Three Little Secrets (MacLachlan Family Series) [Paperback]

Reading through reviews of "Three Little Secrets", I was almost convinced I wouldn't like the book. Accusations that Carlyle recreated the same storyline as in the previous title, "Two Little Lies", the same emotional turmoil, well, it almost made me dislike the book before I'd even read it. Who does want to read the same story when they're expecting to get something new? Yes, the third in Carlyle's latest series does bring to mind some of the same emotions and heartaches that the couple went through in "Two Little Lies", but I firmly believe that the author did a splendid job of creating fresh characters with totally different circumstances.

In the foolish frenzy and emotional rush that is youth, Merrick MacLachlan and Lady Madeline elope under the influence of their first love. A hasty marriage in Gretna Green though, is not enough to keep the hands of fate from ripping them apart most cruely. In this case, they have Maddie's father to thank for that. The meddlesome lord, who has political aspirations on the brain, is furious that his daughter, his one chance at a grand political alliance, has lowered herself to marry a businessman. Thinking that Merrick accepted payment to leave her from her father and signed papers for an annulment, she tearfully returns home and weds a man of her father's choosing. Thirteen years later, with a troubled son in tow, she comes back to London to find help for him. When fate brings her together once more with Merrick, old bitterness and hurts cannot help but come to the surface. And Merrick is bitter beyond imagining. Neither want the other, neither wants to feel anything for the other, but both are helpless to deny that under all the anger and grief, there may still be something worth fighting for.

Merrick and Maddie's story is very different from the previous book's. Sure, the intense emotions will bring to mind Viviana's intense temper (heroine in "Two Little Lies"), but Maddie's situation couldn't be more different. She and Merrick had the kind of strong and intense love, that once denied, twisted over time to the kind of gut wrenching agony that can only ignite when they once meet again. Of course, they must still care for one another if they are bothered by eachother still. I do agree with some reviewers' assessments about Merrick: he was very cold, very cruel and I did not like the way he treated Maddie or the names he called her at times. I cannot blame him though for his other intimate relationships he had aside from her. After all, she does marry another man and lives with him for many years. My only other complaint is that I do wish their resolution could have been reached before the very end of the book. Other than that, this is just the kind of historical I enjoy, but only occasionally. The intense and sometimes disturbing emotions that are rampant throughout this book are not for the faint of heart and not for me with every book. But I do enjoy a good tear jerker from time to time and I enjoyed the in-your-face emotional storm that Carlyle has taken readers through with her latest series. Maddie's son, Geoffrey, was very interesting as well and his own personal dilemma is not one readers usually see in these mainstream historical romances. If you like characters that are well-rounded and emotionally engaging give this one a try. Don't forget about the previous two, "One Little Sin" and "Two Little Lies". A great series and one for my keeper shelf.

K. Montgomery

Official Reviewer for The Mystic Castle

Carlyle brilliantly caps off her latest connected series with THREE LITTLE SECRETS-- a lively and gripping tale featuring Merrick MacLachlan, the dour 'black' Scot brother of Alasdair MacLachlan, hero of the initial book in this series, ONE LITTLE SIN.

Thirteen years ago, Merrick MacLachlan eloped to Gretna Green with seventeen year old Lady Madeline Jessup. Tracked down by her ruthless father, Merrick was set-up, brutally beaten, and left for dead. Lady Madeline was led to believe Merrick was a grasping rotter, whose sole purpose in marrying her was to, ruin her, blackmail her father into financing his architectural dreams, and then annul the marriage.

By the time Merrick was able to travel to reclaim his wife, he discovered he was weeks too late. She'd been married off to a man twice her age and shipped off to parts unknown. Despising her for having so little faith in him and with additional lies told to him about her, any visage he had of a heart was torn to shreds. In the intervening years, Merrick became an embittered, ruthless but overwhelmingly successful and prosperous businessman.

Now, coming face to face, their secrets would be revealed with a finality that both had dreamed of, but never dared hoped for. Guilty of pride, they believed the worst of each other, yet, in their innermost hearts, Madeline and Merrick still harbored the deepest passion they once felt for one another. In order to save their son, they would come to an accord, which would finally let them sort through the secrets in order to reclaim a passion that never fully died.

*** As always, Carlyle weaves magic into her sensual laden prose, giving the reader a bonanza of a treat and completely mesmerizing the reader from the very beginning. Since her very first novel, I have been hooked by this author! Her writing is sensual, passionate, and will hook you from the very first pages to a most satisfying and heartwarming end. This is definitely another book for my 'keeper' shelf and one I most HIGHLY recommend!

Liz Carlyle has excelled herself with her latest book. The first two parts of her latest trilogy of stories have all been exciting, tender and gripping, and the final part of the trilogy is every bit as good. While it does stand alone as a story, it would be better to read all the stories in the order they were written to get the full impact of the plot of this story.
The hero of this book is Merrick, brother to Alister, the hero of One Little Lie, and his complete opposite. Alister is fair and charming, Merrick is dark and brooding.In the previous books it has been hinted at that Merick became like this as a result of a personal tragedy, and when it is revealed in this book it had me reeling in shock and suprise. The cause of this disturbance is Madeline, a fragile and troubled woman, who re-enters his life and sends it spinning out of control. Merrick has to learn difficult lessons, as he makes new discoveries, and Liz Carlyle is brilliant at revealing how her bitter and reclusive hero gradually begins to abandon his miserable, tightly controlled existance and find a new life.
There are many recurring characters in this book, and I was especially pleased to hear from Bentley Rutledge again. I wish that he could have another book of his own again as he has had such a vivid and interesting journey through many of Carlyles books.
This trilogy has been Carlyle writing at her absolute best, and I hope I will not have to wait too long for her next book.She is one of the best writers of her kind in this genre and worth every one of her five stars!