Saving the Secret Prince

California Dreamin' #3

by Kristin Canary

Ever heard of love at first sight? What about love at first push?

Because I may have hurtled Christopher to the ground so that car wouldn’t hit him, but I’m pretty sure I’m the one who fell that day.

How could I not? There’s just something about him.

It’s not just that he’s drop-dead handsome, like Henry Cavill and Chris Hemsworth had a baby.

Or that he talks in a delicious British accent and calls me “love” (swoony swoon swoon, am I right?!).

Or that he’s impeccably dressed all. the. time.

He’s also mysterious. And I feel like he really gets me, even though we’re so different.

Like he...sees me.

Which is kind of terrifying for a girl whose past keeps her off social media and out of the public eye—for good reason.

But as long as we stay in our little bubble, I feel safe with Christopher.

As long as he’s just an average Joe and I’m me, absolutely nothing can tear us apart.

Fans of Sarah Adams will love this closed-door romantic comedy with lots of sizzle and spice, but no on-page explicit content.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Christmas, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Royalty

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2023

About the author

Kristin is a thirty-something wife and boy mom who functions best on peach tea and cookie dough ice cream. She writes closed-door romantic comedies with lots of sizzle and spice but no explicit on-page content. A desert dweller, she always has her eye on the next trip to a beach somewhere--and if she can't travel there in person, then you'd better believe she's going to write about it. Kristin is never fully satisfied with a movie, TV show, or book without a hefty dose of romance in it, and she's grateful to be living a true-life love story with her own crazy little family. Connect with her at KristinCanary.com/freebook.

Reviews

[Shia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal romances always put me in that cozy feel-good mood and this was no exception. I loved the importance of family and forgiveness and that ending was super sweet with Lauren’s reunion. Definitely gives off Hallmark movie vibes.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read, reminded me of the movie The Prince and Me except with a Christmas setting in sunny San Diego. I thought it was a fun, lighthearted read. Lauren is a bundle of energy and optimism and she totally shakes up Tophers world. He was a bit...stiff, but loosens up as the story progresses. The overall pace is good, things moved along nicely, but a bit quickly. The end felt a little rushed and I would have liked more time where we see Topher as a prince. There is also a moment at the end where Lauren acts totally out-of-character, IMO that took me a bit out of the story. I would have liked a little more depth to their relationship. Overall, an entertaining story and I'll have to go back and read the previous books.

Content Rated PG

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

who doesn't love a royal romance?

i really enjoyed this romance, the hero was so sweet (and a prince!), also the friendship between the heroine and her besties was adorable.
the romance was a little bit insta love for me, but it didn't bother me

[AndreAna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no surprise, buuut I just added “Saving the Secret Prince,” by Kristin Canary to my favorites pile!! What a beautiful way to keep getting into the Christmas spirit!🎄

I was instantly drawn into this story because Y’ALL! Kristin starts this one off with none other than an *NSYNC reunion concert! I too, am a fan.. I was definitely dancing to them in 2000! Then if that wasn’t enough, how Topher and Lauren meet..🚘😳 Talk about starting off with a bang!!

I loved how it took a little while for us to get to know Topher and Lauren! They were both so mysterious in the beginning, with Lauren’s past she hinted at and Topher’s secret identity! It was really fun to slowly see each ones story unfold. I came to love Lauren’s spunky, impulsive, and kind personality! She said in the book it was her duty to bright light to others and I loved that! Topher comes off in the beginning as more closed off, and serious but he comes out of his shell, has some adventures, and shines!

Here’s a few more things I loved:

•The nicknames! SuperThor, Tiger, Love!
•Topher’s “delectable British-like accent”
•Ladle karaoke 🎤
•The Frozen reference ❄️
•the parade
•the royalty
•Lauren hugging the king
•EVERYTHING

Guys, I could go on and on about this book!! I absolutely enjoyed it!! In the words of the Fab Five, it’s “All I ever wanted….All I ever needed… yeaah”💕 Do yourselves a favor and add this masterpiece to your Christmas TBR!! Releasing December 13th!

*I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review

[Marilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute beach read! I love royal books and this was a nice twist as prince Christopher was forced to go on vacation by his family to help him loosen up and take a break from working so hard. Opposites attract with an outgoing girl and a bookish guy is genius! Lauren is a slightly impulsive but sunshiney heroine who had to grow on me a bit but before long I loved her. She helps Topher come out of his shell just as he helps her deal and confront with some issues in her family.

Loved all the funny moments, the nicknames, and the N'Sync lyrics and that they were interspersed with things of more depth. This was a slow burn love story but that first kiss was totally worth the wait!

If you are looking for a light, fun read with sweet royalty romance then this book may be for you!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

[Ellie]

DNF @ 15%

Lol...no
If you like your heroines set on 'full speed ahead idiot' then you'll love this.

Honestly, is this what is considered funny nowadays? Awkward, shallow and stupid females have apparently become the gold standard for what is relatable to today's women.
God help us.

[Caitlin (Thecaitlinchapters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving the Secret Prince is a Christmas read you need ASAP. I was hooked from their meet-cute and couldn't put it down! Topher is pure perfection. He has a British accent and has a protectiveness that made me swoon. Lauren helps Topher lighten up a bit and have FUN with himself. She teaches him that experiences can't just be read about, they need to be enjoyed in person.

This story caught me off guard with how witty and funny it was. Lauren's voice was so relatable and I found myself smiling along as I read.

Things I loved:
- The nicknames! SuperThor, Tiger, Love!
- Topher’s British-like accent
- The Frozen reference ❄️
- EVERYTHING


❄️Read if you like❄️
- Nsync
- British accents
- princes
- karaoke
- parades
- rom-coms

This was such a fun clean rom-com that will have youo feeling all the feels!

Thanks so much for my advanced copy of this book. It was the perfect holiday read!

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful read! Any book that starts out with an NSync reunion concert automatically lets me know that this is going to be an enjoyable story! Kristin's books remind me of romantic comedy movies, which I love. This one has a unique meet cute, a secret royal, and characters that seem like friends. Once I started this, I couldn't put it down!
Lauren's character was so nice to get to know further. She was clumsy, loyal, vulnerable and spontaneous. And Topher was a wonderful hero- patient and understanding. I enjoyed how he challenged Lauren and encouraged her. I thought the author did a great job of representing the character's struggles well. I loved getting to know Lauren and her friends more, and Topher's family were charming! I'm so excited to read the next one in this series and highly recommend you check this one out!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously not the intended order, but I came back to read this after seeing Topher and Lauren in Beachside Kisses with my Bodyguard. Fun to read their backstory and fill out their characters more! I was a little frustrated by the conflict near the end but thought it came together well. It ended more abruptly than I expected 🤷🏻‍♀️ Not that we were missing anything necessarily, but I wasn’t ready for it!

[Joy Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. I couldn't really get invested in the characters. I struggled a bit with Lauren and cringed a bit at some of her mishaps and thoughts. I think I might have enjoyed Topher's POV. This one just lacked the "com" for me, but was still a cute story.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet, laugh out loud read!

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. It features a awesome and cute prince and the feisty heroine. Christopher or Topher and Lauren are really cute together.

I do like royalty and romance but sometimes it is often a hit or a mess because usually the main love interest is very shallow. However, this book is the exact opposite. I love Christopher he is so sweet. And I like how he is in America for like a vacation but not exactly something unbelievable. Lauren also was super fun and she’s really nice.

One of the things I really liked about her was that she was super quiet. And I actually could relate to her. And quite frankly she’s such an awesome character that I could picture of her being my best friend which is quite rare. I really like a lot of characters but many times we wouldn’t be friends but Lauren is Besty material.

The Romans is super cute. I love the kissing scenes and how the secret was revealed. It didn’t feature any over-the-top drama and the ending was super nice. One of my favorite parts of the Romans was the pacing. It wasn’t an Insta love but rather a nice slow burn with a lot of sweetness.

I highly recommend this book. Anyone who is a fan of sweet and clean romance should definitely read this book.

[Lindsey Jesionowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single time I review a book by Kristin Canary, I start by saying how beautifully she writes. And I’m going to say it again. She comes up with these fabulous concepts for stories, but the way she’s able to weave humor, depth, and amusement so seamlessly, I feel like I’m holding a work of art each time I pick up one of her books. She’s a brilliant writer. Period.

Saving the Secret Prince is that story you need right now, so grab that cozy blanket and hot chocolate and get swept up in Lauren’s world. I was hooked from their meet cute (or more like “meet crash”), and couldn’t put it down. Topher is the perfect hero. His vulnerability and protectiveness make him extremely charming (not that he needed help in that department…did I mention he has an accent??). And although Lauren shies away from the limelight, Topher is able to see her clearly, which is something she needs. Oh, and she’s obsessed with 90’s boy bands, so fans of ‘N SYNC will feel nostalgia and joy (and start streaming their music again❤️).

If you’re looking for a book that will make you smile, this is one you need to check out. Thank you to the author for a copy.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this romantic comedy! I loved the characters, the setting, the N’sync, and of course, the redemption at the end of the book.

Lauren is the main female character. She’s the kind of girl who does a little of everything, loves N’sync, and she has big hang ups from her past. I had to laugh when she knocked Topher down, and that may have happened repeatedly. She kind of gets tongue tied and clumsy around him. It was charming.

Topher was charming too. I could imagine his accent, and it was lovely! These two had such great chemistry. My favorite scenes all had the two of them together. It was fun how the reader wasn’t let in on his secret until Lauren was, even though it was something that was easy to guess.

I loved the plot of this one. It kept me entertained and wanting to know what would come next. The ending was all I hoped for. And I also enjoyed the epilogue from one of Lauren’s roommate’s point of view.

This one was so great! It’s part of a series, but it stands alone very well. I’m going to need to read the rest soon!

I was sent an e-copy of Saving the Secret Prince as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Kendra Birtch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Kristin for the ARC in exchanged for my honest review.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about Lauren to start. She and I are SO very different. She’s private, physically fit, an N’sync super fan, and speaks her mind. I keep up with most social media, active but plus sized, a Backstreet Boys kind of girl, and don’t often tell others what I’m thinking. But I quickly fell in love with Lauren.

This story is more than a rom-com. It includes deep wrestling with beliefs and habits. Both Lauren and Topher learn so much about themselves, who they want to be, and what makes them better people. I love the theme of chosen family!

This is the third in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone story. It was great to see more of Evie and Conner and Kayla and Josh than I was expecting in this novel.

I look forward to Shelby’s story next! Thank you for including a sneak peak!

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving the Secret Prince is a Christmas RomCom with lots of laughs.

The author does a good job of addressing some serious subjects (difficulty with family and feeling like enough), and mingling it with a cute romance and a quirky main character. I liked that it wasn’t insta love. They spent a lot of time together and had a lot of opportunities to get to know each other in a lot of different situations.

If you like secret identities, N’Sync, and grand gestures, this one is for you. It had a bit of a hallmark feel, and was a fun read around the holiday season. I loved the banter, their nicknames for each other, and the way they each pushed the other to become more. It was also fun to see characters from precious books. It made me want to re-read those.

Available December 13!

[Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

POV: Single (Lauren).
Descriptive Sex: No.
OW/OM: No.
Separation: Yes. For 5 days. Does that count? I guess it does since these are my own standards.
★★★ A cute Christmas or general winter read. I don't typically read single POV, and especially not without absolutely hating the MMC because LBR they are typically jerks for some reason or another that we don't know since we aren't in their head. But this one of the rare ones where he's actually a decent guy and represented well enough through Lauren's POV (though I still would've loved to have read in Topher's POV).

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book! I'm seeing a common thread so far in the first 3 books of this series... Some serious mommy and daddy issues with at least one of the main characters that secretly impacts the character's ability to hold on to serious relationships. This one takes place at Christmas time. It's a love at first sight, mistaken identify, opposites attract type of story. There's a good message about being forgiving in a committed relationship to help it last.

[Berly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I am a sucker for a secret prince. This has been my favorite from this series. I really enjoyed listening to it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story.

Content: clean - passionate kissing

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this book releases December 13

– This is part of a series, but you do not need to read the others to understand this one

– this is a book that occurs during Christmas time in California (so no classic snow, but yes cooler temperatures)

Review:

I loved this story!!! It was so cute and funny, especially Lauren’s foot in mouth/thoughts said aloud moments. 😂 And those nicknames they created for each other 😍 The best scene I think was the one with the ladles (you gotta read it)!

Lauren is leaving a concert when she sees a car about to hit a very cute guy who is paying more attention to his phone than his surroundings. So she tackles him out of the way. And soon loses consciousness.

Unfortunately, her one job (she has 3 but does this one the most) wants to protect themselves and won’t allow her to work for 3 weeks due to her injuries from saving the man. Luckily (or maybe a bit embarrassing) Lauren’s friend reams the guy out and demands compensation for her loss of work. Though he is more than willing to compensate her and pay her hospital bills, Lauren stands firm that if he pays her she needs to work for it. She doesn’t want charity. After a failed attempt at one way to earn it, Lauren and the guy (named Topher, and wouldn’t ya know, he’s got a British sounding accent!) choose to have Lauren guide him in trying the things he’s been reading about. Which leads to some cool dates, or maybe they aren’t dates? Lauren isn’t sure, but she’s hoping!

[DayDreamer8912 · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Book Review 📚
Saving The Secret Prince by Kristin Canary
Rate: 4 /5
Genre: Clean Romance/ Sweet Rom com

Read it if you like
🌸 Female Character POV
🌸 Secret identity
🌸 Family
🌸 Friends
🌸 Christmas

Favourite Moments
🌸 The first time the met
🌸 Jamming and dancing with NSYNC songs
🌸 Ice-skating
🌸 When she meets his family
🌸 The Bachelorette
Many more…

Swoony Moments
🌸His smile along with his Mr. Dimple. (can’t help it)
🌸 Him caring for her
Many more…

Synopsis:
Lauren is a very huge fan of NSYNC. On the day after the concert, as she was raving about the concert with her friend, she saw gorgeous man talking on the phone and he didn't see an incoming car that was ahead of him and she save him from it and next thing she know she landed in the hospital. And she learned that his name was Topher. What? Becoming his personal trainer? Little did she know that he was keeping a secret. Read Saving the Secret Prince to find out.

Review:
I love the progress of this book because I can see the way Lauren helping Topher to loosen up and go out and experience the world rather than just reading it in the books because he can experience what he has read rather than not experiencing it. And the way that he encouraged Lauren to continue with her dream was nice. Loving their adventures together and also their fun time of jamming and dancing through NSYNC songs. And the Bachelorette was so funny. (read it then you’ll find out. Can’t spoil it) And also loving the scene where Lauren meets Topher’s parents and the scene where his mother told her about her story to Lauren. The pop-ups of nowhere Fredrick is also entertaining and also Kayla being her personal lawyer scene was a scene stealer too. And Lauren reunited with her mom moment was also touching. (read what happens can’t spoil it too).

This is the 3rd book of the California Dreamin’ series totally enjoyed reading it. Can’t wait to read the 4th book. It will be Shelby and Eric ‘s story. Haha… best friend to lovers trope. Who doesn’t love them. Hehe…
You can purchase Kristin Canary's books on Amazon and it is also available on KU.

[Beth Presley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I was pretty disappointed in this one. This is the third Kristin Canary book I've read, and up until now, they've been 5 stars. This one was just too much and not enough at the same time.

For me, things progressed way too fast for Topher and Lauren. With the minimal amount of time they had together, I just didn't believe they could have truly fallen in love that fast. Plus, she didn't even know his true identity until almost the end of the book, which means she didn't have long to make an informed decision about the ramifications of being with him. Also, I get that Lauren had issues in the past with fame corrupting relationships, but he's a prince...he's the next in line to rule a kingdom, girl. He's not a home decorator for celebrities or a musician. If he has to go tend to the paparazzi and do interviews, I think you can make a small exception for him and not fly off the handle accusing him of not loving you or respecting your trauma. That whole scene just felt over the top and petulant to me.

I didn't connect with Topher or Lauren at all. In the others, I've actually cared about the leading men and could see them fitting well with their ladies, but this whole set up just seemed forced and too much like a cheesy Hallmark movie.

I did appreciate the NSYNC references all throughout the story! It was fun trying to catch them in casual dialogue.

Like I said, I've loved the other KC books I've read and I plan on finishing out the series, but this one left alot to be desired.

[amanda_coffee_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received ebook arc in return for my honest thoughts and my review.
This is the first time I have read anything from this author. And I plan on reading more. I love cute Romance books. That remind of movies that I would definitely rewatch. And this definitely a book I could reread over and over. The characters are cute and funny. Felt like I was part of the girl group. I highly recommend this book. Now this book 3. These are standalone but some of the characters from book 1 and two cross over into book three. So I will be reading book 1 & 2 read the back stories on some of the other characters that were mentioned in this book. Thank to the author for allowing me to read such amazing book.
About Book:
Running and hiding to be yourself that’s what Lauren who stays off the internet and social media. Has many jobs to try different things out. After night out with her Kayla. Lauren is watching a strange man yelling into his phone. After they both have accident. Lauren is hurt and trying to look for extra work. When she is met with strange man again. A beautiful read.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

🧣Royal Romance
🧣Sweet, RomCom

This was my first read by Kristin Canary - but I’m sure I’ll correct that soon enough 😊. It’s a closed door, sweet romance part of a series but can be read as a standalone a la Sarah Adams or Gigi Blume.

While this one can definitely be read on its own, it is book 3 and I’ll definitely be going back to read one and two before moving forward. (Even with standalone series, I prefer to read them in order since they generally are in the same world and have crossover characters and appearances 😉).

I enjoyed this book - it was a fun, cute and quick read and definitely got me interested in the world and characters. Royal trope can be hit or miss for me, but this one reminded me a little of The Prince And Me which came out when I was a tween i think, so I enjoyed that reminiscent element. It reads much like a cute, teen romcom movie and is definitely light and easy.

I’m eager to try more on the series and get to read more about some of Lauren’s friends, I’m also excited because there appear to be more fun romcom tropes to choose from with each.

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving The Secret Prince is a wonderful, sweet, endearing, obsessed-worthy, swoon-worthy, and phenomenal book! This is a clean sweet romantic comedy that I would recommend to adults and teens! Saving the Secret Prince is a wildly endearing and addictive book that I couldn't put down! The main character, Lauren, has an extremely relatable personality. She is warm and hilarious. I especially love her fake bout of personally training the love interest, Topher, who, as the name suggests, is actually a secret prince! Topher is a swoon-worthy love interest that any girl would be head over heels to meet. From his dry wit to his charm, and how much he loves Lauren, I love that this story is a quick love story that shows how we can fall quick and fast. The book made me laugh, usually at Lauren's silly antics, and definitely made me crave a man like Topher!! My favorite scene is when Lauren meets Topher's royal family... and makes an important realization. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet rom-com!!!!!

[Larissa Correa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but not as much as previous ones in this series. I didn't like the main character as much as the others and, in this one I think not having the male POV made me think something was missing from the story and that we didn't know him that much. And I also think the story moved very quickly.

I liked the book better when it was past the 50% mark. I started liking the female character better and knowing a little better the male character.

I loved the scenes between the friends and with the couples from the previous books.

I liked how the conflict with the main characters was handled and how it made her think about her relationship with her sister and mother also.

I loved the epilogue from Shelby's perspective, because I'm hoping for the Shelby and Eric book since the first one, so I'm looking forward to read the next one in the series!

* I've received an ARC of this book, by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaele’s Krazy Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one. This books don’t have to be read in order but I definitely think you should. There are mentions of things that happened in the previous books and it’s just nice to have the insider information of all the characters.

I liked the last book better than this one. This was still fun, I just don’t think this had my favorite tropes in it. The one big thing that I didn’t love was that if feel like there was a tell not show situation with Topher for most of the book. Lauren kept saying she liked him and she knew there was more to him than how he acted with others, but I feel like I didn’t really see his character. He wasn’t a bad character at all, I just don’t think I saw the changes Lauren saw.
But this one was fun, it was nice to learn more about Lauren and her background. And a hero with a British accent is always a win for me!
I’m very excited for Shelby’s book next, fall for your best friend is always a fun trope!

[Annette Megaughin-Helder · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet secret prince romance

Lauren hates the spotlight. Her mom is a social media star, and her ex a musician, and Lauren always came last in their lists of priorities.

Christopher has no choice when it comes to being in the spotlight. Born a prince, and being a future king, it’s all he knows but not necessary always likes.

They meet by chance when Lauren saves Topher from being run over, and he wants to make it up to her by hiring her as his PT. But he doesn’t tell her he’s a prince, so it’s quite a shock when she eventually finds out.

Lauren will have to decide if she the limelight once more for the sake of love, or wants to keep hiding in the shadows.

It was nicely written, good characters but slightly superficial and predictable.

I would read further books by the author as they are cosy reads.

[Kate (bookishkenyannerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for a British accent. I loved everything about Topher. I especially loved seeing how he came out of his grouchy shell and became playful and flirty with Lauren.

I loved reading about their adventures and learning about San Diego and its tourist spots. Together they were amazing. I loved the late-night kisses and their nicknames for each other 😍

Topher's wasn't the typical royal family I'd expect. They were warm and supportive. I wonder if Chloe and Freddy will get their own book 😂 I'm shipping them so hard and it's even cuter that Chloe's clueless of Freddy's feelings towards her 🥰
Lauren's friend group always gets me. I just love their sisterhood.

I love royal romances done well and this one was just that. Beautiful! 😍