The Secret Wife of King George IV

If you love a good love story with star-crossed lovers, this one’s for you. Never allowed to be together in the public eye, these lovers must be secret until death parts them. How they meet, her influence on him, his gifts to her, are the secrets of a woman’s heart.

Once again, Diane Haeger has written a wonderful novel that combines the best of history and romance and draws the readers back to Georgian and Regency England. Her insights into the personal relationships of the Prince Regent and his secret wife Maria Fitzherbert bring a fresh approach and vision of the time period and the people. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first book I read by Diane Haeger -- Courtesan. I recommend it highly!

This book is a wonderful throw-back to the well-researched and impeccably written historicals by Irving Stone. I was "there" in England, thanks to Ms. Haeger! The story of Maria Fitzherbert is a sad yet true look at British aristocracy and the limitations and heartbreak they impose upon themselves, even to current day. So much of this story reminds one of what happened with Princess Diana and Prince Charles. I loved every page.

The book is historical fiction, historical ROMANCE to be exact, and I was not the least bit disappointed. You shared Maria's mixed emotions when George first tried to get to know her, and quickly fell in love with George when he truly gave his heart completely to her. This book is very well written, and has enough detail to make you feel part of this period of time without confusing you with too many details. I thought all the characters were completely believable, and some reminded you of people you know. It makes me very curious to find out just want was fact and what was fiction. But I don't want to spoil the illusion. This was a wonderful love story, definitely a 5 hankie!

This was one of the best books I've read lately. I couldn't put it down. The story was so heart wrenching to me that I cried for about an hour after I was done reading it. To know that this story is based on actuality made it even a better read. I definitely recommend it to other fans of historical fiction.

In 1784 London, the Prince of Wales is attracted to the newly arrived widow, Maria Fitzherbert. Though he declares his undying love for Maria, she refuses to believe the notorious philanderer. Additionally, Maria knows that as a Catholic, she is unacceptable by the Anglican Church as a wife of the next king.George vows his love and secretly marries Maria. However, duty to the sate comes first for the regent and he openly weds Princess Caroline. Though Maria remains his only love, George worries he might lose her due to her unhappiness over hiding their relationship, which the Catholic Church would recognize as the binding one.THE SECRET WIFE OF KING GEORGE IV is an excellent historical fiction that provides an in depth account of the loving but clandestine relationship between Maria and George IV. The story line is filled with intrigue and real personage that make the late eighteenth century seem vividly alive, a feat few writers can do well. George,s conflict between love of country and love for a woman is well written and turns the Regent into a flesh and blood person, not the caricature typically seen in his cameo appearances in Regency novels. With her wealth of detail cleverly interwoven into a fabulous plot, Diane Haeger has written a triumphant tale that will provide much delight to fans of historical fiction and Regency romance.Harriet Klausner