kbarker1979's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to be able to read an ARC of this book.
I was immediately drawn into the story of down-on-her luck Lily and her former love, Devon. The once madly-in-love couple parted ways 5 years earlier, both feeling betrayed by the other. They are brought together again when Devon's new fiance cries off their engagement after reading a pamphlet purporting to provide the *real truth about wedding nights, rumored to have been written by now-widowed Lily.
The story was well thought out and creates emotional ties for the reader to the characters in the story. I love a book that makes me feel enough to cry or laugh out loud; this book did both.
Liy and Devon were both flawed but likeable characters who I was rooting for through the story. The interactions between all the characters was witty and quick.
There were some secondary characters I'm hoping to see make appearances again in future books. (Hint: Can Medford get some love?)
This was a book I couldn't put down, which is rare for me these days. I highly recommend it as a fun and well written read!
I was immediately drawn into the story of down-on-her luck Lily and her former love, Devon. The once madly-in-love couple parted ways 5 years earlier, both feeling betrayed by the other. They are brought together again when Devon's new fiance cries off their engagement after reading a pamphlet purporting to provide the *real truth about wedding nights, rumored to have been written by now-widowed Lily.
The story was well thought out and creates emotional ties for the reader to the characters in the story. I love a book that makes me feel enough to cry or laugh out loud; this book did both.
Liy and Devon were both flawed but likeable characters who I was rooting for through the story. The interactions between all the characters was witty and quick.
There were some secondary characters I'm hoping to see make appearances again in future books. (Hint: Can Medford get some love?)
This was a book I couldn't put down, which is rare for me these days. I highly recommend it as a fun and well written read!
showmethemonet's review against another edition
2.0
2.25 Stars.
I've enjoyed other books where couples are reunited after years apart, but this one just felt phoned in. The characters, their beliefs and perspectives were very wishy-washy, so certain behaviors contradicted decisions one page prior over and over again. That can absolutely happen in a romance novel...but not to the point where you feel like the characters are throwing out five years worth of behavior, hurt feelings and consequences.
By the end I couldn't really say I knew the characters at all...which is really disappointing after reading the delightful Playful Brides series first (Bowman wrote this book first.) If I'd read this first I probably never would've gone on to discover those. Not sure about the next book... All Annie was good for in this book was turning away and running up the stairs in a huff. She had one redeemable moment but it didn't exactly hook me in to be excited to read about her after this...
I've enjoyed other books where couples are reunited after years apart, but this one just felt phoned in. The characters, their beliefs and perspectives were very wishy-washy, so certain behaviors contradicted decisions one page prior over and over again. That can absolutely happen in a romance novel...but not to the point where you feel like the characters are throwing out five years worth of behavior, hurt feelings and consequences.
Spoiler
The fact that their parents are the reason they were kept apart isn't revealed/resolved until the end. The entire book's premise was that a spurned love writes a pamphlet about how terrifying a wedding night is, and delivers it to the new fiancee of her ex for revenge. He threatens her outright that he'll seduce her to get a retraction published.... and Lily basically walks right into it. Every time. She she tells herself no. She does it hours later...Devon does all this except it seems a switch is flipped, never even addressed but he's suddenly acting out of admiration. The fact that they got as far as they did without addressing the monumental hurt they were supposedly feeling is just unbelievable.laurla's review
"a spider!" lily twirled around in a frenzy, swatting at her skirts. bandit barked and hopped around her ankles, clearly convinced her new mistress was playing some sort of fun game. (bandit is a puppy)
"would you rather have a life filled with the knowledge that you were right, or a life lived with the love of your life?"
"would you rather have a life filled with the knowledge that you were right, or a life lived with the love of your life?"
thenia's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading Lily and Devon's story. They fell in love when they were younger but circumstances broke them apart and had them believing some very bad things about one another.
After meeting again five years after the break up, they are both changed and so are their lives. The physical attraction between them is obvious and their resistance futile, but still they keep at it.
I liked many of the secondary characters as well and I'm really looking forward to reading Jordan's story and later on, Medford's.
After meeting again five years after the break up, they are both changed and so are their lives. The physical attraction between them is obvious and their resistance futile, but still they keep at it.
I liked many of the secondary characters as well and I'm really looking forward to reading Jordan's story and later on, Medford's.
marimaiz's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a fun read and I liked the idea of the story.
wendylalala's review against another edition
5.0
Secrets of a Wedding Night is my favorite type of story: a reunion romance set in the glittering world of Regency London.
Recently widowed Lily has a young sister, a charming dog and two hapless servants all in her care. Broke and struggling, she refuses to give into despair or let anyone know her means are so thinly stretched. She writes a pamphlet warning young women about the horrors that await them in the marriage bed. The pamphlet becomes a sensation and brings her both the satisfaction of ending her first love’s engagement and some much needed money to help her through her sister’s season.
Lily’s first-love Devon reacts in rage, vowing to seduce Lily if she does not write a retraction. He believes Lily purposefully abandoned him on the night of their elopement five years ago and he cannot countenance the fact she is also responsible for his fiancée’s cold refusal. He will make her pay…one sizzling kiss at a time.
