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Darling
A PAST SHE CANNOT REMEMBER ...
They told her that her name was Selena Vale, that she lived in a grand English manor in the scenic Maryland countryside --- and that she was the wife of a very wealthy man.
But to Selena --- her memory shrouded in amnesia--that was part of a forgotten past. Although handsome Noble Harrington Vale is a man she would love to remember, she feels adrift in a house of strangers, where no promise can be believed, and no kiss trusted ...
A LOVE SHE WILL NEVER FORGET ...
Chilling secrets of murder and madness taint the Vale name. Secrets hidden in love letters penned by distant admirers. Secrets held by the shadowy blackmailer who calls Selena "Emma" and threatens to expose her. Secrets that make her fear for her sanity --- and her survival.
If she is not Selena, then who is she? And once she uncovers the truth, will she lose the man whose name she shares--the sensual, tender lover who simply calls her ... DARLING
They told her that her name was Selena Vale, that she lived in a grand English manor in the scenic Maryland countryside --- and that she was the wife of a very wealthy man.
But to Selena --- her memory shrouded in amnesia--that was part of a forgotten past. Although handsome Noble Harrington Vale is a man she would love to remember, she feels adrift in a house of strangers, where no promise can be believed, and no kiss trusted ...
A LOVE SHE WILL NEVER FORGET ...
Chilling secrets of murder and madness taint the Vale name. Secrets hidden in love letters penned by distant admirers. Secrets held by the shadowy blackmailer who calls Selena "Emma" and threatens to expose her. Secrets that make her fear for her sanity --- and her survival.
If she is not Selena, then who is she? And once she uncovers the truth, will she lose the man whose name she shares--the sensual, tender lover who simply calls her ... DARLING
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1996
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 21, 2016
I was born and christened on the fourteenth day of April, 1885, on the muddy sidewalk of a busy New York City thoroughfare, beneath the marquee of Tony Pastor's Burlesque. I was twenty-three years old at the time, or so I was later told and the first face I saw -blurred,spectacled and topped with a gray bowler hat- belonged to my unlikely midwife.
"Stand back!" he barked at the gathering crowd. "Give the lady air!" He tugged at my collar and patted my face, muttering, "Dear Lord, what will he say to this?"
I tried to speak, but he hushed me, saying, "Do not tax yourself, Mrs. Vale. I'll hail a cab."
The American, Noble Harrington Vale, married the young and beautiful Selena Dominique Arielle Gericault of Montreal, in 1880. Little was he aware of Selena's true character. Within a very short time, they hated each other and lived at separate residences. Each of them continued with their lives until, one day, Selina was no more. She had gone missing and Noble wanted out. Out of his marriage, that is, so he hired a gentleman to find her. No matter the cost. Almost a year went by....
When she was found on the street, the heroine had no knowledge of whom she was. The gentleman, Mr. Simmons, told her she was married and he was taking her home. Hesitant but bewildered, Selina and her chaperone travelled to the horse country of Maryland. She soon learned the mysterious Noble Vale was a prosperous and honorable man.
But the present-Selena was not like the old Serena; she was guileless and sweet. She was also book-smart but gullible and trusting yet naive. I enjoyed the h's relationship with her personal maid, Patience. I took pleasure with her kindness towards her cook, Sissy, and her delightful friendship with her husband's neighbor, Captain McCallister. Even Mr. Kirkabee Simmons became her champion.
Then there was Noble. Angry, confused, intense, lovable and despicable but most of all, scared. This was a man who had been put through the wringer with his marriage. He had loved deeply yet he was immensely hurt at what Selena had done to him. To their marriage. He had been cuckolded, shot at and embarrassed. After Serena and Noble meet up again, his resentment was amplified, making for a few poor choices. But if you read between the lines, you could sense his fear.
The romance was a puzzle; the farther you read, the more clues you were given. The first two-thirds of the story was fast-paced. What kept me from giving this light suspense/mystery and love-story five stars was the length. I thought it was about 50-75 pages too long. There were several areas that needed less description and could have easily been edited out. Other than this, I enjoyed their story and would consider reading something else by this author.
"Stand back!" he barked at the gathering crowd. "Give the lady air!" He tugged at my collar and patted my face, muttering, "Dear Lord, what will he say to this?"
I tried to speak, but he hushed me, saying, "Do not tax yourself, Mrs. Vale. I'll hail a cab."
The American, Noble Harrington Vale, married the young and beautiful Selena Dominique Arielle Gericault of Montreal, in 1880. Little was he aware of Selena's true character. Within a very short time, they hated each other and lived at separate residences. Each of them continued with their lives until, one day, Selina was no more. She had gone missing and Noble wanted out. Out of his marriage, that is, so he hired a gentleman to find her. No matter the cost. Almost a year went by....
When she was found on the street, the heroine had no knowledge of whom she was. The gentleman, Mr. Simmons, told her she was married and he was taking her home. Hesitant but bewildered, Selina and her chaperone travelled to the horse country of Maryland. She soon learned the mysterious Noble Vale was a prosperous and honorable man.
But the present-Selena was not like the old Serena; she was guileless and sweet. She was also book-smart but gullible and trusting yet naive. I enjoyed the h's relationship with her personal maid, Patience. I took pleasure with her kindness towards her cook, Sissy, and her delightful friendship with her husband's neighbor, Captain McCallister. Even Mr. Kirkabee Simmons became her champion.
Then there was Noble. Angry, confused, intense, lovable and despicable but most of all, scared. This was a man who had been put through the wringer with his marriage. He had loved deeply yet he was immensely hurt at what Selena had done to him. To their marriage. He had been cuckolded, shot at and embarrassed. After Serena and Noble meet up again, his resentment was amplified, making for a few poor choices. But if you read between the lines, you could sense his fear.
The romance was a puzzle; the farther you read, the more clues you were given. The first two-thirds of the story was fast-paced. What kept me from giving this light suspense/mystery and love-story five stars was the length. I thought it was about 50-75 pages too long. There were several areas that needed less description and could have easily been edited out. Other than this, I enjoyed their story and would consider reading something else by this author.
April 10, 2023
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that this book was very entertaining, but the h, (the "darling" the title refer to) sure does go through a lot! When the book starts, she has amnesia, and part of what she remembers, she'd like to forget! That, however, does not include Noble, the H of the story, who's apparently her husband, and less than pleased about that!
There's a lot to this tale, including mistaken identity, con artists, kidnapping, murder, blackmail, adultery, and all sorts of mix-ups and mysteries, along with a very unique (and somewhat eccentric) character who reminds me of Sherlock Holmes. It can be frustrating at times, as the clues lead to more mysteries, and memories lead to more confusion, but it never gets boring!
Read and have fun!
There's a lot to this tale, including mistaken identity, con artists, kidnapping, murder, blackmail, adultery, and all sorts of mix-ups and mysteries, along with a very unique (and somewhat eccentric) character who reminds me of Sherlock Holmes. It can be frustrating at times, as the clues lead to more mysteries, and memories lead to more confusion, but it never gets boring!
Read and have fun!
February 9, 2014
Not my usual genre...recently started reading books from my deceased mother's collection that I haven't read yet.
For a Victorian Era romance, I think it was well-written; but I must point out, again, not a genre I normally read.
I do feel the heroine was a little not heroic, but suffering amnesia makes it hard to be a strong mind and will.
For a Victorian Era romance, I think it was well-written; but I must point out, again, not a genre I normally read.
I do feel the heroine was a little not heroic, but suffering amnesia makes it hard to be a strong mind and will.
February 22, 2014
Good book, very interesting plot line.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews