Lady Amelia's Secret Lover
by Victoria Alexander
Avon has released Lady Amelia's Secret Love only as an e-book, utilizing a unique concept which implants videos of the author in various places throughout the story. It tells the story of Lady Amelia and Sir Robert Bannister whose six year marriage is in trouble.
Both Amelia and Robert were very much in love when they married and thought that love would last forever. Now, the only things they talk about are various family matters and their lovemaking has lost its sparkle. Amelia decides that something must be done and announces to her inattentive husband that she plans to take a lover.
Robert discusses things with his twin brother, Harry, and decides that he will play along with Amelia until he can come up with a plan to win back his wife's affections. Then Amelia calls Harry in and tells him that he is going to play the part of her anonymous lover. With Amelia using blackmail to ensure his cooperation, Harry finds himself the confidant of both husband and wife.
Robert ends up trying to win back Amelia's affections with a very convoluted plan that includes masquerading as Harry. What he doesn't know is that Amelia has always been able to tell the difference between the two brothers. With all of the scheming going on, it's amazing that they are able to accomplish anything.
Robert and Amelia are forced to consider the choices each made that led them to their current complacency, making them realize that marriage is much harder work than either of them would have believed. But this episode also causes them to consider how much their marriage means to them and resolve to make it work.
While both the hero and heroine were good characters, I found the majority of my sympathy residing with Harry. He knows all the thoughts of both but can confide in neither, while his life takes a turn that he never considered. The story was both amusing and thought provoking. Ms. Alexander stresses that life is what we make of it and that marriage requires work.
The e-book format may not be popular with all but this was an intriguing experiment which I enjoyed. The video clips were short and didn't disrupt my reading of the story. If you're interested in trying something different, give Lady Amelia's Secret Love a try.
“Lady Amelia is determined to win back the attention of her husband in this e-book only release.”
November 2007, 148 pages
Publisher: Avon
Lady Amelia's Secret Lover is a historical romance novel with a decidedly modern bent: Lady Amelia Hathaway's marriage has gotten stale over the past six years, so she decides to take a lover. She makes no secret of her intent - but what her husband doesn't know is that Amelia's real scheme is to win him back. Will the plan work well enough to earn Amelia the passion she deserves from her husband? Or will it backfire drastically, sending him into the arms of a flesh-and-blood lover of his own?
As you read this e-book, author Victoria Alexander will pop up onscreen at various points in the novel to talk candidly about the plot's turning points and her vivid characters. This multimedia experience will draw you into the novel with words and insights directly from the famed romance author!