The Royal Windsor Secret: A Novel

Cairo, Egypt 1935: Cleo Davenport, 16 years old, enjoys a life of freedom with her adopted Aunt Serafina and her friend Brodie. Freedom, until her Aunt Serafina gives in to her sister and brother-in-law, Lord and Lady Grayson, when they decide it is time for Cleo to leave Cairo and go with them to London to prepare for her debut into society and presentation to the King, Edward VIII. Left on a doorstep in Cairo as a baby and not knowing her real parentage, Cleo has long lived with the whispers that her real father is none other than the Prince of Wales, now the King. Having no time for ballrooms and debuts, Cleo has the dream of one day designing her own range of jewelry for Cartier. After the King's abdication, Cleo travels to France to follow up on her dream as a designer and also to try to discover her real parentage. Her search takes a shocking turn into the world of the Parisian demimonde and a high-class courtesan, Marguerite Meller. This story takes place between 1934 and 1952 with back stories to 1914, the WWI years and the 1920s. With a mixture of real people and fiction characters, here is insight (though fictional) into the incredible life of Edward and Wallis, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and I very much enjoyed the interaction between the characters as written by an Author whose work I love. Interesting to learn from the Author's note that the SAS was practically born at the Long Bar at Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo. Very well done, Christine Wells, this story is a winner for me, I loved it. I highly recommend this story and all of Christine's stories to other readers.

Not my sort of book, but you can't please everyone. I'm afraid I gave up on this one, didn't finish reading it

This is another of Christine Wells amazing reads. Slowly the story forms and then you can’t put it down. Well worth purchasing

I am not one to follow a lot of Windsor royalty, but I love this authors work, so I bought a copy of her latest and I was happy to read this scandalous account of the possibility of a secret daughter of the Prince of Wales. Reminder this is historical fiction. Cleo Davenport has wondered if she was the child of the Prince of Wales. She has heard the gossip. He is the heir to the British throne. She grew up being called “The Princess”. When she turns seventeen she is sent to London to make her debut. She must learn about etiquette, dancing, manners amongst other things that life could offer. Cleo has other plans. She longs to be a jewelry designer for Cartier, and not a life confined to marriage. Wells novel is full of hope, scandals and the coming of age of Cleo.

This story was entertaining with twists and turns throughout Europe. While the timeframe includes WWII - and necessarily includes it - the story revolves around jewelry - and what woman is not fascinated by fabulous jewels? Wells' does a great job describing locations and makes it easy to feel you are with Cleo wherever she goes.