The Truth About Myths by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Princess Isabel is the sister of the King of Portugal, they have been close throughout their lives while facing whatever came their families way, but the way they coped with all of that was complete opposites on the spectrum. The King became a lad about town, with a group of friends who were the scourge of the men folk on their area of the world, while Isabel went the way of modesty, fidelity and duty and tried to promote these values in her ladies in waiting as well. One day, she is summoned to see her brother where he tells her that he has received an invitation for Isabel to visit a relative in Spain for the summer and as much as she loved her cousin, she does not relish the idea of the company she keeps, so she politely declines, that is until her brother insists that it is more a diplomatic mission than a holiday and this is where duty wins out and Isabel reluctantly agrees.

Meanwhile, one of the Kings group of friends, Henrique, the Viscount of Panafiel, a scientist is about to embark on a journey to England to take a position at one of their top universities, but at the last minute, he is called upon to escort the Princess to Spain and watch over her and albeit he really does not want to go, he is won over by being the only one the King entrusts with the role, so he also reluctantly agrees. When the two meet at the carriages they are to travel in, the two realise that they have been misled by their nearest and dearest as to whom they will be accompanying and this just makes the journey even more unpredictable and in some ways uncomfortable for them both.

As the journey to Spain goes on, the two find themselves drawn to each other and opening up in ways they thought impossible and even though their personalities clash, they enjoy tormenting the other with sharp tongues and sharper wit, but as soon as they reach their hosts, thinks begin to heat up and each finds new experiences and challenges in the other. This however, was not to last when Prince Alfonso of Spain enters the picture and comes in between the two opinionated young aristocrats and this is where things become messy as it appears that the Princesses ideals and sense of duty are used in such a manner that anything which was blooming between her and her escort are threatened and Henrique will do anything to save his Princess and his country, but will he lose everything he is trying to save in the process? This is a historical fiction set in the Mediterranean where emotions run high and politics reign, in this royal romance where appearances can be deceiving and sifting the truth and the lies is almost impossible as you wonder who will triumph in the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews