There was absolutely nothing that stood out for me in this novel. I am very disappointed. SPOILER ALERT- DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED- How many times does a romance writer have to use the whole, the couple is at a house party routine, gets caught in the rain then has sex in the wood shed...? Then dum dum dum....the heroine gets pregnant. I mean oh my god, that's as predictable as a soap opera. I've come to expect better from Ms. Quinn than this! Shame on her for churning out such crap and expecting us to buy it because it has her name on it. I hate to be this harsh, but really now! This book is so typical, so mundane, so every stereotypical romance scenerio that it is appalling.

I have greatly enjoyed all of Julia Quinn's books. This one delivered as always and I read a book a day, ladies, so I know whereof I speak!

After reading other historical romance novals just to get my fix for a year, it was refreshing to sit down and read a new book by Julia Quinn.

I got it yesterday at around 5pm. Tried reading it at my bf's house but thats impossible. but when I got home at around 10pm I didn't put it down until around 530am. Thats what I love about her novals. They are so captivating that you never want it to end. I was Dissapointed when it did end cuz I know I have to wait until next July to get my New Julia Quinn Noval.

I started a new book today just a few minutes ago but I put it down cuz it wasn't Julia. I am seriously tempted to rereading all her books all though it won't last me a year. When I first started reading her books 4 years ago it only took me three months to read them all and that was more then 5 books. Her books are addicting.

I'm sorry I havn't said my review on this book yet lol. here goes. LOVED IT!!! Like I said before I could not put it down. I fell inlove with Turner and understand fully why the whole Nigel name thing was brought into it. When she was 10 she was the only one who new to call him that. It was their secret. That was special to her. It had a meaning in the book.

I'm so glad her character acted her age. Girls her age act that way and it was refreshing to have someone not to young for their age or act to mature for their age....that gets boring.

There were some parts that could have been left out. I was reading it and thinking about if it was made into a movie and what the producers would cut out. The whole bookstore thing could have been lived without as it lead to where he gets the book for her when he gets back from london after they are married. You would think her seeing that would make her forget she was mad but the later you found out she moved outta his room anyways so the whole point was moot. There was also the miscarriage which I didn't truly believe had actually happend until after the wedding because there were no histarics about it. You would think that she would be weeping in bed not shopping and then see sadness in Turner as he was so worried when he found out she was pregnant.

Also I was disappointed that we didn't get to go throught her pregnancy with her. It did fast forward rather quickly with her second pregnancy. Almost as if it were the starting of an Epilogue yet there was none.

This disappointments did not make me think any less of Julia Quinn. I think she is a remarkable writter and as i said i couldn't put the book down so it still diserves 5 stars....buy it trust me its a great read. Until next time Julia.

-Jamace

I want to start by saying I have read EVERY single one of Julia Quinn's novels and I consider myself a tremendous fan. That said, I will not rate this book more than it deserves.

The Secret Diaries is a horribly contrived story with equally horrid writing.Permit me to quote this gem
"Miranda wasn't sure why that should be the case- an unplanned pregnancy was an unplanned pregnancy was an unplanned pregrancy" (pg 45)

WHAT the hell is THAT phrasing doing in a Regency novel? In many of Julia Quinns previous novels, she uses phrases like 'I'm kidding' that are hopelessly out of the period, but those mishaps are wonderfully ensconsed in a good book. This time I could not let it go!

Another problem with this book is that it is TOO much 'Regency Lite'. Miranda's absent father was too TOO convenient, especially after she became pregnant. The situations she and Turner got into made absolutely no logical sense. After the first couple of times he kisses/gropes her, he makes a point to avoid her since , as he puts it, girls have been RUINED for doing less. He then avoids her like a plague and breaks her heart . Makes sense. But then they meet at a house party a week later AND HAVE SEX! Huh? As I was reading the lead up to the scene, I was thinking that he couldn't possibly take her virginity and she couldn't possibly LET him. *Sigh*

Another aspect of the novel I could not fathom was the relationship between the protagonists. Unrequited love can be wonderful storyline if executed properly. This one wasn't.The prologue, in my opinon was the most awful way to start any romance novel. A 10 year old falling in love with a man, and loving him forever since. Gah! Her journal entries amplify the 'Gah!' factor even more. Throughout her growing years it seems she ends every journal entry with 'I dreamt of him.'
Miranda even attended his wedding and wished it was her. At this point, her love is more and more like a overblown crush. There was nothing in in their interactions that said 'Love' to me.

Ironically, after they marry they settle in a nice routine and they finally FINALLY have seem to gain some sense, Miranda decides that she is upset because he doesn't say 'I love you.' I'm sorry but the fact that the tension is built around SAYING the words, rather than whether he loves her or not was rather silly of the author. I felt I was reading a contemporary romance with where the crux of the romance is 'gasp' , saying I love you.

I'm sorry Julia, this was not a good book.

This is the last time I buy a Julia Quinn book on the strength of her name alone. After the first 3 books in the Bridgerton series, I would have bought ANYTHING with her name on it - even a cookbook and I don't like to cook! (the Duke and I was EXCELLENT btw, its on my "keeper" shelf!) BUT the last 2 books in the series were BAD and this book though not a Bridgerton is just horrible! The premise, "tortured" hero and "unrequited love" heroine story, did have promise early on but by the 3rd chapter it was over! Julia where are you? I swear there's some other "writer" out there putting your name on their "mess". It's obvious to me that you're having to crank out books faster than you can make them good. Unfortunately this has also happened to Elizabeth Lowell, Andrea Kane, Madeline Hunter the list goes on. I wish publishers would concentrate on quality instead of quantity! ANYWAY, save your money and if you must buy it used or check it out of the library - frankly you won't miss much if you skip it altogether, there was NOTHING to like about the characters or story.