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Six Rogues and Their Ladies #3
Miss Braithwaite's Secret
Miss Braithwaite’s Secret is the final novel in the traditional Regency Trilogy: “Three Rogues and Their Ladies.” The Deseret News claims “Vandagriff writes in a style reminiscent of Georgette Heyer. Like Heyer, she centers her novel on witty characters that readers will love.”
In this novel, when Caroline Braithwaite, the Incomparable, leaves her first London Season early, the ton is left wondering why. Home in Wiltshire, she does not confide in her parents or her best friend. However, when the duke of Beverley appears at a house party to which they have both been invited, she is seriously discomposed. So is he. Fresh from a broken engagement, the last thing he wants is to partner a woman he had briefly courted in London – a woman he would have offered for before the fiancée came along. Caro fights her own attraction to the compelling duke. After all, he's already broken her heart once. She is not about to give him a second chance.
As the two slowly learn more about one another, they are surprised to find that first impressions have led them astray. While their feelings are growing progressively more intimate, they are plagued by harrowing circumstances which keep them apart and lead to new misunderstandings. How many times will Caro have to forgive Ned, the Duke of Beverley? And will he, at last, be able to prove his love?
Enjoy this delicious romance that will carry you back to the Regency period in English history, where manners were dictated by strict rules of fashion. It is the Jane Austen era, populated by gentlemen and ladies of leisure. These books are best enjoyed with a box of chocolates, and are guaranteed to enliven any boredom (ennui) that you may be experiencing!
In this novel, when Caroline Braithwaite, the Incomparable, leaves her first London Season early, the ton is left wondering why. Home in Wiltshire, she does not confide in her parents or her best friend. However, when the duke of Beverley appears at a house party to which they have both been invited, she is seriously discomposed. So is he. Fresh from a broken engagement, the last thing he wants is to partner a woman he had briefly courted in London – a woman he would have offered for before the fiancée came along. Caro fights her own attraction to the compelling duke. After all, he's already broken her heart once. She is not about to give him a second chance.
As the two slowly learn more about one another, they are surprised to find that first impressions have led them astray. While their feelings are growing progressively more intimate, they are plagued by harrowing circumstances which keep them apart and lead to new misunderstandings. How many times will Caro have to forgive Ned, the Duke of Beverley? And will he, at last, be able to prove his love?
Enjoy this delicious romance that will carry you back to the Regency period in English history, where manners were dictated by strict rules of fashion. It is the Jane Austen era, populated by gentlemen and ladies of leisure. These books are best enjoyed with a box of chocolates, and are guaranteed to enliven any boredom (ennui) that you may be experiencing!
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2012
152 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
G.G. Vandagriff
55 books325 followersG.G. Vandagriff is the author of over thirty novels Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 17, 2018
This story has everything, including the kitchen sink. I downloaded it for free so I shouldn't complain (although I will) and I read the whole thing (as speedily as possible) so I am to blame for my own misery. That's my shameful secret: I read it all. Mea culpa. But yet...I'll be snarky anyway.
The only trope this story leaves out is the heroine having a secret baby, although it comes close to that with a secondary character. We have 1) lots of miscommunication and misunderstanding; 2) a total jerkwad of a hero, one who is so dense that he can't figure out who he's in love with and, not only that, he's idiot enough to ask a gently-bred debutante to be his mistress; 3) disappearance of a main character; 4) a case of amnesia, something no HR should be without, of course; 5) abduction of the heroine; 6) upper-class ladies and their altruistic hobbies of soup kitchens and orphans, and I'm sure there's a 7, 8, 9, and 10 of derivative ideas in this book but I've managed to get most of it out of my head already.
So there's all this stuff happening, but the book is interminable and dull, with lackluster, unappealing characters and too many derivative plotlines. I'm an idiot. I did not read any reviews of this before buying it and, not only that, I kept on reading it to the very end. In my defense, I must say that I was more or less prisoner of my stationary bike, wanting to get my 25 miles in, so just kept on reading what I had started. I don't know which wore me out more, the biking or the reading.
The only trope this story leaves out is the heroine having a secret baby, although it comes close to that with a secondary character. We have 1) lots of miscommunication and misunderstanding; 2) a total jerkwad of a hero, one who is so dense that he can't figure out who he's in love with and, not only that, he's idiot enough to ask a gently-bred debutante to be his mistress; 3) disappearance of a main character; 4) a case of amnesia, something no HR should be without, of course; 5) abduction of the heroine; 6) upper-class ladies and their altruistic hobbies of soup kitchens and orphans, and I'm sure there's a 7, 8, 9, and 10 of derivative ideas in this book but I've managed to get most of it out of my head already.
So there's all this stuff happening, but the book is interminable and dull, with lackluster, unappealing characters and too many derivative plotlines. I'm an idiot. I did not read any reviews of this before buying it and, not only that, I kept on reading it to the very end. In my defense, I must say that I was more or less prisoner of my stationary bike, wanting to get my 25 miles in, so just kept on reading what I had started. I don't know which wore me out more, the biking or the reading.
November 13, 2012
I loved it because I wrote it!
March 1, 2016
Goodness, but there's a lot going on in this story!
Miss Caro Braithwaite's Secret, first of all, is unrequited love for Ned Fitzhugh, the Duke of Beverley. She is the Incomparable One of this Season among the ton, but she actually finds the London scene tedious and phony, especially once the duke's engagement is announced to Lady Sarah and Caro's heart is broken. She prefers life in the country and writing plays for children's groups anyway. Caro doesn't tell anyone why she is so depressed, not even her childhood playmate, Jack, and his wife, Kate, who are usually in her confidence. But Sarah unexpectedly breaks the engagement, and Ned and Caro end up at the same house party. Her playful spirit with the children during the informal setting of a country fete inspires him to fall in love with her, so he proposes and tells her he will speak with her father in the morning. Unfortunately, he receives a letter immediately afterward with unexpected news concerning Sarah, and he feels compelled to set off early the next day without any explanation to Caro or her family.
That's just the beginning. We have Sarah's very convoluted situation that sends Ned off on several journeys to discover information that she could have told him herself directly. When he tries to reunite with Caro, she's furious with him for breaking her heart twice and refuses to see him. He goes sailing, gets caught up in a storm that sweeps him out into the ocean, goes missing, and is presumed dead. Caro has come to regret not giving him a chance to explain himself and once again is heartbroken.
This is still only about halfway through the book. The rest includes Caro's engagement under duress, as her father now has some medical issues and is concerned about her future if she isn't married when he dies. There is amnesia, there are more adorable children (this time orphans) that Caro is directing in another play she has written, there is a villain, there is a kidnapping, there is an escape. The only thing missing is the kitchen sink.
I was thoroughly entertained the whole book. It seems like at least 3 books in one, considering the series of obstacles our hero and heroine must hurdle to come to their happily-ever-after. The misunderstandings early in the story where Ned doesn't realize that Caro had favored him over her other beaux and where Caro won't listen to the full story about why Ned left her hanging are annoying, but the rest is definitely a romp if you don't mind that there isn't a single specific turning point in the entire book. Instead, there are quite a few, depending on which part of the book you're reading. There is a fair amount of romance mixed in, of course, but nothing graphic. It's a clean, light and fun read .
Miss Caro Braithwaite's Secret, first of all, is unrequited love for Ned Fitzhugh, the Duke of Beverley. She is the Incomparable One of this Season among the ton, but she actually finds the London scene tedious and phony, especially once the duke's engagement is announced to Lady Sarah and Caro's heart is broken. She prefers life in the country and writing plays for children's groups anyway. Caro doesn't tell anyone why she is so depressed, not even her childhood playmate, Jack, and his wife, Kate, who are usually in her confidence. But Sarah unexpectedly breaks the engagement, and Ned and Caro end up at the same house party. Her playful spirit with the children during the informal setting of a country fete inspires him to fall in love with her, so he proposes and tells her he will speak with her father in the morning. Unfortunately, he receives a letter immediately afterward with unexpected news concerning Sarah, and he feels compelled to set off early the next day without any explanation to Caro or her family.
