Title: A Marriage Made in Secret

Author: Jenni Fletcher

Published: June 2021

Genre: Historical Romance, Mills & Boon Historical, Harlequin Historical, Medieval

Blurb:

She must choose…

…her queen – or love!

As the queen’s new lady-in-waiting, Mathilde Gosselin tumbles straight into Parisian palace intrigue when she meets courtier Henry Wright, who she discovers is a spy! Mathilde’s loyalties are now divided – between this enigmatic, courageous man and her queen. And amid the turmoil, her falling for the unsuitable, illegitimate Henry means they’ve no choice but to hide their new love from the world…

From Harlequin Historical: Your escape to the past.

My Review:

Oh my, again, Jenni Fletcher has always fascinated me with her book. Fletcher has undoubtedly won my side for this totally unbelievable story despite the first Medieval book within my e-book shelf. Set in 1325 to 1331, I was introduced into the naïve innocent Queen’s lady, Mathilde Gosselin serving the Queen of England, Isabella whom at that moment resides in France court. Mathilda has just got her first duty and trust from Isabella to take a precious stunning ring and give it to a mysterious visitor that turns out to be first encounter with the hero, Henry Wright, who is accompanying his master (not until several pages through did I get the name of the hero TnT). Because of Mathilde’s big brown eyes and naivety, Henry is immediately drawn to her and can’t cease to tease innocent Mathilde however Mathilde is irritated by the amusement and she otherwise resents him (when I read that scene I didn’t realize I had been smiling haha).  Apparently that doesn’t stop Henry pursuing Mathilde and by the time the encounter is more frequent, he is so besotted with her.

As I read over and over, I didn’t expect to be immersed into the power politics and intrigue between the Queen and the King of England, thankfully the book is so well-written and well-explained that I was able to comprehend how and why that happens. Isabella has been treated badly by dictatorial King, she isn’t inclined to return unless her husband changes that it is highly unlikely thus she plans to invade, capture and replace the King with their son with the assistance of the mysterious visitor, Roger Mortimer, the rebel, who is clearly blood relative to Henry. The more I deeply read the more it got more complex and was full of secrets. There were too many secrets that I was also afraid if in reality they were secrets too.

As one of the traitors himself, Henry has warned Mathilde to back off from the treachery, he cares for her and is so protective of her yet Mathilde has made a promise to stay with the Queen until everything is over. To protect her, Henry instantaneously proposes to her when they are out in London to enjoy their day then they marry in secret. During their secret marriage while serving their masters, I was quite impatient and pitied the couple however, since the first encounter, the tender passion and overwhelming desire and trust mended my impatience.

Jenni is absolutely a brilliant writer, the fictional characters, the plan of treachery, the intrigue and politics are very well-written and explained that I immediately wonder whether it occurred in its history, despite having so many characters, every role within is so clear.

This book is romantically so thrilling, insightful then it grows rather emotional at the end but I couldn’t be more content with the happy ending that it even made me suspend my work for a day to only read this. The handsome pale-blue-eyes-made-me-swoon, Henry who is so overprotective and besotted with the stubborn innocent Mathilde whom is so attached to the selfish Queen are what I love the most. Further the cover perfectly grips my imagination of the Henry and Mathilde. Thank you, Jenni Fletcher, for this ARC.

Rate: 5 of 5

About the author

Jenni Fletcher was born in the north of Scotland and now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and two children. She wanted to be a writer as a child but became distracted by reading instead, finally getting past her first paragraph thirty years later. She’s had more jobs than she can remember but has finally found one she loves. She can be contacted on Twitter @jenniauthor, her Facebook author page or her page jennifletcher.com.