Marriage celebrant Isabella has a secret… a secret husband, to be exact. One she married and left in Vegas without so much as a goodbye. Only now Harry's found her, and he's furious, demanding a divorce.

Except Isabella’s starting to think marrying Harry wasn't such a mistake after all…

The setting of the book in the northern Victoria wineries was charming, and beautifully realistic. There was some lovely, evocative prose which really helped transport the reader into the story, and all the characters felt both likeable and natural; there were no villains to overcome, all the conflict coming from Harry and Isabella's decisions.

However, there were also a few inconsistencies in the story which bothered me, most notably Isabella's insistence that she couldn't function in the small town as a marriage celebrant if word got out she was divorced. This struck me as irrational, since she'd been wearing Harry's ring since their quickie marriage in Vegas, I figured everyone assumed she was both married and separated, since there was no husband in residence. What difference would a divorce make anyway?

I'm also pretty sure Harry didn't need her signature on any papers to effect a divorce, since she abandoned him the day after the wedding and hadn't been in touch since.

Inconsistencies such as these aside, this was a charming and well written story. I'm giving it four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

Belle's Secret by Victoria Purman, book two in the Outback Brides series. A great addition to the series. I've enjoyed the settings of the story, the characters, storylines and the dialogue. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Second in the Outback Brides series, Belle’s Secret by Victoria Purman is the story I wanted to read when I was finishing Maggie’s Run. Little did I know that Izzy from the first book was actually Belle, or Isabella in the second. I should add at this point that you don’t need to have read Maggie’s Run in order to enjoy Belle’s Secret, though that first story is just as engrossing and entertaining as this one.
Set in the fictitious northern Victorian town of Wirralong, Belle’s Secret is the story of Wirra Station marriage celebrant Isabella Martensen and Harry Harrison, the Napa Valley winemaker she married a year earlier in a very out of character for her ceremony in Los Vegas. Having fled her new husband the morning after their spur of the moment wedding, Isabella has carried the weight of her guilt over the marriage for the past year and is utterly shocked when Harry appears as a guest at one of the weddings she’s officiating. Harry, on the other hand, has spent the year looking for his Belle both to get some answers and, since she apparently isn’t as taken with him as he was with her, to get a divorce.
I always enjoy Victoria Purman’s stories and this one is no exception. The characters are like fine wine - perfectly matched to their setting and with a warmth and believability that makes them the sort of people you want to get to know. I loved the variety of weddings Isabella performed throughout the story. I loved the deep friendship between Isabella and Maggie. I loved Harry. Who couldn’t? And then there was the increasingly apparent love between Harry and Belle as the story progressed. Perfectly balanced it made this a truly delightful story to read. I really can’t wait to read the third in this series as the first two have been so good.

Belle's Secret by Victoria Purman is the second in the Outback Brides Series by Tule Publishing. Each book by a different author is loosely tied together. So far each one deals with one couple who find their HEA by the end of the novel. I found this one enchanting even if it is not my favorite of tropes. Goes to show what a great author can write.

Maggie’s Run by Kelly Hunter ends with a distant relative showing up at Maggie’s wedding, so I had thought that book two would be about her. Instead it about Maggie’s friend who had come to work at Wirra Station when it became a wedding venue.

More of a secret bride than it is a bride-to-be story. Plausible in Isabella Martenson’s case if not entirely believable. Never believe what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Divorce seems to be the answer for Bella and Harry. Despite its lack of believability in this period of internet savvy, I absolutely enjoyed seeing Harry and Bella finally getting to know each other as they make the decision to be married or divorced.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Belle’s Secret by Victoria Purman
Isabella Martenson never expected to be a runaway bride. She never expected to be a bride, period. She simply has the wrong DNA to do the whole happily married thing. Until one night in Vegas with a handsome winemaker changes everything…
A year later, Harry Harrison’s bride is still a mystery. Who was she? Where was she? And why did she run? When Harry flies to a Australia for his best friend’s wedding, he runs straight into the woman he’s never been able to forget.
All she asks is for their marriage to be kept a secret. All he asks is for a divorce. But after a week together, Harry and Isabella are forced to face what they really want.
This is Isabella Martenson and Harry Harrison's story.
“By the powers vested in me by the Commonwealth of Australia, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
And so, with those simple, fanfic-inspired words, marriage celebrant Isabella Martenson officiated over her one hundredth wedding.
As the newlyweds kissed and hugged, wiped away their tears and erupted in joyous laughter, Isabella stepped back. She closed her leather-bound folder, in which she had placed two printed copies of the vows the couple had written, and looked on as family, friends, and a couple of people dressed as small furry animals, crowded around the happy couple, offering embraces and congratulations. The late-January sun shone down on the native garden. Lemon-scented gums perfumed the air and the dappled shade offered some respite from the heat. Off in the distance, the apple-green leaves of nearby vineyards shimmered, and a kookaburra called as if to herald the newlyweds.
Isabella sighed and allowed herself a self-satisfied smile. Who said romance was dead?
“I think I’ve found who I’m looking for.” He chuckled but there was an edge to it, a mean edge. “Mrs Harrison. As I live and breathe.”
A shiver scratched at the base of Isabella’s neck. Sweat beaded on her top lip even though she suddenly felt cold. Something clenched at her insides and she swallowed a wave of nausea.
“What did you say your name was again?” she stammered, trying to buy a few seconds to think, to stop herself from going into shock.
I highly recommend reading.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
will sparks fly between them Isabella and Harry or will they go their separate ways?
Belle’s Secret by Victoria Purman is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Victoria Purman.
Victoria's Books with Tule:
The Millionaire
Hot Aussie Heroes
The Millionaire Malones
The CEO
The Millionaire Malones
The Rebel
The Millionaire Malones
Flame
Firefighters of Montana

Long Hot Summer
Hot Aussie Knights
Belle’s Secret
Outback Brides

Outback Brides
Book 1
Maggie’s Run
by Kelly Hunter
Book 2
Belle’s Secret
by Victoria Purman
Book 3
Elsa’s Stand
by Cathryn Hein
Book 4
Holly’s Heart
by Fiona McArthur

Wedding officiant Isabella Martenson has attended all types of weddings. Never did she expect hers to be in a Las Vegas chapel to a man she just met. Panic sets in and Bella runs to Australia without a word. Now she's living a quiet life in Wirra Station. She never expected to come face to face with her husband at one of the weddings she presiding over. Harry Harrison has been looking for Bella for almost a year. After she left him in their hotel room he was determined to find her. After all this time he's ready to give up when he unexpectedly finds her in the Australian Outback at a friends wedding. He originally wants her to sign divorce papers but after spending a week with her what he wants doesn't include a divorce.

I would definitely recommend this book!

Love at first sight, (sigh) don't I wish I could find what Belle (Isabella) and Harry found in Vegas. I loved this story, did Isabella really do the right thing by running away, now Harry's found her and it's time to find out. The chemistry between these two characters was fabulous and I hoped right from the start they'd find their happily ever after, I wanted to skip to the end just to be sure. I'm loving the town of Wirralong and it's cast of characters I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.

When I read the cover description on this book, I wasn't sure, it could go one way or another. I am happy to say I really enjoyed it. Some parts seemed a little unbelievable, until you got into the story and learned a little more about the characters. Ms. Purman does an excellent job of developing likable and interesting people. I also found the descriptions of the location intriguing. I have never been to Australia but have always wanted to go. Belle, Isabella Martenson and Harry Harrison were meant to be together. They can fight it all they want, but the chemistry is too strong. I would give this book a PG rating due to language and sexual content. But if that is not a problem for you, you will find it a very enjoyable read. I received this book from Tule Publishing through Net Galleys. The opinion expressed in this review is completely my own.

This is a wonderful, well written book, I absolutely loved it. This is the first time I have read Victoria Purman’s work and I will definitely read more. This author makes the characters and setting come to life. The descriptions are vivid enough that you actually feel you have visited Australia and experienced one of Belle’s weddings!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. This is I believe the 2nd in A series. It reads well as a stand alone. I thought the premise was silly. I couldn't, relate to Isabella at all. She ran away instead of facing reality. I am sure that many romance readers will enjoy. I rated this a 3.5.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not always and not for Isabella. Isabella is a celebrant in Australia, something of a justice of a peace. She marries couples on a beautiful station belonging to one of her friends. During one wedding, she meets a piece of her past. Harry from Vegas. He wants a divorce and she wants him to keep the wedding a secret. Secrets never stay that way if feelings are involved. This is another lovely book of the Outback Brides series. Can't wait til the next one. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Isabella Martenson had been keeping a secret for the last year. Not even her best friend knew it. Isabella married a man when she was in Las Vegas for a convention and then panicked and ran. She went back to Australia and moved hoping Harry would never find her. Things are going good for Isabella now. She is running her own business, Wedding Belles, and officiating weddings at her best friend Maggie’s wedding venue. But when one of her wedding guests turns out to be her husband, Isabella doesn’t know how to react.

Harry Harrison, a well-known wine maker from San Francisco, is a guest at his friend’s weddings when he spots Belle, the woman who disappeared after they were married. Since then he has been searching for her. He just wants a divorce so he can move on with his life. But when circumstances put the two of them together, they both might decide they want a second chance.

This was a sweet story. The situation was a bit unbelievable, but it made for a fun read. I cheered on Isabella and Harry the entire time. I wanted them to stay together. The author kept the story interesting and enjoyable.

I have never been to Australia but it’s on my bucket list and this series is only adding to its allure. There are lots of coincidences in Isabella’s and Harry’s romance but their chemistry is undeniable. You cheer for Iz to get her own HEA after starting so many couples on their own... sort of amazing to me that this was her livelihood given her feelings about her own chances of HEA. Looking forward to more of this series.

Great read - looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

Isabella is seemingly happy in her life in Australia, as a wedding celebrant at her best friends farm. But her peace is disrupted one day when the man she married and then fled from turns up at on of the weddings.

He wants a divorce and she agrees to it, as long as her secret is kept. The longer they spend together the more they both realise that the attraction that led them to get married in the first place is definitely still there - but what will they do about it when they live on opposite sides of the world?