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Genteel Secrets
What do a well-bred Southern Belle and a Northern working class Pinkerton detective have in common? Espionage . . . and romance. At the start of the US Civil War, while young men begin dying on American battlefields and slavery is headed toward its end, behind the scenes, female undercover work and Pinkerton intelligence are alive and well. But in the end, can the love between this novella's Romeo and Juliet couple survive, or will they be just another casualty of war?
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Published October 2, 2018
About the author
S.R. Mallery
23 books339 followersS. R. Mallery has worn many hats in her life. Starting out as a classical/pop singer/composer, she moved onto the professional world of production art and calligraphy, followed by a long career as an award winning quilt artist/teacher and an ESL/Reading instructor. Her short stories have been published in descent 2008, Snowy Egret, Transcendent Visions, The Storyteller and Down In the Dirt. Unexpected Gifts is her debut novel. Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads, a collection, is due out late 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 2, 2018
Touching and Heartwarming
A heartwarming story of Romeo and Juliet during the U.S. Civil War. Noble feelings amidst espionage, drama, tragedy etc. Could true love be kept secret, even by a detective?
Well written, touching and thought-provoking.
Recommended to literary connoisseurs.
A heartwarming story of Romeo and Juliet during the U.S. Civil War. Noble feelings amidst espionage, drama, tragedy etc. Could true love be kept secret, even by a detective?
Well written, touching and thought-provoking.
Recommended to literary connoisseurs.
Want to Read
December 14, 2019Author gift with Tender Enemies, The Dolan Girls and Ellie and the War on Powder Creek. 99
April 30, 2018
Ever wonder what it would like to be a part of civil war or at the beginning of it. I have been interested in my own country’s battles and the war over slavery. That would be the Civil War that takes place in my America history.
I was have been born in the northern part of the civil war. Making me not have slaves. I would not be a slave owner. To me that owing other human beings is something which never happened. I am not one that ignore the fact that it happen though.
I would have let slaves be humans but that me. I know about my civil war in my American history. Genteel Secrets is about a woman that is forced to be a confederacy spy. It tell as story of someone that is against slavery but is born in the south and raised with slaves. It also tell the story of a Pinkerton detective.
The author does a good job portray what Washington and what some folk trying to help the south and some important events and people with helping the South win the Civil war. They seem to be against the government and Lincoln.
Will a northerner and Southern belle be able to survive and live a happy life? You will need to read to find out. If you are into American history this is also a good book to tell about south culture and a bit of the beginning of the Civil War.
I was have been born in the northern part of the civil war. Making me not have slaves. I would not be a slave owner. To me that owing other human beings is something which never happened. I am not one that ignore the fact that it happen though.
I would have let slaves be humans but that me. I know about my civil war in my American history. Genteel Secrets is about a woman that is forced to be a confederacy spy. It tell as story of someone that is against slavery but is born in the south and raised with slaves. It also tell the story of a Pinkerton detective.
The author does a good job portray what Washington and what some folk trying to help the south and some important events and people with helping the South win the Civil war. They seem to be against the government and Lincoln.
Will a northerner and Southern belle be able to survive and live a happy life? You will need to read to find out. If you are into American history this is also a good book to tell about south culture and a bit of the beginning of the Civil War.
December 13, 2016
Anytime S. R. Mallery releases a new book is a great day for the enthusiasts who follow her historical romances. So, you can imagine my excitement when she released, Genteel Secrets, a Civil War romance with a unique twist – Alan Pinkerton, who served as head of the Union Intelligence Service, and who created the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Set in 1861 in Washington, D.C., we are introduced to James Neely, an Irish immigrant who has worked his way out of the slums to become a doctor. In a chance encounter in a city park, he meets Hannah Mayfield, an educated woman from the Confederate South. In addition to their irresistible attraction, is a mutual admiration in the way they both express the politics of the day. Most Southern women do not engage in such things, and James is clearly smitten.
A series of life events interrupts their blossoming love affair. James finds his calling by joining the Pinkerton's, where he is thrust into the middle of an investigation into that of a notorious spy ring, running out in the open within the capital. Little does he know, the elusive Hannah, has been blackmailed into taking part in the political intrigue by members of her own family. The challenge is whether their love can stand the test of time and win out in the end.
However, this story is bigger than James and Hannah's love affair. It is also a political commentary on America's Civil War and the treatment of slaves. It is about loyalty and friendship and the choices people made to keep true to their personal freedom and beliefs.
At the beginning of each chapter, the author inserted quotations that shared the political climate of the times. I enjoyed these passages because it added a sense of credibility to the story. I've added this book to my "Me-Time," category because I loved it so much. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened next. The ending was unexpected and restored my faith in humanity.
If you like fast-paced historical drama, this is one book you will not want to miss. I loved it!
