Sixteen year old Christian Hill attempts to save a young girl, Dorcas Froggatt, from rape but in the process is forced to kill her attacker, and then made to marry her. Ten years after both have been falsely notified of the other's death, they discover the truth, and each sets out to find the other. Dorcas, "Caro", wishes to be released from her wedding vows in order to marry a man of her own choosing, while Christian only wishes to do right by his bride...and to avoid being pushed into a marriage he does not want in order to replenish his family's coffers.

However, upon meeting by chance, they lie about their identities when they are swept up in a whirlwind passionate encounter, and then are forced to go on the run to escape someone out to kill one or both of them. Why is a pair of strangers so set on hurting Caro and then apparently transferring that enmity to Christian? What will happen when the truth about them is revealed? What about the fact that they have each fallen in love with their own spouse, while operating the whole time under false pretenses?

In The Secret Wedding, Ms. Beverley draws the reader back into the world of the Mallorens, specifically that of Lord Rothgar, who unbeknownst to Caro is quite familiar with Christian. We are further caught up in this tangle with the addition of several other characters from previous stories who add a new depth to this tale, including two other young rakes that have made a pact with Christian to avoid falling into the clutches of matrimony. Christian becomes the second to fall in a rather spectacular manner.

Because fall he does, and is unwilling to accept no from his stubbornly independent wife. In the end though, what chance has she got when up against one of the most relentlessly charming men to grace the pages Ms. Beverley's novels? Of course, all of her heroes are entirely ruthless when it comes to claiming the women they want, but with Christian she has reached a new level of sensual attraction, claiming the hearts of both Caro and the reader. The Secret Wedding comes highly recommended to fans of this author and all who enjoy Regency romances. Five Angels + RR.

Reviewed by: Lynn