Her Secret Prince

Royal Holiday Book 2

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Pub Date Apr 09 2015 | Archive Date May 10 2015
Tule Publishing | Holiday Books

Description

At sixteen, Dee Johnson gambled her heart on her best friend Jed Brown – and lost when he disappeared without a trace.

Ten years on, Dee’s life is uprooted when Jed turns up on her doorstep, asking for her help.

Dee has been left behind by everyone she’s loved: her parents, her close friend Alexia, and a stream of lovers. She moves fast with men and suspects this is why they move on fast. Now that’s Jed’s back in her life, she’s taking no chances. Despite the attraction ripping at her seams, she holds back, knowing she wouldn't recover from being loved and left by him a second time.

A constant traveler, Jed has only felt at home once in his life – with Dee. Now that he’s found her again, he's determined to make up for lost time. He'll never leave her again.

Until an unexpectedly royal revelation threatens to strip Jed of his freedom and future – including his place by Dee’s side.

At sixteen, Dee Johnson gambled her heart on her best friend Jed Brown – and lost when he disappeared without a trace.

Ten years on, Dee’s life is uprooted when Jed turns up on her doorstep, asking...


A Note From the Publisher

Madeline has always lived in Melbourne. She is emotionally allergic to spontaneity, and yet doesn’t mind the weather that drags her into rain when she’s planned for sunshine. She likes to call this her wild side.

She’s a Virgo, vegetarian, and once had a romantic suspense-style dream in which the hero was a shredded lettuce sandwich and the villain was a cherry tomato. The tomato got away. She took the dream as a sign that she’d better stick to writing contemporary romance.

Her stories have spunky heroines, strong heroes, and as much dialogue as she can cram in. As for why she writes romance, she’s in a long-term relationship with the genre and writing such stories makes it happy.

Madeline has always lived in Melbourne. She is emotionally allergic to spontaneity, and yet doesn’t mind the weather that drags her into rain when she’s planned for sunshine. She likes to call this...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781942240587
PRICE $2.99 (USD)

Average rating from 113 members


Featured Reviews

Very enjoyable quick read. Interesting storyline for sure and very well written. Sixteen year old Dee Johnson was in love her best friend, Jed Brown. She thought their relationship was just getting started when he disappeared without a word. Ten years later he's back, with an unbelievable story and questions that need answered. Can she trust herself not to lose her heart to him again, and is she ready to face what lies ahead?

This is a good one for a lazy afternoon read. I recommend it.

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Dee at 16 fell madly in love with the boy she knew she had to have and no one else would do. Jed seemed like he was always on the run and he never knew quite why. He finally finds his Dad or at least he thinks so or a scam waiting to blow up in his face. He reaches out to Dee in hopes to get answers, but will she still find it in her heart to help him?
This book was such a fun and quick read and I would have to say Dee really carried the book. I loved her personality and her spunk, she was what most people with they could be and they are not. Jed was this really sweet guy as well there personality together just worked.

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Ten years. Ten long years. And here he is again.

As teenagers Dee and Jed were in love. The kind of love that was supposed to last a lifetime. Until he was gone. Just gone without a word.

Now he’s back and asking for help.

Jed has spent his life on the move. Never staying in one place long. He knew the precious love he had found with Dee, but he also knew that when his mother once again changed their location swiftly and without explanation, he would lose her. He was a teenager, and even if he had believed himself a man at the time, he went with his mother without a word of goodbye to Dee.

Dee has spent the last ten years losing people. Oh, she understands why men run through her life like water droplets over a waterfall. It hasn’t destroyed her, she knows the type of person she has become. Because people leave. That’s just life.

Yet now here’s Jed again. The attraction is still strong, perhaps the love is as well, but Dee knows how to guard her heart. She won’t let him destroy her again. But how can she resist when he’s asking for help. A secret life, a mystery to solve and perhaps a happily ever after… is that enough to take a risk on once again?

I adored Dee. She’s been knocked down, a lot, but she stays true to herself. She knows that it’s a bad idea to let Jed in her life again, but dammit, how can she turn away. Her Secret Prince was a quick enjoyable read. Throughout the story I was hoping for that fairy tale magic feel and I wasn’t disappointed. I have not been disappointed by a Madeline Ash novel yet, and don’t ever expect to at this point. Her stories come alive with believable characters and a love story that has its bumps along the road but come to that happily ever after quite naturally.

If you simply enjoy that love story with a touch of mystery, a secret that changes lives and a truly happy ending – you’re going to love this story. Definitely recommend this story.

*I received an e-ARC of Her Secret Prince from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

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Fast read. Predictable. Enjoyed the character of Jed.

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cute, short heartwarming

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Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash is the second book in the multi-authored Royal Holiday series and is a friends to lovers and second chance contemporary romance. I absolutely adored this book and fell in love with both Dee and Jed and their story of young heartbreak and renewed love. I liked that Jed was the one who searched for her because it was the perfect counterpoint to his disappearing a decade ago. They seemed to be the same people, only older and with more maturity compared to before.

Dee and Jed balanced each other out perfectly, and even though Jed's honesty in answering Dee's questions were painful for Dee to hear (and had my heart squeezing in empathy as I read), it felt more realistic. If they were both pining for one another all this time, not being able to move on in any fashion, it would have been too fantastical and would have had me arching a brow in disbelief. The hesitation they had highlighted that the teenage trauma of losing each other had to be acknowledged.

This novella had everything you could want in a modern fairy tale. I love stories that have a sense of simplicity to them but are not overly simplified. This was sweet with a hint of steam and there was nothing overdone about either the story or characters. I ended this book with a sappy but satisfied smile on my face and I would highly recommend this standalone to anyone who's ever dreamed of finding their Prince Charming. Her Secret Prince is a 2015 favorite and I'm happy to give it five stars. ♥

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This was such a pleasant surprise for me! Madeline Ash is a new to me author, and since I was pre-approved by her publisher for this title, I was like, "Sure. Why not?"

BEST. DECISION. EVER.

Loved this book. It was on the short side but the author still managed to add depth to a simple story line. The characters were multi-dimensional and well developed. And she got me invested in their story from the get go.

Dee Johnson fell in love with Jed Brown at 16 years old. The night she bared her soul to him was also the night he just went up and leave without even saying goodbye. Ten years later, Jed is back looking for Dee to help him piece together the missing puzzle pieces of his life. It wasn't his intention to pursue a relationship with her again but the feelings they had for each other 10 years ago never waned. But now, Jed has to make a decision that could again, alter the course of not only his life but Dee's life as well, leaving her broken the second time around.

I think you can guess the kind of decision Jed was about to make based on the title alone. I wish that this book went by a different and more attractive title since this one is kinda dated, to be honest and a bit spoilerish. Dee and Jed are both great characters. Dee is the type of heroine I liked reading about. She's open and honest about her feelings. She doesn't play coy nor does she play games with Jed. Her forthrightness was endearing. Jed was a sensitive hero, which I found fascinating. He's quiet and calm but his passion for Dee was amazing.

So don't be fooled by the title and the cover, this is nothing like the Princess Diaries, which is what I was thinking about when I read the title and saw the cover. This book was quite good especially when you consider its length. This is one of those times where I really wanted a book to be longer. Still, it was good and I would definitely recommend it.

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This book is the second in the short format contemporary romance series "Royal Holiday" This is a very loosely linked series, linked by theme. I would consider this book more correctly as one of a series from author Madeline Ash, as the secondary couple in this book are the hero and heroine from The Playboy. I loved that this is a huge second chance for these two high school sweethearts. I loved that when our hero Jed showed up on her doorstep after ten years, she almost immediately lets him back in her life. And when she finds out he need to go to Paris to meet his dad, whom he had never met, Dee immediately books a flight, is packed and ready to go with him, no questions asked. "Dee was his home."
I liked this book a lot. Dee finds her Secret Prince.
I received a complementary book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed this story. I loved finally learning what Dee's story is. She was such a great character in Ash's The Playboy, it was really great to see her get her own book. Speaking of They Playboy, we also get a quick catch up with Alexia and Parker in this book as well!

Jed was also a very complex and interesting character. The interactions between Jed and Dee were so sweet and meaningful. Their feelings for each other fairly oozed right off the pages.

I loved the fairy tale aspect of this story, especially the mystery of Jed's parentage and why his mother was so afraid of his father. The resolution of this book was everything I hoped it would be. I can't wait for the next installment in the Royal Holiday series!

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Emotional and fast pace moving story of a second chance at love.
The teenage love Jed and Dee shared for each other never had a chance, leaving them for pining for each other as life moved on, even though never completely fulfilling for them. The emotional tension and anxiety when they meet again is high, and those emotions keep running up and down, as Jed and Dee struggles to set their priorities, to find their place in life, and love.
The surprising revelations, from their past and the possible future, keep the story moving. The characters are easy to like and relate to. The modern day fairytale is touching and heartfelt, I was teary eyed at times, smiling at the end, a lovely, tender story
~ Three spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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Dee Johnson fell in love with Jed Brown in high school and it was mutual, she knew he was the one, the one to be with forever. That was until he was taken out of her life by his mother who was constantly on the run. Years later and endless searches Jed finally found Dee and he hoped that the love and the magic would have lasted through time. It definitely was and she hadn't changed because she dropped everything without question to fly to Paris to help him meet up with the man that was claiming to be his father. While she was, she was also hesitant because she didn't want her heart to be broken again. Something that could definitely happen when she finds out who he truly is and he would not be able to move to where she was after all.......or would she take the chance and stay with her true Prince Charming?

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Rating: 4.5/5

Dee Johnson and Jed Brown were best friends when they were just sweet sixteen. The night that they decided they were more than just friends is also the night when Jed and his Mum both disappeared from Dee’s life. Ten years later, Dee has never forgotten Jed and feels like she has been deserted by him and everyone else she has ever cared for - her parents, best friend and any male friends. When Jed reappears in her life she’s no longer as trusting, even though their attraction is still there and hard to ignore. She knows she would find it difficult to cope should she let him back into her heart and he then disappeared once more.

Jed has decided to search for his teenage sweetheart and is amazed that he’s managed to track her down. He’s also had an email, supposedly from his father. He doesn’t know if this is father is but he’s about to find out and he is nothing like he’d always assumed whilst on the run from him with his Mum. He’s amazed to have found Dee and is determined to never leave her again but his father’s appearance in his life, the unexpected revelations he makes and choices Jed now faces will have an impact on his ability to live up to that ideal. Can they really be together in the future or will the new opportunities and his father's revelations together with her hesitancy prevent their HEA?

A royally great, fun, quick read with easy to like characters and some great obstacles to overcome making this a superb story to delight in. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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**I received an ARC in exchange for my opinion**

Dee and Jed were teenage crushes torn apart--Jed mysteriously disappeared from her life. Ten years later, he's back, and he needs her help to discover his past and find the missing pieces of his life. Shocking revelations turn life upside down, but the one constant is Dee. As they are rekindled with love, they find a way to make a life together and find "home." A great read!

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Her Secret Prince (Royal Holiday, #2)
Jeb and Dee start out loving each other in the story and that doesn't change not even after ten years of not seeing each other.
Jeb has be on the move his whole life. His mother is afraid that his father will find his and take him away.
Dee has had everyone that she loves leave. Jeb is contacted by a person claiming to be his father so he set out to find Dee and ask her what happened ten years ago.
The chemistry between Jeb and Dee is still there after ten years. This is a fast read and very enjoyable.

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Book Review: Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash

A story of second chances, “Her Secret Prince” by Madeline Ash, Book 2 of the Royal Holiday series, follows high school sweethearts Dee and Jed who were abruptly separated for reasons unknown.

Ten years later, Dee now lives in Los Angeles as successful scriptwriter and out of the blue, Jed walks into her life again. Surprised and shocked are too mild to describe her feelings.

But, there is another shock coming to both of them. The question is, will their second chance at love withstand another shocker?

A sweet read that puts a smile in your face, “Her Secret Prince” is a fairy tale romance in more ways than one.

“Her Secret Prince” is Rated T for Teens. There is one sex scene but it is implied and not graphic.

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When you read the title of this book, you expect to be reading a light romance. So, titles do deceive. Yes, we have an HEA and two people who are in love but there is a depressing side of this story that really caught me by surprise.

Dee is a quirky, in-your-face girl. She tells you like it is and puts it all out there. One chance, that’s all she knew she had, to let Jed know how she felt. It was an end of a friendship or the beginning of a dream. What it turned out to be was utter devastation.

Jed never knew a real home … never had real friends … always felt like there was something missing in his life. His mother had him terrified of his father finding him but she would never elaborate on why. When his one true friend turns into his home, she’s ripped out of his life. Now, 10 years later he hopes she can answer some questions and bring him home again.

I was truly depressed throughout most of this book. I kept wondering how and when they would find each other again, how they would reconnect and hopefully find their true hearts. Jed is honest to a point but not when it’s needed most and Dee is just really “herself”. She’s an indie screenwriter and can’t write a happy ending into her stories. I wonder why. He’s a comic book graphic novelist with an e-mail address of driftinginmelbourne. I wonder why. But, the story held me because it wasn’t your normal boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily-ever-after. It had me turning pages as quick as I could read them because I needed to find out what was going to happen.

So, if the rest of the series is like this book, I will definitely read them. Here is an author that writes contemporary romance with a twist. Has her readers sitting on edge waiting for either the next shoe to drop or love to find a way. This story could have gone either way but I am thrilled that she ended it the way she did. Madeline Ash held my attention, had me anticipating and kept me totally engrossed in this unusual love story.

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Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash is book two in the Royal Holiday series, each short novella being by a different author.

Dee and Jed first met when they were sixteen years old. They had been best friends for seven months, each keeping their true feelings for one another secret, both inexperienced but both in love. Dee couldn’t hide her feelings any longer so she decided to throw caution to the wind and tell Jed how she felt. No sooner than the moment they both declared their true hearts, fate dealt an unfair blow and Jed disappeared from her life.

Now it is ten years later. Dee is a screen writer for indie films. She has had lots of short flings over the years but Dee tends to jump in head first, giving the guy the impression she just wants a fun fling. The truth is, no-one has ever made her feel the way Jed did. She never knew what happened to him, if he was okay, or even alive. That is until the day he just showed up on her door step, suit case in hand!

Jed’s mother was always moving, never giving Jed the chance to settle anywhere. The months he spent with Dee when they were sixteen was the closest he ever felt to really being ‘home.’ But then he was ripped away from there as well. He never knew who his father was. His mother always gave him the impression it was someone he should fear. But now he needs answers. A man has contacted him claiming that he is his father. He needs to find Dee, to get more information about the last night he saw her. About what really happened. As soon as their eyes met, though, that same feeling came back, that feeling that he was home.

“Their first kiss had been clumsy. A new experience for them both. This time, freed of innocence and fumbling, they knew what their bodies wanted and how to get it.”

Dee is committed to go slower this time, to make this last. But as soon as the man claiming to be Jed’s father asked them to come to his country of Leguarday to meet, she didn’t hesitate a second to go along and be there for Jed. She just found him, she wasn’t letting him go already.

“He wanted her. All of her. Always. There’d be no moving on from her this time. If she’d have him, she would be his last move.”

As soon as Dee and Jed travel to Leguarday, secrets are revealed as to the true identity of his father and to the heritage that is his for the taking, if he wants it. Suddenly, the huge void that has been present his entire life is filled. But he just got the love of his life back. Can he ask her to give up everything and stay with him or will he walk away and go back to Los Angeles with her?

This is a short and sweet tale of young love lost and lasting love found. But of course there has to be a twist, decisions to be made, lives that will be forever changed. Will Dee and Jed get their Happily Ever After? I look forward to the third book in this series, His Defiant Princess by Kathleen O’Brien. All of the books in the series are truly tales of princes and princesses, fairy tales and happily ever afters, every girl’s dream come true.

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This is the second book in the Royal Holiday Series. I read the first book and loved it but this is one of those series that has a different author for each book in the series. Well I have to say I loved this book also! Dee and Jed were best friends as teenagers and when they got to the point that they were ready to admit they wanted to be more than friends Jed disappeared. It is a sweet story of lost love with a different twist on what took Jed away. This is a quick, feel good read. If you are looking for a good book to pass a couple of hours - look no further. If you haven't read The Cinderella Princess which is the first book in the series I highly recommend that book also. They are stand alones so no need to read one before the other but they are both great!

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Her Secret Prince is the second book I have read by Madeline Ash. While I enjoyed this novella, I did not fall in love with the characters as I have in some other books published by Tule. I did find Dee and Jed to be very likable characters. I did however; fall in love with the fairytale idea of this book. Also, I really like that in this version it is a lost prince instead of a princess.

It was easy to develop sympathy for Dee. She has been let down in life so the issues that she deals with are realistic. This caused me to wonder why she dropped everything so quickly to travel with Jed. There were still too many unknowns in Jed’s life for her to feel secure. Jed did seem worth it at the time but again who knew what would happen once he found his father. But like all good fairytales, all well that ends well it seems.

It is a short fun make-believe read for all of us adult die-hard romance fans. If you grew up with and embraced Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and Snow White this story is for you.

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Her Secret Prince is charming and delightful and a ripping good book. For a novella it packs a lot between the covers and while there is a degree of implausibility to the plot it really doesn't matter because this is a good story.
Both Dee and Jed have had difficult childhoods. For Dee it is the loneliness of growing up as an only child with doctor parents hell bent on saving the world and less interested in raising their daughter, while for Jed childhood has been about moving towns at the drop of a hat because of his mother's fears about what would happen if his father found him.
As teenagers they found each other and fell in love before Jed disappeared for ten years. Understandably Dee is suspicious when he reappears, but her body knows he's the one from the moment she sets eyes on him.
All the characters in this book are nicely developed though I did wonder a little about Jed's life in the ten years apart from Dee. I felt this could have been fleshed out a little more. I thought the relationship between Oscar and his secretary was really sensitively handled.
The plot flows nicely from beginning to end and comes to a satisfying conclusion. All in all, a really enjoyable read!

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Madeline Ash has been such a golden find this year. I first discovered her through her latest novel Love and Other Lies, which I utterly enjoyed. Ash writes emotional, heartfelt romances with such a light hand that they are a pleasure to read in every sense of the word. So when I saw her novella The Secret Prince pop up, it took me no time at all to dive in.

My only complaint about The Secret Prince is that it is far too short. I fell immediately in love with Dee and Jed and would have followed them much farther than across an ocean from LA to a tiny European principality and back again. And since my emotions were so definitively engaged, I did wish the reader had a chance to spend more time with them exploring their unfortunate history after their reunion in Los Angeles (this was my favorite section) and then again in Leguarday as they negotiated the unusual terms of what a life together might look like. To say nothing of the miles and miles of potential regarding Jed's father. Everything ties up so neatly and quickly, I presume in order to fit it all into novella form.

But Madeline Ash's writing is fully up to the task of delving deeper into the psyches of these two banged up kids and, given the slim page count, I felt that we got a healthy amount of bang for our buck. She doesn't shy away from the painful, complex moments when two hurt individuals are trying and failing and trying again not to make things worse. And she absolutely knows her way around the tentative exploration that follows, with one hand protection your heart and the other shakily reaching out.

Her Secret Prince is a sweet (if too short) contemporary fairy tale, and I look forward to Ash's next full-length novel with much anticipation.

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Her Secret Prince is the story of Dee and Jed who is her best friend. Just as Dee and Jed admit that the friendship is on the verge of so much more Jed disappears leaving Dee feeling confused, heartbroken and alone. Ten years later, Dee still remains lost and although she has had relationships over the years none measure up to Jed. Imagine her surprise when she comes face to face with Jed after all these years. As each seeks the answers to why Jed disappeared all those years ago, surprising secrets are revealed. I received this story for an honest review and LOVED IT!!! This story has all the makings of a soap opera.

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Very unique story! Dee is a blast of fresh air with her blunt words and creativness. Jed has been running from his father, thanks to a huge misunderstanding. Having Dee with him he is able to face the unknown and make a tough choice. Fun, quirky and a different kind of royal romance. My copy was given through Netgalley for my honest review.

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I liked this book! It was easy to follow. I liked that they were reunited

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4 You Are My Home Stars * * * *

Parents think they are always doing what is best for their kids...at least, that is the line they tell themselves... when in reality, they sometimes make selfish decisions in the name of this parental love.

This is the main thrust of this surprisingly deep and compelling second installment of the Royal Holiday series by Tule Publishing. Madeline Ash has taken a concept we know is happening and made it very fresh and capturing...it feels intense and actually real.

It starts with two 16 year teenagers...they have been "friends" for the past seven months. Dee is quirky; loves film, is direct to a fault and has parents who save the world... putting it before her at every opportunity. They are devoted to the hospitals and needs of others, leaving our gal to be an only child. She has learned how to be alone...figuring out her coping skills. With her new friend Jeb...she was just as direct when first meeting him. She asked him if he was staying for the long haul...because if she became his friend and allowed herself to expect him around...if he left..it would be hard for her to remember how to be satisfied alone once again.

Jeb, this handsome, smart boy looks at Dee and tells her he wants to be there for her but has no way of knowing if he will. For Jeb has been living in different cities all over the world, moving when his mother insisted...claiming his father was a dangerous man and they needed to hide from him. This left Jeb with this hole in his heart and soul...never feeling like he had a place where he belonged.

Meeting Dee was a turning point and with this friendship... both of them were fighting the feelings they had for each other... knowing it could destroy everything if they acted on it...But Dee was her direct and pushing the limits self...making the first move one night when Jeb's mom worked late. She came over and as they talked and moved closer to each other, flames of passion erupted... feelings and words were shared... and they were about to be as they wanted when the mother came home unexpectedly.

Jeb looking to figure out away to save face for Dee... left through the window of his room as a way to distract his mom outside. What happened instead was epic...Dee hidden in Jeb's room overhears his mother talking to some man insisting he see "the Child". The mother denies having a son...The man refuses to believe her and opens the door to where Dee is hiding...The mother states... "There, you see I have a daughter!" Dee goes with it because she doesn't know what else to do ...The man leaves and the mother kicks Dee out. She tells her to leave and closes the door. Jeb is no where to be found and Dee knowing the mother figures he will be grounded with no phone for the weekend... she will see him on Monday.

Monday comes and goes... no Jeb; Tuesday she goes to his apartment building and is told they left the night of the confrontation. Dee is devastated... he promised to be there ...and he is gone with no note or goodbye. Alone once again....the pain and hurt lays the foundation for the woman she becomes...

A pattern develops; Dee allows her parent to go to Hatti once she graduated from school...for others needed them more than her. She meets men; quickly becoming physical with them and then they leave... thinking she is not interested in the long term...when all she really wants is to be loved, held and taken seriously. Yet even her best friend is leaving her for the love she found... to live thousands miles away from Los Angeles...

As Dee has her last hours with her friend and new man in her apartment, they discuss her screenplays and other things which occupy Dee's life. Coffee factors in as it is her fuel. She goes to buy more for her friends before they leave and while she is gone, there is a knock at the door. The friends open it and see this beautiful man there asking if this is where Dee Johnson lives...they ask questions and allow him to wait for Dee. Upon seeing Jeb for the first time in 10 years, coffee and muffins crash to the floor with her rushing into her bedroom to collect her self.

For years she dreamed of this moment; she worried he was hurt, lost or worse... yet here he was here in her living room...

These two take a journey which we are allowed to experience through their eyes... each has a perspective and we pray they can meld and become one...The reasons Jeb is here is confusing for both... she hopes to fight this attraction...and he, just as attracted is holding back...because there is much to talk about...a mysterious email from a man who says he is his long lost father.

The style... the way this installment was written for this on going series was perfect. We got to see a woman who as pained and lost as Dee was...still was strong and able to be who she was...warts and all. She had an open direct way of no BS and it worked. Jeb was this man who had pain wrapped around his heart... from never feeling like he belonged anywhere and wanting to know who his father was...Both of them had parents who thought they did right be their kids... only to have created a no win situation in the long run...

And when they were together....it wasn't explicit...yet moments like his coming up behind her...and her hair on the back of her neck rising...his presence and excitement making itself know against her back...just that alone will get your heart pumping, promise...
This was a very strong entry in this series and there is no need to read the others to enjoy this. They are all stand alone. I will be looking for more from Madeline Ash in the future.

My Reviews for this series:
The Cinderella Princess Royal Holiday #1 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1265815195 His Defiant Princess - Royal Holiday #3 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1262176560

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

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At 16, Dee was used to being left behind. Jed was her best friend and promised not to leave. The day after they confessed their love, he was gone. Ten years later, Dee has made a life for herself, but a long term relationship eludes her. She just can't find someone who takes her seriously. When Jed shows up on her doorstep, she realizes she never got over him. Jed has tracked her down to find out what happened the night he left, hoping it will help him understand why the father he never knew is contacting him. He doesn't expect anything else,especially since in the 10 years they have been apart, he never made a move to contact her.
Sparks are instant, but Dee tries to keep things in perspective, especially since there are so many hurt feelings to work through, not willing to be left behind, again.
I love Dee. She is fun and true to herself, the kind of friend I would love to have. She will do anything for you, even if you haven't spoken in 10 years! Jed was just as quirky. I also loved that we got some interaction with her best friend. I also liked that the looming shadow of his father was resolved.
A quick read, this was also engrossing. I look forward to reading other works by Madeline Ash.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

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So I am loving the Royal Holiday series! This series is unique because each book/novella is written by a different author. Book two is Her Secret Prince, and I really enjoyed it. It’s a short novella, but still manages to be a beautifully written second chance romance!

Dee Johnson and Jed Brown fell in love when they were just 16 years old. They were best friends, and when Dee decides to take a leap of faith and tell Jed her true feelings she discovers he feels the same. Unfortunately, that is the same night that Jed disappears from her life.

Fast forward to ten years later, and Dee is living her life as a screen writer. She hasn’t found a guy that compares to Jed. She never got over him, and she never knew what happened to him 10 years ago. Then he shows up on her doorstep wanting her to help him piece his life back together.

Jed has never had the opportunity to settle down anywhere. His mother was always unexpectedly moving them from one place to the next. He never knew who his father was, but he was contacted by a man claiming to be his father. Jed needs to get more information about the last night they spent together.

The time he spent with Dee was the best of his life. When he shows up at her door he isn’t expecting things to go anywhere, but there is no denying the feelings they have for one another. It’s pretty obvious who Jed’s father is and what decisions/conflict they couple might be facing… the title of the book is “Her Secret Prince” after all. We get our HEA in the end though.

Overall, I thought this was a perfect fairytale and such a sweet second chance romance. Although the story was short, I thought the storyline was fantastic, and the characters were really well developed. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, and more from this author in the future.

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Her Secret Prince is the first book I've read by Madeline Ash, and I enjoyed it. Dee was heartbroken when her best friend and the boy she'd fallen in love with disappeared. Jed fell for Dee too, but he was forced to move when his mom uprooted them. 10 years later he tracks her down and wants answers about what happened the night he left. Both characters were well written and there was a strong plot throughout the book. I didn't always agree with the character's decisions, but I was pleased with how the story ended. I give this book a solid 4 stars and recommend reading it.

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Dee is in love with her best friend Jed and she's ready to give him everything of herself, but a mysterious visitor causes Jed's mother to uproot his life and disappear... without saying goodbye. Ten years later Dee finds herself disillusioned about love because she's just been a placeholder for everyone who came into her life, someone to have a good time with until the real thing enters their lives. Everyone has left her behind and she is ready to give up.

But one day when she returns from a coffee run she finds a ghost from her past haunting her living room. Jed has returned and he needs her friendship once again. He needs her strength to face the man he and his mother have been running away from all their lives, his father. But what neither of them know is that Jed's father is the ruler of Leguarday and Jed is his only heir. There has always been a void in his life, he was never given the choice to belong to a place or a person and he finds a place to belong to in Leguarday but his home is with Dee, and once again he must make a sacrifice.

I loved this book. What a bittersweet story with a happily ever after. Madeline Ash has a way of writing her stories a little dark with a hint of mystery and sad but there is always a happily ever after. I am also happy to see Alexia and Parker from "The Playboy" again. I loved the crossover between the two series. Hope to see more of this.

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Lovely Book! I enjoyed the characters so much!! I was actually left wanting more of Dee and Jed. I would have like more of a drawn out story, but what is here is wonderful!

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(Thank you to Madeline Ash, Tule Publishing, and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an ARC for an honest review.)

Her Secret Prince by Madeline Ash was a quick and enjoyable escape. The story revolves around Dee and Jeb who both find something in the other that fills a void missing in their lives. The story starts when Dee and Jeb are sixteen. Their home lives are not ideal, with Dee’s parents always gone and Jeb’s mom moving them from one place to another, not staying in one place for long, so he’s uncertain how long he’ll be in one place. These two friends have known each other for seven months, and Dee is ready to confess her feelings to Jeb but something happens… Then we do not see our main couple again until ten years later, which is where the main part of the story begins.

Dee is kind and forthcoming and I liked how she spoke her mind. Jeb was calm and sweet. I liked how he came back for Dee. The characters have their obstacles to deal with once they’re reunited, which were predictable, but I still liked the story especially because of the dual POVs.

Overall, Her Secret Prince, was a short and fun read that I’d recommend to read especially if you’re looking for a pleasant escape.

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A very sweet, innocent book with well-crafted characters which, despite the short length of the novel had plenty of background story, to make the characters well rounded, and believable. Nicely done!

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I really enjoyed Her Secret Prince, book 2 in the Royal Holiday series. There was so much to like; best friends to lovers, second chance love, secret royalty. Madeline Ash gives readers a fast paced, sweet romance with only a bit of heartache tossed in.

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I really enjoyed Her Secret Prince, book 2 in the Royal Holiday series. There was so much to like; best friends to lovers, second chance love, secret royalty. Madeline Ash gives readers a fast paced, sweet romance with only a bit of heartache tossed in.

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I adored this book. Partially because the main character, Dee, is freaking amazing. She is super relatable and you can't help but feel for her during the entire book. The book itself is short, but both characters are fully formed and multi-dimensional. Sure, it's super-insta-romance, but that's what you expect from this kind of novel. The Prince twist just makes it so much better, though I wish there could have been more to it than there was. Basically, I just would love more of this story.

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I LOVED IT!!! Dee and Jed are just so...swoon

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This story struck me more than the first volume even though they are both very nice. I am a dreamer and lover of fairy tales so I could not miss this series where there are princes and princesses. Unlike the Prince Luc present in The Cinderella Princess, the male lead in this volume do not know to be blue-blooded. After a life of moving without stable accommodation, Jed back by the only person who made him feel good and at home. But the discovery of his origins may hinder such union.
For her part, Dee is tired of being abandoned and will not be burned again, especially by his friend and love, Jed. To save his heart, she tries to deny the attraction that binds them, a very difficult enterprise with a man ready to reclaim her.
I like the loves born in childhood and adolescence that are not extinguished over the years. Madeline Ash has managed very well to make the story interesting in a few pages, the story of Dee and Jed speaks of love and trust that in the end no one will break. A fairy tale that will delight all women and they will dream of Prince Charming (or any other color :P). The series Royal Holiday was a pleasant discovery.

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What a wonderfully delightful love story! Tracy Alvarez, you have definitely done it again! This is the story about Shaye Harland and Del Westlake. Del swore he would never come back to the island. He has had a chip on his shoulder since he was forced to leave with his mother 13 years ago. Shay is the sous chef for Due South, a hotel restaurant on the island. She desperately wants the role of head chef. However, Dell is returning, and that throws a kink into that plans. Del is also the owners son.

Miss Alvarez does a wonderful job writing this story. All of her characters are well defined, so believable. During the story, she takes you on an emotional roller coaster. There were times during the book I was laughing, cheering, and sometimes downright pissed off! But you know what that's what makes this book so great!
This is the third book in the Due South series. I was gifted with an ARC of this book for my honest opinion. In my honest opinion I loved it so much I cannot wait to go back and read the first two in the series, this one was absolutely fantastic.

Thank you for reading my review. Definitely, this one is worth Reading! Bravo Miss Alvarez!

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Read in May, 2015

I want to say the first and for most, DO NOT BE FOOLED, this is FAR from a cutesy little romance story about a prince finding his princess (ok, so when I read the title I didn't think there was going to be SO much in this story)

Dee Johnson and Jed Brown used to be best friends once upon a time. But then ... life happened.

Ten years later, they're thrown in each other's lives and a second chance is there for the grabbing! But this story is not just a reunited lovers story. OH NO, this is a story about growth and maturity, past and present, love and hate and it DID NOT take the road most traveled . It has its share of twists and possibilities that kept me guessing and captivated just enough to not stop turning pages. For THAT, we have to give Madeline Ash HUGE props. She took an ordinary trope and twisted it with her own flare and I LOVED IT!

SO, prepare yourself for one of the best emotional roller-coaster stories of the year!

ARC provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review

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Her Secret Prince will appeal to readers who enjoy sweet, emotionally satisfying stories.

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Second installment of Royal Holiday When Dee was 16 years old, she gave her heart to Jed who fled without saying good bye. She finally tells Jed how she feels about him, she wanted more than friends. One night everything changes when Jed's mom was chased by some foreign guy and leaves without a trace and Dee hears all the commotion in Jeds room. . Dee feels whoever she loves always leaves her. Her parents left her to do her own thing and Jed left her without saying good bye. Jed gets a mysterious email from Oscar who happens to be a King and trying to find what really happen 9 years ago at his apartment. He finds her and their adventure begins. . Jed has never lived long enough in one place to call home. Will he look for his heritage or will he stay with Dee? He made a promise to stay wherever she is. He is trying to find his real home.. is it with Dee or being a prince??
It was interesting from the start.. It didn't take me long to finish it. just in a day. I wish there was more story.. But it definitely had a happy ending.

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Loved this book, Madeline Ash knows how to write a story creatively that holds me on to the edge of my seat. Everyone should read Her Secret Prince.

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**My thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a quick short read, especially if you read fast like me.

You are provided with a prologue from when the characters are teenagers and best friends fighting sexual desire, then you are transported to modern day followed by an epilogue to tie up the ending.

Dee is a character that lets you know exactly how she is feeling and only as an adult has been able to exert caution over her words. She also trusts Jed enough that she instantly travels half way across the world just to support him in meeting the man that says that he is Jed's dad.

Jed has travelled all over the place, but finally managed to settle down eight years ago, much to the annoyance of his mother. But unbeknownst to him, his mother has been keeping a very big secret from him.

I really enjoyed this book, but wish it had been a little longer.

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This review appears on Amazon US -
Madeline Ash writes sweet, human, likable characters. I've enjoyed everything I've read by her.

This book is a quick read with a likable female lead. I enjoyed the touch of mystery and deep emotion written by Ash.

If you haven't done so already, but " Uncovered by Live" - I REALLY, REALLY liked that one.

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