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The Secret Diary of a Magnificent Lady
Matilda Ayles is not a woman of nobility, but her heart has always beaten for a charming Marquess ever since she was a child. But when she suddenly finds out the striking news that her childhood sweetheart is engaged to another, her hopes dissolve and her heart is torn apart. Is there anything left to let her believe that the door to his heart might one day be open again, or has she lost him forever?
Henry Montague is under a lot of pressure to marry a woman of his father’s choosing. When a dear friend approaches him with an unusual request, he decides that they have no other option than scheming together . But as their false betrothal is celebrated among their ignorant families, he finds himself enraptured by a woman he meets by chance. Will he find a way to court the fascinating lady who has stolen his heart, even though he is engaged to another?
Matilda’s diary holds all her secrets, and when it falls into the hands of Henry, she wants nothing more than to run away. Will having all her secrets exposed to Henry cause more chaos in her life, or will it offer her a way to achieve what her heart deeply wants?
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2019
About the author
Aria Norton
188 books58 followersAria Norton grew up in Sussex, England. She left abroad for studies but returned after she got married to her husband, and they currently live with their two wonderful children.
She has worked as a History teacher for years, but she always wrote stories whenever she got the chance. Putting her knowledge of history to a creative use was a dream of hers ever since she was a college student. She finally found a way around that plan, when her best friend suggested that she attends a creative writing class, which changed her life forever!
When she’s not teaching and writing, Aria loves watching true crime documentaries with her husband, drinking fine wine with her friends, and reading romance novels!
Aria always enjoys connecting with her readers!
She has worked as a History teacher for years, but she always wrote stories whenever she got the chance. Putting her knowledge of history to a creative use was a dream of hers ever since she was a college student. She finally found a way around that plan, when her best friend suggested that she attends a creative writing class, which changed her life forever!
When she’s not teaching and writing, Aria loves watching true crime documentaries with her husband, drinking fine wine with her friends, and reading romance novels!
Aria always enjoys connecting with her readers!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 25 reviews
February 9, 2020
This is the third Historical Romance 'author' I have discovered today that I have to give a one star rating to. Firstly, it has many 5 star reviews - by readers with no photos attached to their sites either on GR or Amazon. Secondly, the writing is dreadful. Third, there is double spacing after most sentences, so if you want to give this author the satisfaction of making lots of money due to lots of pages viewed on KU, then go ahead and purchase it and flick to the end. Forth, this is my reminder not to purchase books by this author...😪
March 7, 2020
The Love💕 of Their Lives
Sweet🍬 Regency Romance
Matilda💃 has loved Henry Montague🐺, the Marquis of Kimboldt, since she was twelve and he was fourteen. Her family is landed gentry, but not nobility.
Henry🐺 is the son of the Duke of Hampton, so his parents expect him to marry the daughter of a Duke or other nobleman.
Mary Anne👸, the daughter of Lord Brentwood, is in The same fix, for she is in love with Jonathan, an attorney, a man below her station in life too. They plan to elope as soon as he has saved enough money. Otherwise her parents plan to marry her off to an old, vile, Earl.
Henry🐺 and Mary Anne👸 decide to establish a false engagement, which buys them both time. Henry🐺 doesn't realize how it will devastate Matilda💃, because he doesn't yet know of her 💘Love for him.
When Matilda💃 and Henry🐺 meet again at a ball after years apart and he reintroduces himself to her, he begins to have an inkling of what his secret will do to her💔. Henry🐺 realizes his false engagement is holding him back from courting Matilda💃.
Matilda💃 keeps her thoughts of love for Henry🐺 a secret, only writing her feelings in her diary. Henry🐺 keeps his feelings hidden, too, because his parents want an arranged marriage for him, and would never condone a love match💕 to the daughter of a mere gentleman.
ARC Received from Author📚 via Amazon Free.
Opinions Expressed here are my own.
I enjoyed this book of unrequited love💕 very much. The author made me feel like I was there in the room with her characters! This is the first romance novel by This author , and it's a great start!
Sweet🍬 Regency Romance
Matilda💃 has loved Henry Montague🐺, the Marquis of Kimboldt, since she was twelve and he was fourteen. Her family is landed gentry, but not nobility.
Henry🐺 is the son of the Duke of Hampton, so his parents expect him to marry the daughter of a Duke or other nobleman.
Mary Anne👸, the daughter of Lord Brentwood, is in The same fix, for she is in love with Jonathan, an attorney, a man below her station in life too. They plan to elope as soon as he has saved enough money. Otherwise her parents plan to marry her off to an old, vile, Earl.
Henry🐺 and Mary Anne👸 decide to establish a false engagement, which buys them both time. Henry🐺 doesn't realize how it will devastate Matilda💃, because he doesn't yet know of her 💘Love for him.
When Matilda💃 and Henry🐺 meet again at a ball after years apart and he reintroduces himself to her, he begins to have an inkling of what his secret will do to her💔. Henry🐺 realizes his false engagement is holding him back from courting Matilda💃.
Matilda💃 keeps her thoughts of love for Henry🐺 a secret, only writing her feelings in her diary. Henry🐺 keeps his feelings hidden, too, because his parents want an arranged marriage for him, and would never condone a love match💕 to the daughter of a mere gentleman.
ARC Received from Author📚 via Amazon Free.
Opinions Expressed here are my own.
I enjoyed this book of unrequited love💕 very much. The author made me feel like I was there in the room with her characters! This is the first romance novel by This author , and it's a great start!
September 21, 2022
DNF at 11%. Oh my God, I had to stop reading. The dialogue and internal monologues just gave me a headache. So bad. I very rarely don’t finish a book. And even more rarely not get through the majority of the book. I tried. I really did. The author tried to write in, what they thought was old British language, to some extent, sounded okay but for the most part it was bad. You’d have to see it to understand. I can’t continue. So sorry to the author. Also, skipped quickly between scenes or thoughts was jarring. Okay for a rough draft, but please go back and try again.
April 7, 2020
What a lovely romance. The story was very fluid from page to page. It was hard to set this down. A girl of four and ten had a diary that she shared her innermost thoughts and dreams. She also wrote poetry. The object of her affection was a boy of six and ten and he was a marquis heir to a duke. Throughout the years she never forgot him and now she was of the age of her come out. She is a kind, thoughtful gentle soul that stuck to the shadows because she thought herself plain compared to her older sister. Her mother was heavily pressuring her to make a match before the season ended. Our heroine wanted one thing and one thing only, she wanted to marry for love and if she could have it with the Marquis her life would be complete. But then the news of his engagement came to her and she felt devastated. Little did she know there was a scheme a foot. All these details, feelings and emotions went into her diary. The Marquis is a mature man, loyal to his friends and a dutiful son. He too was being pressured into a match and wanted none of it. When his best friend, a woman that he loved as a sister, came to him aggrieved for the situation she was in, the Marquis could come up with one solution. An engagement between them. Never in a million years did he ever think he would meet his soulmate. What were the chances? Now he realized he could not pursue his true intended because he was engaged. What a conundrum. There would be small opportunities here and there for them to chat. The heroine could not help but fall more in love with the Marquis. She knew it was wrong but there was no stopping what her heart felt. Her older sister knew something was a foot and took action much to the painful shock and embarrassment of our heroine. Then the Marquis knew he had one opportunity to make everything right for his dear friend and for his soulmate. So much could go wrong. So much did go wrong. But you will find this ends in a most endearing happily ever after. I really enjoyed reading this and do recommend it.
April 25, 2020
Lovely sweet read
Matilda was constantly harranged by her mother. She could never please her. She felt plain, because her mother was constantly telling her that her looks would never catch a titled husband. Matilda frankly didn't care, because she had chosen her heart keeper years earlier, when she was but fourteen. She even wrote in her diary, where she wrote her darkest feelings and her poetry (because her mother also berated and chastised her for that bit of frivilous nonsense) that she wished someday to be his duchess.That he was the son of a duke mattered not to her, nor did his wealth have an impact on her. It was only when her older sister found love with a young man who was friends with her heart's desire that she finally began to take notice. And no sooner had Mati!da seen him she found he was already engaged to a kind,lovely young woman. Try as she might, Matilda could not change her feelings, and when she began chaperoning her sister's encounters with her suitor, she was both delighted and horrified to find that as often as not, her dream duke accompanied them. The time spent with him was wonderful, but the guilt overwrote the things her heart felt and that she in fact, wrote into her diary. It was her only release, because she could tell no one, not even her dearest friend, her sister. And then one day, Matilda found tbat her dear, dear diary was missing. Of course her mother had taken it, even though she vehemently denied it...
Ms Norton has written a wonderful story of friendship and love. Her characters are both frustrated and courageous, kind and devious. Great story!!! I got this book in exchange for writing an honest review. Anyone with a foot into Reggency romance should really enjoy it.
Matilda was constantly harranged by her mother. She could never please her. She felt plain, because her mother was constantly telling her that her looks would never catch a titled husband. Matilda frankly didn't care, because she had chosen her heart keeper years earlier, when she was but fourteen. She even wrote in her diary, where she wrote her darkest feelings and her poetry (because her mother also berated and chastised her for that bit of frivilous nonsense) that she wished someday to be his duchess.That he was the son of a duke mattered not to her, nor did his wealth have an impact on her. It was only when her older sister found love with a young man who was friends with her heart's desire that she finally began to take notice. And no sooner had Mati!da seen him she found he was already engaged to a kind,lovely young woman. Try as she might, Matilda could not change her feelings, and when she began chaperoning her sister's encounters with her suitor, she was both delighted and horrified to find that as often as not, her dream duke accompanied them. The time spent with him was wonderful, but the guilt overwrote the things her heart felt and that she in fact, wrote into her diary. It was her only release, because she could tell no one, not even her dearest friend, her sister. And then one day, Matilda found tbat her dear, dear diary was missing. Of course her mother had taken it, even though she vehemently denied it...
Ms Norton has written a wonderful story of friendship and love. Her characters are both frustrated and courageous, kind and devious. Great story!!! I got this book in exchange for writing an honest review. Anyone with a foot into Reggency romance should really enjoy it.
April 24, 2020
This book is about a very nosy controlling Mother with 2 marriage aged daughters that she’s pushing them to get married this Season.
Emma finds a possible catch which makes her parents ecstatic. Matilda dreams of being with a childhood friend who is a Marquis.
A very delightful story of the way society behaves with all expectations that are placed on marriage aged folks.
Emma finds a possible catch which makes her parents ecstatic. Matilda dreams of being with a childhood friend who is a Marquis.
A very delightful story of the way society behaves with all expectations that are placed on marriage aged folks.
April 29, 2020
The of two sisters finding husbands they truly loved
The story was Delightful with honest emotion and reaction. Mama was a bit demanding trying to lead them to men of distinction and means. Mama would not agree to marrying for love. This book many smile as I read along, not wanting to put the book down..
The story was Delightful with honest emotion and reaction. Mama was a bit demanding trying to lead them to men of distinction and means. Mama would not agree to marrying for love. This book many smile as I read along, not wanting to put the book down..
January 14, 2023
Research is needed
Over and over again I noticed that the details didn't make good sense. For example the guinea a unit of money but it's about equivalent to our dollar( Wikipedia). But in the book It's sounds like a great fortune. I think that needed to do a lot more research before Writing this book
Over and over again I noticed that the details didn't make good sense. For example the guinea a unit of money but it's about equivalent to our dollar( Wikipedia). But in the book It's sounds like a great fortune. I think that needed to do a lot more research before Writing this book
April 19, 2020
A Dream Come True Romance
This is such a great romantic story. The eldest sister meets the love of her life but the younger sister met the love of her life as a child. It is so romantic how they each get their loves.
This is such a great romantic story. The eldest sister meets the love of her life but the younger sister met the love of her life as a child. It is so romantic how they each get their loves.
October 22, 2020
A Story of love based on social differences (powerful titled men, strong but poor women from lower social class - commoner) are always a good start to disaster if not backup with real true love and strong will to achieve a greater goal... a forever ever happy life.
The obstacles to achieve love are numerous and great but our heroes are really strong willed and don't give up until they marry the love of their life...
The obstacles to achieve love are numerous and great but our heroes are really strong willed and don't give up until they marry the love of their life...
June 25, 2024
Matilda and Henry
Henry is nobility, but Matilda is not. She has been entranced with him since they were children. He is engaged to a woman of nobility but is very attracted to Matilda. Quite a tale.
Henry is nobility, but Matilda is not. She has been entranced with him since they were children. He is engaged to a woman of nobility but is very attracted to Matilda. Quite a tale.
July 13, 2021
A nice, quick read. Could have had better editing.
November 14, 2024
Too convuluted. She's been in love with him since childhood. He's pretending to be engaged. Her sister micromanages their courtship. Awkward!
October 8, 2019
ONE EXCITING WHIRLWIND!!!
