These books are so fitting for this year I loved every single one of them there isn’t one that I didn’t enjoy.
Love how these books make me feel warm and tingly inside.
5 stars x

Jessica is a woman with a lot of emotional issues who has also suffered emotional abuse from her ex-husband but still manage to be successful in her chosen field of match making. She was approached by Prince Stavros to find him a wife. He ends up falling in love with her but she reject him............or did she........lol. You definitely need to read this book.
Lovely read. Will definitely recommend this book.

Great collection of stories, who doesn’t love a prince! With everyone’s eyes and ears on Harry and Meghan these stories are right on trend. “Crowned for the Prince’s Heir” is the first story in the collection. The aspects I enjoyed most were the strength, resilience and feistiness of the female character. You were willing her on throughout the story, to open up her heart to her Prince Charming. I found it interesting to read a love story based on ex’s reuniting and were the female lead is pregnant for a large part of the story. I must admit I would have preferred the story of when they first met, but that clearly demonstrates how great a writer Sharon Kendrick is, as I found her characters so intriguing!
I loved “The Ice Prince” by Sandra Morton. When the sparks are flying on the first page you know it’s going to keep you captivated. Prince Draco was so appealing and I especially liked the enemies to lovers theme. Great meeting place in an Airport VIP lounge and I particularly enjoyed Anna’s crime family back story. I liked that she had a hold over Prince Draco because she had the power to ruin his reputation.
Finally, I thought the idea of a matchmaker falling in love with her royal client was on point; “At His Majesty’s Request” by Maisey Yates. Matchmaking is all the rage these days, what with online dating and dating shows on TV which I am a big fan of. I fell in love with the characters and was rooting for them throughout the story. I liked that Jessica was vulnerable and insecure at times, as a lot of us often have self-doubt and this made her authentic as a character. I loved that the prince had an overwhelming sense of duty and commitment to his principality and the conflict that arose from the need to carry these out to please his people. It was great when he kicked tradition to the kerb to claim what and who he truly wants.

Sunday, 6 May 2018
Book Review: A Bride For The Playboy Prince (3in1 M&B)


A Bride For The Playboy Prince is a Mills & Boon 3 in 1 anthology published to celebrate the imminent Royal Wedding. The three authors are popular heavy weight Mills & Boon regulars and each story is glamourous, passionate but also gives an insight into how relationships work. Each story stays true to the them of the collection and if you haven't read any of these authors' novels before it provides a great introduction to their work and style of writing.

Crowned for the Prince's Heir by Sharon Kendrick reworks and brings life and humour to an age old theme: a elationship going nowhere, one last encounter and an unexpected pregnancy. In this case Lisa Bailey is a fashion designer who breaks off her relationship with Luciano Leonidas, a Mordovian Prince as the romance is going nowhere. They meet a few years later and have a one night stand (whilst he is on the cusp of proposing a politically advantageous marriage to a neighbouring princess), Lisa becomes pregnant. Luc discovers the pregnancy when he sees her modelling her pregnancy clothing range in the press. Luc is determined his child will be born into wedlock, the only flaw in his plan is having to get Lisa to agree!

Luc has been brought up by palace employees- nannies and governesses and so is all about doing his duty whilst Lisa is determined to protect her heart at all costs due to her childhood. The birth of their baby girl is the first time Luc has experienced unconditional love. Misunderstandings, conflict and stubbornness are rife. will they get their happily ever after.

Lisa is strong willed but likable, Luc can come accross as obnoxious and haughty because as a Orince he is used to getting his own way. A well written book which makes it easy to connect with the characters and the storyline.

The Ice Prince by Sandra Marton is the first book in the Orsini Brides collection. I have read this before and didn't really enjoy it. Anna Orsini has been sent to Sicily by her father, Cesare, a member of the mob, to sort out ownership over a strip of disputed land that her father claims belongs to her mother but is in fact owned by Draco. Cesare was trying to play matchmaker between Anna and Prince Draco Valenti. They first meet on the plane to Italy and the sparks certainly fly. Draco is shocked to find out that the woman he has had heated moments under the plane blanket is actually the belongs to a family involved in crime (she has in fact made it clear she will not be drawn into her father's and families activities).

Anna comes across to the reader as prickly, rude and generally unlikeable. Insisting she has to fly business class and Draco should give up one of his seats makes her appear self absorbed and spoilt whilst Draco is portrayed as the stereotypical Italian do not make the characters catch my imagination or make we not want to put the book down but carry on until I finish.This book hasn't aged well, faxes, laptops, solitaire etc spoilt the tone, setting and background of the book whilst the two main characters seemed forced and didn't gell together.

At His Majesty's Request by Maisey Yates is the the final book in this Royal anthology. Jessica Carter is a matchmaker tasked with finding Prince Drakos Stavros (of the mythical Greek Island of Kyonos) a wife. Drakos is a rich, entitled Greek Prince who doesn't believe in love. He has a list of qualities he requires in a wife, the most important being to provide him with heirs. Jessica is sarcastic, loves wearing vintage rather than couture clothing is the polar opposite to Drakos, who unfortunately finds her rather than her "suitable" socialite candidates attractive and exciting. Health issues and experiences with an unsympathetic ex-husband have left Jessica wary of relationships. Will Drakos need for heirs scupper their romance?

As usual Maisey Yates does not disappoint. She jumps right in to the story line, creating feisty, complicated characters that need to go through a journey before they can succeed in their relationships. She creates scenes that are humourous, heartrending and relatable which is why I always enjoy her work.

Only three stars for me. As I really enjoyed the first and last stories. Didn't enjoy the second one. I found the heroine unlikable, she was just difficult just for the sake of it. Now onto what i did enjoy. The passion between Lisa & Luc is intense. Luc takes his duties very seriously, he is due to betrothed to a suitable bride. But before he gets engaged, he needs to see Lisa one last time. They just cant resist the temptation and sleep together. When he finds out she is expecting he demands they get married Lisa wasn't agreeing to that.. I loved how Lisa wasn't a pushover. It as sweet to see Luc fall in love with his daughter, he sure wasn't expecting that.
The final story of the trio is. Jessica & Stavros love story. Stavros is in need of a bride, so he hires match maker extraordinaire Jess. He doesn't want a love match just a suitable wife. Only problem is that none of the matches can hold a candle to Jesica. Stavros and Jessica were made for each other, if only they could see beyond the incandescent passion they had.
Recommended for fans of royal romance.

This is a set of three books put together. The first book is Crowned for the Prince's Heir by Sharon Kendrick, who is a great author. This follows Lisa bailey and Prince Luciano Leonides of Mardovia, Luc for short. Now these two had a relationship, but as the title suggests a baby is in the picture. They have chemistry from the start, it is very well written and even dragged my emotions in.
The second book is The Ice Prince by Sandra Martin, this book happens to already be a part of a six series set about the Orsini Siblings. This book book concentrates on Anna Orsini and Draco. Anna is a very strong female charcter who refuses to be owned. The book is well written and will have you wanting to get the rest of the Orsini gang.
The third and final book is At his Majesty's Request by Maisey Yates. This book follow Jessica Carter and Prince Stavros Drakos. Jessica is a matchmaker and is hired to find the Prince a wife but no emotions are to be involved. This is a well written book and changes up the normal dynamic.

I'm not normally a huge fan of royal romances, but I found this trio of tales - by three established writers - an enjoyable read. Exactly what you would expect from these talented and experienced writers and Mills & Boon.

I received a copy of this collection from Mills&Boon Insiders and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 STARS
ARC REVIEW COPY.
Release Date-3/4/18

So this was an Anthology containing three stories all featuring royal matches.
I gave the first two books thee stars and the last which I enjoyed the most four stars.
That's how I decided on an overall rating of three and a half stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️STARS
Crowned for the Prince's Heir by Sharon Kendrick was an enjoyable read.
It was your classic second chance romance and passed an enjoyable couple of hours for me.
Dress designer Lisa Bailey protecting her broken heart ends her liaison with Prince Luciano Leonidas of Mordovia.
A couple years later Luc hankering after the one that got away and on the brink of a politically advantageous marriage with a neighbouring princess has a brief run-in with Lisa which ends less than pleasantly between them.
Fast forward a few months and Luc spots Lisa in the local rags and she's six months pregnant with what is obviously his child.
This is where our story really begins in earnest and I really can't say too much else without revealing all.
What I will say is that though I enjoyed this I wasn't overly fond of the male lead Luc.
I found him a rather selfish arrogant individual at times with a bit of a god complex.
Despite this, I did try to warm up to him as I felt he was probably a product of his cold upbringing.
Raised by a revolving door of palace governess's and nannies is it any wonder he lacked in the emotional department.
I don't feel that he had felt real love until his daughter was born, which is really rather sad.
Lisa was also a product of her early years and had developed a suit of armour to compensate.
It's a wonder these two emotionally stunted individuals managed to eventually pull it together.
I also wanted Lisa to grow a backbone as I felt she gave up her dream of designing much too quickly.
And I didn't feel the bone that was thrown at the end of this made up for this fact.
In conclusion, this was an enjoyable easy read but didn't ultimately hold many overall surprises.

⭐️⭐️⭐️STARS
This is the first book in the "The Orsini Brides" and Anna Orsini is sent off to Italy by her father Cesare to play lawyer over a small strip of land he claims belongs to her mother but in truth is owned by Prince Draco.
In actual fact, it's his crafty way of playing matchmaker for his daughter and Prince Draco Valenti.
The manipulative old sod.
So this was a sassy hot read from the get-go and though I did find Anna herself to be a bit annoying with her feminist rantings.
I absolutely adored Draco, he was so scrummy sweet and utterly adorable.
This was a lovely engaging story which I would have rated higher if Anna had maybe been a bit more likeable.
I just have an issue with woman who argues the toss all the time for no other reason than to be difficult.
Having a giant chip on their shoulder over every common courtesy extended, but would be the first to winge at any lack of chivalry they perceived as a slight.
Wanting there cake and eating it as well.
I mean come on man she was even pulling her face when he wanted her to try a certain ice-cream, flavour, it was a bloody ice-cream man.
I still enjoyed this but just felt Draco deserved much more.
So this was an ok read for me that could have better with a different female lead, like someone, not ANNA!!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟STARS
I really enjoyed "At His Majesty's Request" by Maisie Yates much more than I was expecting to.
This was a sweet and poignant tale that I couldn't help but like.
Matchmaker Jessica Carter is tasked with finding a suitable wife for Prince Stavros Drakos.
he doesn't require or want a love match just a certain list of qualities that must be met.
The most important being that she provide him with future heirs.
Watching his father the king crumble and morph into a shell of a man after the death of his wife Stavros sees love as a weakness and only requires duty in his future spouse.
The only problem is that all candidates put forward for his consideration pale in comparison to the lovely quirky and snarky matchmaker.
Stavros cant get her luscious curves and prickly personality out of his head.
Trouble is Jessica is not suitable wife material for him at all.
In return, Jess is fighting like crazy to batten down her hatches and resist her attraction to the sexy prince.
Both damaged by there pasts and against her better judgment the two succumb to there lust and mutual magnetism.
Knowing that this affair is going to be short-lived before they both get on with there lives.
So I loved both main characters here, they were just so relatable and human in their interactions with each other.
I especially adored the backstories they were both dealing with it made them both seem much more approachable overall.
This was not major angsty and apart from the obvious, there was no OW action that felt wrong.
There was, of course, the matches put forward by Jessica but this felt totally separate and we never really get to know them as people, so it didn't really cause an issue, as it was all so cold, sort of like a job interview.
Stavros himself even uses that terminology when describing his future union.
This was told from both Jessica and Stavros's POV helping to get a well-rounded insight into reasons for both their emotional states.
I also found this to be so sad and heart-rending there were instances I got an actual lump in my throat from the emotion conveyed here.
This was a great read that kept my attention.

Thank You to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this Royal omnibus of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is a trilogy of books and although I did enjoy the second two books I did not like the first one and this is what brings my score down. The heroes in the second two stories were interesting and charming but the first was just an arrogant bully. Maybe this book should have been a duet!

