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The Romanov Secret
A painting by a celebrated Australian artist holds clues to long-held family secrets and lives under threat long after the fall of the Russian Empire.
1898: When the legitimacy of Grand Duchess Tatiana Romonov’s marriage to the Tsar’s brother comes into question, her son’s claim to the Imperial throne is challenged too. But the Romanov dynasty desperately needs an heir, and their fate lies in the hands of the tyrannical Russian ruler. As the revolution strikes the streets of St Petersburg and members of the Imperial family disappear, Tatiana must find a way to protect her son from mortal danger.
1982: Fashion buyer Jean Campaign has never forgiven her artist mother Aurora for making her relinquish her child. When Jean inherits the Archibald prize-winner’s previously unknown self-portrait, she is compelled to interpret its hidden symbolism––and face the events that tore her family apart. A conflicting account of the circumstances reveals Aurora’s dark deception, spiralling Jean into a breakdown, and threatens an end to her dream of family unity.
1898: When the legitimacy of Grand Duchess Tatiana Romonov’s marriage to the Tsar’s brother comes into question, her son’s claim to the Imperial throne is challenged too. But the Romanov dynasty desperately needs an heir, and their fate lies in the hands of the tyrannical Russian ruler. As the revolution strikes the streets of St Petersburg and members of the Imperial family disappear, Tatiana must find a way to protect her son from mortal danger.
1982: Fashion buyer Jean Campaign has never forgiven her artist mother Aurora for making her relinquish her child. When Jean inherits the Archibald prize-winner’s previously unknown self-portrait, she is compelled to interpret its hidden symbolism––and face the events that tore her family apart. A conflicting account of the circumstances reveals Aurora’s dark deception, spiralling Jean into a breakdown, and threatens an end to her dream of family unity.
360 pages, Paperback
Published November 20, 2025
16 people want to read
About the author
Chrissie Bellbrae
2 books15 followersChrissie Bellbrae’s first stories were crafted playing families with dressmaking patterns at her mother’s feet as the sewing machine hummed in the background. While working in education, she undertook a Fiona McIntosh Masterclass and completed her first historical fiction manuscript. She hasn’t stopped writing since.
Tempted to explore the rabbit holes within her own family history— Chrissie’s narratives transport readers from past to present, and create more significantly interesting lives for her ancestors than they possibly ever lived.
After a lifetime in the city of Melbourne, Chrissie was lured to the beauty of salt water, and acknowledges she lives and writes on the coast of Wadawurrung Country.
The Florentine Quilt is her debut novel, inspired by a life-long interest in art, textiles and tales her grandmother told her.
Tempted to explore the rabbit holes within her own family history— Chrissie’s narratives transport readers from past to present, and create more significantly interesting lives for her ancestors than they possibly ever lived.
After a lifetime in the city of Melbourne, Chrissie was lured to the beauty of salt water, and acknowledges she lives and writes on the coast of Wadawurrung Country.
The Florentine Quilt is her debut novel, inspired by a life-long interest in art, textiles and tales her grandmother told her.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 27, 2025
The Romanov Secret is the brand new historical fiction novel from Aussie author Chrissie Bellbrae and it’s a dual timeline family saga full of secrets and intrigue.
I have always been fascinated by the Romanovs and so I was excited when I saw the title of this book. Set in 1898, Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanov secretly marries the Tsar’s brother, but following his death, no one recognises the marriage. To further complicate matters, the two of them had a son who should hold a claim to the Imperial throne. As Russia undergoes a revolution and members of the Imperial family disappear, Tatiana must protect her son’s life from those who would destroy him.
The second POV is set in 1982 where fashion buyer Jean Campain is battling misogynistic bosses and entitled society women as she seeks to make a living while also recovering from alcoholism. The memories of being forced to give up her child constantly play on her mind and hence she has never forgiven her mother for forcing her hand. When Jean inherits her mother’s Archibald winning self-portrait she is determined to interpret its hidden symbols and uncover her family’s long held secrets.
What a read! Often when I read books with dual timelines and POVs I prefer one over the other but in this book both Jean and Tatiana’s stories were equally compelling. I adored the Russian history and the amount of research that had gone into making it so vivid. I was filled with unease as Tatya had to overcome so many challenges and deflect mistreatment from men who wanted to take advantage. Her story was full of conflict, emotion and loyalty to family no matter the cost to herself. I also loved the romantic thread that underpinned her story.
Jean Campain was another character that I was cheering for. Her determination to succeed despite her horrible boss and her alcoholism was incredibly inspiring. I loved seeing her work in the department store and the interactions with customers too. I was also very intrigued by her past including her artist mother Aurora and the secrets she had kept buried.
Seeing how the two storylines connected was very satisfying and made for such a heartwarming experience.
The Romanov Secret is a must for fans of historical fiction especially if like me you are intrigued by the Romanovs story.
I have always been fascinated by the Romanovs and so I was excited when I saw the title of this book. Set in 1898, Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanov secretly marries the Tsar’s brother, but following his death, no one recognises the marriage. To further complicate matters, the two of them had a son who should hold a claim to the Imperial throne. As Russia undergoes a revolution and members of the Imperial family disappear, Tatiana must protect her son’s life from those who would destroy him.
The second POV is set in 1982 where fashion buyer Jean Campain is battling misogynistic bosses and entitled society women as she seeks to make a living while also recovering from alcoholism. The memories of being forced to give up her child constantly play on her mind and hence she has never forgiven her mother for forcing her hand. When Jean inherits her mother’s Archibald winning self-portrait she is determined to interpret its hidden symbols and uncover her family’s long held secrets.
What a read! Often when I read books with dual timelines and POVs I prefer one over the other but in this book both Jean and Tatiana’s stories were equally compelling. I adored the Russian history and the amount of research that had gone into making it so vivid. I was filled with unease as Tatya had to overcome so many challenges and deflect mistreatment from men who wanted to take advantage. Her story was full of conflict, emotion and loyalty to family no matter the cost to herself. I also loved the romantic thread that underpinned her story.
Jean Campain was another character that I was cheering for. Her determination to succeed despite her horrible boss and her alcoholism was incredibly inspiring. I loved seeing her work in the department store and the interactions with customers too. I was also very intrigued by her past including her artist mother Aurora and the secrets she had kept buried.
Seeing how the two storylines connected was very satisfying and made for such a heartwarming experience.
The Romanov Secret is a must for fans of historical fiction especially if like me you are intrigued by the Romanovs story.
December 7, 2025
How amazing is it to be able to celebrate a fabulous local author, wonderful woman and friend as she releases her second book 📕
This dual narrative and dual timeline historical fiction picks up the lives of two women. Jean, living in Melbourne in the ‘80’s and Tatiana, part of the Russian Royalty in the late 1800’s. The detail in every element of this book is proof on the page of the research that Chrissie has done. The beautifully descriptive writing brings this glorious story to life.
At its heart this is the story of the sacrifices a woman makes as a mother, at the lengths a mother will go to in order to protect her child. What surrounds this key theme is art, fashion, secrets, family and tragedy. I loved the references to Melbourne in the ‘80’s.
A wonderfully immersive read that may send you down a rabbit hole of historic research. And that for me is the sign of a great read, one that leaves you wanting to know more. 🐞
December 26, 2025
I really enjoyed the dual stories of this book, especially sharing the lives of the Russian aristocracy. However I also loved the local context of familiar places and business names. The dual focus of being a mother under difficult circumstances and the subsequent impact of choices made kept me reading. I did think the ending was a bit too convenient and came together too unbelievably neatly, however I read this on holidays so it was pick up/ put down and the ending didn’t spoil it for me. Well done Chrissie, a beautiful story!
December 8, 2025
The Romanov Secret is an imaginative, intriguing, romantic tale crafted from some of the most fascinating 'bones' of twentieth-century history. Chrissie Bellbrae has delivered another multi-timeline family-centric drama that is as impeccably researched as it is page-turning. The story is told from the point of view of two proud and independent female protagonists who, though separated by oceans and time, are connected by their love for their children.
Russia's Imperial Court before the turn of the 20th Century is where we first meet the young, desirable royal, Tatiana. Tatiana becomes involved in a clandestine love affair that results in the birth of a secret that, if revealed, could threaten the stability of the Romanov line to the throne. This secret wends its way to 1950s Australia, where we find impressionable young woman Jean and her coolly detached, Archibald Prize-winning mother, Aurora. Things happen, secrets are buried. And we meet Jean again in the 1980s, by now a successful fashion stylist. But Jean is lamenting her self-destructive lifestyle choices and grieving the loss of the family she shunned years before. As the two stories weave together, secrets are spilled, and the impacted families must decide whether they will let the past ruin or redeem them.
Russia's Imperial Court before the turn of the 20th Century is where we first meet the young, desirable royal, Tatiana. Tatiana becomes involved in a clandestine love affair that results in the birth of a secret that, if revealed, could threaten the stability of the Romanov line to the throne. This secret wends its way to 1950s Australia, where we find impressionable young woman Jean and her coolly detached, Archibald Prize-winning mother, Aurora. Things happen, secrets are buried. And we meet Jean again in the 1980s, by now a successful fashion stylist. But Jean is lamenting her self-destructive lifestyle choices and grieving the loss of the family she shunned years before. As the two stories weave together, secrets are spilled, and the impacted families must decide whether they will let the past ruin or redeem them.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews