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For a book called The Secret, this Julie Garwood historical had very low angst and very little drama. It does what it says on the tin: Iain is sent to fetch his very pregnant sister-in-law’s very best friend to attend the birth, and develops some very inconvenient feelings for her in the process. There’s some incredibly high stakes: conflict brews between rival clans, there’s animosity between the Scots and English, the looming danger of Frances Catherine’s high risk labor, not to mention The Secret™️ to be revealed and yet…it never feels like it will be anything other than okay. Judith and Iain’s relationship is lovely, as is Judith’s journey to becoming a midwife. There’s so much great trust and communication, family and found family, and while I don’t think this measured up to The Bride, I still enjoyed it. Julie Garwood wrote in the author’s note for The Bride that she really put herself out there by infusing humor into her writing and I’m so glad she did because that is the best part of reading her books! 📸: I’m holding up a mass market paperback edition of The Secret with one hand. Flowers and sky are visible in the background. via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/DIYz0viARbP/