What do you think?
Rate this book
The Larkville Legacy #6
The Secret That Changed Everything
One night in Rome...
Tired of being in the shadow of her prettier, more popular sisters, Charlotte Patterson decides to leave Manhattan behind and discover just what Italy's la dolce vita has to offer - good food, fine wine...delicious men?
But even Charlotte's Roman holiday can't help her escape a devastating family secret back in Larkville, Texas, and she finds herself seeking solace in the arms of mysterious widower Lucio Constello. Unable to deny their attraction, they share one intensely passionate night together - a night that will affect them more than they could possibly imagine....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
13 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Gordon
682 books90 followersChristine Sparks was born in England, UK. She wanted to be a writer all her life, and began by working on a British women's magazine. As a features writer, she gained a wide variety of experience. She interviewed some of the world's most attractive and interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Richard Chamberlain, Charlton Heston, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Alec Guiness.
Single life was so enjoyable that she put marriage, and even romance, on the back burner, while she went about the world having a great time. Then, while on vacation in Venice, she met a tall, dark handsome Venetian artist, who changed all her ideas in a moment, and proposed on the second day. Three months later they were married. Her friends said a whirlwind romance would never last, but they celebrated their 25 anniversary, they are still married, still happy and in love.
After 13 years on the magazine Christine decided that it was now or never if she was ever going to write that novel. So she wrote Legacy of Fire which became a Silhouette Special Edition, followed by another, Enchantment in Venice. Then she did something crazy gave up her job. Since then she has concentrated entirely on writing romances for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette and has written over 75 books. Her settings have been European and her heroes mainly English or Italian. Christine now claims to be an expert on one particular subject. Italian men are the most romantic in the world. They are also the best cooks.
A few years ago she and her husband returned to Venice and lived there for a couple of years. This proved the perfect base for exploring the rest of Italy, and she has given many of her books Italian settings: Venice (of course), Rome, Florence, Milan, Sicily, Tuscany. She has also used the Rhine in Germany for Song of the Lorelei, for which she won her first RITA Award, in 1991. Her second RITA came in 1998, with His Brother's Child, set in Rome.
Eventually Christine Fiorotto and her husband returned to England, where they now live. She write and he paints, they have no children, but have a cat and a dog.
Single life was so enjoyable that she put marriage, and even romance, on the back burner, while she went about the world having a great time. Then, while on vacation in Venice, she met a tall, dark handsome Venetian artist, who changed all her ideas in a moment, and proposed on the second day. Three months later they were married. Her friends said a whirlwind romance would never last, but they celebrated their 25 anniversary, they are still married, still happy and in love.
After 13 years on the magazine Christine decided that it was now or never if she was ever going to write that novel. So she wrote Legacy of Fire which became a Silhouette Special Edition, followed by another, Enchantment in Venice. Then she did something crazy gave up her job. Since then she has concentrated entirely on writing romances for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette and has written over 75 books. Her settings have been European and her heroes mainly English or Italian. Christine now claims to be an expert on one particular subject. Italian men are the most romantic in the world. They are also the best cooks.
A few years ago she and her husband returned to Venice and lived there for a couple of years. This proved the perfect base for exploring the rest of Italy, and she has given many of her books Italian settings: Venice (of course), Rome, Florence, Milan, Sicily, Tuscany. She has also used the Rhine in Germany for Song of the Lorelei, for which she won her first RITA Award, in 1991. Her second RITA came in 1998, with His Brother's Child, set in Rome.
Eventually Christine Fiorotto and her husband returned to England, where they now live. She write and he paints, they have no children, but have a cat and a dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 28, 2013
2-1/2 stars.
Decent enough romance. Written in a kind of syrupy and vague manner. Still the storyline was decent and it kept my interest. Some descriptions of fancy scenery in Italy. Some melodrama. I wasn't real sure he loved her as much as he had loved his dead fiancé which really kept it from being a higher rated book for me.
Decent enough romance. Written in a kind of syrupy and vague manner. Still the storyline was decent and it kept my interest. Some descriptions of fancy scenery in Italy. Some melodrama. I wasn't real sure he loved her as much as he had loved his dead fiancé which really kept it from being a higher rated book for me.
