Lord Sebastian's Secret: A Sparkling Regency Romance Filled with Secrets

He's hidden this shameful secret all his life...

Lord Sebastian Gresham is a battle tested soldier and brilliant strategist. Yet all his life he's had to hide his complete failure to decipher letters. In his own mind, he's just stupid. What a miracle it is that he's found the perfect bride. Lady Georgina Stane is beautiful, witty, and brilliantly intelligent. Sebastian is head over heels in love, proud as a peacock, and terrified. If she finds out, he'll lose her love forever.

This book was a tough read for me. I kept putting it down and picking up another book for inspiration to finish this one. The sex scenes were hard to read and not because they were steamy and inviting. It's because they're just so odd....like the author has never had sex. For example: A country upbringing had shown her a bit about mating. She could see clear evidence of Sebastian's unsated arousal. "I should do something for you," she said. She had some ideas on that score. She reached up.
A country upbringing? Like watching cows mate? Really? I hate giving criticism on a book because I know how much time and effort goes into it but that's just wrong on so many counts. Also, the formatting is a tiny bit distracting for me especially with all the paragraphs.
There are so many different characters in this book that you really need to keep a journal. There's an Indian, a priest, an eastern magician, a couple dogs, a couple brothers, some sisters in law. I expect that there's going to be a clown at some point. I mean I keep waiting for this guy to grow a pair and he doesn't, he's stuck on his big secret.
At one point, I almost thought the author took a vacation and let a ghostwriter finish a couple chapters. The heroines (Georgina) father was eccentric and over the top and now he's a major bully. I won't let any spoilers go as to what he's taunting the hero about but it's a total DNF move. I would put the book down if I wasn't writing a review. I didn't really like Sebastian's one brother and I'm not sure I'd even read his book. I did like Randolph. I just didn't see the big deal with the humongous "secret" and I wouldn't have spent almost 400 pages keeping it a secret. I'd say at 25% it would have been great to just reveal it. All the drama of keeping the secret was enough to make me have heartburn and take some tums. I read to relax and this book made me take 2 Xanax and follow it up with chocolate. I'm gonna have to hit the gym after this book.
There are a few grammatical errors with sentence structure. For example: "Well, if we want run papa through with a saber, that might be helpful," There should be a "to" in there.
The book had some funny parts because it seems like all the people are crazy...Seriously, all of them are crazy. There's not a sane one in the lot.
Would I read this again? Or gift it to my friends? No, I don't think so. For the price of this book, I'd say save your money and buy a Lisa Kleypas or Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel and save your Xanax for another day.
I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Jane Ashford's regency romance series, The Duke's Sons, continues in Lord Sebastian's Secret. Sebastian Gresham is prepared to marry Georgina Stane, the young heiress he met during the past London season. At Stane Castle though, Sebastian and Georgina face secrets and a quirky family that threaten their relationship.

The story itself was not as exciting as I thought it would be, but it had some moments of levity that set it apart from other regency novels I've read. While some are stuffy and focus more on setting the scene through lengthy descriptions and fancy dialogue, Lord of Secrets is quite the opposite. The story is very character based, so all the attention is on Georgina and Sebastian, and Georgina's quirky family. The Stane family is quite unconventional and a threat to the marriage. Georgina is worried that Sebastian will be turned off by them, but Sebastian is hiding a secret that he believes will cause Georgina to regret their pending nuptials.

Georgina and Sebastian were so obviously into each other from the very outset of the novel, so their doubts and insecurities about the marriage started to feel repetitive. If I as the reader felt doubts about their relationship I think it would have added some suspense to the story, but it was really plain how the story would play out. The road to get there, littered with obstacles from various members of the household, is another matter entirely. From pugnacious pugs to an obstinate father obsessed with reincarnation, something comes between Georgina and Sebastian over and over again.

After a certain point in the novel I felt like I was reading just to get to the end. I didn't expect any surprises, but sometimes when you start a novel it's easier to just finish it. Maybe the fourth book in the series, Nothing Like a Duke, will be a little more wild and unpredictable.

*eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Enjoyed this book. Not on my favorite list.

I was SO excited headed into this story. I love Regency romance and historical romance so much, but I've pretty much read it all, seen it all. I was thoroughly intrigued by a cover blurb that promised a hero who wasn't a typical "perfect" Lord So and So. A hero who can't read? A hero who genuinely was interested in listening and learning all he could about his fiancee? Squee! You don't have to be perfect at everything to be a perfect match for someone in real life, so why should it be so different in a book?

Sebastian Gresham was quite dashing. I was a little disappointed that his story went off on a strange tangent more than a few times. The "elopement" and rituals of the eccentric father distracted me too much from the terrific chemistry and closeness of Sebastian and Georgina. I don't want to get into spoilers, but I so wish Lord Sebastian had revealed his secret a little sooner. It would have been so wonderful to see how both of them together faced his learning disability head on.

Jane Ashford certainly has a good thing going with this series and I'm anxious to see where Randolph as well as Georgina's sisters end up. Since they were such endearing characters, I really hope I've not seen the last of Hilda and Emma! They added such life and comedic relief. I bet they'd take London by storm! They definitely deserve a Season of their own!

Note: The pugs were brilliant.

*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

Ashford is a top-notch author who knows the period well. I like the tidbits of history she weaves into her excellent stories.

Excellent

"Lord Sebastian's Secret" by Jane Ashford.
This is the third book in 'The Duke's Sons Regency Series'. 2017
I have to say upfront that I found Lord Sebastian Gresham a really delightful, wonderful and caring character. Shows I probably fell in love with him myself.
Lord Sebastian had become betrothed to Lady Georgina Stane. The first time he saw her he thought she was the most beautiful creature ever. It didn't hurt that she was an heiress. As he began to know her he found her to be the most intelligent woman her had ever met.
He had not met her parents or sisters in London so although the wedding wasn't set until early September, he went to stay with they to get to know them.
Georgina was worried of what Sebastian would think of her unusual family. Her father had invited a Hindu man to visit and they had been constantly discussing reincarnation. Her mother breeds pugs and sells them for a great deal of money. She didn't just have a few but fifteen or twenty of them roaming the house. Her sisters expected Georgina to take them to live with her and Sebastian when they were married. She hadn't mentioned any of this to Sebastian.
When Sebastian arrived, he was let into the house by the Hindu man. A pack of pugs came down the hall flowing like a school of fish around the Hindu man. The Hindu man could not control the pugs and asked Sebastian to call them off. Sebastian liked dogs so he called the pugs off, but then the pugs turned their attention to him doing all sorts of unsavory things to his legs and boots. They wouldn't listen to any of his commands.
Georgina seeing this from the top of the stairs, went to call upon her mother who soon arrived to take control of the pugs.
Sebastian had a secret... He could not decipher letters. He was a soldier and a brilliant strategist but always felt so stupid because of his lack of being not able to read. He was terrified that when Georgina found out, she would not have him.
This is a story about acceptance and understanding on both their sides when true love is present. Happy Reading!

I liked this book. I had previously only read one of her books, Nathaniel's book, and didn't really like it, so I was a little surprised about how much I liked this one.

For one thing, I liked that the H/h had to work together against outside obstacles instead of having some dumb conflict or misunderstanding between each other, a misunderstanding that could be resolved with one conversation.

The doubts and worries keeping the two main characters apart seemed very realistic. Also, they shared their fears with each other, instead of other characters, and like I said, worked together through their issues.

I really liked Sebastian's character and thought the character development was really good.

A little slow going but very enjoyable read.

I thought it was okay but fell flat for me. I really liked the main characters Sebastian and Georgina but I found the majority of the other characters to be very annoying. There were many scenes that I thought were very good but for me it was not consistent.

I will still check out other books by the author.

Boring!