While Georgiana's family and the assorted other personages around them are chaos personified, Georgiana and Sebastian are occasionally the rocks on which it all must flow around. Sebastian is ashamed becuase words aren't easy for him, either verbally or on the page. His Valet, an old schoolmate, helps him with correspondence, while also writing plays - none of which have ever seen the stage, yet. This disability makes him think that he isn't smart but Georgiana sees him as smart, in his own way. He doesn't know if she will continue with the relationship if she realises what his problem is and she also lives in fear that once he's exposed to her family that he will run for the hills. Her mother breeds pugs and her father has eccentric interests, one of which is currently delving into reincarnation - one of the unusual personages is a hindu gentleman who is not sure what he's let himself in for.
One of her sisters is easily led and another is determined to get her own way (and endangers Georgiana and Sebastian's lives at one stage)
There were moments where I wondered about how realistic things could be and then I remember some of the English eccentrics.
The relationship was interesting but the tension felt a little forced occasionally. Fun but seemed to be a little lacking. ( )

Ordinary breeds extraordinary. What that means to me is that a person is so much more than the skills they lack. They are special because of who they are. In the long run a pure heart and an open mind are all that matters. Sebastian was a smart man but he failed to see that because of a misinterpreted flaw. He was a man of action. He could create a plan and carry it out but with intelligence and skill but when it came to understanding the reading, writing and curriculum, he felt like fish out of water. Lord Sebastian's Secret deals with a prevalent subject in a time when not much was known about it. Still to this day dyslexia is still look at as a weakness, in our ever changing world. Ms. Ashford examines the subject with gentleness and a great deal of insight. Through the eyes of Sebastian, the author allows the change to understand the frustration and shame of an individual dealing with the not knowing and the fear of being different. Lord Sebastian's Secret is an eye opener. The message is clear: "Every journey is unique, but we all have struggles to overcome." Sebastian was stronger than his fear and with the love of a good woman like Georgiana, he learned that he was more than his disability.
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I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review. I rarely say this but the storyline was boring. Sebastian's secret was such a poor excuse of a reason to create any drama. I didn't even like Georgina's character or family members or even the plot. Disappointed. ( )

Witty, charming with a wicked hilarity!

I have to say I really loved Sebastian Gresham's story. Tender yet troubled!
For many reasons Sebastian reminded me of Freddy Standen in Georgette Heyer's 'Cotillion.'
Whilst Sebastian's strengths are different to Freddy's, he nevertheless makes his fiancée Lady Georgina Stane feel protected . As Georgina says, 'he always knows what to do.' And that's exactly how Kitty Charing felt about Freddy. Sure it's reversed somewhat. Sebastian is good looking, dashing, and more at home on a horse than in discussion with his peers over some obscure point. Where Freddy was up to the latest rig and knew to a nicety how to steer a course through the social pitfalls that yawned for the unwary.
Sebastian is acutely aware that he is not as clever as his siblings. He looks at the written word and all he sees is a string of letters running together in no recognizable pattern. So Sebastian covers up his heartfelt flaw, his dreaded shortcoming via a series of logistically manoeuvres that really show his innate cleverness. His memory it seems is prodigious.
Sebastian travels down to Georgina's home (Stane Castle) to meet her parents prior to their wedding. His family--the Duke and Duchess of Langford and his brothers and their wives will join them.
A panicked Georgina realizes that her family might not be quite what Sebastian and his family are used to--especially as her mother breeds pugs (a flowing carpet of them), her father is enamoured with all things to do with reincarnation at the moment, a Hindu scholar is in residence, her hoyden sisters' actions make for some telling times, and their governess has apparently taken reincarnation to heart in her own particular way! Oh, and let's not forget Sebastian's sterling valet and confident William Sykes, an aspiring playwright. One dreads to even contemplate what the future might hold for the whole Gresham family and when Sykes' pen comes home to roost. And what will happen to sister Hilde when she is loosed on the ton, or maybe I should rephrase that and say what will happen to the ton? And Robert is obviously twitchy about something. I see more fun and games ahead.
I do love Sebastian's introduction to Stane Castle where 'the pugs flowed over like a school of fish to surround him and began to scratch and slaver at his riding boots.' Hilarious!
A charming, amusing and heartfelt story with tender and delicate moments.

A NetGalley ARC ( )