Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second—or third—look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.
Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand fashion, appearing on the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. Ms. Quinn is one of only fifteen members of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into 28 languages, and she currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I don't read a whole lot of historical romance so I wasn't sure what to expect but The Secrets of Sir Richard Kentworthy completely blew me away! Iris Smythe-Smith is a wonderful protagonist who is wise and mature far beyond her years, whilst being utterly lovable at the same time, and Sir Richard is complex man who seems to be buried under issues and he cannot see a good way out. Despite getting together in an unorthodox fashion, it is clear that the couple have serious deep feelings for each other and their journey to becoming a solid couple is heartwarming. I found myself rooting for them from the very first page and I loved all the twists and turns that the plot took them on. I cannot wait to read more by Julia Quinn.