I’m going to lay my cards on the table right off and say I’m not a huge fan of the Royal Family and even less of all the hoopla surrounding the upcoming nuptials.

You might think that this particular book, seeing as it’s a special Royal Wedding Edition, might be a strange choice for me, but I do really love a Mills and Boon romance and who can resist a commoner who snags a rich, titled and even royal, man? I might not like the reality but I love the dream!

This book contains three full-length stories by three different authors, each giving a slightly different take on the royal wedding theme.

All three books have previously been released but are packaged together in this special edition.

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Crowned for the Prince’s Heir - Sharon Kendrick

The secret she kept from the Prince…

Dress designer Lisa Bailey reluctantly broke off her relationship with Luc, knowing an affair with the Prince had no future. But one last stolen encounter left her quaking with passion, drenched in desire—and unexpectedly pregnant!

Months later, Prince Luciano Leonidas of Mardovia is on the brink of the perfect political marriage when a news article shows Lisa with an obvious bump! His baby. With Mardovian royal blood. Now he must claim his heir at any cost. She might be an unsuitable bride, but she will become his Queen!

—

I really liked this story. It was fun, fresh and I got into it from the start. I loved the relationship between Lisa and Luc - even if Luc was a little bit overbearing at times!

A ‘surprise’ pregnancy is a well-used storyline but it’s one I can enjoy if the rest of the story is up to scratch - and this definitely is.

Luc might be overbearing and demanding, but Lisa not only holds her own but she only acquiesces to him only on her terms. She’s modern, strong and independent - a worthy heroine for a royal prince - especially one that needs to be brought low by love!

It’s fun, sweet and I enjoyed reading it.

---------------------------------

The Ice Prince - Sandra Marton

Prince Draco Valenti bears his title reluctantly, and wears his icy exterior like a suit of armour that no opponent can penetrate… Except Anna Orsini. She isn’t any ordinary adversary, she’s a high-flying, straight-talking lawyer in a no-nonsense suit and killer stilettos – conflicting signals that perplex, frustrate and attract Draco all at the same time…

Whilst they’re at odds in business, in the bedroom Draco’s desire for Anna has the power to melt his defences – the temptation to play with fire is overwhelming…

—

After my enjoyment of the first story, this story was so old-fashioned it genuinely enraged me.

I assumed, from the language (faxes, laptops are the new executive toy, Hearts and Solitaire are the only games available…) that this was written in the 1990s. And the disgusting cliches also lend themselves to the age of the story. They meet. He’s disinterested. They argue. She bests him so he kisses her. to shut her up. Against her will. But don’t worry, says she, an unwanted kiss isn’t assault - as she practically swoons about how wonderful the kiss was. *Rolls eyes* To find out it was written in 2011 astounds me.

Oh, and the smatterings of Italian words…I get it, you want us to know he’s Italian so you put mucho Italian words into his perfecto speech. Multo annoying.

I actually hated this book. No - just no.

---------------------------------

At His Majesty’s Request - Maisey Yates

She might not be suitable for the throne…

Matchmaker extraordinaire Jessica Carter arranges marriages that work. And that is exactly what Prince Drakos is looking for. The last thing he needs is someone as unsuitable as her…but none of the beautiful socialites paraded before him excite Stavros as Jessica does. But she can share his bed!

Usually unchallenged, Stavros welcomes Jessica’s defiance – his fingers itch to lower her prickly façade and discover what lies beneath. Will Jessica agree to his final request? One month to exorcise their smouldering passion, before he marries someone fit to be his Queen…

—

This book surprised me from the first page as it was sharp, snappy and the pages almost turned themselves. There’s no faffing about - we just get stuck right into the story.

The writing is fresh and I loved Jessica and Stavros and their interaction with each other. Jessica was a snarky, vintage loving matchmaker but she was as real as they come. Stavros was every inch the entitled, rich, Greek (sort of - he’s from the mythical kingdom of Kyonos) prince who didn’t believe in love. Yet!

What surprised me about this book was the emotional and the poignancy. With Jessica’s health history and experiences with her ex-husband, I really felt for her. And towards the end of the book, I had such feels for Stavros and Jess. I willed them to work it out and, I’ll admit it, I shed a little tear towards the end. I would have loved an epilogue but this book is actually part of a mini-trilogy so I’ll be looking for the next and previous in The Call of Duty series in the hopes of reading more of this couple.

A great book all-round.

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This is a good collection - a nice memento to celebrate the Royal Wedding or just a collection of Mills and Boon stories with a royal twist. Or maybe both.

I really, really didn’t like the middle story but the other two were excellent reads and I’d be happy to recommend them.

Even with the middle story, £5.99 (at the time of my review) for two excellent stories is great value and if you love Mills & Boon, you can’t go wrong with this collection.

A must to take on your travels or cuddle up with at home! I thoroughly enjoyed this set of romances. It seems so appropriate to publish them at this time .... with spring and summer being a popular time for weddings .... especially Royal ones! Each romance is different but with a common theme ..... princes who need to get married! That they don’t end up with the original girl is a given M. I thoroughly enjoyed each romance and the different styles of each author makes the set more interesting. I think the last, by Maisie Yates, was my favourite. An excellent holiday read and for the long light summer evenings. Sit back and be transferred to a different place and lifestyle. Enjoy!

Romantic royal weddings are on trend at the moment, and these three romances capture the essences of the 21st-century royal romance. With a nod to Cinderella, the heroines aren't princesses but, independent, professional, successful women, who seek passion rather than love because they don't want to risk their hearts. The three princes are duty bound to marry well, all have well-publicised love lives but meeting their unlikely Cinderella' makes them want to marry for love rather than obligation. The fast-paced stories have passion with humour and poignancy. Each story highlights, the drawbacks and commitment of royal life with strong conflict both external and internal but they all have fairytale endings.
Crowned for the Prince's Heir -
This is fashion designer Lisa and Prince Luciano's story. Before honouring an arranged betrothal, Luciano seeks out the only woman to reject him after a brief affair. Lisa's emotional scars make her protect her heart at all costs. The second time around doesn't end well for the couple, but it does leave a legacy that has consequences and leads to conflict and confusion before any chance of a happy ending.
The Ice Prince -
A wrangle over land and a case of mistaken identity throw lawyer Anna and Prince Draco together. The heat created is undeniable but family loyalty is at stake, and there is little trust between the two. I like this story least of the three, but it is full of passion and has a satisfactory ending.
At His Majesty's Request -
A 21st-century matchmaker and a prince seem an unlikely combination but neither is conventional, and both hide their true feelings from the world. Jessica and Stavros'passion sizzle before they acknowledge it. Stavros has put his country before his well-being, and Jessica's disastrous first marriage has left her scarred. This is the most romantic of the stories, and Stavros is my favourite prince. If you like passionate romance with a distinctly royal flavour, this trio of royal romances will be a worthwhile read.
I received a copy of this book from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Three romances in one book. How lucky are we!!!I
What a treat!
These are hot, emotional, sexy, stories. Couldn't choose which one was my favourite as they were all good. Have to say the last one made me cry with the emotionally charged, tender, loving gentleness of the story.
Loved them all.
Just as you would expect from Mills and Boon.

4.5/5

Three royal romances in one collection, each featuring a strong, independent heroine who isn’t looking to marry into royalty - in fact, they take some convincing to do so! In each story the Prince has a very different persona that he shares to the world to that he reveals in private. All three stories are delightful reads, passionate and loving, each with their own twist on the prince falling in love with a commoner, somewhat Cinderella style.

In the first story, The Ice Prince by Sharon Kendrick, Prince Luciano of Mardovia is considering announcing his marriage to the princess he was betrothed to as a baby. However, he can’t resist checking up on the only woman who ever treated him as himself rather than a Prince, the woman who left him, Lisa Bailey. This encounter leaves her pregnant and he is determined that the child will be born in wedlock and heir to his throne. His only problem is convincing Lisa!

In the second story, The Ice Prince by Sandra Martin, Anna Orsini is a lawyer who has rejected her father’s criminal, mob boss, lifestyle but can’t refuse to help him fight to gain access to her mother’s disputed land in Sicily. The two have some fraught encounters and heated moments on the flight to Italy when they don’t realise who the other is. This mutual attraction is hot and the sparks definitely fly as they try to resolve the dispute and their mutual attraction in this fast paced feisty romance.

The final story is At His Majesty’s Request by Maisey Yates and in this story Prince Stavros has employed a renowned, discrete, matchmaker, Jessica Carter, to help him find him someone to be his bride and future queen. However, despite all the attractive young ladies she enables him to meet, she is the only one that catches his eye and his heart but she has secrets that make her totally unsuitable no matter how strong the attraction is between the two of them. Can love find a way for them?

This is a great collection of very different royal princes finding love in settings both real and imaginary written by three talented authors. Even if you aren’t looking for a prince, they’re still lovely stories to escape into, IMHO!

I requested and was lucky enough to be given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

This compilation includes three different stories by three different authors but they are drawn together by a common theme, strong independent women who find their own Prince. This book was the perfect companion to curl up with and enjoy on a rainy afternoon.
My thanks to Net galley and Mills and Boon via Mills and Boon Insiders, for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

The perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon, 5 Stars 🌟
When three accomplished authors release a Royal Wedding Compilation it's always a must read, A Bride For The Playboy Prince includes Three of Ms Kendrick's, Ms Marton's and Ms Yates Royal best;
In Crowned For The Prince’s Heir by Ms Sharon Kendrick we meet Prince Luciano Leonides of Mardovia who is on the verge of the perfect political marriage when one chance newspaper picture show’s his ex Lisa with a very obvious bump! Lisa only walked away from Luciano because he could never choose her over Mardovia but with a Royal baby on the way Luciano has every excuse to go after what he wants but can this unsuitable bride be the Queen he needs?
In The Ice Prince by Ms Sandra Marton we meet Lawyer Anna Orsini who has worked hard to distance herself from her father and everything he stands for, but when he summons her and persuades her to go to Italy to fight for her mother's disputed Land in Taormina, Sicily, Anna reluctantly agrees, for her mother. Which is how Anna finds herself on her way to Italy having already crossed paths with the world's most infuriating man. It's only when she walks into her meeting she realises that the man that kissed her in the airport lounge and she shared those unforgettable moments under a airplane blanket is actually Prince Draco Valenti. Draco will not allow a mob boss intimidate him and vows to settle this dispute once and for all but when he sees the woman from the airport stood there the sparks fly and Draco and Anna find themselves at the centre of the blaze. Neither Draco or Anna are looking for love nor do they trust it but after a week in Italy will they get burnt or can they find a way to lower their defences to find their own HEA!
This book is a great standalone but if you want to read more about the Orsini family then Raffaele, Dante, Falco, Nicolo and Isabella all have there stories to tell in Ms Kendrick's Orsini family mini series, so if you enjoyed this book and enjoy an alpha male then check Ms Marton’s back catalogue, you won't be disappointed.
And finally in At His Majesty's Request by Ms Maisey Yates’ we meet Prince Stavros Drakos who needs to find a suitable wife so he calls on Matchmaker extraordinaire Jessica Carter to find her. What Stavros doesn't expect is just how appealing Jessica is, so when the beautiful candidates Jessica finds for Stavros fail to tempt him. Stavros decides the best way forward is for Jessica to agree to a month, a month for the two of them to exhaust the passion between them so that Stavros can find and marry his suitable bride and Jessica can go back to her career, for Jessica cannot give Stavros the royal heirs he needs and therefore is not a suitable bride but sometimes a royal scandal can lead to a HEA!
Prince Stavros’ story is book two of Ms Yates A Call of Duty series it can be enjoyed as a great standalone in its own right, but if you enjoyed this book then I think you will enjoy both the prequel Princess Evangelina Drakos story and the final installment Xander Drakos story, both a must if you enjoy Ms Yates writing.
Although this compilation includes three different stories they are drawn together by a common theme strong independent women who find their own HEA with their own somewhat flawed Princes so if you have found your own real life prince or your still looking then this compilation is the perfect companion to indulge yourself with and enjoy during a lazy afternoon!
Fyi I received my copy from Netgalley and Mills and Boon via Mills and Boon Insiders, but this does not influence my opinions as all opinions are my own.