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Medieval Song #4
Secret Song
First published in 1991, this is the final novel in the medieval Song Series by the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Roland de Tournay is a handsome rogue with a subtle wit and quick tongue. But he meets his destiny when he must rescue Daria of Fortesque - as daring, as clever, as fascinating as he is himself.
Roland de Tournay is a handsome rogue with a subtle wit and quick tongue. But he meets his destiny when he must rescue Daria of Fortesque - as daring, as clever, as fascinating as he is himself.
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 6, 2016
Leave it to Catherine Coulter to write the most perverse but unputdownable story.
I think reading a Coulter book is some kind of mental illness. I am usually appalled by her characters but they hold an odd fascination for me. Secret Song is the 4th book in her medieval series. I have read 3 out of the first 4 books and Secret Song would be my favorite out of them, or rather, the one that I find most tolerable.
This book is written in Coulter's signature style: extremely mistreated heroine, miscarriage, rape, infidelity, crude sex scenes and an asshole for a hero. I honestly do not know why I wanted to re-read it, but I did and I probably will in the future. Anyone who is familiar with Coulter's style will find no surprise in this book. And readers who are new to Coulter, proceed with caution.
The main conflict in this story is Roland refused to believe Daria about their first sexual encounter. Roland was fevered and pretty much delusional when it happened. And Daria never planned on telling him anyways. But of course Daria got pregnant. Someone had to marry her. She told the truth, but nobody believed her. Roland was PISSED OFF, but for whatever reason he didn't understand, he agreed to marry Daria and claim the baby as his own, even though he never believed for a second that it was his baby. This baby business grated on his pride and nerves. Daria insisted that she was telling the truth (and she was), and Roland, as pig-headed as most Coulter heroes, refused to believe her. Even though they both cared for each other, Roland was too much of a medieval man (aka I can sleep with whoever I want but my wife must be a virgin kind of man) to appreciate their union.
I must say that Roland is not a bad hero. Really, as pig-headed as he was, he was not the worst of all Coulter heroes. I did not consider the "rape" scene "rape". Let's just say that I have read books that really had a rapist for a hero. Roland was, well, acting within the social norm of that time period. And he really wasn't all that much of an asshole. But let's also be clear about one thing: he was no Prince Charming either.
The biggest problem I had with the book, was characterization. Roland and Daria are interesting characters, but what they said seems so disconnected from who they were. The conversations did not ring true. But I don't know how Coulter does it. I had to read on. I hung on to the story knowing that this was a piece of crxp that I was reading. But I read on like a good soldier, braving every unbelievable conversation and outrageous interaction, and I damn well had fun doing it. I am not a proud reader of Catherine Coulter, but I am a reader of Catherine Coulter. Whatever that says about me, I suppose I shall have to live with that.
I think reading a Coulter book is some kind of mental illness. I am usually appalled by her characters but they hold an odd fascination for me. Secret Song is the 4th book in her medieval series. I have read 3 out of the first 4 books and Secret Song would be my favorite out of them, or rather, the one that I find most tolerable.
This book is written in Coulter's signature style: extremely mistreated heroine, miscarriage, rape, infidelity, crude sex scenes and an asshole for a hero. I honestly do not know why I wanted to re-read it, but I did and I probably will in the future. Anyone who is familiar with Coulter's style will find no surprise in this book. And readers who are new to Coulter, proceed with caution.
The main conflict in this story is Roland refused to believe Daria about their first sexual encounter. Roland was fevered and pretty much delusional when it happened. And Daria never planned on telling him anyways. But of course Daria got pregnant. Someone had to marry her. She told the truth, but nobody believed her. Roland was PISSED OFF, but for whatever reason he didn't understand, he agreed to marry Daria and claim the baby as his own, even though he never believed for a second that it was his baby. This baby business grated on his pride and nerves. Daria insisted that she was telling the truth (and she was), and Roland, as pig-headed as most Coulter heroes, refused to believe her. Even though they both cared for each other, Roland was too much of a medieval man (aka I can sleep with whoever I want but my wife must be a virgin kind of man) to appreciate their union.
I must say that Roland is not a bad hero. Really, as pig-headed as he was, he was not the worst of all Coulter heroes. I did not consider the "rape" scene "rape". Let's just say that I have read books that really had a rapist for a hero. Roland was, well, acting within the social norm of that time period. And he really wasn't all that much of an asshole. But let's also be clear about one thing: he was no Prince Charming either.
The biggest problem I had with the book, was characterization. Roland and Daria are interesting characters, but what they said seems so disconnected from who they were. The conversations did not ring true. But I don't know how Coulter does it. I had to read on. I hung on to the story knowing that this was a piece of crxp that I was reading. But I read on like a good soldier, braving every unbelievable conversation and outrageous interaction, and I damn well had fun doing it. I am not a proud reader of Catherine Coulter, but I am a reader of Catherine Coulter. Whatever that says about me, I suppose I shall have to live with that.
August 1, 2019
Really love this series.
July 17, 2012
I have conflicting feelings towards this one.The story was good but it starts out with rape which spoiled it for me,i just cannot surpass it and i disliked the H almost till the end.The only good thing was that the main issues was solved out,the relationship between H/h started out with cruelty and mistrust,as time passes by their relationship improves and both realize their love for each other but still there's mistrust between them which is the biggest hurdle between them.It is also solved and they get their HEA.
Overall for it was between so-so to okay read for me.The things that disappointed me was H was so cold,cruel and mean towards h,he did not apologize for cheating on her and many more verbal abuses he threw at her nor did he regret those things.There was no grovelling at all the H told h to deal with it and move on,it should not be mentioned again between them.Also the fact that the woman with whom he cheated on her was there in his clan.It was not a issue for h but it was for me.
So-so to Okay read.
Overall for it was between so-so to okay read for me.The things that disappointed me was H was so cold,cruel and mean towards h,he did not apologize for cheating on her and many more verbal abuses he threw at her nor did he regret those things.There was no grovelling at all the H told h to deal with it and move on,it should not be mentioned again between them.Also the fact that the woman with whom he cheated on her was there in his clan.It was not a issue for h but it was for me.
So-so to Okay read.
March 4, 2017
Roland de Tournay is a master of disguise. He's tasked with retrieving Daria of Fortescue from the Earl of Clare, who abducted her while she was on her way to be married to some awful villain. She has a way with visions and instantly knows that Roland is integral to her life. And in her confidence, she lets him take her virginity while he's delirious with fever, then makes the decision that he'll never know about it. Only she turns out pregnant and when she names him the father he isn't so willing to believe, having no memory of the event. He's convinced she's lying for some purpose, but guided by the King, marries her anyway, taking control of her hefty dowry. Roland does his best to keep her at a distance, but as he grows fond of her, he is plagued by her lies and struggles with the idea that she carries another man's child.
I read many of the reviews and was ready for a complete asshole hero. I agree that he is a misogynistic prick. He sleeps with any woman who will have him, considers women a vessel for his prick/seed and believes all women are deceitful, lying whores. But in a world filled with misogynistic pricks, he is a prince among them. He doesn't beat women, even his wife who tears into him and beats him quite often, he looks down on men who humiliate women (he does his share of humiliating, but not in an insidious manner...it's more reactionary), although he's willing to be unfaithful, he is not willing to do so when she's in residence and he doesn't treat Daria all that badly considering what he believed her to have done. In fact, he is incredibly tolerant of her behavior, especially since she has a rather sharp tongue and is given to impulsive actions. Many a hero in this series would have bitch-slapped her. That being said, he does kind of treat her like crap...there is one rape scene. It was more or less that he was going to have sex with her in anger and once she realized how it was going to go down, she decided she didn't want any of that, but he went through with it, as it was the wedding night. I don't condone it, but I've read way worse (by this very author no less).
Overall, this was a fairly standard bodice ripper with all the accoutrements that bring me back for more. I liked the plot and the angsty goodness between the hero and the heroine. This story did not irritate and did not have me throwing e-readers. Which is good. What did bother me though, was a somewhat unsatisfactory conclusion. The hero spends the entirety of the book disbelieving the heroine about her pregnancy. After she miscarries, he feels a semblance of relief that now he won't raise some other guy's child. She of course calls him on that and this provides some angst. At the end of the story, the hero decides that she may be correct and demands to return to the scene of the crime, hoping to trigger a memory. She's already given him enough detail to convince him, but he's stubborn and all that. While there, he encounters a serving woman who must have walked in on them in their passion and she tells him what she saw (rather graphically I might add). He instantly believes her and therefore the heroine. This was not a story of him learning to trust in the heroine. In fact, it suggests just the opposite...that even after their time together, he is more willing to believe a serving woman (even though she is a woman and he barely knows her) than he is to believe the woman he loves. And on top of that, now knowing the child his wife miscarried was his, he never once regrets the relief he felt or feels any type of grief over the ordeal. He just moves on now, confident that his wife can be trusted from now on. As I said, a subpar ending.
I read many of the reviews and was ready for a complete asshole hero. I agree that he is a misogynistic prick. He sleeps with any woman who will have him, considers women a vessel for his prick/seed and believes all women are deceitful, lying whores. But in a world filled with misogynistic pricks, he is a prince among them. He doesn't beat women, even his wife who tears into him and beats him quite often, he looks down on men who humiliate women (he does his share of humiliating, but not in an insidious manner...it's more reactionary), although he's willing to be unfaithful, he is not willing to do so when she's in residence and he doesn't treat Daria all that badly considering what he believed her to have done. In fact, he is incredibly tolerant of her behavior, especially since she has a rather sharp tongue and is given to impulsive actions. Many a hero in this series would have bitch-slapped her. That being said, he does kind of treat her like crap...there is one rape scene. It was more or less that he was going to have sex with her in anger and once she realized how it was going to go down, she decided she didn't want any of that, but he went through with it, as it was the wedding night. I don't condone it, but I've read way worse (by this very author no less).
Overall, this was a fairly standard bodice ripper with all the accoutrements that bring me back for more. I liked the plot and the angsty goodness between the hero and the heroine. This story did not irritate and did not have me throwing e-readers. Which is good. What did bother me though, was a somewhat unsatisfactory conclusion. The hero spends the entirety of the book disbelieving the heroine about her pregnancy. After she miscarries, he feels a semblance of relief that now he won't raise some other guy's child. She of course calls him on that and this provides some angst. At the end of the story, the hero decides that she may be correct and demands to return to the scene of the crime, hoping to trigger a memory. She's already given him enough detail to convince him, but he's stubborn and all that. While there, he encounters a serving woman who must have walked in on them in their passion and she tells him what she saw (rather graphically I might add). He instantly believes her and therefore the heroine. This was not a story of him learning to trust in the heroine. In fact, it suggests just the opposite...that even after their time together, he is more willing to believe a serving woman (even though she is a woman and he barely knows her) than he is to believe the woman he loves. And on top of that, now knowing the child his wife miscarried was his, he never once regrets the relief he felt or feels any type of grief over the ordeal. He just moves on now, confident that his wife can be trusted from now on. As I said, a subpar ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2013
I know this is not a well-liked books by many but it's one of my old-time favourites. Love the way coulter writes, and this book is a classic Coulter with lots of angst, sex scenes, lol moments, drama with the evil o-w and some cheating. I love the way Daria stood up to Roland, and Roland's eventual capitulation to his 'miracle'.
November 19, 2024
#182 - 2024
Genre: Historical Romance
Genre: Historical Romance
August 29, 2012
4th in the Song Series Brings All Together in the End
Last in the Song series, this is the story of Roland de Tournay the spy for King Edward in the Holy Land, who we met in EARTH SONG. Set in 1275, in Wales and Cornwall three years after WARRIOR’s SONG, this one begins as Roland takes a job to rescue Daria of Fortesque from a Welsh stronghold where a man who is the enemy of her uncle holds her captive. Her uncle, a cruel selfish man who only sees Daria as a ticket to more lands, tells Roland he doesn’t want her back if she is not still a maid. Daria has a gift of second sight, as did her grandmother before her, and she instantly knows when she meets Roland, in disguise as a priest, that she is somehow deeply connected to him. But Roland wants only the money returning her to her uncle will bring him.
Coulter captures the medieval voice splendidly. And she does a superb job with the character of King Edward and Queen Eleanor. The story was rich in detail and the myriad of characters splendidly drawn. We also get to see the couples from FIRE SONG AND EARTH SONG return to have roles in this one.
I liked Daria ok, She was an interesting heroine who at times showed great strength. Roland was another matter. He began as a charming and talented warrior rogue, who we met in EARTH SONG, but for most of this book, he is a surly husband who doubts his wife though she has never lied to him. (Don’t you hate that?) I didn’t like him. And, then after Daria suffers a great loss, near the end of the book she suddenly changes toward him from being an understandably bitter wife to his greatest champion. I didn’t find it believable. Nor did his sudden change toward her ring true. Still, for the most part, it was a good story. My favorite in the series was the first, WARRIOR’S SONG.
Last in the Song series, this is the story of Roland de Tournay the spy for King Edward in the Holy Land, who we met in EARTH SONG. Set in 1275, in Wales and Cornwall three years after WARRIOR’s SONG, this one begins as Roland takes a job to rescue Daria of Fortesque from a Welsh stronghold where a man who is the enemy of her uncle holds her captive. Her uncle, a cruel selfish man who only sees Daria as a ticket to more lands, tells Roland he doesn’t want her back if she is not still a maid. Daria has a gift of second sight, as did her grandmother before her, and she instantly knows when she meets Roland, in disguise as a priest, that she is somehow deeply connected to him. But Roland wants only the money returning her to her uncle will bring him.
Coulter captures the medieval voice splendidly. And she does a superb job with the character of King Edward and Queen Eleanor. The story was rich in detail and the myriad of characters splendidly drawn. We also get to see the couples from FIRE SONG AND EARTH SONG return to have roles in this one.
I liked Daria ok, She was an interesting heroine who at times showed great strength. Roland was another matter. He began as a charming and talented warrior rogue, who we met in EARTH SONG, but for most of this book, he is a surly husband who doubts his wife though she has never lied to him. (Don’t you hate that?) I didn’t like him. And, then after Daria suffers a great loss, near the end of the book she suddenly changes toward him from being an understandably bitter wife to his greatest champion. I didn’t find it believable. Nor did his sudden change toward her ring true. Still, for the most part, it was a good story. My favorite in the series was the first, WARRIOR’S SONG.
October 30, 2012
Song series No. 4: Same song different tune. This one was about Daria the abused who is taken prisoner and held for ransom. Roland the king's man is hired to find her and save her. It started out strong, then turned into one of the previous books in the series. Truth that is believed to be a lie, lots of hurt and verbal abuse. Disappointing. I hope the stories in the rest of the series march to a different tune.
January 16, 2024
This one bothered me the most. Graelem (sp?) in Fire Song was a dickhead, but oi, Roland refused to believe almost anything, until the Duke basically told him to pull his head out of his ass.
Still a good read, because since it made me seriously disgusted, it means the story was well written!
Still a good read, because since it made me seriously disgusted, it means the story was well written!
January 2, 2015
I remember now why I quit reading her. Too many rapes, too many references to " man's noun" and "woman's noun".
June 23, 2022
She acted like a silly twit who just loved everything about him even though he was so cruel to her and constantly humiliated her. She was a doormat he rubbed his feet on when he felt inclined to to do so and she loved him for it. He was awful like Graelam in Fire Song. The first half of the book showed a lot of promise … the last half, where Roland was a complete a**hole and she just remained perfect and took it, sucked
March 10, 2019
I've really been into stories set in Medieval England, Scotland, or Wales lately.
A young heiress is bound to wed a odious neighbor (are there any other matches?) but is kidnapped. Her uncle hires Roland to get her back when he gets the ransom note, but she is to be chaste or she is worthless. Disguised as a priest, he kidnaps her before she is raped. So begins Roland's story.
A young heiress is bound to wed a odious neighbor (are there any other matches?) but is kidnapped. Her uncle hires Roland to get her back when he gets the ransom note, but she is to be chaste or she is worthless. Disguised as a priest, he kidnaps her before she is raped. So begins Roland's story.
July 8, 2020
Starts out great and interesting. Then the hero turns into an ass when he is forced to marry the heroine. I felt so bad for her. He makes up for it eventually but it took me awhile to like him again. This is written realistically as with all her books. Women were not treated well.
I wish I had read the first 2 books before reading this one.
I wish I had read the first 2 books before reading this one.
September 11, 2020
Loved it
Okay, Rosehaven first and then Secret Song. Th people in the eleventh century had a hard time. I loved Daria and Roland. It's hard to understand that women had no rights and were treated as property. I'm glad they worked out their problems. Happy Reading.
Okay, Rosehaven first and then Secret Song. Th people in the eleventh century had a hard time. I loved Daria and Roland. It's hard to understand that women had no rights and were treated as property. I'm glad they worked out their problems. Happy Reading.
February 9, 2021
The song Novels, Bk 4, PBk-M, @ 1991, Read 2/8/21. Fiction, Historical, Romance. A very bawdy tale of Earls, knights, a fair maiden, kidnappings, and men's "rights" in 1275. 2☆'s = Okay, not really my cup of tea. Will donate somewhere, so not mine any longer!
November 27, 2018
3.5 - al final me perdí un poco... :(
August 9, 2019
Love her Medieval times book. Makes me want to be there
October 4, 2019
Charming Read
This enjoyed reading this book. Daria and Roland made an interesting couple. It will be a book that I could read again for fun.
This enjoyed reading this book. Daria and Roland made an interesting couple. It will be a book that I could read again for fun.
February 17, 2022
Secret song (this book) is not as frustrating as Fire song. Neither is it as hilarious as Earth song. It seemed like a balance of the two.
February 12, 2023
Nope. Not feeling the love on this one.
Read
May 13, 2024It's been years since I read this. I'm going to have to give it a re-read.
February 3, 2025
We've ALL been cheated out of a grovel...what a convoluted clusterfuck, lol.
November 12, 2025
When did publishing standards drop so low?
November 5, 2017
You know, this used to be one of my favorite books. I read this one after Earth Song when I was in high school and just thought it was so great. I’ve reread it a few times since then and still felt strongly about it. For better or for worse, I love reading reviews on books because it makes me think more critically. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don’t... sometimes it can outright ruin a book for me. Read a review that stuck with me before I started this reread and it was primarily about how both characters are assholes. I never noticed it before, but it really is true. They both are in super shitty situations, but they both acted horribly a majority of the time. I get why, Daria went through some shit... I try to keep it in perspective that it is in a medieval setting, but I think there were also some failings on the author’s part as well. Romance novel sex talk is painful to me, especially medieval sex talk (e.g his rod... really bruh? Big dicks abound in romance novels.) ... but I can look past it if the plot is interesting enough. I just don’t feel the same as I once did about this book. Earth Song is now my favsie. Out of respect for the high school version of myself, I’ll keep the rating as it was.
December 12, 2012
Here is a book to have you hating men as they rape and use women as mere chattel. It's a very frustrating book to read as the honest, caring and kind lady is treated so poorly.
I'm not done it yet. I'm on page 178. Daria is pregnant with Roland's child and he is calling her a liar about that. She hasn't been with any other man, but he won't believe her because he is a stupid male. Now he rapes her and I want to hang him up by his toes, and give her riches and a castle... Oh, I know, he'll find out the truth, and they'll make up and he'll treat her like a Queen as he feels so bad and they'll live happily ever after. In the mean time, I'd still like to string up her uncle, the Earl of Clare and Roland.
I'm done it now. Roland was a jerk, but then considering who else she had to pick from...he was the one fated to be with her, her destiny, as we see. He comes around in the end, pretty much. Of course, he realizes she didn't lie. I don't know why she had to loose her child.
Maybe I should have given it a two. It has some good twists to it here and there.
I'm not done it yet. I'm on page 178. Daria is pregnant with Roland's child and he is calling her a liar about that. She hasn't been with any other man, but he won't believe her because he is a stupid male. Now he rapes her and I want to hang him up by his toes, and give her riches and a castle... Oh, I know, he'll find out the truth, and they'll make up and he'll treat her like a Queen as he feels so bad and they'll live happily ever after. In the mean time, I'd still like to string up her uncle, the Earl of Clare and Roland.
I'm done it now. Roland was a jerk, but then considering who else she had to pick from...he was the one fated to be with her, her destiny, as we see. He comes around in the end, pretty much. Of course, he realizes she didn't lie. I don't know why she had to loose her child.
Maybe I should have given it a two. It has some good twists to it here and there.
October 31, 2009
I read this (library book) because I seriously needed a break from the Outlander series. I can't even begin to say how delicious it was to start AND finish a novel in a single 24 hour period. This one was quick! And dirty! And... okay.
I'm still not a huge Catherine Coulter fan (head hopping!), but again I'm starting in the middle of a series. I thought the whole "but I'm a woman, so I never get to make any decisions for myself!" theme got old right around the first chapter.
WE GET IT. Being a woman SUCKS.
This book was set in 1275. Women couldn't even have bank accounts until the 1950's. I'm pretty sure 13th century broads learned to fend for themselves well enough without COMPLAINING quite so much. Daria, the protagonist, had a bit too much of a feminist bent for her time and that made her seem less realistic to me.
I'm still not a huge Catherine Coulter fan (head hopping!), but again I'm starting in the middle of a series. I thought the whole "but I'm a woman, so I never get to make any decisions for myself!" theme got old right around the first chapter.
WE GET IT. Being a woman SUCKS.
This book was set in 1275. Women couldn't even have bank accounts until the 1950's. I'm pretty sure 13th century broads learned to fend for themselves well enough without COMPLAINING quite so much. Daria, the protagonist, had a bit too much of a feminist bent for her time and that made her seem less realistic to me.
February 16, 2015
This was ok. As a teenager, I loved it. As an adult woman, not as much...the romance was tempered by the outright degradation that the heroine had to endure. She was really just treated awfully by everyone...from her family to her husband. Parts were hard to read and I skipped the sex totally, partly because it made me say EWWW too much and partly from boredom.
Why did it get three stars?
She's a witch...that's cool. You get to see how Dienwald, Phillipa, Kassia, Graelam, Edward and his Queen are doing. That is the most fun!! I just wish that I could have seen the "officious little tadpole" in this one.
Why did it get three stars?
She's a witch...that's cool. You get to see how Dienwald, Phillipa, Kassia, Graelam, Edward and his Queen are doing. That is the most fun!! I just wish that I could have seen the "officious little tadpole" in this one.
September 11, 2025
By and1515
Daria had about given up all hope of ever being rescued until the dashing Roland de Tournay arrival and the adventure that follows will bring them together.
But doubts and lies will nearly tear them apart before they ever had a really chance.
And when push comes to shove
Roland must deside which path to choose.
Daria had about given up all hope of ever being rescued until the dashing Roland de Tournay arrival and the adventure that follows will bring them together.
But doubts and lies will nearly tear them apart before they ever had a really chance.
And when push comes to shove
Roland must deside which path to choose.
August 5, 2012
This was a good story.I lot of it was just sad full of hardships.Nice happy ending though.
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If you would like to read this book o others please check out booksfreeswap.com.This book is ready for swap!
August 28, 2023
As expected with a vintage romance, there’s a big misunderstanding and the H says and does some pretty nasty things to the h but like… we don’t get a grovel in the end. I literally went back TWICE to see where I missed the “I’m sorry”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews