His Secret Duchess

by Gayle Wilson

MARY WINTERS HARBORED A SECRET DEEP WITHIN HER HEART

She'd borne the duke of Vail a child and was determined that no one --- not even the noble love of her life himself --- would ever uncover the truth.

Afire with the passion of youth, Nick Stanton had lain with Mary Winters. Now, scarred by warfare in mind and body, he feared he'd be no fit husband to his beloved --- or father to the son now claimed by another man, a man whose one desire was to wreak vengeance on them all!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Harlequin, Second Chance

298 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

Gayle Wilson is a two-time RITA® Award winner, taking home the RITA® Award for Best Romantic Suspense Novel in 2000 and for Best Romantic Novella in 2004. In addition to twice winning the prestigious RITA® Award, Gayle’s books have garnered more than 50 other awards and nominations, including most recently the Daphne du Maurier Award for the Best Single Title Romantic Suspense of 2008, awarded to Victim, her latest novel from MIRA.

Gayle holds a master’s degree in secondary education, with additional certification in the education of the gifted. Although her specialty was teaching honors and gifted students, as a former high school history and English teacher, she taught everything from remedial reading to Shakespeare—and loved every minute she spent in the classroom.

Gayle was on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America for four years. In 2006 she served as the president of RWA, the largest genre-writers’ organization in the world.

Gayle has written 41 novels and four novellas for Harlequin Enterprises, including works for Harlequin Historicals, Harlequin Intrigue, Special Releases, HQN Books, MIRA, and Mills & Boon.

Reviews

[Verity · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure if I'm still suffering from the aftershocks of the book I read ('Stormfire') prior to this 1, but it seems to me, HSD took 4ever & beyond to get going. This is only my 3rd GW. Unfortunately, I had to slog thru' this 1, the story progresses in such a dilatory manner that I was also watching E! Reality shows & THS in-between LOL... The super thin plot gets stretched w/ repetitive phrases & over-descriptive inner dialogues, facial expressions & struggle in hunting down the missing child. It doesn't feel like a true romance, it's more like a 'Without a trace' episode, w/ not-so-thrilling end results.

For a hero who's portrayed as a courageous, brilliant, legendary, highly-regarded war tactician vet (a Colonel, no less), he doesn't seem to have what it takes 'cuz he's always 1 or 2 steps behind the disgusting, oily, cunning villain. Nick's overconfident, hence initially he underestimates his opponent, not anticipating that the villain has a trump card up his sleeve. His empty threats to ruin the villain & force him to release the custody of the child, backfire on him. He keeps making unfulfilled promises to heroine that the child will be returned. He gets shot in the chest while rescuing the TSTL heroine (barging in literally @ the last 2nd on the near-rape scene). His interminable near-death experience & convalescence @ the villain's home are unnecessary fillers. When he goes after the runaway villain the 2nd time, he gets whacked in the arm while clinging precariously to the boat & almost gets his arm broken. The big secret of why he was not able to come to heroine when she needed him the most, is deferred again & again. Reading "Make him tell U the truth" after the umpteenth time gets tired. I get it. His gigantic ball of secret won't be painstakingly unfurled 'till my eyelids start to droop. Not too endearing either that he keeps referring to Richard as 'Your son', not 'Our son'. He's 1 of the blandest tortured heroes I've ever encountered in my misfortune. I didn't witness any hidden depths @ all.

The dim-bulb heroine is another pill to swallow. She's embittered (by what she perceived as hero's betrayal when she was preggers), ungrateful, impatient, incomprehensible to me. She's willing to barter herself for Richard, her kid, w/out telling the hero what her intentions are. She goes back to the villain, the same 1 who tried to rape & prosecute her w/ filthy lies (which put her in jail for 3 months on grounds of attempted murder). Did she learn her valuable lesson ? Nope, she irrationally deduces that if she sells her body to the villain, the kid will be returned safe & sound to the hero. Get real. She's in such denial that she runs to the boy's room, instead of outta the villain's house, therefore getting herself cornered & we're treated to a stomach-churning scene where the villain can only get himself excited by inflicting pain (the heroine had prior knowledge of the villain's perversity, after MANY years of caring for the villain's much-abused late wife). She's the epitome of 'the light is there, but there's noone home' =^D Instead of consulting the hero on what steps to take in retrieving their son, she digs her own grave (not even equipped w/ a catapult) by bargaining w/ the revenge-driven creep. This chick has major trust issues due to hero's abandonment yrs ago. Gag me plz.

I thought the reunited luvbirds was a promising premise. Li'l did I know that the luv story would unfold @ a snail's pace. What a downer, it's a done deal that they've been in luv thru' long years of separation, after 1 hasty coupling before rejoining the war. Sadly, their mission : impossible overshadows the romance. Their screen time & dialogue are so limited. When the hero is felled again by the villain in their final combat, I was like, geez, what a wimpy limpy hero (the poor bloke just can't catch a break, the creep gets his comeuppance from a 4-legged animal BTW). Methinks the TSTL H/H deserve 1 another.

