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The Oxenburg Princes #1
The Prince Who Loved Me
A handsome, rakish prince who doesn't believe in true love meets a stubborn lass who will settle for nothing less...
In a lighthearted retelling of a classic fairy tale, bestselling author Karen Hawkins gives Cinderella a Scottish twist!
Prince Alexsey Romanovin enjoys his carefree life, flirting—and more—with every lovely lady who crosses his path. But when the interfering Grand Duchess Natasha decides it's time for her grandson to wed, Alexsey finds himself in Scotland, determined to foil her plans. Brainy, bookish, and bespectacled, Bronwyn Murdoch seems the perfect answer—she isn't at all to the duchess' taste.
Living at the beck and call of her ambitious stepmother and social butterfly stepsisters, Bronwyn has little time for a handsome flirt—no matter how intoxicating his kisses are. After all, no spoiled, arrogant prince would be seriously interested in a firm-minded female like herself. So . . . wouldn't it be fun to turn his "game" upside down and prove that an ordinary woman can bring a prince to his knees?
In a lighthearted retelling of a classic fairy tale, bestselling author Karen Hawkins gives Cinderella a Scottish twist!
Prince Alexsey Romanovin enjoys his carefree life, flirting—and more—with every lovely lady who crosses his path. But when the interfering Grand Duchess Natasha decides it's time for her grandson to wed, Alexsey finds himself in Scotland, determined to foil her plans. Brainy, bookish, and bespectacled, Bronwyn Murdoch seems the perfect answer—she isn't at all to the duchess' taste.
Living at the beck and call of her ambitious stepmother and social butterfly stepsisters, Bronwyn has little time for a handsome flirt—no matter how intoxicating his kisses are. After all, no spoiled, arrogant prince would be seriously interested in a firm-minded female like herself. So . . . wouldn't it be fun to turn his "game" upside down and prove that an ordinary woman can bring a prince to his knees?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2014
132 people are currently reading
2663 people want to read
About the author
Karen Hawkins
59 books2,978 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond books are a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, follow her at:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
April 29, 2015
This is a (very loose) retelling of Cinderella in a historical romance format.
Bronwyn is a minor Scottish lady. She, her eccentric inventor father, her stepmother, and her two younger stepsisters are living in genteel poverty - able to keep on a servant and a cook, but sometimes unable to afford firewood or the ingredients for apple tarts. Sense and Sensibility-like.
One day, Bronwyn is reading in the forest with her two wolfhounds, Walter and Scott. A huntsman chasing a small fluffy white dog bursts into the clearing. He is Alexsey. He is an arrogant jerk. In this opening scene, he snatches away a book she's been reading, reads a few passages out loud, and declares its kissing descriptions to be bunk. When Bronwyn protests, he states that she must know nothing about kissing, and starts kissing her.
I was like, "Excuse me. You just met this woman. You don't know her. She doesn't know you. You guys are alone in an isolated part of the forest. She didn't flirt with you or make any sign that she wanted to be kissed by you. You do not have a right to touch her. Back the fuck off."
She runs off, leaving a shoe behind, which Alexsey keeps. He thinks she is a servant girl and is excited at the thought of having an affair with her.
About 40 pages later, there is a ball. Bronwyn, who at 24 is considered "on the shelf," attends as a chaperone for her two younger sisters. There she is surprised to learn that the huntsman who kissed her in the forest is really a half-fake-Russian-speaking country/half-Gypsy prince. And he is surprised and dismayed to find that she is a minor lady. That will make his seduction of her all the more difficult. Her mother immediately starts pushing her gorgeous middle daughter, Sorcha, at the prince.
When the prince and Bronwyn have a dance, they have the following conversation after Bronwyn steps on his toes:
"...for then I will have to punish you."...
"Oh? and how will you 'punish' me?"
His eyes sparkled. "I would spank you." He bent until his lips were near her ear. "But in a very pleasurable way."
Um, excuse me. I have to go vomit in the corner now. He just MET this woman and I cannot even believe what he is doing and saying. It is disgusting and he is a pig. Thanks be to God that he didn't actually attempt to spank her at any point, or mete out any other form of punishment, because if he did this would be an instant DNF for me.
Some days later, he stumbles upon Bronwyn in the park and there's more kissing. More mutual this time, which I was grateful for.
Okay, now, here's the rub. Alexsey's gypsy grandmother hates Bronwyn and has her heart set on him marrying Bronwyn's younger stepsister, Sorcha. So she's always arranging teas together between the families. On one of these teas, Bronwyn accidentally overhears Alexsey talking to his (even more of a jerk) best friend, Strath. He states that he WILL "have" Bronwyn, and what's more, he's going to actually pretend to court her so that his grandma stops nagging him about getting married.
Bronwyn decides to seduce him in equal measure so that ... I don't know... at the end she can say, "gotcha!" or something? Whatever - this is one of those ridiculous romance plans that don't make any actual sense. So they are each trying for the same thing - seduction - although with Alexsey having slept with half of Europe and Bronwyn being a virgin who was just kissed for the first time a few days ago, it's pretty much the sacrificial lamb going to slaughter here.
...
THINGS I HATED:
1.) And this is the most important one: Alexsey, the "hero," is a domineering, bossy, arrogant asshole. He refuses to take 'no' for an answer, multiple times. He tells Bronwyn what to do and expects no argument. He is toying with her and wants an affair with her even though he knows if it was ever discovered, she'd be ruined for life.
He actually has sex with her (instead of playing: Everything But), seemingly forgetting, despite all his knowledge of sex and women, about a little thing called "pregnancy." He can leave at any time, nothing can hurt his reputation, but she and her family will be ruined if she is pregnant. This never seems to occur to him or bother him.
He's constantly taking Bronwyn's spectacles off and asking her not to wear them. I'm like: "She needs those to SEE, you asshole!"
He has no regard for anyone but himself.
Oh, and then there's this scene. Okay, Bronwyn and Alexsey are settled in to read together. He says that she can have kisses any time she asks for them.
His gaze darkened. "If you want more kisses, you've but to ask..."
Just ask,, she told herself. But no - that wasn't what she really wanted. She smiled teasingly. "No. You ask."
Something flashed in his eyes; his jaw tightened. "You don't wish for kisses? Then you won't have them."
What a prideful, arrogant asshole. With no sense of humor. In my opinion, men with no sense of humor are shit in bed. I felt so sad for Bronwyn. If a guy has his head this far up his own ass, there's no hope for him.
Did I mention that he has unprotected sex with her, because he's a piece of shit with no regard for her life or feelings? Yes? Okay then.
2.) Alexsey's asshole best friend, Strath, who is even MORE of a jerk than Alexsey. I know. You can't believe it. I can't either.
Strath, who also sleeps with anyone in a skirt, has a huge problem with Bronwyn's gorgeous younger sister, Sorcha. She's so beautiful. Because of this, Strath immediately thinks she's a stuck-up, vapid, selfish twit. Actually, Sorcha is a very sweet, caring, book-loving girl. He is judging her solely on her appearance and the fact that he lusts after her but thinks he can never possess her. This makes him very angry. This guy is the type of guy who ends up murdering women because they turned him down for a date, e.g. Elliot Rodger.
And do you want to know the worst thing? The absolute worst thing?
THINGS I LIKED:
1.) The cute, tiny, not overwhelming Cinderella aspects. Hawkins does a great job of very subtly weaving Cinderella elements into the story. It's wonderful. From the lost slipper, to the ball, to wearing her stepsisters' castoffs, to being locked in her room, ... there are just so many wonderful little details that are there if you are looking for them. But this is very underplayed, and so much the better for it.
2.) Bronwyn's stepsisters and stepmother and not evil, but kind. Bronwyn's two stepsisters (Sorcha and Mairi) are sweet and also her best friends. Even though they are prettier than Bronwyn, and more interested in balls, all of them are loving sisters and good friends. And even though Sorcha is the most beautiful woman ever, apparently, she shares Bronwyn's love of books, and has a sweet and generous nature.
Bronwyn's stepmom is more of a tricky character - sometimes she makes it really hard to like her, but underneath she really is a good person.
3.) Bronwyn's character. Even though I feel like the description of Bronwyn (plump, brown-haired, freckled, and wearing glasses) was only for show (she was obviously not chubby. I think the author just meant "she weighs 130 instead of 100) - I felt like her PERSONALITY was really fun and quirky. She loves books, she loves her huge dogs, she willingly helps with chores, she helps her father file patents on his inventions, she is a HORRIBLE dancer (which is pretty funny during the ball scenes)... She's just got a really cute personality that I liked.
4.) The best, absolute best scenes are when Bronwyn uses stuff from her romance novels to seduce Alexsey. It's HILARIOUS. Pure gold. I was laughing out loud, these scenes were so funny. She studies up on his home country, and then spouts all these facts about it over tea. Or the time when she thinks she can win him over with singing, and starts singing in the middle of a make-out session with him. OMG It was so funny. Then there's the time she decides she has to have a 'unique scent' that he will always remember her by, but can't find any good perfume, so... LOL Well, you'll have to read the book to find out where THAT goes, but trust me, it's comedic gold.
...
Okay. I think that about sums it up. I couldn't go five pages without screaming "You *&&%ing piece of trash!" at Alexsey, so...
2 REAL STARS, 2 ROMANCE STARS
Bronwyn is a minor Scottish lady. She, her eccentric inventor father, her stepmother, and her two younger stepsisters are living in genteel poverty - able to keep on a servant and a cook, but sometimes unable to afford firewood or the ingredients for apple tarts. Sense and Sensibility-like.
One day, Bronwyn is reading in the forest with her two wolfhounds, Walter and Scott. A huntsman chasing a small fluffy white dog bursts into the clearing. He is Alexsey. He is an arrogant jerk. In this opening scene, he snatches away a book she's been reading, reads a few passages out loud, and declares its kissing descriptions to be bunk. When Bronwyn protests, he states that she must know nothing about kissing, and starts kissing her.
I was like, "Excuse me. You just met this woman. You don't know her. She doesn't know you. You guys are alone in an isolated part of the forest. She didn't flirt with you or make any sign that she wanted to be kissed by you. You do not have a right to touch her. Back the fuck off."
She runs off, leaving a shoe behind, which Alexsey keeps. He thinks she is a servant girl and is excited at the thought of having an affair with her.
About 40 pages later, there is a ball. Bronwyn, who at 24 is considered "on the shelf," attends as a chaperone for her two younger sisters. There she is surprised to learn that the huntsman who kissed her in the forest is really a half-fake-Russian-speaking country/half-Gypsy prince. And he is surprised and dismayed to find that she is a minor lady. That will make his seduction of her all the more difficult. Her mother immediately starts pushing her gorgeous middle daughter, Sorcha, at the prince.
When the prince and Bronwyn have a dance, they have the following conversation after Bronwyn steps on his toes:
"...for then I will have to punish you."...
"Oh? and how will you 'punish' me?"
His eyes sparkled. "I would spank you." He bent until his lips were near her ear. "But in a very pleasurable way."
Um, excuse me. I have to go vomit in the corner now. He just MET this woman and I cannot even believe what he is doing and saying. It is disgusting and he is a pig. Thanks be to God that he didn't actually attempt to spank her at any point, or mete out any other form of punishment, because if he did this would be an instant DNF for me.
Some days later, he stumbles upon Bronwyn in the park and there's more kissing. More mutual this time, which I was grateful for.
Okay, now, here's the rub. Alexsey's gypsy grandmother hates Bronwyn and has her heart set on him marrying Bronwyn's younger stepsister, Sorcha. So she's always arranging teas together between the families. On one of these teas, Bronwyn accidentally overhears Alexsey talking to his (even more of a jerk) best friend, Strath. He states that he WILL "have" Bronwyn, and what's more, he's going to actually pretend to court her so that his grandma stops nagging him about getting married.
Bronwyn decides to seduce him in equal measure so that ... I don't know... at the end she can say, "gotcha!" or something? Whatever - this is one of those ridiculous romance plans that don't make any actual sense. So they are each trying for the same thing - seduction - although with Alexsey having slept with half of Europe and Bronwyn being a virgin who was just kissed for the first time a few days ago, it's pretty much the sacrificial lamb going to slaughter here.
...
THINGS I HATED:
1.) And this is the most important one: Alexsey, the "hero," is a domineering, bossy, arrogant asshole. He refuses to take 'no' for an answer, multiple times. He tells Bronwyn what to do and expects no argument. He is toying with her and wants an affair with her even though he knows if it was ever discovered, she'd be ruined for life.
He actually has sex with her (instead of playing: Everything But), seemingly forgetting, despite all his knowledge of sex and women, about a little thing called "pregnancy." He can leave at any time, nothing can hurt his reputation, but she and her family will be ruined if she is pregnant. This never seems to occur to him or bother him.
He's constantly taking Bronwyn's spectacles off and asking her not to wear them. I'm like: "She needs those to SEE, you asshole!"
He has no regard for anyone but himself.
Oh, and then there's this scene. Okay, Bronwyn and Alexsey are settled in to read together. He says that she can have kisses any time she asks for them.
His gaze darkened. "If you want more kisses, you've but to ask..."
Just ask,, she told herself. But no - that wasn't what she really wanted. She smiled teasingly. "No. You ask."
Something flashed in his eyes; his jaw tightened. "You don't wish for kisses? Then you won't have them."
What a prideful, arrogant asshole. With no sense of humor. In my opinion, men with no sense of humor are shit in bed. I felt so sad for Bronwyn. If a guy has his head this far up his own ass, there's no hope for him.
Did I mention that he has unprotected sex with her, because he's a piece of shit with no regard for her life or feelings? Yes? Okay then.
2.) Alexsey's asshole best friend, Strath, who is even MORE of a jerk than Alexsey. I know. You can't believe it. I can't either.
Strath, who also sleeps with anyone in a skirt, has a huge problem with Bronwyn's gorgeous younger sister, Sorcha. She's so beautiful. Because of this, Strath immediately thinks she's a stuck-up, vapid, selfish twit. Actually, Sorcha is a very sweet, caring, book-loving girl. He is judging her solely on her appearance and the fact that he lusts after her but thinks he can never possess her. This makes him very angry. This guy is the type of guy who ends up murdering women because they turned him down for a date, e.g. Elliot Rodger.
And do you want to know the worst thing? The absolute worst thing?
THINGS I LIKED:
1.) The cute, tiny, not overwhelming Cinderella aspects. Hawkins does a great job of very subtly weaving Cinderella elements into the story. It's wonderful. From the lost slipper, to the ball, to wearing her stepsisters' castoffs, to being locked in her room, ... there are just so many wonderful little details that are there if you are looking for them. But this is very underplayed, and so much the better for it.
2.) Bronwyn's stepsisters and stepmother and not evil, but kind. Bronwyn's two stepsisters (Sorcha and Mairi) are sweet and also her best friends. Even though they are prettier than Bronwyn, and more interested in balls, all of them are loving sisters and good friends. And even though Sorcha is the most beautiful woman ever, apparently, she shares Bronwyn's love of books, and has a sweet and generous nature.
Bronwyn's stepmom is more of a tricky character - sometimes she makes it really hard to like her, but underneath she really is a good person.
3.) Bronwyn's character. Even though I feel like the description of Bronwyn (plump, brown-haired, freckled, and wearing glasses) was only for show (she was obviously not chubby. I think the author just meant "she weighs 130 instead of 100) - I felt like her PERSONALITY was really fun and quirky. She loves books, she loves her huge dogs, she willingly helps with chores, she helps her father file patents on his inventions, she is a HORRIBLE dancer (which is pretty funny during the ball scenes)... She's just got a really cute personality that I liked.
4.) The best, absolute best scenes are when Bronwyn uses stuff from her romance novels to seduce Alexsey. It's HILARIOUS. Pure gold. I was laughing out loud, these scenes were so funny. She studies up on his home country, and then spouts all these facts about it over tea. Or the time when she thinks she can win him over with singing, and starts singing in the middle of a make-out session with him. OMG It was so funny. Then there's the time she decides she has to have a 'unique scent' that he will always remember her by, but can't find any good perfume, so... LOL Well, you'll have to read the book to find out where THAT goes, but trust me, it's comedic gold.
...
Okay. I think that about sums it up. I couldn't go five pages without screaming "You *&&%ing piece of trash!" at Alexsey, so...
2 REAL STARS, 2 ROMANCE STARS
July 30, 2015
The Prince Who Loved Me
4 Stars
Alexsey Romanovin enjoys his rakish ways and has no intention of marrying despite his grandmother’s machinations. When Alexsey meets brainy and bookish, Bronwyn Murdoch, he realizes that courting her is the perfect solution as she will never meet his Tata’s requirements. Bronwyn enjoys her quiet life and has plans of her own for the spoiled and arrogant prince - none of which include falling in love with him.
A sweet, but exceedingly loose retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale. Thankfully there is relatively little angst and no keeping secrets.
Bronwyn is a lovely heroine and the fact that she always has her nose buried in a book makes her very relatable to the bibliophile in me. She sees straight through Alexsey’s suave charm and the seducer ends up being seduced himself.
Although Alexsey initially comes across as selfish, spoiled and immature, he grows on you and it is impossible not to appreciate the extent of his love for Bronwyn and the lengths he will go to, to win her.
Bronwyn’s family is nothing like Cinderella’s. Although her stepmother is preoccupied with social enhancement for her daughters, she seems to truly care for Bronwyn (even though there are moments when this is questionable). Her daughters, Sorcha and Mairi, are very likable and my main complaint is that Sorcha’s relationship with Alexsey’s friend, Strath, is underdeveloped.
All in all, a fun read and I particularly enjoyed the manner in which Hawkins subtly weaves the Cinderella elements into the plot without allowing them to overwhelm the originality of her story.
4 Stars
Alexsey Romanovin enjoys his rakish ways and has no intention of marrying despite his grandmother’s machinations. When Alexsey meets brainy and bookish, Bronwyn Murdoch, he realizes that courting her is the perfect solution as she will never meet his Tata’s requirements. Bronwyn enjoys her quiet life and has plans of her own for the spoiled and arrogant prince - none of which include falling in love with him.
A sweet, but exceedingly loose retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale. Thankfully there is relatively little angst and no keeping secrets.
Bronwyn is a lovely heroine and the fact that she always has her nose buried in a book makes her very relatable to the bibliophile in me. She sees straight through Alexsey’s suave charm and the seducer ends up being seduced himself.
Although Alexsey initially comes across as selfish, spoiled and immature, he grows on you and it is impossible not to appreciate the extent of his love for Bronwyn and the lengths he will go to, to win her.
Bronwyn’s family is nothing like Cinderella’s. Although her stepmother is preoccupied with social enhancement for her daughters, she seems to truly care for Bronwyn (even though there are moments when this is questionable). Her daughters, Sorcha and Mairi, are very likable and my main complaint is that Sorcha’s relationship with Alexsey’s friend, Strath, is underdeveloped.
All in all, a fun read and I particularly enjoyed the manner in which Hawkins subtly weaves the Cinderella elements into the plot without allowing them to overwhelm the originality of her story.
October 6, 2025
Read: 10/6/25
Setting: Scotland, Regency Era (?)
Trope: Fairytale retelling, class differences, bluestocking
2.7 stars
The plot was based on a loose retelling of Cinderella, except this stepmom and sisters are nice. The book was just okay. The most positive thing I can say is that this book would make a good throwaway beach read. There's really no substance here. The book is missing the cute humor that KH writes so well.
Conclusion: I'd skip it! There are so many better books by this author.
Setting: Scotland, Regency Era (?)
Trope: Fairytale retelling, class differences, bluestocking
2.7 stars
The plot was based on a loose retelling of Cinderella, except this stepmom and sisters are nice. The book was just okay. The most positive thing I can say is that this book would make a good throwaway beach read. There's really no substance here. The book is missing the cute humor that KH writes so well.
Conclusion: I'd skip it! There are so many better books by this author.
September 24, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
With a little bit of inspiration from Cinderella, The Prince Who Loved Me tells the tale of the loveable shy spinster Bronwyn and the dashing rakehell prince Aleksey. He is intrigued by her and would like to whittle away the country hours by engaging in some bed sport. She is wary of his slick charming attitude but would like to have a real life adventure that she so often reads about in books. Both are looking for just some light and fun interactions. Fate, well it has its own agenda.
Bronwyn is a very likable and relatable character. She lost her mother as a very young girl, began to emulate her father, worried the family with her unladylike behavior, and ended up with a stepmother and sisters. Unlike Cinderella however, Bronwyn gets along with her new family members and while she is compared to the older more beautiful one, there is no resentment or jealously. Bronwyn is very strong minded and while at times she may lack self-confidence, she also goes after what she wants; readers will enjoy cheering her on. Our hero Aleksey is the one I had a problem with. For a large part of the story he was very selfish, immature, and displayed an overall unattractively young personality. I can see why he was attracted to Bronwyn, intelligent and different from anyone he had meet before but beyond his good looks I have no idea what Bronwyn saw in Aleksey.
The story moves at a good pace, I'm just not sure anything really happens for eighty percent of it. A majority of the story arc is Aleksey trying to convince Bronwyn to simply be in his presence. Their interactions are all fairly quick and barely move beyond the "I want to seduce you" "I can't allow myself to be seduced! But oh my, look at those gorgeous eyes!" Without any real substance to their connection I was left feeling very bereft when their first love scene occurred and wasn't as emotionally involved as I usually like to be when they eventually came together. The "villainous" grandmother and stepmother were extremely overdone and detracted from the story rather than added to it as this story arc went on for too long and overshadowed Aleksey and Bronwyn towards the end.
Bronwyn was a keeper character for me, unfortunately Aleksey never measured up. I also wish we could have seen them interact more away from the seduction/trying to avoid plot so more material could be gathered as to why these two felt such a strong connection to each other. Ms. Hawkins can write, lamentably, this book fell short.
With a little bit of inspiration from Cinderella, The Prince Who Loved Me tells the tale of the loveable shy spinster Bronwyn and the dashing rakehell prince Aleksey. He is intrigued by her and would like to whittle away the country hours by engaging in some bed sport. She is wary of his slick charming attitude but would like to have a real life adventure that she so often reads about in books. Both are looking for just some light and fun interactions. Fate, well it has its own agenda.
Bronwyn is a very likable and relatable character. She lost her mother as a very young girl, began to emulate her father, worried the family with her unladylike behavior, and ended up with a stepmother and sisters. Unlike Cinderella however, Bronwyn gets along with her new family members and while she is compared to the older more beautiful one, there is no resentment or jealously. Bronwyn is very strong minded and while at times she may lack self-confidence, she also goes after what she wants; readers will enjoy cheering her on. Our hero Aleksey is the one I had a problem with. For a large part of the story he was very selfish, immature, and displayed an overall unattractively young personality. I can see why he was attracted to Bronwyn, intelligent and different from anyone he had meet before but beyond his good looks I have no idea what Bronwyn saw in Aleksey.
The story moves at a good pace, I'm just not sure anything really happens for eighty percent of it. A majority of the story arc is Aleksey trying to convince Bronwyn to simply be in his presence. Their interactions are all fairly quick and barely move beyond the "I want to seduce you" "I can't allow myself to be seduced! But oh my, look at those gorgeous eyes!" Without any real substance to their connection I was left feeling very bereft when their first love scene occurred and wasn't as emotionally involved as I usually like to be when they eventually came together. The "villainous" grandmother and stepmother were extremely overdone and detracted from the story rather than added to it as this story arc went on for too long and overshadowed Aleksey and Bronwyn towards the end.
Bronwyn was a keeper character for me, unfortunately Aleksey never measured up. I also wish we could have seen them interact more away from the seduction/trying to avoid plot so more material could be gathered as to why these two felt such a strong connection to each other. Ms. Hawkins can write, lamentably, this book fell short.
September 24, 2014
Arc provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley
Release Date : September 23 rd
Reasons why I loved this book:
Bookish main characters who agree on the vital importance of reading!
Brownyn goes as far as to affirm that she would rather own a library "subscription", than to be a princess...which is a very sensible statement for her to make!
Because how one finds the time to read with all those people looking at you, I have no idea!
A rakish prince of a somewhat modern kingdom who is determined in living his life the way he wants to, without having anyone telling him otherwise. Thankfully for Aleksey he has three brothers, and one of them is the oldest, so....he may continue partying. ;)
I am kidding. He's not as irresponsible as he would like people to think so _ as all reformable rakes do.
He likes small fluffy dogs, so that's some serious bonus points for him...
He's not overly attached to the latest fashion style...
And of course, the most important of all: He likes to read!
He has however an asinine thinking moment _the most flagrant one _ but that ends up being thwarted by our heroine's big ears and correct *GPS* positioning. (lol)
She totally eavesdrop the conversation :)
Bronwyn has a somewhat Cinderella life: She has two stepsisters....but they all love one another.
She has a stepmother _not evil or wicked _ who is determined that her daughters should marry well.
Truth be told, she is more worried about the two younger daughters, but only because Bronwyn has made perfectly clear that she is rather happy with her life. Also, she is twenty four years old, so she is practically on the shelf!
Now imagine what will happen when this Mama bear discovers that there is a prince in the vicinities ...
"A prince? Well he must marry your sister!" (not this phrasing, but you know what I mean)
Unfortunately for the scheming Mother, her beautiful daughter is far from interested on the Prince...
The prince is much more interested in her plainer older daughter...who in turns is also quite infatuated with the prince!
As you can see, this could turn out problematic...fortunately for us, the author didn't chose the melodramatic path so things work out in a mostly sane way...
Of course there is people climbing castle trellis, and things like that...
Secret Marriages...
Naked princes...
Naked princes with glasses...
o_O
Normally with Cinderella retellings, the Cinderella is the most beautiful girl in the setting.
Not in this one.
I liked that Bronwyn isn't "the fairest of them all", and that Aleksey couldn't care less about it.
As he mentions repeatedly: beauty isn't enough.
More cookie points for this.
Another great thing about this story, is that it has a pretty good dynamic, and we never get tired of reading about the couple _or couples _ in the book; mainly because there is a vast number of secondary characters, that keep things vastly interesting.
Take Aleksey's grandmother for instance: their interactions are insanely amusing, even when she's vexing him repeatedly!
The woman is a dragon, and she is determined in seeing him married...whether he wants to, or not.
Bottom line: A pretty good romance that kept me up almost all night long, with an irresistible couple, and quite a number of meddling family members...to keep things interesting enough.
I can't wait to read more about this family!
Apparently one of the other brothers already has his own book, in a different series, so I am looking forward to attacking it...
I also can't wait to see what their grandmother has in store, for the rest of her stubborn grandsons! ;)
Release Date : September 23 rd
Reasons why I loved this book:
Bookish main characters who agree on the vital importance of reading!
Brownyn goes as far as to affirm that she would rather own a library "subscription", than to be a princess...which is a very sensible statement for her to make!
Because how one finds the time to read with all those people looking at you, I have no idea!
A rakish prince of a somewhat modern kingdom who is determined in living his life the way he wants to, without having anyone telling him otherwise. Thankfully for Aleksey he has three brothers, and one of them is the oldest, so....he may continue partying. ;)
I am kidding. He's not as irresponsible as he would like people to think so _ as all reformable rakes do.
He likes small fluffy dogs, so that's some serious bonus points for him...
He's not overly attached to the latest fashion style...
And of course, the most important of all: He likes to read!
He has however an asinine thinking moment _the most flagrant one _ but that ends up being thwarted by our heroine's big ears and correct *GPS* positioning. (lol)
She totally eavesdrop the conversation :)
Bronwyn has a somewhat Cinderella life: She has two stepsisters....but they all love one another.
She has a stepmother _not evil or wicked _ who is determined that her daughters should marry well.
Truth be told, she is more worried about the two younger daughters, but only because Bronwyn has made perfectly clear that she is rather happy with her life. Also, she is twenty four years old, so she is practically on the shelf!
Now imagine what will happen when this Mama bear discovers that there is a prince in the vicinities ...
"A prince? Well he must marry your sister!" (not this phrasing, but you know what I mean)
Unfortunately for the scheming Mother, her beautiful daughter is far from interested on the Prince...
The prince is much more interested in her plainer older daughter...who in turns is also quite infatuated with the prince!
As you can see, this could turn out problematic...fortunately for us, the author didn't chose the melodramatic path so things work out in a mostly sane way...
Of course there is people climbing castle trellis, and things like that...
Secret Marriages...
Naked princes...
Naked princes with glasses...
o_O
Normally with Cinderella retellings, the Cinderella is the most beautiful girl in the setting.
Not in this one.
I liked that Bronwyn isn't "the fairest of them all", and that Aleksey couldn't care less about it.
As he mentions repeatedly: beauty isn't enough.
More cookie points for this.
Another great thing about this story, is that it has a pretty good dynamic, and we never get tired of reading about the couple _or couples _ in the book; mainly because there is a vast number of secondary characters, that keep things vastly interesting.
Take Aleksey's grandmother for instance: their interactions are insanely amusing, even when she's vexing him repeatedly!
The woman is a dragon, and she is determined in seeing him married...whether he wants to, or not.
Bottom line: A pretty good romance that kept me up almost all night long, with an irresistible couple, and quite a number of meddling family members...to keep things interesting enough.
I can't wait to read more about this family!
Apparently one of the other brothers already has his own book, in a different series, so I am looking forward to attacking it...
I also can't wait to see what their grandmother has in store, for the rest of her stubborn grandsons! ;)
January 19, 2019
2.5 stars
September 21, 2014
It's delightful! It's delicious! It's Karen Hawkins at her delovely best! Karen's refreshing take on the classic Cinderella tale is infectiously funny with an endearing cast of characters set in the romantic and picturesque wilds of Scotland.
Dashing and debonair Prince Alexsey Romanovin is not exactly how or what you expect him to be. Since he's not heir to the throne, Alexsey knows what he wants for his life, to lead the Romany people of his dual heritage as his grandfather did before him but his grandmother, the Grand Duchess Natasha, has other ideas and has set her eye and defiant Gypsy will to finding him a proper wife which is the last thing he's thinking about. A chance meeting with the very bluestocking, yet delectable Bronwyn Murdoch quickly has him singing a different tune. While he believes that Bronwyn couldn't be more perfect, his grandmother couldn't disagree more feeling that one of Bronwyn's more beautiful and elegant stepsisters would make him an ideal society bride...or does she?
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of The Prince Who Loved Me and I couldn't put it down until I read the very last word. To say I can't wait for the next installment in The Princes of Oxenburg series would be a serious understatement.
Dashing and debonair Prince Alexsey Romanovin is not exactly how or what you expect him to be. Since he's not heir to the throne, Alexsey knows what he wants for his life, to lead the Romany people of his dual heritage as his grandfather did before him but his grandmother, the Grand Duchess Natasha, has other ideas and has set her eye and defiant Gypsy will to finding him a proper wife which is the last thing he's thinking about. A chance meeting with the very bluestocking, yet delectable Bronwyn Murdoch quickly has him singing a different tune. While he believes that Bronwyn couldn't be more perfect, his grandmother couldn't disagree more feeling that one of Bronwyn's more beautiful and elegant stepsisters would make him an ideal society bride...or does she?
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of The Prince Who Loved Me and I couldn't put it down until I read the very last word. To say I can't wait for the next installment in The Princes of Oxenburg series would be a serious understatement.
did-not-finish
October 22, 2015As much as I liked the Cinderella premise and a heroine who loved books more than anything, the hero was just too big of a male jerk who only cared about sex (as far as I read), with no redeeming qualities whatsoever (as far as I read). The status updates and reviews indicate that my opinion isn't going to change, so I yield.
He’d wager his favorite summer palace that her breasts would fill his hands like ripe fruit, soft and succulent. His mouth watered and he wished they were alone, where he could explore such intriguing possibilities.
Ewwwww. And then this:
“Nyet. No. Not in a million years.”
What year is this book set in?
Back to the library for you.
He’d wager his favorite summer palace that her breasts would fill his hands like ripe fruit, soft and succulent. His mouth watered and he wished they were alone, where he could explore such intriguing possibilities.
Ewwwww. And then this:
“Nyet. No. Not in a million years.”
What year is this book set in?
Back to the library for you.
December 30, 2022
Oh, how I've missed historical romance! I've read so little of it this year, and I'm happy to end my year with the genre that made me a true romance reader. I loved the slight Cinderella take this had, with a bookish heroine, a prince afraid of commitment, and some not-so-evil stepsisters and stepmother. This was funny, the characters were relatable, and this really felt as if it took place in another era and place. I definitely recommend checking this one out if anything I've written here sounds at all appealing.
January 12, 2022
dnf @ 30~%
Ahhh so much potential but this love interest was soooo annoying, constantly flirting and just generally pissing me off. I really wanted to enjoy this... :/
Ahhh so much potential but this love interest was soooo annoying, constantly flirting and just generally pissing me off. I really wanted to enjoy this... :/
September 21, 2016
Decent if not predictable read, but cute. I do have to point out though that the setting is in Scotland and the heroine and her family are supposedly Scottish but not one trace of Scottish accents or dialogue is to be seen or used here except for the maids and a Lord Henry(?) who is a visiting guest. Which I found odd and glaring. I kept forgetting Bronwyn was Scottish until the hero would remind me. And what little Scottish dialogue that is used by the housemaids is so comically off and wonky that it is insanely hard to understand.
August 10, 2015
So bad.
This entire story reads like Pepé Le Pew chasing the poor black kitty cat.
This entire story reads like Pepé Le Pew chasing the poor black kitty cat.
August 12, 2016
Swoon-worthy & a barrel of laughs, The Prince Who Loved Me was a wonderful read :)
May 15, 2024
2.5 ⭐️⭐️✨
I’m being generous with bumping this up but I did like the story and characters overall. I also liked the story with in the story and the fact both MCs were book lovers. It was just the writing for me that was lacking. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either. I did like it enough to continue with the series so maybe it will get better.
I’m being generous with bumping this up but I did like the story and characters overall. I also liked the story with in the story and the fact both MCs were book lovers. It was just the writing for me that was lacking. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either. I did like it enough to continue with the series so maybe it will get better.
October 3, 2014
4 stars
The formula for this book is similar to that of other regency romances out there. You mix a beautiful, innocent girl with a handsome, roguish man and you've got a recipe for an enjoyable read.
However, Karen Hawkins's book managed to insert a few significant differences in the generally-used model.
For starters, the main character, Bronwyn (love, love the names in this book), is what the aristocracy considers a spinster. At twenty-four, she remains unmarried and does not wish to change that fact. Bookish, bespectacled and without any regard whatsoever towards fashion, Brownyn is an unconventional woman for her time, to say the least.
Then there's Alexey, Prince of Oxenburg, a man with very unusual tastes when it comes to women, who is visiting Brownyn's town. Needless to say, he's a total hunk.
His gypsy heritage - through his mother and represented for the most part by Tata Natasha, his grandmother - is another intriguing fact about the storyline. Also, the author invented a whole new country (I googled it to be sure), adorning it with some very accurate insights into romani culture.
These unusual aspects of the story brought some originality in what is becoming a very tiresome genre, what with the enormous similarities between books. It is a comfort-zone genre, soothing once in a while, but exausting when in rapid sucession.
*ARC provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The formula for this book is similar to that of other regency romances out there. You mix a beautiful, innocent girl with a handsome, roguish man and you've got a recipe for an enjoyable read.
However, Karen Hawkins's book managed to insert a few significant differences in the generally-used model.
For starters, the main character, Bronwyn (love, love the names in this book), is what the aristocracy considers a spinster. At twenty-four, she remains unmarried and does not wish to change that fact. Bookish, bespectacled and without any regard whatsoever towards fashion, Brownyn is an unconventional woman for her time, to say the least.
Then there's Alexey, Prince of Oxenburg, a man with very unusual tastes when it comes to women, who is visiting Brownyn's town. Needless to say, he's a total hunk.
His gypsy heritage - through his mother and represented for the most part by Tata Natasha, his grandmother - is another intriguing fact about the storyline. Also, the author invented a whole new country (I googled it to be sure), adorning it with some very accurate insights into romani culture.
These unusual aspects of the story brought some originality in what is becoming a very tiresome genre, what with the enormous similarities between books. It is a comfort-zone genre, soothing once in a while, but exausting when in rapid sucession.
*ARC provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
September 23, 2014
Historical, Romance
A handsome prince who is also a rake and doesn’t believe in true love meets a lass that is stubborn and who won’t settle for less.
Prince Alexsey Romanovin enjoys a carefree life with flirting and more with any lady that crosses his path. Then the interfering Grand Duchess Natasha decides it is time for Alexsey, her grandson, to wed. Alexsey soon finds himself in Scotland determined to put an end to those plans. Bronwyn Murdoch seems the perfect answer as she isn’t to the duchess’s taste at all as she is brainy, bookish and bespectacled.
Bronwyn has little time for a handsome flirt when she is at the beck and call of her ambitious stepmother and her social butterfly stepsisters. She is sure no spoiled arrogant prince would be seriously interested in a firm-minded female like herself. Now she is determined to have some fun and turn the prince’s game around on him and show him that an ordinary woman can bring a prince to his knees.
This is a fun story that takes the fairy tale of Cinderella and turns it into a Scottish tale that has a lot of humor in it. The characters are fun and interesting and keep the reader glued to the pages as they see just what will happen next and if Bronwyn will get a happily-ever-after. This a great start to a new series that if the rest of the stories prove to be as original as this one it is going to be one series that will be a lot of fun and will pull at readers’ heartstrings. Readers will also never look at Cinderella the same again after reading this one. It will also have readers wondering just what fairy tale will be next that will get it own twist.
A handsome prince who is also a rake and doesn’t believe in true love meets a lass that is stubborn and who won’t settle for less.
Prince Alexsey Romanovin enjoys a carefree life with flirting and more with any lady that crosses his path. Then the interfering Grand Duchess Natasha decides it is time for Alexsey, her grandson, to wed. Alexsey soon finds himself in Scotland determined to put an end to those plans. Bronwyn Murdoch seems the perfect answer as she isn’t to the duchess’s taste at all as she is brainy, bookish and bespectacled.
Bronwyn has little time for a handsome flirt when she is at the beck and call of her ambitious stepmother and her social butterfly stepsisters. She is sure no spoiled arrogant prince would be seriously interested in a firm-minded female like herself. Now she is determined to have some fun and turn the prince’s game around on him and show him that an ordinary woman can bring a prince to his knees.
This is a fun story that takes the fairy tale of Cinderella and turns it into a Scottish tale that has a lot of humor in it. The characters are fun and interesting and keep the reader glued to the pages as they see just what will happen next and if Bronwyn will get a happily-ever-after. This a great start to a new series that if the rest of the stories prove to be as original as this one it is going to be one series that will be a lot of fun and will pull at readers’ heartstrings. Readers will also never look at Cinderella the same again after reading this one. It will also have readers wondering just what fairy tale will be next that will get it own twist.
September 18, 2014
This was a fun book! I received a copy via NetGalley and jumped right into the story. The Prince Who Loved Me is about a prince who is both Romany and a Prince of a country called Oxenburg. He comes to visit a small Scottish village where Bronwyn Murdoch lives with her father, stepmother and stepsisters. They actually seem to be a close family despite their differences. Bronwyn is a bookish or "bluestocking" who does not really think about the future other than helping her father file patents for his inventions and answering correspondence. Her stepmother is very hands on and traditional and tries to make Bronwyn more of a lady in how she behaves, dresses and in her extracurricular activities as she spends most of her time reading and hanging around her dogs. The dogs and a new doggie she meets in the woods are quite funny additions to the story. It is also in the woods when Bronwyn meets someone that changes how she sees her future. There are some very comical portions to the story and I enjoyed the goings on at the different events at the castle. There are some very colorful characters in this story including the Viscount, his uncle, the Romany grandmother and Bronwyn's stepsisters. I always get a little nervous when I try to read historical fiction and I was not disappointed. The Prince Who Loved Me is a great, funny story!
Review can also be seen at LadyTechies Book Musings http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...
Review can also be seen at LadyTechies Book Musings http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...
September 20, 2014
Loved It!
The Prince Who Loved Me is a fantastic fairy tale story with the most beautiful written quotes like " IT WAS AS IF THEY WERE IN THE SAME BOOK, BUT ON FAR DIFFERENT PAGES". This is one the best Cinderella's story I have ever read with great characters and sparkling dialogue.
Prince Alexsey Romanovin is a charming rake with an interfering grandmother ,Grand Duchess Natasha, The last thing he wants is to get married. When he travels to Scotland with his grandmother, he meets Bronwyn Murdoch a bookish, bespectacled spinster who is perfect answer to foil his grandmother plan for marriage.
Bronwyn is a 24 year spinster, lives with her stepmother , two beautiful sisters and her father. She loves to read books and help her family. She has given up on marriage after her disastrous first season until Alexsey comes in her life and everything change. Their love story is so fun and romantic with interesting secondary characters. I really enjoyed reading this fabulous and delightful romantic story. Thank you Karen Hawkins for writing another fantastic book.
The Prince Who Loved Me is a fantastic fairy tale story with the most beautiful written quotes like " IT WAS AS IF THEY WERE IN THE SAME BOOK, BUT ON FAR DIFFERENT PAGES". This is one the best Cinderella's story I have ever read with great characters and sparkling dialogue.
Prince Alexsey Romanovin is a charming rake with an interfering grandmother ,Grand Duchess Natasha, The last thing he wants is to get married. When he travels to Scotland with his grandmother, he meets Bronwyn Murdoch a bookish, bespectacled spinster who is perfect answer to foil his grandmother plan for marriage.
Bronwyn is a 24 year spinster, lives with her stepmother , two beautiful sisters and her father. She loves to read books and help her family. She has given up on marriage after her disastrous first season until Alexsey comes in her life and everything change. Their love story is so fun and romantic with interesting secondary characters. I really enjoyed reading this fabulous and delightful romantic story. Thank you Karen Hawkins for writing another fantastic book.
April 28, 2015
Bronwyn Murdoch is perfectly happy with her life. She’s a sensible and bespectacled bluestocking beloved by her inventor father, for whom she helps organize patents. She lives with her stepmother and two loving stepsisters in the Scottish countryside, independent and firmly a spinster at age twenty-four, which is perfectly fine with her. She has her books and her large hounds, who trail her into the woods for her solitary reading sojourns.
