Publication Date: September 12, 2023
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 whispers: 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.
The House of Windsor never fails to capture headlines, whether it is a scandalous liaison or sibling rivalries. However, this generation of royals could take a lesson from Edward VIII on how to create headlines.
Author Christine Wells uses historical data to create a juicy tale titled The Royal Windsor Secret. In it, a young woman named Cleo is searching for clues regarding her parents. Abandoned at an elite hotel in Egypt, all she has is a maid’s name and her employer, both of whom live in Paris.
Alternating between past and present, dual storylines come to life. History confirms an interlude between French courtesan Marguerite Meller and the dapper English prince. While Meller certainly isn’t painted in the best light, her depiction is historically accurate.
Is Cleo the love child created as the result of a seasonal fling? As World War II rages across Europe, Cleo assists with the war effort. Later, her passion for jewelry design creates several interesting interactions with well-known names of the era.
The Royal Windsor Secret delivers a multi-faceted storyline spanning more than four decades, focusing on a young woman’s search for knowledge and another woman’s efforts for revenge.
Christine Wells writes historical fiction featuring strong, fascinating women. From early childhood, she drank in her father’s tales about the real kings and queens behind popular nursery rhymes and she has been a keen student of history ever since. She began her first novel while working as a corporate lawyer, and has gone on to write about periods ranging from Georgian England to post World War II France. Christine is passionate about helping other writers learn the craft and business of writing fiction and enjoys mentoring and teaching workshops whenever her schedule permits. She loves dogs, running, the beach and fossicking for antiques and lives with her family in Brisbane, Australia.
