written by Teah Kemp Weight. The setting is very well-described. The characters feel three-dimensional along with thoughts, personalities, and emotions of their own. The author has done great work expressing the personal and familial difficulties that both Bradley and Diana are dealing with. These difficulties are expressed with sensitivity. I love the characters this author has created! Bradley and Diana are both such kind and brave people who care about the people around them. It was wonderful to see them slowly realize the depth of their feelings for each other and to see them realize their own value and self-worth. It was also so much fun to see characters from the other books. The speed of the plot is perfect, the author's writing style is smooth, the historical detail is on point, the romance is sweet and swoony and is full of emotional depth, and I feel that the author's attention to detail and historical research has taught me a lot about the time period. I absolutely love this series! I can't wait for the next book. "Secrets of Fallow Hall" is beautiful, emotional, and was a delight to read. This is a must read! I very highly recommend this book and the others in this series. Thank you very much to the author for providing me with the wonderful opportunity of being on her ARC Team and for providing me with a digital copy to read and review honestly.
Mr. Bradley Lenning, known for his cheerful demeanor, finds his ability to be positive tested when his older brother’s unexpected death brings the burden of the family and his brother’s less than scrupulous actions being thrust solely on his shoulders. While the troubles of his new duties/estate and the secrets around the death of his brother take up almost all of Bradley’s energy; he can’t help the welcome distraction of Miss Diana Cattering.
It only took moments for the abuse that Miss Diane Cattering endured at the hands of her cousin, to begin again as they had fled the house party of Lord Penbrose in disgrace. Once in London, Diana runs into Bradley, who uses his connection to ensure her safety and protection while she unexpectedly starts to uncover some secrets about her own life.
Will the secrets help them come together? Or will they tear them apart?
— I’m such a fan of this author.
The fully written and flushed out characters of the men and the women has made these my favorite books to read in a long time. While Diana is our heroine and we adore her, I think Bradley’s story can be a stand alone story on its own…the combination is just fabulous!
The humor, the detail of the story, British laws, and the beautiful setting…there is just so much to be a fan of in this third installment of this series.
I highly recommend reading this series in order, it’s what I did and it was amazing.
This was another delightful Regency book in the series. The characters were well portrayed and developed. The story was interesting, and the pace was good. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Amazon synopsis: With his brother’s sudden death, Bradley Lenning has inherited a burden no man can carry, at least not one who sees himself as the comedic relief in everyone else’s lives. Left with an estate steeped in debt, a name connected to scandal, and a family full of women under his care, he sees no way out of his current troubles that does not require a complete sacrifice of everything he’s ever wanted—including the enchanting Miss Diana Cattering.
Controlled by a despicable uncle and an abusive cousin, Diana Cattering’s only hope for freedom lies in an unexpected exile. But even freedom requires a cost as Diana is forbidden from contacting both the mother she’s been separated from for the past four years and the man she’s swiftly coming to love—a daunting task when she finds herself two miles from his country home. Then again, what her oppressors don’t know can’t come back to haunt her…or can it?
Pulled into a quest for Diana’s freedom, will Bradley be able to find his own before she walks away with his heart?
Set during Autumn, Bradley and Diana are reunited. Diana is under the guardianship of her horrible Uncle and unfortunately her cousin is very abusive to her. Bradley has just taken over his brother’s title after his brother’s death and now has his debts to deal with as well his family and his brothers family. When Bradley finds out about Diana’s poor treatment he wants to help save her.
This is book 3 in the series, and although the other 2 stories give you great background to this story, this book works as a stand alone. However, I do also recommend reading the others 😊. I love Bradley, his sense of humor is so funny and I was laughing quite often. Diana is actually quite brave even though it takes her awhile to realize it. I loved how sweet and caring a relationship these two had. I can’t wait for the next book! Overall a great read and I definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I think each story in this series gets better and better! Bradley and Diana were such a joy to read about! And while this book does contain many heavy themes, the love story is so sweet and the ending leaves you completely satisfied.