That's just the beginning. We have Sarah's very convoluted situation that sends Ned off on several journeys to discover information that she could have told him herself directly. When he tries to reunite with Caro, she's furious with him for breaking her heart twice and refuses to see him. He goes sailing, gets caught up in a storm that sweeps him out into the ocean, goes missing, and is presumed dead. Caro has come to regret not giving him a chance to explain himself and once again is heartbroken.
This is still only about halfway through the book. The rest includes Caro's engagement under duress, as her father now has some medical issues and is concerned about her future if she isn't married when he dies. There is amnesia, there are more adorable children (this time orphans) that Caro is directing in another play she has written, there is a villain, there is a kidnapping, there is an escape. The only thing missing is the kitchen sink.
I was thoroughly entertained the whole book. It seems like at least 3 books in one, considering the series of obstacles our hero and heroine must hurdle to come to their happily-ever-after. The misunderstandings early in the story where Ned doesn't realize that Caro had favored him over her other beaux and where Caro won't listen to the full story about why Ned left her hanging are annoying, but the rest is definitely a romp if you don't mind that there isn't a single specific turning point in the entire book. Instead, there are quite a few, depending on which part of the book you're reading. There is a fair amount of romance mixed in, of course, but nothing graphic. It's a clean, light and fun read .
July 20, 2014
3.5
I enjoyed this one, once I started reading I had a hard time putting it down. Even though I thought our main characters made some poor choices here and there, I ended up liking them and even found myself rooting for them. Caro was a likable heroine. She is gorgeous and used to having man fall all over her, she has received more proposals than she can count. On the inside though she has a really caring heart and hasn’t let her good looks spoil her personality. She is just looking for someone who can appreciate who she really is. She thinks she has found that one man only to have him up and get engaged to someone else. Heartbroken she returns to her family home in the country. Meanwhile, Ned (not a very romantic name, IMO) not realizing Caro's feelings thinks he has fallin in love with someone else and proposes. Soon after she calls of the engagement and Ned is heartbrooken. When his fiancé dumps him he goes to visit his friends in the country only to run into Caro again. Not sure why he was so mean to her when they first reunited. He was the one who dumped her and quickly got engaged. Anyway, I’m rambling now. There were quite a few twits in the story, which I liked and kept it from following the typical regency format. I thought it was a fun story and if you don’t overanalyze it I thought Caro and Ned had a good relationship. It was a fun conclusion to the series and I would recommend the series to anyone who enjoys lighthearted regencies.
Content: Clean. I decided to bump this to my “romance-yellow” shelf, while it doesn’t have any bedroom scenes there is some mild innuendo.
Reading Order:
The Duke’s Undoing
The Taming of Lady Kate
Miss Braithwaite’s Secret
I enjoyed this one, once I started reading I had a hard time putting it down. Even though I thought our main characters made some poor choices here and there, I ended up liking them and even found myself rooting for them. Caro was a likable heroine. She is gorgeous and used to having man fall all over her, she has received more proposals than she can count. On the inside though she has a really caring heart and hasn’t let her good looks spoil her personality. She is just looking for someone who can appreciate who she really is. She thinks she has found that one man only to have him up and get engaged to someone else. Heartbroken she returns to her family home in the country. Meanwhile, Ned (not a very romantic name, IMO) not realizing Caro's feelings thinks he has fallin in love with someone else and proposes. Soon after she calls of the engagement and Ned is heartbrooken. When his fiancé dumps him he goes to visit his friends in the country only to run into Caro again. Not sure why he was so mean to her when they first reunited. He was the one who dumped her and quickly got engaged. Anyway, I’m rambling now. There were quite a few twits in the story, which I liked and kept it from following the typical regency format. I thought it was a fun story and if you don’t overanalyze it I thought Caro and Ned had a good relationship. It was a fun conclusion to the series and I would recommend the series to anyone who enjoys lighthearted regencies.
Content: Clean. I decided to bump this to my “romance-yellow” shelf, while it doesn’t have any bedroom scenes there is some mild innuendo.
Reading Order:
The Duke’s Undoing
The Taming of Lady Kate
Miss Braithwaite’s Secret
November 14, 2013
This book features the characters from the previous novels so read at your own risk. It works fine as a stand-alone but it's better if you are familiar with the characters. Finally, a novel I enjoyed! G.G. Vandagriff saved the best for last! Everything about this book is a winner! There's a sweet romance that's paced nicely, despite some relatively minor sensual feelings. The characters truly get to know each other and appreciate each other's good qualities while being aware of the bad. There's much to like and admire about both of them. Caro may have been a gossip in London, but in the country she's devoted to the concept of noblese oblige, she loves helping children and making them happy. She's also a frustrated playwright but not a bluestocking. Ned has a bit of a temper, but he isn't domineering. He has a chivalrous streak that sometimes gets him into trouble. A life changing experience towards the end of the novel makes him even more perfect than he already is. One part of the book, about 3/4 in, made me swoon with happiness. There's a villain tossed in for good measure and Caro is resourceful enough to rescue herself without help from a man! The story reminds me of Regina Scott's older novels, which I adore.
I noticed a few spacing errors on the Kindle edition. They bothered me enough to notice but didn't affect the text of the story.
I noticed a few spacing errors on the Kindle edition. They bothered me enough to notice but didn't affect the text of the story.
January 5, 2013
G.G. Vandagriff has hit another home run with this final book in her Three Rogues and their Ladies trilogy. This book tells of the rocky road to romance experienced by her well-developed protagonists: Caroline Braithwaite and the duke of Beverley. I especially liked Caroline, who is a strong female character and the perfect combination of femininity and spunk. Humorous dialogue and dramatic plot twists kept me engaged in the story from beginning to end. I will miss all of the lovable characters I met in this trilogy!
Read
February 2, 2016Rather a disappointment actually. I couldn't find much to like about the characters and the writing seemed forced. Not much seemed to happen and there were changes of tense in places that pulled me right out of the story and then I read this:
*There was butternut squash soup, grilled trout, a game hen, and fresh bread.*
'Game hen' is not an English term and I believe that it actually originated in the 1950s?? And butternut squashes were unknown here in the era of this book.
An irritating ending to what was a light read without much substance. Not rating.
*There was butternut squash soup, grilled trout, a game hen, and fresh bread.*
'Game hen' is not an English term and I believe that it actually originated in the 1950s?? And butternut squashes were unknown here in the era of this book.
An irritating ending to what was a light read without much substance. Not rating.
August 16, 2014
4.5/5.0
G.G. Vandagriff has written yet another picturesque Victorian Romance with characters moving in the same circles.
Full review in February 2013 issue of InD'tale Magazine.
G.G. Vandagriff has written yet another picturesque Victorian Romance with characters moving in the same circles.
Full review in February 2013 issue of InD'tale Magazine.
January 16, 2024
The concept was cute but the story and writing missed the mark.
The MMC was an idiot who did and said idiotic things. The solution to his idiocy . The FMC was a doormat then a "spitfire" then a doormat again. I just didn't believe or care at certain points if they ended up together. It wasn't until the end that I thought it might be worth it then there was more unnecessary drama. Just too much stuffed in for no reason.
This book had:
The MMC was an idiot who did and said idiotic things. The solution to his idiocy . The FMC was a doormat then a "spitfire" then a doormat again. I just didn't believe or care at certain points if they ended up together. It wasn't until the end that I thought it might be worth it then there was more unnecessary drama. Just too much stuffed in for no reason.
