Customer Reviews

Undone by the Duke (Secrets in Silk, Book One)

Undone by the Duke, Secrets In Silk kind of reminds me of Victoria's Secret Underwear brand because the heroine of the story is called Victoria and she makes sexy underwear (Aphrodite's Unmentionables)

The story is set in both Scotland and London. Victoria is the eldest daughter of the family (who has fallen on hard times) and she never goes out because she has agoraphobia. Her mother and her sisters are traveling to London to give them a season of sorts and Victoria is left behind, unable to face the journey. However she doesn't mind at all as she is secretly making clothes and eventually sexy undergarments to help support the family.

Enter the Duke, wounded by a young lad who is the son of one of the crofters recently turned out by a neighbouring peer. Jonathan Nottoway, badly injured, is taken in by Victoria. He hides his status from Victoria, while recovering at her home. Both of them help each other and the crofters.

I won't say more for fear of revealing the entire plot. The intimate scenes between them are well written without going into too much cliche. I thought the agoraphobia was an unusual angle that worked with the story. The Duke was attractively written and Victoria gained strength as she went along and recovered her confidence. The last few chapters, was not able to put down the book and had to read to its conclusion.

At the end of the book is a small excerpt of the next novel in the series. I was interested enough in the other characters to consider reading the next book that comes out, to see how everyone's stories will end.

I enjoyed this novel very much. It is a love story of quite some depth based mainly in the highlands but also in London. Victoria, suffering from we would now call agoraphobia helps save the life of the Duke of Worthingstone. The Duke has been mistaken for a vicious landlord who has turned the crofters from their cottages. Victoria intrigues the Duke and he falls more in love with her as he uncovers all her secrets. But the Duke too has secrets and is not too happy to enter society. The characters are great and the story becomes quite saucy at times.The fate of crofters in the early 19 Century is well decribed.It is however a very enjoyable read. I believe it is the first of a quartet and I look forward to reading the others.

I've tried to work out why this is only okay for me - it's carefully written, with a detailed plot and several strands, although none of them develop into anything - they're for the next books in the series!

It's possible the author's very laudable attempt to put some social context into a frothy bit of romance - that being land clearances in Scotland - was my main problem. This allowed notes of peril and danger, as well as the main baddie, to be introduced, but I found it too much. It's not that I don't want to know of such times, but not when I'm reading escapist romantic fluff. Also my inner realist, who has a tendency to raise an annoying head and point out unlikely happenings, just couldn't keep quiet here!
* Our heroine's family wouldn't really have left her alone for Christmas would they?
* And departed before the planned aunt and uncle chaperone had arrived, yet alone before they'd even confirmed they could come at all?
* The staff wouldn't have gone off and left her alone with this strange man - it would be more than their jobs were worth!
* And, again, laudable though it was to have an agoraphobic heroine, she did get over it rather suddenly - and with nary another panic attack, suddenly becoming a competent duchess when the need arose.
*The Duke's injury responded remarkably well to being stitched up by a seamstress - or maybe not, as later it's described as being left open and draining... And he just had a spot of light fever, then was up on crutches in no time.
*A young lady from polite society wouldn't have had the opportunity to form a relationship with Mr Sinclair, let alone one so... heated!
*Oh, and given this is pre-railways, people seem to get from London to Ballaloch (360 miles according to Google) with great ease and speed.

So my inner realist wouldn't shut up, and I didn't warm to hero, who'd cheerfully have had his wicked way with our heroine had she not been made of sterner stuff - and that long before he realised he cared for her. The sisters lacked warmth - the only one who caught my interest was mother - but I can't see her getting her own story.

The next story in the series is well set up, and there are enough loose ends and threads to keep several books going - but not for me.

I loved this book. The two main characters are both dealing with the personal demons. She is afraid to leave her home and he has been wounded in his leg and was left on the battle field to die. The romance blossoms gradually as they get to know each other. It has many under currents which keep you turning the page. Both characters are likeable which is important in a romance novel. I loved that they were both imperfect. It was nice that although it was historically set, I didn't feel I was treated to a lesson on the old days. It flowed at a wonderful pace.

I will definately be putting this novel on my re-reading shelf.

I loved this book, it has a good story line and great characters, it is a bit saucy but in a nice way. I would recommend this to all those who love romance at its best and happy endings. Great read. Only critisism I would love to have seen a bit more of Victorias gritty temperament coming through.

Its ok....typical romantic story...no real surprises...not a lot to be said really. Hard to do a proper review. Rather predictable.

Set in Scotland - a Duke who's been shot; a young noblewoman suffering from agoraphobia; a landlord evicting crofters - that's the start of the story. But Victoria has a secret - she's been helping the family finances by make dresses and sending the to London, now she's improving the painful stays every woman wears and sending them to London. Her family has left her in Scotland as she refuses to leave the house and the displaced crofters have a campsite on the family land and the shot duke is taken to the house to be nursed back to health. A good story, with some twists, well worth the read.

Great escapism and a very easy read. Ideal for hospital treatment. No brain required and you forget modern day life

I don't normally read lightweight romance but following a bereavement I thought this would be an easy read. Too easy. For me this was a predictable plot with two dimensional characters. By the time the two main characters' secrets were revealed I'd lost interest. This book was not for me.

Better read than I thought. The plot was well thought out and quite full. Some of the writing does not flow as well as it could.