The reviews on Goodreads are very positive, so this is a case of 'it's not the book, it's me'. Although I liked Nora and Heath, I didn't engage emotionally with their developing romance and the supporting cast of characters were fine, but nothing to write home about. 

I will note that this story has a couple that take the time to get to know each other personally instead of falling in insta-lust, which is something I really have to commend the author for because I always want more of that! The couple's devotion to their respective family members was lovely and I enjoyed Heath's interactions with his sisters and Nora's with Lady Roundtree, but it's not a great sign that I felt more interest in the family dynamics than I did in their romance.  There wasn't much chemistry between them at the start, and while I liked them as friends, I didn't feel it was believable that they felt this consuming passion for each other that would explain why they HAD to torment themselves with visions of the future they supposedly couldn't have. 

The main problem was that the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of their wildly varying social classes with Nora being a commoner and Heath being a titled lord expected to marry well kept being repeated ad nauseum. I started bookmarking every single time the whole 'I want him/her, but we're not meant to beee' refrain came up, but then stopped because it was in EVERY. SINGLE. CHAPTER. We get it! This isn't difficult to grasp! There was a marked lack of angst or dramatic tension, so it was as though the author had to keep falling back on this one obstacle to keep the story going and it had me gritting my teeth just wishing the characters would forget each other and move on already.  

If you're in the mood for a low-stakes fluffy romance, this will suit you well. Again, I seem to be the lone critical voice as the majority of reviews are filled with glowing praise, so this is a book that seems to work for most readers. Alas, it just wasn't for me!

The fifth book in the Rogues to riches series and I found myself smiling at some of the things that happen, I enjoyed reading Miss Eleanora Winfield and Heath Grenville a future Baron's story. Looking forward to reading the next book. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

What a nice change to have a hero and heroine who choose to think the best of each other, rather than the tedious misunderstanding followed by prolonged pouting that characterizes far too much of the genre.

Heath and Nora are from two different worlds, but they fall in love at first sight, and manage to overcome the disapproval of their respective families and discover more about their own true selves in the process.

Nora is such a sweet girl. Helping her family by being a companion to her cousin Lady Roundtree. In walks Heath. This story is wonderful. The ever proper Heath fits scandal for the ton. Nora causes a bit!!! Their story is very enjoyable, and the cast of support6characters is fantastic.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

London 1817
While the nobility continued to enjoy their status and to get help from their peers when any problem arose, here comes an anonymous cartoonist who begins to fiddle with their pride.
Who was this person who was unmasking the privileges of the High Society while the people continued to suffer in silence?
Heath Grenville, Baronet, receives from his clients the task of discovering and unmasking this infamous. But at the same time, he was summoned by his mother to find a bride and get married.
Being the eldest, with three more sisters, Heath came from a talented family for the Arts. He himself is an accomplished pianist and one of his sisters, an excellent singer.
Camellia and Dahlia were already married. Bryony had a new admirer, and now, there he was enchanted by a woman he met at a ball.
Who was the lady who had wet his sleeve with lemonade and refused to dance?

Miss Eleonora Winfield - Nora - came from a rural family, who were struggling to keep their farm. That's when she decided to take on the work of as a paid companion to a distant cousin, Lady Roundtree, since this one broke her leg, but she did not want to stop attending the events of the season.
As she poured lemonade into a gentleman's arm, she did not imagine he would become so insistent in wanting to dance with her and to see her again.
Even when she tells him she was no more than a servant... Well, after the shock, he wanted to see her the same way. What if all that insistence could become something more?
However, although there was an undeniable attraction between them, each had a very different history of life, and the Society would never accept their union with good eyes.
But could a certain cartoonist narrow the gap between their worlds?

A novel that shows the opportunities that life gives and how to empathize and understand the reasons and actions of each person.
With surprises and the famous happy ending.
5 stars

Erica Ridley's romances tend to involve atypical pairs and this one is no exception. Not only is this one a poor 'country mouse' roped into service as companion for an aristocrat with a broken leg, she's got a tremendous talent and a hidden disability. Not to mention that her hair is undeniably, unfashionably red!

Who was to fathom that the 'problem solver of the elite', Heath Grenville, would find her to be the answer to his true desires, both romantic and vocational?

Lady Roundtree's splints come off in six weeks, so his timetable is finite. If only he weren't distracted by the hunt for a scurrilous anonymous caricaturist who is taking the stuffing out of the town toffs.

This pair's chemistry is off the charts and every Cupid in Greater London will be pitching in to dissolve the obstacles to their confessions to each other before time is up.

I've enjoyed this series of Erica Ridley. She has endearing families and is the master of characterization. Heath was a pleasure and certainly a quick learner. Because of this father issues, he went an extra mile to be there for his family. I'm disappointed that his mother caved so easily to his choice for his wife. Maybe a little more there would have added some more drama. Nora was also sweet and loved her family but I had to come around to really liking her. Somehow, the last few books in the "Lord" series have started to sound too much alike. Same story, different names. Although I enjoyed this book enough to finish, I'd like to see and read something new.

Review This was such a cute romance. Heath Greenville is out rescuing wallflowers as well as the tons reputations when things come to light that they would all rather be hidden. What happens when a sweet companion is there witnessing all the chaos decides to draw what she see home to her brother.. and her caricatures make to the papers!? While Heath is on the trail trying to find the culprit it doesn't occur to him the the red headed goddess that has bewitched him with one look could be the fellow he is determined to sniff out! I adored it! I really did! It was something new and fresh and very entertaining!

3.5 stars rounded up for the mature, grown-up conversation and total lack of drama in this sloooow burn romance!

This series is growing on me more with every book. They're sweet and light, perfect cozy reads. All you have to do is suspend your belief a bit more than usual. In this case, you need to just go with the heir of a baron being a known fixer who saves reputations of the ton members for money and his more than eccentric sisters (one runs an orphanage in a rookery, one becomes an opera singer, and another one is a genius with numbers who earns money on the stock exchange).

So on the one hand, we have Hugh Grenville. The fixer. The one who is so appalled by the way society treats its wallflowers and his eccentric sisters that he goes out of his way to save reputations, to make sure people can live the lives they want without being judged unfairly.
When he is hired to discover the identity of the caricaturist who is becoming more famous with every outrageous drawing, he is determined to unmask the culprit, come what may.

And then there is Eleanora "Nora" Winfield. From a poor family who runs a farm in the country, always on the brink of destitution, she is being offered the chance of a lifetime when a distant cousin hires her as a companion. She moves to London, accepting the fact that her status as paid companion will never allow her to be a part of the glittering world her cousin belongs to, determined to earn enough money to allow her hard-working grandparents who took her and her brother in when their parents died to live comfortably.
When her brother passed on one of the drawings she send home from London to a publisher, he didn't think they would be an instant success. But Nora can't deny that the extra income doesn't make a difference..

What will Hugh do when he finally unmasks the artist whose life he swore to ruin after his family was featured in one of the infamous drawings? And how will Nora keep her secret from the one person who sees past her lowly status, upbringing, and lack of refinement? Can the heir to a baronetcy really ignore his rigid moral compass and find the courage to throw his rulebook out the window for love? Only one way to find out...

Lord Heath prides himself on living the life of a perfect gentleman. He follows all the proscribed societal rules of the day to the letter. At thirty two, his mother is nagging him about finding a wife. He accidentally “bumps into” Nora at a social gathering, finds her delightful and wants to learn her identity. Come to find out, Nora is a paid companion to a Countess, and as such, is not an eligible young lady for courting- IF Heath continues to follow “the rules”.
Nora finds Heath incredibly attractive, but sees him as too far above her station, so she is determined to simply be friendly. As the time passes, and these two people are brought together by circumstances more and more frequently, they each fantasize about breaking the rules, and becoming involved with each other.
But, Nora has a secret. It may be insurmountable. It could destroy what little chance the two have at a future.
This is a really fun story with a cast of colorful that left me smiling more than once. I recommend this book to readers of historical romance who enjoy humor and heat with their hea. This is the fifth in a fun series, and I am really looking forward to the next!

Another great book by Erica Ridley. I love her books so much and they provide a great diversion from my normal reading fare. Heath and Nora are absolutely fantastic -- it is great to have a strong heroine who is able to keep up with the alpha male hero. If you enjoy period romance with intrigue and two strong characters, plus a great set of supporting characters, you need to read this book. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley.

Another wonderful installment in the Rogues to Riches series.

Secret keeper of the ton, Heath Grenville, tries to uncover the identity of the caricaturist haunting the beau monde with their accurate drawings. He's been paid by Lady Roundtree to find the culprit.

Nora, second cousin to Lady Roundtree, is in Town for only a few weeks. She's the paid companion to Lady Roundtree, while the lady recovers from a broken leg. Nora, a poor country girl from a sheep farm, carries more than one secret.

There's spilled lemonade, stale sponge cakes, prejudice, secrets, lots of red hair and the wonderful Grenville siblings.

Can't wait to read Bryony's story.

I've enjoyed historical romances by Erica Ridley in the past (i.e. Dukes of War series), but something just wasn't working for me with "Lord of Secrets". I only made it a third of the way through this one before decided not to finish this one. While Nora and Heath were both admirable characters I felt that there romance was lacking; there just didn't seem to be great chemistry between the two of them. The plot involving Heath uncovering a witty and cutting caricaturist, which, of course, turned out to be Nora, was a little over the top and I just wasn't invested - this story has been done before and its not a familiar one that I particularly enjoy. So, this one was a no-go for me.

Heath Grenville is among London’s elite society and he’s the problem-solver for London's elite. His next mission is to unmask the devious cretin skewering the London’s elite with audacious caricatures. Miss Eleanora Winfield is a proper, unremarkable paid companion who has been called on to work for a distant couisin to help her family out with her much needed income. Nora has been sending home very funny caricatures of her experiences in London home to her brother who unbeknownst to Nora has been selling them to the newspaper in London in exchange for much need money the family needs.
While attending a ton ball she literally bumps into a gentleman who is intrigued by her, but doesn’t know she’s a paid companion and should be beneath his notice. They strike up a friendship and the cat and mouse games begin as he tries to uncover the artist of the audacious caricatures and she tries to not get caught knowing her family desperately need the extra income. Will these two ever be able to overcome such obstacles in the name of love? Will Heath consider marring a paid companion and go against society rules. A truly captivating story to read and enjoy as they fall in love and find their way to a HEA!!!This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

I've been waiting for Heath's story since the beginning of the series. The more I got to know him through the other books the more I liked him. In my opinion, he needed not just anyone but someone special. Someone made just for him. I liked Heath so much that I was worried I wouldn't like the lady picked for him by the author. No worries, though. Erica Ridley never disappoints. She created the perfect match for Heath!

Right off the bat, I liked Nora. She was so genuine and real. I loved the interaction between her and Heath during their first meeting. There was such chemistry between the two that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I liked the progression of their relationship from strangers to acquaintances to friends.

I enjoyed the other characters in the book as well. Lady Roundtree, Nora's cousin, is a delight and I would love to read more about her. She is quite the character. However, and no offense to the human characters in the book, my favorite character has to be Captain Pugboat. This puppy had me in stitches with his antics. I just couldn't get enough of him!!!!

As always the author's writing style is fantastic and she whisked me away to another world with characters I enjoyed, a story that was perfect, and descriptions that made me feel as if I were there. While this is book five in the series there is no need to read the others before reading this one. It totally stands on its own. However, I do recommend reading the previous books because they are just as wonderful as this one.

If you love historical romance you MUST add this to your tbr list. It is a wonderful story that makes you feel good while reading it. It's also a book that you will probably want to read again and again.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

The story is well written and an enjoyable read. Nora, a paid companion, and Heath, a future baron, come together and a connection is formed. Heath feels obligated to marry to uphold the title he will someday inherit but feels conflicted for the feelings he has for Nora. As they work thru all the difficulties that arise, they fo have a HEA. There is a lot more to the book and I would recommend it for a good read. I received a copy of this book thru Netgalley.

It is always my pleasure to be given an ARC to read and review. It is also my pleasure to be able to respond to my commitment to give a fair and honest review with a positive review. I make no bones about the fact that Erica Ridley is one of my go to authors. There is a very good reason for that. This is another of her "lords" series and they follow from one to the other without losing any of her great characters and stories. They will keep you engaged.

I have always loved Erica's work ... she writes, sweet , simple, sizzling Regency Romance ... " Lord Of Secrets " is the 5th book in Rogues to Riches series & can be read as a standalone, i ve read the previous 4 books in this series & am happy to say was not disappointed...

This books presents us with Heath Grenville & Miss Eleanora Winfield's story ...Nora Winfieldia a farmer’s granddaughter, serving as a temporary paid companion to Lady Roundtree & Heath Grenville is heir to a Baronetcy, and the keeper of secrets of the ton & is a renowned problem solver hence his name is tagged as " LOrd of Secrets "...

when an anonymous caricaturist targets his sister and makes her a laughing stock, he vows to find the man and ruin him.Unknown to Heath, Nora is the caricaturist that he despises and is determined to ruin. Nora needs the money to keep food on the table & save the family farm.

Though Nora and Heath come from very different social spheres, there circumstances differ vastly they get attracted to each other ...A delicious romance from beginning to end..Erica Ridley’s ability to make a story captivating , interesting is a outstanding talent ...

The story,script is well developed , writing is simple , characters well placed , wonderful presentation...liked the book ...

This was my favorite book of the series to date. I personally would like a bit more romance/graphically romantic scenes between the hero/heroine, but the novel was still enjoyable. Ms. Ridley's female protagonists are always original.

Lord of Secrets (Rogues to Riches, #5) by Erica Ridley is one of my favorite historical romance reads this year. It's sweet and romantic with a unique plot. I love how the author incorporates other characters from this series which coincides with the timeline. This book can be read as a stand alone which is perfect if you're looking for a great summer read to make your heart smile. As the "Keeper of Secrets," Heath Grenville is as honorable as they come and wants only to do the right thing by everybody. Nora Winfield knows her shortcomings and exhibits great character growth as she struggles unapologetically to stay true to her family and her self-worth. If you like the Dukes of War Series by this author, you will enjoy this series too.