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Secrets of a Duchess
Amid the seductive swirl of London's high society, a woman plays a dangerous game-with her heart...
On the death of their beloved father, Caroline Armstrong and her sister are whisked away to London by their grandparents. Though determined to please her doting relatives, there is one thing Caroline vows she will never do: marry. So at her society debut, she decides to use her keen intelligence to keep suitors at bay.
Handsome, tall, and titled, Alexander Woodward, Duke of Woodborough, is the catch of the Season-but he doesn't want to be caught. He finds a kindred spirit in the witty Caroline and makes her a scandalous proposition: they will pretend to court to dissuade any overtures of marriage.
Caroline thought she would be safe for the Season-and that her deepest secret would remain locked away. But with each minute spent with Alex, she finds herself increasingly enraptured by his charm, his kindness...his kisses. Caught up in a dizzying dance of desire, Caroline accepts another proposal from Alex-one that puts her in the most dangerous position of all...
On the death of their beloved father, Caroline Armstrong and her sister are whisked away to London by their grandparents. Though determined to please her doting relatives, there is one thing Caroline vows she will never do: marry. So at her society debut, she decides to use her keen intelligence to keep suitors at bay.
Handsome, tall, and titled, Alexander Woodward, Duke of Woodborough, is the catch of the Season-but he doesn't want to be caught. He finds a kindred spirit in the witty Caroline and makes her a scandalous proposition: they will pretend to court to dissuade any overtures of marriage.
Caroline thought she would be safe for the Season-and that her deepest secret would remain locked away. But with each minute spent with Alex, she finds herself increasingly enraptured by his charm, his kindness...his kisses. Caught up in a dizzying dance of desire, Caroline accepts another proposal from Alex-one that puts her in the most dangerous position of all...
349 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
30 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Kaitlin O'Riley
14 books119 followersKaitlin has always loved books and loved to read.
As a young girl growing up on the New Jersey shore (yes, she is a Jersey Girl!) she spent hours and hours reading at the beach, out on the front porch, and in her bedroom very late at night when she was supposed to be sleeping. She would walk to the little public library in town and choose books as if they were delicious treats in a candy store. She read all the classic “girl” books: Little Women, as well as every other book written by Louisa May Alcott, the entire Anne of Green Gables series, and The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. All of these stories took place in another time period, so different from her own life and that was very appealing.
Kaitlin fell in love with historical romances when she was fourteen years old and first read Mistress of Mellyn, by Victoria Holt. Even before she devoured every single one of her books, Kaitlin was hooked on historical romance fiction. She then moved on to the likes of the novels by Kathleen Woodiwiss (Shanna and The Flame and the Flower) which she read stealthily, when her older sisters were not home to see that she was reading their books. However, her all time favorite book was, and still is, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind. Now she adores the works of Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and Phillipa Gregory.
Her love of reading translated naturally to a love of writing. She has written personal journals since she was fourteen and has adored every creative writing class she took in school. She actually wrote her first romances when she was fifteen, with her best friend. Sadly, they had no clue what they were writing about in those spiral notebooks, having no romantic experiences to draw from at that point! Most of those early efforts were tossed in a fireplace, but one notebook still survives to haunt her.
In college Kaitlin took a detour from writing and became a foreign language major, spending her junior year in Spain. And because stories of the past always intrigued her, she also studied history.
Kaitlin now lives in sunny Southern California with her family, where she is busy writing her next novel!
Q&A with Kaitlin O’Riley
On Writing:
How do you come up with the ideas for your books?
This is probably the question most frequently asked of me, and probably asked of most writers. I’m sure each author has her own methods of inspiration. As for myself, my ideas come to me in different ways. Sometimes I just close my eyes and imagine. Other times ideas come to me while listening to music. I often get inspiration from conversations with my family and friends. A lot of my writing, especially the dialogue, happens naturally, while I’m writing at the computer. The characters I’ve created will just start talking.
Why do you write historical romance?
Because I love the genre and always have. I’m also a bit of a history buff. Past eras fascinate me--the elegant clothing, the styles, the mannerisms, the confining societal elements. The past always seems more romantic and it has already happened it’s easy to idealize it. (Even when I look back to the 1980’s!) Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century, but then again I couldn’t do without some of the modern comforts, like air conditioning and electricity.
Are your characters based on people you know in real life?
Now that’s a tricky question and one that could get me in trouble. I suppose most of the characters are combinations of everyone I know or have ever known. I don’t think I have ever intentionally based one particular character on one particular person. (And if I did, I’m not telling who it was!) However, I do use names of family members and friends for characters and even add the names of local places from my hometown in my books, for the amusement of those who know me.
Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
They are all my favorites in different ways. But I must say I enjoyed
As a young girl growing up on the New Jersey shore (yes, she is a Jersey Girl!) she spent hours and hours reading at the beach, out on the front porch, and in her bedroom very late at night when she was supposed to be sleeping. She would walk to the little public library in town and choose books as if they were delicious treats in a candy store. She read all the classic “girl” books: Little Women, as well as every other book written by Louisa May Alcott, the entire Anne of Green Gables series, and The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. All of these stories took place in another time period, so different from her own life and that was very appealing.
