Secrets (The Bragg Saga, 7)

This was one of the best Brenda Joyce novels that I have read. I really couldn't put it down. Some reviewers say that the first part was slow, I never thought that it was fast paced all the way through. The characters were very likable even though Slade had a bad attitude, you knew why and you suffered with him. If you like romance than this book is for you so give it a try you won't be sorry...

This was one of the best romance novels that I've read. I really like Masqurade by Brenda Joyce and thought I would never find one that equals that, but I think I have in this one. The heroine was so strong and wouldn't give up on her man..I wish that BJ would write one about the brother, James. It would be interesting to find out what happened to him...

I LOVE the way Brenda Joyce used to write. Her heroines were almost always strong, powerful women NOT willing to let their fears rule them. There is always the constant miscommunications, misunderstood actions, wrong assumptions and way too much pride in both the lead characters. I LOVE Slade, in both character and description, physical as well as emotional. He is the kind of man women love completely and usually right off the bat, but who drives us crazy in ALL kinds of ways. His and Regina's wedding night is sensual in the extreme. I love the way Regina will NOT take no for an answer and won't give up, alot like her sister Nicole in Joyce's "Scandalous Love". Where Regina was once a very proper, but very sensual, (totally a Bragg trait) english Lady and daughter of an Earl, she now brings out her own true character. The love scenes border on erotica and definetly get YOUR pulse racing, the fights are about normal for this kind of genre. What makes it really unusual is that SLADE is the character that cannot make up HIS mind. He desparately wants Regina, but refuses to feel good enough for her or anybody. In a previous review,the reviewer got the Slade's father's name wrong. It was Rick, not Roy, and Regina backs him straight up and makes him finally see Slade as what he is. AN EXTREMELY HONORABLE & SENSITIVE MAN. I love this book. No bodice rippers here, these are MEN and WOMEN at their finest. The little flirtatious scene Regina does on the beach, cracks me up. SHE slowly seduces HIM, and wears HIM down. The scene in the woods and driving rain, left me so hopeful and breathless. I ALMOST FELT AS DISAPPOINTED AS REGINA DID. BUY THIS BOOK, AS WELL AS "THE GAME", Liam O'Neil is THE MOST SEDUCTIVE MALE CREATURE I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED, AND KATHERINE MUST HAVE ICE IN HER BLOOD TO WITHSTAND THE FIRST ASSAULT. Also very good books by Joyce are, "Fires of Paradise" Shoz meets his match in Lucy, "Violet Fire", Grace wipes Rathe out, "Firestorm" Storm Bragg wups up on Brett, another awesome male character. Try Joyce's old books. They are worth it.

Slade and Regina attracted to each other right away and the story develops when they get together and the problems that evolve of their coming together. I thought Regina was real brave in the story. She was willing to fight for her love for Slade from the beginning to the end. She deceives Slade into marrying her only because she did not want to lose him to the real Elizabeth. Only when she realizes that Slade runs out on their marriage did she want to end it. At the end, she was the one that convinced Slade that he was wrong in thinking she could not live a hard working life. I thought it made the hero look weak in the story. And Slade was also running away the marriage because he did not want to fall in love with his brother's fiance and to end their attraction toward one another. At the end where Slade and Roy make up was also due to Regina's interference. I thought Slade was brave only when he refused to divorce Regina and tried to win her love back. It was well worth to read.

This is one of the better Joyce books in the Bragg series.