The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

By: Julia Quinn

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second - or third - look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.

Iris Smythe-Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something... even as her heart tells her to say yes.

©2015 Julie Cotler Pottinger (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Ignore ALL OTHER REVIEWS

I almost didn’t listen because of the other reviews. One of my favorite books from the author. Richard falls deeply for Iris, and there is a lot of good drama. Hard to put down

story line was trite. narrator is wonderful.

story line was trite. narrator is wonderful. the only reason I finished this audio was because I paid dearly for it.

Landor is good

why do all of her main male characters sound the same? I am a binge listener. But I have to make sure that I don't get myself into a back to back Landor. it ruins the experience.

Enjoyed

Great storytelling. I enjoyed the book and the twisted and turns that it took me through. Laughs, emotional, shock, unexpected twists. Some things were a bit unforgivable … maybe it the early 19th century a wife was at the whim of her husband. 200 years later? No way in hell!
All of it made for a good story. (even if the wife was a bit quick to forgive!)

Better the second time around

Appreciated the characters much more during the second listen: Iris was brilliant and Richard, though “still” 😄manipulative and controlling, has redeeming qualities 😁

Sometimes HEA is at the end of a rough road

Setting : London 1825
Genre: Romance
Poor Iris. Of all the Smythe-Smith group, she had the roughest time getting to her happily ever after. First of all, she would forever associate meeting Sir Richard with the cacophony otherwise known as the annual Smythe-Smith musicale. He is in attendance for the express purpose of getting an introduction to her. He is in need of a wife in very short order, and he has heard that she is in desperate circumstances, as she is getting close to being on the shelf. She will accept his proposal of marriage with alacrity. Won't she? We're talking about the plainest of the quartet, and the one with the abrasive personality. Plus, there's not much of a dowry. But we're also talking about the girl with the ascerbic wit, who prefers to stand in the corner watching, observing the failures and successes of others. Hard to fool this lady. So after a week long courtship, when he asks for her hand and she asks for time, he compromises her. After the marriage, he takes her to his far-away estate and proceeds to confuse and hurt her, though he is kind and solicitous. Sir Richard has a secret he can't share with Iris just yet, because for a little while he want her think we'll of him. And he is sure that the revelation will make her hate him. There are points in the plot that bothered me, but since the lack of communication was central, I just had to get over that "why doesn't she" or "can't he" outlook. It never got to where the plot point made me think either character was TSTL.
The characters in this story are well rounded. Although both are likeable, they also have flaws. I will admit to never liking Iris through the other books in the quartet. That abrasive, acerbic personality was just not lovable. Quinn had a rough row to hoe to make this lady an appropriate heroine as far as I was concerned. Of course, the curiosity of how she would do this pushed me to want to listen. It turned out to be a nice story worth the time I spent with it.
Rosalyn Landor is one of my favorite narrators for this genre, though she does make me think of Lisa Kleypas. I had to remind myself a few times that I was listening to Julia Quinn. I guess it's because it seems that she has narrated every LK historical romance I have. Regardless of that, I enjoyed her performance of this book.
Overall, this is very worth the credit, with no qualifiers.

liked this one but....

this book was a bit slow getting started. once you got started it was great. most of Julia Quinn books you can't put down from the first page. over all- happy with the book, just a slow start.

Not what I expected

The reviews I’ve seen on this book did not inspire me to read it, however, I wanted to complete the series. I found this to be very funny. It’s a really good story and coming from a similar culture I understand why he did what he did. I have so much respect for Iris. She is a strong woman.

So Sad…..

The quartet is over. My second time thru and I enjoyed it so much. I’ve been listening to a lot of this era the last few years but keep coming back to Ms. Quinn’s books. Have to say that that Ms. Landor’s narration is especially fine as well. Thank you for an enjoyable week!

Loved it!

I love being able to follow these characters through the series. I couldn’t stop listening until I found out the secret! And of course the rest of the story didn’t disappoint!