First off, The Crown Prince's Bride is an adorable read. It's the second book, and you don't have to read The Playboy Prince and the Nanny. However, I would still recommend reading it, because you actually see how far Raoul has come. In the first book he was pretty devastated, and he's finally finding himself after his loss. He's slowly realizing he wants to move on. He starts noticing Stephani. Now Stephani has been there the whole time, and she's always wanted someone like Raoul.

We see a budding romance between Raoul and Stephani. It's adorable, because they don't know if they want to pursue the relationship. I mean it could get a little awkward. First off, Stephani was cousin to his decease wife, and she's also his personal assistant. Feelings are a little complicated. Mainly Raoul is facing a personal battle of should he move on or not.

Like I said The Crown Prince's Bride is an adorable read. Not much in the drama department. Plus, it's a fairly quick read. So, if you are in the mood for something light and sweet, The Crown Prince's Bride is calling your name.

Copy provided by St. Martin via NetGalley

Once again Author Donna Alward writes a book that wrung my heart with intense feelings. This second book to the Royal Duology is filled with raw emotions within Stephani and Raoul as well as between them. It felt real and makes one wonder if they themselves were perhaps doing the same in their life.

Though a fairytale it is heartwarming in how it shows the reader that a person can be in love and still be strong enough to walk away honoring their personal power.

Stephani is perfect. Some may think too perfect but I would disagree with them. She is thoughtful, caring and capable of taking care of her personal wellbeing when the timing was right. This part of her shines at the end of the book and is a great example for woman on how to suffer loss and find strength.

Prince Raoul's character came across as forceful enough to rule a country, compassionate and loving for his family but broken from the loss of his wife. The author's portrayal of his heartbreak and fears feels real and true to his situation.

I give this 4 STARS for its emotional impact.

Although I have not read the first book in the series (and I’ve heard it’s even better than this second one), I did enjoy Raoul and Stephani’s love story and quite a lot actually. As the blurb describes, this is close to Cinderella, which is one of my favorite fairytales.

She is smart, a great assistant, has charm and has that spark that helps her handle any though situation. The book opens with her at a party she organized in order to lift Raoul’s mood, after losing his wife in a car accident. Her attributes are well put in light, not only by her actions, but as well from the eyes of our future king. But Stephani knows very well her place and wants to escape this crush she has on him.

Raoul is not willing to give her up. Excuse me, I mean this from a professional point of view. I appreciated a lot how the author tried not to make him the sort of guy who, quite soon after becoming a widower, starts looking for a replacement. In fact, Raoul is comparing Stephani with his late wife, even involuntary. He has this struggle inside, which is very well described, through his actions and feelings.

The story has both Stephani’s point of view and Raoul’s. It helped a lot knowing what each of them was thinking or feeling in a particular moment. These perspectives are quite well balanced. We don’t see more from her and less of him or the other way around. The glamour of palace life is also detailed nicely. Even if we speak about a royal dinner or a super party, we have the etiquette that needs to be respected.

To keep it short, I liked this second book, might as well read the first one. This is my first read by Donna Alward and to me she is an amazing author.

I loved the tender, stolen moments between Raoul and Stephani. Their emotional journey was definitely worth reading. I enjoyed both books in the Royal Duology.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I fell in love with both Stephani and Raoul who had me reading through the night. This is the first book I have read by this author and I can't wait to read about Diego and Rose.

This is book #2 in the Royal Duology series. Even though I haven't read the first in the series I don't feel as if I missed anything and was easily able to figure out the story going forward. The Crown Prince has lost his wife and future queen in a car accident. His heart is broken but enough time has gone past that he wants to feel alive again. He has had an office assistant that has been with him for years. She is his right hand woman,need appointments scheduled or rescheduled,weddings planned,table seating charts arranged,dresses ordered for a special event she is your woman and he counts on her to keep his office running without a hitch. At his birthday party he starts to feel awakened to love again and notices her. It's time for the Crown Prince to have a fairytale romance and wedding. This was a fun romance to read!
Pub Date 09 Jan 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Crown Prince’s Bride by Donna Alward is the second book in the contemporary romance Royal Duology series. The main characters in the story have changed so while there are events and characters mentioned from the first book in the series it’s not completely necessary to have read the first to enjoy the love story in this book.

For those that have read the first book however this second book switches to Raoul as a main character who is the Crown Prince of Marazur who lost his wife to a tragic accident. Raoul’s story is picking up a year after his wife’s death when everyone thinks he needs to start moving on but he can’t seem to let go and do just that.

Working with Raoul for years has been Stephani who also was the cousin of Raoul’s wife. The pair are like family already having spent so many years together working alongside one another but now are both beginning to see one another in a new light but both are afraid to admit to those feelings.

I am one that usually cringes at the idea of a couple coming together who one of which had been friends and/or family to the other’s ex. But when that ex is one that was ripped away from both of them in a tragic accident I can see how and why the pair grow close and develop feelings for one another so I was interested to read this one and see how it would be done.

My one complaint with Raoul and Stephani’s story would have to be that it passes by rather quickly with this short of a read. There was quite of bit of angst involved as one could imagine working through the feelings of loss and love so I wouldn’t have minded a bit more to the happy times making the story a tad longer. Otherwise it was a nice little read to add to this series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is Book #2 Royal Duology series.  I have read Book #1, The Playboy Prince and the Nanny.  I love this book.  This was a sweet romantic story about a prince, who has been through so much in his life.  Raoul lost his wife and has 2 small children to raise.  Stephani has been Raoul's assistant for years.  She is the cousin of Raoul's late wife.  She is family.  Stephani has been crushing on him for years, but never said anything. 

This book had me glued to the pages (of my kindle app).  I love how there were some twists towards the end of the book.  That was my favorite part of the book!  I do not want to say anymore.


☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Would I read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa

These two have a history that binds them together but what happens when history becomes the now. They both have to consider their options in order to have a HEA




** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Stephani is not only an assistant to the future King of Marazur but she is also the cousin of the Princes late wife who was tragically killed in an accident. Stephani has loved the Prince since she first met him, but she loved and respected her cousin to keep her feelings to herself. Now it seems like the Prince is coming out of his shell a little and Stephani must confront her feelings once again. The Prince has always looked at Stephani as family and as a trusted assistant, but is there something more there? She loves his children, knows his family and he feels a connection. He also debates with his new feelings for Stephani. There are some beautiful moments where the two discover their feelings and you feel the story come to life. There are twist and turns and unexpected events to keep this fairy tale romance interesting and keeps you turning the pages to find out what will happen.
I loved this book by Donna Alward. It was a blossoming fairy tale, but also a story of conflicted love, family and friendship. It was brilliantly written and I look forward to reading her next book. I was so graciously gifted this book by St. Martin's Press for an unbiased review.

The Crown Prince's Bride by Donna Alward is a fairytale story with drama, loss, found love, angst but wit too. It is the second in Royal Duology series. While the couple from the first book are supporting characters, it is still a stand-alone book for the most part.

The pacing and plot are smooth with likable characters. There is not a lot of depth to the story or the characters, but it is an entertaining work. To me it was an easy causal read that is perfect for those evenings that you just need to unwind.

Sweet read. Raoul is the Crown Prince of Marazur and a widower. Stephani is his assistant and been in love with him for years. When his date is a no show, Stephani fills in and sparks fly. Entertaining read with good characters and an enjoyable story. I liked it.

This royal romance showcases opulence and extravagance at its finest as the main characters travel to five star hotels while they develop their relationship. This book really made me think about whether there are second chances at love and how difficult it can be to open yourself up after being through a tragedy like that. The author helps us navigate the minefield of second loves in this quick and easy read, which was also a very sweet story. I hadn't read the previous book so this was my first time being introduced to the characters, but I was still able to get up to date with the story line. The characters were solid and it was a pretty good story line, it was a solid romance novel but wasn't anything overly thrilling for me. I did really like Stephani's character, she was extremely loyal and patience, which was admirable considering how insensitive Raoul was. I would recommend the book if you're looking for a quick read and a sweet romance.

3.5 stars

Raul is the crown prince still coming to terms with the death of his wife, Stephani is his assistant who has been in love with him for a long term.

This is more intense than your normal royalty/commoner romance, it deals with grief and loss as well as the pressure of leading. I like that the romance between the MC's is slower, it allows a more believable romance.

This book is a charming, moving and bittersweet story of new beginnings. The way the story started drew me in immediately. I loved the hero, Raoul Navarro, he is a man who has been going through a lot. He is grieving the loss of his wife and the pressures of his responsibilities as Crown Prince are weighing him down.

Stephani Savalas is Raoul’s wife’s cousin and his efficient personal assistant. Stephani has had a thing for Raoul since she met him but she is conflicted about the idea of a relationship with her cousin’s widow. They both need time to explore their mutual feelings and deal with their attraction to one another. The story delves into their emotions and mixed feelings. The conflict within both of them was very strong, there was a lot of push and pull and insecurities to overcome. Both are honorable, considerate and loyal but they tend to bottle up their feelings.

Their story is sweet and touching, the author did a great job of keeping me engaged, as they start acknowledging that they are drawn to each other. I loved seeing them slowly open up to each other. Although I enjoyed this beautifully written story, the author introduced a final twist I was not so keen on. Overall, despite a somewhat rushed ending, this story was definitely worth reading.

I love Donna Alward books, but I normally hate books with royalty. What to do, what to do, what to do? I read it. I don't regret it! Although the male character was a prince and that played a pivotal part in the book, the emotions were so basic and prominent that I didn't have a problem with it.
In this book, Prince Raoul is still recovering from having lost his wife several years before. He's trying to make the best life he can for his two children and fulfill all of his duties as Prince. The result is that he's pretty overworked and lonely.
Stephani, Raoul's assistant and cousin to his deceased wife has had feelings for him for some time, but is the ultimate professional in keeping his life running smoothly. Once Raoul's feeling start coming to life and he realizes he's attracted to her, it makes for a complicated and messy time. Will he be willing to give love a chance again? Will Stephani be willing to settle for whatever Raoul feels he can give her or will she stick to her guns and walk away if he can't love her?
I received this book from Netgalley.

Back on the beautiful Marazur, we catch up with Prince Diego and Rose, the nanny who traveled from England to the island when she took on the job of taking care of Diego's small children. That was the first book. These characters are still present in the second book, and it's their wedding.

Prince Diego's brother Raoul has always seemed more of a serious character to me than Diego. Stephanie is his assistant at the Palace, and has been for years. Everything changes when she ends us accompanying him to the dance at the Palace........Will they find love too?

Now I have read and reviewed both books in the duology, I would still really recommend them. I love the whole atmosphere, sunny Marazur as well as royals and cute kids. And , of course, a lot of romance. Both books are well worth the read/ listen Donna Alward always has me riveted to her relaxing, but well-paced plots and varied characters. I love the charming Spanish words and phrases dropped here and there within the dialogue. As I'm passionate about, and fluent in, the language myself, it makes the story even more authentic than it already is.

Thank you to Donna Alward and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was not the first Donna Alward book I have read and reviewed. I participated in the blog tour for The Playboy Prince and the Nanny (Royal Duology #1) which I loved. I was very pleased to be approved to read and review The Crown Prince's Bride, the second book in the series. This book and the whole series, are a must-read! If there's another book, I'll be requesting it right away!

Donna Alward continues to steal readers’ hearts with The Crown Prince’s Bride, the second enchanting title in her spellbinding Prince duology.

Grief and heartbreak are Raoul, the Crown Prince of Marazur,’s constant companions. After the death of his wife, Raoul’s heart had shattered into a thousand pieces and he knows that he will never ever experience that kind of love ever again. With two children to look after and a kingdom to rule, Raoul had keeps his heart firmly under lock and key and has thrown himself into his duties. The thought of ever finding love again is anathema to Raoul – but so is the thought of spending the rest of his life alone! But could happiness be within Raoul’s reach – if only he looks closer to home?

Stephani is Raoul’s assistant and she does her job with flair and alacrity. Stephani absolutely adores her job and she does her work diligently and professionally. But she has been keeping a secret from everyone for years: she is head over heels in love with her boss, the Crown Prince of Marazur! Over time, her feelings for Raoul have intensified, but Stephani knows that she can have no hope of a future with Raoul, for even if he were to even contemplate the thought of marrying again, he would choose someone suitable – not somebody like her!

When Raoul is invited to a state dinner and his date bails on him, he asks Stephani to step into the breach. After all, his assistant is well versed in protocol and politics. However, Raoul is flabbergasted when he finally sees the gorgeous woman who has been running his office for years in a whole new light…

Has Cinderella found her Prince Charming? And is Raoul ready to let go of the past and embrace his future with Stephani?

A magical fairy tale romance that had me smiling throughout, The Crown Prince’s Bride is everything you could possibly want from a romantic novel and so much more besides. Heartwarming, tender, passionate and simply irresistible, The Crown Prince’s Bride is an outstanding tale of new beginnings, second chances and healing from the past with a wonderful heroine, a gorgeous hero and plenty of charm and heart to keep readers engrossed from beginning to end!

A lovely read from one of contemporary romance’s most talented writers, The Crown Prince’s Bride is another first class read by Donna Alward!

After I read the first book in this Duology, The Playboy Prince and the Nanny I couldn't wait to see what happened between Raoul and Stephani.

Right away in the first book you knew that Stephani both loved and respected Raoul. Unfortunately he was dealing with the death of his wife who was also Stephani cousin. This story could have quickly turned into the yuck factor for me because of the fact that Stephani did love her cousins husband, but she kept it totally professional while her cousin was alive and I got the feeling Raoul would have stayed a lost love for her.

The author handled the change in their relationship so well. They didn't jump into anything it built and became something.

Both characters had their doubts and weren't sure what they really wanted to do. Very real emotions. I really enjoyed this story and was glad to have read it. This was a real sweet Duology. Make sure to read them in order because they read better that way.

A few months ago I read The Playboy Prince and the Nanny which is the first book in the Royal duology and I had enjoyed it so I was so excited for The Crown Prince's Bride to come out.

I read this book in one day and it is a good one that kept me reading and is a quick and easy read that I did enjoy.

I give this 4 out of 5.