I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from The Royal Secret, but the description of the novel definitely intrigued me. I liked the main character, Joana Haslam, a young reporter on her way up. Her life is a bit of a mess due to a break up, but she is smart, funny and tenacious.

I really liked the set up the big mystery – famous actor James Harrison dies and Joanna is tasked with covering the funeral and is sitting next to a little old lady who has a strange and seemingly serious physical reaction during the service. Joanna, being a generally nice person, helps her to a cab and makes sure she gets home. Then a letter which points to a big mystery/scandal arrives at her work from the little old woman – who then dies in a suspicious manner before Joanna can talk with her about it. And things just get more complicated and interesting from there.

Joanna follows up on the letter because she is a journalist and she just can’t let things go. The trail is long and winding and goes in some unexpected directions. I enjoyed the novel and had such a fun time finally finding out the big royal mystery. There are lots of interesting characters, lots of intrigue and some fun spy action. There are some tragedies and so many secrets. Everyone is not exactly who they seem at first and things get complicated.

Overall, I would say that The Royal Secret is a fast-paced and enjoyable read. There were a couple of plot points that I’m just kind of so-so on, but as a whole, I enjoyed the book and can recommend it. I think The Royal Secret makes a great summer read.

5 Reasons to Read The Royal Secret:

1. If you like Royal families and scandals, this is the perfect book for you. Originally released over two decades ago, this period piece is full of mystery, espionage, love, and secrets during the 90’s era. The book displays the scandalous life of The Royals through multiple storylines, and the mid-90’s use of technology and publicity was really fun and nostalgic to read.
2. It started as a slow burn for me, but about halfway through it picked up and I became irrationally invested in the crossing storylines and mystery Joanna the journalist was attempting to uncover. Feeling similar to a Nancy Drew gone British mystery, Joanna will stop at nothing to uncover the truth that deserves to be told. The only problem is that keeping the forbidden secret hidden becomes a life or death mission.
3. There are some great romantic relationships tangled up amongst the espionage. Like a well-rounded meal, the balance of thrills and romance was spot on.
4. The last quarter of the book was insane. I was actually really mad at Riley for one of her character’s choices, and then at the very end I forgave her because, well, you will see. It was a job well done on the twist and turn front.
5. The author’s note and background of the story is an interesting journey in and of itself! The multiple titles this book has had, as well as the process in which Riley has gone to have her book receive the publicity it deserves is note-worthy, and I truly have a greater appreciation for authors and their work.

I have been a long time fan of Lucinda Riley and am making my way through the Seven Sister’s books again, this time on audiobook.

I absolutely love her writing and count her as one of my favorite authors. When I saw that she had a new book coming out in the US (it was already published in the UK I believe), I was thrilled and eager to read it.

Her books tend to be on the longish side, but I was happy to adjust my schedule and work this book in because I know the kind of books she writes and I was sure to not be disappointed.

Though I did have to aggressively read some of the other books that I have on my schedule, I was happy to do so, so that I could fit this one in!

Summary

When Sir James Harrison, one the greatest actors of his generation, passes away at the age of ninety-five, he leaves behind not just a heartbroken family but also a secret so shocking, it could rock the English establishment to its core.

Joanna Haslam, an up-and-coming reporter, is assigned to cover the legendary actor’s funeral, attended by glitzy celebrities of every background. But Joanna stumbles on something dark beneath the glamour: the mention of a letter James Harrison has left behind—the contents of which many have been desperate to keep concealed for over seventy years. As she peels back the veil of lies that has shrouded the secret, she realizes that she’s close to uncovering something deadly serious—and the royal family may be implicated. Before long, someone is on her tracks, attempting to prevent her from discovering the truth. And they’ll stop at nothing to reach the letter before she does (summary from Goodreads).

Review

I adore how Lucinda Riley mixes historical fiction, romance, and modern suspense/thriller in many of her books. While I have only read the Seven Sisters books but Riley, it is clear that at least in this book, she sticks to her signature style and incorporates family secrets, history, romance, and some suspense/thriller elements into her novel.

Yes this book is long (coming in at over 500 pages) and it is full of some dense writing and doesn’t read ‘quick’, but it was 500+ pages of enjoyment and a sweeping tale that covers so much ground. I was never bored and eager to return to this book night after night.