Our leading couple met during the last book at a house party and each left quite the impression on the other. As changes in life circumstances continued to bring Bradley and Diana into close proximity, both felt their attachment grow even stronger. But challenges and insecurities come into play. Along with some very underhanded dealings and evil plots. Thankfully, with the help of dear friends, Bradley and Diana are able to overcome their bad situations and find true love and security!
I absolutely ADORE The Merry Men of Eton! Each character is so endearing and delightful. I love getting to know each one a little better as the series progresses. I’m so excited for the next book!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Secrets of Fallow Hall was such a sweet read. I loved the slow burn romance built from friendship and caring. Bradley's character was well written from his insecurities to his strengths and his genuine goodness as he helps others. Diana's character unfolded as the story progressed much like finding a new friend. From the beginning I only hoped she'd have a true, happy ending filled with love and security. All of the other characters added such nice balance to author, Teah Kemp Weight's, story. Each had their turn to shine as they worked together to assist the main characters. This was a first time read of one of Weight's novels and I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, beautiful writing, well-rounded characters and how every detail had its place. I look forward to reading more! Happy reading, friends!
Another great book in this series! I've complimented Teah's ability to weave mystery and suspense into her novels before, and this one is no exception. Bradley is SO charming and such a sweet, considerate man. He has a lot on his plate and is willing to give up everything to protect those he cares about. A perfect imperfect hero. And Diana! Diana is so brave and so strong. The way she deals with her monstrous cousin? WAY more patience than me for sure, and I was glad to see her character growth come with a satisfying conclusion on that end. I can't wait to continue this series and read Eliza's story!
I love how each installment in this series not only shows the beauty of love and romance but also love‘s healing powers. In this novel we face physical and emotional abuse and its consequences as well as selfishness, greed, depravity and their effects on those who witness such things. And though the issues are hard they are written with gentleness. Besides, we see the characters we met before bloom and develop and captivate the reader. Honestly, the emotional connection, the mystery involved, the relatable characters, and sweet and clean romance make you simply “read one more chapter” into the night.
Enjoyable read. It had an interesting plot line. This book had romance and humor. It dealt with physical abuse in a tasteful manner. I enjoyed learning about the laws regarding property. I I liked the characters and how they showed their loyalty to each other. This book also had a happy ending- I can’t wait to read more in the series.
I'm a bit late with my review, although I finished reading this one while on holiday. This one is well worth the read for fans of Regency historical romances. Secrets of Fallow Hall by Teah Kemp Weight is the third book in the author's Merry Men of Eton series and is the first book I have read by this author. A few of her books have patiently resided on my shelf for months now, but after finishing this one, I can't believe I've waited so long!
With great talent and effortless prose, the author weaves mystery and intrigue with a sweet romance that is sure to melt your heart. I was captivated by this story from the very beginning. The characters are thoughtful and authentic. Their experiences give them depth and relatability, which made me feel all the emotions. Secrets of Fallow Hall will most assuredly capture your attention as well as your heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This story was delightful and showed how true love should be. The intrege added a great deal to make the story a very interesting read. I have enjoyed all of the series and hope to read more of Teah's stories.
Wow! What a story! I could not put it down. Stayed up way too late reading! Great story, I am anxious to read the next book in the series, but then it will over and I don't want to leave these wonderful people behind. !!
It is a fact that truly adore the Merry Men of Eton series by Teah Kemp Weight! She has complex characters, societal situations, and witty banter to boot.
Diana had a wonderful life, until her father died, forcing her to go live with her despicable uncle and cousin. There is no peace in her life now nor does there seem to be in the future.
Bradley is the second son with no obligation or worry about running the family estate and caring for his family. Until it is his responsibility.
Can a chance second encounter give them both the courage they need to give love a try?
Read this book if you like: 💪🏼 Witty Banter 💪🏼 Memorable Characters 💪🏼 Good vs Evil 💪🏼 Courage 💪🏼 High Stakes 💪🏼 Forbidden Love 💪🏼 Ultimatums 💪🏼 Self Discovery 💪🏼 Intrigue 💪🏼 Laugh Out Loud Moments
Content/Triggers: This is a book focused on personal growth and love. While handled tastefully and off page, abusive relationships are a catalyst and play a major role in the story. Kisses only.
Thank you to the author of the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.