The Ambassador's Wife by Kristina Stangl is an intense romance exploring the different facets of relationships. Combining romance and mystery, the author weaves an engrossing story.
Kate and Jennifer are twin sisters but both are poles apart. Kate is an introvert while Jennifer is an outgoing extrovert. Years later, Kate is an accomplished history professor, while Jennifer is married and now the wife of a US ambassador, John Barrett. The trouble starts when Jennifer goes missing and Kate has to step in and pose as the ambassador’s wife, in order to divert a scandal and save her sister. Now Kate is in an unknown world of which she knows nothing about. Unknowingly John starts falling for Kate. Will Kate stop herself and what will the fate of their relationship?
Right from the start, this book is an exploration of different relationships and personalities. Even as twins,both sisters have different personalities and different lives. The story hits another gear with the disappearance of Jennifer. Not only we experience the inner turmoil of Kate but also the challenge to keep an outward appearance. The book is also an commentary of the hypocrisy of high society, where people are expected to carry on with broken down relationships but societal expectations. The book adds several twists and turns at regular intervals keeping the readers guessing..
The book really shines in portraying the different relationships. The book explores how the love between John and Jennifer has fallen apart but also the changing relations between John and Kate. The detection of the changing dynamic between John and Kate as Kate pretends to be Jennifer is fascinating. As the lines between reality and a make believe relationship starts to blur, the chemistry between the two starts to takeover. The developing love and emotional bond between the two is heartwarming to read.
The characters are well-developed; especially Kate. The book establishes the vastly different characters of Jennifer and Kate, which plays into the story when Kate replaces Jennifer. Kate's struggles to replace Jennifer are also well narrated.
Overall, The Ambassador's Wife is an entertaining read with lots of romance and drama, taking the readers on an emotional rollercoaster. If you enjoy romance with a mystery, you will enjoy this book.