The Valet's Secret by Josi S. Kilpack

 

York, England, 1819

As a once happily married woman, Rebecca Parker had a good life, but now widowed, working for a living, and her only child grown, she feels invisible, tired, and lonely. That is until the day a valet speeding by on a horse nearly runs her off the road. Mr. Malcolm Henry is apologetic, gentle, and handsome. She’s instantly drawn to him, which is why, rather than stopping him from kissing her, she kisses him back, reigniting a nearly forgotten passion. But love at first sight only happens in fairy tales—never to an ordinary woman like her.

She sees Mr. Henry again and feels the possibilities growing until, while working in the kitchens during a dinner party, she sees the valet she kissed sitting at the right hand of the baroness. Mr. Henry is not the earl’s valet; he is the heir to the earldom—Kenneth Winterton.

Heartbroken, angry, and betrayed, Rebecca does not trust Lord Winterton and refuses to accept his apology. But when Lord Winterton proves he is as kind and gentle as “Mr. Henry” was, she finds herself willing to give him a second chance. But will he take a chance on her? He needs a wife to help him in his place in society, and nothing about Rebeccas life does that . . . except how he feels when she is with him.

Trust, love, loneliness, and passion collide in this story about a man who will risk it all to fight for the woman he loves and a woman who does not believe in fairy tales—until she finds herself living in one.

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Love comes in all ages and places of life.  I love reading romance books but I don't come across a whole lot of them with older, more mature characters.  What a refreshing change to have both of the main characters here a bit older, having both lost spouses, with older children.  It gave them a different perspective on life and love and I connected with them in a different way than other romance books because I am a bit more mature and older too.  😉

I loved the beginning and the first meeting between the characters.  The large difference in station between Kenneth and Rebecca is a real tripping point for them both but their attraction keeps them both coming back for more.  I could feel their loneliness.  That was the strongest emotion for me.  

The story here is gentle and sweet and I enjoyed it.  Ooh, and I love the cover.

Content:  kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

JOSI S. KILPACK is the author of several novels and one cookbook and a participant in several coauthored projects and anthologies. She is a four-time Whitney Award winner—including Lord Fenton’s Folly (2015) for Best Romance and Best Novel of the Year—and a Utah Best in State winner for fiction. She is the mother of four children and lives in northern Utah.

You can find more information about Josi and her writing at josiskilpack.com