The Secret

Love the book series. My boss recommended it and I was not disappointed.

Good book and author highly recommend

gREAsERVICE

I absolutely adored this book! I just finished reading it for the umpteenth time. My original hardcopy has a permanent place on my keeper shelf, but I was really happy when I discovered it had been reproduced in Kindle format. I was lucky enough to borrow a copy from my county's digital library, but I love the book so much I may have to get my own Kindle copy. In any event, this book is so extremely well written and I absolutely love the plot. As for the characters, OMG, they are so well developed that they just about come alive within the pages of the book!Lady Judith and Frances Catherine are best friends, though they really should be enemies, what with Judith being English and Frances Catherine being Scottish. Their friendship; however, began at an early age, before they were exposed to the hatred between their two countries. Both Frances Catherine's mother and grandmother died in childbirth, consequently, she is convinced that she too will die in childbirth. As youngsters, she gets Judith to promise her that should she ever get pregnant, Judith will be by her side during her childbirth.Years later, Frances Catherine is now married and living in the Highlands. She is due to have a baby, and asks her husband to fetch Judith from England to be with her during her delivery. Frances Catherine's husband, Patrick, and his brother Iain (Laird of the Maitland Clan) are both convinced that Judith will not honor her word and willingly come to the Highlands to be with Frances Catherine. It is with this mindset that Iain and a few of his men travel to England. To their shock, when they arrive Judith is ready and waiting for them, more than willing to go be with Frances Catherine.When Judith and Iain first see each other, they are both immediately taken with one another. During the week long journey back to the Highlands, a bond is formed between the two as their attraction for one another develops. From there the story develops to its conclusion, complete with HEA. This story has many LOL moments, as Iain, indeed all the Maitland men are arrogant and bossy. He believes that women are subservient and must obey all his dictates without question. Of course this way of thinking does not find approval with Judith and she continually questions Iain's every dictate. She practically drives poor Iain daft!As for Judith, the poor dear has had a hard life. All her life she's been made to feel inferior and unimportant. Her mother is an unfeeling, selfish creature, who cant' stand the sight of her own daughter (because she's reminded of Judith's father whenever she looks at her.) Her uncle, her mother's older brother, is a mean-spirited drunk who hurts Judith both physically and emotionally when he's drinking. Furthermore, Judith has been raised with the belief that she was unwanted by her father. For all that, Judith is a caring, generous, compassionate soul. Iain finds himself completely captivated by her. When he uncovers the secret of who Judith's father really is--the Laird of an enemy clan--Iain decides he must marry her in order to protect...at least that's the reason he allows himself to believe.The relationship between Judith and Iain is sweet and funny. Iain cannot understand why Judith can't just do what she's told. She constantly stands up to him, and challenges him--and the other men of the clan--to change their thinking and attitude towards the women. It was wonderful to see Judith's character develop into a confident, assertive young woman, secure in her own self-worth, as the story progresses; and it was LOL funny, to see Iain's arrogant attitude towards women undergo and 360 degree change. LOL The scene where Judith finally comes face to face with her father, is an extremely emotional one for Judith; my heart fair broke for her. It's only then that you learn the extent of her mother's treachery.This is one of the best--if not THE best--Highland romance novels that I've ever read. It's one of those novels that once you've read it, you will want to read it time and again. I absolutely loved it and would unequivocally recommend it as a fantastic read. FYI, this is absolutely not a clean romance. LOL Happy reading!

I absolutely adored this book! I just finished reading it for the umpteenth time. My original hardcopy has a permanent place on my keeper shelf, but I was really happy when I discovered it had been reproduced in Kindle format. I was lucky enough to borrow a copy from my county's digital library, but I love the book so much I may have to get my own Kindle copy. In any event, this book is so extremely well written and I absolutely love the plot. As for the characters, OMG, they are so well developed that they just about come alive within the pages of the book!Lady Judith and Frances Catherine are best friends, though they really should be enemies, what with Judith being English and Frances Catherine being Scottish. Their friendship; however, began at an early age, before they were exposed to the hatred between their two countries. Both Frances Catherine's mother and grandmother died in childbirth, consequently, she is convinced that she too will die in childbirth. As youngsters, she gets Judith to promise her that should she ever get pregnant, Judith will be by her side during her childbirth.Years later, Frances Catherine is now married and living in the Highlands. She is due to have a baby, and asks her husband to fetch Judith from England to be with her during her delivery. Frances Catherine's husband, Patrick, and his brother Iain (Laird of the Maitland Clan) are both convinced that Judith will not honor her word and willingly come to the Highlands to be with Frances Catherine. It is with this mindset that Iain and a few of his men travel to England. To their shock, when they arrive Judith is ready and waiting for them, more than willing to go be with Frances Catherine.When Judith and Iain first see each other, they are both immediately taken with one another. During the week long journey back to the Highlands, a bond is formed between the two as their attraction for one another develops. From there the story develops to its conclusion, complete with HEA. This story has many LOL moments, as Iain, indeed all the Maitland men are arrogant and bossy. He believes that women are subservient and must obey all his dictates without question. Of course this way of thinking does not find approval with Judith and she continually questions Iain's every dictate. She practically drives poor Iain daft!As for Judith, the poor dear has had a hard life. All her life she's been made to feel inferior and unimportant. Her mother is an unfeeling, selfish creature, who cant' stand the sight of her own daughter (because she's reminded of Judith's father whenever she looks at her.) Her uncle, her mother's older brother, is a mean-spirited drunk who hurts Judith both physically and emotionally when he's drinking. Furthermore, Judith has been raised with the belief that she was unwanted by her father. For all that, Judith is a caring, generous, compassionate soul. Iain finds himself completely captivated by her. When he uncovers the secret of who Judith's father really is--the Laird of an enemy clan--Iain decides he must marry her in order to protect...at least that's the reason he allows himself to believe.The relationship between Judith and Iain is sweet and funny. Iain cannot understand why Judith can't just do what she's told. She constantly stands up to him, and challenges him--and the other men of the clan--to change their thinking and attitude towards the women. It was wonderful to see Judith's character develop into a confident, assertive young woman, secure in her own self-worth, as the story progresses; and it was LOL funny, to see Iain's arrogant attitude towards women undergo and 360 degree change. LOL The scene where Judith finally comes face to face with her father, is an extremely emotional one for Judith; my heart fair broke for her. It's only then that you learn the extent of her mother's treachery.This is one of the best--if not THE best--Highland romance novels that I've ever read. It's one of those novels that once you've read it, you will want to read it time and again. I absolutely loved it and would unequivocally recommend it as a fantastic read. FYI, this is absolutely not a clean romance. LOL Happy reading! BTW, this book is also available in Kindle format; The Secret (Highlands' Lairds Book 1).