Kaitlin fell in love with historical romances when she was fourteen years old and first read Mistress of Mellyn, by Victoria Holt. Even before she devoured every single one of her books, Kaitlin was hooked on historical romance fiction. She then moved on to the likes of the novels by Kathleen Woodiwiss (Shanna and The Flame and the Flower) which she read stealthily, when her older sisters were not home to see that she was reading their books. However, her all time favorite book was, and still is, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind. Now she adores the works of Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and Phillipa Gregory.
Her love of reading translated naturally to a love of writing. She has written personal journals since she was fourteen and has adored every creative writing class she took in school. She actually wrote her first romances when she was fifteen, with her best friend. Sadly, they had no clue what they were writing about in those spiral notebooks, having no romantic experiences to draw from at that point! Most of those early efforts were tossed in a fireplace, but one notebook still survives to haunt her.
In college Kaitlin took a detour from writing and became a foreign language major, spending her junior year in Spain. And because stories of the past always intrigued her, she also studied history.
Kaitlin now lives in sunny Southern California with her family, where she is busy writing her next novel!
Q&A with Kaitlin O’Riley
On Writing:
How do you come up with the ideas for your books?
This is probably the question most frequently asked of me, and probably asked of most writers. I’m sure each author has her own methods of inspiration. As for myself, my ideas come to me in different ways. Sometimes I just close my eyes and imagine. Other times ideas come to me while listening to music. I often get inspiration from conversations with my family and friends. A lot of my writing, especially the dialogue, happens naturally, while I’m writing at the computer. The characters I’ve created will just start talking.
Why do you write historical romance?
Because I love the genre and always have. I’m also a bit of a history buff. Past eras fascinate me--the elegant clothing, the styles, the mannerisms, the confining societal elements. The past always seems more romantic and it has already happened it’s easy to idealize it. (Even when I look back to the 1980’s!) Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century, but then again I couldn’t do without some of the modern comforts, like air conditioning and electricity.
Are your characters based on people you know in real life?
Now that’s a tricky question and one that could get me in trouble. I suppose most of the characters are combinations of everyone I know or have ever known. I don’t think I have ever intentionally based one particular character on one particular person. (And if I did, I’m not telling who it was!) However, I do use names of family members and friends for characters and even add the names of local places from my hometown in my books, for the amusement of those who know me.
Which is your favorite of the books you have written?
They are all my favorites in different ways. But I must say I enjoyed
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 10, 2016
Kecewa banget-banget membaca buku HR ini. Saya merasa author nya baru belajar menulis buku HR ya? Karakter tokoh-tokohnya berantakan dan bipolar semua. Semuanya digampangkan saja dgn plot cerita yang sama sekali tidak seru dan aneh dgn romansa yang terasa dipaksakan. Jadi lebih mirip gabungan opera sabun HR bin sinetron Indonesia yang super lebay.
Dialog yang panjang lebar tapi tidak ada nuansa perasaan dan logika sering menghiasi buku ini. Misalnya saat dialog dari ibunda Alex kepada Caroline, ketika Caroline baru tiba di kastilnya, tiba-tiba mencerocos ttg masa lalu orangtua Caroline terutama ibunya, yang menimbulkan skandal pada masanya. Saya ambigu antara ini sindiran terselubung atau sebenarnya pujian karena anti-mainstream dgn nekad menikahi yang tidak sederajat?
Dikisahkan Alex, duke yang tampan dan memesona, tiba-tiba tertarik pada Caroline, spinster cantik dan kutubuku, yang tidak berniat utk menikah. That's ok, walaupun kedengarannya munafik. Yang saya tidak habis pikir, Caroline diceritakan masih cinta dgn kekasih lamanya, Stephen, orang Amerika yang sudah kabur kembali ke tanah air ya utk maju berperang, tapi kenapa dicium dan ditelanjangi Alex mau-mau saja? Karakter Caroline jadi kacrut habis-habisan. Lebih jadi seperti cewek TSTL (Too Stupid To Live). Tidak ada gambaran karakter gadis cerdas selayaknya seorang kutubuku. Yang muncul adalah gadis galau, bodoh, pasrah banget dan tidak punya pendirian. Bilang cinta mati pada Stephen tapi mau ditiduri oleh Alex. Bilang tidak mau menikah, tapi akhirnya tetap saja bisa menikah dgn Alex. Dan puncak ketololannya adalah bersujud mohon-mohon pada Alex, di depan ex mistress nya Alex, utk mendengarkan penjelasannya. OMFG!!!!
Tokoh antagonisnya juga sangat terasa dipaksakan. Madeline, gadis manja yang sebenarnya terhina karena ditolak oleh Alex, tapi utk menyelamatkan mukanya, dia menolak lamaran palsu Alex dan memilih menikahi bujangan lainnya. Madeline masih iri setengah mampus terhadap Caroline dan memutuskan utk menghancurkan reputasi Caroline dgn cara yang menurut saya aneh dan dipaksakan. Koq bisa ya seorang istri bangsawan dgn tingkatan lebih rendah bisa melaporkan seorang Duchess utk ditangkap dan dijebloskan ke Penjara Newgate? Koq polisi Inggris masa itu, sebodoh itukah menuruti tuduhan tak berbukti ini?
Dan makin bego lagi saat Stephen yang tiba-tiba muncul kembali di Inggris saat pernikahan Alex-Caroline, tiba-tiba mengklaim bhw Caroline adalah istrinya dan belakangan malah ketahuan itu surat nikah palsu dan tidak dijatuhi hukuman apapun oleh hakim? OMFG!!! Ini adalah tuduhan fitnah serius dan pelaku dibebaskan segampang-gampangnya.
Dan endingnya adalah the best ridiculous scene that I've ever read!!! Mereka ramai-ramai bilang kasus ini adalah LELUCON DAN MARILAH KITA SALING MEMAAFKAN!!!!
Jadi saya bingung, ini buku parodi HR ya?
Dialog yang panjang lebar tapi tidak ada nuansa perasaan dan logika sering menghiasi buku ini. Misalnya saat dialog dari ibunda Alex kepada Caroline, ketika Caroline baru tiba di kastilnya, tiba-tiba mencerocos ttg masa lalu orangtua Caroline terutama ibunya, yang menimbulkan skandal pada masanya. Saya ambigu antara ini sindiran terselubung atau sebenarnya pujian karena anti-mainstream dgn nekad menikahi yang tidak sederajat?
Dikisahkan Alex, duke yang tampan dan memesona, tiba-tiba tertarik pada Caroline, spinster cantik dan kutubuku, yang tidak berniat utk menikah. That's ok, walaupun kedengarannya munafik. Yang saya tidak habis pikir, Caroline diceritakan masih cinta dgn kekasih lamanya, Stephen, orang Amerika yang sudah kabur kembali ke tanah air ya utk maju berperang, tapi kenapa dicium dan ditelanjangi Alex mau-mau saja? Karakter Caroline jadi kacrut habis-habisan. Lebih jadi seperti cewek TSTL (Too Stupid To Live). Tidak ada gambaran karakter gadis cerdas selayaknya seorang kutubuku. Yang muncul adalah gadis galau, bodoh, pasrah banget dan tidak punya pendirian. Bilang cinta mati pada Stephen tapi mau ditiduri oleh Alex. Bilang tidak mau menikah, tapi akhirnya tetap saja bisa menikah dgn Alex. Dan puncak ketololannya adalah bersujud mohon-mohon pada Alex, di depan ex mistress nya Alex, utk mendengarkan penjelasannya. OMFG!!!!
Tokoh antagonisnya juga sangat terasa dipaksakan. Madeline, gadis manja yang sebenarnya terhina karena ditolak oleh Alex, tapi utk menyelamatkan mukanya, dia menolak lamaran palsu Alex dan memilih menikahi bujangan lainnya. Madeline masih iri setengah mampus terhadap Caroline dan memutuskan utk menghancurkan reputasi Caroline dgn cara yang menurut saya aneh dan dipaksakan. Koq bisa ya seorang istri bangsawan dgn tingkatan lebih rendah bisa melaporkan seorang Duchess utk ditangkap dan dijebloskan ke Penjara Newgate? Koq polisi Inggris masa itu, sebodoh itukah menuruti tuduhan tak berbukti ini?
Dan makin bego lagi saat Stephen yang tiba-tiba muncul kembali di Inggris saat pernikahan Alex-Caroline, tiba-tiba mengklaim bhw Caroline adalah istrinya dan belakangan malah ketahuan itu surat nikah palsu dan tidak dijatuhi hukuman apapun oleh hakim? OMFG!!! Ini adalah tuduhan fitnah serius dan pelaku dibebaskan segampang-gampangnya.
Dan endingnya adalah the best ridiculous scene that I've ever read!!! Mereka ramai-ramai bilang kasus ini adalah LELUCON DAN MARILAH KITA SALING MEMAAFKAN!!!!
Jadi saya bingung, ini buku parodi HR ya?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2014
This was a did-not-finish book for me. I was bored. Heroine is beautiful, speaks several languages, is practically perfect. Hero is a handsome, rich duke who is head over heels in love with her because she does not want him.
Nothing special. Very bland.
Nothing special. Very bland.
did-not-finish-skimmed-to-end
April 23, 2013That's her secret and she didn't think it was important to tell him before they married!?!? DNF :(
May 12, 2009
Give a few more novels in the future, O'Riley can become an author to look forward to in the historical romance genre. With this debut, she needs more work. There are some cliches such as the heroine feeling unworthy and dirty since she had a love affair before she was married and met her hero. But the hero had a mistress, so that was acceptable (see what I am talking about?) Plus the fact that a servant kept the love letters from heroine's first love when disaster could have been diverted... but again there would be no story.
So, if you can get past these problems, you have a nice little love story between two indivduals who want to enjoy life, but from the secrets the heroine Caroline has and the pressure Alex has to find a wife things don't go smoothly.
Caroline has a habit of being a martyr because she gave her innocence away and Alex has everyone harping on him to get married because he is a duke after all! But these two come together and things prevail in the end.
There is a spoiled brat type villian and the first love from Caroline's past does come into the picture. The love scenes are suitable, not too hot even though they need some work. If you have a teenager who likes historical romance, this one would be perfect for them.
And if you are a seasoned lover of this genre, perhaps find another author with more experience.
So, if you can get past these problems, you have a nice little love story between two indivduals who want to enjoy life, but from the secrets the heroine Caroline has and the pressure Alex has to find a wife things don't go smoothly.
Caroline has a habit of being a martyr because she gave her innocence away and Alex has everyone harping on him to get married because he is a duke after all! But these two come together and things prevail in the end.
There is a spoiled brat type villian and the first love from Caroline's past does come into the picture. The love scenes are suitable, not too hot even though they need some work. If you have a teenager who likes historical romance, this one would be perfect for them.
And if you are a seasoned lover of this genre, perhaps find another author with more experience.
January 9, 2021
Buku kedua dari author ini yang kubaca dan saya lumayan suka. Entah sudah berapa tahun buku ini terselip di belakang rak dan karena kemarin sempat baca judul One Sinful Night jadi penasaran sama karya Kaitlin O'Riley yang lain dan dicari dengan seriuslah dimana keberadaan buku ini.
Mengisahkan Caroline Armstrong yang penuh rahasia. Nasibnya sangat beruntung karena mendapatkan perhatian seorang Duke, namun rahasia yang disimpannya rapat-rapat sampai hari pernikahannya malah jadi bumerang buat dirinya.
Di sini ceritanya enak diikuti walau banyak logis cerita yang bikin bingung, misalnya kok sampai Caroline bisa segitunya percaya sama masa lalunya padahal dia diceritakan begitu terpelajar. Chemistry-nya sang duchess dengan duke nya masih sedikit kurang dalam. Tapi aku suka cara Kaitlin bercerita dimana dia selalu melebarkan rentang alur waktu dalam ceritanya jadi kisah cintanya gak terkesan cinta instan.
Intinya buku ini menyajikan cerita yang mudah diikuti, cukup emosional, dan punya konflik yang cukup unik.
Mengisahkan Caroline Armstrong yang penuh rahasia. Nasibnya sangat beruntung karena mendapatkan perhatian seorang Duke, namun rahasia yang disimpannya rapat-rapat sampai hari pernikahannya malah jadi bumerang buat dirinya.
Di sini ceritanya enak diikuti walau banyak logis cerita yang bikin bingung, misalnya kok sampai Caroline bisa segitunya percaya sama masa lalunya padahal dia diceritakan begitu terpelajar. Chemistry-nya sang duchess dengan duke nya masih sedikit kurang dalam. Tapi aku suka cara Kaitlin bercerita dimana dia selalu melebarkan rentang alur waktu dalam ceritanya jadi kisah cintanya gak terkesan cinta instan.
Intinya buku ini menyajikan cerita yang mudah diikuti, cukup emosional, dan punya konflik yang cukup unik.
December 20, 2016
Buku ini ternyata novel hisrom pertama dari penulis. Saya nggak tau apa itu bisa dijadikan pemakluman.
Tapi,
1. Narasi tentang ketampanan Alex dan kecantikan Caroline yang terus diulang di beberapa bab, dengan deskripsi yang sama itu terasa membosankan.
2. Karakter heroinnya... Saya suka kesel kalau ada heroine yang plin plan bin labil. Iya, Caroline itu nggak jelas karakternya menurut saya. Tapi di sini yang paling bikin kesel itu, bisa-bisanya dia mau diajakin nikah sementara tau kalau dirinya sudah nikah sama orang lain. Ya terlepas kalau pernikahan itu ternyata nggak sah, saya cuman... Ah, ini cewek moral dan integritasnya di mana, padahal dia dideskripsikan cerdas dan suka baca buku. Kontradiktif jadinya. Cuman karena dilamar Duke paling ketjeh di seantero London, cuman karena ciumannya ewwww.... saya jadi mikir ini mereka nikahnya apa nggak karena nafsu aja sih, karena sama-sama ganteng cantik menggoda, status tinggi, gitu.
Yakali beneran cinta, ngomong dulu kek udah pernah nikah. Fatal lho ini kalau menurut saya. Dan, itu Alex gampang banget maafinnya, harga diri sebagai lelaki, Duke pula, dimanaaaaaa? Belum lagi reaksi dia abis tau masalah istrinya yang menurut saya juga aneh dan nggak pas untuk hero yang di awal dideskripsikan praktis, teratur dan nggak emosional. Nggak segitunya juga kali.
3. Dialognya... Iya nggak smooth macam hisrom lain yg pernah saya baca. Dialog panjang tapi berasa nggak ada jiwanya, iya, mungkin lebih mirip naskah drama yg dilebih-lebihkan.
4. Chemistry nya nggak terlalu berasa, terlalu cepet dan kesannya dipaksakan. Entah kenapa, kok saya malah suka sama Lily Sherwood, biarpun dia cuma jadi cameo
Udah ah, gini amat review saya.
Tapi,
1. Narasi tentang ketampanan Alex dan kecantikan Caroline yang terus diulang di beberapa bab, dengan deskripsi yang sama itu terasa membosankan.
2. Karakter heroinnya... Saya suka kesel kalau ada heroine yang plin plan bin labil. Iya, Caroline itu nggak jelas karakternya menurut saya. Tapi di sini yang paling bikin kesel itu, bisa-bisanya dia mau diajakin nikah sementara tau kalau dirinya sudah nikah sama orang lain. Ya terlepas kalau pernikahan itu ternyata nggak sah, saya cuman... Ah, ini cewek moral dan integritasnya di mana, padahal dia dideskripsikan cerdas dan suka baca buku. Kontradiktif jadinya. Cuman karena dilamar Duke paling ketjeh di seantero London, cuman karena ciumannya ewwww.... saya jadi mikir ini mereka nikahnya apa nggak karena nafsu aja sih, karena sama-sama ganteng cantik menggoda, status tinggi, gitu.
Yakali beneran cinta, ngomong dulu kek udah pernah nikah. Fatal lho ini kalau menurut saya. Dan, itu Alex gampang banget maafinnya, harga diri sebagai lelaki, Duke pula, dimanaaaaaa? Belum lagi reaksi dia abis tau masalah istrinya yang menurut saya juga aneh dan nggak pas untuk hero yang di awal dideskripsikan praktis, teratur dan nggak emosional. Nggak segitunya juga kali.
3. Dialognya... Iya nggak smooth macam hisrom lain yg pernah saya baca. Dialog panjang tapi berasa nggak ada jiwanya, iya, mungkin lebih mirip naskah drama yg dilebih-lebihkan.
4. Chemistry nya nggak terlalu berasa, terlalu cepet dan kesannya dipaksakan. Entah kenapa, kok saya malah suka sama Lily Sherwood, biarpun dia cuma jadi cameo
Udah ah, gini amat review saya.
May 29, 2016
It started out with such promise. The hot, single and rich Duke, who was sick of all the females plotting to get him to to the altar, stuck a bargain with the only female who was not out to land a husband.
The writing was great. The female lead finally landed the highly eligible Duke without even trying.
Here's the really bad part: what was the secret you ask? She was supposedly already married. Two years before. To an American who went off to fight the civil war. Since she hasn't heard from him in 2 years, he must be dead right? No one will ever know. So she went ahead and married the Duke.
Well the 1st husband shows up. Now what is she gonna do with 2 husbands? She finally ended up telling the Duke who ran back to his mistress (to be fair it's not what you think but still). Then one stupid thing led to another stupid thing. I can't even..... I finished it under protest.
So glad that agony is over.
The writing was great. The female lead finally landed the highly eligible Duke without even trying.
Here's the really bad part: what was the secret you ask? She was supposedly already married. Two years before. To an American who went off to fight the civil war. Since she hasn't heard from him in 2 years, he must be dead right? No one will ever know. So she went ahead and married the Duke.
Well the 1st husband shows up. Now what is she gonna do with 2 husbands? She finally ended up telling the Duke who ran back to his mistress (to be fair it's not what you think but still). Then one stupid thing led to another stupid thing. I can't even..... I finished it under protest.
So glad that agony is over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2016
Saya sangat menikmati membaca buku ini. Buku ini mengajarkan pada pembacanya bahwa: Jangan pernah menyembunyikan sesuatu yang sangat penting pada calon masa depanmu. Baik atau buruknya hal tersebut.
Namun buku ini bagi saya terasa janggal.
1. Saat Caroline mengakui bahwa ia sudah tidak perawan lagi pada Alex, dan disitu Caroline terlihat lega, seperti tidak ada rahasia yang mengganjal lagi yang ia simpan. Tetapi di puncak konflik, ternyata terpapar bahwa Caroline telah menikah sebelumnya.
2. Tokoh yang dibuat terkesan plin plan. Caroline dengan keplin-planannya yang menyembunyikan rahasia besarnya.
3. Penyelesaian konflik pada sang tokoh antagonis dengan mengatakan bahwa hal tersebut hanyalah lelucon sangat tidak bisa saya terima. Bagaimanapun penuduhan seorang duchess adalah hal yang tidak main-main, dan hal tersebut haruslah diproses secara hukum.
Bintang 3 cukup untuk buku ini.
Namun buku ini bagi saya terasa janggal.
1. Saat Caroline mengakui bahwa ia sudah tidak perawan lagi pada Alex, dan disitu Caroline terlihat lega, seperti tidak ada rahasia yang mengganjal lagi yang ia simpan. Tetapi di puncak konflik, ternyata terpapar bahwa Caroline telah menikah sebelumnya.
2. Tokoh yang dibuat terkesan plin plan. Caroline dengan keplin-planannya yang menyembunyikan rahasia besarnya.
3. Penyelesaian konflik pada sang tokoh antagonis dengan mengatakan bahwa hal tersebut hanyalah lelucon sangat tidak bisa saya terima. Bagaimanapun penuduhan seorang duchess adalah hal yang tidak main-main, dan hal tersebut haruslah diproses secara hukum.
Bintang 3 cukup untuk buku ini.
January 4, 2013
O'Riley's writing shines in this wonderful period piece! Boldly she took societal manners and decorum of the time and gave them slight twists as to make such archaic practices believable, if not do-able, to the modern reader. Brava!
*Highly recommended
*Highly recommended
June 22, 2012
Funny and interesting.
March 19, 2017
Sebelum komen gue mau kesel dulu ya.
Ckck gw nyesel ngabisin waktu weekend dengan novel ini. Such a waste time! Heran weekend ini kenapa gue harus baca dua novel yang sialnya buruk semua sih?!
Sinopsis: Alex menyukai Caroline dan berniat melamarnya. Caroline sebenarnya juga tertarik pada Alex, tapi ia kukuh menolak Alex sang Duke. Ada apa sebenernya?
Review:
Oke mulai kita bahas dari segi terjemahan yang fatal. Ini penerbit beken kan yah? Sayang sekali banyak pemilihan kata yang tidak pas. Padahal dalam sebuah novel terjemahan, pemilihan kata adalah kunci penting agar pesan penulis benar - benar tersampaikan. Kamu kenapa Elex Media?
Selanjutnya ada Alex The Duke. Layaknya Hero di novel genre HR tampan, pintar, kaya, dewasa, mempesona dan tertarik pada Heroine yang punya minat berbeda dari wanita lainnya (baca: pintar, kutu buku, cantik tapi cupu). Alex ini terbilang sabar dan pantang menyerah untuk memenangkan hati Caroline. Sampai begitu cintanya masih mau nerima Caroline yang jadi istri orang. Tapi di part menjelang akhir kesan dewasa dia tiba - tiba runtuh menjadi hobi kabur - kaburan. Habis baikan sama Caroline pun sempet - sempetnya mabuk - mabukan padahal dia tau Caroline bakal milih dia. Alas istrinya di penjarapun dia gak tau. Hell jatuhlah kekaguman gw pada Alex.
Lalu mari kita bahas endingnya yang sungguh bikin ternganga "Mari kita saling memaafkan?!?!" Ampun dah gw nonton drama korea juga gak ada ending beginan! Orang kalau namanya sudah melakukan kejahatan ya dihukum. Apalagi sampai memfitnah dan menipu secara fatal (pernikahan dan memasukkan orang ke penjara tanpa bukti sah)
Sebenarnya plot ini punya tema yang tidak biasa alias PERNIKAHAN GANDA, tapi dibalut dengan konflik biasa, karakter yang tidak konsisten dan terjemahan yang payah. Jadi makin hancurlah novel ini. Ya satu bintangpun gw gak rela juga karena udah ngabisin weekend gw yg berharga dengan novel ini. Duh!
Ckck gw nyesel ngabisin waktu weekend dengan novel ini. Such a waste time! Heran weekend ini kenapa gue harus baca dua novel yang sialnya buruk semua sih?!
Sinopsis: Alex menyukai Caroline dan berniat melamarnya. Caroline sebenarnya juga tertarik pada Alex, tapi ia kukuh menolak Alex sang Duke. Ada apa sebenernya?
Review:
Oke mulai kita bahas dari segi terjemahan yang fatal. Ini penerbit beken kan yah? Sayang sekali banyak pemilihan kata yang tidak pas. Padahal dalam sebuah novel terjemahan, pemilihan kata adalah kunci penting agar pesan penulis benar - benar tersampaikan. Kamu kenapa Elex Media?
Selanjutnya ada Alex The Duke. Layaknya Hero di novel genre HR tampan, pintar, kaya, dewasa, mempesona dan tertarik pada Heroine yang punya minat berbeda dari wanita lainnya (baca: pintar, kutu buku, cantik tapi cupu). Alex ini terbilang sabar dan pantang menyerah untuk memenangkan hati Caroline. Sampai begitu cintanya masih mau nerima Caroline yang jadi istri orang. Tapi di part menjelang akhir kesan dewasa dia tiba - tiba runtuh menjadi hobi kabur - kaburan. Habis baikan sama Caroline pun sempet - sempetnya mabuk - mabukan padahal dia tau Caroline bakal milih dia. Alas istrinya di penjarapun dia gak tau. Hell jatuhlah kekaguman gw pada Alex.
Lalu mari kita bahas endingnya yang sungguh bikin ternganga "Mari kita saling memaafkan?!?!" Ampun dah gw nonton drama korea juga gak ada ending beginan! Orang kalau namanya sudah melakukan kejahatan ya dihukum. Apalagi sampai memfitnah dan menipu secara fatal (pernikahan dan memasukkan orang ke penjara tanpa bukti sah)
Sebenarnya plot ini punya tema yang tidak biasa alias PERNIKAHAN GANDA, tapi dibalut dengan konflik biasa, karakter yang tidak konsisten dan terjemahan yang payah. Jadi makin hancurlah novel ini. Ya satu bintangpun gw gak rela juga karena udah ngabisin weekend gw yg berharga dengan novel ini. Duh!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2021
Predictable and boring. The writer tried to make Caroline, the heroine into such a good girl who succumb into temptation and must live with it but there were a lot of holes with this plot
First: Caroline disguise herself as a boring girl in order forbidding anyone to propose to her but when Alex offered to be her fake suitor, she agreed immediately
Second: Alex fell in love at first sight with Caroline and would do anything to make her his wife. Given his status and temperament, this is highly unlikely
Third: Stephen seemed like a scoundrel who deceive Caroline just for her body but in truth he loved Caroline so much, he still sent her letters after years unanswered. But he stood aside watching Caroline married another man and didn't make a move until the honeymoon over. Confusing
Fourth: Caroline fell in love with Stephen even though she couldn't be herself while with him and her father disapproved. After met Alex, Caroline fell in love with him and realized her feeling for Stephen was a scam
The book was full with inconsistency like that. Reading the other reviews, I am not the only one who feel that way. I don't think I would attempt to read another book of this writer again.
First: Caroline disguise herself as a boring girl in order forbidding anyone to propose to her but when Alex offered to be her fake suitor, she agreed immediately
Second: Alex fell in love at first sight with Caroline and would do anything to make her his wife. Given his status and temperament, this is highly unlikely
Third: Stephen seemed like a scoundrel who deceive Caroline just for her body but in truth he loved Caroline so much, he still sent her letters after years unanswered. But he stood aside watching Caroline married another man and didn't make a move until the honeymoon over. Confusing
Fourth: Caroline fell in love with Stephen even though she couldn't be herself while with him and her father disapproved. After met Alex, Caroline fell in love with him and realized her feeling for Stephen was a scam
The book was full with inconsistency like that. Reading the other reviews, I am not the only one who feel that way. I don't think I would attempt to read another book of this writer again.
November 14, 2017
leído en Dic 2011
Secretos de la Duquesa
Tras la muerte de su padre, Caroline y su hermana llegan a Londres para vivir con su abuela, la condesa de Glenwood. Aunque está dispuesta a hacer cualquier cosa para complacer a su querida abuela, hay algo se ha jurado no hacer: casarse. Para alejar a posibles pretendientes, se hace pasar por una aburrida intelectual, una farsa en la que cuenta con la complicidad del atractivo Alex Woodward, duque de Woodborough. Pero la especial atracción que surge entre ellos, tan decididos a evitar el compromiso, pondrá a prueba sus voluntades.
Secretos de la Duquesa
Tras la muerte de su padre, Caroline y su hermana llegan a Londres para vivir con su abuela, la condesa de Glenwood. Aunque está dispuesta a hacer cualquier cosa para complacer a su querida abuela, hay algo se ha jurado no hacer: casarse. Para alejar a posibles pretendientes, se hace pasar por una aburrida intelectual, una farsa en la que cuenta con la complicidad del atractivo Alex Woodward, duque de Woodborough. Pero la especial atracción que surge entre ellos, tan decididos a evitar el compromiso, pondrá a prueba sus voluntades.
June 29, 2019
Bonita pero hacia la mitad de la novela parece que le faltan páginas pues se salta acontecimientos relevantes como la noche de bodas.
Read
July 1, 2020Review Soon!
January 26, 2024
Her books are fantastic! The Hamilton Sisters' books are a Must read, including the Hamilton Cousins,. Treat yourself Read these wonderful stories.
January 7, 2026
I picked this up because I had quite enjoyed the author's Hamilton family series, so I was like, sure, why not read this one too! Well, it was no Hamilton family level of story, you can tell this one had more of a debut feel, rather than a somewhat more developed style that the series had. It was entertaining enough, I ran through it in two evenings, but it didn't have that same sort of spark of the Hamiltons. It was pretty... idk, I don't wanna say formulaic, because that seems mean, but it kinda was. Beautiful girl raised poor in the country, but oop! She's got aristocratic relations! Enter London Season, of course, eek, can't marry! But oh, secret lover from the past is why. Gotta say, the first half of the book really had me going, like dang near fuming, not understanding why this girl just didn't say she had had a beau before, like, big deal, like, hun, he ain't coming back, get over it. Then, after almost 250 pages, the actual truth comes out! And no, it's not a secret baby, thank god! xD
The characters were alright, the usual, perfect tiny, delicate, precious honey blonde flower of a wee lady, the tall, strong, dark, handsome great guy of a duke... Neither were overly memorable, or unique. She was smart and liked reading, he was, well, a perfect duke. Likable for the most part, but definitely victims of the old 'all of this could have been avoided, or at least handled way less dramatically, if y'all would just communicate and talk to each other truthfully!' Especially her. Hate to blame, but, yea. All of this was kinda on her, if she would've just told him the truth about her past, instead of just nodding along to his assumptions so she didn't have to 'shame herself' with the truth. *throws hand up with a huff* Oh well, guess there would've been no Secrets of a Duchess if she wouldn't have kept secrets! LMAO.
All in all, it hit all the notes of a typical HR of its time, definitely reminded me of the HRs I was reading in the early aughts. It was readable, and I enjoyed it well enough, but didn't love it, so 3 Stars it is.
The characters were alright, the usual, perfect tiny, delicate, precious honey blonde flower of a wee lady, the tall, strong, dark, handsome great guy of a duke... Neither were overly memorable, or unique. She was smart and liked reading, he was, well, a perfect duke. Likable for the most part, but definitely victims of the old 'all of this could have been avoided, or at least handled way less dramatically, if y'all would just communicate and talk to each other truthfully!' Especially her. Hate to blame, but, yea. All of this was kinda on her, if she would've just told him the truth about her past, instead of just nodding along to his assumptions so she didn't have to 'shame herself' with the truth. *throws hand up with a huff* Oh well, guess there would've been no Secrets of a Duchess if she wouldn't have kept secrets! LMAO.
All in all, it hit all the notes of a typical HR of its time, definitely reminded me of the HRs I was reading in the early aughts. It was readable, and I enjoyed it well enough, but didn't love it, so 3 Stars it is.
February 5, 2014
Caroline Amstrong memulai debutnya di usia yang saat itu dianggap sudah cukup tua, usia 22 tahun. Ia gadis yang cantik dan terpelajar serta berasal dari keluarga yang berada. Hanya saja kisah cinta orang tuanya yang menurut Caroline romantis, namun di mata keluarga, hal ini adalah aib. Caroline punya agenda tersendiri dalam debutnya ini. Ia tak berniat menikah dengan siapapun. Ia sungguh-sungguh tidak ingin pernikahan. Debut hanya ia lakukan untuk menyenangkan hati sang nenek.
Full review
Walaupun neneknya menaruh harapan besar padanya, Season gemilang dengan banyak sekali pria terhormat dan menjanjikan yang berlomba-lomba menariknya ke jenjang pernikahan bukanlah hal yang dicita-citakan Caroline. Dia akan memastikan itu. Harus.
Full review
September 16, 2021
Si algo bueno tiene esta historia es que la protagonista oculta un secreto que va descubriendose poco a poco y, según se va desgranando por partes, tienes la sensación de que hay algo malo. No oculta una bonita historia de amor como el protagonista cree, y lo bueno es que ella racionalice los abusos sufridos (porque son abusos), al final es consciente de ello y que su amor americano nunca la quiso. Porque si tienes que fingir que eres distinta de lo que eres delante suyo porque cree que sino "no eres una chica adecuada", no te quiere. Y si te presiona constantemente para hacer algo que tú no quieres o, al menos, no estás segura, no te quiere. Y porque si te quiere no hace nada de lo que ese personaje hace con la excusa de que "es que te quiero muchísimo y tenía miedo de perderte". Mira, no eso no es amor, solo "amor propio" y encima malo para todos los que no sean tú.
June 22, 2014
Unpredictable utk novel yg ini. Awalnya gw berekspektasi akan membosankan tapi dr awal baca sampai endingnya ga berasa cmn 3 jam gw habiskan untuk melahap buku ini:)
4 star dari gw. Suka dg karakter hero yang begitu sabar dan humoris tapi ga terkesan lenyeh2 alias masih maskulin. Suka dg kekeuhan sang heroine dg prinsipnya walopun pada satu section bikin gw gemes knp ga berterus terang dr awal biar ga perlu ada adegan pisah2an segala
Happy reading guys:)
4 star dari gw. Suka dg karakter hero yang begitu sabar dan humoris tapi ga terkesan lenyeh2 alias masih maskulin. Suka dg kekeuhan sang heroine dg prinsipnya walopun pada satu section bikin gw gemes knp ga berterus terang dr awal biar ga perlu ada adegan pisah2an segala
Happy reading guys:)
May 21, 2014
If I ever have such a secret to keep I hope I could keep it as well as she had. Although if someone I knew kept a secret as important as hers from me I'm not sure how I'll react and I'm glad that although at first it was quite a shock it all worked out well in the end. And if I were to find someone to love as much as she loves him I would be a happy woman.
March 8, 2020
3 Stars
January 20, 2014
lama bgt aku nyelesaiin baca novel ini, ga tega pas ada bagian yang bikin sedih hiks... stephen bennet ini ternyata licik bgt ya, untung Alex begitu cinta sama si heroinnya :)
November 2, 2015
Ngga suka. Ngga dapat chemistry-nya, dan menurutku ceritanya bertele-tele hingga jadinya membosankan. Sejujurnya, aku bahkan tidak selesai membaca buku ini karena itu. :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2016
Alurnya kurang asyik. flash back nya terlalu banyak diulas, jadi bertele-tele.
September 5, 2016
good plot for historical romance book! cant put it down once start read it :D
June 27, 2022
Un poco aburrido aunque llevadero, los protas no me llegaron para nada! largo y bastante predecible!
Want to read
April 22, 2024Hoopla
March 29, 2017
I didn't like a fact that a man can manipulated a young innocent woman into a fake marriage - really fake marriage- just because he wants to have sex with her. But I like the story.
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