Crowns & CourtshipsBook 6: Royals of Islas del Sargasso & AuverignonCrown Princess Esmerelda of Islas del Sargasso wants nothing to do with Prince Gabriel of Auverignon and his well-deserved reputation as a playboy prince.Unfortunately, she’s been secretly engaged to him since she was three.Her mother, Queen Carlotta, has decided it’s time for the two of them to get married – and Gabriel … of them to get married – and Gabriel is all too keen to make it happen. But she saw what this kind of arrangement did to her own mother, and Esme wants nothing to do with it.
For his part, Gabriel has been in love with Esme since he was a teenager and deeply regrets his years of wild oat sowing – even if some of them did serve a greater purpose.
One he can’t tell Esme about, not yet.
He knows, far better than she does, that their fledgling relationship is going to be tested to the hilt as life’s body blows rain down. All he can do is be steadfast in his commitment to her, to their marriage, and to helping her become the queen he knows she can be.
He’s always been the spare.
She was born the heir.
Together, they can form a new dynasty where even arranged marriages can turn into something beautiful.
Crowns & Courtships Novellas are companions to the main Crowns & Courtships series. It is not necessary to have read the novellas to enjoy the main series, but they add details and depth to some of the secondary and minor characters. The chronological order is below. The first novellas can be read in any order, but are listed chronologically below.
Love for the Ages (novella 3)
A Kaerasti for Clari (novella 2, currently available in the Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection)
Dare You (novella 1)
Heart of a Prince
The Inadvertent Princess
A Royally Beautiful Mess
The Indentured Queen
Her Undercover Prince
The Spare and the Heir
more
I have read every book Carol Moncado has written. And in each one, I’m amazed at the way she ties each of the stories together, even if only in a small way. It makes it fun because you get to see characters popping in unexpectedly.
I was touched by Gabe’s feelings of worthlessness. As “the spare”, he was only important to his country if his brother died with no heir. As the second son, he felt as if he was expendable to his family as well, though that was more just the way his parents were (and his grandparents!) It didn’t help matters that his engagement was arranged and the only reason he got to marry the heir, Esme, was a treaty that required it.
Esme felt trapped into a marriage with Gabe. Because of his reputation, she really wanted nothing to do with him. Despite his claim that he had changed, she had a hard time trusting him. Yet he showed such kindness and care towards her that she began to hope.
As with the other stories in the Crowns and Courtships stories, this one had many tidbits scattered throughout about protocol in royal families that were interesting. I liked Gabe and Esme and wanted things to work out between them.
While the story was good, it did seem to drag a little in places. It might be for the same reason I’m not a huge fan of Downton Abbey, so I’m sure this is just my preference and not the book itself. While there was some mystery and drama, I would have liked a little more throughout instead of it mostly occurring towards the end. Also, I wasn’t entirely convinced that Gabe would have adopted the lifestyle he did for the reasons he did. Perhaps, but it seemed a bit overkill to me.
If you are a fan of books about royalty and enjoy serial dramas, you will likely greatly enjoy this series.
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I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Yet another hit by Carol Moncado! The Spare and the Heir is the 6th book in the Crowns and Courtships series. This book happens soon after Her Undercover Prince. But this time we get new characters! The Spare and the Heir is about Esmerelda and Gabriel, they were both in the book before but you don’t know much about them. I was really excited to read this book especially after reading a little about them in Her Undercover Prince
Esmerelda and Gabriel have been engaged for as long as they can remember. Except they don’t really know each other, all they know is what they read about in the tabloids. If only the tabloids didn’t have so much to say about Gabriel. If only Emerelda didn’t have to marry the playboy prince. But when the queen orders you to marry, you do as you are told and so that is what Esmerelda and Gabriel do. How are they going to make a marriage work if they don’t trust each other? Will Esmerelda ever be able to let go of the past and will Gabriel ever be able to gain back the trust of his wife.
Esmerelda was a strong woman who has been raised to become queen. She loves her mother, but her father just makes her sad. The one marriage that should have been an example to her, instead of just a source of pain and sadness. Her parents’ marriage was really just a marriage in name. She marries Gabriel because she has to, but that doesn’t mean that she will let him in. However, as she gets to know Gabriel she wonders if she ever really knew him. He is not the man that she thought he was, instead he is kind and considerate. Instead of finding out that she is married to a playboy, she finds herself married to a man who vows to be loyal to her.
I felt really bad for Esmerelda, she wanted to be a good princess. She wanted to make her mother proud, but she really didn’t want to marry Gabriel. She closed herself off from Gabriel because of the man she thought he was, but as she got to know him she found a kind godly man. God has a way of changing your plans and as Esme starts to hang out with Gabriel she sees the gift of a husband that God has given her. He is her rock when life gets hard and he believes in her.
Gabriel did not really have a good childhood. His parents treated him as the spare, he knew his place. But he knew that he also had a future with Esme, he fell in love with her when he was young. However, life threw some curves at him and he ended up leading a life that he was not proud of. He is trying to do his best to prove to Esme that he is a different man, but it is so hard for someone to change everything that they thought they knew about you.
I liked Gabriel from the beginning. I could tell that he really cared for Esme, and I wanted to cheer when she finally started to trust him. He was really sweet and he wanted to be the best husband he could for Esme. He knew that he would have to work extra hard, but he was going to do his best to get his wife to trust him and to prove to her that he was loyal to her and her alone. He wanted her to know that she was loved.
This was a great book. It was really cool how Esme and Gabriel had to learn to look past their ideas of what it meant to be the heir and the spare. Each title had a weight and a heaviness that they didn’t want their children to ever have to deal with. They had to deal with their pasts but they learned to trust each other and find comfort in the partner that God had given them.
I would definitely recommend this book, it was so sweet and I loved reading about Esme and Gabe!
This was my favorite book since the first three. I received an ARC but also always buy a copy. I liked how Esme pointed out that neither was more important than the other as they are both children of God. It was nice to see King Edward again and his kindness to both Esme and Gabe. There are a few other high points I would mention, but I don’t want to ramble or give any spoilers away. I am eagerly looking forward to Carol’s next book.
I love this author and how her books are ‘related’!!! I read t aar o if her books in three days while on break!
Carol’s books never fail to draw me in hook, line, and sinker!! The characters were great and their story was one I am so glad to have read! I can never pick a favorite character in her books because they are all just too good… and this book was no different! I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my review… but the words and thoughts are totally my own
Carol Moncado has done it again and brought us into the world of royals!
I can’t imagine being told I was going to marry someone when I’m only three years old.
That could be really weird and difficult.
Would the guy like me, would I like him, would we get to see each other and develop a relationship?
All these questions might be floating around for years. I’m not sure I’d be okay with it. The trust needed would have to be very strong!
To farther complicate these feelings, there are the royal family positions of an heir and the position of the extra one. The “just in case” one. (The Spare) These feelings on their own can be overwhelming but added to a very public marriage, it makes things much harder.
In this story, the author, Carol Moncado, has presented these situations and a few other painful issues to make an endearing story of a deep longing for acceptance and love.
I couldn’t put this book down. There were parts so sweet and parts I cried over. It kept me engaged the whole way through.
Once again I just need to say, If you LOVE reading stories regarding royalty and all that life can bring, then you really need to pick this book up and read it!
You won’t be disappointed.
I received this book from the author and all opinions are my own.
Princess Esmeralda and Prince Gabriel have been betrothed since they were children. This is their story.
Carol Moncado throws a wrench in the works that may destroy their new found love after their marriage.
I loved the storyline and the wonderful characters.
This was a beautiful book and recommended for those who love Christian romance about royals.
In Ms. Moncado’s latest release, Princess Esme and Prince Gabriel are engaged and are getting married with a short engagement. They have had an arranged marriage contract since Esme was three. Readers met both characters in previous books in this series. In those books, it was obvious that there was a little chemistry going on even though they seemed to dislike each other. Gabriel’s reputation is of a playboy and Esme doesn’t trust him at all. They are thrown together in a whirlwind marriage and you will have to read to discover what becomes of their relationship. Will they forgive each other of past mistakes? Will they be determined to work together in a way that benefits the country? If you have read the previous Crowns and Courtship books, you will get a few updates of previous characters. This is a romantic book, but also provides the reader with some important lessons as well. If you are looking for a cozy romantic story to read, this book is for you! I highly recommend this book and Ms. Moncado’s other books! You will not be disappointed!
Another amazing book by Mrs. Carol, this one is another that deals with things that we go through everyday. It shows very relatable characters, some twists that I didn’t expect and made me really think how I would handle things if I was put into those situation. Great book and I would highly recommend reading it.
Esme has been “engaged” to Gabe since she was 3 years old. Due to his reputation, she wants nothing to do with him, but her mother tells her it’s time to marry. A lot of mistrust on her part, plus her family life as well as his own feelings about being the spare make for an engaging story with a few surprise plot twists that keep you turning the pages. Love this whole series and this one is a great addition to it.
Once again Carol Moncado has managed to write an appealing adult fairy-tale style book – not using the characters of my childhood, but an imaginary modern day kingdom complete with Prince and Princess. Prince Gabriel and Crown-Princess Esmeralda take you along on their journey to becoming a couple who can lean on and trust each other.
A sweet story of duty and love. They knew they would be married since they were 3 and 6 but their choices since then have hurt each other. It is such a pleasure to watch trust and forgiveness grow and their love bloom as they face the difficulries of being the Heir and the Spare.
I can’t even…
Time after time Ms. Moncado delivers exceptional books. This book had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. Esmeralda and Gabe might be my new favorite couple in her series. I loved the interaction between them. I loved how King Edward was so fatherly to the characters.
One of my favorites to date!
This was a really sweet story. I didn’t want it to end, but I kept going back to it, even though my life is dreadfully busy.
The author gives you a story that feels royal, even though the countries are not real, the issues that a royal might face totally feel real! I love how the romance builds, but also the real issues that a couple would face in this kind of situation without giving anything away! Read it!
Once again another great book. More twists and turns this time which is always fun. You won’t want to put it down!
I’ve read ALL of Carol Moncado’s books- THIS is one of my favorites. Such a great story. Kept my attention, wanted to finish so I could learn what happened but so DIDN’T want to because then it would be over. No hesitation with this one- READ IT!
Carol Moncado has added another riveting book to her Crowns and Courtships books. I basically read the book in one sitting (with a few short breaks) because I couldn’t put it down.
Moncado has some good insights: the contrast between owning and repenting of your mistakes versus blaming others for the results of those mistakes; how to practically show love to your spouse; how people CAN change from the way they lived years before; and how important it is to find our identity in Christ, not in how others view us.
As usual, there are plenty of plot twists (one reason it’s hard to put the book down!), and as usual, I can’t wait for the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Carol Moncado captured my interest with her very first book and here I remain. I absolutely love her royalty stories. This one is really good, as is the others. Princess Esme is bound by law to marry Prince Gabriel, since she was 3 and he was 6. She is all grown up now, Crown Princess, but she doesn’t want to marry him at all. But there is no loop hole to allow her an out. So marry him she must. Prince Gabriel, on the other hand, has always wanted to marry Esme. A handsome and noble hero, a reluctant heroine, with some intrigue thrown in and you have a wonderful read. I finished in one day!! Recommended.
*My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. My opinion here stated is entirely my own.