Reviewed by PJ Ausdenmore
Publisher: Penguin
4.75 Stars
Christian Hill, viscount, handsome Army major and London rake, has long forgotten the marriage he was forced into as a young lad of sixteen. Ten years ago, a new Army lieutenant stationed in Yorkshire, idealistic and impulsive Christian rushed to the aid of Dorcas Froggatt, a plain, thin young girl who had been sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier, killing the soldier in the ensuing struggle. Dorcas’s powerful aunt then forced Christian to marry the girl to save her reputation. He did so, using the false name of Jack Hill, then promptly left to fight abroad, putting the entire fiasco out of his mind until a few years later when he received a letter from the girl’s aunt informing him of his bride’s death. But now, a letter has arrived at the elite Life Guards where Christian serves asking for information about a soldier by the name of Jack Hill who was stationed in Yorkshire ten years ago and suddenly Jack begins to question everything he thought to be true. What if the letter from the girl’s aunt was a lie? What if he, now Viscount Grandiston and heir to an earldom, is actually still married to that poor, pitiful country miss?
Dorcas Caro Froggatt is a very rich, independent young woman who is looking forward to marriage but first she must make certain she isn’t already married to the young lieutenant who rescued her ten years ago. There was that letter her aunt received that told of the soldier’s death in battle but Caro must have confirmation from the Army before she can move on with her life. Then a man with the same distinctive eyes as her young groom arrives at her home in Yorkshire and Caro is thrown into a tizzy, thinking him to be a relative of her deceased groom and after her sizeable fortune. Pretending to be a lack wit maid from the local insane asylum, she leaves him to the not-so-tender mercies of her former governess and escapes to a friend’s house in another town. Christian is not so easily deceived and, believing the maid will lead him to Dorcas, he follows but the maid vanishes and Caro, determined to protect her fortune from possibly unscrupulous hands, goes on the offensive as Kat Hunter, a supposedly married woman who attracts trouble like a magnet but, more importantly, attracts Christian even more strongly. When she is accused of theft by an inexplicably vindictive American couple, Kat is valiantly rescued by Christian once again and they escape into the night, accompanied by a strange cat that seems to have adopted them. That’s when the fun really begins.
Christian and Kat/Caro strike more sparks off one another than a lightning storm and when they finally come together their passion is hot enough to scorch the pages but, while I loved the passionate scenes, I was equally captivated by the routine conversations and delightful repartee between the two. The scene where they spontaneously weave a story about the cat that travels with them to satisfy the curiosity of an innkeeper and his family is hilarious.
Knowing his reputation with women and not trusting him with her heart or her money, Caro leads Christian on a merry chase from the country fields of Yorkshire to the glittering ballrooms of London where familiar Beverley characters step in to lend a hand in reuniting this likeable couple who still have no idea that they are, in fact, husband and wife.
Jo Beverley is a masterful storyteller and has brought us another delicious road romance with The Secret Wedding, an entertaining tale of intrigue, passion, danger, humor, betrayal and everlasting love, complete with a delightful cast of human characters as well as Tabby, the singularly unique cat-rabbit of Hesse.
I highly recommend The Secret Wedding.
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Gannon
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 7:42 am:
Oooh, this one sounds so good!! I’m definitely adding it to my TBB list. Great review, PJ!
Kati
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 8:34 am:
Great review, PJ! I find that Jo Beverley can be a little hit or miss for me. But this one sounds like fun!
Janga
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 9:46 am:
I love reading your reviews, PJ. They either tempt me to try new writers (Kate Carlisle, for example) or remind me of why I love the books of longtime favorites. While I certainly have my favorites among Jo Bev’s books, I’ve never read a Beverley book that didn’t make me glad she wrote it–and I’ve been reading her books since Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed in 1988. The Secret Wedding sounds like another keeper.
Keira Soleore
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 9:47 am:
PJ, this is another of those book that I’m dying to lay my hands on. Your reviews are like that super-rich brownie that I know I shouldn’t take a bite out of because then I’ll be gasping for the rest of it and thinking about it constantly, and yet…I can hardly stop myself from taking that first bite.
Laura
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 9:59 am:
PJ,
The book sounds extremely exhausting. I think I’ll have to add it to my list of “summer reads”. Summer reads are books I set aside for the beach, when I know I don’t have to get up for two or three hours. Sounds like a read you just won’t want to put down.
PJ
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 10:11 am:
Sounds like a read you just won’t want to put down.
Laura, you’re right. It’s a fast-moving story and one that kept me glued to the pages. It would be a perfect beach read!
PJ
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 10:21 am:
Gannon, I hope you enjoy it!
I find that Jo Beverley can be a little hit or miss for me.
Kati, not all of her books have been favorites of mine, though I do tend to like more than not, but I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t filled with “ha-ha” funny humor (though a few scenes did have me LOL) but had enough clever, subtle humor intermixed with the action, passion, suspense and poignancy to keep me entertained and turning the pages.
PJ
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 10:28 am:
I love reading your reviews, PJ. They either tempt me to try new writers (Kate Carlisle, for example) or remind me of why I love the books of longtime favorites.
Thank you, Janga. It means a lot to me to hear that from someone I hold in such high regard. It’s a joy to share my love of romance fiction through my reviews and if by doing so I can tempt someone to try a new author or remind them why they love an author’s work that’s (double rich chocolate fudge) icing on the cake.
PJ
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 10:35 am:
Your reviews are like that super-rich brownie that I know I shouldn’t take a bite out of because then I’ll be gasping for the rest of it and thinking about it constantly, and yet…I can hardly stop myself from taking that first bite.
Thank you, Keira! Knowing how you feel about chocolate, I find myself slightly stunned (but thrilled) to have my reviews compared to a super-rich brownie.
I hope you enjoy The Secret Wedding. It’s a rich, delectable treat in itself! 
orannia
on Mar 21st, 2009
@ 10:06 pm:
Thank you PJ! It sure sounds like an action-packed book!
Helen
on Mar 22nd, 2009
@ 4:07 am:
PJ
Great review I haven’t read any of Jo Beverly’s books but this one sounds great I will be adding it to my must get list
Thanks
Have Fun
Helen
PJ
on Mar 22nd, 2009
@ 8:21 am:
Orannia and Helen, thanks for commenting. Hope you enjoy The Secret Wedding!
Linda M
on Mar 22nd, 2009
@ 11:57 am:
Wow PJ! I haven’t read very many of Jo Beverly’s books but your review of the book sounds like it is one that I should get.
Anna Campbell
on Mar 23rd, 2009
@ 12:44 am:
PJ, I really enjoyed your review! Fabbo stuff!