A Crown Prince gets a second chance at love with the woman who’s always been there – in the next book in the prince duology from Donna Alward! The Crown Prince of Marazur is suffering from a broken heart. After losing his wife and future queen, he knows he’ll never find love again with a partner as wonderful as her. He’s thrown himself into his duties and is trying to be a better father to his … father to his two children, but he’s lonely. Even though falling in love seems impossible, so does spending the rest of his life alone.
Stephani has been Raoul’s assistant for years. Smart, loyal, and discreet, Stephani is fantastic at her job. Except for the fact that she’s been in love with her boss since her first week of employment, not that she would ever act on it. Besides, Raoul is first in line to the throne and she’s his assistant. If Raoul ever marries again, it’ll be with someone who can be a future queen. Not someone like Stephani.
When Raoul’s date for a state dinner is unable to attend, he invites Stephani. She’s well-versed on the issues and castle protocol, and Raoul’s always been comfortable with her. But when Stephani arrives, Raoul hardly recognizes her. Is this stunning woman the same one who’s run his office for years?
The Crown Prince’s Bride is the ultimate fairy tale for readers looking for Cinderella to get her prince–and be able to keep him past midnight.
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This was a quick read, the 2nd in a duology (and I haven’t read the 1st) and a new author for me. I give it a 3.5 (rounded up), not because it’s a bad book or poorly written, but because there was nothing new here. Prince is a widower, heroine is his dead wife’s cousin, who happens to be his business assistant (and who has secretly loved him for years). It follows a formula with its twists and “surprises”. While not bad…been there, done that. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised that this was NOT a steamy, sex-fest type of book. So if you’re looking for lots and lots of , you won’t find it here. I enjoyed that it was more sweet and romantic, as Raoul was still working through his grief.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC for review.
Raoul is a Crown Prince and the future King. Raoul lost the love of his life to a tragic accident, leaving him rudderless and his children without their mother. Stephani is Raoul’s assistant and is the cousin to the Crown Prince’s deceased wife. Stephani also has a major crush on Raoul, but she knows there can be nothing between them, and she is resigned to that fact.
Following an accidental kiss between Raoul and Stephani, both realize they are attracted to each other, but there are implications to a relationship with the future king. I really enjoyed watching these two consider the implications of their actions in mature and direct communications.
This is an entertaining read with considerations for others while learning how to change the direction of their friendship (to lovers and HEA). I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more interaction with the Crown Prince’s children as it seemed they spent more time attempting to spend time alone than on that relationship. Perhaps, there’s an understanding the children already have appropriate relationships with the main characters?
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
Crown Prince Raoul Navarro has spent his life trying to be perfect. When his wife died and he was left with two young children, he locked his heart away and worked harder at being perfect.
Stephani Savalas came to Marazur to work as a personal assistant to her cousin’s husband. She is excellent at her job and plans everything to the last detail. The only thing she didn’t plan was falling for her boss. Working so closely with the handsome widower when she loved his wife almost as much as he did is difficult.
Our hero has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He is always in the public eye.
An emotional romance with characters that put everyone else before themselves. An enjoyable read.
Knowing and facing the truth are two of life’s hardest tasks. The third is facing fears, especially when it comes to love and loss. One woman changed the course of many lives, but can that one woman be instrumental in bringing two grieving hearts a new beginning? The mystic of a fairytale is that we always remember the beauty and forget the heartache. The Crown Prince’s Bride forces the facing of some painful truths in order to get to that great big rainbow at the end of the tunnel. Donna Alward brings her own brand of magic to an awesomely majestic romance.
The Crown Prince’s Bride by Donna Alward is reminiscent of a fairy story, unrequited love being reciprocated after a broken heart finds healing and a willingness to love again. Stephani, assistant to the Crown Prince and amazing at her job, has been in love with her boss for years but would never act on it. In fact she considers leaving her job andf the royal family to find someone who would love her for her. Raoul, the Crown Prince, lost his wife, Stephani’s cousin, and believes he will never find love again. Raoul finds himself at a crossroad between opening his heart to love again or remain the dutiful and lonely father to his children.
I loved reading this story. Ms. Alward is an excellent storyteller, keeping me interested in this story so that I had trouble putting it down. I highly recommend this outstanding book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
**I received a copy of The Crown Prince’s Bride from St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**
The Crown Prince’s Bride is the second book of Donna Alward’s Prince of Marazur series. I read this as a stand alone and was able to do so without any issues. My only wish was for a bit more heat and to not skip the romantic scenes however this was a solid 4 stars book.
Crown Prince Raoul is still grieving for his late wife and is concentrating on raising his two children. With his brother’s wedding soon approaching he relies on his secretary Stephani to plan everything. Little does he know that she has been in love with him since her cousin Cece (his late wife) fell in love with him. At his birthday party a kiss with Prince Raoul and Stephani will make them both realize that they could have more than a working relationship together.
Stephani Savalas loves her job as the executive assistant to the Crown Prince of Marazur but after seven years perhaps it’s time to move on. What she really wants is for Prince Raoul to notice her a woman because she’s been in love with him for a long time. Since the death of his wife, Cecilia, and the upcoming wedding of Diego and Rose her life is very hectic now. When Raoul asks her to visit the Rivera so that he can meet possible investors for his resort will he finally see Stephani as more than an employee? When Stephani has to sub as the maid of honor and when she finds out there could be a surprise in the future it will finally open Raoul’s eyes and be really to love again.
Are you ready to be swept away in a wholesome,
heartwarming sweet read?
You will sample part of the life that royals must live
through the eyes of Stephani, the assistant to the Crown
Prince of Marazur.
Description is deftly woven into the story making the reader
feel as if they are there with the vivid, colorful and well
defined characters.
Power packed with emotion, fear to love again, loss and
grieving, family issues, shenanigans, personal growth,
friendship and love,this fairytale story moves at a steady pace.
This is book # 2 in the Royal Duology series. It can be read
as a stand alone. It was the first one in the Duology that I
read and the past and present mixed effortlessly making it
easy to follow the royals and their activities.
A highly recommended read!!
I volunteered to read The Crown Prince’s Bride. Thanks to St
Martin’s Press via Net Gallery for the opportunity. My opinion
is my own.
3.5 Stars – Another enjoyable read from Donna Alward! This royal family has faced some hard times and it was nice to see Prince Raoul find his happy ever after.
This book picks up in parallel to the ending of the first book, The Playboy Prince and the Nanny, but can easily be read as a standalone. The plot is not new and the twists are not unique, but this love story between Prince Raoul and his assistant is an easy read that gets a little bit angsty but delivers a nice happy ever after.
I really enjoyed Stephani. She had a strength about her that I admired. She was committed to doing what was right for her – and was resolved to do so even if it meant leaving the job, country, and family she has come to love.
Raoul irked me at times. He has had a hard time with the loss of his wife, and, add on the pressures of knowing he would one day take over the throne, I could definitely see why he needed to be cautious with his choices. What irked me though is what he put Stephani through – for someone who always needed to be conscious of what impact his decisions may have it got me just a little mad how he ended up treating Stephani. Of course, he does come to his senses – this is a romance novel, so that was a given – but boy did I want to give him a good talking to a couple of times!
I enjoyed catching up with other characters from the first book, and Diego’s children were just as endearing in this one. Having met the other members of the royal family already and seeing the impact that Rose (from the first book) had made on the family made this an even easier read for me – I’m not a huge fan of royal romances but this family did make me smile and enjoy each page I turned.
Donna Alward has created a wonderful fairytale world in Marazur and this book was a nice read to escape in. She has crafted a well put together book that is an easy read.
A must read for those who are fans of royal romances or anyone looking for an easy read to escape in with a happy ever after.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Favorite Quotes:
My Russian and German are more of a danger than an asset. I could ruin diplomatic relations in two sentences.
…she was thirty-two, for heaven’s sake. The proverbial clock had started ticking and she couldn’t get it to shut up.
I need to do things at my own pace. On my own timeline. Everyone pushing doesn’t actually speed up the process.
My Review:
As one of the main characters was mired in the grieving process while the other was secretly pining nearby, this story was quite angsty yet observant and insightfully written. Stephani was a sweet, underappreciated, and thoughtful character and I adored her; although I wanted to give Raoul a few chops to the back of his head with my Kindle. I greatly enjoyed the amusing wry humor as well as the continuation of Diego and Rose’s story with their wedding and sister drama, what special day is complete without someone tossing in a monkey wrench?
The Crown Prince’s Bride by Donna Alward
Royal Duology #2
Crown Prince Raoul: recently widowed, father of two, afraid to love and be hurt again…
Stephani: Raoul’s assistant, first cousin to deceased wife of Raoul, has been “in love” with Raoul for years…
The story begins right where book one of this two part story ended with a kiss between Raoul and Stephani. The story has interactions, events and a few things happening but it left me wanting more even with the HEA that eventually transpired. I am on the fence, much as Raoul was during most of the book, on this story. It was so-so and okay but not all that…at least in my opinion. If you are looking for an old fashioned love story that is somewhat predictable with a fairytale ending this book might be for you…just don’t expect fireworks or many emotions from either main character.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars