#theresaromain

[darlenefblog]

I just reviewed Lady Notorious by Theresa Romain. #LadyNotorious #NetGalley https://www.netgalley.com/book/156394/review/468828

[thecraftybookharlot]

We're discussing Passion Favors the Bold by Theresa Romain #bookstagram #bookblogger #passionfavorsthebold #theresaromain

[kensingtonbooks]

Our #wcw is taking fate into her own hands. #womancrushwedensday #theresaromain

[kensingtonbooks]

We're ready for a wild adventure and the love of a lifetime. #fridayreads #historicalromance #books #instabook #booklover #femalecrushfriday #adventureawaits #theresaromain

[rexilake]

Review: Theresa Romain's "Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress"

While I enjoy a good amount of character building, I felt this novel started off a little slow. The storyline was wonderful and the characters' interactions were good, but it just felt like it moved too slowly for me.

Until the last few chapters. Especially the last 2 chapters! Everything seemed to happen at once at the end, which I suppose mimics the flurry of actions and reactions when secrets spill forth. But I would have enjoyed a bit more "flurry" throughout the earlier scenes as well.

That being said, the characters of Augusta and Joss were well developed. Both had a been burned in the past because of their stations in life and who their immediate family members were. Both had to learn to trust in who they were and embrace the whole of their history and bloodlines. Both had secrets, although Augusta had a more public one in taking on the persona of "Mrs. Flowers." 

Joss's character was outwardly very rigid and he held tightly to his idea of honor. But he approached the world with an almost flippant attitude with his sarcasm. At times I almost wanted to smack him and say "Be serious!"

Of course, Augusta also managed to get on my nerves when she constantly questioned herself at every turn. I felt bad for her at first, knowing as only a reader can, about her past and the terrible betrayal and loss she faced. But after several chapters where both she and Joss stood resolute in their separate and intertwined schemes, I had had it. I wanted to shake some sense into her and tell her to "Let go of the past. Live in the moment." And after that, I wanted to scream at both characters, "Are you blind? You love each other!"

I suppose, in retrospect, I did dive headfirst into the novel. I immersed myself in the lives of the characters and watched as they played out their roles in a sequence that I can only compare to a horror movie. You know what's going to happen. You can see it happening. Why, oh why, can't the characters see it too? I had the same urge to push the characters in the direction I wanted ("Just tell her you love her! For God's sake, forget the "you'll do" she was trying to be less obvious that she wanted you!") A similar reaction to the horror movie where I am screaming at the television ("Don't go in there!!! Are you an idiot? Stay together! No!!!")

So, although the book felt slow to me, the charm was more in the character development than in the plot itself. I may not count this book among my favorite Theresa Romain novels (Two to Tangle is my #1 of hers!), but if you enjoy good, strong character development, I highly recommend this book.

Theresa Romain can keep you hooked with the external and internal dialogues of these two characters whose histories make you want to cry, whose present make you want to throw something, and whose future can be happier than ever. Which one will break first? Which one will open up and put him/herself in a position to be hurt by the other?

Buy the book and find out!