The Secret Wife: A Captivating Story of Romance, Passion and Mystery

From the time I've received this book I've been unable to put it down and I finished it in a day's time. It's one of those books that keep you hooked till the end... Definitely a best seller and a must buy!

Was wonderful.

If I am completely honest Historical fiction is one of my least favourite genres, however, I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the Romanov family and lured in by the promise of an unforgettable love story so I decided to give this book a go. It has been nearly a week since I finished reading this book and I am only getting around to writing the review now. Why? Fear! Fear that there are no words that can do this book justice. The Secret Wife is a hauntingly beautiful story and one that will remain with me for a long time.What sets this novel apart from other Historical fiction novels is that it covers a time period of over 100 years and follows two separate story lines which alternate in chapters and eventually link effortlessly together.The first story line is set in present day. One morning Kitty Fisher discovers her husband is having an affair. Instead of confronting her marital problems she hastily packs a bag and flees to a cabin she has recently inherited from an unknown relative in Lake Akanabee. The isolated cabin seems the perfect place to hide from the world. However, the discovery of a beautiful item of jewellery (later revealed to be a dog tag) sparks her curiosity and she becomes consumed with finding out about the owner and the story behind it. She soon finds out that the cabin was previously owned by her great-grandfather who was a famous author. Shocked by this information Kitty, a journalist herself, decides to dig up everything she can about her elusive relative. However, as Kitty uncovers her family history she simultaneously rediscovers herself.The second and for me the primary story line begins in Tsarskoe Selo, Russia in 1914. We are first introduced to Dmitri Malama, a brave young soldier, as he wakes up in a hospital following injury in battle. As he comes to his adjusting eyes settle on a nurse that he describes as an ‘angel’. He is astounded to find out that his nurse is none other than the Grand Duchess Tatiana, daughter of the Russian ruler Tsar Nicolas II. Overwhelmed by Tatiana’s beauty and entranced by her natural and warm persona Dmitri falls in love with the young duchess. The Secret Wife tells us the magnificent and tragic story of two lovers brought together and subsequently torn apart by war and left broken by the fall of the Romanov family.This book is crammed with intricate details which allow readers to imagine the setting clearly and understand each character fully. It is a long book, made longer because I had to stop several times to use google in a desperate attempt to learn more about the history of The Romanov family. It is evident that Gill Paul did extensive research prior to writing this novel. The historical facts and clever fictional elements combine perfectly to make a thoroughly impressive story . Normally I read mostly for enjoyment but it was lovely to learn some history along the way.I could discuss this novel at length because there are so many wonderful elements to it. However, I particularly enjoyed the symbolic nature of the dogs throughout the novel. Right at the beginning Dmitri declares his love to Tatiana by gifting her a puppy which they name Ortipo. This puppy is symbolic of their love for each other. Tatiana makes an ostentatious Faberge dog collar for Ortipo which is the same jewel Kitty stumbles across when she first arrives at the cabin prompting her personal journey discovery. The fact that Ortipo dies along with the Royal family is significant because it highlights the closing of a chapter in Dmitri’s and Tatiana’s love story . The joy he seems to get from the dogs and the depression that comes from their deaths correlate with his mood and the stages of his life. Ironically, Dmitri names his last dog Ortipo. For me, Ortipo is symbolic of both the beginning and the end of what is an immensely beautiful love story.This is a hugely emotive story with the power to make readers cry with sadness and joy. Gill Paul’s writing style is fluent and the characters both honest and relatable. I realise that I have not discussed too much about plot because quite simply I do not want to spoil it for you. This is without a doubt my favourite novel of 2016 so far and I would recommend it highly.

Thoughtfully written. Good suspense and keeps readers on the toe.

Reading the book inspired me to explore more about the life of the Romanovs, the last Tsar with his young family. Real pictures on the internet show that the young Tatiana really was as beautiful and graceful as described in the book. One can imagine that her secret lover would do anything to save her. The book frames the real dramatic history beautifully into a fictional story, playing today and in the past. Well-done!