This book had:
December 6, 2018
Cato is an active and energetic young lady and was the hit of the season. She had many young men surrounding her but only one that captured her fancy. He made it sound as though he was about to offer for her when he suddenly becomes engaged to another girl. Carp heads home heartbroken and gets on with her life. Ned’s fiancé suddenly leaves town and sends notice to the papers saying the engagement is off. She refuses to see Ned to explain what happened. This is how our two end up at the same house party. But all is not smooth between them. It is a rocky road and lots of surprises. An enjoyable book.
February 22, 2019
An exceptional romance!
I love Ms Vandagriff’s romances! This one had an exceptional amount of angst. Hearts were broken several times, a duke lost at sea and presumably dead, a lady kidnapped and presumably ravished. So many plot twists I could hardly take my eyes off the pages. Never a dull moment. I highly anticipate reading the next novel of hers. I recommend this book to all lovers of regency romance.
I love Ms Vandagriff’s romances! This one had an exceptional amount of angst. Hearts were broken several times, a duke lost at sea and presumably dead, a lady kidnapped and presumably ravished. So many plot twists I could hardly take my eyes off the pages. Never a dull moment. I highly anticipate reading the next novel of hers. I recommend this book to all lovers of regency romance.
August 18, 2022
The heart wants what the heart wants. There is no denying it no. matter how much your mind tells you it is wrong. Caro was smitten from the beginning with Ned the Duke of Beverly. He had seemed interested, then suddenly he was gone. Betrothed to another and Caro's heart was broken. He didn't even know she loved him. She goes to a friends house party and he is there cast aside by his betrothed with no reason given. He with a cruel remark crushes Caro heart again. On an on their saga continues.
May 24, 2019
Hopd,but?
Usually I trade this author much higher. The story is as well written as the others are but it broke the rul of stand alone because I have read some of her later books where the my inference felt his stories end have or did not happen. I can forgive but not forget and rate stars at the usual number of stars
Usually I trade this author much higher. The story is as well written as the others are but it broke the rul of stand alone because I have read some of her later books where the my inference felt his stories end have or did not happen. I can forgive but not forget and rate stars at the usual number of stars
April 26, 2021
Like the plays written by Caroline Braithwaite this one is just too fantastic to be even plausible especially the idea that an Incomparable like Caro, feted by the true aristocrats during her successful yet short~lived London Season, would even remotely entertain being engaged to an upstart peer like Harry given his aura of uncouth malevolence and yet she did... like some desperate pathetic spineless creature waiting to be rescued from a hopeless situation. Despite her father's poor health, her Aunt Sukey's protection and patronage (as well as that of Lady Caro's) would have been an option as with the support of Elise and Kate and their titled husbands. So I am not buying this part of the story... it is too contrary to Caro's strong character plus Beverly was not dead yet, so was her father. I do not see the rush for an engagement to secure her future and to whom?... a worthless cad without honor. Might as well lock herself in a tower in Cornwall (for her lost Duke's memory) and write plays. This was a fun and later on 'foul' read.
July 15, 2022
DNF
I only made it through about 25% when I realized that I what liked best to that point were the chapter titles. Otherwise, the characters and plot were, at best, fair, but certainly not enjoyable enough for me to stick with the book all the way to the end because I truly didn’t care.
I only made it through about 25% when I realized that I what liked best to that point were the chapter titles. Otherwise, the characters and plot were, at best, fair, but certainly not enjoyable enough for me to stick with the book all the way to the end because I truly didn’t care.
December 15, 2017
Just one more excellent story
If you start reading these, they become addictive.Felicity, Caroline, Annabelle, John, Alex, the list goes on even Henry five becomes familiar friends. You can not wait to read about more.
If you start reading these, they become addictive.Felicity, Caroline, Annabelle, John, Alex, the list goes on even Henry five becomes familiar friends. You can not wait to read about more.
February 3, 2019
My good this book had more twists and turns than a roller coaster! I liked the strong heroine. Clean with nice pacing.
June 22, 2019
Ned and Caro
A romp to end all romps! Deuced good Regency with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in. Ned and Varo go thorough everything a good romance has! Babs
A romp to end all romps! Deuced good Regency with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in. Ned and Varo go thorough everything a good romance has! Babs
January 14, 2021
Great plot good characters lots of action.
December 3, 2025
Lost a star for use of Racist slur
February 13, 2013
Miss Caroline “Caro” Braithwaite was deemed an “incomparable” during her first London Season and leaves in the middle of the season without explanation to the ton, her parents or friends.
The truth? Despite all of her suitors, there was one she was interested in more than the others and he suddenly became engaged, and she isn’t nearly as interested in the others.
When a good deed turned into a engagement and then a broken engagement, the last person Edward “Ned” Fitzhugh, the Duke of Beverley, wants to see at a house party is a woman he courted and would have offered for if he wouldn’t have proposed to another woman.
At the house party, despite their misgivings and desires to protect their broken hearts, Caro and Ned learn more about each other. However, Ned’s broken engagement becomes a messy entanglement he wants to clean up finally before committing again and other misunderstandings (and lack of clear communication) thwart his budding of a relationship with Caro. Who knew that deciphering social cues and flowery language was so difficult in the Regency era?
“Miss Braithwaite’s Secret” is the third in Utah author G.G. Vandagriff’s Regency Trilogy and includes characters from the previous two books, "The Duke's Undoing" and "The Taming of Lady Kate."
This was one of the books in a list for the Deseret News of "10 clean historical romance novels in time for Valentine's Day".
The truth? Despite all of her suitors, there was one she was interested in more than the others and he suddenly became engaged, and she isn’t nearly as interested in the others.
When a good deed turned into a engagement and then a broken engagement, the last person Edward “Ned” Fitzhugh, the Duke of Beverley, wants to see at a house party is a woman he courted and would have offered for if he wouldn’t have proposed to another woman.
At the house party, despite their misgivings and desires to protect their broken hearts, Caro and Ned learn more about each other. However, Ned’s broken engagement becomes a messy entanglement he wants to clean up finally before committing again and other misunderstandings (and lack of clear communication) thwart his budding of a relationship with Caro. Who knew that deciphering social cues and flowery language was so difficult in the Regency era?
“Miss Braithwaite’s Secret” is the third in Utah author G.G. Vandagriff’s Regency Trilogy and includes characters from the previous two books, "The Duke's Undoing" and "The Taming of Lady Kate."
This was one of the books in a list for the Deseret News of "10 clean historical romance novels in time for Valentine's Day".
October 12, 2013
Loved this regency romance by G.G. Vandagriff. It is the third book in her rogues series. The author's style reminds me of Georgette Heyer. There is certainly the romance, absurdity, and rigidity of the regency period included. The plot centers around Caro who while considered the Incomparable, cuts her season short after the man she secretly loves proposed to another. Ned, the Duke who Caro loves is also nursing a broken heart when the woman he proposed to cut off the engagement without explanation. Both of these characters unbeknownst to each other have been invited to the same house party in the country. The sparks fly when the two meet up again. Though both of them are attracted to each other, neither one wants to admit it.
Caro and Ned are enjoyable characters. There's an evil rogue and of course, the horrible mix ups common in regency books. It's an enjoyable quick read that was hard to put down. It was also fun to have the reappearance of characters from the previous two books. While I would consider this a clean romance, there is the occasional sexual innuendo. Looking forward to reading Rescuing Rosalind.
Caro and Ned are enjoyable characters. There's an evil rogue and of course, the horrible mix ups common in regency books. It's an enjoyable quick read that was hard to put down. It was also fun to have the reappearance of characters from the previous two books. While I would consider this a clean romance, there is the occasional sexual innuendo. Looking forward to reading Rescuing Rosalind.
February 4, 2016
An over long mess...
What would have been a good, well plotted novella about mixed signals and misplaced gallantry was instead, a drawn out, logic- bending melodrama. I know that the relationship between the H/h of period romances is usually complicated by past emotional trauma and/or misunderstandings. In the best books, these stock-in-trade elements are logical and contribute to the tension of the story.
Unfortunately that is not the case in 'Miss Braithwaite's Secret.' The hero's excessively developed sense of chivalry that had him immediately proposing to a woman that he's rescued from the side of the road to save her from a scandal of which he had no part in creating was, for me at least, extremely unbelievable. The heroine's broken heart resulting from the hero's inability to read her mind is equally unbelievable. Throw in a capsized sailboat, missing love interest, a kidnapping and a ridiculously executed 'rescue' and you got yourself a hot mess of a padded story line.
Bottom line: I don't recommend it.
What would have been a good, well plotted novella about mixed signals and misplaced gallantry was instead, a drawn out, logic- bending melodrama. I know that the relationship between the H/h of period romances is usually complicated by past emotional trauma and/or misunderstandings. In the best books, these stock-in-trade elements are logical and contribute to the tension of the story.
Unfortunately that is not the case in 'Miss Braithwaite's Secret.' The hero's excessively developed sense of chivalry that had him immediately proposing to a woman that he's rescued from the side of the road to save her from a scandal of which he had no part in creating was, for me at least, extremely unbelievable. The heroine's broken heart resulting from the hero's inability to read her mind is equally unbelievable. Throw in a capsized sailboat, missing love interest, a kidnapping and a ridiculously executed 'rescue' and you got yourself a hot mess of a padded story line.
Bottom line: I don't recommend it.
December 3, 2012
I've been on a historical kick this year and Miss Braithwaite's Secret really satisfied me. GG Vandagriff has found her true calling as a writer in her regencies. She has a flair in this genre that is hard to match.
In this book we see Caroline Braithwaite, who leaves her London season early to nurse a broken heart. While she's picking up the pieces, the very man who broke it is invited to the house where she's staying for a house party, since he's recovering from a broken engagement. The misunderstandings between the two are really well done and I particularly enjoyed the twists and turns the story took. Ned is a worthy hero and Caro is her own woman trying to work within the restraints of society. I loved her spunk and I liked that she wasn't perfect, just as the hero wasn't perfect. It was believable and fun, romantic and page-turning. For any regency lovers, this is a must-read.
In this book we see Caroline Braithwaite, who leaves her London season early to nurse a broken heart. While she's picking up the pieces, the very man who broke it is invited to the house where she's staying for a house party, since he's recovering from a broken engagement. The misunderstandings between the two are really well done and I particularly enjoyed the twists and turns the story took. Ned is a worthy hero and Caro is her own woman trying to work within the restraints of society. I loved her spunk and I liked that she wasn't perfect, just as the hero wasn't perfect. It was believable and fun, romantic and page-turning. For any regency lovers, this is a must-read.
May 23, 2013
My biggest problem with this book was the plot/characters. I felt the writing was fairly decent, the plot idea interesting and even the characters themselves seemed alright.
But.
The truth is, no matter how good the Duke of Beverly is (or at least how good the author tries so hard to make him), it still felt like the only attraction between the two was entirely physical.
Then take Lord William, who is frequently referred to as 'bland as milk'. But the first thing Caro notices about him is that he's kind. He's also good looking, has a position and even some money. All throughout the book he's patient, kind, offering help, enjoying her company...what's not to like?! The fact is that anyone with a smidgeon of common sense would pick the attractive kind man over the man that you're attracted to but has nothing else to commend him.
RAR!
A C+.
But.
The truth is, no matter how good the Duke of Beverly is (or at least how good the author tries so hard to make him), it still felt like the only attraction between the two was entirely physical.
Then take Lord William, who is frequently referred to as 'bland as milk'. But the first thing Caro notices about him is that he's kind. He's also good looking, has a position and even some money. All throughout the book he's patient, kind, offering help, enjoying her company...what's not to like?! The fact is that anyone with a smidgeon of common sense would pick the attractive kind man over the man that you're attracted to but has nothing else to commend him.
RAR!
A C+.
January 30, 2016
Uh, woops. I accidentally picked up the third novel in a series. Good news folks, this was entirely readable as a standalone novel without the context of the first two. I have no doubt that they would have greatly contributed to the cast of characters present, as I see now that some of the secondary characters were indeed the focus of book 1 and 2. I think it's a testament to the writing, that this novel was good without the support of those first books.
G.G. Vandagriff certainly has a knack for dialogue - it felt more suitable to the time period than a lot of other Regency romances I've recently read. I appreciated that and I think it makes me have higher expectations for future novels.
I did have to groan and roll my eyes when she named two of Caro's suitors - brothers - Harry and William. One blonde, the other a ginger.
G.G. Vandagriff certainly has a knack for dialogue - it felt more suitable to the time period than a lot of other Regency romances I've recently read. I appreciated that and I think it makes me have higher expectations for future novels.
I did have to groan and roll my eyes when she named two of Caro's suitors - brothers - Harry and William. One blonde, the other a ginger.
December 18, 2012
Miss Braithwaite's Secret is the third book in GG Vandgriff's Three Rouges and Their Ladies Regency Trilogy. I have to admit, I've loved this series, and I am sorry to see it end. In Miss Braithwaite's Secret, Caroline a.k.a "Caro" and Ned are confronted with a wealth of misunderstandings amidst their growing mutual attraction. The romantic tension makes this novel all the more fun. Vandagriff's characters are perfectly flawed, with all the right distinctive quirks to keep them in your mind long after you've finished the book. The era in which this book is set bring many vivid pictures to mind, and you feel as if you've stepped into the past. This is definitely a series worth cuddling up with on a cold, wintry day.
January 30, 2015
Caroline was introduced to us in previous novels, so this is her story. She is an "Incomparable" for her debut season. She collects suitors like a flower collects bees. When the man she is partial to gets engaged to another woman, it breaks her heart. She retreats to the country to nurse her wounds. When her best friend hosts a party, who arrives, but the man she loves--jilted by his fiance. The predictable ensues-she is still in love with him, yet he is in love with his ex-fiance....or is he? Chaos ensues as Caroline flirts with other men to make Ned jealous. A cute, if predictable story.
language: clean, heat level: mild--implied relations in marriage.
language: clean, heat level: mild--implied relations in marriage.
March 28, 2016
This was a delightful, sweet Regency romance. Bright repartee with dialog appropriate to the era strung the story together. Parts of the story were very chuckle worthy with miscommunication abounding. Other parts entered into a bit of angst as dramatic problems arose. Ned and Caro were likable protagonists with realistic short comings and believable positive traits. This is the first book by G. G. Vandagriff I've read. Which is great because now I have everything she's already written to read and enjoy.
March 12, 2016
Caro Braithwaite abandons the Season halfway and no one knows why she did so. The Duke of Beverly has been jilted, and has no interest in courtship. They are thrown together during a house party. Secrets are revealed, hearts broken, and love wins out in the end.
Overall, this was an ok book. Caro was an interesting character and so was Beverly.
Mainly, the problem I had in reading this was the random switches into first person to indicate a character, mainly Caro's, thoughts. Also, I found her secret rather bland.
Still, it's a clean read for anyone who is looking for that kind of book.
Overall, this was an ok book. Caro was an interesting character and so was Beverly.
Mainly, the problem I had in reading this was the random switches into first person to indicate a character, mainly Caro's, thoughts. Also, I found her secret rather bland.
Still, it's a clean read for anyone who is looking for that kind of book.
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