⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5 Stars

I always jump at the chance to read Gill Paul. She combines historical fiction with mystery and romance. Always leaves me thinking ‘What If’. This book was no different. The fate of the Romanov’s has always fascinated the history geek in me. This story follows Tatiana (the second daughter of the Tsar and his wife) and Dimitri (a noble calvary officer) as they meet in a hospital and follow their supposed love affair that spans years. Dual timeline brings the past with the present, as Kitty inherits a cabin from her grandfather who she never really knew.

This book is heavy in the past, at times I found myself skimming thru parts, feeling too long to me, almost never ending. The characters were likable enough, but I just didn’t feel the connection or see any development. The situations just felt too unbelievable, especially for the times. While this wasn’t my favorite Paul book, I can’t wait to read her again.

Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

I loved this historical romance book!!!!!!! It is such a daring but lovely story told beautifully. It is perfect for romance fans!!¡!!!!!¡!

Gill Paul has created a fascinating narrative based on Russia's Romanov family and the possibility that one of the daughters had somehow escaped execution with the rest of her family. The dual timeline alternates between 1914 Russia and an isolated lakeside cabin in New York during the summer of 2016. I was pleased that the characters had easy-to-pronounce names, unlike most of the Russian fiction I have read. In fact, I raced through the book to find out how everything would turn out. Thanks to NetGalley, BookClubGirl and HarperCollins for a copy to read and review.

I really liked this book! I’ve always been fascinated by the Romanov family and their tragic ending, and I like how the two story lines in this book ended up connecting. I always enjoy books by this author and this one did not disappoint. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review..

This was so much fun and not what I was expecting!

LIKES:
1) the Romanov family! I never read blurbs so I had no idea this was about Anastasia’s family! It was about a different sister, but still so cool
2) Russian history- i know this is similar to one, but I really enjoyed learning about this country and how it changed from a monarchy to a dictatorship/communist nation
3) historical romance- just had all the warm fuzzies from this genre. I really loved how everyone involved with the love story
4) dual timelines- having it be set in the “present” and also from 1917-1975, just very cool.

DISLIKES:
🚫 that effecting my rating. It was a good solid story and I recommend it!

Historical fiction is great, and I liked the premise to this one. I liked the differing timelines - and would likely read this again!

I enjoyed "The Secret Wife" by Gill Paul. I have never read any of Paul's books before and look forward to reading more of her works. The story was interesting and I found the characters were mostly likable.

This was interesting historical fiction, with a major focus on the years just before and just after the Russian Revolution in 1917. It highlights the last years of the members of the Romanov family, Tsar Nicholas, his wife and five children, particularly Tatiana. As with so many historical fiction books, there’s a dual timeline and as is often the case for me, I was much more interested in the historical timeline over the modern one. The author supposes “What if Grand Duchess Tatiana fell in love with an Army officer (Dmitri) and was eventually rescued, surviving the murder of the rest of her family?” Rather far-fetched, but it made for a satisfying, if not exciting, read. Perhaps the best part was actually the author’s note at the end, where I learned that Dmitri was based on a real person.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. While I received the ebook from NetGalley, I mostly wound up listening to the published audiobook by HarperCollins, courtesy of my public library. The narrators, Laura Kirman and Thomas Judd, did a good job with the many voices. All opinions are my own.

There isn't a lot of depth to this book, it's an easy read that is more fiction than historical. Great for an escape or beach read. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest and voluntary review of #TheSecretWife.

I love historical fiction and this book was good. I found it a little drawn out in spots but over all i enjoyed the tale. Looked forward to reading more by this author

The history of Romanovs always interests me and any story on them pulls me in. This novel definitely interested with its premise. A dual timeline story the novel alternates between Dmitri's and Kitty's life.
Though the story didn't disappoint and I enjoyed reading the book I did not like the characters at all. Ignoring the actions and selfishness of the characters without thinking too much and reading it as just a romance is the best thing for this book.

I've read a lot of historical fiction, but this was the first one that centered around Russian history, and I found it fascinating to learn about the pre-WWII revolutions that were taking place there, especially around the Romanov family and the infamous way in which they were overthrown. The book was enjoyable and held my interest.

An interesting historical read that takes you to England, Russia and eventually upstate NY. Two sorry lines, one past, one present,, and one big what if.

After discovering her husband has been unfaithful, Kitty leaves England for the Adirondacks to check out a cabin she recently inherited. She spends the summer repairing this neglected property, avoiding her husband, and learning about the great grandfather she never knew.

I liked the story. It is the first book I have read about the Romanov family and all they endured. Those poor children! The story unfolds at a good pace, the characters are interesting and the historical details seem well researched.

Thank you to The Book Club Girls, NetGalley, Avon, HarperCollins Publishers and the author Gill Paul. #theSecretWife #NetGalley

Thank you for this digital copy received through Book Club Girls and #NetGalley.

I gobbled up this historical fiction book in 2 days. I was immediately drawn into the story. The Secret Wife is told in 2 timelines. One timeline set in England and America in 2016 interwoven with a timeline set in Russia in 1914 with the Romanov family, primarily Grand Duchess Tatiana. It's a story about love, loss and courage.
I highly recommend this!
#TheSecretWife

Most alternate history of the Romanov children focus on the survival of Anastasia or Alexi. The secret wife focuses on Tatiana.

While the story is based in historical fact some details were changed to make Tatiana’s survival plausible.

When Dmitri’s great grand daughter, Kitty, learns of his existence she will stop at nothing to learn about his life and why none in her family ever mentioned him.

This dual timeline novel flips between the story of Dmitri and Tatiana’s story and that of Kitty. It is a well done story with many twists and turns you just don’t see coming.

Copy of digital book providedby #netgalley

I wanted to love this book, but it just missed the mark for me. While loosely based on a true romance between Grand Duchess Tatiana and Dmitri, a cavalry officer, the whole marriage part felt too implausible. However - Dmitri's search for Tatiana, and his life after the Russian revolution was very interesting. And the current day part of the storyline with Kitty and her inheritance, was mostly interesting. It just dragged a bit for me. But people who haven't read much about the Romanovs may enjoy it far more than I did. Still worth a read. Thanks to the Book Club Girls and NetGalley for the free arc. 3.5 stars

I really like this book really interesting to have a plot's twisting retuon the plots twisted and turned and how this gentleman really loved the Duchess and princess of Nicholas sar and how he fell along with her and how he tried to protect her and it was interesting how you find out about this and their wife because he had to leave her behind and met this other woman could be never married somebody you have children and and they had to be Germany in the thirties because she was Jewish And her grandfather at a very interesting story is to tell but she never knew it because her mother was so bitter against her father so she really never knew her grandfather untiland she had problems with her marriage so she decided to fly to New York it's a sort out of her life and this hallus book was back-and-forth and time is amazing and I can understand why the title is that way because you really you get to see both perspectives composed oh it's very well written and it's an interesting how the things happen at the end of the book And how this other woman would put up with it and and I'm not gonna give it away but great bug

I enjoyed reading this book and felt that Paul did a nice job of telling two stories in one. The writing was clear and the romances were compelling. I only gave this book four stars because I felt that the part about the story/romance between Dmitri and Tatiana was a little long winded. Parts of this story could have been told with fewer words. I also wanted a little more about the marriage of Kitty and Tom. It seemed that Kitty's feelings changed in a short period of time, with little input from Tom. That could have been more developed.
Paul developed the story of Tatiana and Dmitri based on historical facts about a romance between one of the Romanov princesses and a soldier that developed right before the Bolshevik revolution. This piece of history was well-researched and the chaos that took place in Russia at that time was clearly portrayed. If you are a fan of historical fiction, you may find this more gripping than I did.

This book has a dual story line weaving historical fiction elements from 1914 with pure fiction from the same period and the present day (2016). The love story of Tatiana Romanov and Dmitri Malama are brought to the present day as Kitty uncovers the story of her great grandfather after embarking on an unexpected journey following a revelation about her husband. Since I am not always a history aficionado, the story of the Romanov's plight and ultimate tragedy sparked an interest to learn more about the Romanovs and their demise. This book poses an alternate ending to the historical facts. I found many of the characters to be flawed but likable and the author did a nice job of helping you understand how the difficulties of the times affected people's actions. I also felt that the author gave a good sense of place to Russia in the time period as well as to Upstate NY in the current day. Often with dual story lines, I find myself interested in one more than the other, but I enjoyed both story lines in this book and liked the way the author wove the elements of the past into the present day story. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to readers who enjoy historical fiction but also don't mind a good dose of pure fiction mixed in.

Grand Duchess Tatiana falls in love with soldier Dmitri, despite her high born status and his common blood. This story follows their romance, and ultimate secret marriage. Meanwhile, in the current time, Kitty flees England after a personal crisis, to a family home in America. While there, she finds some hidden items that open up a family mystery that she is determined to solve.

This book was entertaining, and tragic in its telling. It’s a well researched book, and it really caught and maintained my interest throughout the book. I loved the telling of Tatiana’s life, and the love story with her and Dmitri. I’d recommend this to anyone, especially those who love historical fiction.