September is an important in the royal calendar- it’s not that there is a specific event that happens in September but essentially every royal family returns back to regular engagements. So, it feels particularly fitting to turn some royal historical fiction in September. We have a wonderful book taking us back to the 1920s and 1930s and a dashing Prince of Wales who evolves into a complex king. This week’s Book Bite is all about The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells!
Thank you to William Morrow for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Royal Windsor Secret, Christine Wells
Could she be the secret daughter of the Prince of Wales? In this dazzling novel by the author of Sisters of the Resistance, a young woman seeks to discover the truth about her mysterious past. Perfect for readers of Shana Abe, Bryn Turnbull, and Marie Benedict. Cleo Davenport has heard the the murmured conversations that end abruptly the second she walks into a room. Told she was an orphan, she knows the rumor—that her father is none other than the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. And at her childhood home at Cairo’s Shepheard’s Hotel, where royals, rulers, and the wealthy live, they even called her “The Princess.” But her life is turned upside down when she turns seventeen. Sent to London under the chaperonage of her very proper aunt, she’s told it’s time to learn manners and make her debut. But Cleo’s life can’t be confined to a ballroom. She longs for independence and a career as a jewelry designer for Cartier, but she cannot move forward until she finds out about her past. Determined to unlock the truth, Cleo travels from London, back to Cairo, and then Paris, where her investigations take a shocking turn into the world of the Parisian demi-monde , and a high-class courtesan whose scandalous affair with the young Prince of Wales threatened to bring down the British monarchy long before anyone had heard of Wallis Simpson.
Why You Should Read This…
While I thought that I would spend this novel waiting to see whether or not the Prince of Wales was indeed a father, I instead found myself wrapped up in Cleo’s life. Not only is she determined to find out more of her past and where exactly she came from, she is also interested in building a future for herself. And given that in the period that was still somewhat rare, it was quite a refreshing read.
I also appreciated that the novel took you to several different locations. We are in London and Paris, and also Cairo, and then Scotland, as well. The author made the readers feel like we are in these places without over-the-top descriptions- the plot kept moving at a good pace while we were “traveling”.
Finally, I appreciated the elements of jewellery throughout this novel. As I have done quite a bit of research into jewellers for my Royal Jewellers series on the blog, I like to think I have at least a base knowledge. And as such, I think that Well’s research is very evident!
FYI: If you have read my Royal Historical Fiction post, you will know that I denote books royal (focused on a specific royal) or royal-ish (the royal is in the background. The Royal Windsor Secret is royal-ish!
Is The Royal Windsor Secret on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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