My Rating:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
Set in 1861 in Washington, D.C., we are introduced to James Neely, an Irish immigrant who has worked his way out of the slums to become a doctor. In a chance encounter in a city park, he meets Hannah Mayfield, an educated woman from the Confederate South. In addition to their irresistible attraction, is a mutual admiration in the way they both express the politics of the day. Most Southern women do not engage in such things, and James is clearly smitten.
A series of life events interrupts their blossoming love affair. James finds his calling by joining the Pinkerton's, where he is thrust into the middle of an investigation into that of a notorious spy ring, running out in the open within the capital. Little does he know, the elusive Hannah, has been blackmailed into taking part in the political intrigue by members of her own family. The challenge is whether their love can stand the test of time and win out in the end.
However, this story is bigger than James and Hannah's love affair. It is also a political commentary on America's Civil War and the treatment of slaves. It is about loyalty and friendship and the choices people made to keep true to their personal freedom and beliefs.
At the beginning of each chapter, the author inserted quotations that shared the political climate of the times. I enjoyed these passages because it added a sense of credibility to the story. I've added this book to my "Me-Time," category because I loved it so much. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened next. The ending was unexpected and restored my faith in humanity.
If you like fast-paced historical drama, this is one book you will not want to miss. I loved it!
My Rating:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
April 20, 2017
Having thoroughly enjoyed 'Sewing Can Be Dangerous' by this author, I jumped at the chance to read Genteel Secrets. This is because I had high expectations, knowing this author's unique ability to weave historical elements into her stories seamlessly, and to make them come so alive that it feels like you're living them firsthand. As I expected, this delightful short read didn't disappoint. This was the first time I read Civil War fiction and felt perfectly immersed into it, meeting legendary figures of this era for the first time and learning all about the espionage, the battles, and the unfair treatment African Americans suffered at the time. The romantic story was sweet and tender, the misunderstandings and adversities that often created distance between the protagonists spurred me on to keep turning the pages, and all the while I rooted for their love to have a happy ending. In a nutshell, the story was utterly delightful and its ending fully satisfying. I recommend this book highly if you're looking for a short, romantic read to transport you to a different era and have you experience it in vivid colors! (I received a free copy and chose voluntarily to review)
March 10, 2018
This is a historical fiction novella taking place during the Civil War, mainly in Washington D.C. It's about a Southern girl with anti-Confederacy leanings, Hannah Mayfield, who is blackmailed by her wicked pro-slavery cousin to spy for the Confederacy while they vacation in Washington. Things get complicated when Hannah falls in love with Northern abolitionist James after meeting him just once. Dare she tell him the part she truly plays in the war? It turns out, James has a secret to keep that he struggles with, as well. Will love prevail?
I did not enjoy this book very much. It was largely made up of historical revision, inaccuracies, and propaganda. Everybody in this book is either a Northern abolitionist or "pro-slavery". The Confederate-supporting Southerners say things such as, "Since when do we care whether or not our darkies are overworked?", "all darkies were to be kept illiterate," and "I swear, if Lincoln has his way, these slaves will take over the world!" The book plays off of popular misconceptions concerning treatment of slaves, popularity of slavery, and the actual cause of the war itself.
All supporters of the Confederacy in this book are evil, cruel, fanatical or outright crazy, white supremacist bad guys. All Southerners are portrayed poorly... unless, of course, they believe the Union should win.
The book had a couple good qualities. It wasn't vulgar, the writing style was good, and it was thankfully not very long. However, the message that the author was pushing all the way through the book took away any enjoyment I might have had from reading it. I'd give it two stars.
I did not enjoy this book very much. It was largely made up of historical revision, inaccuracies, and propaganda. Everybody in this book is either a Northern abolitionist or "pro-slavery". The Confederate-supporting Southerners say things such as, "Since when do we care whether or not our darkies are overworked?", "all darkies were to be kept illiterate," and "I swear, if Lincoln has his way, these slaves will take over the world!" The book plays off of popular misconceptions concerning treatment of slaves, popularity of slavery, and the actual cause of the war itself.
All supporters of the Confederacy in this book are evil, cruel, fanatical or outright crazy, white supremacist bad guys. All Southerners are portrayed poorly... unless, of course, they believe the Union should win.
The book had a couple good qualities. It wasn't vulgar, the writing style was good, and it was thankfully not very long. However, the message that the author was pushing all the way through the book took away any enjoyment I might have had from reading it. I'd give it two stars.
December 5, 2016
Being a longtime fan of S. R. Mallery’s writing, I’ve been delighted to get my hands on her new historical novel, knowing in advance that I’ll enjoy every page, and I certainly did!
“Genteel Secrets” is not just a love story, even though the romance between the two main characters was one of the things that I enjoyed immensely in this novel, but it’s a meticulously researched historical fiction, which deals with the espionage, questioning of the moral right of one ethnic group owning another, polar views of life by the Confederate South and the progressive North and many more important issues.
I really enjoyed the setting of the novel, which reminded me of “Gone with the Wind” a lot; and just like in this well-known classic our main character, Hannah, is a spirited, fearless girl who is ready to fight for what she feels is right, despite the protests of her family members and general opinion of the southern society of that time. I absolutely loved how well-read she was and how much interest she showed in politics and current events, even though her outspokenness, both in words and deeds, was something that was frowned upon by society. And when she got involved with something much more dangerous than expressing unpopular views, I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out how hers and James’s, her beau’s, story would end.
Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction genre! Absolutely outstanding!
“Genteel Secrets” is not just a love story, even though the romance between the two main characters was one of the things that I enjoyed immensely in this novel, but it’s a meticulously researched historical fiction, which deals with the espionage, questioning of the moral right of one ethnic group owning another, polar views of life by the Confederate South and the progressive North and many more important issues.
I really enjoyed the setting of the novel, which reminded me of “Gone with the Wind” a lot; and just like in this well-known classic our main character, Hannah, is a spirited, fearless girl who is ready to fight for what she feels is right, despite the protests of her family members and general opinion of the southern society of that time. I absolutely loved how well-read she was and how much interest she showed in politics and current events, even though her outspokenness, both in words and deeds, was something that was frowned upon by society. And when she got involved with something much more dangerous than expressing unpopular views, I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out how hers and James’s, her beau’s, story would end.
Highly recommended for all fans of historical fiction genre! Absolutely outstanding!
September 1, 2019
Genteel Secrets encapsulates the Civil War era, a trying time in US history, within a love story unfolding between a Belle of the old South who may be part of a network of Confederate spies, Hannah Mayfield, and a Yankee doctor who takes up a new career as a Pinkerton Detective, James Neely. The obstacles between them are hard to surmount, in an atmosphere of political division, suspicion and treachery that puts both of them in danger.
S.R. Mallery’s work in this book is meticulously researched, which brings the era to life, even as a romantic moment is crafted: “All his instincts were focused on her now, her arms encircling his neck, her tiny moans as he tried to press against her body, so well hidden by her fashionable corset and hoopskirt.”
Having read the book, listening to the audiobook that has been gifted to me (in exchange for an honest review) brings the story to life. The narrator, Talmadge Ragan, has an engaging voice. Her father was a North Carolina's Poet Laureate, her mother—a journalist. Her caring for the written word is evident through her delivery. Every word is voiced with precision, the emotion never too heavy or over the top.
Five stars.
S.R. Mallery’s work in this book is meticulously researched, which brings the era to life, even as a romantic moment is crafted: “All his instincts were focused on her now, her arms encircling his neck, her tiny moans as he tried to press against her body, so well hidden by her fashionable corset and hoopskirt.”
Having read the book, listening to the audiobook that has been gifted to me (in exchange for an honest review) brings the story to life. The narrator, Talmadge Ragan, has an engaging voice. Her father was a North Carolina's Poet Laureate, her mother—a journalist. Her caring for the written word is evident through her delivery. Every word is voiced with precision, the emotion never too heavy or over the top.
Five stars.
August 17, 2017
When I first read the blurb of this book I got really excited and couldnt wait to read it. Even if the read is a bit short, the story capture the reader right away and make it a delightful journey with the character. I read a lot of book like this one but I must say that S.R. Mallery has a unique style and her own way to capture the reader and to tell the story. Even if you have live yourself into a story, there is often something missing but S.R. Mallery really get you, as a reader, to live the story and be the first person of the story.This is something I really really enjoy and I will read books from S.R. Mallery because I really like how they are written, how the story is told and how I feel when reading it.
I really enjoyed this book and I will probably reread it a few times. It is a must read and a must buy.
I really enjoyed this book and I will probably reread it a few times. It is a must read and a must buy.
January 18, 2017
Fast-paced, intriguing, and most of all heart-warming
From page one you become hooked! Hannah becomes endeared to you and you want to cherish and protect her especially from her cousin!... Then you meet James and you know he needs love in the cruel world. As the fateful day comes where to kindred spirits meet by chance in a park and sparks fly you know they are what the other has been longing for. Unfortunately, family and war keep them apart for awhile. Hannah is blackmailed by her cousin and James decides to go in another direction for his career....Until his job looks at Hannah. Now it's a race to freedom....Can Hannah's good heart and their love Save them? Is there such a thing as a happy ending? Read on!
From page one you become hooked! Hannah becomes endeared to you and you want to cherish and protect her especially from her cousin!... Then you meet James and you know he needs love in the cruel world. As the fateful day comes where to kindred spirits meet by chance in a park and sparks fly you know they are what the other has been longing for. Unfortunately, family and war keep them apart for awhile. Hannah is blackmailed by her cousin and James decides to go in another direction for his career....Until his job looks at Hannah. Now it's a race to freedom....Can Hannah's good heart and their love Save them? Is there such a thing as a happy ending? Read on!
March 7, 2018
In a time when your skin color is more important than the fact that you are a human being like any other, would you have the courage to say what you think regardless of how your peers judge you? In this book you will find people who had the courage to be true to themselves and not to judge those by their color but by their actions. You will also find endless exciting situations that combine to form a story of love, courage and understanding that transcends the beliefs of the time and will delightfully engage you in a wonderful adventure where love can only be achieved with perseverance and mutual faith in the one you love. I received this book as a ARC and i have to say i was surprised how deeply his book touched my heart ...
November 10, 2019
This historical novel sets in the heart of the Civil War. Two people who are opposites meet and find a love that is true. Hannah is blackmailed into helping getting secrets from Union soldiers, while James enlists as a Pinkerton agent. The war and family are against them. When Hannah is sought by the Pinkerton agency, James makes a choice to save Hannah. Getting out of Washington, D.C. will not be easy, but they follow the underground railroad out. How the underground railroad operates is historically correct and I love her explanation of the quilts. It's probably the best one that I've read about. This story is emotionally charged, and sometimes I felt I was right there with James & Hannah.
August 25, 2021
An interesting look into the lives during the civil war. A southern belle that became a confederate spy. She was raised with the comforts of the south and having slaves around. Now a war going on to end this and lives being lost. Forced into being a confederate spy and meeting one from the north that was a Pinkerton agent. His assignment was to find her and bring her in. Love gave them the courage to do what needed to be done during this time. Can love be afterwards, the different upbringing those lives have been changed. A story well written of a time in history was also well narrated. Given audio for my voluntary review
January 15, 2017
A Chance Meeting
What started as a chance meeting led to a story full of intrigue, blackmail, and more than one person fleeing for their lives. The author worked several instances historical events from the early Civil War years into o the plot.
What started as a chance meeting led to a story full of intrigue, blackmail, and more than one person fleeing for their lives. The author worked several instances historical events from the early Civil War years into o the plot.
June 15, 2017
Recommended to fans of romantic historic novels looking for a short, enjoyable and thrilling read set in the early Civil War era I have read, enjoyed and reviewed several of S.R. Mallery’s novels and short story collections (most recently The Dolan Girls, check the review here) and she has a knack for combining historical fact and characters with gripping stories that grab the readers, transporting them into another world, sometimes closer and sometimes far back in the past.
In this novella, the author takes us back to the period of the early American Civil War, and our guides are two characters, James, a medical student from New York (an Irish immigrant who moved with his parents when he was a child and suffered tragedy and deprivation from an early age) and Hannah, a Southern girl, the daughter of slave owners, although not a typical Southern belle, as she enjoys books more than balls and feels closer to some slaves (including her childhood friend, Noah) than to her own cousin, the manipulating Lavinia.
The story is told in the third person from both characters’ point of view. They meet in Washington D.C. at the beginning of the novel, realise they have plenty in common (their love of books and their political sympathies among other things) and fall in love (more at at-first-meeting than at-first-sight) as they should in these kinds of stories. There are many things that separate them (I’m not sure I’d call them star-crossed lovers, but there is a bit of that), and matters get even more complicated when James decides to join the Pinkerton Detective Agency and ends up chasing Confederate Spies. At the same time, Hannah is forced to spy for the South, much against her will, and… Well, as the author quotes at the start of one of the chapters (thanks, Shakespeare) ‘the course of true love never did run smooth’. I won’t give you full details but let me tell you there are secret codes, interesting hiding places, blackmail, occult passages, and betrayals galore. The underground railway is put into action, Frederick Douglass (one of my favourite historical figures of the period, and I’ll recommend again his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave here in Project Gutenberg) makes a guest appearance, and famous spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow plays an important part. (I must confess I hadn’t heard of her before but the author’s decision of using her as one of her background characters is a great success).
The story flows easily and although there are no lengthy descriptions that deflect from the action, we get a clear sense of the locations and of the atmosphere of the period, including the abuse slaves were subject to, and the social morasses of the time, particularly the different treatment of women and the expectations of the genders and races. I was fascinated by the Washington of the period, the political machinations, and the fantastic description of the Battle of Manassas from the point of view of the spectators (as it seems that the well-off people decided it was a good occasion for a picnic and they ate and observed the fighting from the hilltop). The two main characters and Noah are likeable and sympathetic, although this is a fairly short story and there is no time for an intense exploration of psychological depths (their consciences struggle between complying with their duties and following their feelings but their conflict does not last too long). There is no time to get bored, and the ending will please fans of romantic historical fiction (although some might find it a bit rushed).
My only complaint is that the story is too short and more traditionally romantic than I expected (pushing the suspension of disbelief a bit). I would have liked to learn more about the Pinkerton’s role chasing spies during the war (one of the author’s characters in the Dolan Girls was also a Pinkerton detective), and I hope there might be a more detailed exploration of the underground railway in future stories (although the role of quilts to signal secret messages is discussed in one of the stories of Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads).
Recommended to fans of romantic historic novels looking for a short, enjoyable and thrilling read set in the early Civil War era. Another great story from S.R. Mallery.
In this novella, the author takes us back to the period of the early American Civil War, and our guides are two characters, James, a medical student from New York (an Irish immigrant who moved with his parents when he was a child and suffered tragedy and deprivation from an early age) and Hannah, a Southern girl, the daughter of slave owners, although not a typical Southern belle, as she enjoys books more than balls and feels closer to some slaves (including her childhood friend, Noah) than to her own cousin, the manipulating Lavinia.
The story is told in the third person from both characters’ point of view. They meet in Washington D.C. at the beginning of the novel, realise they have plenty in common (their love of books and their political sympathies among other things) and fall in love (more at at-first-meeting than at-first-sight) as they should in these kinds of stories. There are many things that separate them (I’m not sure I’d call them star-crossed lovers, but there is a bit of that), and matters get even more complicated when James decides to join the Pinkerton Detective Agency and ends up chasing Confederate Spies. At the same time, Hannah is forced to spy for the South, much against her will, and… Well, as the author quotes at the start of one of the chapters (thanks, Shakespeare) ‘the course of true love never did run smooth’. I won’t give you full details but let me tell you there are secret codes, interesting hiding places, blackmail, occult passages, and betrayals galore. The underground railway is put into action, Frederick Douglass (one of my favourite historical figures of the period, and I’ll recommend again his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave here in Project Gutenberg) makes a guest appearance, and famous spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow plays an important part. (I must confess I hadn’t heard of her before but the author’s decision of using her as one of her background characters is a great success).
The story flows easily and although there are no lengthy descriptions that deflect from the action, we get a clear sense of the locations and of the atmosphere of the period, including the abuse slaves were subject to, and the social morasses of the time, particularly the different treatment of women and the expectations of the genders and races. I was fascinated by the Washington of the period, the political machinations, and the fantastic description of the Battle of Manassas from the point of view of the spectators (as it seems that the well-off people decided it was a good occasion for a picnic and they ate and observed the fighting from the hilltop). The two main characters and Noah are likeable and sympathetic, although this is a fairly short story and there is no time for an intense exploration of psychological depths (their consciences struggle between complying with their duties and following their feelings but their conflict does not last too long). There is no time to get bored, and the ending will please fans of romantic historical fiction (although some might find it a bit rushed).
My only complaint is that the story is too short and more traditionally romantic than I expected (pushing the suspension of disbelief a bit). I would have liked to learn more about the Pinkerton’s role chasing spies during the war (one of the author’s characters in the Dolan Girls was also a Pinkerton detective), and I hope there might be a more detailed exploration of the underground railway in future stories (although the role of quilts to signal secret messages is discussed in one of the stories of Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads).
Recommended to fans of romantic historic novels looking for a short, enjoyable and thrilling read set in the early Civil War era. Another great story from S.R. Mallery.
February 1, 2020
Author can‘t write books
In her biography it states that Mallory started out as a lyrics writer and composer. Probably a better career for her.
The story set up is simple and lame. A man with no personality meets a pretty girl in a park and they hit it off with a conversation about poetry writing. It is immediately love and their relationship really doesn‘t need any more effort from the writing department. Next thing we know, the pretty girl is a southern belle with a meany mean cousin who has no personality and a gentle, grateful slave whom she taught how to write and so they really get along well. The protagonist is SO NICE! But her cousin is a mean racist, like the rest of her family. Because her cousin is so racist, she blackmails the nice protagonist into helping her spy for the Confeds which is just mean. How could she?
We don‘t have to worry about the protagonist for long. The necessary misunderstanding with her beau who is with the enemy is resolved in the blink of an eye and they love each other again. The grateful slave is saved and they are friends forever, the end.
Now the story wasn‘t the problem. It was lame, but maybe it could‘ve worked, if only anything or anyone in this story actually had any kind of drive or personality.
I thought the portrayal of the grateful slave was pretty one dimensional and likely as racist as the protagonist‘s parents and cousin were made out to be. The slaves also were used not just as plot devices (the spying thing) but more importantly as a device to sell us the protagonists utter selflessness. It was pretty disgusting the longer I think about it. Of course he had no personality either and their long lasting relationship also didn‘t end in a romance. Instead, the equally personality-less main guy won the girl by talking to her about poetry.
I really wouldn‘t recommend this story, it‘s not well-written, the characters are not characters and the plot isn‘t worth it either. The cover art was nice though.
In her biography it states that Mallory started out as a lyrics writer and composer. Probably a better career for her.
The story set up is simple and lame. A man with no personality meets a pretty girl in a park and they hit it off with a conversation about poetry writing. It is immediately love and their relationship really doesn‘t need any more effort from the writing department. Next thing we know, the pretty girl is a southern belle with a meany mean cousin who has no personality and a gentle, grateful slave whom she taught how to write and so they really get along well. The protagonist is SO NICE! But her cousin is a mean racist, like the rest of her family. Because her cousin is so racist, she blackmails the nice protagonist into helping her spy for the Confeds which is just mean. How could she?
We don‘t have to worry about the protagonist for long. The necessary misunderstanding with her beau who is with the enemy is resolved in the blink of an eye and they love each other again. The grateful slave is saved and they are friends forever, the end.
Now the story wasn‘t the problem. It was lame, but maybe it could‘ve worked, if only anything or anyone in this story actually had any kind of drive or personality.
I thought the portrayal of the grateful slave was pretty one dimensional and likely as racist as the protagonist‘s parents and cousin were made out to be. The slaves also were used not just as plot devices (the spying thing) but more importantly as a device to sell us the protagonists utter selflessness. It was pretty disgusting the longer I think about it. Of course he had no personality either and their long lasting relationship also didn‘t end in a romance. Instead, the equally personality-less main guy won the girl by talking to her about poetry.
I really wouldn‘t recommend this story, it‘s not well-written, the characters are not characters and the plot isn‘t worth it either. The cover art was nice though.
August 8, 2017
In 1861 the Civil War in the US is just beginning and this is creating much tension between the North and the South.
When James Neely meets a beautiful lady named Hannah at the park he knows he will never forget her although she fails to meet with him again. Soon he begins working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency trying to stop the South and their spy's from gaining ground.
Hannah Mayfield has never truly fit in with the Southern beliefs towards the slaves. When she is caught teaching the family slave, Noah to read she is blackmailed by her cousin Lavinia.
When Hannah and James meet again will they still feel the same about each other or will the events of the times force them apart?
This was a good story about the Civil War and the casualties that can come from it.
I really liked Hannah and felt bad that she was stuck where she was because of her cousin. Hannah was so caring and put Noah and his families needs ahead of her own for their safety even though she risked so much with her own life.
James knew the good side of Hannah and was caught in a bad place. It kind of frustrated me thought that the real truth about Hannah never came out to anyone other than James as I would have liked for her to be working for the Pinkerton agency. I did like that James stuck to his beliefs about everything.
I liked how the women thought worked their stuff to obtain information. It's ironic that it still happens!
I really enjoyed the journey out for Hannah and James and the one key person in the story. That made me very happy!
When James Neely meets a beautiful lady named Hannah at the park he knows he will never forget her although she fails to meet with him again. Soon he begins working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency trying to stop the South and their spy's from gaining ground.
Hannah Mayfield has never truly fit in with the Southern beliefs towards the slaves. When she is caught teaching the family slave, Noah to read she is blackmailed by her cousin Lavinia.
When Hannah and James meet again will they still feel the same about each other or will the events of the times force them apart?
This was a good story about the Civil War and the casualties that can come from it.
I really liked Hannah and felt bad that she was stuck where she was because of her cousin. Hannah was so caring and put Noah and his families needs ahead of her own for their safety even though she risked so much with her own life.
James knew the good side of Hannah and was caught in a bad place. It kind of frustrated me thought that the real truth about Hannah never came out to anyone other than James as I would have liked for her to be working for the Pinkerton agency. I did like that James stuck to his beliefs about everything.
I liked how the women thought worked their stuff to obtain information. It's ironic that it still happens!
I really enjoyed the journey out for Hannah and James and the one key person in the story. That made me very happy!
March 25, 2018
Imagine for a moment that you are a young woman from the South in the year 1860. Your family owns slaves but you look on them as your dear friends and would do anything to help them, especially Noah Smith, your special childhood friend. Unfortunately your family does not agree with you about anything, most especially the slave situation. That is the case for Hannah Mayfield.
Hannah and her cousin, Lavinia, are sent to Washington to attend various parties and balls in the hopes they will find eligible husbands. To Lavinia this is a wonderful chance, especially since she knows Hannah will be no competition; she has been telling Hannah all her life how bland Hannah is when compared to her. Hannah is not as excited about the trip but on the very first day she meets James Neely while sitting in the park. Also surprisingly, Lavinia finds that rather than just flirting with the available men, she wants to follow in the footsteps of one of the society ladies who has set up a spy ring to gather Union information for the South. She offers Hannah's help as well by forcing her too spy with threats against Noah's health and well being. Will Hannah have a chance with James now when he signs up to be a Pinkerton Detective and his first assignment is to find the Southern lady spies? This is a fast and furious action story that is just begging to be read. You won't be disappointed with how Hannah and James came together or how they resolve their problems. I was given a copy of this book to read but the review is all mine.
Hannah and her cousin, Lavinia, are sent to Washington to attend various parties and balls in the hopes they will find eligible husbands. To Lavinia this is a wonderful chance, especially since she knows Hannah will be no competition; she has been telling Hannah all her life how bland Hannah is when compared to her. Hannah is not as excited about the trip but on the very first day she meets James Neely while sitting in the park. Also surprisingly, Lavinia finds that rather than just flirting with the available men, she wants to follow in the footsteps of one of the society ladies who has set up a spy ring to gather Union information for the South. She offers Hannah's help as well by forcing her too spy with threats against Noah's health and well being. Will Hannah have a chance with James now when he signs up to be a Pinkerton Detective and his first assignment is to find the Southern lady spies? This is a fast and furious action story that is just begging to be read. You won't be disappointed with how Hannah and James came together or how they resolve their problems. I was given a copy of this book to read but the review is all mine.
March 11, 2018
Hannah is a typical Southern Belle who lives on a farm with her family. However, her big secret was that her best friend, Noah, was a slave. He was the only one who truly understood her and befriended her, giving her respite from the torture of her cousin. When her cousin threatens to tell about her teaching her friend Noah, Hannah has to let herself be controlled by her. This drags her into the world of espionage and the secrets of the Civil War.
Although this novel is technically a historical romance, I found that I liked the side plot even more than the romance parts. Usually, in the historical romance novels, the actual history part is simply glossed over. You can read the entire novel and get no historical background besides "the women wear dresses and the men 'called on' women and went to balls all day". This story truly delved into issues of the time, such as children being raised by slave or children getting into accidents in their childhood and not having proper medical care. This type of worldbuilding made the story better for me.
This doesn't mean that the romance in this story was sub-par. I definitely loved seeing Hannah grow closer to the detective later on in the novel. I just appreciated the fact that attention had been given to both the historically-accurate backstory and the romance.
I would recommend this to lovers of both historical fiction and historical romance novels.
I received this book for free and gave a voluntary review.
Although this novel is technically a historical romance, I found that I liked the side plot even more than the romance parts. Usually, in the historical romance novels, the actual history part is simply glossed over. You can read the entire novel and get no historical background besides "the women wear dresses and the men 'called on' women and went to balls all day". This story truly delved into issues of the time, such as children being raised by slave or children getting into accidents in their childhood and not having proper medical care. This type of worldbuilding made the story better for me.
This doesn't mean that the romance in this story was sub-par. I definitely loved seeing Hannah grow closer to the detective later on in the novel. I just appreciated the fact that attention had been given to both the historically-accurate backstory and the romance.
I would recommend this to lovers of both historical fiction and historical romance novels.
I received this book for free and gave a voluntary review.
January 30, 2019
This Civil War-era romantic thriller provides the reader with a fascinating glimpse into this period in US history. A wonderful romance between Hannah Mayfield and James Neely unfolds in the midst of bitter warfare that has torn friends and families apart. Like SR Mallery's other books, the contrasting realities adds interest to the story. It also keeps you turning pages as you pull for the main characters to find their way through unthinkably harsh times.
The conflict that drives the story is personal as well as political for the Yankee doctor who falls for a daughter of the old South. Needless to say, their path to love is not an easy one. When James takes up a new career as a Pinkerton Detective, the plot thickens. Is Hannah part of a network of Confederate spies? The story takes a suspenseful turn as the investigation puts Hannah and James in danger. The historical backdrop is as engrossing as the romance and mystery. Key issues that drove the US into a Civil War are brought to life as Hannah and James try to find their way through the lies and treachery that threaten to tear them apart.
Five stars for this well-crafted historical romantic suspense story with strong lead characters, plenty of action, and a satisfying conclusion.
The conflict that drives the story is personal as well as political for the Yankee doctor who falls for a daughter of the old South. Needless to say, their path to love is not an easy one. When James takes up a new career as a Pinkerton Detective, the plot thickens. Is Hannah part of a network of Confederate spies? The story takes a suspenseful turn as the investigation puts Hannah and James in danger. The historical backdrop is as engrossing as the romance and mystery. Key issues that drove the US into a Civil War are brought to life as Hannah and James try to find their way through the lies and treachery that threaten to tear them apart.
Five stars for this well-crafted historical romantic suspense story with strong lead characters, plenty of action, and a satisfying conclusion.
February 13, 2022
In this American historical romance, James Neely, a Northerner who just took his medical exams in Washington, D.C., turned Pinkerton detective, and Hannah Mayfield, a Southern Belle, have a chance meeting in a park and are instantly attracted to each other. Very soon, they find themselves on opposing sides in early 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War, although their political leanings are in sync.
Hannah is being blackmailed by her cousin Lavinia, who is engaged in espionage for the South, as part of a Confederate spy ring and Hannah becomes one of the targets of James’s investigation. Will James have to arrest Hannah for sharing Union secrets? Or will they defy all odds to be together. Help comes from an unlikely place.
I really enjoyed reading about the lives of the fictional characters but also real-life characters like Allan Pinkerton, head of the Union Intelligence Service, and Rose O’Neal Greenhow, who headed the Confederate spy ring.
I don’t know much about the Civil War, but this fast-paced, page-turner really appealed to me. I wasn’t aware there were female spies working against the Union and after reading the book, I did some research to learn more. Genteel Secrets by S. R. Mallery, is a highly recommended read.
Hannah is being blackmailed by her cousin Lavinia, who is engaged in espionage for the South, as part of a Confederate spy ring and Hannah becomes one of the targets of James’s investigation. Will James have to arrest Hannah for sharing Union secrets? Or will they defy all odds to be together. Help comes from an unlikely place.
I really enjoyed reading about the lives of the fictional characters but also real-life characters like Allan Pinkerton, head of the Union Intelligence Service, and Rose O’Neal Greenhow, who headed the Confederate spy ring.
I don’t know much about the Civil War, but this fast-paced, page-turner really appealed to me. I wasn’t aware there were female spies working against the Union and after reading the book, I did some research to learn more. Genteel Secrets by S. R. Mallery, is a highly recommended read.
August 25, 2024
Well-researched wonderful story!
A wonderful, well researched historical story. This was such an incredible story. It was layered with facets of historical importance too, that I loved. The different issues dealt with between the confederates and the north were illuminating. Attention is drawn to America's civil war and the issues of slavery, not justified by all. The people for and against it raised many other challenges. The romance thread between James and Hannah was perfectly woven through the story, Hannah was true to her herself and fiesty. Loyalty and friendship can move mountains! It's a great book and an educational one too. Humanity, when at it's best is so inspiring.
A wonderful, well researched historical story. This was such an incredible story. It was layered with facets of historical importance too, that I loved. The different issues dealt with between the confederates and the north were illuminating. Attention is drawn to America's civil war and the issues of slavery, not justified by all. The people for and against it raised many other challenges. The romance thread between James and Hannah was perfectly woven through the story, Hannah was true to her herself and fiesty. Loyalty and friendship can move mountains! It's a great book and an educational one too. Humanity, when at it's best is so inspiring.
April 30, 2021
If the reader likes Civil War stories with a spy twist, I highly recommend this novella. I was fascinated with the intrigue as to how Miss Hannah would untangle herself from the clutches of her 'evil' sister and keep herself out of harm's way. Ms. Mallery wove a wonderful tale of the social norms of the era which by our standards today seem so out of the realm of possibilities in a love interest. The research always amazes me when I read one of this author's novels. I especially enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, a teaser for the upcoming paragraphs!
Read
September 20, 2021Genteel Secrets (Kindle Edition), my seventh read from author S.R. Mallery, each very different than the others All have one thing in common, no matter the genre you can count on a well-written, entertaining read. The setting is just prior to the Civil War & Mallery weaves a tale that must be read. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
August 24, 2022
DNF
The characters first meet and it's cute but minutes later they are calling each other by their first names and holding hands - in 1861?!? Not likely. I tried to overlook this but shortly after, the storyline jumped back to the main character's parents arrival in the States years ago. Besides this information feeling irrelevant, it also explained their prostitute roommate's activites - unnecessary detail and not as clean of a read as I thought. I'm not interested in reading more of this story.
The characters first meet and it's cute but minutes later they are calling each other by their first names and holding hands - in 1861?!? Not likely. I tried to overlook this but shortly after, the storyline jumped back to the main character's parents arrival in the States years ago. Besides this information feeling irrelevant, it also explained their prostitute roommate's activites - unnecessary detail and not as clean of a read as I thought. I'm not interested in reading more of this story.
March 13, 2018
Hannah is a Southern belle that doesn't exactly swoon. She reads. She doesn't agree with a lot of the South's ways of thinking, either. When her path crosses that of James, an Irish immigrant that had studied to be a doctor, her life is forever changed. She is swept into the world of espionage thanks to her Confederate to her rotten core cousin, Lavinia, who uses Hannah's friendship with a family slave as a bargaining chip.
March 11, 2019
The story tries to cover many aspects of this time period, civil war, slavery, spying, Pinkerton Detectives along with different cultures and repression of the female sex. I don’t believe the novel is long enough to do these themes the justice they deserve because of the shortness it is bitty and choppy. There is a soft romance but the ending seems far-fetched and just a way to end the book with a HEA.
October 14, 2021
S. R. Mallery has written an interesting and creative tale about a Northern man, who is a Pinkerton agent, and the Southern Belle, whom he must investigate. I enjoyed this tale and I recommend it to others who enjoy stories with complex characters set during historical times. Talmadge Ragan's narration was great and she provided different voices for the various characters. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.
October 17, 2021
This novel will keep you reading as the civil war separates families and friends. Two cousins-one a real sweetie and the other really mean are at odds over the slavery issue. Our anti slavery heroine over comes this eventually with the help of a Pinkerton gentleman. You will find yourself routing for them as they take the "train" to Canada--but is it a happily ever after--what happens with these two-read the book and find out!!
May 11, 2022
Being a southerner, it is always difficult to read Civil War historical fiction but that is precisely why I do it. My ancestors first arrived in Virginia in the 16oos and so this hit quite close to home for me on many levels. No worries though, the author does not glorify the Old South or the Confederate "heroes." Ms. Mallery does a masterful job of weaving real historical figures with her fictional ones. This was a quick read but was just what I needed.
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