The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

I got so mad at Richard so many times but it all worked out in the end.

THE BEST ENDING!!! I laughed.....I cried......I smiled! There is something so lovable about Sir Richard and Iris. Quinn did an excellent job of developing their characters in the beginning of the book, in fact, it was quite slow at first (if you've read the first 3 books in the series, you'll know they all begin the same way). Anyway, I stopped reading this book in the middle because they would not....just.....connect. Richard and Iris were like two magnets flipped on opposite sides. It was frustrating to read! Then, I of course wanted to know what was so wrong with his sisters, and from there finished the book in 1 sitting. Pick up this book and don't put it down until the very end :)

Not a bad book

This may make me go off this author. His sister is pregnant. His brilliant idea is to marry not have sex with his wife (which hurts her feelings) and pass baby off as his. It’s takes almost 200 pages to get here. Book drags and characters are not like able. End is rushed to wrap in pretty bow.

Normally I enjoy Julia Quinn's writing style but Mr.Kenworthy has a decent plot that's it; the book reads as a rush job. I'm not sure if this book was written to meet contract quota obligations to the publishing house or whatever else could be the reason for the abrupt ending. All in all this book is not up to Julia Quinn's normal high standards.

Great read! Loved the characters, hated to get to the end!

I will start this review with a confession. I have been a fan of Julia Quinn’s for a while. As a lover of all things Austen and Bronte, there is something so comforting to me when I open a Julia Quinn book. Just as when I pick up Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice, when I open the pages of Julia’s books I am transported to another time and place. These books have always been an escape to me. They are filled with strong women, the men who love them, and all the pomp and circumstance you can expect from a Historical Romance. In the fourth book in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, we are introduced to Iris Smythe-Smith and Sir Richard Kenworthy. Iris is a woman who has never put much effort into being married, until now. She makes a decision that she does not want to be part of the Smythe-Smith concerts for another year and the only way to do that is to be married. However, in the beginning of the book, the reader can see that her plan is more wishful thinking until Richard Kenworthy enters the picture. After meeting Iris on the night of the latest concert, he is intrigued by her. After a few more encounters, Richard decides that he will marry Iris. But there is more to the story than that. Richard’s urgent need to marry is surrounded by a secret. Through a clumsy series of events, Iris and Richard do wind up getting married to one another. Since the beginning of their relationship, Iris feels that there is a secret Richard is not telling her. She is concerned about this secret, but pushes it aside as the two become closer. The real question is, will Richard Kenworthy’s secret ruin their marriage? Will Iris be able to get past what he is hiding? And more importantly, will Richard be able to save to love that he feels for his wife? If you have not met the Smythe-Smith family, this series is a must. Though I would always suggest that you start with the first in a series, should you choose to read this first, you will be greeted with all the fabulousness that Julia Quinn brings to every book. Each time I begin to read one of her stories there is this perfect balance of romance, drama, humor, and history. As far as Regency/Historical Romances go, you don’t get much better than Julia Quinn. Each page is enchanting and brings you further into the world of these characters. When you open one of her books, you are able to time travel back to a time that many of us Janeites long to visit...if only for a little while. Simply the book is positively splendid! This is the perfect book to curl up with while the snow is falling outside and a warm cup of coffee in your hand. As a side note for all those audio book lovers…should you like to listen to your books or want to try an audio book, let me tell you that this version is so enjoyable! The reader perfectly captures the characters and really allows you to feel like you are in their world.

This was fantastic!! I have never been so entertained, and it was so difficult to put down. I ended up secretly reading it from midnight to the wee hours of the morning!! You'll love it, trust me!

From my first introduction to this series in book 2 through this installment, I’ve become a fan of Julia Quinn’s storytelling: she manages to make her characters breathe from the pages, full of quirks and traits that work perfectly as an adjunct to the story progression. Iris is the focus of the story, and from being a rather background character for the other books, here she shines throughout. Logical, thoughtful and inches from a pragmatist, she isn’t one to be overwhelmed and dramatic, a retreat and a good think seem to be more her style. Richard is in need of a wife – yesterday if truth be told, but he’s not found anyone that sparks an interest, until Iris. He’s not a bad sort, a bit too concerned with his ‘big secret’ but determined to make a marriage and take care of his sisters, even when he was being a boneheaded prat. But, he finds Iris intriguing, and flirts outrageously, a bit too much emotional outlay from him. Iris is intrigued by Richard but everything is just ‘too”, too fast, too much, too good to be true. She’s put through the ringer with him – he’s attentive then aloof, with plenty beneath the surface that she only senses, but he won’t reveal. I had to admire her caution with him, her soft prodding and gentle reactions, and the eventual forgiveness for his bad behavior. Even more interesting for me was her non-reaction to this ‘secret’ that he was sure would end everything. It really was an anticlimax, and Iris should have been told, but fortunately for him, she didn’t overreact or call things off. She did, however, make him work for her declarations and affections as well she should have. Quinn takes you in, creates characters that are never all good or bad, and then allows them to work their way into your heart and head while detailing a romance that is perfectly on point, even when it isn’t. A lovely addition to the series, these are well worth an afternoon’s escape with tea and cookies. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.