Until a handsome huntsman comes upon her and sweeps her up in desire, just like in one of her romance novels. All of a sudden, Bronwyn begins to imagine a different kind of future for herself.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1DSpwI5
Until a handsome huntsman comes upon her and sweeps her up in desire, just like in one of her romance novels. All of a sudden, Bronwyn begins to imagine a different kind of future for herself.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1DSpwI5
December 4, 2016
This was a Cinderella story where she actually liked her stepsisters and stepmother.
Brownyn is a bookworm (yay for that), she is on the shelf (and does not care). She is helpful and good.
Then there was Alexsey, I was unsure about him. He only wanted her for a quick fling. He did not care if he ruined her, and by association her sisters by it. But it was hard to dislike him since I knew they would live happily ever after. Still, in the beginning he was an asshat, one that started to fall for the person he meant to seduce and leave.
Alex's gran want him with a pretty woman who can move in society. Bronwyn is not really that.
But you know, they dance around each other. There is passion. There is drama and there is a HEA.
Good, cute.
Brownyn is a bookworm (yay for that), she is on the shelf (and does not care). She is helpful and good.
Then there was Alexsey, I was unsure about him. He only wanted her for a quick fling. He did not care if he ruined her, and by association her sisters by it. But it was hard to dislike him since I knew they would live happily ever after. Still, in the beginning he was an asshat, one that started to fall for the person he meant to seduce and leave.
Alex's gran want him with a pretty woman who can move in society. Bronwyn is not really that.
But you know, they dance around each other. There is passion. There is drama and there is a HEA.
Good, cute.
September 18, 2014
This is one of the most entertaining, at times hysterically funny Historical Romance Novels I think I’ve ever read. Karen Hawkins never fails to deliver a well written, easy moving, sometimes funny, sometimes tear jerking, heartwarming, and entertaining book or novella all within one book, and The Prince That Loved Me is no exception.
September 22, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. Very funny, with delightful characters and a sweet story. ;D
October 1, 2014
In The Prince Who Love Me, Hawkins gives readers a historical romance Cinderella story. This lighthearted romantic tale is full of humour as it follows what happens when an outrageous and self-indulgent prince meets his practical Cinderella. Sparks fly between Prince Alexsey Romanovin and Miss Bronwyn Murdoch when they first meet, but meddling relatives are there to fan the flames.
Bronwyn Murdoch is a practical girl, concerned more with books and assisting her father with his inventions than catching a husband. At the advanced age of twenty-four, she considers herself on the shelf and is more than happy to help her step-mother find husbands for her step-sisters; thankfully taking the focus off herself. At least Bronwyn was content until she encountered Alexsey Romanovin, a man who seems to have stepped off the pages of the romances she loves so much. Just what exactly has she been missing?
Prince Alexsey is a carefree young man, taking advantage of life’s pleasures where he can. His priority is getting his grandmother to finally agree to support his leadership of the Gypsy people of Oxenburg; a position he inherited from his grandfather. But grandma insists that Alexsey wed before he gains the responsibility. When Alexsey meets Bronwyn he is charmed and thinks it a perfect opportunity for a dalliance, but when his grandmother starts applying pressure to marry, Alexsey decides Bronwyn is the perfect foil for his grandmother’s ambitions. It turns out grandma is not a fan of Brownyn and her unassuming manner, and perhaps Alexsey can use this dislike to his advantage.
Of course Alexsey’s plan might just be disrupted when Bronwyn learns that Alexsey plans to use her. Bronwyn refuses to be used and abandon, and vows to teach this arrogant prince a lesson. If only she wasn’t so intrigued by his kisses…
The Prince Who Loved Me is a sweet read and I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. For me, the story lacked depth and the hero, well, he just didn’t do it for me. The romance here moved quickly; however, I don’t think it progressed authentically. When Bronwyn and Alexsey first meet, it’s instant attraction, but I felt the deepening of this attraction into mutual respect and more complicated emotions was never conveyed. This is partly why I didn’t love the hero. Alexsey seemed too self-indulgent to really connect with the serious-minded Bronwyn. And what’s more, I never felt that he truly respected Bronwyn’s position in society and how an affair had the potential to absolutely ruin her. It was all about him rather than them as a couple, and for me, this decreased my enjoyment of the book.
What I did like about The Prince Who Loved Me, was the lighthearted tone Hawkins used throughout, in fact, it’s what draws me to Hawkins as an author to begin with. The moments of humour and the sweetness that is simply nice. And as much as I like these elements, it was not enough to redeem a character that I just didn’t like.
Ultimately, The Prince Who Loved Me was cute, but not a romance with a lot of depth of character. This romance is founded on attraction and not much else. I would of loved to have seen Bronwyn and Alexesy interact more with one another and actually create a relationship; it would have went a long way to making this a stronger romance, at least for this reader.
Originally published with similar reads at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Bronwyn Murdoch is a practical girl, concerned more with books and assisting her father with his inventions than catching a husband. At the advanced age of twenty-four, she considers herself on the shelf and is more than happy to help her step-mother find husbands for her step-sisters; thankfully taking the focus off herself. At least Bronwyn was content until she encountered Alexsey Romanovin, a man who seems to have stepped off the pages of the romances she loves so much. Just what exactly has she been missing?
Prince Alexsey is a carefree young man, taking advantage of life’s pleasures where he can. His priority is getting his grandmother to finally agree to support his leadership of the Gypsy people of Oxenburg; a position he inherited from his grandfather. But grandma insists that Alexsey wed before he gains the responsibility. When Alexsey meets Bronwyn he is charmed and thinks it a perfect opportunity for a dalliance, but when his grandmother starts applying pressure to marry, Alexsey decides Bronwyn is the perfect foil for his grandmother’s ambitions. It turns out grandma is not a fan of Brownyn and her unassuming manner, and perhaps Alexsey can use this dislike to his advantage.
Of course Alexsey’s plan might just be disrupted when Bronwyn learns that Alexsey plans to use her. Bronwyn refuses to be used and abandon, and vows to teach this arrogant prince a lesson. If only she wasn’t so intrigued by his kisses…
The Prince Who Loved Me is a sweet read and I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. For me, the story lacked depth and the hero, well, he just didn’t do it for me. The romance here moved quickly; however, I don’t think it progressed authentically. When Bronwyn and Alexsey first meet, it’s instant attraction, but I felt the deepening of this attraction into mutual respect and more complicated emotions was never conveyed. This is partly why I didn’t love the hero. Alexsey seemed too self-indulgent to really connect with the serious-minded Bronwyn. And what’s more, I never felt that he truly respected Bronwyn’s position in society and how an affair had the potential to absolutely ruin her. It was all about him rather than them as a couple, and for me, this decreased my enjoyment of the book.
What I did like about The Prince Who Loved Me, was the lighthearted tone Hawkins used throughout, in fact, it’s what draws me to Hawkins as an author to begin with. The moments of humour and the sweetness that is simply nice. And as much as I like these elements, it was not enough to redeem a character that I just didn’t like.
Ultimately, The Prince Who Loved Me was cute, but not a romance with a lot of depth of character. This romance is founded on attraction and not much else. I would of loved to have seen Bronwyn and Alexesy interact more with one another and actually create a relationship; it would have went a long way to making this a stronger romance, at least for this reader.
Originally published with similar reads at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
December 2, 2014
You know when you're stuck in traffic and you can see cars around you moving forward and you know that if you just got into their lane you could get going but you are hopelessly stuck in your own lane that refuses to hoof it? That was this book for me.
I have only read a couple of Karen Hawkins' books and they are all about the same for me. Pleasant, sweet, occasionally funny, and always slightly threadbare. If you were to ask me about her as an author, I could tell you that I enjoy her books but I couldn't tell you a darn thing about them. I remember being happy and content while reading them but I couldn't tell you why or give you any favorite moments or characters right off the top of my head.
This story was no different. Pleasant enough, with mild character development, and a so-so plot line (a passable throwback to Cinderella), I found myself sort of leisurely making my way through the book. No devouring here, but it was a good enough time.
Our heroine, Bronwyn Murdoch, is really the savior of the story. Independent and self-assured enough to have confidence in who she is and what she likes, she makes for a delightful heroine. She is put through her paces by the people in her life but finds her own way and is quite content until our hero joins the party and opens her eyes, mind, and heart.
Prince Alexsey Romanovin -- The very definition of a tempting rake from the very start, is also quite.... vacant as a character. Simple and single minded until the very very end, he is almost tedious to get to know, though his inner dialogue can be quite fun on occasion.