November 9, 2012
Very good book. Charlotte has run away to Italy and is enjoying the traveling and learning more about Italy. One night in Rome she meets Lucio and has an incredible night with him. In the morning he is gone and she goes on with her travels. A couple months later she tracks him down and lets him know that he is going to be a father. I really liked both Lucio and Charlotte. His fiancee had died in a tragic accident shortly before they were married. He had loved her very much and felt guilty over her death. He made the decision that he would stay in control of his emotions and avoid love. By keeping himself apart he could avoid hurt. When he met Charlotte there was something that drew him to her. He liked her attitude and her complexity of personality. The intensity of their passion spooked him and he left while she was sleeping. He was stunned when she gave him her news, but then asked her to come and stay with him while they decided what to do. He was impressed with the way she interacted with his fellow businessmen and really enjoyed getting to know her. He was incredibly protective, but still tried to keep his distance. He nearly lost everything before he realized the depth of his feelings. Charlotte was trying to cope with the revelations about her family. She was also feeling very much an outsider to them as she was the last to know about it. She met Lucio when she was feeling vulnerable and he seemed to know how she felt. When she went to him with her pregnancy she wasn't expecting to be made part of his life. She quickly felt more at home there than she did with her own family. She also found herself falling hard and fast for Lucio the more she got to know him. She also got the feeling most of the time that he didn't feel as strongly about her, but she was willing to be patient. She would occasionally catch a glimpse of something that would give her hope, but she didn't get the words she needed. I really liked the ending and the way that Lucio chose to show the depth of his love. I also loved the tour of Italy I got while reading this book.
February 28, 2018
Live the setting and strong messages in this book...this is turning out to be a really great series
November 23, 2016
O herói até 80% do livro ainda ama a ex...
July 18, 2013
I've never read a more boring book than this. There are two important feelings that arise when you read a bad book-
1. You totally dislike it.
2. You try to like it even if you know you will end up hating it.
This book definitely falls on the second category. I desperately clung to that part of me which dictated- "love the book" but in the end, I decided that Lucy Gordon's title was horrible. There was just nothing in the story except a picturesque view of Italy. It was too predictable, too formal. The protagonists shared pasts which were acquainted to me in other books. Their stories did not interest me at all.
Ah!the hero- despite his generous and caring attitude towards the heroine and their unborn baby, I wanted to smack him. He used her as a lucky charm for his business in the first chapters! That was disgusting!
The heroine-Charlotte was moderate and seemed too sanctimonious. She even allowed the hero to use her as a bait for his business dealings. I got the feeling for a brief moment that she didn't seem less than a gold digger.
But I have to admit that the first chapter of the book was sweet. I just love novels where two strangers confide in each other in some romantic city like Rome or Paris. The rest of the book simply focuses on how the protagonists fall in love. In fact, I gave it two stars only because the heroine decided to name her daughter Maria on Lucio's late lover's name. It warned me never to get lured into a book by reading the first chapter and an intriguing title that suggests-'secret'. 'The Secret That Changed Everything' needs serious amends with a few sprinkles of laughter and humor. Where are you Susan Elizabeth Phillips?
1. You totally dislike it.
2. You try to like it even if you know you will end up hating it.
This book definitely falls on the second category. I desperately clung to that part of me which dictated- "love the book" but in the end, I decided that Lucy Gordon's title was horrible. There was just nothing in the story except a picturesque view of Italy. It was too predictable, too formal. The protagonists shared pasts which were acquainted to me in other books. Their stories did not interest me at all.
Ah!the hero- despite his generous and caring attitude towards the heroine and their unborn baby, I wanted to smack him. He used her as a lucky charm for his business in the first chapters! That was disgusting!
The heroine-Charlotte was moderate and seemed too sanctimonious. She even allowed the hero to use her as a bait for his business dealings. I got the feeling for a brief moment that she didn't seem less than a gold digger.
But I have to admit that the first chapter of the book was sweet. I just love novels where two strangers confide in each other in some romantic city like Rome or Paris. The rest of the book simply focuses on how the protagonists fall in love. In fact, I gave it two stars only because the heroine decided to name her daughter Maria on Lucio's late lover's name. It warned me never to get lured into a book by reading the first chapter and an intriguing title that suggests-'secret'. 'The Secret That Changed Everything' needs serious amends with a few sprinkles of laughter and humor. Where are you Susan Elizabeth Phillips?
March 25, 2013
For the most part, this was a typical series romance. I liked that it was set in Italy. This is the second book I've read set on a vineyard, and I enjoy learning about the business side of making wine, so that's awesome. I also actually sort of liked the pregnancy first, love comes later storyline, which came as a surprise. Overall, it wasn't bad.
March 2, 2013
There was very little conflict but I guess in a way, that is what made this novel so beautiful. I enjoyed reading it and learning about the romance between the hero and heroine. The ending was positively lovely.
Read
December 27, 2014Miniseries: The Larkville Legacy
Category: Classic Romance
Category: Classic Romance
Read
December 27, 2014Miniseries: The Larkville Legacy
Category: Classic Romance
Category: Classic Romance
September 11, 2013
The story was just meh for me. Hated her family though. (oh, and the title is pretty misleading)
October 10, 2013
Super aburrido, y simple aun con los estandares de un Harlequin
October 13, 2013
Nice little romance.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews