Menininkei Indigai tapant oficialų Ridianijos princo Ištvano portretą, jos sukaustytos emocijos tampa nebevaldomos, kai jie netikėtai pasibučiuoja! Po to, kai Ištvano šeima sunaikino jos tėvą, Indiga buvo įspėta niekada nepasitikėti Ridianijos karališkosios šeimos nariu. Bet nors jos protas įspėja, jog tai neturėtų vesti niekur toliau, Indiga įžvelgia Ištvano išskirtinumą. Rizikuodama savo širdimi ji žino, kad jam verta patikėti... savo ateitį!
Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. With more than a million books sold, she is internationally published with books translated into more than a dozen languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards. Now living her dream, she resides with her very patient husband and two spoiled cats. When she's not plotting out her next romance, you can find her curled up with a mug of tea and a book. Jennifer loves to hear from readers—you can contact her via her website.
And be sure to follow Jennifer for the latest on sales via Bookbub.
Thank you in advance to the author, Jennifer Faye, for providing a complimentary review copy through her review team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Jennifer Faye is my “go-to” author for the Harlequin Romance line, then again hers are the only “romance” line ones I have. So, to say she’s a favorite – is really an understatement. I’ve read her self-published series, Bluestar Island, as well as a Hallmark Published release in. These are in addition to eight (8) ROMANCE line ones (including this book).
That said, Faye NEVER disappoints. Her romance falls under “sweet” romance – off-page, discreet intimate scenes; clean language; and wholesome love stories. There are no religious themes, but the books won’t make readers blush either. Even the covers are sweet, mildly romantic, and modest.
This is the second book of the Greek Paradise Escape series, and can MOSTLY act as a standalone, though some of the background is established in the first book. And, a character from that book appears in this one (Hermione). Atlas is only mentioned. This picks right up from book #1, so readers might want to check out Greek Heir to Claim her Heart before diving into this one.
In this book, Faye continues the story of Indigo and Prince Istvan of Rydiania who readers met in the first book. And, the tale of the “Ruby Heart” is continued here as well.
There are very few “main” characters in this besides Istvan and Indigo.
As stated, Hermione returns in the first part of the book. Istvan’s parents (the king and queen) are in the book during the time in Rydiania, as well as Istvan’s sisters, namely Gisella.
Due to the fact that Istvan’s uncle abdicated, Indigo’s family was forced to leave Rydiania. Her father dies tragically and her mother needs assisted living which Indigo cannot afford.
As a result of her parents’ exile from Rydiania, Indigo has a “passive-aggressive” hate/love affair with Istvan, or rather the royal family. Still, she can’t help but be attracted to the crown prince. Yet, she is reminded of her father’s warning to not trust royals.
In addition to her other job, Indigo does caricatures which is how she meets Istvan for the second time in this sweet, romantic, and inspiring romance.
He sits down for her to “draw” him. She does one sketch that he loves and wants to keep, he asks for another to sell. He offers to pay, but it is a service of the hotel. She sees he is nothing like his father, but she doesn’t want to take the chance.
Istvan is closer in ideals to his uncle and perhaps thinks he had the right idea to abdicate, despite being banished from Rydiania. Yet, Istvan has been raised to be king, it is all he knows.
He still wants to have some fun and invites Indigo for dinner. When she doesn’t show, he goes to her. He then proposes that she do his official portrait for a fee. She sets up the terms only to discover that she has to travel to Rydiania. Despite needing the money, she can’t “travel”. Istvan insists.
The fee can help her mother into an assisted living apartment, and despite her late father’s warning – Indigo finally agrees to Istvan’s request. She doesn’t tell her mother either. Indigo worries about Istvan finding out who she is.
Once they arrive, Indigo wants to follow him to get an idea of “who” to draw. Istvan wants her portrait as his official one as he is looking to change up the monarchy once he is crowned.
Despite her best intentions on not staying at the palace and avoiding his parents, Indigo fails on both points. Her dinner with the king and queen doesn’t go as planned and almost sees her heading back home.
Istvan seems more interested in romancing Indigo than palace business. Indigo is trying to remember what her father said. But, while she sees his life as ideal – he wants nothing to do with it if he can’t have Indigo. Indigo has to wonder if he would want her if he knew who she was.
This is one of those “sweet” and charming romance reads. It swept me away to Greece and I didn’t want to put the book down as often as I was forced to. I kept wandering back to it. Faye’s short chapters definitely keep the pace going without looking like she is rushing it along. The descriptive writing puts readers right there in the middle of the story so much that one can feel the breezes, smell the aromas, and see the landscapes.
I have to admit that I liked Istvan a LOT more than Indigo. While I understand his parents basically did her parents dirty due to the forced exile, I felt that Indigo should’ve explained who she was and why she felt how she did up front. Istvan, in my opinion, did a lot to convince her how different he was from his parents, so that was a bit of shady dealings on her part. She also realizes at different moments how much she has misjudged him, yet continues to do so even up until about almost the end.
The introduction of the puppy was sweet – nothing like a puppy (or kitten) to show a man’s true personality. His mother didn’t like the puppy, so there is that to consider. [Note: while the cover shows two puppies, there is only one featured].
I had to laugh at Istvan following Indigo to the grocery store and him shopping as well. I closely related to Indigo’s mother with reading and binge watching a good TV show (both of which I seem to do late in the evening).
Faye also included the reality of an aging parent with an adult child watching as their once strong parent “fades” into a shadow of themselves. Anyone dealing with an aging parent in this way is sure to relate. Faye does keep it optimistic and hopeful.
Overall, this has the “happily-ever-after” all romances are required to have. I’m hoping to read about Istvan and Indigo again.
Fans of the author will definitely want to read this. As there is a third book coming out, I definitely plan to read that.
I also have book #4 of her Bluestar Island on my TBR list as well. It is safe to say I will definitely keep reading her work so long as she is writing.
Another sweet, HEA story from this author. I always love the books by this author. The characters are sweet and giving and are able to communicate. Of course, I also love that the books provides total escapism for me, the reader. Who really gets to meet a prince and has such wonderful talent as an artist, and gets to be swept away from one exotic setting (a luxurious tourist hotel) to another exotic setting (a royal palace in a beautiful countryside). So fun. And ... there's a puppy they save together, too. What's not to love. Such an easy, breezy, lovely book.
Jennifer Faye’s It Started with a Royal Kiss is an enchanting fairy-tale romance that will warm every reader’s heart.
Artist Indigo has good reason to hate the Rydianian royal family. Indigo had been born in Rydiania and her father had been a member of the king’s household – until the king had fallen in love and chosen to abdicate. Indigo and her family had been banished from the kingdom and forced to make a new life for themselves in Greece. Her heartbroken father had died shortly afterwards and Indigo has always held Rydiania and the royal family responsible for his death – which is why she is not exactly pleased to run into Prince Istvan at the island resort where she is currently working. Indigo plans to give the prince a very wide berth, however, Istvan seems intent on getting to know her better…
Istvan was immediately drawn to Indigo. Unlike most other women he comes across, Indigo seems determined to keep him at arm’s length. With Istvan unable to stop himself from thinking about her, when he sees what a talented artist she is, he decides to ask her to paint his official portrait. Istvan plans to whisk her off to Rydiania where he can get to know her better, however, much to his shock and dismay, Indigo refuses to even consider his offer! Can he change her mind?
Indigo cannot deny that she is drawn to Istvan, but she knows that she must give him a wide berth – until he makes her a financial offer which she simply cannot refuse. With her mother’s expensive medical bills to think about and an opportunity to make her mark in the art world, Indigo finds herself with no other choice but to take Istvan up on his offer.
The more time Indigo spends with Istvan, the more she realizes that he’s nothing like his family and although they keep getting closer and closer, she knows that a future between the two of them is out of the question….or is it? Will Indigo and Istvan manage to triumph over the many obstacles standing in their way? Or is their love simply not meant to be?
Jennifer Faye’s It Started with a Royal Kiss is a delightful romantic charmer I just adored. A wonderfully escapist and entertaining read about second chances, healing from old wounds and finding your soulmate when you least expect it, It Started with a Royal Kiss is a gorgeous contemporary romance with an honorable and charismatic hero readers will love and a loyal, kind and resilient heroine they will root for.
A terrific romantic tale, It Started with a Royal Kiss is another winner by Jennifer Faye.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Indigo Castellanos is doing caricatures of people staying at the Ludus Resort to earn some extra money. What she did not expect was to see Prince Istvan or Rydiania ask her to do one of himself.
Although she could never remember her heart beating so fast when he came over, she quickly had to remind herself that it was the cause of his family that they had to flee Rydiania. Indigo remembers when she was a young child how her family moved to Greece. It was a glace she did not know, and the people there were strangers to her.
Having to move is the cause of her father getting ill and dying part of a broken heart. After his death, her mother had taken ill and now was at the point where she could not live alone. By earning this extra money, she wanted to be able to put her mother in the assisted living facility where she would get care twenty-four hours a day.
She tried to avoid him and not look directly at him as he was so handsome and tall and had beautiful eyes. When she is offered the opportunity to paint an official portrait of him that would hang in the palace, she cannot refuse as this was the money she desperately needed.
While going to Rydiania to paint the portrait, they seem to be getting closer and closer until they wind up kissing, which just seems to change the direction of their relationship.
Realizing that she could never be welcomed into the Palace as a commoner, she leaves abruptly, but as we already know, Ms. Faye has a way of always making things work out, and this story is no different.
The second book in Greek Paradise Escape. It reminded me of two Hallmark movies. The Royal. Christmas Wedding and The Prince & Me. Indigo knew who Istvan was. He was the Crown Prince of Rydiania. Indigo is a artist working for the Ludus resort when Prince Istvan wants her to draw him, and requires her assistance for something much more important. It mean a lot to do this job, get this money, and it would make her mother happy. But it would also take her away from her mother which wouldn’t work. That’s where I don’t like Istavn very much. He gets cocky to say the least.
The other thing I don’t like it when he’s describing what his future queen should be. Well the statement is awful and cold. She has to be perfect, and so much more. I think it was stated beautiful, perfect family, and submissive to the authority of the crown.
One last thing. There’s one dog in the book yet there’s two dogs on the cover? I don’t remember reading anywhere in the book about another dog. So the cover doesn’t match the story.
This book has it all: a Prince, an artist with a HUGE heart, a gorgeous Greek setting and a puppy in need. I felt like I was transported to a sandy beach resort where the sun was shining and there was a light, tropical breeze. Indigo (Indi) has a horrific (what turns out to be a secret) past, however she is such a good, caring daughter to her ailing mother. She is beautiful and caring and gives of herself to everyone. She meets Crown Prince Istvan and hooboy! Sparks fly, even though she doesn’t want them to. I won’t give any spoilers but there’s lots of simmering goin’ on. I really liked Istvan as well. He really is a “deep” character, with many layers. He is so totally taken with Indi and of course, neither of them figures it out, for a while.
It was a great read, made for a wonderful escape/trip for this desert dweller, and I truly enjoyed. Even though it is a book two, it can be read as a standalone. Loved it.
Thank you to Jennifer Faye for a signed copy of It Started With a Royal Kiss in her newsletter giveaway. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. This is the first Jennifer Faye book I've read and it won't be the last. She is not one of those romance writers who just inserts names, setting, same old story. I found her book to be creative, funny and I loved the dual POV. I could relate to both main characters. Indigo, the main female character, is creative and I loved the descriptions of her artwork especially her funny portraits of resort guests. Istvan, a prince, is a reluctant and unusual member of royalty. I loved his honesty and his insecurity. I also loved how charitable he was. They are a wonderful couple and I enjoyed reading the dilemmas they face (especially the Queen!). Especially loved the ending, and of course, Duke.
A sweet royal romance! With the second book in the Greek Paradise Escape we get to meet a gentle Prince who falls for an artist with a tie to his country that he knows nothing about. Secrets unravel and attraction grows as this fast paced story unfolds. I really liked them together.
Indigo is sweet and sincere, but she doesn't admit what her connection is to his country before he begins falling for her.
Prince Istvan wants change for his country, but he's not sure he can accomplish the goodness that he wants to bestow once he's in power.
I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that likes a mild romance with strong characterization and a scenic backdrop as love conquers all.
Jennifer Faye certainly knows how to weave a sweet, romantic story that feels like a modern day fairy tale. The characters were endearing. Indigo was a beautiful, loving, free spirit taking care of her mom and painting caricatures for the Ludus Resort. I liked that when she met Istvan, the crown prince of Rydiania, she did not treat him as if he was a royal. I enjoyed learning about her family's past and now that helped shape who she was today. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Jennifer Faye is very good at writing a fairytale romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely story set in a picturesque kingdom, in Greece. Indigo finds her prince charming, but she doesn't want to want him. Istvan doesn't understand why this enchanting woman seems to dislike him, but her indifference is intriguing. When Istvan hires Indigo to paint his royal portrait, their new friendship could turn into more if they're honest with each other and themselves. I read an advanced copy of this book
Another wonderful book by the amazingly talented Jennifer Faye. I love the characters and the setting. I wish I could go to a beautiful island and never leave. Indigo and Prince Istvan have undeniable chemistry, but she doesn't want to give in to her feelings because of things that happened to her family because of his family. She hopes that the Prince is different than others in his family and she eventually lets her guard down. This a heartwarming story and I highly recommend it!
Jennifer Faye never disappoints. Her newest novel, It All Started With A Kiss, was an escape from our everyday drama. This book left me wanting to be on a beach to read this one, AGAIN. Indi was a perfect opposite for Crown Prince Istvan. Each of their personalities were strong, powerful, and deeply rooted.
I loved the plot, the heated romance, and a superb happy ever after.
Delightful read! The story line has doubt, determination and duty to family as well as new found attraction. The characters are strong, hard working and value family. Loving this series, can not wait to see what is nest.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book; all opinions expressed are my own.
Another great book by Jennifer Faye. I always think I am on a wonderful vacation when I read one of her books. This book is about a talented artist, a crown prince and his uppity family who thinks she is not good enough for him. Unbeknownst to them they have a lot of history between them. I know one day I will see one of Jennifer’s books on tv.
A very cute cover and the story is a page turner. One girl who starts painting cartoon pics of her subjects gets a customer she will never forget. Jennifer hit a home run with this!
I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have done.
IT STARTED WITH A ROYAL KISS by Jennifer Faye is a fun, flirty and so royally romantic story. The characters are wonderful: Indigo knows she should have nothing to do with Prince Istvan, yet when he offers her the chance to paint his Royal portrait she does it for her Mother. Prince Istvan wants Indigo to paint his Royal portrait even going against the wishes of his Mother, the Queen because she has captured his heart and sealed it with a Royal kiss. The Greek Paradise Escape trilogy just keeps getting better and better. Ms. Faye is a favorite Author of mine and highly recommend all her books. ❤️