Customer Reviews

Her Highness, My Wife

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While in Paris Lord Matthew "Matt" Weston met and married the woman of his dreams. Yet only a few hours later she left him, leaving behind a letter that she would deal with the legalities. He had not known her REAL name or title. He only knew how much he loved her. After fifteen months, she walked back into his life.

She was Princess Tatianna Marguerite Nadia Pruzinsky of the Kingdom of Greater Avalonia, and she needed his help. Tat still loved Matt. However, she felt she HAD to leave him so she could finish fulfilling her royal duties. She planned to return to him someday, if he would still have her, once her duties were completed. For now, she needed him to escort her around London as his wife. As Lady Matthew she could retrace the steps of Aunt Sophia. Tat told him that she was writing the history of the royal family. It was obvious he did not believe her. As his wife, doors would be open for her to speak with those who knew Sophia, decades ago. The truth of what Tat was up to was kept secret. Tat was searching for something that she felt MUST be found before she could return to Matt forever.

*** I found this story to be complicated. Several sub-plots ran simultaneously, such as, the Princess Valentina being in England, some history of ballooning (aerostats), and some jewels. That was only a few of them. About half into the book, however, things began to come together. I, as the reader, got a clearer picture of what was REALLY going on. Romance between the two main characters seemed stilted until this point.

The second half of the book was filled with perils and romance! I could not pull myself away from it all. Everything seemed to speed up and I simply HAD to know what was going to happen in the next chapter! I admit that much of the information that the first half of the book was needed for the reader to fully understand the seriousness of the plot. Yet I feel many readers will not be able to wait so long for all the pieces to come together.

As a reviewer, I must say that I feel the first half of this book seemed to drag. The second half was non-stop. Somehow I believe reviews will be mixed on this tale. This story you will either love or hate. No middle ground. ***

In 1819, Princess Tatiana Pruzinsky must find the Heavens of Avalonia, jewels that will legitimize her claim to the throne of the Kingdom of Greater Avalonia. In 1767, her great-aunt Sophia smuggled the jewels to England during dangerous times. Tatiana plans to visit the homes of the descendants of the three ladies (Hutchins, Helmsley, and Cranston) who graciously helped Sophia upon her arrival in England. Tatiana pretends she is writing a biography of her great-aunt. To further disguise her mission, Sophia asks the lord she deserted after only one week of marriage, Matthew Weston to pretend to be her spouse.

Matt remains angry with his wife. After she left, he learned about her royal blood. Still, needing money, Matt accepts Tatiana's offer to pay him to be her husband though his hidden motive for agreeing is to know why she left. As they pretend to be what they really are, both want to forget the other, but love flourishes making regret the end state.

The story line is exciting and the lead male character is a likable individual trying to recover from love lost. However, Tatiana is an unpleasant person as she is a phobic liar who fabricates even when there is no reason to do so. This makes it very difficult for readers to empathize with her plight leading to the question of whether she has the moral fortitude to ascend to the throne. Still the tale furnishes readers with an engaging historical tale, as fans will wonder if Matt will stick around long enough to learn the truth.

Harriet Klausner

While in Paris Lord Matthew "Matt" Weston met and married the woman of his dreams. Yet only a few hours later she left him, leaving behind a letter that she would deal with the legalities. He had not known her REAL name or title. He only knew how much he loved her. After fifteen months, she walked back into his life.

She was Princess Tatianna Marguerite Nadia Pruzinsky of the Kingdom of Greater Avalonia, and she needed his help. Tat still loved Matt. However, she felt she HAD to leave him so she could finish fulfilling her royal duties. She planned to return to him someday, if he would still have her, once her duties were completed. For now, she needed him to escort her around London as his wife. As Lady Matthew she could retrace the steps of Aunt Sophia. Tat told him that she was writing the history of the royal family. It was obvious he did not believe her. As his wife, doors would be open for her to speak with those who knew Sophia, decades ago. The truth of what Tat was up to was kept secret. Tat was searching for something that she felt MUST be found before she could return to Matt forever.

*** I found this story to be complicated. Several sub-plots ran simultaneously, such as, the Princess Valentina being in England, some history of ballooning (aerostats), and some jewels. That was only a few of them. About half into the book, however, things began to come together. I, as the reader, got a clearer picture of what was REALLY going on. Romance between the two main characters seemed stilted until this point.

The second half of the book was filled with perils and romance! I could not pull myself away from it all. Everything seemed to speed up and I simply HAD to know what was going to happen in the next chapter! I admit that much of the information that the first half of the book was needed for the reader to fully understand the seriousness of the plot. Yet I feel many readers will not be able to wait so long for all the pieces to come together.

As a reviewer, I must say that I feel the first half of this book seemed to drag. The second half was non-stop. Somehow I believe reviews will be mixed on this tale. This story you will either love or hate. No middle ground. ***

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I have to start by saying I adored this hero. Matthew Weston is a man with regrets and fears, but he is trying to make it on his own. He is also trying desperately to forget his short lived marriage to the Princess Tatiana. A woman who seems put out by the fact that William is angry that she walked out. She is also a woman who trust few and has been scorned in the past.

The story starts a bit slow but eventually picks up momentum. The hardest part of the book for me to take was the princess, who by all accounts is used to getting her way. But her apology for leaving her husband with little more then a note, in the middle of the night, leaves a lot to be desired. She even goes as far to demand to know why he didn't follow her. My thought, you walked out on him. HMMMM.

Our Heroine does eventually redeem herself and by the end is highly likable and to my thinking finally deserving of our hero. The story also has some interesting twists that keep the action rising, though the reader will figure most of it out quickly.

If you like Victoria Alexander then you will enjoy this one; if this is your first attempt with this Author I would start with one of her other works first.

`Her highness my wife' by Victoria Alexander is fun historical novel based around 1819. Tatiana princess of Avalonia talks Lord Matthew to help her find the lost jewels of Avalonia. The princess and Lord has brief affair the prior year and now they are thrown back together to solve this mystery. Both the main characters are deep and rich with great directness in their communication. I would recommend this book and `When We Meet' by Victoria Alexander and Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd.

This is my first book by this author. It started out so strong, which was why I liked the characters so much. And believe me they had to be great for me to have stuck with this book, because, (and this is hard to explain), I loved the story-line and Tatiana and Matthew, yet I became so bored with the telling of it.
Of course, it became very interesting again - more than half way through the book. So, if you can stand the idleness, you'll be well rewarded with the 2nd half of the book. I think you'll love Lord Matthew!!

Her Highness, My Wife is not my favorite book. It drags on and on. It took me a week and a half to finish it. It usably read a book in 2 to 3 days. I really didn't like Princess Tatiana and really couldn't see what Matt saw in her expect for lust. They really didn't have much in common. She was bitchy to him when he brought up any of her past bad behavior or her lies. I would have like to slap her. Matt took her back rather quick after she treated him badly. As for the mystery and plot twists I like a good mystery and plot twists in my books romance or other wise but I need more romance than this book gave. I need to believe the hero and heroine belong together to enjoy a book. The hero is wonderful but that wasn't enough to hold this book together.

Try When We Meet Again by Victoria Alexander it a much better written book.

I have read most of Victoria Alexander's books and have enjoyed every one of them... until I got to this one. I have started it twice already and cannot seem to be able to get through it. It isn't exactly bad, but I just can't get into the story. I would definitely recommend other books by Victoria Alexander especially "The Marriage Lesson".

This an uneven book. I found it entertaining and enjoyable; I liked both the major characters and had no trouble following the plot line. That said, the characters are static and the plot is superficial. HOWEVER, the dialogue and tension between the major characters is delightful - reminiscent of Hepburn and Tracy. So whether or not you like it, will depend on what you're looking for. It's a light, entertaining read - but not well crafted.

I normally adore anything and everything Victoria Alexander. This book started out to be good but I felt it quickly left me feeling bored and dissatisfied. The Princess's character was very annoying. Although I love Weston I just couldn't get passed how slow the book moved along. I would not recommend this book to a first time reader of Victoria Alexander. She is a wonderful writer, this book I feel was just a lemon out of hundreds.