I sighed, laughed out loud and bit my lip in worry as I followed Lily and Devon through a wonderfully woven web of secrets, lies, sensuality and, ultimately, redemption. The Author’s wit and humor are a rare find. I highly recommend Secrets and look forward to more of Valerie Bowman’s titles.
Recently widowed Lily has a young sister, a charming dog and two hapless servants all in her care. Broke and struggling, she refuses to give into despair or let anyone know her means are so thinly stretched. She writes a pamphlet warning young women about the horrors that await them in the marriage bed. The pamphlet becomes a sensation and brings her both the satisfaction of ending her first love’s engagement and some much needed money to help her through her sister’s season.
Lily’s first-love Devon reacts in rage, vowing to seduce Lily if she does not write a retraction. He believes Lily purposefully abandoned him on the night of their elopement five years ago and he cannot countenance the fact she is also responsible for his fiancée’s cold refusal. He will make her pay…one sizzling kiss at a time.
I sighed, laughed out loud and bit my lip in worry as I followed Lily and Devon through a wonderfully woven web of secrets, lies, sensuality and, ultimately, redemption. The Author’s wit and humor are a rare find. I highly recommend Secrets and look forward to more of Valerie Bowman’s titles.
silvercal's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very engaging, delightful debut! Five years ago Lily and Devon fell in love and were determined to be together until Lily believed Devon left her and, in turn, Devon thought Lily left him for a wealthy earl and had led him on a merry chase. Now widowed and penniless, Lily sees an announcement for Devon and his newly betrothed wealthy heiress, Lily decides to pen a scandalous pamphlet that scares off Devon's fiancee. Knowing Lily is behind this act, Devon confronts her and tells her he will show her a true wedding night, as surely her husband failed. However, Lily is hiding a little secret and she is determined to resist Devon...or maybe she should seduce him? What follows is a sexy battle of wills that keeps getting wrenches thrown into it--a bet, Lily's sister, Devon's gambling and the refusal of either party to tell the truth of their current situations and their shared past.
Valerie Bowman is now on my auto-buy list with this debut and I am already anxious for the next two books which will feature her sister and then the man who becomes her dear friend (he is very proper and I can't wait to see him fall). The main reason I don't bump this up to a five star read is the fact Lily and Devon just can not talk to each other. It is always frustrating to me as a reader when the couple don't just clear the air and move on, yet I know for the story it needed to be held in for quite some time so its a hard balance. Lily is smart, protective, kind, loyal and has some spunk that flairs up after being called predictable. Devon is sexy (yum), confident, strong and stubborn and together they make a very sexy, fun couple. I did find it a bit odd that we did not see anything that was written in the pamphlet. Usually when a scandalous bit of gossip is written, we as the reader get to see some of that but it wasn't a big deal, just different :) So while parts of the story frustrated me just a tad, the writing and pacing was excellent. I loved all the characters and I am looking forward to catching up with them again. I loved the chemistry between Lily and Devon and Devon certainly delivers on his promise about showing Lily a proper wedding night! Overall, a splendid debut full of wit, emotion, heat and love. 4 1/2 stars
Valerie Bowman is now on my auto-buy list with this debut and I am already anxious for the next two books which will feature her sister and then the man who becomes her dear friend (he is very proper and I can't wait to see him fall). The main reason I don't bump this up to a five star read is the fact Lily and Devon just can not talk to each other. It is always frustrating to me as a reader when the couple don't just clear the air and move on, yet I know for the story it needed to be held in for quite some time so its a hard balance. Lily is smart, protective, kind, loyal and has some spunk that flairs up after being called predictable. Devon is sexy (yum), confident, strong and stubborn and together they make a very sexy, fun couple. I did find it a bit odd that we did not see anything that was written in the pamphlet. Usually when a scandalous bit of gossip is written, we as the reader get to see some of that but it wasn't a big deal, just different :) So while parts of the story frustrated me just a tad, the writing and pacing was excellent. I loved all the characters and I am looking forward to catching up with them again. I loved the chemistry between Lily and Devon and Devon certainly delivers on his promise about showing Lily a proper wedding night! Overall, a splendid debut full of wit, emotion, heat and love. 4 1/2 stars
cakt1991's review against another edition
4.0
Full review here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/review-of-secrets-of-a-wedding-night-secret-brides-1-by-valerie-bowman/
atunah's review
4.0
Ohh I really liked this one. It had just the right balance of emotional punch and wittiness.
It really was a pleasure to read. :)
I took a sneak peak at what the next 2 books are about and I am really looking forward too. Both of the future Heroes make an appearance in this one and are delectable, as is the Hero of this one. :)
It really was a pleasure to read. :)
I took a sneak peak at what the next 2 books are about and I am really looking forward too. Both of the future Heroes make an appearance in this one and are delectable, as is the Hero of this one. :)
heather62981's review
3.0
Maybe 2.5, but def not a 3 so not rounding up. I liked the story enough to read the next in the series, but the writing itself is...lacking.