Aw, Raoul and Stephani were so great. I wanted to slap him a couple of times for his short-sightedness, but he came around. She was strong and stood up for herself, which I enjoyed in a main character.

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.

I’ve just finished another great book, The Crown Prince’s Bride by Donna Alwood! It’s a contemporary, Royal romance but has grief attached to the story as well. The Crown Prince’s Bride is actually the second book in a duology. I didn’t realise this to begin with (I really wish NetGalley would tell us what number in a series/duology each book is) but meh, I still enjoyed the book for what it was. However, I don’t believe the novel was finished, and it’s labelled as a duology on Goodreads, so it’s sad that we won’t get to see these characters again. There could be another novel with these characters, I believe.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this. I enjoyed it!

The Crown Prince’s Bride focuses on the relationship between Stephani, a part Greek woman, who is the advisor to The Crown Prince Of Marazur, France. Right at the beginning of the novel, we know that Stephani has more than feelings for Prince Raoul. The novel is about Steph and Raoul coming together and exploring a relationship that neither one of them thought would be possible.

The side characters don’t play a huge part in The Crown Prince’s Bride. They’re there, obviously but the main characters held and moved the plot. That might have been because I didn’t read book 1 as I think a good part of this novel was based off of that. I still enjoyed this book, though!

The main setting is The Royal premise in Marazur. We see most of the story play out here, although there are scenes that go to other further away places. For example, Raoul takes Stephani on holiday so she can relax and he can take care of her.

NOTE: there’s some adult content but not too much. I’d say a mature 16 year old could read this.

Spoilers Below...

Raoul was married previously to Stephani’s cousin, Ceci. She died in a car accident, however. Stephani had loved Raoul from before this, but she didn’t want to wreck his relationship with Ceci. When Steph and Raoul kiss, this is his reaction.

“For the first time since Ceci’s death, he was glad he hadn’t died with her”

It portrays just how much he loves Ceci and how much she meant to him, but that he’s also open to moving on, down the line.

“She had welcomed the contact. Wholeheartedly. What the hell did this mean?”

This is Stephani’s reaction to the first kiss. Just the one word sentence, “Wholeheartedly.” shows her shock and confusion, as well as the question she asks herself afterwards. It’s clear to us, the reader that Steph desperately loves Raoul from the beginning of the novel. This, of course also puts a little bit of a forbidden romance twist on the story as well, because Stephani is Prince Raoul’s advisor, so she’s not meant to fall in love with him. I enjoyed this forbidden romance element.

“It had stung that she was actually that forgettable, but despite the disappointment, she figured it was for the best”

The story goes back and forward over the will they/won’t they premise. I didn’t mind this so much for this book because it was so short. However, for a longer book, cough cough, The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, that back and forth really doesn’t work for me.

As I said above grief is a huge part of this novel and getting over it. Raoul is grieving for his first wife for the majority of The Crown Prince’s Bride. Stephani knows this, and doesn’t mind that he thinks of Ceci, often.

“All the pain and grief...it was still worth it” is what Raoul says to Stephani when he tells her that he does love her and wants her forever.

There’s another slight twist to this novel. Something that makes the main characters actually gravitate towards each other. I don’t want to spoil it, though...

What did I like about The Crown Prince’s Bride?

I liked how a lot of the plot was focused on the romance.

I liked that the romance was forbidden as “forbidden romance” is a buzz phrase for me.

I liked how the plot wasn’t easy for the main characters, and that they faced challenges as anyone would in real life.

What didn’t I like about The Crown Prince’s Bride?

I don’t like that the duology has finished. There could have been another novel with these characters from the way this book finished, I think.

I didn’t like that we didn’t get much sexy time. I thought this was an adult novel but it kind of read like a YA one.

I enjoyed The Crown Prince’s Bride but I wish it had been slightly longer because the story didn’t feel completed. That’s why I’m giving it 4 Stars!

The Crown Prince comes out of his darkness of losing his wife in a car accident. His assistant has loved him from afar. How they have a fairy tale end is told through an emotional story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher.

While a bit predictable, I still found it enjoyable. My loyalty was with Stephanie as she battled her feelings for Raoul and what she willing to put up with. There were times I wanted to shake him for what he was putting her through. Luckily he came to his senses before it was too late. Perfect light reading for a lazy afternoon.
3.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book I received via NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.

An emotional yet light read. With friendship and loyalty discerned and developed into a graceful Love.

An enjoyable story from start to finish.

The Crown Prince's Bride is a bittersweet, moving and emotionally penned storytelling of a Crowned Prince who lost his true love, only to find it again in the most conflicting of circumstances.

Crowned Prince Raoul lost his wife in an accident, leaving him grieving but still must carry on his duties. Stephani is Raoul’s deceased wife’s cousin and Raoul’s assistant. There is an attraction there but Raoul is extremely conflicted about Stephani.

The Crown Prince, Raoul, starts to explore his feelings for Stephani only to discover that the woman that had helped him through his loss might be the answer to making him whole again. Emotions, mixed feelings and insecurities might just destroy any chance that their relationship can work.

The Crown Prince's Bride is truly a bitter-sweet story. Sometimes, being the survivor is the hardest place to be, adding a royal title just increases the complications, including public opinion. Understanding that, I found Raoul’s indecisiveness and decision making disconcerting.

The Crown Prince's Bride is a strong and entertaining royalty romance.

I received the ARC copy of The Crown Prince's Bride from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Crown Prince's Bride is set for publication Jan. 9, 2018.

My Rating: 3.5 stars
Written by: Donna Alward
Print Length: 169 pages
Publisher: Swerve
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
Sold by: Macmillan
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crown-Princes-...
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...

Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
5 likes

Tedious. This book was just tedious to read. But not being one to give up on a book I plodded on and read the entire thing. This is a pretty standard romance and that part didn't bother me. It was the characters, their lack of chemistry and lots of repetition in the story that made it a difficult and drawn out read for me.

This is book two in the series and it doesn't really make a difference if you've read the first book or not. I haven't and I didn't feel lost as this story pretty much stands on its own. The two characters in this book have known each other for a long time and consider each other family even though that's a stretch seeing as the female lead is a cousin of male lead's deceased wife. This is a main part of the story and it is repeated over and over that she is like family and he is like family and the enter family is like family. Yeah, it's that repetitive. Reading these parts I felt like I was watching a car that was stuck and spinning its tires but going nowhere. This was my first book by this author and I didn't enjoy her writing style. Her writing lacked a smoothness and was just too choppy for me. At times I wondered if I had missed a page or if something was missing in the formatting of the edition I read. Even the romantic scenes fell flat and were lacking.

As far as the characters go I couldn't really relate to them and didn't have that reader/character bond I enjoy when reading. Stephani is ok at best but I soon got over her secret love of Raoul. I've seen this storyline written much better in other books. Raoul seemed weak to me. I tried to like him but I just couldn't. Two secondary characters, Diego and Rose, seemed more interesting than the two main characters. And is it wrong to like Marco, Raouls' driver, more than any of the other characters?

I'm not sure if I would pick up another book by this author. While this book was not the worst I've ever read it lacked both the romance element I was looking for and substance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

I really wanted to like this book,I really did. the premise sounded interesting, there are some Spanish references and "on paper", the elements are there. What is not there, is great chemistry between the main characters.Just like the zero chemistry between them, my interest fizzled.

The Crown Prince's Bride is the second book in the Royal Duology series. Sometimes what you need is right before you, even if you don't see it. Raoul lost the love of his life, and he feels he will never find another to mean that much to him. Stefani is Raoul's assistant, and she admires him from a distance. When Raoul needs a date, he invites Stefani. A chance kiss changes the fate for these two. Will they each find what they are looking for? A great story to keep you interested.

Raoul is the Crown Prince of Marazur. He's recovering from the loss of his wife. He's afraid to love again. Stephani Savalas is his assistant. She's loved him from afar for the last seven years. The problem is Ceci was her cousin. Do these two have a future together? Raoul hides his pain by throwing himself into his work. I felt sorry for the pressure he placed on himself. I wanted him to relax and let love in. Stephani understands Raoul and his burden. I loved how their relationship is base on affection and mutual respect. Stephanie is a loving woman who wants what's best for her Prince. I was impressed by her sacrifice. Donna Alward's writing made me care for these characters. I wanted the best for them. This story is a sweet romance that has an unexpected twist. I couldn't stop reading The Crown Prince's Bride. This book made me feel happy.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

The Crown Prince’s Royal Bride by Donna Alward is the second in her Royal Duology series. If you are a fan of second chance romance, friends to lovers, common girl gets the prince, love from afar, or royal love, this book will push all your happy buttons. Alward takes several well-known tropes and pulls them together in new and interesting ways, while still maintaining a lighthearted effortless storyline. Alward’s characters are well-developed with real struggles, even if they are royalty. If you need something to keep you occupied between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle news, this is a perfect choice.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

The Crown Prince’s Bride is a sweet, romantic novel of hope, trust and faith.

Stephani has always been a loyal employee and assistant to her boss, the Crown Prince Raoul. She was even more loyal to her cousin, his wife but inside she held a huge secret. She secretly loved Raoul! She loved his passion, his kindness, his respect and compassion. She never acted on these feelings not even after her cousin passed away and left Raoul heartbroken. Inside she knows they would be perfect for each other but she is conflicted about these feelings. Were they wrong? Would they hurt others?

Raoul is very much suffering from the loss of his wife. She was the love of his life and the Mother of his children. He misses her touch, voice and the quiet moments she shared. Since her death he has never looked at another woman and has never glanced at Stephani in any kind of romantic manner. When he begins to feel this attraction to her, it scares him naturally. He is worried about dishonouring his deceased wife, what others would think and even what Stephani would think.

Together they must decide on whether they want to pursue a chance of happiness again or to put aside their feelings for others. It is difficult to build up trust and faith in a person and while they always had this there before because of their work relationship, trying to take this to a new intimate level may prove to have difficulties.

This is a sweet, fun and romantic novel that was a pleasure to read.

Crown Prince of Marazur is lonely and grief stricken for many months after his wife dies. Will he finally realize that his assistant, Stephani, is the perfect woman for him?

Stephani Savalas loves her job as the assistant to Raoul Navarro, the Crown Prince, and would never jeopardize that job by expressing her personal feelings, but one moonlit evening and several glasses of champagne later, she and Raoul share a kiss. Now, it's all about to change and Raoul must learn to trust in love again.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Favourite Quote - "And showing off the fact that you can speak..."He counted silently on his fingers. "Five languages? Six?"
"Five," she confirmed. "My Russian and German are more of a danger than an asset. I could ruin diplomatic relations in two sentences."

THE CROWN PRINCE'S BRIDE by Donna Alward is a great book for a winter escape. I have always been intrigued by castles, princes and princesses and was quickly immersed in this modern day fairytale romance.

Raoul Navarro, the Crown Prince of Marazur, lives in a palace on the coast of the Mediterranean. His two beautiful children, 6-year-old Emilia and 4-year-old Max, his father, King Alexander, and his younger brother, Prince Diego, and many servants also live in the gorgeous huge castle.

Crown Prince Raoul was devasted when Princess Cecelia, the love of his life, died in a tragic car accident. Wanting to protect himself from such heartache and suffering again, Raoul decided to never fall in love again.


Stephani Savalas, long term executive assistant to the Crown Prince, was
efficient and ensured that everything in the palace and state ran smoothly. Raoul depended on her knowledgeable skills and abilities. Emilia and Max adored their Tia Stephani and she loved them.

To Raoul and his children, Stephani was like part of the family. But, she had been secretly in love with her boss for years.

I loved the characters, suspense, subtle humour and the romance. Like all fairytales, there are bumps and obstacles to get past.

Will Prince Raoul soften his heart and love again?
If so, will he be looking for someone from royalty?
Will he ever realize that Stephani is lovely and beautiful and perfect in every way?

I love the beautiful cover on this book and enjoyed reading this light well written story and look forward to reading more by the talented Donna Alward.
4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, publicity assistant Justine Sha and author Donna Alward for providing me with a copy of this book to read. The thoughts written here are entirely my own.

3.5 stars - This was a pleasant nice read. Stephani has been in line be with Raoul for years. She's never attracted on that since he was seeing & then married to her cousin. She works as his assistant & has been there for him as he grieved the loss of his wife. Now, his eyes are opened & he's ready to date. Can they make it work or will going public tear them apart?

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.

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.

A Royal affair! Raoul lost his wife and love of his life in a terrible accident. He doesn't think he could ever love again, until he suddenly takes notice of his assistant. Stephani has been in love with her cousin's husband for years but his new interest may not be all that she hoped for.

I really liked this story! Both Raoul and Stephani were likeable and realistic. The story moved quickly with some nice twists.