The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy: Number 4 in series (The Smythe-Smith Quartet)

I love Julia Quinn's books and get quite excited whenever a new one appears to pre-order (then downloads onto my kindle 1st thing in the morning)The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy didn't disappoint. Though out the book the author keeps you guessing as to what this secret is, now normally I'm quite good at figuring these things out, but I've got to admit even I was gobsmacked when it was revealed. It's a sweet story and thoroughly enjoyed it.On a side note: I love that Julia Quinn uses proper English language, by using slag that we actually use here in Britain. Its something I've noticed American authors don't normally do, and most people don't notice. But I do, so this pleased me to no end when I read them.Highly recommended to those who love Julia Quinn's work or those who have yet to experience the joy.

Another great addition to this series. There was a bit of mystery around this one as well and I was intrigued to find out the story behind the hero’s behaviour. The heroine was particularly likeable and a nice building romance. You especially felt the emotions the heroine wa# going through. Definitely worth reading - a 4.5.

Everything he did in the beginning sounded weird but he still sounded kind and was nice to read a love story not full of sex

Another lovely read by Julia Quinn. I’ve read many and never been disappointed.

I have read a lot of reviews here, on Amazon.com and Goodreads because I felt so torn about this book. I will always read Julia Quinn, and so I preordered this book and then waited to enjoy reading it after I had ploughed through a few other books. I was disappointed, but not to the extent that I stopped reading! I really thought this was going to be a type of Gothic romance but unfortunately it meandered and my overall feeling was that it felt rushed. Julia Quinn handled a hero's determination not to allow his his wife to get pregnant in the first Bridgerton story, 'The Duke and I', which was handled, I thought, in a much more grown-up and believable way. In 'Secrets' the hero has his reasons for not allowing his wife to get pregnant but handles it like a randy adolescent! The arrival of the sisters almost had me convinced that my first [tasteless!] guess was correct but then we endured some entirely unbelievable interraction between the hero, his two sisters and the heroine.How an author chooses to present her characters is entirely her business, but I can moan about the storyline! Sir Richard was so determined to avoid any whiff of scandal for his family but takes his bride to his home and estate - and not one neighbour called to meet the new Lady Kenworthy? Very, very unlikely in that period of time and would have made the story tighter, while they needed to hide the 'evidence'. Despite Richard's obvious self-flaggelation about his ealier actions towards his sisters when he inherited his title, I never got any feeling of what the family was like - and given all the old retainers, I would have thought Iris would have discovered something more pertinent about her husband and his family. I suppose there simply wasn't a big enough cast of relevant characters for me, particularly since this is part of the Smythe-Smith saga, where relationships on a grander scale are so prevalent.Julia Quinn is always worth reading, but as with many historical romance authors' more recent offerings, I am finding stories rushed, characters not fleshed out enough, and the endings trite. However, I can't say that of Iris' character, because I was rooting for her from the beginning and admired how the author brought her out of herself to effectively direct the outcome of the plot. I don't know if too much pressure is being brought from publishers, but I think I'll start rereading some of the really excellent series, such as the Bridgertons and wait until some better new stories come along!

I have read quite a lot of her books, but this is my favourite so far - it’s so funny in places I laughed out loud, and although I guessed what the secret Richard was keeping was, it made me want to keep reading to see if I were right!

Sir Richard Kenworthy is in desperate need of a wife; indeed he has but two weeks to find one, surely an impossible feat. Enter Iris Smythe-Smith and suddenly it seems fate may just be on his side; she ticks every box on his list and as such he wastes no time in courting her. Iris has always considered herself something of a wallflower, not that she minds, indeed she's always been entertained and happy enough observing those in the limelight; as such when Sir Richard Kenworthy won't stop staring at her at one of the infamous Smythe-Smith musicales she can but wonder why. Furthermore, when he starts wooing her fervently, she can but be suspicious as to his having an ulterior motive; still that doesn't stop her from rather liking him. However, when his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising situation and she finds herself with no choice but to marry him, she is certain he must be hiding something from her; the question is what and how will it affect the fact that she has fallen in love with him?This is the fourth and final installment in the Smythe-Smith quartet, though you don't necessarily have to have read the previous books in order to follow the story. For those that have, however, there are plenty of returning characters; with special mention to the Pleinsworth family, who provide an evening of the greatest entertainment!This is actually my favourite Julia Quinn novel for some time; the story filled with her trademark humour, warm and witty characters, a dash of intrigue and lots of romance. I loved both Iris and Richard, and the relationship that slowly developed between them. Iris, I think is one of Quinn's most sensible heroines, not one for histrionics, even when she might well be entitled to such; and I found her utterly delightful with her quiet charm and sly observations. Furthermore accustomed as she is to being over-looked, it was lovely to watch her confidence grow under Richard's admiration; though at the same time I felt for her acutely when she simply didn't know what to make of his hot and cold behaviour.Richard himself, could have been quite easy to dislike, with his rather unorthodox reasons for marriage and in a way entrapment of Iris into such; hence it is a credit to Quinn's characterization of him that I couldn't help but love him despite of everything, much like Iris herself. For the reader it is plain to see that whatever his motivations in initially choosing Iris, he does genuinely fall in love with her; and that he does despise himself for what he is having to do.Quinn does not reveal Richard's secret till the final quarter of the book, rather teasing at it throughout; though I have to say that I did guess what might be going on relatively early in the story. Personally I liked the pacing of the story, as it allowed most of the emphasis to be on Richard and Iris' blossoming relationship; the reveal of the secret well timed to add some drama, and to watch Iris' reaction, with just enough time to reach a resolution too. Had Quinn played her card earlier, I think it might have detracted from the main relationship; and I personally felt that Richard's sisters were better tolerated in a small dose, and could have got very annoying had they been introduced earlier. The secret itself I thought was an interesting dilemma; and I could appreciate why Richard felt compelled to act as he did, though perhaps he should have ensured that he had gleaned all the facts straight before doing so.All in all a charming, witty and romantic read, which had me flying through the pages and totally absorbed in Quinn's regency world. A perfect guilty pleasure for a rainy day.

Julia! God love you!

Julia Quinn knows how to beguile and engage her readers and this book is proof of that.

Liked it

Iris is one of the younger Smyth-Smith daughters. She is obliged to play the cello in the annual recital. As usual the Quartet is an insult to one's ears. Richard Kenworthy has come into town from Yorkshire, with a secret mission and attends the recital with a friend. Even with ear plugs in he realises that of the four girls playing he realises that Iris is the only one with any musical talent. Richard asks to be introduced to her and from then on pursues her and after a week ask her to marry him before she can reply he kisses her in front of her mother which forces a wedding on them and they marry and head to Yorkshire a week later. Iris feels that Richard is hiding something. Richard has two sisters who have gone to spend a couple of weeks with their aunt. Richard writes to the Aunt demanding that they return within a week. Although Ricard and Iris are growing closer Richard has not consummated the marriage. When the sisters arrive home Iris discovers that the oldest sister Fleur is pregnant and Richard wants Iris to pretend she is pregnant and bring up the child in order to save Fleur's good name. Iris is devestated realising she was tricked. Eventually after discovering that the father that Fleurr declared (dead) was not the real father and a tenant one the estate is the real father. Iris convinces Fleur to tell her lover about the baby and informs Richard of the changed circumstances. With Fleur sorted and the younger daughter sent down to do a season in London with her mother, Iris and Richard can get on with married life.

Adoro os livros dessa autora. E este é parte da série Smithe smith.Gostei muito. Vale a pena ler....se fosse em português seria melhor ainda.