***SPOILER AHEAD!***
The thing that bothered me the most was that, going back to our original analogy, the cars that were passing us in the other lanes were so much more interesting than our main characters' car. Sorcha and Strath, sister and best friend to our heroine and hero respectively, are quite a more interesting love story than the one we are being told to focus on. Due to some incomplete character development, you end up more attached to side characters than the main ones. I wanted to be in their car dang it! If more time had, perhaps, been spent on allowing us to learn more about our hero and heroine instead of allowing us to see somewhere near 50 different versions of them playing the "Will They, Won't They" game, some great things could have come from these two.
***SPOILER OVER***
As I have said, it was a pleasant enough read but not one that draws me to the author or the series in particular. Perhaps it will be a completely different experience for you, or at least I hope so.
Hero:★★ 1/2
Heroine: ★★★
Plot line: ★★★
Steam: ★★★
Overall Rating: ★★★
Favorite scene: The Big Reveal of the Grand Plot by TaTa and Mama!
Favorite quote: "Bronwyn found that, with the right encouragement, her hands could curl into claws."
***I was given a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review***
I have only read a couple of Karen Hawkins' books and they are all about the same for me. Pleasant, sweet, occasionally funny, and always slightly threadbare. If you were to ask me about her as an author, I could tell you that I enjoy her books but I couldn't tell you a darn thing about them. I remember being happy and content while reading them but I couldn't tell you why or give you any favorite moments or characters right off the top of my head.
This story was no different. Pleasant enough, with mild character development, and a so-so plot line (a passable throwback to Cinderella), I found myself sort of leisurely making my way through the book. No devouring here, but it was a good enough time.
Our heroine, Bronwyn Murdoch, is really the savior of the story. Independent and self-assured enough to have confidence in who she is and what she likes, she makes for a delightful heroine. She is put through her paces by the people in her life but finds her own way and is quite content until our hero joins the party and opens her eyes, mind, and heart.
Prince Alexsey Romanovin -- The very definition of a tempting rake from the very start, is also quite.... vacant as a character. Simple and single minded until the very very end, he is almost tedious to get to know, though his inner dialogue can be quite fun on occasion.
***SPOILER AHEAD!***
The thing that bothered me the most was that, going back to our original analogy, the cars that were passing us in the other lanes were so much more interesting than our main characters' car. Sorcha and Strath, sister and best friend to our heroine and hero respectively, are quite a more interesting love story than the one we are being told to focus on. Due to some incomplete character development, you end up more attached to side characters than the main ones. I wanted to be in their car dang it! If more time had, perhaps, been spent on allowing us to learn more about our hero and heroine instead of allowing us to see somewhere near 50 different versions of them playing the "Will They, Won't They" game, some great things could have come from these two.
***SPOILER OVER***
As I have said, it was a pleasant enough read but not one that draws me to the author or the series in particular. Perhaps it will be a completely different experience for you, or at least I hope so.
Hero:★★ 1/2
Heroine: ★★★
Plot line: ★★★
Steam: ★★★
Overall Rating: ★★★
Favorite scene: The Big Reveal of the Grand Plot by TaTa and Mama!
Favorite quote: "Bronwyn found that, with the right encouragement, her hands could curl into claws."
***I was given a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review***
October 15, 2014
" The Prince Who Loved Me" is a refreshing and intresting twist on Cinderella , and who doesn't love a Cinderella story?
Bronwyn Murdoch 24 years old, on the shelf Scottish lass lives with her father, stepmother and two step sisters in the highlands! Unlike Cinderella , other than willingly helping her stepmother with the girls and her father with his patents ; but Bronwyn's passion is reading one that she indulges in as often as possible, she will sneak of with her two dogs to the woods and her special tree to sit beneath it and read in peace, but that peace is interrupted one afternoon when a small ball of fur comes flying out of the underbrush and into her lap. He small dog Bronwyn can handle , buttge devastatingly handsome hunter that follows behind the dog, well that is somethingll together different.....
Enter Prince Alexsey Romanovin a younger son and in no hurry to marry, but he does enjoy having his conquests and Bronwyn has peeked his intrest , not his normal type but he finds her incredible attaractive, she is educated enjoys reading and unassuming , she also does not know him to be a prince but thinks him a hunter. To be fair he thinks Bronwyn is someone's maid and not a gently bred Lady. Alexsey decides he will seduce her while he is visiting the highlands and the two wil part on amicable terms when it his time for him to leave. That is until days later after searching for her to no avail he meets her as she is introduced along with her sisters and step mother , but even so he is so enamored he decides to just change his plans to satisfy society and his Tata Natsha ,sine her new mission is to marry him off. Alexsey will court Bronwyn , seduce her and in the end they can go there own ways and he will just say the relationship was not working,but Bronwyn overhears his plans and decides to make him fall in love with her then she will dump him.
The book becomes a bit numerous at times with Alexsey's Tata providing the comic relief , and being the Bain of Alexsey's current existence , the more she talks against Bronwyn the more he defends her, the more he realizes she is occupying not only his fantasies but his waking hours and to further add to his distress she will not turn over to him until he marries and appropriate women she will not turn over control of the Romany tribes that his grandfather was grooming him for, the one true aspiration he has.
Some intresting plot turns , seduction, plotting family members lead to a truly enjoyable read!
Book graciously provided by Pocket Books via Net Galley for an honest review!
Bronwyn Murdoch 24 years old, on the shelf Scottish lass lives with her father, stepmother and two step sisters in the highlands! Unlike Cinderella , other than willingly helping her stepmother with the girls and her father with his patents ; but Bronwyn's passion is reading one that she indulges in as often as possible, she will sneak of with her two dogs to the woods and her special tree to sit beneath it and read in peace, but that peace is interrupted one afternoon when a small ball of fur comes flying out of the underbrush and into her lap. He small dog Bronwyn can handle , buttge devastatingly handsome hunter that follows behind the dog, well that is somethingll together different.....
Enter Prince Alexsey Romanovin a younger son and in no hurry to marry, but he does enjoy having his conquests and Bronwyn has peeked his intrest , not his normal type but he finds her incredible attaractive, she is educated enjoys reading and unassuming , she also does not know him to be a prince but thinks him a hunter. To be fair he thinks Bronwyn is someone's maid and not a gently bred Lady. Alexsey decides he will seduce her while he is visiting the highlands and the two wil part on amicable terms when it his time for him to leave. That is until days later after searching for her to no avail he meets her as she is introduced along with her sisters and step mother , but even so he is so enamored he decides to just change his plans to satisfy society and his Tata Natsha ,sine her new mission is to marry him off. Alexsey will court Bronwyn , seduce her and in the end they can go there own ways and he will just say the relationship was not working,but Bronwyn overhears his plans and decides to make him fall in love with her then she will dump him.
The book becomes a bit numerous at times with Alexsey's Tata providing the comic relief , and being the Bain of Alexsey's current existence , the more she talks against Bronwyn the more he defends her, the more he realizes she is occupying not only his fantasies but his waking hours and to further add to his distress she will not turn over to him until he marries and appropriate women she will not turn over control of the Romany tribes that his grandfather was grooming him for, the one true aspiration he has.
Some intresting plot turns , seduction, plotting family members lead to a truly enjoyable read!
Book graciously provided by Pocket Books via Net Galley for an honest review!
September 25, 2014
The art of kissing!
The Cinderella archetype takes a slightly different twist in this regency romp. All the players are turned about. The father is not dead, although somewhat lax in his attention to his eldest daughter, except where she can help him with his business pursuits. Bronwyn Murdoch looks after much of her father's business. She wants to do that. Her father is a muddle headed inventor. The description of Bronwyn seen through Prince Alexsey Vitaly Grigory Romanovin eyes is quite adorable. One is drawn to her immediately. Step mama might be careless of Bronwyn's desire to play a backseat to her sisters, but she does embrace her stepdaughter. The two stepsisters are likeable and there is love and camaraderie amongst the three. Sure, Prince Alexsey is charming, more of a careless cad rather than a ravishing rake, out for a tumble with what he assumes is a intriguing local maid. (How come those lower down the societal chain are assumed to be up for sexual encounters at the first glance from an upperclass scion?). The Prince being Romany adds an additional frisson of the exotic. (I must admit I flashed back to some of the early Barbara Cartland's at that disclosure). The godmother appears as the prince's tartar of a grandmother. His Tata, (I like the play on words here), the Grand Duchess Natasha Nikolaevna. The Grand Duchess is determined that her grandson will marry. Both Bronwyn and Alexsey were very likeable. The plot is dotted with witty little musings, particularly on the part of Bronwyn. Throughout, the lead into each chapter is preceded by quotes from Bronwyn's favourite story of the moment, The Black Duke, a highly questionable romance with a somewhat incompetent heroine. Mostly her book just stirs Bronwyn's interest in kissing. Something Alexsey is quite willing to help her with. Indeed, Bronwyn finds that this can be quite delicious.
The plot rattles along at a goodly pace, although there are things happening off stage that one catches hints of but they never quite come into focus until the end. Bronwyn going about her seduction attempts is extremely amusing and the three methods she uses are ridiculously charming and loveable for both us and the prince. Who knew rosemary could be so effective!
I was going to give the story three stars but then reflected and realized that Bronwyn deserves at least four. She is a treasure of a character. I really enjoyed her.
As an aside, I love the relationship between her two deerhounds and the Duchess's lapdog Papilion who has the heart of a warrior.
A NetGalley ARC
The Cinderella archetype takes a slightly different twist in this regency romp. All the players are turned about. The father is not dead, although somewhat lax in his attention to his eldest daughter, except where she can help him with his business pursuits. Bronwyn Murdoch looks after much of her father's business. She wants to do that. Her father is a muddle headed inventor. The description of Bronwyn seen through Prince Alexsey Vitaly Grigory Romanovin eyes is quite adorable. One is drawn to her immediately. Step mama might be careless of Bronwyn's desire to play a backseat to her sisters, but she does embrace her stepdaughter. The two stepsisters are likeable and there is love and camaraderie amongst the three. Sure, Prince Alexsey is charming, more of a careless cad rather than a ravishing rake, out for a tumble with what he assumes is a intriguing local maid. (How come those lower down the societal chain are assumed to be up for sexual encounters at the first glance from an upperclass scion?). The Prince being Romany adds an additional frisson of the exotic. (I must admit I flashed back to some of the early Barbara Cartland's at that disclosure). The godmother appears as the prince's tartar of a grandmother. His Tata, (I like the play on words here), the Grand Duchess Natasha Nikolaevna. The Grand Duchess is determined that her grandson will marry. Both Bronwyn and Alexsey were very likeable. The plot is dotted with witty little musings, particularly on the part of Bronwyn. Throughout, the lead into each chapter is preceded by quotes from Bronwyn's favourite story of the moment, The Black Duke, a highly questionable romance with a somewhat incompetent heroine. Mostly her book just stirs Bronwyn's interest in kissing. Something Alexsey is quite willing to help her with. Indeed, Bronwyn finds that this can be quite delicious.
The plot rattles along at a goodly pace, although there are things happening off stage that one catches hints of but they never quite come into focus until the end. Bronwyn going about her seduction attempts is extremely amusing and the three methods she uses are ridiculously charming and loveable for both us and the prince. Who knew rosemary could be so effective!
I was going to give the story three stars but then reflected and realized that Bronwyn deserves at least four. She is a treasure of a character. I really enjoyed her.
As an aside, I love the relationship between her two deerhounds and the Duchess's lapdog Papilion who has the heart of a warrior.
A NetGalley ARC
August 13, 2017
While I would have liked a little more depth for the characters, overall this was a very pleasant read. I like that Hawkins made me think she was using certain Cinderella tropes, but then surprised me by turning them on their heads. Sometimes I was worried it was going to get too angsty, but it never did. Issues were resolved fairly quickly, which I'm always thankful for.
Read the review on my blog here.
Read the review on my blog here.
December 5, 2014
An absolute delight to read – this book gave me a week’s worth of bedtime reading that left me falling asleep with a smile on my face.
The storyline draws from the Cinderella trope in a fun way, but isn’t weighed down by an attempt to faithfully retell the classic fairytale. For a standalone novel, the book has just the right amount of story, I think – plenty of action, but not so much that the author does not make space for great character development.
Alexsey makes for a wonderful prince. I love his self-confidence, his belief that he can just get what he wants when it comes to power and women, and also his humour and affection for his family and friends (and, ultimately, Bronwyn) which soften his character. Bronwyn is a brilliant heroine: smart, independent and strong, the kind of woman who’s undeterred by being locked in a room and simply climbs out of a window and down a tree. The secondary characters are also colourful and likeable; I especially enjoyed a second love story interwoven in the plot, and the machinations of Bronwyn’s prickly-but-not evil stepmother and Alexsey’s gypsy grandmother, Natasha.
The writing style is wonderful: witty and warm, and so easy to read. My favourite element of the book is the author’s incorporation of quotes from another (fictional) book, The Black Duke – a melodramatic romance novel that Bronwyn is reading. Cleverly, the author juxtaposes the story of The Black Dukewith that of The Prince Who Loved Me, which makes for a sometimes funny, sometimes poignant comparison. In doing so she helps the reader who is reading this romance novel to connect to Bronwyn, who is also reading a romance novel.
The layering of the stories is fun, original and clever, and made this book really stand out to me as a treasure in the genre.
I eagerly await the next book in the Oxenburg Princes series.
The storyline draws from the Cinderella trope in a fun way, but isn’t weighed down by an attempt to faithfully retell the classic fairytale. For a standalone novel, the book has just the right amount of story, I think – plenty of action, but not so much that the author does not make space for great character development.
Alexsey makes for a wonderful prince. I love his self-confidence, his belief that he can just get what he wants when it comes to power and women, and also his humour and affection for his family and friends (and, ultimately, Bronwyn) which soften his character. Bronwyn is a brilliant heroine: smart, independent and strong, the kind of woman who’s undeterred by being locked in a room and simply climbs out of a window and down a tree. The secondary characters are also colourful and likeable; I especially enjoyed a second love story interwoven in the plot, and the machinations of Bronwyn’s prickly-but-not evil stepmother and Alexsey’s gypsy grandmother, Natasha.
The writing style is wonderful: witty and warm, and so easy to read. My favourite element of the book is the author’s incorporation of quotes from another (fictional) book, The Black Duke – a melodramatic romance novel that Bronwyn is reading. Cleverly, the author juxtaposes the story of The Black Dukewith that of The Prince Who Loved Me, which makes for a sometimes funny, sometimes poignant comparison. In doing so she helps the reader who is reading this romance novel to connect to Bronwyn, who is also reading a romance novel.
The layering of the stories is fun, original and clever, and made this book really stand out to me as a treasure in the genre.
I eagerly await the next book in the Oxenburg Princes series.
April 30, 2015
This Cinderella based story is my first experience with a book by Karen Hawkins, and I thought it was a fun one to read. It was an enjoyable story with likable characters. I liked the intelligence and pluckiness of the heroine, Bronwyn Murdoch, and I found Prince Alexsey Romanovin, with his love of books and his grandmother's tiny dog, very compelling. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Bronwyn Murdoch's one season didn't go well, and she feels that she is firmly on the shelf and destined to be her inventor father's assistant. When her family's long absent neighbor shows up with a large group for a house party at his castle, Prince Alexsey Romanovin is among the guests. When Bronwyn and Alexsey encounter one another in the woods, they both are left with misconceptions. Bronwyn believes him to be a huntsman, and Alexsey thinks she is a housemaid. When they meet again, surprise ensues over their identities, but they are no less attracted to one another. As they get to know one another, they both believe that they will have a flirtation until Alexsey leaves, but as their hearts become involved, they must decide what they both want for the future.
This was a nice take on the Cinderella story. I liked the way Hawkins even brought a lost shoe into the story. The inclusion of Bronwyn's dogs and Alexsey's grandmother's dog was a good touch. The dogs were all lovable. I felt really invested in the two main characters, and thought some of the secondary ones were great too. I was very satisfied with this book.
Bronwyn Murdoch's one season didn't go well, and she feels that she is firmly on the shelf and destined to be her inventor father's assistant. When her family's long absent neighbor shows up with a large group for a house party at his castle, Prince Alexsey Romanovin is among the guests. When Bronwyn and Alexsey encounter one another in the woods, they both are left with misconceptions. Bronwyn believes him to be a huntsman, and Alexsey thinks she is a housemaid. When they meet again, surprise ensues over their identities, but they are no less attracted to one another. As they get to know one another, they both believe that they will have a flirtation until Alexsey leaves, but as their hearts become involved, they must decide what they both want for the future.
This was a nice take on the Cinderella story. I liked the way Hawkins even brought a lost shoe into the story. The inclusion of Bronwyn's dogs and Alexsey's grandmother's dog was a good touch. The dogs were all lovable. I felt really invested in the two main characters, and thought some of the secondary ones were great too. I was very satisfied with this book.
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