Genre: Contemporary Romance; Royal
Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.
The Analysis:
This was a recommendation through a Booktuber that I follow (I think). The reviews for this book are extremely harsh on Goodreads. It kinda reminds me of Wanted: A Wife for the Sheikh in the sense that was another book, I enjoyed that was ripped apart. Although, for the sake of this review at least I could see the issues with the latter book. I thought this book was almost perfect. So, let’s book review it. But first, follow me on Goodreads.
Here’s the Blurb:
I read a book with an old cover. This update is better by far. The cover definitely reads sweet and swoony. I could totally see myself buying it just to have it on my shelf. The old cover was an object cover that didn't really speak to me.
Now The Story:
Book Info:
Pages: 192
Author: Debbie Macomber
Available: Google Play
The book is short just how I love them. Truthfully, I was caught off guard by this fact as she's known for writing huge thick books. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I picked this one up and checked the table of contents. It's also a clean romance. I'm growing up guys and finding more of those I actually like. The first, but hopefully not the last.
The Prince in this story is in want of a wife and financial insecurity for his country is what sends him to get it lol. A tried and true trope in royal romances, but nothing worth docking a point over. Luckily, his secretary knows of the perfect woman.
In the meantime, the Prince ends up in an auction in America for charity. An event that the mother of the heroine is looking forward to. She's a hopeless romantic and buys several tickets, hoping that luck is on her side or better yet her daughters. Her daughter, who is a coffee shop owner, does not attend this event. She has more realistic expectations, which is to mean none lol.
One comment reviewer: It's not realistic. No Prince would be in an American auction for charity or otherwise. Maybe not, but who cares. It's a romance novel, not the greatest literary work since the Bible. I found no need to pick apart the character's meeting.
Back to the story: However, while the heroine snoozes after a long day, her name/number is called because she's won. In the excitement, her mother faints and the daughter is called up to the hotel where this all takes place. She literally rolls out of bed with no forethought to how she looks. All she's worried about is her mother's health. However, she is told during that same call that her name was called.
There is this eye rolley, she's a down-to-earth girl, scene. She enters the hotel and runs into one of her mother's friends. The woman tries to stop her to run a comb through her hair. Like, girl, look, royalty is in there. She kinda responds like, it doesn't matter just my mother's health. The woman fainted, she wasn't diagnosed with cancer. It's okay to comb your hair. If it was something serious you'd be meeting her at the hospital, not the hotel. But I smirked and let this one slide. Yes, I get it, she doesn't care about the Prince's status.
Anyway, she gets in the room and the woman makes a quick recovery when it comes to discussing the date. The paramedics mention something about low blood sugar, but it's all forgotten. The Prince is handsome and the ultimate gentleman. He was genuinely concerned about the mother's health. Made sure the heroine knew that he was looking forward to the date and there were no hard feelings over how everything turned out. The chemistry and sparks were definitely there.
We then get the mother's point of view as she enlists the help of her friends to plan the perfect date for the Prince. I thought it was sweet that he was leaving it all in their hands and wasn't having some servant plan out the details. The mother's excitement was genuinely catching and cool to read.
One comment reviewer: They just went to a steakhouse. What Prince would enjoy that? Umm, anyone who's never been to a Steakhouse, maybe? Anyone that wouldn't mind feeling normal for a change. Or perhaps, the company was more interesting than the food. Again, why are we slaughtering this book in this manner?
Back to the Story: Their first date is a hit and the Prince is smitten with the woman, but as soon as they get in the car he's forced to tell the truth. It really doesn't matter how much fun he had because he can't see her again. It makes sense because of his status etc. She puts the magical day behind her and he goes off to fulfill more Princely duties. One that includes meeting the woman that the secretary has set up for him.
The woman reminds me of me in the sense that she was quiet and reserved. She really didn't get a chance to make a meaningful impact on the Prince. He found himself thinking about the date from the night before. The woman left alone to her own devices ends up meeting with the secretary again. They talk about the Prince, but she finds herself coming to the realization that she is much more relaxed with the secretary.
The Prince takes it upon himself to meet with the other woman again, on his own. He's honest with her that a relationship would be impossible. But he likes her too much to just walk away. So can they just have now. She reluctantly agrees but feels strongly for him as well. Since he's doing this in secret that means he takes on different disguises to beat the paparazzi and his handlers. Most of this she keeps secret from her mother.
Meanwhile, the secretary is growing closer to the woman the Prince is supposed to get betrothed to. Since he schedules everything for the Prince, he frequently deals with the woman and her parents. In these moments, he steals kisses that surprises them both. Yet, when on duty, he continues to push her towards the Prince.
The meetings/dates between the Prince and this second woman are growing increasingly distant. He's not interested at all. He's still very gentlemanly, but his mind is somewhere else. So is hers for that matter. And it's his status, combined with her complicated feelings, that make warming up to him nearly impossible for the second woman.
He's kind of in this place of princely resignation. His whole life has been one big fake. He's sure he can fake it until he believes it. But he has to stop seeing the first woman first. Several attempts are made, but they can't keep their lips off each other.
The secretary is fairing much worse, but better at the same time. At every turn, he is resisting the pull he feels for this woman. However, it's displaying itself in other negative ways. He clearly can't be around the girl or the Prince in any capacity. So, he ends up putting in his resignation.
The Prince is blindsided by this decision. He can't figure out why. They have a complex relationship that straddles the line of friend/employer. So for most of this conflict, he doesn't push when he should pull and vice versa. He's walking on eggshells, hoping that his friend eventually comes clean on his own time. This got a tad annoying.
So, the paper catches on to the faux chemistry between the Prince and the second woman. They splash their photo all over the paper with the news that she might be his marriage interest. The Prince sends the secretary out on a busy errand. Just so he can call the first woman and tell her not to freak out. But the conversation doesn't go as planned. The secretary ends up at the second woman's house, and she lays it all out on the line. I like you. I want you. But he's still all about duty and he turns her away. To accomplish this, he says some harsh things about feeling bad for leading her on etc.,
Meanwhile, the Prince's lady is not having it. She reads the newspaper article and she's feeling used and abused. The Prince eventually is able to turn that around and explain the why behind it all. Neither of them likes it. They both make a pack never to see each other after this day. However, they spend one more night in each other's arms. It's a bad idea because it leaves them feeling more crushed.
The second woman is the one that brings everything to an end. I love her morals in the sense she said, okay, I can't have the one I want, but I'm not gone just accept anything. She has one more meeting with the secretary and he turns her down again. She then has a meeting with the Prince and says I'm going to pass on this marriage proposal and all the dates. She's honest about being in love with someone else, and it is not fair to him. It's also kind of sweet that she wont reveal the name of the man she fell in love with. The Prince accepts but is surprised.
The secretary interrupts this meeting by accident. However, the tension between them is enough for the Prince to get the idea as to who the woman loves. He calls a private meeting with the Secretary acting all macho and cold towards the second woman. The secretary is scandalized. He's like, I wont let you hurt her. But the Prince rightfully calls him out on his mess. Like you forcing her on another man is hurting her. I'll figure something out don't leave a woman unloved.
This is all the prompting he needs to claim his woman. The American's then swoop in wanting to build a military base in his country and they're willing to spend lots of money to do it. It's the save his country needs. However, he doesn't feel comfortable going back to his lady because they promised to forget each other. That part was stupid. The secretary and his new wife is the one responsible for getting the Prince and his lady love back together. Everyone lives happily ever after.
I took off 1 point for any nagging small parts that weren't great, but good. Enjoyed this story immensely.
Story At A Glance:
Recommendation: 4 out of 5
Read Series Continuation: No
The Ratings:
Book Cover Appeal:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Story & Narration:
🍓🍓🍓🍓
Romance:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Character/(s) Personality:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
