A clean Regency romance with a rather uninteresting heroine but I enjoyed it all the same.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Didn't realize when I requested this that it was published by Covenant, a Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) publisher. There isn't any overt proselytizing, but the story definitely focuses on inculcating a respect for the value of family, and reinstating the father as the proper head of same.

Barker uses first person to tell her Regency-set story of shy, quiet Nora, the eldest daughter in a family with rather unloving, distant parents. Nora loves her childhood best friend James, but after an almost-kiss in the garden from which James pulls away, James leaves for his family's Jamaica planation for months, leaving Nora to think that he doesn't feel about her the same way she feels about him (neither Nora nor the author seems to give any thought to the historical fact that an Englishman who owned a Jamaican sugar planation used slave labor to run said plantation...)

Nora's parents want her to marry Mr. Weston, who is in line to inherit a title. Since Mr. Weston is jus as reserved as is Nora, Nora doesn't feel much of a connection to him. But she agrees to accept his proposal by the end of the London Season—if her father will agree to also bring her younger siblings to town with them, and to allow her to continue her friendship with a suddenly returned-from-Jamaica James. As Nora continues to read all of her interactions with James as his caring for her like a brother, rather than a lover (which any intelligent reader knows is a MISreading), she decides to try to woo a third man, one who has been paying her unusual attention during the opening balls of the season, and towards whom she feels a moderate sense of attraction. It's the story of the three bears as suitors—one is too stuffy, one is too rakish, and one is just right (bet you can guess which one is which). The subplot about why Nora's parents are so standoffish with their children is more unusual, but, as noted above, reinstalls the (now loving and attentive) father as the proper head of the household.

Despite its predictability (and its overlooking of slavery as the basis for James' prosperity), the story is well-written, well-paced, and contains many likable characters. Not my cup of tea, but I can see it appealing to many a reader looking for a Regency-set historical without any overt sex.

I adored this book! Really, really loved it. It was written in such a charming voice...it was humorous and sweet with just enough romantic angst to make it the perfect page turner. I happily read it in less than a day...and the only unhappy moment was when I realized it was over. :)

Romance, clean; period
Clean romantic period novel. Nora is older, and has had several seasons. Her parents are ready to require her to marry a man of their choosing for a good match, and not for her heart. She has loved James, her best friend and neighbor, but hasn't felt like he sees her as more than a friend. As Nora navigates a final season before she must marry her parent's choice, many circumstances come together to show all of her suitors in their true light and heal her heart, and her parents. She makes new friends, and secrets are revealed.
Heartfelt, honest, and sweetly romantic between the main characters. The suitors all show a side of society and of Nora as she learns the truth behind her feelings, her perceptions, choices and her heart's desire. Some good supporting characters, and dilemmas as she and her choice finally come to realize where both of their hearts lie, and obstacles are removed.
More of a 3.5 for me as a reader, but rounded up for Nora's well drawn out character.

This is a story of friends who develop and eventually admit feelings for one another.

I always feel like 1st person novels are incomplete as they tell the story from one character only. I felt the same with this one, even though Nora is candid in her feelings and hopes.

Although the main story is between Nora and James, the parents and sister also play an important role in the events. There's also secrets, and how they affect everyone.

Nora is adrift and wondering where her life is going, especially with her father wanting her to marry a certain man. Her good friend James returns from a trip but things between them are not the same as before he left.

It's definitely an intriguing story and more complex than a simple Regency romance.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is my first Joanna Barker book and it was such a treat! Secrets & Suitors is a beautiful friendship turned more story. When secrets start being revealed you discover that not everything is as it seems and that there is healing and hope beyond the hurt. As we the story unfolds, I love how Nora grows. She learns to stands up for herself, for her family, for love; something we all can connect to. If you’re searching for a satisfying wholesome regency that will tug on the heartstrings - look no further. This book will remind you that love is always worth believing in and fighting for.

A big thank you to Covenant Communications for providing this copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Secrets&Suitors
** This review can also be found on Goodreads

Oh my what a lovely Regency friends-to-lovers romance the author has written. When a young woman hides behind large ferns at balls, it's never a good sign although there's usually a good reason for her doing so. Nora Hamilton has several reasons--she's shy, hates socializes at balls, and her father's determined to marry her off to the ever socially correct, but dull Mr. Weston. I think the main reason she was hiding is she missed her best friend James, whom she can't seem to admit that she loves.

James Allen left England six months ago to help his family's sugar plantation in Jamaica, but Nora thinks he left because he doesn't care for her as she cares for him. His unexpected return during the ball throws her off balance and leads her to come up with a foolhardy plan to attract someone to offer for her so she doesn't have to marry Mr. Weston. Through it all James is there for her, but will Nora let him back in to her life?

I loved this story. All the secrets of the characters that guided their actions had me wondering what would happen next and I was surprised a couple of times. I liked Nora but there were a few times I wanted to Gibbs slap her to shake some sense into her. I loved James and can see why Nora couldn't seem to forget about him. These two were perfect for each other.

I'm so glad I didn't live in Regency times. I love to dance but all the strict rules would've had me hiding behind a potted plant too. This is a clean romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

I loved this book, Nora Hamilton is not overly fond of balls, she would much prefer to be alone or talking to her best friend, James Allen. Nora's father is determined for Nora to marry, after all it is her third season. When Nora finds out, who her father would have her marry, Nora hatches a plan of her own. I loved how engaging the plot was and I also loved the characters. The secrets that have been kept are tearing Nora's family apart, Nora needs to find a way to break the shell., and find out what she is made of.

I love Joanna Barkers books and this was no exception! It was a great story line and a romantic read, Joanna has a way of writing romance scenes that gives me the shivers! My favorite kind of romance book is the kind that gives me the shivers and makes me root for the characters! I absolutely enjoyed this book and would highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this regency era novel. The author crafted a beautiful story of friendship that turns to love. I appreciated Nora's family and how they changed to be more outward with their expressions of love. I appreciated the clean romance. Truly a delight to read this swoon worthy take.

Interesting book,you either love or hate the character's,in some places found the story a bit dry,and had to skip a few pages just to get into the theme of the book again but all in all a pleasant light read

Secrets & Suitors follows Nora, a young woman back in the Regency era who is looking for love. The description sounded interesting, but honestly I found this book to be very dry and all the characters were varying degrees of annoying. Nora is so oblivious that the man she loves also loves her back that I found myself getting so aggravated at her naiveté. It felt like anvils were dropping all around her, but she had no clue and was just trying to find herself another man to marry, when the one she truly loves (despite her saying many times that she does NOT love him) feels the same way. The ending wrapped up so quickly and was a predictable happily ever after, which felt vaguely unsatisfying. One extra star for the brief runaway child plotline. I would have run away from these people too!

I would like to thank netgalley and Covenant Communications for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this too naive and found myself skimming.

"Secrets & Suitors" is a Regency romance, or at least a historical romance as the exact time was vague. Nora is painfully shy and doesn't view herself as much of a catch, so she's not surprised that her male best friend doesn't love her romantically and is surprised that two titled men start pursuing her. She longs to marry for love because her own parents seem nearly strangers, so she's shocked to learn their marriage was a love match. Healing comes to her family as she learns about what went wrong in their marriage, but it's also obvious to her that loving can be too heartbreaking. Maybe a comfortable home with a man who respects her is a better choice after all.

I cared about what happened to the main characters. They acted realistically and were complex. Nora grew as a person and learned from her mistakes. James helped bring out the best in her and genuinely wanted her to be happy and what was best for her. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.

Such a sweet friends-to-more regency romance, with secrets aplenty and tension pulling in every scene.

Nora is an introvert who would love to read poetry and enjoy time with her best friend, but things have been strained between them for some time after he suddenly left for Jamaica. Now, she is feeling forced to make a match and so throws herself into the season, hoping to make her own choice with a man of title to appease her father. With suitors and secrets aplenty, Nora is barely holding herself and her family together.

I related to Nora so much! A like to call her a fierce introvert... she would much rather be with only her closest family and friends or read, but she knows what's important to her and will fight for it when pushed.

I could tell from the very first chapter that so much more was happening that our heroine did not see or understand. The tension was sweet and burning. The conclusion... intense, yet (and i honestly can't tell you if it's the fact that i read a lot and recognize plot devices, or if the writing just had plenty of foreshadowing) i was never overcome with the emotion because i could sense what was coming.

Highly enjoyable, especially if you favor a friends-to-more trope.

(4.5 stars) - the truth shall set you free

What a lovely story! Nora is so shy and down on herself, but she comes into her own here. I loved how she found healthy support that encouraged her & she learned to advocate for herself.

James is a wonderful hero who loves Nora so much that he wants what's best for her more than anything else.

There were quite a few surprises as unexpected secrets were revealed. Nora learns in several different shocking lessons that people aren't always what they seem.

***SPOILER ALERT***

The main reason for not giving it a perfect 5 was because the resolution was a little too quick to fully buy (not full out unbelievable, but triggered my inner skeptic to start mumbling to me, and I couldn't reassure it back into silence)

Weston's almost instant acceptance of the situation following Nora's explanation & apology seemed unlikely. I think it would have helped, & would have liked, to have a better understanding of what he was thinking in all this.

And the dad's capitulation to accept James as Nora's suitor based on his willingness to duel for her, and even his general change of behavior towards his family, seemed a tad bit fast.

***END SPOILER***

I love stories of broken families that begin to find healing, & this one is very uplifting while also having a delightful romance!

*Clean romance level: sweet kisses

A nice and entertaining historical romance, well written and with a cast of likeable characters you will surely root for.
I loved the engrossing plot, the setting and the cast of characters.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Just finished this new release from @authorjoannabarker and LOVED it! So fun and I couldn’t put it down. It was a perfect book to finish on a chilly fall morning. The characters had such fun relationships and banter! And the cutest quote ever was near the end: “October was quite the loveliest month...”. I couldn’t agree more! I am crossing my fingers because I would love to hear more stories about some of the sub characters from this book! Do you love it when an author does that? I know do!

Nora Hamilton would rather remain at home in the country than go to London for her third season--and she'd much rather spend time with her friend James, recently returned to England, than Mr. Weston, the man her father wants her to marry. But since James made it clear he doesn't return her feelings for her, she reluctantly tells her father she'll agree to marry Mr. Weston at the end of the season if her younger sister is allowed a season and her younger brother is allowed to accompany them to London. As she participates in the season, she wonders if her feelings for Mr. Weston might grow, and she also attracts the attention of an earl who seems to enjoy her company, but even with two men interested in her, she still can't convince her heart to forget James. Time is running out and she must decide what is the right path for her before it's too late.

Big sigh! This was lovely (particularly the last couple of chapters! Swoon!). Timid Nora and charming James were just terrific. I loved the moments when Nora actually pushed through her shyness and let her true self show. I enjoyed the plot; there was more going on than just a romance and the elements all fit together well. The story flowed really well, and it was just a delight to read. I read a lot of Regency romances, but this one stands out--and I've already reread the last couple chapters because they were so perfect!

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I stayed up way too late last night to finish reading this book. I mean, who can sleep when there is to be a -- never mind. I don't want to give it away. I enjoyed the book. Loved the characters and the story line. I loved that the reader clearly saw things as Nora saw them. So when she felt muddled, the reader felt muddled. I saw each person through her eyes and didn't feel like I had to scream at her to open her eyes because I only saw what she saw. I didn't know a head of time who was a good guy or who was a bad guy. Instead I wondered right along side of Nora.

None of that came as a surprise to me because I have loved each Joanna Barker book I've read. Not shocking that I would love this one too.

Sex: unwanted kiss, kiss
Language: no
Violence: Attempted but failed
*I received a complimentary arc of this book through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to review it.