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Royals of Sondmark #2
The Winter Princess
“If you have even a speck of charm, today is the day to summon it.”
Known to her family as the Lone Wolffe, all Princess Freja wants is a good exhibit launch, some personal space, and a cookie. When her plans come crashing down (on the prime minister's head, no less), it's just her luck that the man with a front-row seat is grumpy, smoking-hot art restorer Oskar Velasquez.
With The National Museum on the brink of ruin, Oskar is in danger of losing his job and his last shot at citizenship. Though he'd rather be in his studio scraping brittle varnish or touching up damaged art, he’ll do anything to stay in Sondmark, even if it means becoming a social media star and losing sleep over an alliance with a gorgeous, off-limits princess.
Known to her family as the Lone Wolffe, all Princess Freja wants is a good exhibit launch, some personal space, and a cookie. When her plans come crashing down (on the prime minister's head, no less), it's just her luck that the man with a front-row seat is grumpy, smoking-hot art restorer Oskar Velasquez.
With The National Museum on the brink of ruin, Oskar is in danger of losing his job and his last shot at citizenship. Though he'd rather be in his studio scraping brittle varnish or touching up damaged art, he’ll do anything to stay in Sondmark, even if it means becoming a social media star and losing sleep over an alliance with a gorgeous, off-limits princess.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2022
40 people are currently reading
1058 people want to read
About the author
Keira Dominguez
9 books204 followersI'm a writer and a reader. If I review a book here, it's because I liked it, or the author is long dead and I have some things I'm tryna to work through.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 5, 2023
THIS BOOK RESCUED ME.
It may have restored my recently acquired lackluster faith in humanity and charmed the bobby socks off my recently acquired cynicism.
OSKAR. His inner pining monologue to Freya is monolithic in scope. The details he notices. That he doesn’t even let on he notices. His patience. His teasing.
FREYA. Her naughty streak that wants to be a connoisseur of shirtless art restoration. Her fierce need to carve out a space for her passion. Her laser sharp insight that allows her to see beyond the facade of others -including her mother the Queen- and expose the fears that compel their actions.
On paper they are diametrically opposed.
IRL???? It’s a completely different story. Because when you get them in front of a camera all that simmering chemistry is captured for the world to see. #lightitup #alliseeisyou #holdingyourhandholdsmetogether
I’ll have a much longer review up on my blog later next week…MEANWHILE.
READ THIS BOOK. It’s a warm cinnamon roll of a hug straight from the oven and it’s slathered in layers of gorgeous prose and insight and empathy like icing you’ll want to savor.
It may have restored my recently acquired lackluster faith in humanity and charmed the bobby socks off my recently acquired cynicism.
OSKAR. His inner pining monologue to Freya is monolithic in scope. The details he notices. That he doesn’t even let on he notices. His patience. His teasing.
FREYA. Her naughty streak that wants to be a connoisseur of shirtless art restoration. Her fierce need to carve out a space for her passion. Her laser sharp insight that allows her to see beyond the facade of others -including her mother the Queen- and expose the fears that compel their actions.
On paper they are diametrically opposed.
IRL???? It’s a completely different story. Because when you get them in front of a camera all that simmering chemistry is captured for the world to see. #lightitup #alliseeisyou #holdingyourhandholdsmetogether
I’ll have a much longer review up on my blog later next week…MEANWHILE.
READ THIS BOOK. It’s a warm cinnamon roll of a hug straight from the oven and it’s slathered in layers of gorgeous prose and insight and empathy like icing you’ll want to savor.
May 31, 2024
”that should have been my first clue. Never trust a man with empty bookshelves”
📚 workplace romance
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 dual POV
🚫 closed door
|Thoughts|
This was an enjoyable read following on from the first book in this series. Again, liked the suttle nods the British royals (in this case a Princess who like Princess Beatrice has scars from spinal surgery).
The story was fairly predictable from the beginning but it was still a light and enjoyable read.
“He’s to being resentful allies in a time of crisis”
Enjoyed the slight change of scenery in this one with the MMC being an art restoration. I have myself have watched plenty a video of artwork being restored, so this line resonated with me.
“While you were working just now, it occurred to me that art restoration would make for amazing content”
The tension between this two was just perfect and made even more enjoyable as their social media audience and coworkers recognised their chemistry.
It did contain one of my favourite tropes, where the characters get locked together in a building (often a shopping centre, in this case a measure).
This story also has a slight Christmas flare to it as it’s set in the lead up to Christmas.
Felt the ending was tied up nicely, if maybe a little too fast. And whilst one particularl event was a sweet touch it in itself felt rushed given their recent declarations of love.
🎄 🎄 Christmas magic
🟢 For more bookish content follow me instagram.com/read_watch_crochet
📚 workplace romance
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 dual POV
🚫 closed door
|Thoughts|
This was an enjoyable read following on from the first book in this series. Again, liked the suttle nods the British royals (in this case a Princess who like Princess Beatrice has scars from spinal surgery).
The story was fairly predictable from the beginning but it was still a light and enjoyable read.
“He’s to being resentful allies in a time of crisis”
Enjoyed the slight change of scenery in this one with the MMC being an art restoration. I have myself have watched plenty a video of artwork being restored, so this line resonated with me.
“While you were working just now, it occurred to me that art restoration would make for amazing content”
The tension between this two was just perfect and made even more enjoyable as their social media audience and coworkers recognised their chemistry.
It did contain one of my favourite tropes, where the characters get locked together in a building (often a shopping centre, in this case a measure).
This story also has a slight Christmas flare to it as it’s set in the lead up to Christmas.
Felt the ending was tied up nicely, if maybe a little too fast. And whilst one particularl event was a sweet touch it in itself felt rushed given their recent declarations of love.
🎄 🎄 Christmas magic
🟢 For more bookish content follow me instagram.com/read_watch_crochet
October 15, 2025
I don't know how Keira Dominguez continues to write masterpiece after masterpiece, but she's done it again with The Winter Princess!
.
This book has the sweetest fairy tale feeling to it. Oskar and Freya are just delightful.
.
I loved the art museum setting...and this is coming from someone who feels ambivalent about art museums.
.
If you love sweet romance with a side of social justice, vintage fashion, hilarious social media hashtags, a well-meaning intern, and lots of romantic tension, The Winter Princess is for you!
.
I received an eARC from the author, but I had already ordered my own paperback copy because I knew this book would be amazing! All opinions are my own.
10/15/25: I'd forgotten so much about this story that it was like reading it again for the first time!
Ditto everything I said in my initial review.
"History teaches us to be modest about our virtues and more generous about the motivations of others. It forces us to see that people are people, whether they live across the continent or come from another century."
.
This book has the sweetest fairy tale feeling to it. Oskar and Freya are just delightful.
.
I loved the art museum setting...and this is coming from someone who feels ambivalent about art museums.
.
If you love sweet romance with a side of social justice, vintage fashion, hilarious social media hashtags, a well-meaning intern, and lots of romantic tension, The Winter Princess is for you!
.
I received an eARC from the author, but I had already ordered my own paperback copy because I knew this book would be amazing! All opinions are my own.
10/15/25: I'd forgotten so much about this story that it was like reading it again for the first time!
Ditto everything I said in my initial review.
"History teaches us to be modest about our virtues and more generous about the motivations of others. It forces us to see that people are people, whether they live across the continent or come from another century."
July 27, 2023
erik carried
Read
March 13, 2023The Winter Princess:
(Royals of Sondmark, Book 2)
By Keira Domingez
If you enjoy...
👑Beautiful Cover
👑Hate to Love Trope
👑Fast Paced Story
👑Royal Romance
👑Sweet Romance
I recommend checking this one out & other books by this author.
I received an E book ARC & all thoughts and opinions are my own. ♡
Book Synopsis:
“If you have even a speck of charm, today is the day to summon it.”
Known to her family as the Lone Wolffe, all Princess Freja wants is a good exhibit launch, some personal space, and a cookie. When her plans come crashing down (on the prime minister's head, no less), it's just her luck that the man with a front-row seat is grumpy, smoking-hot art restorer Oskar Velasquez.
With The National Museum on the brink of ruin, Oskar is in danger of losing his job and his last shot at citizenship. Though he'd rather be in his studio scraping brittle varnish or touching up damaged art, he’ll do anything to stay in Sondmark, even if it means becoming a social media star and losing sleep over an alliance with a gorgeous, off-limits princess."
(Royals of Sondmark, Book 2)
By Keira Domingez
If you enjoy...
👑Beautiful Cover
👑Hate to Love Trope
👑Fast Paced Story
👑Royal Romance
👑Sweet Romance
I recommend checking this one out & other books by this author.
I received an E book ARC & all thoughts and opinions are my own. ♡
Book Synopsis:
“If you have even a speck of charm, today is the day to summon it.”
Known to her family as the Lone Wolffe, all Princess Freja wants is a good exhibit launch, some personal space, and a cookie. When her plans come crashing down (on the prime minister's head, no less), it's just her luck that the man with a front-row seat is grumpy, smoking-hot art restorer Oskar Velasquez.
With The National Museum on the brink of ruin, Oskar is in danger of losing his job and his last shot at citizenship. Though he'd rather be in his studio scraping brittle varnish or touching up damaged art, he’ll do anything to stay in Sondmark, even if it means becoming a social media star and losing sleep over an alliance with a gorgeous, off-limits princess."
May 14, 2023
Let me begin by saying that I am a really old soul. And that I am really cautious about picking up books with modern themes. It is no reflection on the many excellent books written by modern authors - only on my stubborn refusal to try new things. Well, I was proved wrong by this one!
This series just keeps getting better and better. I had really liked The Impossible Princess. The Winter Princess has moved even further up on my enjoyment scale. It checked every box on my list of yardsticks for a good book that I can’t put down.
For starters, the prose is lyrical. And the author’s repertoire of metaphors is vast and elegant. The narrative is fluid and the world building is awesome. I love museums so I relished all the descriptions of art, history, and culture.
One of the striking aspects of this book is how the issue of immigration and immigrants is handled with both sensitivity and insight. Without anything but wisdom and and a deeper understanding emanating from it.
The banter between the siblings, the humor surrounding social media, and Erik the Intern, and the political tussle over the museum kept me engaged every minute.
The prime minister reminded me of Scar from The Lion King.
As for Freja and Oskar, they’ve become one of my favorite couples in modern romance. They are adorable together. At the same time, I love that they are aware of the culture and traditions they are surrounded by, of the deep bond that unites them in spite of the storms of division raging outside, and of the electrifying chemistry that erupts between them whenever they are together. Their romance is fiery, heartwarming, and palpable. It simmers and simmers, then explodes into the frenzied climax in the final pages.
The last scenes are…well, I’ll leave it at that. Those flame emojis on the viewers’ cellphones from all over Sondmark are more eloquent than you can ever imagine.
Absolutely fascinated by this book by Keira Dominguez. I would highly recommend it to lovers of closed-door, sweet romance. Looking forward to the next one. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This series just keeps getting better and better. I had really liked The Impossible Princess. The Winter Princess has moved even further up on my enjoyment scale. It checked every box on my list of yardsticks for a good book that I can’t put down.
For starters, the prose is lyrical. And the author’s repertoire of metaphors is vast and elegant. The narrative is fluid and the world building is awesome. I love museums so I relished all the descriptions of art, history, and culture.
One of the striking aspects of this book is how the issue of immigration and immigrants is handled with both sensitivity and insight. Without anything but wisdom and and a deeper understanding emanating from it.
The banter between the siblings, the humor surrounding social media, and Erik the Intern, and the political tussle over the museum kept me engaged every minute.
The prime minister reminded me of Scar from The Lion King.
As for Freja and Oskar, they’ve become one of my favorite couples in modern romance. They are adorable together. At the same time, I love that they are aware of the culture and traditions they are surrounded by, of the deep bond that unites them in spite of the storms of division raging outside, and of the electrifying chemistry that erupts between them whenever they are together. Their romance is fiery, heartwarming, and palpable. It simmers and simmers, then explodes into the frenzied climax in the final pages.
The last scenes are…well, I’ll leave it at that. Those flame emojis on the viewers’ cellphones from all over Sondmark are more eloquent than you can ever imagine.
Absolutely fascinated by this book by Keira Dominguez. I would highly recommend it to lovers of closed-door, sweet romance. Looking forward to the next one. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oskar & Princess Freja
- Dual POV
- Princess FMC
- Art restorer/artist MMC
- Forced proximity
- Nosey, opinionated Royal family
- Found family
- European Winter / Christmas setting
✨ a few of my favorite things:
- Freja’s nature, her love and major obsession with food, and quiet confidence
- Oskar’s steady reassurance and safety, his fixation on observing the little things that make Freja
- Their bonding over nerdy things
- The flirting!!!!!!
- Ella & Freja, all the sisters bonding
- The dancing!! And her being folded into his world
- The snowball fight & Christmas decorations
- THAT ENDING. GOOD GREIF. I MAY NOT RECOVER 🤭🥹
- The gifts from Queen Mom 🥲
- Erik, he grows on you
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 2 of the Royals of Sondmark - I am not eloquent, or as princessly as Freja so please take my word for it when I say THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. The stakes are high in this book and Freja rises to the occasion. I teared up when she declared “People can tell when they matter”. She is the embodiment of this sentiment and shows her people how much they matter to her. None more so then Oskar.
I so adored the way Oskar and Freja both so each other love in small ways. You have to pay attention to catch the gravity of their actions and words. But if you’re paying attention, you’ll see they have a love that moves mountains. Not to mention they both find each other wildly hot 😂🤷🏻♀️ and as Erik puts it, you could cut that tension with a knife.
I cannot recommend this book enough if you enjoy Royal families, drama (family and national), political stakes, deals with devils, strong sisterly bonds, a surly brother with secrets, royal engagements, underdogs working together, nosey interns, make you blush flirting, witty remarks, hilarious inner monologues, big declarations of love and commitment, quiet shows of support, and the sweetest endings.
This is a closed door modern royal romcom. There is non-descript kissing, Sondish cursing, and vague mild innuendo.
Songs:
The one that I want by Sadie Jean
I guess I’m in love by Clinton Kane
Nice to each other by Olivia Dean
Oskar & Princess Freja
- Dual POV
- Princess FMC
- Art restorer/artist MMC
- Forced proximity
- Nosey, opinionated Royal family
- Found family
- European Winter / Christmas setting
✨ a few of my favorite things:
- Freja’s nature, her love and major obsession with food, and quiet confidence
- Oskar’s steady reassurance and safety, his fixation on observing the little things that make Freja
- Their bonding over nerdy things
- The flirting!!!!!!
- Ella & Freja, all the sisters bonding
- The dancing!! And her being folded into his world
- The snowball fight & Christmas decorations
- THAT ENDING. GOOD GREIF. I MAY NOT RECOVER 🤭🥹
- The gifts from Queen Mom 🥲
- Erik, he grows on you
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 2 of the Royals of Sondmark - I am not eloquent, or as princessly as Freja so please take my word for it when I say THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. The stakes are high in this book and Freja rises to the occasion. I teared up when she declared “People can tell when they matter”. She is the embodiment of this sentiment and shows her people how much they matter to her. None more so then Oskar.
I so adored the way Oskar and Freja both so each other love in small ways. You have to pay attention to catch the gravity of their actions and words. But if you’re paying attention, you’ll see they have a love that moves mountains. Not to mention they both find each other wildly hot 😂🤷🏻♀️ and as Erik puts it, you could cut that tension with a knife.
I cannot recommend this book enough if you enjoy Royal families, drama (family and national), political stakes, deals with devils, strong sisterly bonds, a surly brother with secrets, royal engagements, underdogs working together, nosey interns, make you blush flirting, witty remarks, hilarious inner monologues, big declarations of love and commitment, quiet shows of support, and the sweetest endings.
This is a closed door modern royal romcom. There is non-descript kissing, Sondish cursing, and vague mild innuendo.
Songs:
The one that I want by Sadie Jean
I guess I’m in love by Clinton Kane
Nice to each other by Olivia Dean
March 13, 2023
I LOVED this book so much. I'm a sucker for the enemies to lovers romance trope and watching grumpy Oskar fall in love with Freja as their social media campaign to save the national museum goes viral was sublime. The whole country can see it happen in real time, but Freja and Oskar are delightfully dense and I was HERE FOR IT. As with ALL of Keira's books, the dialogue is sharp and witty. The side characters are perfectly well rounded and not just propped up set pieces. I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM TOO! The plot is well paced with a generous sprinkling of details about Actual Royal Life. Also, I'm starting a petition to get the author to put together a Pinterest page of all of Freja's vintage outfits because I need pictures to go along with the amazing descriptions.
June 10, 2023
Stop what you are doing right now and read this book. Wowzer I loved it . The perfect summer book or any time book but since it’s summer I’m going to say don’t wait til fall to read. Soooo swoony and fun and smart and dang Keira can WRITE!!!!!!! Big fan when’s the next one —I NEED another one !!!!!!!!
November 3, 2025
This is Keira’s second Sondmark book, a series about a family of royals in an imaginary Scandinavian-esque country. Keira is a master at combining thorough research (this time about art restoration, which I’m loving!) with clean romance and stellar writing/pacing. Seriously a beautiful book—Keira’s writing is amazing!
June 5, 2025
This book is so good! The characters feel so real and fit together just right. I loved watching them fall in love, along with the rest of their country. :) The book covers important topics in a natural way. Highly recommend!
March 16, 2023
You guys, two things I love, vintage fashion and curmudgeonly men, especially if those men are smouldering hot Pavians like Oskar. I continue to be enchanted with the country of Sondmark and watching an immigrant fall in love with the Princess while discussing items at the national museum was almost more than I could handle. Folk costumes, I'm dead.
April 5, 2023
This is the fifth book I’ve read by Keira and her work just keeps getting better and better! She is a master at what I like to call “sophisticated romance” and I can always tell how much research she has done for each book. The Winter Princess is full of witty banter, a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance, life as a royal, a peek into art restoration and the ups and downs of social media. This book is perfectly atmospheric and if you love the idea of a royal falling for someone “beneath” her, this is definitely the book for you.
July 17, 2023
4.5
LOVE LOVE LOVE
i think this is just the dream
LOVE LOVE LOVE
i think this is just the dream
March 23, 2023
Poetry!
This book felt like Poetry to me. The writing was beautiful and the slow burn romance was perfect.
I love how the characters described each other during their POV chapters. There were some great descriptions and you could just feel them fighting their growing attraction for each other and when inevitably gave into the pull.
The book wasn’t filled with action which kinda made it feel slow at the vet beginning but once you get into the first few chapters the romantic tension was perfect and I had to see how it turned out. ( I was not disappointed at all!)
Overall I really liked the first book in the series but I liked the second one even more. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
This book felt like Poetry to me. The writing was beautiful and the slow burn romance was perfect.
I love how the characters described each other during their POV chapters. There were some great descriptions and you could just feel them fighting their growing attraction for each other and when inevitably gave into the pull.
The book wasn’t filled with action which kinda made it feel slow at the vet beginning but once you get into the first few chapters the romantic tension was perfect and I had to see how it turned out. ( I was not disappointed at all!)
Overall I really liked the first book in the series but I liked the second one even more. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
February 26, 2025
First book from this author and it won't be the last. It was a super sweet royal romance with enemies to lovers, workplace romance, and forced proximity. I loved watching their romance play out on social media. Overall, a very enjoyable read.
October 11, 2024
Obsessed with this story!
I loved so much about this book, the romance was top notch, the banter was excellent, and it brought to light issues that are super important to me in a meaningful way.
Just read it. This Princess is going to shock you in the BEST way. I LOVED her growth!!
I loved so much about this book, the romance was top notch, the banter was excellent, and it brought to light issues that are super important to me in a meaningful way.
Just read it. This Princess is going to shock you in the BEST way. I LOVED her growth!!
March 10, 2024
I don't know if this was because i am not a native english speaker or because this was a second book in a series , but half of the time i couldn't understand what was being mentioned , the refrences, terms, i was also confused most of the time.
It still was an enjoyable read
It still was an enjoyable read
September 25, 2024
Rating: Really Liked It! Would Reread ❤️🤍
Spice Rating: 🌶️ - Closed Door, Some Kissing Scenes
Spice Rating: 🌶️ - Closed Door, Some Kissing Scenes
April 3, 2023
love it!!
The Impossible Princess was the first book I had read by this author and I was hooked! This is the second book in the Royals of Sondmark series.
I loved her characters and the family dynamics! It’s so nice to see a family that supports each other, even though there is some underlying trouble in paradise between the parents. I really liked how the two books overlapped.
I also loved how the storylines didn’t repeat. Sometimes authors like to tell you the same story but just change the names a bit. (I guess I’ve read way too many books when I am leery of that happening.). So far each sister is unique and enjoys her own healthy relationships with each other. We get glimpses into the future. (All of us are watching Noah and Caroline, and Alma. )
Each sibling taking courage from the last to find their own HEA. And I am looking forward to the next book!
I really disliked the Queen mother in the first book, she thawed marginally by the end. In this book we start out with a very different relationship between the Queen and this daughter. The Queen has always been careful and indulgent with Freja. Freja doesn’t understand why her siblings have such a hard time getting along with their mother. We get to see some of what Freja loves about her mother and a few more clues into what happened between the parents that caused such a huge riff. (I am hoping each book will bring the two parents closer to a happy resolution.)
Freja is “the lone Wolf” (I forget how they spell it but it has reference to their being the house of Wolfe). She has a hard time being around people for very long. Struggles with overstimulation (dislikes being in crowded situations, needs quiet time to decompress-introvert?), has only cursory understanding of people and their emotions. She acknowledges that she frequently doesn’t understand what is right in front of her. She is passionate about Art and fashion and spends most of her time working in, for, about “The Nat” (national art museum).
Oskar is an orphan straddling two cultures and not feeling at home in either. His family fled to Sondmark when he was young as refugees. The country didn’t exactly embrace them with open arms. He, like many children of parents native to one country but forced to live in another, was the obligatory buffer for his parents. Translating, negotiating, and even defending his beloved parents who struggled with the local language and customs. He struggled himself but children learn faster. But not fast enough to avoid being bullied and teased and ostracized. He learned to stay mostly in the orbit of those with whom he was comfortable - other refugees like himself.
His mother died while he was young and his father worked to make sure his son never forgot his homeland and customs. Oskar doesn’t trust easily and is facing imminent deportation if he can’t a.) keep his job and b.) pass the nearly impossible written test. Even if he hadn’t of missed out on the usual Sondmark childhood he still probably wouldn’t be able to pass.
The prime minister is a slimeball of a politician whose agenda is pushing out foreigners (the Prince Consort is a foreign born citizen) and the monarchy. He takes credit for things that go right -even when he adamantly opposed them. And exploits things that go wrong…even when he caused them. And he is working hard to shut down the Nat.
This is an Enemies to lovers, forced proximity story with good kisses but no steam.
Excellent, fun book. Cannot wait for the next one!
The Impossible Princess was the first book I had read by this author and I was hooked! This is the second book in the Royals of Sondmark series.
I loved her characters and the family dynamics! It’s so nice to see a family that supports each other, even though there is some underlying trouble in paradise between the parents. I really liked how the two books overlapped.
I also loved how the storylines didn’t repeat. Sometimes authors like to tell you the same story but just change the names a bit. (I guess I’ve read way too many books when I am leery of that happening.). So far each sister is unique and enjoys her own healthy relationships with each other. We get glimpses into the future. (All of us are watching Noah and Caroline, and Alma. )
Each sibling taking courage from the last to find their own HEA. And I am looking forward to the next book!
I really disliked the Queen mother in the first book, she thawed marginally by the end. In this book we start out with a very different relationship between the Queen and this daughter. The Queen has always been careful and indulgent with Freja. Freja doesn’t understand why her siblings have such a hard time getting along with their mother. We get to see some of what Freja loves about her mother and a few more clues into what happened between the parents that caused such a huge riff. (I am hoping each book will bring the two parents closer to a happy resolution.)
Freja is “the lone Wolf” (I forget how they spell it but it has reference to their being the house of Wolfe). She has a hard time being around people for very long. Struggles with overstimulation (dislikes being in crowded situations, needs quiet time to decompress-introvert?), has only cursory understanding of people and their emotions. She acknowledges that she frequently doesn’t understand what is right in front of her. She is passionate about Art and fashion and spends most of her time working in, for, about “The Nat” (national art museum).
Oskar is an orphan straddling two cultures and not feeling at home in either. His family fled to Sondmark when he was young as refugees. The country didn’t exactly embrace them with open arms. He, like many children of parents native to one country but forced to live in another, was the obligatory buffer for his parents. Translating, negotiating, and even defending his beloved parents who struggled with the local language and customs. He struggled himself but children learn faster. But not fast enough to avoid being bullied and teased and ostracized. He learned to stay mostly in the orbit of those with whom he was comfortable - other refugees like himself.
His mother died while he was young and his father worked to make sure his son never forgot his homeland and customs. Oskar doesn’t trust easily and is facing imminent deportation if he can’t a.) keep his job and b.) pass the nearly impossible written test. Even if he hadn’t of missed out on the usual Sondmark childhood he still probably wouldn’t be able to pass.
The prime minister is a slimeball of a politician whose agenda is pushing out foreigners (the Prince Consort is a foreign born citizen) and the monarchy. He takes credit for things that go right -even when he adamantly opposed them. And exploits things that go wrong…even when he caused them. And he is working hard to shut down the Nat.
This is an Enemies to lovers, forced proximity story with good kisses but no steam.
Excellent, fun book. Cannot wait for the next one!
July 29, 2023
This was such a great read. Royals, forbidden romance, enemies to allies to more goodness!
Things I Loved:
-The Winter Princess
-“…his frustratingly handsome wrapper is like a wasabi throat lozenge passing itself off as green apple hard candy.”
-“Oskar Velasquez is lava.”
-“I could be a threat if I wanted to, cutting up his peace of mind as surely as he cuts up mine.”
-Scoliosis rep (My mom has it)
-“Here’s to being resentful allies in a time of crisis.”
-…in a tiara 😂
-“She’s granting me the right to use her name. This is how the royals get you.”
-Holding hands
-Erik
-Princess Ella
-Thora and Bjarke
-Copper staples
-“‘Erik, for the love of Erasmus’s cap, can you stop making it look like we’re about to make out?’ Erik leans over my shoulder, resting his chin on it. ‘You told me to take a frame from the video. If you didn’t want to look that way, you shouldn’t have looked at him that way.’”
-Semaphore with eyebrows 🤣
-The wall
-The sister “committee”
-“She’s a princess who lives in a palace and I’m an art restorer in a pre-war walk-up. None of these details mean anything. The truth, if I can bear to look at it in the light, is that we fit. I close my eyes tighter. We can’t fit.”
-The party
-Christmas Eve at Home
-The portrait
-“I hate it when you go.”
-“It’s not a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt.”
-The dress
-The whole ending ♥️
I loved the chemistry between these two, the way they were pulled into being quite reluctant social media stars, the fact that this was all set at an art museum, the deeper peek into the royal family, and how the political game was played.
All the FEELS for the entire ending of the book. So good. 🤍♥️🤍
Content: Several uses of the D word and then some of what would be exclamations in their own language scattered throughout. Sweet, closed door.
Things I Loved:
-The Winter Princess
-“…his frustratingly handsome wrapper is like a wasabi throat lozenge passing itself off as green apple hard candy.”
-“Oskar Velasquez is lava.”
-“I could be a threat if I wanted to, cutting up his peace of mind as surely as he cuts up mine.”
-Scoliosis rep (My mom has it)
-“Here’s to being resentful allies in a time of crisis.”
-…in a tiara 😂
-“She’s granting me the right to use her name. This is how the royals get you.”
-Holding hands
-Erik
-Princess Ella
-Thora and Bjarke
-Copper staples
-“‘Erik, for the love of Erasmus’s cap, can you stop making it look like we’re about to make out?’ Erik leans over my shoulder, resting his chin on it. ‘You told me to take a frame from the video. If you didn’t want to look that way, you shouldn’t have looked at him that way.’”
-Semaphore with eyebrows 🤣
-The wall
-The sister “committee”
-“She’s a princess who lives in a palace and I’m an art restorer in a pre-war walk-up. None of these details mean anything. The truth, if I can bear to look at it in the light, is that we fit. I close my eyes tighter. We can’t fit.”
-The party
-Christmas Eve at Home
-The portrait
-“I hate it when you go.”
-“It’s not a sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt.”
-The dress
-The whole ending ♥️
I loved the chemistry between these two, the way they were pulled into being quite reluctant social media stars, the fact that this was all set at an art museum, the deeper peek into the royal family, and how the political game was played.
All the FEELS for the entire ending of the book. So good. 🤍♥️🤍
Content: Several uses of the D word and then some of what would be exclamations in their own language scattered throughout. Sweet, closed door.
August 8, 2023
⋆ ⁎ ★° ⁀ ➷ 3 stars & 1 steamy
Princess Freja is known as the Lone Wolfee in Sondmark. Freja loves the quiet, is shy, and loves the national museum that she actually works at part--time, without payment. For the last three years she has been attracted to Oskar Velasquez, but they never got off on the right foot and have been avoiding each other as much as possible. However, when the national museum is on the verge of being shut down. The museum works together, and Oskar and freja has to work together and get along. For the last three months of the year they have to get a certain number of people through the doors and to do this they have to work together, and while doing this they start getting to know each other more. Freja opens up about being the Lone Wolfee, and loving art. While Oscar opens up about being Pavian in Sondmark.
Oskar Velasquez is an art restorer for the national museum in Sondmark, and has lived there since he was 5. Oskar Velasquez is an immigrant trying to become a citizen, and this is his fourth - and last - try before he gets deported instead. As the staff at the museum works together to save it Oskar starts working with his crush - Freja - and while doing that starts to understand that there is more to her than what he previously thought he knew.
Overall, I enjoyed these characters more, they had a bit more depth to them, however the story was so slow and I felt that nothing was really happening the majority of the time. It says a lot when my favorite character in the book was Erik - who was in the book a very small amount of time. I did however love the narrative that Oskar portrayed in the book, and even less in romance books.
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Slow burn
“Never trust a man with empty bookshelves.”
Princess Freja is known as the Lone Wolfee in Sondmark. Freja loves the quiet, is shy, and loves the national museum that she actually works at part--time, without payment. For the last three years she has been attracted to Oskar Velasquez, but they never got off on the right foot and have been avoiding each other as much as possible. However, when the national museum is on the verge of being shut down. The museum works together, and Oskar and freja has to work together and get along. For the last three months of the year they have to get a certain number of people through the doors and to do this they have to work together, and while doing this they start getting to know each other more. Freja opens up about being the Lone Wolfee, and loving art. While Oscar opens up about being Pavian in Sondmark.
Oskar Velasquez is an art restorer for the national museum in Sondmark, and has lived there since he was 5. Oskar Velasquez is an immigrant trying to become a citizen, and this is his fourth - and last - try before he gets deported instead. As the staff at the museum works together to save it Oskar starts working with his crush - Freja - and while doing that starts to understand that there is more to her than what he previously thought he knew.
Overall, I enjoyed these characters more, they had a bit more depth to them, however the story was so slow and I felt that nothing was really happening the majority of the time. It says a lot when my favorite character in the book was Erik - who was in the book a very small amount of time. I did however love the narrative that Oskar portrayed in the book, and even less in romance books.
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Slow burn
June 13, 2025
HIDDEN GEM 💎 - WITHOUT THE MISCOMMUNICATION & THIRD ACT BREAK UP
Wow! I already went into it with high expectations, and let me tell you: The Winter Princess by Keira Dominguez did not delude 🌟
Freya's and Oscar's story had the same wholesome vibes as the previous book. Not to forget, we skipped this whole miscommunication and third-act breakup situation!
On top of the super cute (grown up and realistic) love story, the author gave voice to the meaningful topic of immigration 🌍: in Oscar's case, being at home in the country you technically are a "foreigner" (big emphasis on the "" here!). The challenges of belonging, not belonging, and cultural identity influenced Oscar's life / the plot significantly. His Pavian roots kindo of took up the long-winded struggle between Freya's parents. The whole situation was worked out very well in my opinion and is probably just one example of one too many.
Anyway, moving on to the more "shallow-ish" aspects I adored about the Winter Princess:
- How Freya basically works at the Nat for free but still dedicates so much effort and passion towards it 💪🏼
- The social media side plot. I am always here for anything social media-ish in books. Hence, it hit the right nerve once the NAT staff basically put together a crew of influencers to fulfill the prime minister's requirements. (Every marketing department needs an Eric, btw.) 🎥
- The whole "worldbuilding" in general was amazing. Even though Sondmark, Pavieu etc. are works of fiction, it felt like these countries would exist in real life 🌇
- the snippets about the relationship struggles from Freyas family. I am PRAYING (and I am not even religious) that we will get more insights about Caroline and Noah and that her parents will figure their differences out 🎀
One last little side note: maybe don't read it in summer as it is - surprise surprise - a winter book ❄️
Love, Eva
Wow! I already went into it with high expectations, and let me tell you: The Winter Princess by Keira Dominguez did not delude 🌟
Freya's and Oscar's story had the same wholesome vibes as the previous book. Not to forget, we skipped this whole miscommunication and third-act breakup situation!
On top of the super cute (grown up and realistic) love story, the author gave voice to the meaningful topic of immigration 🌍: in Oscar's case, being at home in the country you technically are a "foreigner" (big emphasis on the "" here!). The challenges of belonging, not belonging, and cultural identity influenced Oscar's life / the plot significantly. His Pavian roots kindo of took up the long-winded struggle between Freya's parents. The whole situation was worked out very well in my opinion and is probably just one example of one too many.
Anyway, moving on to the more "shallow-ish" aspects I adored about the Winter Princess:
- How Freya basically works at the Nat for free but still dedicates so much effort and passion towards it 💪🏼
- The social media side plot. I am always here for anything social media-ish in books. Hence, it hit the right nerve once the NAT staff basically put together a crew of influencers to fulfill the prime minister's requirements. (Every marketing department needs an Eric, btw.) 🎥
- The whole "worldbuilding" in general was amazing. Even though Sondmark, Pavieu etc. are works of fiction, it felt like these countries would exist in real life 🌇
- the snippets about the relationship struggles from Freyas family. I am PRAYING (and I am not even religious) that we will get more insights about Caroline and Noah and that her parents will figure their differences out 🎀
One last little side note: maybe don't read it in summer as it is - surprise surprise - a winter book ❄️
Love, Eva
January 1, 2024
4.75!!! I’ve been wanting to read this book for monthsssss, over half the year AT LEAST and I’ve finally done it and HOLY CRAP was it worth the wait. It was amazing, extraordinary, wonderful, lovely.
I loved Freja and Oskar. Not just together, but as people. They were both reserved, but together there was a spark that couldn’t be ignored. The way they avoided ignoring it was through becoming allies, slowly friends, and then developing feelings that were almost as deep as the Mariana Trench.
Turns out that Pavian art restorers are my type. Oskar was the blueprint. He was the definition of “book boyfriend”. Freja was so lovable and loved food just as much as I do.
It was dual POV so I got to see the pining from both of their perspectives and that was glorious. The pining was done SO WELL. SO WELL.
Also, COVER OF THE YEAR. I hate to have to say goodbye to 2023, but this cover understood the assignment and delivered as my last book of the year. Chef’s kiss. 💋
❄️🎄🍪🗡️🕯️🏛️
Some (spoilery?) quotes to bide your time:
“…he’s trying not to smile but, like a light in a house, it doesn’t matter that he’s closed every door and shuttered every window. It finds its ways through tiny cracks.”
“I could write a dissertation on those arms…”
“I want to sketch her.”
“I only want to stay here until I die, frozen next to her.”
SPOILERS:
I usually don’t like weddings in books, but this book…ahhh. The wedding was beautiful. She is the Winter Princess. Extraordinary.
I loved Freja and Oskar. Not just together, but as people. They were both reserved, but together there was a spark that couldn’t be ignored. The way they avoided ignoring it was through becoming allies, slowly friends, and then developing feelings that were almost as deep as the Mariana Trench.
Turns out that Pavian art restorers are my type. Oskar was the blueprint. He was the definition of “book boyfriend”. Freja was so lovable and loved food just as much as I do.
It was dual POV so I got to see the pining from both of their perspectives and that was glorious. The pining was done SO WELL. SO WELL.
Also, COVER OF THE YEAR. I hate to have to say goodbye to 2023, but this cover understood the assignment and delivered as my last book of the year. Chef’s kiss. 💋
❄️🎄🍪🗡️🕯️🏛️
Some (spoilery?) quotes to bide your time:
“…he’s trying not to smile but, like a light in a house, it doesn’t matter that he’s closed every door and shuttered every window. It finds its ways through tiny cracks.”
“I could write a dissertation on those arms…”
“I want to sketch her.”
“I only want to stay here until I die, frozen next to her.”
SPOILERS:
I usually don’t like weddings in books, but this book…ahhh. The wedding was beautiful. She is the Winter Princess. Extraordinary.
July 18, 2023
“If he loved and trusted me, I would betray my nature—the nature of a woman who likes to be alone—and take him on adventures.”
I love books and art and romance and that's why I loved oskarfreja so so so much.
They're just absolutely adorable and the book gives you romance with a little drama, a little of social critique and great family banter. Like, what's not to love?
I also love every sibling of freja and clara (maxclara my cuties) so I'll be more than happy once we know who will be the main character of book 3
“This isn’t a game. I’m not going to get over her. I can’t fight it anymore. I’m ruined.”
“I’m not Freja who can look at the world and trust in miracles. Nothing’s changed. I have to believe that. If not… My breath catches. If not, I have to admit that everything has. Finally, I fold a coat in my lap, and carefully—as careful as I am with priceless things—I shift her sleeping form so that she’s stretched out. “Mm,” she murmurs, her hand slipping into mine. I move a lock of hair away from her face. My hand shakes. Everything has changed. I love her. A miracle.”
I love books and art and romance and that's why I loved oskarfreja so so so much.
They're just absolutely adorable and the book gives you romance with a little drama, a little of social critique and great family banter. Like, what's not to love?
I also love every sibling of freja and clara (maxclara my cuties) so I'll be more than happy once we know who will be the main character of book 3
“This isn’t a game. I’m not going to get over her. I can’t fight it anymore. I’m ruined.”
“I’m not Freja who can look at the world and trust in miracles. Nothing’s changed. I have to believe that. If not… My breath catches. If not, I have to admit that everything has. Finally, I fold a coat in my lap, and carefully—as careful as I am with priceless things—I shift her sleeping form so that she’s stretched out. “Mm,” she murmurs, her hand slipping into mine. I move a lock of hair away from her face. My hand shakes. Everything has changed. I love her. A miracle.”
March 8, 2024
The Winter Princess is a sweet, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn that sneaks under your skin. Keira Dominguez has a lyrical writing style that causes the reader to slow down and savor with lines like: "I've had to remind myself again and again over the years that his frustratingly handsome wrapper is like a wasabi throat lozenge passing itself off as green-apple hard candy."
The stakes in Freja and Oskar's story couldn't be higher. Freja faces humiliation and the loss of her opportunity to show herself as a competent person independent of her family's name and standing. Oskar faces deportation as a kind of Dreamer in this fictional country of Sondmark. Though the two of them profess to despise each other, their situation requires them to work together in order to force certain politicians to do the right thing and to save that which the two of them value. Dominguez uses a light, deft touch to make an important point about a hot-button political issue.
The story is well crafted and hard to put down. A great read.
The stakes in Freja and Oskar's story couldn't be higher. Freja faces humiliation and the loss of her opportunity to show herself as a competent person independent of her family's name and standing. Oskar faces deportation as a kind of Dreamer in this fictional country of Sondmark. Though the two of them profess to despise each other, their situation requires them to work together in order to force certain politicians to do the right thing and to save that which the two of them value. Dominguez uses a light, deft touch to make an important point about a hot-button political issue.
The story is well crafted and hard to put down. A great read.
February 18, 2025
This is definitely a high four star rating from me. This author’s writing is intricate, rhythmic, and easily devoured. The pacing was great. The romance felt natural - I loved Oskar and Freja. The atmosphere/world was richly developed.
I liked the first half more than the second half so that affected a whole star in my rating. I don’t read holiday themed/marketed books and I had not expected holiday stuff to 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 take over the setting in the second half so I was skimming a lot of that. And I wasn’t completed satisfied with the resolution of the story.
Overall, if “𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴” was a genre, this would totally be in it. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series!
P.S. if you’re curious, I rated the first book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴, 4.5★ when I read it August 2024.
In this book: animosity to more, off-limits, workplace, forced proximity, vintage fashion, art history, grumpy MMC, lone wolf princess
Content Guide: romance is clean, language is infrequent and minor but frequent for made-up language, and clean for violence
I liked the first half more than the second half so that affected a whole star in my rating. I don’t read holiday themed/marketed books and I had not expected holiday stuff to 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 take over the setting in the second half so I was skimming a lot of that. And I wasn’t completed satisfied with the resolution of the story.
Overall, if “𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴” was a genre, this would totally be in it. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series!
P.S. if you’re curious, I rated the first book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴, 4.5★ when I read it August 2024.
In this book: animosity to more, off-limits, workplace, forced proximity, vintage fashion, art history, grumpy MMC, lone wolf princess
Content Guide: romance is clean, language is infrequent and minor but frequent for made-up language, and clean for violence
January 9, 2025
Royalty, workplace, forbidden love, immigration issues, clean
MMC: Oskar Velasquez
FMC: Princess Freya
3.3 it was a good storyline and build up but it started to drag on and on lol I got tired. Basically she’s a princess working in the National Art Museum where he works as the head of Restoration. He’s an immigrant working on getting his citizenship but the PM has made it unbelievably difficult so he’s on his 5th and final retest. After a scandal with the head of the museum the PM decides he’s closing it down until the Princess bargains with him to get 200k people to come to the museum over some months or half the people lose their jobs. Now everyone is working together to save the museum and he has to work with him…the have this love hate thing going on but feelings start forming and they start getting to know each other more.
It had it cute romantic moments but I can’t get over how it felt like it wouldn’t end.
MMC: Oskar Velasquez
FMC: Princess Freya
3.3 it was a good storyline and build up but it started to drag on and on lol I got tired. Basically she’s a princess working in the National Art Museum where he works as the head of Restoration. He’s an immigrant working on getting his citizenship but the PM has made it unbelievably difficult so he’s on his 5th and final retest. After a scandal with the head of the museum the PM decides he’s closing it down until the Princess bargains with him to get 200k people to come to the museum over some months or half the people lose their jobs. Now everyone is working together to save the museum and he has to work with him…the have this love hate thing going on but feelings start forming and they start getting to know each other more.
It had it cute romantic moments but I can’t get over how it felt like it wouldn’t end.
March 14, 2023
The Winter Princess was a wonderful surprise. It’s an enemy to lover trope, and while I don’t enjoy the enemy stage as much, this one had such a great story line that I was easily captivated. Keira had me laughing out loud throughout the book and feeling all the romantic feels too! The royal theme is great, and right on brand for me. There is a realistic element to the story, but also almost a fairy tale element because the countries aren’t real. I was captivated! There were so many great lines in this well written story with a strong female protagonist and a great male counterpart! I read this book as an ARC that I won in a giveaway. This in no way swayed my opinion! This is my first time to read the author and I loved her writing style. It’s a chaste romance and it was not necessary to read book 1 first.
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