Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. Book: The Valet’s Secret Author: Josi S. Kilpack Book Series: Standalone Rating: 4/5 Recommended For...: romance, historical fiction Publication Date: March 8, 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction Romance Age Relevance: 15+ (romance, death) Explanation of Above: There is some romance in the book, but nothing beyond kisses and hugs. There’s also some mention of death, including spousal death. Publisher: Shadow Mountain Press Pages: 288 Synopsis: York, England, 1819 As a once happily married woman, Rebecca Parker had a good life, but now widowed, working for a living, and her only child grown, she feels invisible, tired, and lonely. That is until the day a valet speeding by on a horse nearly runs her off the road. Mr. Malcolm Henry is apologetic, gentle, and handsome. She’s instantly drawn to him, which is why, rather than stopping him from kissing her, she kisses him back, reigniting a nearly forgotten passion. But love at first sight only happens in fairy tales—never to an ordinary woman like her. She sees Mr. Henry again and feels the possibilities growing until, while working in the kitchens during a dinner party, she sees the valet she kissed sitting at the right hand of the baroness. Mr. Henry is not the earl’s valet; he is the heir to the earldom—Kenneth Winterton. Heartbroken, angry, and betrayed, Rebecca does not trust Lord Winterton and refuses to accept his apology. But when Lord Winterton proves he is as kind and gentle as “Mr. Henry” was, she finds herself willing to give him a second chance. But will he take a chance on her? He needs a wife to help him in his place in society, and nothing about Rebeccas life does that . . . except how he feels when she is with him. Trust, love, loneliness, and passion collide in this story about a man who will risk it all to fight for the woman he loves and a woman who does not believe in fairy tales—until she finds herself living in one. Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this read. It was so sweet and I loved the Cinderella-esque style of the story. The book had such great atmosphere and the writing was well done. The book had some great character building and world building as well. However, I do think that the pacing was a bit too slow for me and that I would have liked a bit more condensed character list. Verdict: It was good!