I was surprised by the mystery/thriller element to this book, as her Seven Sisters series doesn’t really have those elements, but I was pleasantly surprised by her ability to move through different genres and incorporating them seamlessly into the plot. I loved how the mystery was only given to the reader in small increments so that readers could savor each element before the pieced culminating in the end. It really kept me hooked!

There wasn’t one story over the other that I felt was stronger. Each of the historical and modern stories were equally strong and interesting. I thought the characters were believable and I felt drawn into their stories easily page after page.

I am a little confused though because on Goodreads it says this book was first published in 2000, but it is being re-released in May of 2019 with a different title? It looks like it was first published as The Love Letter and also the title Seeing Double. So if you are looking up this book, there might be a little confusing when it comes to the title and publication.

Once again, another winner for Lucinda Riley. I can’t wait to read more of her books once I am done with the Seven Sisters series again. She is such a strong, powerful writer that consistently delivers excellent stories.

I have never read a Lucinda Riley book before and The Royal Secret will not be my last. The story focuses on the up-and-coming reporter Joanna Haslam who is assigned to cover the story of legendary actor James Harrison’s death. What ensues is an unraveling of secrets upon secrets that threaten the establishment of the royal aristocracy. It’s far-fetched, shocking, confusing and also utterly engrossing.

I will admit that this is a very long and somewhat meandering story. The mystery itself is complex and convoluted. It’s also quite the tear-jerker. I was surprised at my emotional response to various events while reading it. That said, I was completely entranced by this story. It was like a compelling soap opera that you can’t pull yourself away from. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, the intrigue, the alarming events that took place, and the peek into the scandalous and complicated royal family. It truly had a bit of everything, including romance, heartache, friendship, espionage, secrets, peril, and somehow some happy endings. What a thoroughly entertaining and unusual story!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This novel started out with a bang. I loved how there was a mixture of romance, mystery, and history. I really liked the first half of the book, but I had a little difficulty following the story as it went on. There were a lot of portions where the characters would imply certain things instead of saying them outright, and that became a little confusing as the book went on. I really enjoyed the novel, but it was a little hard to follow at times.

The characters were a lot of fun and I really enjoyed getting to know each of their pasts and some of the secrets they held. This novel was entertaining and kept me on my toes, but it was a tiny bit too long and confusing at times. I would still highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy romantic suspense novels. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 3/5

From the description of this book I was expecting a lot more action. There were a few exciting incidents but for the most part I was bored while reading this. I was initially intrigued and hoped for a much quicker pace. It moved so slowly though that I kept putting it down and my interest in picking it back up waned pretty early on. There were a few good things about the book though. I liked the characters and found the writing to be easy to read.

THE ROYAL SECRET by Lucinda Riley was everything I was hoping it would be. This book is amazing and was published originally in the UK almost 20 years ago but was considered a little too scandalous and damning that a lot of booksellers chose not to sell it. WHAT? How lucky are we that it's now been republished? THIS BOOK IS A GEMSTONE and the perfect thriller with a dash of royalty, big helpings of romance and so much mystery. You do not want to miss it!

I've been wanting to read Lucinda Riley for a while now after seeing my blogger friends praise her Seven Sisters series, and I am so glad that I took the plunge. Lucinda is magician with words!

Joanna is a journalist with a demanding job and fresh out of a failed relationship when she is assigned to cover the funeral for a famous actor. While at the funeral she meets an elderly woman who sends her a letter which begins a series of events that could absolutely ruin the Royal family. Joanna's investigating is fraught with danger as she gets closer to finding the truth. A secret that the Royal family will do anything to hide.

I. Was. Riveted! It's almost 600 pages long but I was so invested that the pages flew by! It's a great feat for an author to keep the suspense going for that long. I was totally surprised at the end and never figured out the mystery.

I highly recommend The Royal Secret! It had a fabulous plot line, wonderful characters, and the writing is phenomenal. I will definitely be picking up Riley's Seven Sisters series soon!

A high suspense thriller with a touch of romance, THE ROYAL SECRET by Lucinda Riley has faced an unusual trajectory for a novel. It was originally published in the UK in 2000 (titled THE LOVE LETTER), but its fictional rendition of the British royal family was considered so scandalous that it was pulled off shelves. But this week, it’s finally getting a second chance (it was just republished yesterday!). Overall, reading this book was a crazy ride (and I mean that in the best way possible). Combined with its fast pace, this mystery will keep you on your toes and eventually make you question what kinds of secrets the monarchies and governments of today’s world may be hiding. All in all, a fun read that will make a great companion to your pool-side afternoons this summer..

This was an intrigued and exciting story! I love the writing and I believe the author did an amazing job with the characters and the set up was brilliant! It has mystery, twists and suspense to keep your interest! The mystery kept me guessing which was perfect because it kept my interest and I was intrigued about the letter.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a copy of Lucinda Riley’s novel, The Royal Secret, in exchange for an honest review.

Reporter Joanna Haslam is tired of being assigned puff-pieces, but her life changes when she is assigned to cover the funeral of veteran actor, Sir James Harrison. At the funeral, she meets a mysterious elderly woman, that sends Joanna on the path to uncovering a decades old scandal involving England’s royal family. As Joanna rushes to solve the mystery, she realizes that there are people willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden.

Riley’s The Royal Secret was actually written twenty years ago ( although she has made updates to this current version) and it was deemed so scandalous, that many booksellers in the UK would not carry it or promote it. This was the info that I received that enticed me to sign up for an Ark of The Royal Secret. It set my expectations high and I have to admit that The Royal Secret did not meet those expectations. I’m not quite sure why it was so shocking or scandalous. I am in my early forties, so I can easily remember back a few decades and it’s hard to imagine that anything in this story would have been reason for refusing to sell the book. That said, I live in the United States, not England, so I am viewing the story through a different cultural lens. Also, Riley’s book was originally published shortly after the death of Lady Diana, so perhaps that may have created a sensitivity regarding anything written about the royal family, fictional or otherwise. Riley’s royal family is completely fictional and she does not use the names of any actual monarchs. If there is any similarities between actual monarchs and her characters, I did not notice.

The Royal Secret is suspenseful from start to finish. It is filled with twists and turns, many of which I could not have anticipated. If anything, it was a bit much with all of the plot twists, especially in the last quarter of the story. The pacing really ramps up to a frenzy and I was overwhelmed with the speed of the information.

The characters are the best part of the story. I especially liked the romantic tension between Zoe Harrison, the granddaughter of Sir James Harrison, and her bodyguard, Simon. Zoe is in a relationship and Simon needs to maintain professionalism, yet there is a beautiful undercurrent of longing and passion between these two characters.

There is a second and equal love story thread between Joanna and Zoe’s brother, Marcus. This romance lacked the sweetness and passion of Zoe and Simon. I felt like Joanna and Marcus were a fling that carried on past its expiration date, yet as Joanna is our heroine, we readers should be engaged in her romantic plot line. I liked Joanna as a plucky reporter, however my primary emotional connection was with Zoe and Simon.

The story had too many coincidences to make it gel. For example, Joanna happens to be best friends with Simon, who happens to be placed on a top-secret assignment guarding Zoe. Through her investigation, Zoe develops a relationship with Marcus and is then introduced to Joanna, which is how she discovers that Simon is an agent; a big secret that she never knew about her best friend. Joanna and Marcus get intwined in this mystery in totally different ways, a mystery that would never have come to light if Joanna hadn’t happened to be sitting next to the elderly woman at the funeral. To push this further, this elderly woman, knowing that she is ill, decides to tell Joanna her biggest secret, but in a way that is still shrouded in mystery, putting Joanna in both professional and mortal jeopardy. Without giving away any major plot twists, The Royal Secret, is full of these chance encounters and people who happened to be in the right place, at the right time. (or the wrong place, at the wrong time) For a story that is built on imminent danger, several aspects of the story happened too conveniently.

I enjoyed the primary setting in the 1990’s and appreciated how the technology of the era was worked into the story. It would have played out very differently, if it had been set now. I also liked the way the story spanned several decades, playing with societal norms of different eras. Riley does a wonderful job of setting the scene and writing atmospheric descriptions.

Overall, The Royal Secret was not my cup of tea and I would not recommend it. This was my first time reading Riley and I would be inclined to seek out her other novels. I enjoyed her writing, but not the general plot of this particular story.

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I appreciate the kindness. <3

The Royal Secret is a complicated tale - full of royalty and intrigue and mystery. I was really excited to read it as I've been loving the author's Seven Sisters series. However, this one wasn't for me.

Joanna Haslam is an up and coming reporter who manages to stumble into something without being fully aware of what's going on. She's been given a mysterious letter from a woman she met at a funeral - and starts investigating to learn more. It's also clear very early that there are powerful parties who are invested in Joanna not discovering anything.

I love the premise and stuck with the story because I wanted to see how it ended. Unfortunately I felt like there was too much crammed into the story - too many twists and turns and characters and coincidences.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sigh. I was SO EXCITED for this book, like super excited. The book was good, but I hated it at the same time.

First of all, this book is LONG. I mean it’s like 500+ which didn’t bother me at first, but once I got about 60% done with it-I was over all the clichés and romantic ups and downs.

Secondly, the characters made me want to throw my kindle out the window. Well technically not the characters, but the authors choices? Without giving anything away, there were two characters that should be together (like half the book practically threw them together, there’s sexual chemistry, they get along, they’re practically a couple already), but noooo Riley puts them with different people that don’t match up and you know is a bad idea.

I haven’t been this mad at an author since Allegiant- like you really like the book, the story, the characters etc. then the author does that.

This is totally a personal opinion, I bet others would love it- I was just mad that who I shipped wasn’t shipped lol.

Thank you Netgalley, and Atria Books, for the free eARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great story that revolves around the British Royal Family and originally written in Great Britain in the mid-90s under the title The Love Letter.

The story begins at the funeral of legendary actor James Harrison. Young journalist Joanna Haslam is attending it to report on it for a local tabloid. Somehow she gets pulled into a mystery having to do with a love letter that might've been connected to James and a mystery woman. As she starts putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and finding that there may be a connection with the British Royal family, she discovers that there are people who will stop at nothing to get that letter and avoid exposing the deep, dark secrets from years gone by, even if it means fatally silencing them.

Although the book was a little long, it pulled me in very quickly. It was compelling and fast-paced. The characters were well-written and empathetic. It blends mystery and thriller with a little romance, and adds the historical element to it. Very enjoyable reading!!

This was a fantastic piece of fiction! Part mystery, part historical fiction, it all blends together for a fascinating story that you can't put down. Although the royal family featured in this book are loosely based on the British Royal Family, you can't line up figures to say "so and so is the Prince of Wales", meaning that you can fully immerse yourself in the story. Riley does a wonderful job at creating believable characters that you may not always love but you do want to find out what happens to them.

I read this book in one sitting, which isn't that common of an occurrence for me. The mystery was complicated enough that you couldn't figure it out who was who, but not so complicated that you got lost trying to follow it all. It does feel a bit long at some points, and the side plots sometimes feel like a little too much, but overall, this is a great royal mystery read for the summer!

Originally published in the UK under the title The Love Letter, Lucinda Riley's The Royal Secret is finally available to US readers. It's a novel that's hard to categorize as it contains elements of romance, mystery, and a touch of historical intrigue, but whatever one chooses to call it, it's a fast-paced read that's sure to keep readers enthralled.

Joanna never imagined she'd be working for a seedy London tabloid. She dreams of being a serious journalist for a respectable publication, but those jobs are hard to come by, and she's had to make due with a position with the notorious Morning Mail. One of her assignments is to cover the funeral of James Harrison, a renowned actor who has recently died at the age of ninety-five. While at the funeral service, Joanna notices an elderly lady who seems to be in a great deal of distress, so she escorts her outside and helps her get back home.Joanna doesn't linger long at the house of the unknown woman. Her boss won't be happy with her for walking out in the middle of the service, so she hurries back and soon puts the encounter out of her mind. But a few days later, she receives a letter from the woman, the contents of which set in motion an investigation with far-reaching consequences not only for Joanna and those she loves, but also for the British monarchy.

We spend a great deal of time with Joanna, but we're also treated to the perspectives of a few other characters. Zoe, James’ granddaughter, is a successful actress in her own right and has an eleven-year-old son whose father is no longer in the picture. In fact, most people don't even know who he is, and Zoe is determined to keep it that way. But when she sees him again for the first time since before their son was born, all her convictions are thrown to the wayside as she is once again caught up in the all-consuming power of love.

Then there’s Zoe's brother Marcus, who is a bit of a disappointment to his family due to his wild ways. He spends most of his time drinking and becoming involved with all manner of unsuitable women, and it's pretty clear he feels rather aimless. He hoped to inherit a large sum of money upon James' death, but his grandfather left him a rather nominal sum, giving the rest to Zoe and her son. Marcus is quite upset by this, especially when he learns he is to become responsible for managing a fund for aspiring young actors. He hates the thought of having to work, and he sets about trying to find a way to get out of what he feels to be an odious task.

Simon is Joanna's long-time friend, an enigmatic man who works for the British government. He's not permitted to discuss the particulars of his job with those around him, so he passes himself off as a low-level civil servant. Unfortunately for Simon, his personal and professional lives are about to collide in an unexpected way. James Harrison was keeping a dark secret, a secret that those in power are desperate to keep hidden. Simon becomes an unwilling pawn in a game that could turn deadly at any moment, especially if Joanna continues to look into the contents of the mysterious letter she was sent.

Once I started reading, I absolutely could not put this book down. It's full of delicious scandals that put me in mind of some of the sweeping historicals of the 1980s. No one is who they seem to be, and I loved trying to figure out who the bad guys really were. Certain plot twists are a bit over the top, but I didn't care. I still gobbled this book like candy.Joanna is a lovely heroine. She doggedly pursues the truth, even when it becomes clear that doing so has put her in danger. Normally, I dislike it when characters knowingly put themselves in harm's way, but Joanna's intelligence made it much easier for me to root for her. She didn't run around half-cocked; instead, she approached things in a rational manner that went a long way toward minimizing the danger she was exposed to.

There is a really sweet romance that blooms between Joanna and Marcus. At first, I didn't think they would be right for one another, but as time went by and I got to know each of them a bit better, it became easier for me to understand what drew them together. Each has some emotional baggage to deal with, but they are mature enough to do this in a way that worked for me. I dislike romances that are extremely angsty, so I was pleased that these two handled their business like adults instead of like overly hormonal teenagers.

If you're looking for a fun, suspenseful read with strong romantic elements, I strongly recommend The Royal Secret. At over five-hundred pages, it might be a bit intimidating to some readers, but it moves along quickly and I finished it in just under two days. It's only the second book I've read by Lucinda Riley, but I definitely plan to pick up more of her backlist before too long.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

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Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc. I have been LOVING Lucinda Riley's Seven Sisters series, and I was really looking forward to this book!

This is a LONG book, and a LOT happens ... there is a lot to keep up with! The story is definitely action-packed and engaging - this would be a fantastic movie! Spies, secrets, espionage, affairs, and a good dash of royalty lore all make this one crazy ride! I loved the cover, and I really liked this story.

I tried to read this book. I wanted to like it. It just felt sort of blah to me. I didn't care for the writing style, and I was disappointed in the book overall.

The Royal Secret focuses on the scandalous lives of some of London's elite - lives filled with secrets, romance, espionage and mystery. It was this premise, and the author's name (I adored her earlier book, The Midnight Rose), that prompted me to request an advanced copy of this book. But while the story promises a delightfully salacious royal scandal and long-held secrets, my feelings for the book are a little more complicated than I had anticipated.

The plot meanders through the lives of numerous characters that are weaved together in varying degrees of success and interest. Unfortunately, the narrative soon becomes convoluted with extraneous side plots which left me feeling like I never quite connected to the story or characters. I strongly believe the book could have benefited with a hearty edit because it loses much of its impact due to its excessive length. The plot, that had its compelling moments, unfortunately concluded with story lines becoming more and more far-fetched, making this book fall into the 'just an okay read' pile for this reader.

In the end, this was a decent read with good intrigue that held my interest in varying degrees but, ultimately not as engaging as I had hoped. Readers who enjoy a bigger tale with lots of characters and are willing to accept a neat and tidy ending, will probably enjoy this book more than I did.

Note: Author originally published this book in 2000 as The Love Letter.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.