Secrets

Delanza Family #1

by Brenda Joyce

A breathtaking tale of duty and desire from one of romantic fiction's most sensuous voices�Brenda Joyce

Injured during a train robbery, Regina Shelton, the daughter of a British earl, awakens with no memory of who she is�and in the arms of the most handsome man she has ever seen. The dangerous stranger calls her "Elizabeth," and his touch sets her blood racing, impelling her toward a romantic destiny not rightfully her own.

Slade Delanza has finally found the missing heiress who was meant to wed his brother James. But now James is dead�and the rugged loner is expected to marry wealthy "Elizabeth Sinclair" himself in order to rescue his family from ruin. Though he aches to possess his innocent young bride, Slade's honor demands that he deny his own desires. And he vows to resist temptation, unaware of the stunning secrets that, if revealed, could seal their love . . . or tear them apart forever.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Americana

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Brenda Joyce is the bestselling author of forty-one novels and five novellas. She has won many awards, and her debut novel, Innocent Fire, won a Best Western Romance award. She has also won the highly coveted Best Historical Romance award for Splendor and Two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times BOOKreviews. There are over 14 million copies of her novels in print and she is published in over a dozen foreign countries.

A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs, and her Arabian and half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions—writing powerful love stories and competing with her horses at regional and national levels. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her Web sites: www.brendajoyce.com, www.thedewarennedynasty.com and http://mastersoftimebooks.com.

Reviews

[Danito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Отново вълнуваща, Бренда Джойс, не ме остави безразлична.
Много умело успява да натрупа напрежение между героите и да заплита интересни препятствия до самия финал. Официално, това е новата ми любима авторка.
Продължавам със следващата.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was maybe ok at first, but soon it started to annoy me.
It became boring to read Regina's desperate, naive and confusing thoughts. It was ok when she had amnesia, but after she remembered, I couldn't believe that she was always going after Slade. And he was horrible to her most of time.
I didn't feel any chemistry between them. They were attracted to each other, but other than that, they haven't had a single meaningful conversation.

Slade was always angry and cold and no matter the reasons for that kind of behaviour, I couldn't feel for him or cheer for him.

Rick was cold to his son, Victoria like some sopa opera evil character...I can't find a single positive thing to say.

And in the end, I expected Slade to do at least one good thing to show his love...but he hasn't.

I definitely won't continue with the series.

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 48%

The heroine was always crying or in need of rescuing. The hero was okay but a little bit too alpha male taste, he was always deciding what was best for the heroine without consulting her.

Also all the women in this novel are portrayed as either manipulative and sexually active or innocent damsels in distress. None of which really works for me. I like my female characters to be multifaceted, then again this book was originally written and published in 1993.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummmm, it’s disappointing and is a tedious read. I was really surprised because I read the book about Edward first…. And I loved that one!

I feel quite let down, not going to lie.

[Sarah Soueidan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this somewhere between 3-4

The first story in the Delanza family one and the seventh in the Bragg Saga ones.

Regina Shelton, daughter of the Earl of Dragmore, is injured on a train robbery. She has temporary amnesia and doesn't recall who she is. She wakes up to find Slade Delanza, who believes she is Elizabeth Sinclair, his deceased, older brother's fiance. The only one who knows the truth, as in the fact that this is not Elizabeth, is Rick, Slade's father, who wants to have the marriage between Slade and Elizabeth done so that the lands and inheritance are preserved.
Slade wants nothing to do with his estranged father and inheritance, but he falls for Elizabeth/Regina.

There's a lot of push/pull and a surprise at the end.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only thing I didn't like is that Regina had amnesia and thought herself to be Elizabeth, BUT throughout the book, even in her own private thoughts, it was "Regina" this and Regina that...

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very hard for me (almost impossible it seems) to be objective when it comes to Brenda Joyce. See I'm not such a big fan of historical romances, but I adore every one of Joyce's books read so far, and I think that says a lot, it says it all actually. I think she might easily be my favorite historical romance author. So when I saw this book having mixed reviews I had no clue what to expect ...

But for me personally, Brenda Joyce once more delivered. I enjoyed this book very much. I read it in a few hours, never putting it down. I liked Regina's character, I thought it was cool the way she was determined to get her guy ... And what a guy it was ... Loved him from that second he found her ... I actually thought it was sweet,and loved that about his character, the morals he had, and how much he loved not just his brother, but also the mere memory of him. Loved their chemistry, and simply loved the book :).

[Jammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of this book. The beginning was promising. But it lagged quite a bit in parts.

Regina jumped off a train to escape a robbery, she lost her memory when she hit her head. She is found by a cowboy, Slade (we all know I love cowboys). They think she's Elizabeth, who had been James's fiance, James is Slade's brother. James has since died.

Slade's father wants Slade to try to marry Regina to save their property. At first Slade refuses, but then realizes how much Regina's fortune would help them.

This is the seventh book in the series, maybe it would help if I felt any warmth towards any of the characters. But truthfully, I was disgusted. I know it takes place in the 1800s, and it was a different world. But Regina seemed so wishy washy about everything. And Slade and his father were often just complete turds.

I will see if I can get a hold of the first book in this series. If I like that one, maybe I'll give the series a chance.

[Shirlene]

Regina Shelton had come to America for the wedding of her cousin Lucy and Shoz Savage. She left a former beau in England and was in no hurry to return home because he was now engaged to someone else. Her plan was to return to home to her parents in September to find out who her father arranged for her to marry. Regina was on a train bound for San Francisco to visit relatives there because she'd had enough of Texas. The train was held up and people were being shot. Regina jumped off the train. The bandits shot at her as she jumped and her chaperone was hit. She died soon after the train arrived at it's next stop. She lived long enough to tell Rick Delanza that it was Regina Shelton who had jumped off the train.
Slade Delanza found Regina and discovered that she had amnesia. He took her back to town to see a doctor and and then back to his father, Rick Delanza's ranch. Rick own a ranch called Miramar that was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Rick knew that she was Regina Shelton but kept that to himself. He convinced everyone else that she was Elizabeth Sinclair, fiancee to his oldest son James, who had just died. Rick had met Elizabeth twice and knew her to be spoiled and selfish. He needed James to marry Elizabeth for her money. With James now dead, Slade was the oldest and he would inherit Miramar. If Rick could convince Slade to marry Regina before she recovered her memory, there would even be more money to restore Miramar.
Slade loved his brother James very much and didn't want to get involved with someone his brother left behind. He tried to fight his attraction to Regina. It scared him and it also scared Regina because of her loss of memory and not knowing who she was. Slade was the only person she felt she could trust. Regina found out that Rick wanted her to marry Slade and she felt like she had been lied to. She fought with Slade and ran away from the ranch as it was starting to storm. Slade found her and she was soaked and had blistered her feet badly. Slade told her to remove her wet clothes and put on his dry shirt. They kissed and Slade agreed to take Regina to town to catch the train the next day. He took her back to the ranch. He woke her up in the morning and she discovered that she was too tired and feet were too sore. She talked with Rick about the arrangement and agreed to stay longer even knowing what he wanted from her.
Rick had hired a Pinkerton agent so he knew that Regina's family was looking for her. He also wanted the Pinkerton agent to find out why Elizabeth didn't come to him when she was summoned. Rick and Elizabeth's father had grown up together and it was arranged that their children would marry when they were old enough. George was wealthy and land poor. Rick had the land that he wanted and George would obtain control of the land through his daughter's marriage to James.
Victoria wanted her son Edward, half-brother to James and Slade, to inherit Miramar. She refused to accept Slade inheriting the land and didn't accept him marrying Elizabeth. She searched through the trunks that came with 'Elizabeth' and found a locket that had the initials 'RS' on it. She was determined to find out who 'RS' was and to prove that 'Elizabeth' wasn't Elizabeth. Victoria wasn't at dinner that evening and no one seemed to know where she was. Elizabeth knew that her belongings had been searched and that her locket was missing. She just didn't know who had taken it. She couldn't go to Slade because he was acting mad at her and she didn't know what reaction she would get if she were to go to him about someone going through her property.
Regina agreed to marry Slade and thought that she would be given time to regain her memory and to get to know Slade. She found out that it was their intention to have her get married the next week. She attempted to get Slade interested in her but he just pulled away, angry. Slade was determined to know give in to his desire for her because he didn't want to betray James even though he was dead.
Regina regained her memory a couple of days before her wedding. She didn't tell Slade because she was in love with him and didn't want to take the chance that she might lose him. They were married and Regina noted that others knew that she wasn't Elizabeth but they didn't say anything. She knew she would have to tell Slade soon. Slade did not come to Regina's room that night. She went to him and they slept together. Sade felt so guilty that he left the next morning to go back to work for Charles Mann in San Francisco.
Regina followed him back to San Francisco and Edward accompanied her. She first went to see her aunt and uncle. She went to Slade's office to confront him. She told him who she was and took divorce papers with her. He refused to sign them even after her uncle confronted him. She was working with Xandria Mann and Regina thought they were sleeping together and she was upset. She later found out that she was Charles' daughter and they became friends. Andrea invited both Regina and Slade to have dinner with her and her father. Charles was like a father to Slade and he gave a house to Slade and Regina for a wedding gift and told him to take some time to show her around the town. They spent time together for the next couple of days and went to see the house they were given. They slept together again there. The next day she went to see the house that Slade was renting and hired someone to clean and cook and she ended up moving in. They were happy for a time.
Regina's father come to town and paid a visit to Slade. He again reiterated the need for a divorce stating that Regina would never be happy living at Miramar. She was a city girl. Xandria was having a party for them one evening so after. He left the party and went home and picked a fight with Regina. He saw her at the party and decided for himself that this was where she belonged and he told her he wanted a divorce. Regina was extremely angry and stormed out.
Slade made a trip to see Elizabeth and didn't like her. He determined she was just a rich whore. She told him that had broke up with James before he died. She wasn't sorry in the least. She had used him for a time and didn't need James anymore so she dumped him. She was sent to London after being caught with one of the stable hands in the barn and it wasn't her first time to be caught with a guy. Her father had covered it up and sent her away. When he died, she returned to London to continue her loose lifestyle. She made a trip to San Francisco after she found out that she was pregnant. She thought she was pretty enough to turn anyone's head and to get Slade to marry her. She left quickly after finding out that he was married.
A month later, Slade had borrowed money from Charles to make a start on building back Miramar. He had finished his business in San Francisco and turned over his job to someone else. He went home to Miramar, determined to clear the air with his father and make a fresh start so he could try and be happy there. He missed Regina terribly.
He made it home and had it out with his father. The finally talked through how upset they were about Slade leaving and about Rick not trying to get him to stay. They made up and talked through their disappointment and the past. The both admitted they loved each other and had missed each other over the past ten years. Slade looked up to see Regina crying in he's bedroom doorway. They made love that night and Regina determined that she wouldn't let him walk out on her again. She knew Slade loved her and he knew it to but he hand't admitted it to her yet. He started clearing the land to start planting food to make the ranch more profitable. They had cleared two hundred of the three he was trying to clear before the winter rains started. It was raining one night and James showed up coming in through the kitchen door. They heard their cook screaming and she had fainted.
It turns out that James was so angry that he had left home and gone to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth told him again that she didn't want him and James had written home that he was going to stay away for awhile. James didn't want to go back to Miramar where the memories of what he was building for him and Elizabeth and their family. He wrote home again after a time. He decided that he had been gone long enough and sent a telegram that he was coming home. Victoria, Edward's mother, had intercepted the letters and hid them from the family. She knew that James was alive. Victoria had thought that James was gone, Slade would come home for the funeral and leave. Edward would be the one to marry Elizabeth and save Miramar. Rick was absolutely furious with Victoria. Edward stormed out and went back to San Francisco to Xandria. He was in love with her. Victoria left the ranch a few days later. James stayed a few days and told everyone that he wasn't staying and Miramar. He was leaving to find his own destiny. Regina told him that he had to come back in six months because he was going to be an uncle. Slade heard her. He was more determined than ever to to make a success of Miramar.

[Özlem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geçen sene Brenda Joyce'dan 12 kitap okuyunca uzun bir mola vereceğim diyordum fakat 8 ay sonra kendisini özlediğimi fark ettim. Ben de kısa olan serilerinden birini okuyayım dedim. Gerçi Delanza, Bragg Saga serisinin bir nevi devamı ve yan serisi (evet ikisi birden sayılır) olmasına rağmen diğer seriyi okumasam bir şeyi kaçırmam diye düşündüm. Ve kaçırmadığımı söyleyebilirim.

Francesca Cahill serisinin aksine burada özlediğim Brenda kalemini bolca görmek beni ne kadar mutlu etti size anlatamam.Yazarın en sevdiğim yönü de karakterlerinin karmaşıklığı oluyor. Yani ne iyiler ne kötüler, mükemmel değiller ve bu durum karakterlerle daha yakın bağ kurmamı sağlıyor.

Örneğin Rick'in zamanında yaptığı hatalar sonucu yıllarca bunların altında ezilmesini yine de gururundan ödün vermemek için yaptığı inatçılıkları yazar mükemmel bir şekilde işlemiş. Aynı şekilde Slade'in Regina'ya karşı takındığı tavırlara rağmen oldukça saf bir yüreği, duygusal bir ruhu olması ve karı kız peşinde koşmak yerine işinde gücünde biri olması kendisini oldukça sevmemi sağladı.

Hikayeden tek şikayetim Regina'nın bitmek bilmeyen ağlamaları oldu. Kadın ister iyi ister kötü her olayda bir ağlama krizine giriyor. Hatta bir yerden sonra kendisi sadece ağlayarak hikayeyi yürütüyor.

Bir de sonunun çoğ Brenda kitabına kıyasla açık uçlu bitmemesi bir şükür çektirdi.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like I was watching a Mexican telenovela. Televisa presenta. So much crying, drama and main characters changing their minds all the time made it hard to read. I thought that I was going to get a whiplash.

I am tired after reading this book. I could have gone without all the damn crying, like Jesus help them. She crys all the time and he is angry most of the time. It they acted like grown human beings the story would be great.

I definitely won't be reading this again, I don't have the energy for it.
It was well written so I would give it a 4 but the crying and the drama made me give it a 3.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable tale of mistaken identity and hidden secrets. I really liked this story, Slade and Regina had a turbulent relationship but passionate nonetheless. To Regina he was a handsome stranger that saved her, but to Slade she was a desirable forbidden love. All of the problems in the book were caused by miscommunication and too much pride. Both of them wanted the best for each other and tried to be selfless with their actions. In the end they realized that they were actually the best thing for each other. I also love the cowboy aesthetic and I wish I could lived at Miramar, it sounds like a dream.

[*SharonD* · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this romantic fiction novel set in the late 1800s, Regina Shelton escapes a violent train robbery by jumping off the train and sustains a head injury that causes amnesia. She is rescued by handsome and often sullen Slade Delanza who mistakes her for his dead brother's fiancee. They return to Delanza family's California Ranch where Regina is mostly welcomed in, though all the main characters have secrets, private grievances and hidden agendas. When her memory returns it definitely shakes things up. This was a good read, but at times Slade is such a jerk it's annoying.

[joy evangelista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wala nang ginawa si girl kung hindi umiyak at maging "yes, mahal" at "sorry mahal" recorder and si boy naman walang redeeming quality. Gusto ko pa naman yung first few chapters nito.

Added one star for the revelation at chapter 27. Two stars lang dapat ito pero hayaan mo na.

[Vanesa Ruiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

No me gusto, ya que el protagonista además de necio y un poco grosero era testarudo, y se tardo mucho en demostrar su amor a la protagonista.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Tapa in lovezone]

H is poor.

[Maps]

EVERAND

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good story -

[Book Binge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regina is on her way via train, with her chaperone, to Paso Robles Resort to take the baths there. She’s in America from England to attend a family wedding and her parents have returned to England. During the ride the train is boarded by thieves and they’re not nice, gentle ones either. When one of the bandits gets a good look at Regina she decides that not only will she save her pearls, she’s going to save her virginity as well. She manages to leave the train car and jumps off the slow moving train (can I just say that even a slow moving train travels quite quickly).

When Regina is found beside the tracks she has no memory of who she is. The man who finds her, Slade Delanza, calls her Elizabeth and Slade believes that she is his brother James’ fiancé who was heading toward their rancho to get married to James. But James is dead. The rancho, Miramar, still needs Elizabeth’s funds (she’s an heiress) to get the ranch back on track. The only way to do that now is to bring Elizabeth back to Miramar and have Slade marry her. Slade’s not really fond of the idea – even though he really likes Elizabeth and is hot for her – but he loved James and feels dishonorable about taking a woman to wife that his brother loved. Slade finally agrees and marries Elizabeth but plans on making it a marriage in name only (he didn't bother to share the information with Elizabeth, btw). He can’t resist Elizabeth’s charms on their wedding night however and is disgusted with himself in the morning. He takes off for San Francisco where he’s been living and working for the past 10 years and doesn’t bother to let Elizabeth know that he’s gone.

Elizabeth, a couple of days before the wedding, remembers that she’s Regina. But she finds herself in love with the brooding Slade and decides to go through with the wedding. When she finds out that Slade has left her she is pissed off (yeah, I would be too) and heads to SF to get a divorce from the man.

But when she gets to SF things change. Slade turns out to be a completely different man than she thought she married - both good and bad. Her parents return to America to see her and her father is not happy at his daughter being married for her money, and Slade doesn’t know what the hell he wants. If he does, he’s not admitting it to anyone, including himself.

Where do I begin to tell you my thoughts this tale? The story takes place in late 1899 in California which was a change for me and it was a nice one. Usually when I read historicals they’re set in England. While I’d like to say that I got a taste of England from Regina because she was supposed to be all that was good and proper – she never, in my opinion, acted like she was a proper lady (she was an Earl’s daughter!). She really acted like an American - and a contemporary one at that!

The story, for me, had too much going on in it. Regina and Slade had so much going on in their lives that it was a bit overwhelming for me as the reader. The entire story takes place in the span of only about 6 weeks, I think – no more than 2 months – and the crap that this couple went through was crazy. I’d like to say that I liked Slade and Regina so much that the reading went smoothly for me but truly it was just overwhelming. Just when I thought we could work on some issues with the marriage something else would come up. It was just too much.

Slade and Regina - I'm just not sure I liked them together...or apart for that matter. Slade was a quiet, brooding man who wanted things done his way or no way. Regina while she simpered a lot in this book, and "cried out" a lot (with an abundance of exclamation points thrown in) turned out to be one tough cookie. I'd like to say that I admired her for sticking through the tough times but really, at a couple of different points I wanted her to just cut and run. She reminded me of a Timex slogan - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

I’ve liked most of what I’ve read from Joyce. I really like Joyce’s DeWarren series and some of her paranormals, but this one was just ok. It felt to me like it was supposed to be this epic love story and it fell short in a lot of ways.

Rating: 3 out of 5

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Tracy.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, but I thought the other books in the series were better.
From the moment Regina lays eyes on Slade she loves him. Slade also feels attracted to her at first sight. But of course there are a lot of misunderstandings because Regina and Slade love each other, but they're afraid to admit it. Also Slade loves his father and the other way around, but again they're afraid to admit it so... even more misunderstandings! So many of them it started to irritate me a little.
However it did like it when Regina returned home. It was a bit predictable, but nonetheless it fit the whole situation.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not a fan of stories where amnesia is the plot device. If you like or at least do not mind stories where someone has amnesia, you'll probably like this one. I love Brenda Joyce and the Bragg series in particular, but this story is one of my least favorites. Also, the hero got on my nerves. I wanted to scream at him: "How many times and how many different ways does someone have to tell you they love you before you believe it???" It was frustrating!

[Stacie Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in California in the last months of the 19th century. There is deception and some mystery. You know through the whole book that they will end up together, but the journey there is interesting. Another good book by this author, although it leans to the romance side of her books.

[Lukman Manggo]

From all part of The Bragg Saga stories I read this part was most wonderful teary lovely one.
How love can unite everything. The loves of Slade to Regina Bragg, and his reunited with his father went through well. Good book
Thanks to the Author of this series, Brenda Joyce. Thanks for the wonderful tale you put in them.

[Helm Ehmy Ilarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benda Joyce portrayed Regina Shelton as a girl grown to woman very well! I love how the story ended up and how she described a couple's life and their issues. Although those things seems laughable, there should be understanding between family. Secrets--any secret, whatever its size--and fears can become the very thing that can break any kind of union.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book I found it lacking at certain points making it hard to say that I trully loved it. For me I didn't feel that there was enough character development, espcially in their relationship. I love Brenda Joyce but Secrets kept me wanting.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Train robbery. Regina Shelton. Slade Delanza. Pub 1993.

[Sodonas Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

i couldn't put it down!!!

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THISSSSSSSSSSSS!