Laia Saint Roman, Crown Princess of Isla’Rosa is engaged with King Aristides de Valle y Montero of Santanger since they were kids. Yes, an arranged marriage to keep peace between both kingdoms. Laia doesn’t want it; she has plans for Isla’Rosa as soon she’s crowned Queen, so she would do anything to broke the engagement. Even fleeing from it! What she didn’t count on is that her fiancée would send his brother, Crown Prince Dax, to find her. And he did. Now her only choice is to “kidnap” Dax in her private Malaysian island and keep them there for ten days to get rid of her arranged marriage. But she didn’t expected the intense attraction both Laia and Dax feel for each other…
Laia and Dax are the same in most aspects in their lives, both royals carry a burden of guilt in their hearts due to past tragedies that wasn’t their fault nor could they do anything about it. Also, they’re hiding their true self, creating a public persona for the show: the Royal Bad Boy and the Party Princess. Where the differences come is in what they’re hiding behind the facade and how they deal with their guilt. Laia is a strong, determined woman. Trained to be queen one day, she has an iron will. True to her beliefs and although she knows what’s expected of her as future monarch, she doesn’t want a marriage of convenience for herself; she wants love in her more than challenging life. Dax comes with a huge emotional baggage from a dysfunctional family, which has distanced him from his duty as heir to the throne and led him to reject anything that has to do with commitments.
(I have to say I loved Laia and her strength, but I’m fascinated with Dax. He’s a jewel of a character and all the layers he has behind his devil-may-care attitude are very intriguing. I really wanted Dax could have his happily ever after while reading this book. So much I almost cried at the end of the book seeing how his vision of the future was finally a reality.)
How these two complex characters work together? Simple, their emotional similarities makes them discover the best qualities of each other. They actually make the other a better person. They’re equals in every step of their jorney to happiness. And that speaks volumes, considering Laia is destined to be queen, and what that entails for an alpha male like Dax. Not to mention their chemistry is off the charts… They deserve each other in a positive way. Although if you ask me, I didn’t fully buy Laia’s seduction plan.
Since Dax and Laia are “trapped” on a paradise island, far from their usual surroundings and their people, the whole book is about them. That said, the secondary characters, Aristides (Dax’s brother) and Maddi (Laia’s half sister/lady-in-waiting), are very strong. Because Laia was supposed to marry Ari and Maddi is pretending to be Laia—this happens in book 1 of the Princess Brides for Royal Brothers duet, Mistaken as His Royal Bride, as both stories run parallel. I’m reading book 1 at the moment this review is published, by the way—is interesting how Ms. Green uses Laia and Dax being isolated in a private island to develop the plot with only three interactions between the main and the supporting characters while at the same time Ari and Maddi have a strong voice without practically saying a word. And no interactions between Laia and Ari, which is quite telling because Laia and Ari are supposed to be engaged during most of the story, for heaven’s sake!
The last installment of the Princess Brides for Royal Brothers duet is a book full of personality and good scenes. Definitely a fantastic closing for the miniseries. A bit off towards the ending and flawed, yes, but it has a lovely epilogue. Also, the plot is credible with sassy and profound moments. Ms. Green is a good author, with great writing skills and Claimed by the Crown Prince is a perfect example of it.
ARC given by Harlequin Books via Netgalley. Thanks for your trust.
About the Book
Release Date: December 26, 2023
ASIN: B0BYP3LQDW
Published By: Harlequin Presents
Series: Princess Brides for Royal Brothers #2; Hot Winter Escapes #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
eBook, 211 pages
Falling for the king’s brother could be her undoing! Give in to the craving of this royal romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Abby Green.
Marooned in Malaysia…
with a forbidden princess!
Fleeing an arranged marriage to a king is easy for Princess Laia—remaining hidden is harder! When his brother, Crown Prince Dax, tracks her down, she strands them on a private island. But Laia isn’t prepared for the overwhelming attraction she feels, especially once she realizes Dax protects his heart as fiercely as she does…
Legendary playboy Dax has always remained loyal to the Crown. Until the alluring Laia’s fiery temperament and kindness tests his duty. And with ten days alone in paradise, it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid temptation…
From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Read all the Hot Winter Escapes books:
Book 1: Bound by Her Baby Revelation by Cathy Williams
Book 2: An Heir Made in Hawaii by Emmy Grayson
Book 3: Claimed by the Crown Prince by Abby Green
Book 4: One Forbidden Night in Paradise by Louise Fuller
Book 5: A Nine-Month Deal with Her Husband by Joss Wood
Book 6: Snowbound with the Irresistible Sicilian by Maya Blake
Book 7: Undoing His Innocent Enemy by Heidi Rice
Book 8: In Bed with Her Billionaire Bodyguard by Pippa Roscoe
BLOGGER’S NOTE: This book is also part of the Princess Brides for Royal Brothers duet by Abby Green:
Book 1: Mistaken as His Royal Bride
Book 2: Claimed by the Crown Prince
About the Author
Abby Green has been hooked on romantic stories ever since she was a little thing, lying in bed, making her aunt tell her (over and over again) about a Prince and a scary forest and the Princess he was rescuing.
Thankfully (for her aunt), she learned to read and discovered the wonderful worlds of authors like Judy Blume, Jackie Collins, Jilly Cooper and Barbara Taylor Bradford to mention but a tiny few, as well as the great lexicon of Harlequin Mills and Boon romances.
A career in Film and TV as a 2nd Assistant Director was thrilling and exciting for many years, but Abby always had that other side of her that wanted to write and make up stories about Princesses rescuing Princes from scary forests – because we all know that’s how it really pans out, right?
After submitting to Mills and Boon in London and receiving a rejection letter, albeit with notes, she stuck her foot firmly in the door so it wouldn’t close, and about a year later, an author was born.
She was nominated in 2011 for the prestigious RITA© Award for her book ‘Breaking The Sheikh’s Rules.’
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more about her and her books here: http://www.abby-green.com
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