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Secrets and Vows #1
Compromised
Lady Elizabeth Stanwood never thought she’d be foolish enough to be alone with a man. But after a midnight rendezvous in a garden with John Malory, she finds herself compromised and forced to marry. She cannot forget her fears that he schemed to acquire her dowry, planning to take her far from London and all she knows.
John was looking for a wife to work at his side, not a London beauty, but he’s an honorable man who’d never let a woman suffer for what they’d done together. Though her distrust is infuriating, as they travel north encountering the dangers of the road, he begins to see beneath her aristocratic mask to the woman who fears she cannot live up to being his wife. They want to change for each other, but can love overcome their misconceptions?
Note: This book was previously published as a novella in the anthology Hot and Bothered. This edition has been expanded and enhanced with photos, audio, and author notes.
John was looking for a wife to work at his side, not a London beauty, but he’s an honorable man who’d never let a woman suffer for what they’d done together. Though her distrust is infuriating, as they travel north encountering the dangers of the road, he begins to see beneath her aristocratic mask to the woman who fears she cannot live up to being his wife. They want to change for each other, but can love overcome their misconceptions?
Note: This book was previously published as a novella in the anthology Hot and Bothered. This edition has been expanded and enhanced with photos, audio, and author notes.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2017
246 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Callen
46 books524 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. Her twenty-second novel, The Wrong Bride, was published in November 2015.
Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.
Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com
Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.
Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 17, 2022
Too short
I wish this would have been longer but it was still a good story. She was such a shot at first but eventually she redeemed herself. I thought John was a good hero too. He compromised her, or did she compromise him, lol but either way it was a good story. She was humbled by the events that happened on their wedding journey and became a better person. Again, it was far too short and I would have loved a longer version of it.
I wish this would have been longer but it was still a good story. She was such a shot at first but eventually she redeemed herself. I thought John was a good hero too. He compromised her, or did she compromise him, lol but either way it was a good story. She was humbled by the events that happened on their wedding journey and became a better person. Again, it was far too short and I would have loved a longer version of it.
October 26, 2022
This was an enjoyable read. It didn’t exactly stir the swoon in me, but it wasn’t bad. The h is trying to catch the attention of another man, so to make him jealous she flirts with the hero, who is new to London. She gets more than she bargained for, however, when they end up entangled in passion in a dark garden. She’s never been physically intimate with a man and had no defenses to his ardent kisses and touches. But instead of catching the attention of the man she wants, a spurned suitor sees her and reports her to her father. Marriage ensues. She’s bitter and unhappy at this prospect and thinks the hero lured into the situation just for her dowry. Honestly, I kinda thought how she kept going on about the dowry was a little silly and childish. No one forced her to flirt with the hero. And the hero didn’t drag her into the garden against her will. She was an active participant in her own ruination and to continually blame the hero was foolish.
Things go from bad to worse, tho, when on the journey north to the hero’s holdings, they’re beset by thieves who steal all their goods and their servants flee. The heroine is tested to do all sorts of things without the aid of servants she never imagined. I didn’t really feel any depth of emotional connection grow between the hero and the heroine during this time, even tho there were so many perfect opportunities to draw them closer. And when her old suitor shows up, the hero hands her off to him with the promise of an annulment, thinking she’ll be happier with him. Of course, as they’re separated that’s when they both realize they love each other. Ok.
Safe-ish. The hero’s past isn’t mentioned except to imply he’s not a manwhore. Heroine is a virgin and gives the hero the gift of claiming all her firsts. OM drama. Heroine is infatuated with a man and uses hero to make him jealous. OM comes after heroine to rescue her and she goes with him, but she quickly realizes the hero is the one for her. No cheating, no abuse, no sharing. HEA but no epilogue and no babies.
Things go from bad to worse, tho, when on the journey north to the hero’s holdings, they’re beset by thieves who steal all their goods and their servants flee. The heroine is tested to do all sorts of things without the aid of servants she never imagined. I didn’t really feel any depth of emotional connection grow between the hero and the heroine during this time, even tho there were so many perfect opportunities to draw them closer. And when her old suitor shows up, the hero hands her off to him with the promise of an annulment, thinking she’ll be happier with him. Of course, as they’re separated that’s when they both realize they love each other. Ok.
Safe-ish. The hero’s past isn’t mentioned except to imply he’s not a manwhore. Heroine is a virgin and gives the hero the gift of claiming all her firsts. OM drama. Heroine is infatuated with a man and uses hero to make him jealous. OM comes after heroine to rescue her and she goes with him, but she quickly realizes the hero is the one for her. No cheating, no abuse, no sharing. HEA but no epilogue and no babies.
July 26, 2022
I guess my sentiment is pretty much the same as the other readers.
This was too short!!! It's less than 150 pages.
I wished it longer, with stories about how the heroine survives and overcomes marriage life.
She's an interesting character; entitled because she came from a rich family therefore viewed other people through the lens she's used to; whether they come from big money or not.
However, she did redeem herself.
Again, too short. I wished for more.
This was too short!!! It's less than 150 pages.
I wished it longer, with stories about how the heroine survives and overcomes marriage life.
She's an interesting character; entitled because she came from a rich family therefore viewed other people through the lens she's used to; whether they come from big money or not.
However, she did redeem herself.
Again, too short. I wished for more.
June 4, 2022
Gotta say I didn't bond with this heroine one little bit. Occasionally she had the startling insight that she was acting in a childish manner, but I'm not convinced she ever grew up. Why, oh why did the hero fall in love with her?
I wasn't convinced by the historical setting either. The only element that tagged it as late fifteenth century was the heroine's notorious farthingale skirts. The opening scenes seemed more appropriate to a Regency romance.
I wasn't convinced by the historical setting either. The only element that tagged it as late fifteenth century was the heroine's notorious farthingale skirts. The opening scenes seemed more appropriate to a Regency romance.
May 7, 2022
No one is perfect
Elizabeth thought that she had everything planned but things go wrong and she has to marry someone else. John didn't expect to get married and he just hopes that he can get his bride to love him. Elizabeth wants to do her best even if it means doing things that she has never done before. But can she ever be happy married to John. He knows that he should have been honest about his wealth but he wants her to love him for who he is. Can they find common ground together?
Elizabeth might be prim & proper but she is willing to get dirty to show John that she can be a good wife. I like her personality & that she is willing to admit when she is wrong. John is a good honorable man that only wants the best for his new bride.
An enjoyable read.
Elizabeth thought that she had everything planned but things go wrong and she has to marry someone else. John didn't expect to get married and he just hopes that he can get his bride to love him. Elizabeth wants to do her best even if it means doing things that she has never done before. But can she ever be happy married to John. He knows that he should have been honest about his wealth but he wants her to love him for who he is. Can they find common ground together?
Elizabeth might be prim & proper but she is willing to get dirty to show John that she can be a good wife. I like her personality & that she is willing to admit when she is wrong. John is a good honorable man that only wants the best for his new bride.
An enjoyable read.
July 10, 2022
Elizabeth is determined to get Lord Wyndham to propose so she thought getting him jealous was the perfect solution. John was new in town looking for a wife. When Elizabeth approached him he agreed to step outside with her. Her lips looked so kissable that soon they had drifted away from the house and he was undressing her. Until she heard her brother calling for her she could not get herself to stop What John was doing to her. The result was a hasty marriage and a bitterness between them. Each blaming the other for their predicament. It is an interesting story.
May 4, 2022
Things are not always true in daylight!
A really interesting and twisted story! In trying to make the gentleman she wanted, she goes into the garden with a stranger, someone that she had turned down, informed her father and she is married to a gentleman and doesn’t even know his name! Must travel for several days to his home, and things go from bad to worse! Enjoyed the growth of the characters!
A really interesting and twisted story! In trying to make the gentleman she wanted, she goes into the garden with a stranger, someone that she had turned down, informed her father and she is married to a gentleman and doesn’t even know his name! Must travel for several days to his home, and things go from bad to worse! Enjoyed the growth of the characters!
May 4, 2022
You only marry once
How many times do you cold cock a man and get away with it?
How many times can you put a Lady from London on your lap and compromise her honor?
How do the two of them make a marriage work ?
Can a Lady win her family back?
This is a beginning of a great series!
Gayle this is an I want!
How many times do you cold cock a man and get away with it?
How many times can you put a Lady from London on your lap and compromise her honor?
How do the two of them make a marriage work ?
Can a Lady win her family back?
This is a beginning of a great series!
Gayle this is an I want!
May 29, 2022
Murphy's Law bride
If it could go wrong, it did to this unfortunate bride to be. A mess she made on her own, but still it shouldn't be so difficult to dig yourself out of.
I enjoyed this story very much. It was a very fast read for me. But then I am a fast reader when I am enjoying a book.
If it could go wrong, it did to this unfortunate bride to be. A mess she made on her own, but still it shouldn't be so difficult to dig yourself out of.
I enjoyed this story very much. It was a very fast read for me. But then I am a fast reader when I am enjoying a book.
June 21, 2022
A couple in a garden at a ball are seen by a suitor the woman has rejected. He tattles to her father; so the couple are forced to marry in a quick wedding; and they travel north to Yorkshire. The man tries to woo her; but she'll have none of it. They have many misadventures before reaching their destination.
May 2, 2022
you only marry once
Delightful story. Couldn’t put it down. Had to see Elizabeth finally realize John was the right man for her. I didn’t want it to end and hope they had a happy life. Thank you for writing it.
Delightful story. Couldn’t put it down. Had to see Elizabeth finally realize John was the right man for her. I didn’t want it to end and hope they had a happy life. Thank you for writing it.
July 19, 2023
Not what she thought
Great short story wonderful story line. A marriage forged in compromise. A lady waiting and trying to make one man jealous, by getting close to another. Elizabeth and John are forced to marry. And this is where their love story begins.
Thank you ❤️
Great short story wonderful story line. A marriage forged in compromise. A lady waiting and trying to make one man jealous, by getting close to another. Elizabeth and John are forced to marry. And this is where their love story begins.
Thank you ❤️
May 2, 2022
A lady of beauty
A spoilt beauty struggles to find her real self until married against her will to a man of grit and honour.
A spoilt beauty struggles to find her real self until married against her will to a man of grit and honour.
May 2, 2022
A quick, amusing read.
May 3, 2022
Very Entertaining
I enjoyed this book. I don't like books with detailed sex scenes. But, I found that it was easy to skip over them. The book was good without them.
I enjoyed this book. I don't like books with detailed sex scenes. But, I found that it was easy to skip over them. The book was good without them.
May 4, 2022
Romantic whirlwind courtship and marriage
What a lovely and romantic story of kindness of strangers cast into marriage. Bring out the very best in each other.
What a lovely and romantic story of kindness of strangers cast into marriage. Bring out the very best in each other.
May 4, 2022
powerful
Interesting and complex characters. Moving plot. Really love a happy ending.
Thank you for your talent and time spent crafting this tale.
Interesting and complex characters. Moving plot. Really love a happy ending.
Thank you for your talent and time spent crafting this tale.
Read
May 7, 2022Page turner
This book is not at all what I expected. It was so much better. I enjoyed reading it so much.
This book is not at all what I expected. It was so much better. I enjoyed reading it so much.
May 8, 2022
An enjoyable Regency romance.
May 9, 2022
Easy good characters fluff read
Read
June 4, 2022Tough times can make people calculate.
July 16, 2022
How destiny finds what you didn't know you needed or wanted!
Great story line! How two lives become entangled and the end being a true love and finding of true soulmates!
Great story line! How two lives become entangled and the end being a true love and finding of true soulmates!
January 5, 2023
Good book
It was a good story line and and kept me wanting to read more? I will read more in the series.
It was a good story line and and kept me wanting to read more? I will read more in the series.
January 21, 2023
Marry Once
Late 1400s romance with a true gentleman hero and a heroine able to learn. The times were rough and women had very little control of their lives.
Late 1400s romance with a true gentleman hero and a heroine able to learn. The times were rough and women had very little control of their lives.
June 16, 2023
Quick read, the heroine can be a little bit too mean to the hero.
July 23, 2022
A little too predictable, but it was a good read.
November 13, 2022
Let me start of by saying I read a ton of historical romance novels in a year and this just wasn't it. I couldn't relate or even connect in context of story to any of the characters. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews