The Secrets of the Heart

By Kasey Michaels

Book Overview

Dashing and elegant, Baron Christian St. Clair is the toast of the ton...and a man with a closely guarded secret. For his dazzling looks and celebrated charm mask his late-night escapades as the elusive Peacock, enemy of the rich and benefactor of the poor. Now Gabrielle Laurence, the destitute beauty who loathes St. Clair's rakish ways and power over her social standing, is close to discovering the truth. But can he convince her to trust a rogue--and take a chance on the passion that flares between them?

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373772726
• ISBN13: 9780373772728
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Updating a classic

As other reviewers have noted, this is an unashamed refashioning of the The Scarlet Pimpernel tale, but with a different set of villains. Rather than saving victims of the French Revolution from the guillotine, this dashing-hero-disguised-as-useless-fop-and-fribble has targeted the abusive practices of cold-hearted English industrialists. What Kasey Michael shares with the Baroness Orczy is a flare for fast-paced, over-the-top action romance in the tradition of Dumas. Moments of farce from disguises and confused identities mixed with pathos for the poor victims whom the hero is trying to protect, plenty of intrigue, lots of derring-do, a strong dose of sexual attraction between the leads, and a sweet romance as the H/H each learns as much about themselves as about the other. Very well executed and lots of fun.

The Scarlet Pimpernel Revisited

This is the first book of Kasey Michaels I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it--once I got over my surprise and exasperation that it was a blatant copy of that classic of double identity, The Scarlet Pimpernel. I wouldn't have minded, if the back cover--or somewhere--would have intimated that that was the author's intention. Baron St. Clair with his high-pitched giggle and foppish ways was almost an exact copy of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. Instead of rescuing aristos from the guillotine in France, this baron is a Robin Hood do-gooder, threatening and doing damage to mill owner's mansions so they will improve conditions for their workers. The heroine, like her counterpart in The S. Pimpernel, is a penniless young woman. Even most of the chapters open with a quote by The S. Pimpernel's author, Baroness Orczy. Since I was enjoying the story, and impressed by Michael's writing and her knowledge of the period, I came to the conclusion that she fully intended a sort of remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel (hence the chapter headings). I just think the publisher should have made it clear. It was a great romance though and a satisfying read. I'm sure I will read more of Michael's books.

Great Regency Romance

I am a big fan of Kasey Michaels, and this is by far her best book. I loved the main characters, and the story was brilliant. Gabby is a great heroine. She desperately needs to marry a rich man, but she can't seem to get over the fact that the men in the ton are vain hypocrites. She especially hates Lord St. Claire, the leader of the ton, even though he has made her popular. Christian is not who he seems, however, and both of them have to look past their initial impressions of one another to discover someone "they could love." This book has mystery and suspense as well as really hot romance, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read historical romance.

A TITILATING MYSTERY!

Who is the Peacock that is driving the Tory's toward capturing this deadly rogue? Well you can eliminate the simpering, prancing, preening Baron Christian St. Clair with his silly giggle. But what of his friends,Lord Osmond Osgood, Sir Gladwin Penley, or Mr. George Trumble known affectionally as "Grumble" to St. Clair. It seems that the "Peacock" was very quietly attacking the mill owners who were more like slave drivers. Employing people and children and working them till they drop and hardly paying them enough to live on. Herbert Symington was one of these mill owners looking to make a profit with his silent partner. Gabrielle Laurence, 18 was looking to make an advantageous match in order to save her beloved Rose Hill Farm without appearing to be hunting a fortune in marriage. Gabrielle has an adversary in the beauteous, blonde Lady Ariana Tredway whos' papa was a staunch Tory. Lady Ariana also has her cap set for the Duke of Glynnon. Nothing but a Duke will do for her. Gabrielle's longtime friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Fletcher, a widow of 30 years, has graciously consented to serving as her companion for the Season. Lizzie and her husband had so wanted to start a family. Now she has put her dreams behind her. Except she does find a romance of her own. And then we have Lord Anthony Buxley who wishes to impress the ton with the exposure of "the Peacock"'s identification. The intrigue continues with Lady Ariana trying to cozy up to Gabrielle for reasons of her own and Lord Buxley eventually being approached by Lady Ariana with what she knows. The "Peacock" has to ride and save "Slow Dickie" and eventually his friend Sal. He has to maintain his cover and work out schemes in which no one gets killed, to bring the mill owners to heel. Symington gets the brunt of that scheme. And then, of course, the Baron stongly wants to seduce Grabrielle and Frapple just as strongly disapproves of the idea. Well the story just gets better and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED with a little of the hanky-panky it seems the ladies can't do without. I love the mystery and intrigue.

Great read!

When Christian St. Clair talks, people listen. Whether it be on fashion, people or politics, St. Clair has the ear of the ton. Only his support of the Peacock have given them pause. Gabrielle Laurence's only hope of saving her home is to marry a wealthy man. Having no dowry - her father has gambled away all their money - she has no choice but to allow Christian St. Clair's championing of her, raising her to the status of belle of the season. In public, Christian is a dandy, one whose main interest is in fashion. Simple, but revered. In private, he is the Peacock, fighting to right wrongs against those who cannot stand up for themselves. So different are the personas that no one suspects he is the Peacock, and he intends to keep it that way. Although Gabrielle appreciates what Christian's support has done for her, she also resents it. Resents him. She knows that one word from him can destroy her chances of a good match. As such, she forms a plan that will allow her to remain in society's good graces while removing the need to be pleasant to Christian. She will unmask the Peacock. As Christian fights to keep his identity a secret and Gabrielle is intent on discovering the identity of the Peacock, they find that it is a fine line between love and hate. Will it be too late for them when Gabrielle, unable to ascertain with any certainty who the Peacock really is, sets in motion her plan to bring Christian down, revealing him as the Peacock? Kasey Michaels has a knack for writing characters that leap from the page and into your heart. This re-release of The Secrets of the Heart is a perfect example of why, when Kasey Michaels writes, people read.