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Sin and Sensibility #2
The Girl with the Sweetest Secret
For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…
New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn's warmhearted and witty new romance is filled with sparkling surprises...
When Frances Bumgarten encounters a handsome stranger in her kitchen in the middle of the night, her first impulse is to wallop the scoundrel on the head with a bread paddle. And when Frankie discovers he is "The Fox," a disarmingly arrogant purveyor of gossip among England's aristocracy, she's tempted to take a second swing.
Never mind that Reynard Boulton, nephew of the Viscount Tannehill, is returning her inebriated uncle safely home. This chiseled intruder has sparked an infuriating physical sensation unlike anything the feisty Nevada silver heiress has experienced. In fact, the noblemen of London are so dull, Frankie's sworn off marriage entirely. She will, however, help her younger sister win her own love match—even if it means secretly enlisting Reynard's enquiring mind.
But secrets, as Reynard knows too well, can be costly. For Frankie is yet unaware that a villainous duke is scheming to claim her—and ruin him. Soon they're racing to uncover the truth—and fueling a passion that won’t stay hidden.
New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn's warmhearted and witty new romance is filled with sparkling surprises...
When Frances Bumgarten encounters a handsome stranger in her kitchen in the middle of the night, her first impulse is to wallop the scoundrel on the head with a bread paddle. And when Frankie discovers he is "The Fox," a disarmingly arrogant purveyor of gossip among England's aristocracy, she's tempted to take a second swing.
Never mind that Reynard Boulton, nephew of the Viscount Tannehill, is returning her inebriated uncle safely home. This chiseled intruder has sparked an infuriating physical sensation unlike anything the feisty Nevada silver heiress has experienced. In fact, the noblemen of London are so dull, Frankie's sworn off marriage entirely. She will, however, help her younger sister win her own love match—even if it means secretly enlisting Reynard's enquiring mind.
But secrets, as Reynard knows too well, can be costly. For Frankie is yet unaware that a villainous duke is scheming to claim her—and ruin him. Soon they're racing to uncover the truth—and fueling a passion that won’t stay hidden.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 27, 2018
96 people are currently reading
1999 people want to read
About the author
Betina Krahn
60 books312 followersKrahn, born Betina Maynard, is the second daughter of Dors Maynard and Regina Triplett. Krahn learned to read at the age of four, and began making up her own stories when she was only six. In fifth grade she won a silver "Noble Order of Bookworms" pin for her achievements in reading, and the following year she began writing down her stories.
Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.
The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.
Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.
The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
October 28, 2018
Filled with colorful characters and an interesting plot, I thought this was a charming book, my second by Betina Krahn. There are probably aspects of this story that I may not like as much in a different mood, but at this time, I thought it overall charming and delightful. This is the second in series, and I have not read the first one. I thought it mostly worked as a stand-alone, but there was probably some background info that would have been helpful on why the family was in London.
This story primarily takes place in 1890’s London and Paris. Frankie, the heroine, is the second oldest of four girls from Nevada. The oldest was the heroine from the first book, and she had moved back to the States so does not feature much here. Frankie and her unmarried younger sisters live with their mother and uncle, who struck rich silver mining. I believe they are in London for the girls’ marital prospects. Frankie is not keen on marriage, so she is trying to use evasion and diversion tactics. But, nevertheless, she catches the eye of a German Duke, much to the approval of her title-hungry mother.
The hero, Raynard, aka the Fox, is known as a gossip-monger and secret keeper. He is also the good friend of the first book’s hero and promised to keep an eye on the girls. When he discovers that their uncle, Red, has wasted their fortune and is in deep debt, Raynard realizes it is time to be more hands-on in the “watching over”. He is the heir to a viscount and has a strained relationship with his uncle, the viscount. When he notices the Duke paying Frankie extra attention, he investigates and warns her of the Duke’s shady ways.
There was much about this that felt relevant to current events. The dynamics between the familial characters and the secondary characters. There were some great interactions between Frankie and her mom, who thought the title meant and that Frankie could make allowances for an important man. And Frankie’s subsequent anger later felt very valid.
The romance had some truly sweet moments, and I enjoyed there interactions and support for each other. They felt like equals, and their relationship seemed to grow organically. There was a secondary romance between Frankie’s younger sister Claire and a musician that was integral to the plot and worked well. There was a third romance for their uncle Red that seemed unnecessary.
This was a good read, and I look forward to trying more by Ms.Krahn, who certainly has an unique voice in HR. This was not a wallpaper story.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story primarily takes place in 1890’s London and Paris. Frankie, the heroine, is the second oldest of four girls from Nevada. The oldest was the heroine from the first book, and she had moved back to the States so does not feature much here. Frankie and her unmarried younger sisters live with their mother and uncle, who struck rich silver mining. I believe they are in London for the girls’ marital prospects. Frankie is not keen on marriage, so she is trying to use evasion and diversion tactics. But, nevertheless, she catches the eye of a German Duke, much to the approval of her title-hungry mother.
The hero, Raynard, aka the Fox, is known as a gossip-monger and secret keeper. He is also the good friend of the first book’s hero and promised to keep an eye on the girls. When he discovers that their uncle, Red, has wasted their fortune and is in deep debt, Raynard realizes it is time to be more hands-on in the “watching over”. He is the heir to a viscount and has a strained relationship with his uncle, the viscount. When he notices the Duke paying Frankie extra attention, he investigates and warns her of the Duke’s shady ways.
There was much about this that felt relevant to current events. The dynamics between the familial characters and the secondary characters. There were some great interactions between Frankie and her mom, who thought the title meant and that Frankie could make allowances for an important man. And Frankie’s subsequent anger later felt very valid.
The romance had some truly sweet moments, and I enjoyed there interactions and support for each other. They felt like equals, and their relationship seemed to grow organically. There was a secondary romance between Frankie’s younger sister Claire and a musician that was integral to the plot and worked well. There was a third romance for their uncle Red that seemed unnecessary.
This was a good read, and I look forward to trying more by Ms.Krahn, who certainly has an unique voice in HR. This was not a wallpaper story.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2018
After two weeks of forcing myself to keep reading this one, I'm throwing in the towel at 77%.
Look, many people may love The Girl with the Sweetest Secret by new-to-me author,Betina Krahn, but I had a really hard time with it. I seem to be in the minority, but gah, how this book dragged on.
The book didn't feel well-plotted to me. I read a ton of historical romance, and The Girl with the Sweetest Secret was all over the place. We get a head-hopping, ever-changing POV (I really dislike that), and a plot that throws way too much in the pot. There is just too much going on for there to be any real focus, and I often lost sight of the developing romance due to the side stories and confusing POV changes.
I don't know why the book came across as boring as it did, but I was bored the entire time I was reading. I didn't dislike the story, per se, but it didn't hold my attention. I had to force myself to read in chunks, and even then I was thinking about what else I could be reading. I think there was something about the style or the multiple tangents that made it hard for me to focus.
In a sea of wonderful historical romances, The Girl with the Sweetest Secret was not a winner for me.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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Look, many people may love The Girl with the Sweetest Secret by new-to-me author,Betina Krahn, but I had a really hard time with it. I seem to be in the minority, but gah, how this book dragged on.
The book didn't feel well-plotted to me. I read a ton of historical romance, and The Girl with the Sweetest Secret was all over the place. We get a head-hopping, ever-changing POV (I really dislike that), and a plot that throws way too much in the pot. There is just too much going on for there to be any real focus, and I often lost sight of the developing romance due to the side stories and confusing POV changes.
I don't know why the book came across as boring as it did, but I was bored the entire time I was reading. I didn't dislike the story, per se, but it didn't hold my attention. I had to force myself to read in chunks, and even then I was thinking about what else I could be reading. I think there was something about the style or the multiple tangents that made it hard for me to focus.
In a sea of wonderful historical romances, The Girl with the Sweetest Secret was not a winner for me.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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April 4, 2025
Three and a half stars
American born Frances Bumgarten, is in England with her mother, uncle and two younger sisters. In her nightgown Frankie sneaks down to the kitchen in the middle of the night to get some warm milk. There she is shocked to find and intruder and takes aim at him with a bread paddle. She later learns he is’ the Fox’ who gathers information dealing with gossip and secrets of the English aristocracy. However this time he is ensuring her Uncle Red, who Is seriously drunk, arrives safely home.
This is a light and entertaining historical romance set around 1890s, told with a gentle humour. Frankie is a spunky character who refuses to give in to her mother’s demands for her to marry, especially when Elizabeth is pushing her towards a Prussian Duke. When Frankie’s younger sister Claire falls in love with a musician and later goes missing the person Frankie finds herself asking for help is Reynard, better known as The Fox. Reynard has promised his good friend, who readers apparently met in book 1, that he will keep an eye on The Bumgarten sisters while they are in London. Reynard. is prepared to help Frankie. What he is not prepared for is the effect that Frankie has on him.
This is book 2 in a series, but it is certainly not necessary to have read book 1
It is fun read, over the top at times and includes a duel, an abduction, family secrets and a lot of twists and turns. The main characters were interesting and engaging, easy to like. All in all, it was amusing and I enjoyed it. I think many other readers will too.
American born Frances Bumgarten, is in England with her mother, uncle and two younger sisters. In her nightgown Frankie sneaks down to the kitchen in the middle of the night to get some warm milk. There she is shocked to find and intruder and takes aim at him with a bread paddle. She later learns he is’ the Fox’ who gathers information dealing with gossip and secrets of the English aristocracy. However this time he is ensuring her Uncle Red, who Is seriously drunk, arrives safely home.
This is a light and entertaining historical romance set around 1890s, told with a gentle humour. Frankie is a spunky character who refuses to give in to her mother’s demands for her to marry, especially when Elizabeth is pushing her towards a Prussian Duke. When Frankie’s younger sister Claire falls in love with a musician and later goes missing the person Frankie finds herself asking for help is Reynard, better known as The Fox. Reynard has promised his good friend, who readers apparently met in book 1, that he will keep an eye on The Bumgarten sisters while they are in London. Reynard. is prepared to help Frankie. What he is not prepared for is the effect that Frankie has on him.
This is book 2 in a series, but it is certainly not necessary to have read book 1
It is fun read, over the top at times and includes a duel, an abduction, family secrets and a lot of twists and turns. The main characters were interesting and engaging, easy to like. All in all, it was amusing and I enjoyed it. I think many other readers will too.
December 5, 2018
There’s an absolutely amazing scene late in this book where the heroine Frances ‘Frankie’ confronts her social-climbing mother. Accusing her of not listening when Frankie told her about the cruel and violent proclivities of the duke her mother was trying to marry her off to, Frankie fearlessly points out some unpalatable truths; that her mother was so blinded by the idea of her daughter being a duchess, she didn’t care that Frankie would be the one paying the price for her mother’s ambitions. It’s a heart-pounding, emotive scene that will strike a chord with every woman in this age of #MeToo, every woman who’s been dismissed as exaggerating or lying when they tell the truth about a man’s bad behaviour.
But I’m getting ahead of myself; I’d fallen in love with Frankie Bumgarten long before we get to that incredible scene. Younger sister of Daisy, the fabulous American silver heiress from A Good Day To Marry A Duke, Frankie’s not afraid of anything except failing to live life to the fullest. She’s pretty sure she doesn’t want to marry at all, but spending time with her hero Reynard slowly brings her around to a different way of thinking.
One of Frankie’s sisters Claire, a gifted musician, also gets her happy ending in this book, but not without a certain amount of Drama which does play into Frankie’s story significantly, as Frankie and Reynard must make a mad dash to Paris to try and retrieve Claire safely.
One of the (many) reasons I love Betina Krahn’s writing is the attention to detail of historical accuracy; she really brings to life the changing world of the late Victorian era, with steamships and trains offering new and faster ways to travel, a rising middle class and a new breed of wealthy industrialists encroaching on the high society traditionally dominated by the hereditary aristocracy. This is a wonderful read in every way, and I’m really looking forward to the youngest sister Sarah’s story! Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
But I’m getting ahead of myself; I’d fallen in love with Frankie Bumgarten long before we get to that incredible scene. Younger sister of Daisy, the fabulous American silver heiress from A Good Day To Marry A Duke, Frankie’s not afraid of anything except failing to live life to the fullest. She’s pretty sure she doesn’t want to marry at all, but spending time with her hero Reynard slowly brings her around to a different way of thinking.
One of Frankie’s sisters Claire, a gifted musician, also gets her happy ending in this book, but not without a certain amount of Drama which does play into Frankie’s story significantly, as Frankie and Reynard must make a mad dash to Paris to try and retrieve Claire safely.
One of the (many) reasons I love Betina Krahn’s writing is the attention to detail of historical accuracy; she really brings to life the changing world of the late Victorian era, with steamships and trains offering new and faster ways to travel, a rising middle class and a new breed of wealthy industrialists encroaching on the high society traditionally dominated by the hereditary aristocracy. This is a wonderful read in every way, and I’m really looking forward to the youngest sister Sarah’s story! Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
October 16, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
I loved this book with a passion , in fact I want to read it again straight away .
There are so many twists ,turns and storylines , it’s like running through a maze , not knowing where you’ll end up , but assured it’s going to be good .
Excellent characters, setting and story .
And an immense feeling of satisfaction at the end .
Wonderful!
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋
I loved this book with a passion , in fact I want to read it again straight away .
There are so many twists ,turns and storylines , it’s like running through a maze , not knowing where you’ll end up , but assured it’s going to be good .
Excellent characters, setting and story .
And an immense feeling of satisfaction at the end .
Wonderful!
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
March 10, 2019
This is a sweet but dramatic story. At times I felt it was way over the top. But I liked the heroine, Frankie. I liked the way her brain works - a blend of practical and naive courage. The subplot of this story is cute, where the heroine's sister finds her own love story. I find this story easier to read than the book 1 of this series. I haven't managed to read that one after reading the book blurb. But that's my personal preference.
June 28, 2019
A nearly perfect Victorian romance. 4.5 stars.
Story contained 3 romances :
1) H +h , 2) Claire + man, 3) Uncle Red + lady
Reynard "Rey" acted as an information broker & heir to his
hyper-critical viscount uncle. Beautiful/ smart Frances
"Frankie" temporarily moved with her mother, uncle and
3 sisters from Nevada to England. (The eldest sister Daisy
wed in book #1). Mother grew obnoxious about wanting a
daughter to wed a duke. She should have done this herself!
Mother especially wanted Frankie to conform to English ton
expectations.
A Prussian Duke, Max, aggressively pursued Frankie. But Rey
attracted her instead. Max bragged RE being a skilled horse-
man, but then boxed in a horse he thought of buying. He
could've caused grave injury to the horse, h & by-standers.
But the H + h resolved this w/ minimal injury.
Rey was virile & vulnerable & validated the opinions of his
beloved. He found her 'bright, vibrant, outspoken & delic-
iously frank.' This compatible couple fell madly in love.
Frankie, after an ordeal, angrily confronting her mother RE
a certain man, was my favorite scene.
Revised.
Story contained 3 romances :
1) H +h , 2) Claire + man, 3) Uncle Red + lady
Reynard "Rey" acted as an information broker & heir to his
hyper-critical viscount uncle. Beautiful/ smart Frances
"Frankie" temporarily moved with her mother, uncle and
3 sisters from Nevada to England. (The eldest sister Daisy
wed in book #1). Mother grew obnoxious about wanting a
daughter to wed a duke. She should have done this herself!
Mother especially wanted Frankie to conform to English ton
expectations.
A Prussian Duke, Max, aggressively pursued Frankie. But Rey
attracted her instead. Max bragged RE being a skilled horse-
man, but then boxed in a horse he thought of buying. He
could've caused grave injury to the horse, h & by-standers.
But the H + h resolved this w/ minimal injury.
Rey was virile & vulnerable & validated the opinions of his
beloved. He found her 'bright, vibrant, outspoken & delic-
iously frank.' This compatible couple fell madly in love.
Frankie, after an ordeal, angrily confronting her mother RE
a certain man, was my favorite scene.
Revised.
December 1, 2018
The Girl with Sweetest Secret is an American brought over to London by her family to use their money to capture a title.
American Frances “Frankie” Bumgarten is surprised by a stranger in her family’s kitchen late at night. After almost braining the stranger with an old bread paddle, Frankie is embarrassed by her lack of a robe or any covering other than a thin nightgown. Frankie recognizes Reynard Boulton, aka the Fox, who is an heir to a Viscount and collects gossip as his trade. He is helping her Uncle Red return home from a long evening of gambling and drinking. The Fox has agreed to watch over Frankie and her sister in her brother-in-law’s absence so he was unable to use the gossip he acquired against Frankie and her family.
Later when the Fox and Frankie meet at a dance, they both feel a connection. Unfortunately, Frankie’s mother wants her to marry high in the aristocracy and a Prussian Duke is interested in her. When later, the Fox is almost ensnared in a family’s marriage trap, Frankie saves him from immediate shame. However, the Fox must have a duel with the family’s father. While Frankie, dressed as a boy, is watching, the duel is held. The action just escalates from there.
The Girl with Sweetest Secret is an action-packed and enjoyable Victorian historical romance. It is highly recommended for readers of that genre. 4 stars!
Thanks to Zebra Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
American Frances “Frankie” Bumgarten is surprised by a stranger in her family’s kitchen late at night. After almost braining the stranger with an old bread paddle, Frankie is embarrassed by her lack of a robe or any covering other than a thin nightgown. Frankie recognizes Reynard Boulton, aka the Fox, who is an heir to a Viscount and collects gossip as his trade. He is helping her Uncle Red return home from a long evening of gambling and drinking. The Fox has agreed to watch over Frankie and her sister in her brother-in-law’s absence so he was unable to use the gossip he acquired against Frankie and her family.
Later when the Fox and Frankie meet at a dance, they both feel a connection. Unfortunately, Frankie’s mother wants her to marry high in the aristocracy and a Prussian Duke is interested in her. When later, the Fox is almost ensnared in a family’s marriage trap, Frankie saves him from immediate shame. However, the Fox must have a duel with the family’s father. While Frankie, dressed as a boy, is watching, the duel is held. The action just escalates from there.
The Girl with Sweetest Secret is an action-packed and enjoyable Victorian historical romance. It is highly recommended for readers of that genre. 4 stars!
Thanks to Zebra Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2018
When Frances Bumgarten encounters a handsome stranger in her kitchen in the middle of the night, her first impulse is to wallop the scoundrel on the head with a bread paddle. And when Frankie discovers he is “The Fox,” a disarmingly arrogant purveyor of gossip among England’s aristocracy, she’s tempted to take a second swing even though he’s very handsome. Never mind that Reynard Boulton, nephew of the Viscount Tannehill, is returning her inebriated uncle safely home. Frankie’s sworn off marriage entirely. She will, however, help her younger sister win her own love match.
Then Frankie catches the eye of the villainous duke of Ottenberg who is scheming to claim her.
This is the second book in the series but could easily be read on its own. However a couple of issues from the first book were resolved in the book, which added to my enjoyment & if I hadn’t read the previous book I’d definitely would have wanted to read it. This book takes place three years after the first. The pace was good & kept my interest all the way through, there was plenty of adventure that added to the story. Reynard & Frankie were very likeable & fought their feelings for quite some time but both did have secrets, which finally came to light. The secondary characters are well drawn & I particularly liked Red
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Then Frankie catches the eye of the villainous duke of Ottenberg who is scheming to claim her.
This is the second book in the series but could easily be read on its own. However a couple of issues from the first book were resolved in the book, which added to my enjoyment & if I hadn’t read the previous book I’d definitely would have wanted to read it. This book takes place three years after the first. The pace was good & kept my interest all the way through, there was plenty of adventure that added to the story. Reynard & Frankie were very likeable & fought their feelings for quite some time but both did have secrets, which finally came to light. The secondary characters are well drawn & I particularly liked Red
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
November 27, 2018
An exciting story with compelling characters you cannot help but love and plenty of twist and turns, it is hard to keep up with it all! The second story of the four American Baumgarten sisters and this time with Frankie. She finds the gentlemen in London boring and is not in a hurry to marry, if ever. Of course her mother wants all of her daughters to marry a titled husband if possible.
What starts as an unexpected meeting, brings Raynard, aka the Fox into contact with her. He had been given the duty of watching over the girls by his best friend, although he has kept a distance. But being around Frankie they both started feeling attracted to each other.
Full of suspense, secrets, romance, betrayal and humor this tale had a little of it all. With lovable characters and the chemistry between Frankie and Raynard strong, I could not put it down until the end. I am looking forward to the next story in this series with the another delightful sister!
What starts as an unexpected meeting, brings Raynard, aka the Fox into contact with her. He had been given the duty of watching over the girls by his best friend, although he has kept a distance. But being around Frankie they both started feeling attracted to each other.
Full of suspense, secrets, romance, betrayal and humor this tale had a little of it all. With lovable characters and the chemistry between Frankie and Raynard strong, I could not put it down until the end. I am looking forward to the next story in this series with the another delightful sister!
January 24, 2019
A fun book full of twists and turns that are sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking. Frankie is in London with her uncle, mother, and sisters. The family made a fortune in silver mining in Nevada, and mom has brought the girls to England looking for improved marital opportunities. In other words, mom wants to snag titled men for her girls. Frankie is the independent sort and has no interest in falling in with her mother's plans. She has no intention of marrying at all. The fun started one night when Frankie caught a man sneaking into her house and whacked him on the head. It turned out that it was Reynard trying to sneak her Uncle Red into the house after finding him drunk. As Reynard had promised his friend, who is also Frankie's brother-in-law, that he would watch over the family, Reynard felt he had no choice. Though horrified by the realization that she was dealing with the notorious gossip, it didn't stop Frankie from demanding his help with her uncle. Previous meetings had been somewhat less than cordial, but both Frankie and Reynard suddenly find themselves taking a deeper notice of each other. That connection increased when Frankie saved Reynard from an attempt to trick him into marriage.
I really liked both Frankie and Reynard. Frankie is plain-spoken, loyal to her family, and a little bit naïve. While she had an enjoyable time in London, she thought the men were boring, until she got to know Reynard. She is a bit impulsive, especially when it comes to taking care of her family, and that gets her into some interesting predicaments. Reynard is terrific. He hasn't had an easy life, in spite of being the heir to a viscount. His parents died when he was young, leaving him to be raised by his uncle, the viscount. That uncle treated Reynard terribly, insinuating that his parents hadn't been married, that Reynard wasn't truly the heir and other things along those lines. There was no love in Reynard's life. As an adult, Reynard was treated like dirt by his uncle. He isn't even allowed to live in the house but has quarters above the carriage house. I ached for him and his feelings of not knowing who he really was.
I loved the development of the relationship between Frankie and Reynard. There was a simmering chemistry between them that took them both by surprise. I liked the way that Frankie couldn't stand by and let Reynard be railroaded into marriage even though she didn't like him at that point. Things became a little more heated between them when she disguised herself as a boy so she could observe his duel and he caught her at it. Even though they had their differences, Frankie knew she could depend on Reynard when she needed help. He was the one she went to for help finding out about the man her sister Claire was interested in, and again when Claire snuck away to follow the man to France. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between them, as Reynard would get frustrated by Frankie's headstrong stubbornness and her by his unexpected cautiousness. Despite the frustration, they also grew closer, developing a friendship that allowed them to share some of the bad times in their lives. Each of them also realized that their feelings for each other were changing, but there were obstacles to doing anything about it. Reynard knows that he is in no position to marry and he refused to do anything that would harm Frankie. Frankie was frustrated by her inability to get past Reynard's scruples, but she also respected him for them. I loved seeing them work together to track Claire. There were some terrific twists to their time in Paris that added to both the fun and the heartbreak.
The group's return to England brought more trouble to both Reynard and Frankie. Her mother pushed hard for Frankie to find a titled gentleman to marry and was ecstatic when the Prussian Duke Ottenberg showed a marked interest in Frankie. Though initially flattered by the attention, Frankie quickly realized that there was something about the duke that made her very uncomfortable. The scenes with him definitely pegged my creep-o-meter, and each encounter made it worse. Besides the duke's attitude toward Frankie, he also knew that Reynard was a threat to him and took steps to neutralize the threat. No one realized just how big a problem the duke was until it was almost too late. I was on the edge of my seat until that problem was resolved by a truly exciting confrontation between the duke and Reynard. Through it all, I wanted to shake Frankie's mother, and I loved seeing Frankie tell her mother exactly what was what in an eye-opening conversation.
I liked how Frankie's love for Reynard gave him the courage to finally confront his uncle, though things did not go quite as he expected. I loved that Frankie was by his side, giving him the support he needed. While I wasn't completely surprised by the truth Reynard uncovered, there were a couple of unexpected twists. I ached for Reynard and didn't blame him for his initial reaction. It was interesting to see what happened once he calmed down and had a chance to learn all the details. I loved how he was completely upfront with Frankie about all of it. The scene in the parlor at her house was sweet, funny, and emotional, and showed just how perfect they were for each other.
There were two other romances going on at the same time. The first was the romance between Frankie's sister, Claire, and the orchestra conductor, Julian. Both Claire and Julian were incredible musicians, which is what brought them together. But Julian came nowhere near what Claire's mother wanted for her. Though there were times I thought that Claire was naïve in her belief that she would be able to marry him, she turned out to be more determined than expected. She was also incredibly lucky during her trip to Paris. It was great to see how, once again, it was Reynard and his connections that brought a satisfactory conclusion to that romance.
There was also a sweet second-chance romance between Uncle Red and family friend Countess Evelyn. Uncle Red was in a whole heap of trouble because of his drinking and gambling. The countess was asked by the girls' mother to take them in hand because of their bad attitudes toward her plans. But when the girls didn't show up at Evelyn's country home, she and Red teamed up to find them. This gave them the chance to get to know each other again and deal with the mistakes of the past. I loved seeing all three stories converge in Paris and how their teamwork brought about so many happy endings.
I really need to go back and read the first book in the series, A Good Day to Marry a Duke, before the next book comes out.
I really liked both Frankie and Reynard. Frankie is plain-spoken, loyal to her family, and a little bit naïve. While she had an enjoyable time in London, she thought the men were boring, until she got to know Reynard. She is a bit impulsive, especially when it comes to taking care of her family, and that gets her into some interesting predicaments. Reynard is terrific. He hasn't had an easy life, in spite of being the heir to a viscount. His parents died when he was young, leaving him to be raised by his uncle, the viscount. That uncle treated Reynard terribly, insinuating that his parents hadn't been married, that Reynard wasn't truly the heir and other things along those lines. There was no love in Reynard's life. As an adult, Reynard was treated like dirt by his uncle. He isn't even allowed to live in the house but has quarters above the carriage house. I ached for him and his feelings of not knowing who he really was.
I loved the development of the relationship between Frankie and Reynard. There was a simmering chemistry between them that took them both by surprise. I liked the way that Frankie couldn't stand by and let Reynard be railroaded into marriage even though she didn't like him at that point. Things became a little more heated between them when she disguised herself as a boy so she could observe his duel and he caught her at it. Even though they had their differences, Frankie knew she could depend on Reynard when she needed help. He was the one she went to for help finding out about the man her sister Claire was interested in, and again when Claire snuck away to follow the man to France. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between them, as Reynard would get frustrated by Frankie's headstrong stubbornness and her by his unexpected cautiousness. Despite the frustration, they also grew closer, developing a friendship that allowed them to share some of the bad times in their lives. Each of them also realized that their feelings for each other were changing, but there were obstacles to doing anything about it. Reynard knows that he is in no position to marry and he refused to do anything that would harm Frankie. Frankie was frustrated by her inability to get past Reynard's scruples, but she also respected him for them. I loved seeing them work together to track Claire. There were some terrific twists to their time in Paris that added to both the fun and the heartbreak.
The group's return to England brought more trouble to both Reynard and Frankie. Her mother pushed hard for Frankie to find a titled gentleman to marry and was ecstatic when the Prussian Duke Ottenberg showed a marked interest in Frankie. Though initially flattered by the attention, Frankie quickly realized that there was something about the duke that made her very uncomfortable. The scenes with him definitely pegged my creep-o-meter, and each encounter made it worse. Besides the duke's attitude toward Frankie, he also knew that Reynard was a threat to him and took steps to neutralize the threat. No one realized just how big a problem the duke was until it was almost too late. I was on the edge of my seat until that problem was resolved by a truly exciting confrontation between the duke and Reynard. Through it all, I wanted to shake Frankie's mother, and I loved seeing Frankie tell her mother exactly what was what in an eye-opening conversation.
I liked how Frankie's love for Reynard gave him the courage to finally confront his uncle, though things did not go quite as he expected. I loved that Frankie was by his side, giving him the support he needed. While I wasn't completely surprised by the truth Reynard uncovered, there were a couple of unexpected twists. I ached for Reynard and didn't blame him for his initial reaction. It was interesting to see what happened once he calmed down and had a chance to learn all the details. I loved how he was completely upfront with Frankie about all of it. The scene in the parlor at her house was sweet, funny, and emotional, and showed just how perfect they were for each other.
There were two other romances going on at the same time. The first was the romance between Frankie's sister, Claire, and the orchestra conductor, Julian. Both Claire and Julian were incredible musicians, which is what brought them together. But Julian came nowhere near what Claire's mother wanted for her. Though there were times I thought that Claire was naïve in her belief that she would be able to marry him, she turned out to be more determined than expected. She was also incredibly lucky during her trip to Paris. It was great to see how, once again, it was Reynard and his connections that brought a satisfactory conclusion to that romance.
There was also a sweet second-chance romance between Uncle Red and family friend Countess Evelyn. Uncle Red was in a whole heap of trouble because of his drinking and gambling. The countess was asked by the girls' mother to take them in hand because of their bad attitudes toward her plans. But when the girls didn't show up at Evelyn's country home, she and Red teamed up to find them. This gave them the chance to get to know each other again and deal with the mistakes of the past. I loved seeing all three stories converge in Paris and how their teamwork brought about so many happy endings.
I really need to go back and read the first book in the series, A Good Day to Marry a Duke, before the next book comes out.
October 11, 2018
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley)This was a new author for me but not anymore, I liked this book., apparently this was a second book so yes I plan to go back and read the first one because I truly did enjoy this one and can't wait for the next one. So in this one we meet Francis an american heiress and she stumbles upon a secret and discovers she is not crazy about them. She ends up saving Reynard who is known as the Fox and he is also known for knowing and keeping a lot of secrets and using them as needed. These horrible girls were trying to get caught having a liason so that the gentleman was forced into marriage because this one woman the one who set the trap was particularly not pretty, but it wasn't that she was not pretty she was ugly inside and out so no don't feel bad for her she was not nice. Anyhoo Francis speaks up, and things are off, duels, lies, betrayals and eventually love...I loved it and can't wait for the next sister!!!
October 6, 2018
I received a free ARC version of the book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was very excited for this book. It sounded great. However, the book comes accross as slow and (I'm sorry to say) boring. It's not that there isn't drama. There's a duel, a woman trying to force a man to marry her, a notorious gossip/spy and more. I have no idea why the book is boring but it is. If I had to say anything it would be the sentence structure; the sentences are often very long and give the book a slow pace as a result.
Out of the two main characters, I love the fox the most. He intense but broody. I wish he more like everyone thought of him (dark, notorious for knowing everyone's secret, selfish). He doesn't really fufill any of his promise. However, I did like how Frankie's uncle said ' he is all those things but not with you). At least that was a paraphrase of that.
I was very excited for this book. It sounded great. However, the book comes accross as slow and (I'm sorry to say) boring. It's not that there isn't drama. There's a duel, a woman trying to force a man to marry her, a notorious gossip/spy and more. I have no idea why the book is boring but it is. If I had to say anything it would be the sentence structure; the sentences are often very long and give the book a slow pace as a result.
Out of the two main characters, I love the fox the most. He intense but broody. I wish he more like everyone thought of him (dark, notorious for knowing everyone's secret, selfish). He doesn't really fufill any of his promise. However, I did like how Frankie's uncle said ' he is all those things but not with you). At least that was a paraphrase of that.
September 29, 2018
This highly entertaining story is the 2nd in the Sin and Sensibility Series and will make you cry, smile and cheer for the lovers. This standalone, HEA historical romance incorporates the love lives of three different couples, the main characters being Frances Bumgarten and Reynard Boulton.
The story has great flow, fully fleshed out characters, secrets kept, secrets shared, intrigue, an evil villain, and warm romance. This author pulls you into the story and the characters lives, making you feel all of their emotions every step of the way. I can hardly wait until the next story is written and will go back to read the first in this series.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.
The story has great flow, fully fleshed out characters, secrets kept, secrets shared, intrigue, an evil villain, and warm romance. This author pulls you into the story and the characters lives, making you feel all of their emotions every step of the way. I can hardly wait until the next story is written and will go back to read the first in this series.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.
November 29, 2018
To see the whole review: https://wickedcoolflight.net/2018/11/...
I liked this one. It was a cute story of a wealthy heiress whose mother wants her to marry a title to legitimize the family wealth. She was unsuccessful with the oldest daughter (A Good Day to Marry a Duke) so she works on the next oldest, Frankie.
Frankie has no desire to get married even when a Prussian Duke tries for her hand. Her mother is throwing Frankie at him, but all the while Frankie is trying to show her mother what an ass the Duke is. And boy is he into some dirty dealings…
Along comes the soon to be titled Viscount Tannehill who she slowly woos, unbeknownst to her. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time to save her from herself or her crimes. Oh the wickedness of the three sisters that are left. They all seem to help one another into and out of trouble through the whole book. Whether it is with the horses, a duel, or a cross channel trip to Paris. There is nothing the three sisters won’t do for one another. The funniest stuff happens when they are trying to help each other out. There is a great sense of family in this one, both pride and love.
I’m giving this one a 4 or 5 because I don’t think it will last with me like all my other 5’s do, but it was a great story to read. If you like Historical Romance with a little comedy, this one is right up your alley. Enjoy!!
I liked this one. It was a cute story of a wealthy heiress whose mother wants her to marry a title to legitimize the family wealth. She was unsuccessful with the oldest daughter (A Good Day to Marry a Duke) so she works on the next oldest, Frankie.
Frankie has no desire to get married even when a Prussian Duke tries for her hand. Her mother is throwing Frankie at him, but all the while Frankie is trying to show her mother what an ass the Duke is. And boy is he into some dirty dealings…
Along comes the soon to be titled Viscount Tannehill who she slowly woos, unbeknownst to her. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time to save her from herself or her crimes. Oh the wickedness of the three sisters that are left. They all seem to help one another into and out of trouble through the whole book. Whether it is with the horses, a duel, or a cross channel trip to Paris. There is nothing the three sisters won’t do for one another. The funniest stuff happens when they are trying to help each other out. There is a great sense of family in this one, both pride and love.
I’m giving this one a 4 or 5 because I don’t think it will last with me like all my other 5’s do, but it was a great story to read. If you like Historical Romance with a little comedy, this one is right up your alley. Enjoy!!
December 1, 2018
The Girl with the Sweetest Secret by Betina Krahn is book Two in the Sin and Sensibility series. This is the story of Frances 'Frankie' Bumgarten and Reynard Boulton. I have read the previous book, but feel this can be a standalone book.
Frankie has settled not to marry but does want to help her sister who has fallen for a musician but is unsure of him. Frankie knows that Reynard could help her find out more about her sister love interest since he knows all the gossip. But working with him brings up feelings she didn't think she would have and has her thinking of marriage. Reynard has promised to keep an eye on the sisters so when Frankie asked for his help he didn't have much choice which has lead him to finding his own feelings. But Reynards has other things to workout before he can make a marriage promise to anyone if ever. But when a evil Duke tries to take him down and take Frankie it moves everything forward for them to work and be together.
Great characters and a joy to read for me.
Frankie has settled not to marry but does want to help her sister who has fallen for a musician but is unsure of him. Frankie knows that Reynard could help her find out more about her sister love interest since he knows all the gossip. But working with him brings up feelings she didn't think she would have and has her thinking of marriage. Reynard has promised to keep an eye on the sisters so when Frankie asked for his help he didn't have much choice which has lead him to finding his own feelings. But Reynards has other things to workout before he can make a marriage promise to anyone if ever. But when a evil Duke tries to take him down and take Frankie it moves everything forward for them to work and be together.
Great characters and a joy to read for me.
May 5, 2023
This one was sooooo much better than the first book?? The plot was way more focused and there wasn't a traditional third act breakup, which I loved. Both Reynard and Frankie are way more compelling than Daisy and Ash...something (?) and they felt easier to root for. (Sorry, I forgot the guy's name.)
I like that Reynard and Frankie work as partners and confidants for most of the story. One of my problems with the last book was that of the heroine and hero's connection felt mostly related to physical attraction. In this book, though, our protags form a bond based on trust. Their entire story felt more romantic to me.
Really great follow-up! I have high hopes for the last book!
I like that Reynard and Frankie work as partners and confidants for most of the story. One of my problems with the last book was that of the heroine and hero's connection felt mostly related to physical attraction. In this book, though, our protags form a bond based on trust. Their entire story felt more romantic to me.
Really great follow-up! I have high hopes for the last book!
February 18, 2020
Light, cute read that my four year old son gifted to me for Christmas. Apparently since the cover had lots of flowers on it and his mother loves flowers, it needed to be mine.
June 1, 2022
Not bad. I wish the heroine didn't beg so much.
November 19, 2018
Available November 27: The Girl with the Sweetest Secret by Bettina Krahn
***** 4.5/5 stars: Ignore the mediocre cover, because The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is witty, and action-packed.
Recommended readers:
If you like plenty of action in your historical romances
If you like characters who disregard society
If you like anything Candace Camp
Here's my Rankings:
4/5 for characters
5/5 for plot
4.5/5 overall
3/5 steaminess
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:
Don't let the frilly purple dress on the mediocre cover fool you, The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is one of my favorite historical romance reads this year. Frances "Frankie" Bumgarten is a wealthy American debutante and her mother is striving to impress the English aristocrats. When Frankie runs into Viscount Tannehill, who is bringing her uncle home from drinking and gambling, the two decide to help each other. While Frankie is being pursued by a Duke, the Viscount does some sleuthing.
The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is one of the best historical romances I've recently read. A multi-faceted plot keeps you on your toes. A lovable character - Frankie - makes you want her end up happy. And the combination along with some fun, quick-witted dialogue and you won't want to stop reading. A definite must-read for any historical romance lover.
Available November 27: The Girl with the Sweetest Secret by Bettina Krahn
***** 4.5/5 stars: Ignore the mediocre cover, because The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is witty, and action-packed.
Recommended readers:
If you like plenty of action in your historical romances
If you like characters who disregard society
If you like anything Candace Camp
Here's my Rankings:
4/5 for characters
5/5 for plot
4.5/5 overall
3/5 steaminess
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:
Don't let the frilly purple dress on the mediocre cover fool you, The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is one of my favorite historical romance reads this year. Frances "Frankie" Bumgarten is a wealthy American debutante and her mother is striving to impress the English aristocrats. When Frankie runs into Viscount Tannehill, who is bringing her uncle home from drinking and gambling, the two decide to help each other. While Frankie is being pursued by a Duke, the Viscount does some sleuthing.
The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is one of the best historical romances I've recently read. A multi-faceted plot keeps you on your toes. A lovable character - Frankie - makes you want her end up happy. And the combination along with some fun, quick-witted dialogue and you won't want to stop reading. A definite must-read for any historical romance lover.
Available November 27: The Girl with the Sweetest Secret by Bettina Krahn
November 25, 2018
This book was good but it took me a bit to get into it. Once I did I couldn't put it down. Frankie is a stubborn, determined, young lady who is used to running around doing the things she loves without repercussions. Now she in London and not Nevada anymore. Her mother is determined to make marriage matches that will rise the girls and make them comfortable for life. HOwever each of the Baumgarten sisters have their own plans.
Reynard has had his own set of issues and thanks to a promise to his friend from school, he's now in Frankie's path. What he once valued now doesn't make him feel the same any more. The adventures they are put on are going to test not only each other but quite a few of their other acquaintances and family as well. All in all it was a good book.
Reynard has had his own set of issues and thanks to a promise to his friend from school, he's now in Frankie's path. What he once valued now doesn't make him feel the same any more. The adventures they are put on are going to test not only each other but quite a few of their other acquaintances and family as well. All in all it was a good book.
November 17, 2018
Fantastic! I was hesitant at first to read this book because one of its main characters is from America. Sometimes American’s in the London scene are portrayed as outlandish, simpleminded or uncivilized. This author was quite the opposite and portrayed them perfectly. The chemistry between Reynard and Frankie was amazing. This is not a rip you clothes off kind of story. Their emotions and actions were perfectly simmering until fully realized. I like romances that have a secondary story line not just about two people falling in love but also includes some sort of obstacle or conflict to overcome. This story did not fail. Dialogue was lively and made me laugh. There are several conflicts in the story that come together beautifully for a perfect ending. Several times I went to work the next day still tired because I couldn’t put the book down at night. This is the second book and can stand alone if you haven’t read the first. I had not read the first but am going to now. I highly recommend. I was provided this as an ARC from NetGalley and am giving an honest review.
November 13, 2018
There was a lot going on in this book. And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT! My emotions were all over the place, my heart would drop and then I would be so happy for Frankie. It was a Rollercoaster for sure. An enjoyable read and a hard earned HEA.
November 2, 2018
I really enjoyed Frances and Reynard's story. After meeting Reynard in book one of the series, I was excited to watch him fall in love!
When Frances's sister finds herself in love with a musician, she needs to know if the man is good enough for her. She decides to go to Reynard as he is well known for having the latest gossip and the sources to dirt up dirt. Having long ago decided never to marry, she is surprised to find herself falling for Reynard.
When Frances approaches Reynard for help, he can't refuse. He promised his best friend to look out for the Bumgarten sisters while they were in town. He had mostly kept his distance from the women and after spending time with Frances, can't seem to help but fall in love. But with his inheritance in question, he can't offer for anyone. But when an evil duke schemes to marry Frances, Reynard has to decide if his love is enough. Can Reynard save Frances from the evil duke and make her his own?
I loved watching these two come together. The bantering between them had me laughing out loud. I can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy and see what Krahn has in store for the last Bumgarten sister!
When Frances's sister finds herself in love with a musician, she needs to know if the man is good enough for her. She decides to go to Reynard as he is well known for having the latest gossip and the sources to dirt up dirt. Having long ago decided never to marry, she is surprised to find herself falling for Reynard.
When Frances approaches Reynard for help, he can't refuse. He promised his best friend to look out for the Bumgarten sisters while they were in town. He had mostly kept his distance from the women and after spending time with Frances, can't seem to help but fall in love. But with his inheritance in question, he can't offer for anyone. But when an evil duke schemes to marry Frances, Reynard has to decide if his love is enough. Can Reynard save Frances from the evil duke and make her his own?
I loved watching these two come together. The bantering between them had me laughing out loud. I can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy and see what Krahn has in store for the last Bumgarten sister!
November 1, 2018
This is the first book by Ms Krahn that I have read and what a read it was. It was a long read but it kept you turning the page with no boredom in it. The characters were well written and worked well together and although it was long, there was not a lot of filler. There was romance, adventure, suspense, secrets, action and lots of romance. I loved that the fact that there was more than one romance and that you got to see the end in this book instead of having to wait for the next book. Although this is the second in the series it can be read as a standalone book. There was a sex scene and as usual this reviewer skipped it but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book. I will be reading many more from this author. I received this book as an ARC.
August 21, 2022
Je vais être franche, depuis quelque temps pour ne pas dire mois voire année, je trouve que la romance historique outre atlantique a beaucoup perdue. La plupart des histoires se ressemblent toutes et offrent peu de matière avec un contexte peu creusé. Tout reste survolé tout est mis en œuvre pour mettre en avant une romance entre les héros qui n’a, en général, rien de très extraordinaire.
Bon, la plupart se lisent, mais hélas s’oublient assez vite faute de matière. Hormis quelques perles rares… mais bref. Du coup, je me fis au petit macaron estampillé « coup de cœur » en me disant que le récit pourrait faire mouche.
Bon, on ne va pas se mentir, si j’ai lu La fille au doux secret avec plaisir, c’est loin d’être un coup de cœur. Déjà, parce que dans le même style, c’est-à-dire, des filles américaines à marier, je préfère de loin les histoires écrites, soit par Lisa Kleypas soit Joanna Shupe (une autrice de cette époque qui sort un peu des sentiers battus par rapport aux autres, enfin selon mon point de vue).
Ce que j’ai aimé ici, hormis le fait d’avoir une héroïne sympathique qui aimerait faire ce qui lui plait, mais est carrément malmenée par sa mère bien décidée à la marier à un riche parti anglais ? La plume agréable de l’autrice !
Frances, surnommée Frankie par ses proches va devoir faire bonne figure malgré le fait qu’elle ne veuille pas du duc allemand, quelque peu étrange, que sa mère veut lui imposer. Pour cela, elle va s’allier au meilleur ami de son beau-frère, Reynard, qui sait mieux que personne dénicher les secrets des autres.
Entre nous, Reynard ne m’a pas marquée plus que ça (même avec son passé sombre) et sa relation avec Frankie, si elle est sympathique, n’a rien d’extraordinaire. Pas de frissons, pas beaucoup de tension sexuelle entre eux. Cependant, leurs réparties restent assez plaisantes. Quant au dénouement, il est arrivé parce qu’il fallait une fin heureuse, mais là encore, j’ai trouvé qu’entre les héros ça manquait cruellement d’alchimie.
Dans l’ensemble, la plume de Betina Krahn reste plaisante, mais… je ne garderai pas un souvenir impérissable de cette histoire. C’est simple, il y a un tome 1 que je n’ai pas lu (l’histoire du meilleur ami de Reynard et de la sœur aînée de Frankie) et bien, cette suite ne m’a pas donné envie de le découvrir plus que ça.
Voilà une romance historique dans l’air du temps qui hélas ne s’est pas démarquée à mes yeux, mais qui se laisse lire.
Bon, la plupart se lisent, mais hélas s’oublient assez vite faute de matière. Hormis quelques perles rares… mais bref. Du coup, je me fis au petit macaron estampillé « coup de cœur » en me disant que le récit pourrait faire mouche.
Bon, on ne va pas se mentir, si j’ai lu La fille au doux secret avec plaisir, c’est loin d’être un coup de cœur. Déjà, parce que dans le même style, c’est-à-dire, des filles américaines à marier, je préfère de loin les histoires écrites, soit par Lisa Kleypas soit Joanna Shupe (une autrice de cette époque qui sort un peu des sentiers battus par rapport aux autres, enfin selon mon point de vue).
Ce que j’ai aimé ici, hormis le fait d’avoir une héroïne sympathique qui aimerait faire ce qui lui plait, mais est carrément malmenée par sa mère bien décidée à la marier à un riche parti anglais ? La plume agréable de l’autrice !
Frances, surnommée Frankie par ses proches va devoir faire bonne figure malgré le fait qu’elle ne veuille pas du duc allemand, quelque peu étrange, que sa mère veut lui imposer. Pour cela, elle va s’allier au meilleur ami de son beau-frère, Reynard, qui sait mieux que personne dénicher les secrets des autres.
Entre nous, Reynard ne m’a pas marquée plus que ça (même avec son passé sombre) et sa relation avec Frankie, si elle est sympathique, n’a rien d’extraordinaire. Pas de frissons, pas beaucoup de tension sexuelle entre eux. Cependant, leurs réparties restent assez plaisantes. Quant au dénouement, il est arrivé parce qu’il fallait une fin heureuse, mais là encore, j’ai trouvé qu’entre les héros ça manquait cruellement d’alchimie.
Dans l’ensemble, la plume de Betina Krahn reste plaisante, mais… je ne garderai pas un souvenir impérissable de cette histoire. C’est simple, il y a un tome 1 que je n’ai pas lu (l’histoire du meilleur ami de Reynard et de la sœur aînée de Frankie) et bien, cette suite ne m’a pas donné envie de le découvrir plus que ça.
Voilà une romance historique dans l’air du temps qui hélas ne s’est pas démarquée à mes yeux, mais qui se laisse lire.
November 28, 2018
This review first appeared on the blog Ally's Appraisals: https://wp.me/p37L0Q-14K
The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is a great example of what historical romance novels can be - the book was well written, engaging, and funny! From start to finish I found myself reading with a smile on my face.
One of the draws for me was the language that Frankie used throughout the book. With a backstory that sees her travelling from Nevada to upper-crust England, Frankie walks the line between propriety and her ranching background. The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is littered with great examples of American lingo that hilariously slip out of Frankie. It was really great being able to read such a developed and distinct character, I found myself connecting and enjoying Frankie from the first page.
The overall plot of the novel is way more expansive and interesting than other historical romances. With backdrops that branch from Nevada, to London, to Paris. The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is simply put, interesting. The book takes you on an adventure that spans across multiple countries and brings so many interesting characters to life.
The mix of nationalities and language aside, The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is well written and incredibly entertaining. I enjoyed the book so much I am planning on reading the first book of the series. Betina Krahn has officially been added to my authors to watch list.
Best Bits:
*That cover! I absolutely adore this cover! The colour scheme combined with the floral background looks so amazing! I know that if I was working in the library and saw this on the shelf, I would definitely pick it up!
*That title! I kept waiting for a reference to the title to make an appearance and when it did, it did not disappoint <3
Recommendations: If you're after a historical romance that breaks away from the pack, then The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is for you. The book was so interesting and well written, any fan of the genre should give it a go!
Please note: I received a copy of The Girl with the Sweetest Secret from NetGalley.
The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is a great example of what historical romance novels can be - the book was well written, engaging, and funny! From start to finish I found myself reading with a smile on my face.
One of the draws for me was the language that Frankie used throughout the book. With a backstory that sees her travelling from Nevada to upper-crust England, Frankie walks the line between propriety and her ranching background. The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is littered with great examples of American lingo that hilariously slip out of Frankie. It was really great being able to read such a developed and distinct character, I found myself connecting and enjoying Frankie from the first page.
The overall plot of the novel is way more expansive and interesting than other historical romances. With backdrops that branch from Nevada, to London, to Paris. The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is simply put, interesting. The book takes you on an adventure that spans across multiple countries and brings so many interesting characters to life.
The mix of nationalities and language aside, The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is well written and incredibly entertaining. I enjoyed the book so much I am planning on reading the first book of the series. Betina Krahn has officially been added to my authors to watch list.
Best Bits:
*That cover! I absolutely adore this cover! The colour scheme combined with the floral background looks so amazing! I know that if I was working in the library and saw this on the shelf, I would definitely pick it up!
*That title! I kept waiting for a reference to the title to make an appearance and when it did, it did not disappoint <3
Recommendations: If you're after a historical romance that breaks away from the pack, then The Girl with the Sweetest Secret is for you. The book was so interesting and well written, any fan of the genre should give it a go!
Please note: I received a copy of The Girl with the Sweetest Secret from NetGalley.
October 31, 2018
This was a Goodreads gift that I heartily endorse. It had everything in it. There were characters, like Frankie who doesn't want to marry the earl her mother has demanded of her. Frankie is full of spirit, humor and determination. She's interested in Reynard, who is handsome but doesn't want to tie the knot. There is lots of action, her sister runs off after her musician, the earl tries desperately to wrangle Frankie into marriage and there is steamy romance and just pure enjoyment all around. Well done Betina. If there are sequels. I want them!
October 30, 2018
After finding a handsome stranger in her kitchen in the middle of the night, Frances Bumgarten's first impulse is to whack him in the head with a bread paddle. After the damage is done, she discovers he is the nephew of the Viscount of Tannehill who was just bringing her inebriated uncle home. This is an entertaining love story filled with action and twists and turns. It will keep you reading to see what trouble Frances gets into next. It is sure to please lovers of historical romance. I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 1, 2018
I loved this book. This is the first time I have read this author and it won't be the last, she has made me a fan. The story was intriguing, the characters were interesting and the romance was sweet.
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