Hearts aflame! Aria captivated me from the first page. I was floored by this refreshing spin on this take of the Regency Era no-no. You can not help but fall in love. All the botches, trips, snags, mishaps and mayhem takes you on one incredible adventure with this unconventional storyline and thrilling plot. Sparks fly as drama, intrigue and suspense ensues in epic proportions. Throw in distress and trumoil and you have the makings of one fantastic dynamo. This baby showcases 100% on point realism, kicking up a churning vortex chocked-full of vexing circumstances and a slew of surprising events that keep you flipping page after page. The characters are authentic and realistic with depth and traits that rock this baby to its core. The scenes are described so colorfully you have no trouble interpreting each scenario as they play off one another smoothly. Remarkable job Aria, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
Hearts aflame! Aria captivated me from the first page. I was floored by this refreshing spin on this take of the Regency Era no-no. You can not help but fall in love. All the botches, trips, snags, mishaps and mayhem takes you on one incredible adventure with this unconventional storyline and thrilling plot. Sparks fly as drama, intrigue and suspense ensues in epic proportions. Throw in distress and trumoil and you have the makings of one fantastic dynamo. This baby showcases 100% on point realism, kicking up a churning vortex chocked-full of vexing circumstances and a slew of surprising events that keep you flipping page after page. The characters are authentic and realistic with depth and traits that rock this baby to its core. The scenes are described so colorfully you have no trouble interpreting each scenario as they play off one another smoothly. Remarkable job Aria, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
November 5, 2019
My first book by This author, but 5 stars for an excellent plot, storyline and characters. Well developed individuals presented that kept the story moving along at a rapid pace. The reader is introduced to Henry, Mary Ann and Matilda and the romance struggles that each of them is facing. An enjoyable book but plan some free time before starting this book because it is rather lengthy, but well worth your time.
I received an ARC copy of the book. This is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
I received an ARC copy of the book. This is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
October 8, 2019
Must read
This is truly a heartwarming, beautifully written story. She has loved him from a young age but never thought the feelings would be returned. In helping a friend in need he soon realizes he has made the biggest mistake in his life. Will this mistake cost him everything or will fate smile upon them?
This is truly a heartwarming, beautifully written story. She has loved him from a young age but never thought the feelings would be returned. In helping a friend in need he soon realizes he has made the biggest mistake in his life. Will this mistake cost him everything or will fate smile upon them?
October 14, 2019
A splendid new author for me.
I loved this wonderful book it was beautifully written with such likable characters. There is drama with an outstanding flow and has an amazing storyline that completely draws you into it. I must say for me this was an unexpected pleasure and one best historical romance I have read. I highly recommend this one I am so happy I got the chance to read it.
I loved this wonderful book it was beautifully written with such likable characters. There is drama with an outstanding flow and has an amazing storyline that completely draws you into it. I must say for me this was an unexpected pleasure and one best historical romance I have read. I highly recommend this one I am so happy I got the chance to read it.
October 15, 2019
The Secret Diary of a Magnificent Lady :A Historical Regency Romance Book
A very good story about love and family and friends that are together in love and secrets and a young woman that puts all her feelings in a diary and this diary gave Henry hope about Matilda's feelings this is the first story that I have read by this author and it is great
A very good story about love and family and friends that are together in love and secrets and a young woman that puts all her feelings in a diary and this diary gave Henry hope about Matilda's feelings this is the first story that I have read by this author and it is great
December 6, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I didn’t want to put it down.
It has been saved as a favourite.
Fabulous storyline, and absolutely loveable characters. A perfect combination of heartache and joy.
There were a few typos, etc, but they weren’t enough to douse my enjoyment.
I look forward to reading more of your works, Aria.
It has been saved as a favourite.
Fabulous storyline, and absolutely loveable characters. A perfect combination of heartache and joy.
There were a few typos, etc, but they weren’t enough to douse my enjoyment.
I look forward to reading more of your works, Aria.
October 12, 2019
Great Book!
Aria Norton is a wonderful author. The characters in this book are full of emotions that bring them to life for the readers. The twists are surprising and keeps the readers intrigued from start to finish. I cannot wait to read her next book!
Aria Norton is a wonderful author. The characters in this book are full of emotions that bring them to life for the readers. The twists are surprising and keeps the readers intrigued from start to finish. I cannot wait to read her next book!
October 12, 2019
A complicated situation
This is a heart wrenching, yet complicated story. One learns to love the characters even when they seem a trickster.
It is a little wordy in places but well worth your time reading this story.
This is a heart wrenching, yet complicated story. One learns to love the characters even when they seem a trickster.
It is a little wordy in places but well worth your time reading this story.
October 12, 2019
A surprising story full of twists and surprises...
A beautiful and well written story that will warm your heart...
Surprises... twists... mystery... and mysterious lady....
If you love Regency, this book is for you!
A beautiful and well written story that will warm your heart...
Surprises... twists... mystery... and mysterious lady....
If you love Regency, this book is for you!
October 19, 2019
Very enjoyable
A lively regency romance. Three romances in one book. Nicely tied together. A book well worth reading by any fans of regency romances.
A lively regency romance. Three romances in one book. Nicely tied together. A book well worth reading by any fans of regency romances.
November 1, 2019
Romance
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Displaying 1 - 24 of 25 reviews