Despite the fact that she’s looking forward to spending Christmas in Aidinovia, Graciela Mendoza Hernandez knows that this will be the last holiday she spends with Prince Alejandro of Santa Rosa. Alejandro is everything she loves in a man, he’s handsome, charming, smart, funny and loyal. He’s also unattainable. So Graciela decides to give herself the Christmas gift of a new life, one without … Alejandro at the center of it.
As the Crown Prince of Santa Rosa, Alejandro is a man used to getting what he wants. And what he wants now is to understand why his longtime friend and confidant, Graciela, is suddenly acting so distant with him. The very thought of her moving away makes his heart ache. He knows he has to do something, or the unthinkable will happen and he’ll lose Graciela forever.
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A sweet short story
Friendship is no longer enough for Graciela. She wants more. But Alejandro’s happy with the way things are going; he as her boss and friend. He takes her for granted, really. Doesn’t really appreciate her, until… she becomes distant. She needs to protect her heart. Dual POV so we get both sides of the story, and I am a fan of that!
I liked it! It was pleasant, nice, and really cute. A pleasurable short story! I just didn’t LOVE it. The problem was: I couldn’t totally see it. I couldn’t 100% see why she’d like Alejandro, because all he did was be grumpy. And I couldn’t 100% see why he liked Graciela, because all she did was be distant. Maybe this story was a little too short for the characters to develop fully and be really liked by me. It was a little too quick to feel completely invested in the characters and the outcome. But I knew it was a short story, so that’s to be expected. And it WAS sweet! And I DID enjoy it!
When all you need to do is open your heart and share what is in it, seems like that is not so hard?
These two are having more difficulty doing just that.
Only brave hearts can win fair maidens – or a handsome and stubborn crown prince .
Sweet romance about facing your fears and hanging onto love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A sweet shorty royal holiday story. The story is well written, enjoyable and flows smoothly and the characters have great chemistry together. Graciela loves Prince Alejandro but doesn’t think he feels the same with her. When she decides to move away, will he realize he doesn’t want to lose her. Will they get their HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a super cute, clean, short read. The characters have so much history that it doesn’t seem rushed. The characters were likeable and the story was well written. This was great for what it is. A holiday short story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Graciela Mendoza Hernandez boarded the private jet to join the Crown Prince of Santa Rosa, His Royal Highness Prince Alejandro Antonio Javier, before they left to spend the week before Christmas in Aidinovia, after he had left her a long list of administrative tasks to complete before leaving! She had loved Alejandro for more than a decade, but he had no awareness of that fact. Graciela was getting tired of living in such close proximity to something she could never have. Prince Alejandro commented on his brother’s “love at first sight” for Madison. He thought that concept was preposterous and asked if Graciela agreed. She didn’t, and his comment made her laugh. They had always had a wonderful friendship and he made her laugh, but it wasn’t enough anymore.
Prince Alejandro noticed how Graciela did everything she could to avoid talking to him. He tried to ask if he had offended her or said something wrong. Finally he said he knew what the problem was. They had such a wonderful relationship and he had not told her enough how invaluable she was to him. So when they returned, he would give her a raise! She snatched up a magazine and held it before her face, not at all what he expected! He pulled the magazine away and again asked what was wrong! So she told him she needed change in her personal life. This was not what he wanted to hear since major changes to her life meant major changes to his life and he liked the dynamic between the two of them just the way it was.
Graciela was grateful that Princess Helena and Princess Madison came to meet them so she would not have to talk to Prince Alejandro. A raise? Was he that obtuse? At least she now knew how blind he really was to her feelings. It would help her make a decision. At the Aidinovian palace, 8-year-old Princess Josephine, the youngest Tollvi sibling, hugged Graciela as she exited the limo. The two of them happily went up to her suite to order hot chocolate and a cookie. Asking what each other wanted for Christmas, Josephine excitedly said that perhaps Alejandro would give her a shiny engagement ring for Christmas! No, that would never happen. She would build a life for herself with family, friends, children, and work she enjoyed — everything she loved, except Alejandro.
Alejandro went skiing without Graciela, who said she had made other plans. He stopped skiing, finding it wasn’t as fun without her. She was by the fireplace, looking beautiful and elegant, and then he noticed a blond American was with her, his attention focused solely on Graciela. Alejandro approached but Graciela did not introduce him until he cleared his throat and said her name. She introduced Robert Ashton who owned a vineyard in California. Assuming this was work-related then, Alejandro said he would join them – but they excused themselves to take Josephine sledding instead. What was happening? What would he do when Graciela left for California and her new job? Would he let her walk away, thinking it was best for her? Or would losing her awaken him to the reality that he truly was in love with her?
This was a wonderful story, right out of a fairy tale! Alejandro was blind to what love was. He was content to live life as he always had, never realizing the effect on the woman he thought would be with him forever. Is it too late now to get her back? Grab your copy and get caught up in this wonderful book! You’ll love the characters and the story line is outstanding and well written.
This was such a short book, but it was great. I loved the way the author wrote it. I hope to read more books like this one in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a great, quick, holiday romance book. I totally believed in the main characters (Alejandro & Graciella). They had depth, emotion, history, and descriptions enabled reader to picture then, and their surroundings. The secondaries were not as vividly described (obviously) but played a significant role.
Graciella was Alejandro’s PA and they had been friends for YEARS. Unfortunately for Graciella, thst was all she was to Alejandro., as she had loved him for many years. Realizing he did not, could not, return her feelings, she decides to leave his side for a different job – without notice.
Alejandro does not understand love. Period. When he realizes Graciella is pulling away from him, his fear of loosing her overides all else. With help from family, he comes to see his own truths, but what are those?
This wonderfully written holiday book has angst, love, heartbreak and of course family. Read to discover Alejandro’s feelings toward Graciella, and the effects her decision has on her.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest, unbias review.