[Harlequin Historical]

Highly recommend.

This story is packed with emotional kick. Bitter regret, mistrust, never forgotten love, dark secrets, who could ask for more? I really enjoyed Gayle Wilson's style and different approach to her HEA.

The heroine went to the father of her love when she needed help, like he told her to, but the help never came. She was forced to become a governess to the son of a nasty-tempered merchant and his ailing wife. At least she had a roof over her head. She tried to hate the hero but deep in her heart she knew she would always love him even if she could never trust him again. Little did she know, the person she shouldn't trust was her employer.

The hero returns from Waterloo grievously injured, his family tragically killed. Once recovered, he searches for the woman he left behind to go into battle. She has disappeared, then years later, he hears her name mentioned in connection with a crime. "The poor governess has no family, no protection" Well, she would now but would she accept it?

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stelline - Alcune cose belle, altre meno.
Storia tutto sommato originale e diversa: ma non ho capito i due.
Innamoratissimi entrambi, eppure non si sono davvero cercati, seppure stavano a quaranta miglia di distanza?? Lei non aveva cambiato nome (!), lui neppure ed ha sempre abitato nello stesso luogo (!). Lui aveva denaro infinito per smuovere frotte di investigatori, lei poteva farsi un viaggetto, farsi annunciare e dirgliene quattro...
L'Orgoglio? L'incomprensione?
Orgoglio e incomprensione vanno a farsi benedire se tuo figlio rischia la fame e la frusta.

Seconda parte surreale, con l'autrice che vuol tastare il registro spy story...
Sorvolo sulle ragioni "fisiche" della ritrosia di lui... Sei anni di tentennamenti e basta un capitolo per riportare il sole.

[HR-ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this one 3.5 stars.

This couple, Nick and Mary, went through various stages
of love/ hate. At times they engaged in too much angst,
IMO. The author revealed their sweet son as sensitive +
wise beyond his years.

I especially liked the supporting cast, both military vets,
Pierce the loyal yet blunt batman/ valet & Bill Smithers
an honest man who found a better job. The baddie took
up too much space in the story. This made the love story
seem like Plan B.

My favorite scene? Mary, accused of a crime, knew she
couldn't testify on her own behalf. But someone spoke
up for her.

[Wendy Sparrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero and heroine are desperately in love and pledge to each other in a secret ceremony just before the hero goes off to battle. He returns injured and believes she no longer does or will love him—not knowing that she had his son and had to give him up to a couple. He only finds out about her again when she’s accused of attempting to murder the man who has been raising their son. There’s a lot of drama in this that is very page-turning. There is an attempted rape scene that I skimmed ahead to make sure it didn’t actually happen…and to my relief, it doesn’t, but it went farther than I’d expected.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Winters and the Duke of Vail loved each other as youth. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars and was gravely wounded. She's the daughter of a minister. Before he left for the war, they secretly took vows of marriage in a deserted church. Several years later, Mary is accused of attacking her "employer". She had become pregnant and "gave" her son to a childless couple in exchange for them allowing her to stay with them. When the wife dies and the husband tries to rape her, she knocks him out and is accused. Nick comes and claims her as his wife unknowing of the child. The merchant uses the boy as revenge. Nick and Mary must reveal their secrets before all is well. Good story.

[Ynis Ainu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm of two minds about this book. The basic story is interesting, gripping and delivered for the kind of comfort reading I was seeking. OTOH the story was very long-winded and too detailed and introspective/descriptive in some areas, while others were rather glossed over, and several times over the background didn't feel like Regency and feudal England but 19th century U.S. All of this resulted in me skimming over or skipping several parts, as I wanted to know what happened to the protas, but didn’t really enjoy to read it chronologically. I loved the author’s other Regency novels so far, but this one is rather a disappointment.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it four stars, but it was too stressful. I do not do well with stress and reading for pure pleasure. I save stress for my job and the history books I read.

[Karen Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much violence.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Winters and Nick Stanton contract a secret marriage just before he leaves for Waterloo. Seven years later we find Mary acting as governess to Nick's son, having given him away when Nick doesn't come to find her after the war. There's a LOT that happens before they reach their HEA (no spoilers).
I was surprised at some of the reviews as I thought the hero and heroine behaved appropriately after their separation. They had a lot to overcome and it took a while, so I didn't think either was particularly out of character. My biggest problem is that there were plenty of various events crammed into this story, and it became a bit much for me. There's smuggling, kidnappings, attempted rape, attempted murder, shootings, and so on. A small matter, but I really didn't understand why everyone, including Nick, calls her Mary Winters even after their marriage. It bugged me after a while.
All in all, an okay and quick read.

[Natalija · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Secret Duchess is such a unique book plotwise. The author has crammed a lot into this short story and I actually didn't mind that because it kept my attention throughout. At times, it was painful to read, but I just kept going because I liked these characters so much and couldn't wait to see them happy. Recommended!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Just wish it had an epilogue.

[HistoricalHussy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Poschina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo libro mi è piaciuto.
E’ piuttosto originale, ben scritto, con personaggi che hanno un certo spessore, non annoia ed è perfetto da leggere proprio ora che comincia il freddo, mentre si sta svaccati sul divano con una bella copertina in pile, una tazza di tè caldo e il cane/gatto a scaldarti i piedi.

Lei, Mary, è la figlia del vicario.
Lui è il secondogenito di una facoltosa famiglia.
Si innamorano, si sbaciucchiano, si abbracciano e poi ovviamente scopano.
E lo fanno proprio nel momento giusto nel senso che lui sta per tornare in guerra. E scusa, vuoi non dare la tua verginità al tizio figherrimo di cui ti sei innamorata prima che parta per la battaglia con il rischio concreto che non torni? Certo che gliela dai. E lo fai anche il uno splendido contesto al tramonto, con gli uccellini che cantano, i tassi che si commuovono e i daini che ti guardano con gli occhi a cuore.

Fatto?
Neanche il tempo di orgasmare che lui deve andarsene ma prima, siccome mica hai trovato Lo Stronzo, no…..lui è buono di cuore, decide di sposarti. Lo fa in una cappella deserta falsificando le firme dei testimoni ma questo non conta. Conta che lui sia così innamorato da sposarti anche se sei la figlia di nessuno.
Poi parte e di lui non si sa più nulla.

Questa è la parte idillio, poi basta.
Dalla partenza di Nick in poi per la povera Mary sono solo cazzi amari.

continua su
https://laleggivora.wordpress.com/201...

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Sometimes I really dislike GR, another review gone.*

3.5 Stars

I liked this book, you have long lost lovers reuniting, families becoming whole, a mad man who get's off on hurting people, revenge, attempted murder.

Mary and Nick haven't seen each other since the afternoon Nick had to go off to battle. They laid together for the first time, the same afternoon privately vow themselves to each other in an old church, the register signed in his blood. With child and not hearing word from Nick, Mary goes to a family offering her child, she lives as the child governess.

Many years later Nick, or should I say the Duke of Vail, hears a story about a Mary Winters who is on trial and with out protection, off he runs to save her.

There is plenty to be said between those two, why there was no word and contact. And that they have a child together. A child Mary will do anything to get back from the mad man who has taken him to be his own.

I had a longer/better review wrote but I am grumpy now and I really didn't want write it all again. As I can't recall how exactly how it all was.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually dislike this book more because I loved the beginning so much. How the H/H met and consummated their love was really romantic and cute, but their older selves were a bit stupid. I can understand the heroine's anger and bitterness towards the hero, but I really feel that she should've given him a bit more of forgiveness and a chance to redeem himself, especially since she was a vicar's daughter. Her young self was so full of promise and sweet..and kind, as a vicar's daughter should be. Her older self before she meets the hero is still pretty decent and kind, but the author makes the heroine into a horrible, petty, mean, vengeful woman, inconsistent with the character I began to like. Also, the hero should've explained things to her off the bat and not held on to any secrets. That was frustrating. And honestly, I don't know why they didn't just steal their son back and she hadn't taken more immediate steps to get her son away from an abusive, cruel man. 1 stars for the prologue of the book, but that's about it.

[Spazfungus · Rating 2 out of 5]

sigh, I think she forgave him too easily


she wed Nick Stanton secretly. Nick went to war, was seriously wounded, when his father and elder brother went to take him home, their ship sank and they died, Nick became the Duke of Vail. She had become pregnant, gave the info to the old duke to give to Nick and went into hiding, that info perished with the old duke. Nick thought she no longer wanted him because he was wounded. She thought he had second thoughts on their relationship, it was only when she was framed for murder and her son kidnapped that he stepped up to claim them

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story. Had a good plot with the evil Traywick. The love of the two main characters was basically a side plot. It was never a big part of the book. I loved how Veil was kinda just sad and cold. But you felt for him when he told his secrets. And I loved how they added how she wasn't some perfect woman with a flawless body having had a child. So they mentioned her stretch marks and it made them seem real, as a couple.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I had such a hard time getting through this one. It was pretty good but I just never became immersed in it like I have with so many other books. The storyline was good and there were several exciting scenes so I have no excuse. If anything it was a bit drawn out and some events were dragged out. But, nevertheless, it was a good read. I enjoyed the characters. They were flawed and fascinating.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting storyline. It didn't quite reach its potential for me, though. Not a bad read but it seemed slow and lagging at times. I've read several of Ms. Wilson's Contemporary Romantic Suspense novels but this was my first Historical Romance by her.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un de mes préférés dans cette collection !!

[Epifania Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Historical Romance novel I ever read. I have been hooked ever since.

[Greselley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is so clever and unique which creates a potential for the book to be a great one but unfortunately, it was not articulated well so it came out as okay.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

absolute rubbish