Jan's Reviews > Prince Of Secrets

3.5 to 4 stars. The final book in the Dilhorne Dynasty series. I enjoyed reading the rest of Cobie and Lady Dinah's story that was begun in The Dollar Prince's Wife. This book isn't really a standalone and should be read after that one. In fact IMO both books could have been combined into one, especially if the drawn-out last section of this book was edited to be briefer and more punchy. But, I guess the publisher's word limits of the Mills and Boon/Harlequin series this was part of, made that impossible.

As a whole, I really liked the series, although a couple of the books were weaker than others. Reading about Tom Dilhorne's (from the first book) children and grandchildren and the ins-and-outs of their lives in nineteenth century Australia, USA and England has been a very interesting journey. Not many series do that.

This book concluded the takedown of the horrid arch-enemy of Cobie, and saw the final sweet HEA for Cobie and Dinah. Lots of ends from the previous book were tied up and resolved. Interestingly, the court case section in this book was loosely based on real events, when the real Prince of Wales appeared as a witness in a court case about slander arising from a card game.

I liked the storyline of the book, and didn't even mind the touches of mystical elements/dream sequences (although IMO the book would have been better without them). Cobie had a very interesting background. It was a pity that readers only find out about it from retelling or the dream sequences, so it felt a little unreal. I did find the last section of the book, whilst eventful, dragged a little and could have been tightened up. I would also have loved an epilogue, to hear a little more about Cobie and Dinah's HEA in the years to come.

Overall this series is well worth reading, for those who like different and original ideas and characters in their historical romances. The writing is a little old-fashioned in style, but still carries the stories well.