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The Wedding #5
The Christmas Princess
The Wedding Series
Prelude to a Wedding
Wedding Party
Grady's Wedding
The Christmas Princess
A Princess for a few weeks …
The coming Christmas season isn’t looking great for April Gareaux. Her job is uninspiring, her engagement is off, and she has nowhere to live. Certainly her family would take her in, especially Leslie and Grady Roberts and their circle of friends who have become her extended family. But it’s time she stops relying on them.
Then comes an extraordinary offer – spend the holidays in Washington, D.C., with King Jozef of Bariavak as his possible long-lost granddaughter. Even more extraordinary is the man behind the offer and the one who will be beside her through the coming weeks, Hunter Pierce.
This is the last assignment Hunter would pick. Determination and grit have moved him beyond his past in Bariavak. Yet, here it is standing in front of him again, refusing to be ignored. … Just like his reactions to April. How can he fight what he’s feeling when they’re together all the time.
King Jozef has known tragedy in his life. Now, comes this lovely young woman bringing joy to his holidays. How can he resist dabbling in some royal matchmaking. Wouldn’t it be delightful if he could give April a Christmas gift she will never forget …
… Her Prince for a Lifetime
Prelude to a Wedding
Wedding Party
Grady's Wedding
The Christmas Princess
A Princess for a few weeks …
The coming Christmas season isn’t looking great for April Gareaux. Her job is uninspiring, her engagement is off, and she has nowhere to live. Certainly her family would take her in, especially Leslie and Grady Roberts and their circle of friends who have become her extended family. But it’s time she stops relying on them.
Then comes an extraordinary offer – spend the holidays in Washington, D.C., with King Jozef of Bariavak as his possible long-lost granddaughter. Even more extraordinary is the man behind the offer and the one who will be beside her through the coming weeks, Hunter Pierce.
This is the last assignment Hunter would pick. Determination and grit have moved him beyond his past in Bariavak. Yet, here it is standing in front of him again, refusing to be ignored. … Just like his reactions to April. How can he fight what he’s feeling when they’re together all the time.
King Jozef has known tragedy in his life. Now, comes this lovely young woman bringing joy to his holidays. How can he resist dabbling in some royal matchmaking. Wouldn’t it be delightful if he could give April a Christmas gift she will never forget …
… Her Prince for a Lifetime
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2014
976 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Patricia McLinn
128 books314 followersUSA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn’s novels—cited by reviewers for warmth, wit and vivid characterization – have won numerous regional and national awards and been on national bestseller lists.
In addition to her romance and women’s fiction books, Patricia is the author of the Caught Dead in Wyoming mystery series, which adds a touch of humor and romance to figuring out whodunit.
Patricia received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. She was a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.), assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.) and—for 20-plus years—an editor at the Washington Post.
She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia to Washington, D.C., including being a guest-speaker at the Smithsonian Institution. She is now living in Northern Kentucky, and writing full-time. Patricia loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.
In addition to her romance and women’s fiction books, Patricia is the author of the Caught Dead in Wyoming mystery series, which adds a touch of humor and romance to figuring out whodunit.
Patricia received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. She was a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.), assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.) and—for 20-plus years—an editor at the Washington Post.
She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia to Washington, D.C., including being a guest-speaker at the Smithsonian Institution. She is now living in Northern Kentucky, and writing full-time. Patricia loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
January 22, 2020
This novel could have used an editor. While reading, I felt like we were skipping past scenes I wanted to see and lingering on scenes I did not. To my mind, there is nothing wrong with an author who feels uncomfortable with writing sex scenes - as long as she doesn't insist on including one anyway. Furthermore, the heroine (and others too, actually) had a tendency to behave in ways I did not find believable/consistent with her character. Perhaps a stronger internal voice would have helped?
January 16, 2016
The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn
The Wedding Series Book Four
April Gareaux is fairly content in her life. If you can call being content being engaged to an older man who still lives with his domineering mother. A job that has her trying to convince the public what a great vegetable the Brussels sprout is, when she doesn't even like them. When offered an odd proposal by a man who says he can't tell her much about the offer, she is intrigued. When suddenly life around her starts to crumble, the offer may be the only solid ground to stand on.
Special Agent Hunter Pierce is on a mission. He has to convince a woman to spend the next month living as someone she isn't. A princess. What should have been an easy mission becomes increasingly difficult with this woman.
I loved this story and can't wait for the next book, The Surprise Princess, that continues the tale. This can be read as a stand-alone book, but reading the first three books will lay the ground for many of the characters mentioned in this story, April's extended family. I loved the characters and the humor.
**Sensual content
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
The Wedding Series Book Four
April Gareaux is fairly content in her life. If you can call being content being engaged to an older man who still lives with his domineering mother. A job that has her trying to convince the public what a great vegetable the Brussels sprout is, when she doesn't even like them. When offered an odd proposal by a man who says he can't tell her much about the offer, she is intrigued. When suddenly life around her starts to crumble, the offer may be the only solid ground to stand on.
Special Agent Hunter Pierce is on a mission. He has to convince a woman to spend the next month living as someone she isn't. A princess. What should have been an easy mission becomes increasingly difficult with this woman.
I loved this story and can't wait for the next book, The Surprise Princess, that continues the tale. This can be read as a stand-alone book, but reading the first three books will lay the ground for many of the characters mentioned in this story, April's extended family. I loved the characters and the humor.
**Sensual content
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
June 17, 2021
April is leading a fairly normal if unfulfilling life until it suddenly unravels, leaving her with no choice but to pose as the missing granddaughter of a king. The bright spot in the situation is Hunter, a closed-off agent from the State Department who's there to help her.
This was a pleasant and low-angst read, though somewhat light on the romance. I enjoyed the characters, especially April, who is sweet and perceptive. However, Hunter's convoluted backstory and repeated intrusions from the subjects of previous books (which I have not read) lowered my enjoyment a little.
This was a pleasant and low-angst read, though somewhat light on the romance. I enjoyed the characters, especially April, who is sweet and perceptive. However, Hunter's convoluted backstory and repeated intrusions from the subjects of previous books (which I have not read) lowered my enjoyment a little.
December 14, 2022
I was pretty disappointed in this book and had a hard time finishing it. There seemed to be missing chapters making it hard to follow what was happening in the story. Basically was a waste of my time.
January 17, 2020
Kept me up
This is a keep you up at night trading book. The author creates such fun characters in this book. I enjoyed.
This is a keep you up at night trading book. The author creates such fun characters in this book. I enjoyed.
December 2, 2019
A truly delightful story! The characters in this story are so clear, so well developed. The plot happens as a logical extension of their decisions. The romance grows naturally and a little magically, and we get hints of a secondary romance rekindling, plus a teaser for the next book. Enchanting!
Sex: 1 long scene
Language: 0 F words, 29 Lord's name in vain, 0 S words
Violence: no
Cliffhanger: no
Do I need to read books before this one: no, but there were times I felt I missed something
Would I read more of the series: yes, this author is good
----SUMMARY----
Sharon Johnson wants Hunter Pierce to recruit April Gareaux to play King Jozef's missing granddaughter. “It’s humanitarian, it doesn’t hurt anyone, it’ll give him happier holidays, and, yes, it might get overflight renewed, which would help our military.” King Jozef will have surgery January 2.
April thinks she's being followed. She should feel happy--engaged to Reese, living with him and his mom in mom's beautiful estate. He's 20y older. Maybe Reese's ex, Roberta, is following her. Boss tells her a hot man is waiting in the conference room. She enters, sizes him up. When Hunter sizes her up, she recognizes the feeling, You've been following me. He asks her, on behalf of the country, to pretend to be a princess until January. No.
At home, Mrs Warrington wants to see her. Roberta has returned, they've reconciled, your things are packed. April goes to the kitchen to say goodbye to her friends. She doesn't know where to tell the taxi driver to take her.
Hunter's still following her.
April goes to the animal shelter to be loved without having to explain. She sees Rufus is to be killed in the morning, adopts him. But where to go? GG Beatrice won't take a dog. Everyone else is in Illinois. She goes to her old neighbor, Mandy; falls asleep without shedding a tear for her engagement. In the morning, she calls State.
She meets Hunter, starts princess school. Not the Disney kind, the Grimm kind.
Wednesday Manny brings food. For Rufus, too. Hunter reminds her of her oath of silence. A: Why won't you tell me how princess disappeared? Operational security. A: There's something more, isn't there? Hunter waltzes with her. She gets it with him. He shows her her left pinky is the same length as her ring finger. A very strong gene in the Bariavak royal family.
Thanksgiving he drives her to a soup kitchen. He struggles with memories. She greets everyone, over half by name and conversations ensue. After, she delivers dinner to 2 who won't come to the kitchen, then to animals at the shelter. Dragon's an obvious favorite. Dragon's date is 12/27. Then she and Hunter go to get her Christmas decor. H: You can't put up a tree in the hotel. When they get to the hotel, they eat dinner, watch Christmas Vacation.
Hunter announces Friday that the king's agreed to meet her Saturday. She panics. Sharon insists on a hair cut for confidence. He takes her to the ritziest place in DC; he knows the owner, Etienne. After, she feels beautiful, wants to go for a drink. No. While she showers, he sets up champagne in front of her window. She goes into the living room where he sleeps, opens curtains to show snow, Thank you.
They drive to the embassy. She wants to know about Jozef's family; they could be mine, too. She wants him to rest, not do the diplomatic Christmas things. We can decorate a tree and bake cookies. Madame Sabdoka frowns. J: Staff does that, but most are gone. A: Then it makes sense for me to do it. Jozef asks her to stay with him. A: No, I can't; I have a dog. J: He's welcome, too. Madame gasps. I require that Hunter be on hand, since you know English even better than your native Bariavakian. Jozef thought he'd had April pegged, but her reluctance was about a dog. He's excited by the uncertainty of the upcoming month.
April packs. Lots of hotel employees come to give hugs goodbye. They arrive Sunday. Jozef decides meals will be informal and family style; Madame frowns. At dinner, April thinks Hunter and Jozef know each other. Breakfast is just April and Jozef. He wants to buy her clothes so he can take her to functions. Later, she tells Hunter she can't let Jozef do that.
April reads about Bariavak in the library. Hunter arrives. She tells him what she did for Gerard Littrell. 2 months after he died, she hooked up with Reese.
Tris and Leslie are concerned they haven't heard from April.
After dinner, Hunter takes April shopping at an exclusive clothier, calls Maurice by first name! April baked muffins as a thank you for their working late. They eat and talk first, Maurice stares at her for 22m. He wants her to strip to lingerie, she won't because of Hunter. Tonya takes her into another room, puts her in form fitting clothes. Just as bad. “You have a fine, high bosom, and we shall show that off.” “No.” Hunter’s voice was low and sounded strangled. April wants to Wicked Witch melt.
Hunter tells her he, Etienne, and Maurice know each other from childhood. A: Being a kid isn't easy; when I was 13yo, I considered suicide. Hunter was in a boarding school for misfits (not yet criminals), and the 3 of them were misfits among misfits. Maurice designed and sewed, Etienne was gay and a foreigner, Hunter a foreigner who stood up for the other 2. They have a moment walking into the embassy.
Jozef invites them to see the embassy's tree. The residence one will be more relaxed, right? Jozef puts her in charge, Hunter will help.
Leslie tells Tris she talked to Grady, who said to wait until the weekend. Leslie's calling Friday 5:01pm.
At the tree farm, April looks through 47K trees. She has Hunter untie 9 to twirl, thump, and circle. He holds her hand, forgets to let go until Rupert (driver) sees them.
In the morning, Hunter helps April decorate the tree. He goes to buy missing equipment. When he gets back, she's crying from memories. He doesn't care about Christmas, she doesn't press. She shares her memories. He sees she's missing her family.
They attend the lighting of the National Tree. Hunter thinks too many VIPs admire April. Jozef then asks Hunter to escort April to see the trees. Hunter holds her close to avoid jostling. They have a moment.
Tris shows Leslie the lighting ceremony. Why hasn't she told us anything? What about “The guy who looks at April like he’s trying his damnedest not to look at her, because he’s doing his damnedest not to feel what he feels when he looks at her?” Bette Monroe shares concerns, offers support. GG Beatrice is upset April's not coming to the Craig Christmas party.
April's writing Christmas cards. Hunter goes in. She blushes, turns to him, I knew it was you. You can't have. But she knew she was being followed when it was him, but not Derek.
April asks Madame to join her and Jozef to Mt Vernon tonight. Madame is affronted, leaves. April apologizes to Jozef, adds another layer of pavement to hell (Hunter explains idiom). J: You could have ordered her. A: How would an order make her want to join us?
Jozef backs out of Mt Vernon, gets Hunter to go. A: You didn’t even try. "Try what?” He had tried—his damnedest—not to let her know the effect she had on him, not to touch her the way he’d wanted to. A: You actively resist any chance that you might enjoy Christmas. Or is it me? You could send Christmas cards. H: My family's dead. A: Not anyone? H: No. A: What about the family of your soldier? H: I was a kid, not exactly in a position to exchange business cards with these guys. I knew him as Scotty.
April asks Hunter for gift ideas for Sharon. He has no idea, he never gives her 1. Jozef says April can shop with Madame, and Hunter will be security. Madame gets her shopping done at places without price tags. April scouts at a mall to buy at the outlet mall. At home, Jozef asks if shopping was successful. Madame goes to her office, April to her room. H: Have you ever watched those nature shows where two Big Horn sheep run at each other, lock horns and butt heads? J: Why is it important to you that I sign this flying agreement? Faster air response. “To protect soldiers you don’t know in a war you’re not part of, because of the one soldier who died. Ah, Hunter, you are more Bariavakian than you know.”
Hunter finds April trying on a dress with Sharon. “Sometimes you need a dress that’s dynamite to blast through granite.” They get his opinion. It's too low. Because it turns him on fire. "Einstein should have had a formula to show how a low-cut dress and a deep sigh could bring a man to his knees." As he escapes before anyone sees his physical reaction, he hears Sharon chuckle, Ka-boom! He sits on a frozen bench outside, thinking, tortured.
A: You should be ashamed of yourself. If you didn’t bite other people’s heads off and if you weren’t so hard-headed yourself, you wouldn’t be out here freezing with no jacket on. His mouth quirked. “That’s why you think I should be ashamed of myself?” Tell me what you remember about the soldiers. He had been near death when he reached out to touch a shiny flag painted on a truck. Scotty named him, kept him with him 4-5m, until he died. Memphis gave him to a nurse; a doctor got him to a US hospital. He got scholarships, his citizenship, graduated, and worked for the government. He doesn't remember his parents.
April and Sharon double-team Madame about baking cookies in the embassy’s kitchen Tuesday. Ice skating Friday, April's outfit is distracting him terribly. She goads him into skating with her. He remembers his papa teaching him how. He gets on the ice, it all comes back to him. She takes his hand, teaches him a spin, he hears Papa's voice, stops suddenly. “'Hunter.' Her voice told him before his own body realized that tears threatened." He kisses her to hide weakness. They leave. It starts snowing, she opens her mouth to catch snowflakes, he almost kisses her again.
Saturday morning, Hunter sees her lie to the king, then sneak out to go to the animal shelter. He watches as she cries with Dragon.
At the White House party, Hunter's concerned she's dancing with 9-Handed Neil again. Neil sneaks her into an alcove, she says No just as Hunter shows up. Neil leaves, Hunter's mad she was in danger, kisses her, almost makes love to her.
At the embassy, Hunter asks to meet with Jozef. Hunter wants Jozef to protect April from politicians. Jozef knows Hunter, not Neil, kissed April. I'll resign. No, you won't. He gives Hunter a new commission, already approved by his boss.
Madame comes in immediately after. Jozef remembers when they'd been in love once. Her only child died in the rebellion, then her husband. She'd been here since. ���You are not going to get involved with the personal life of some young American. Or with the romance of this young woman who may—or may not be your granddaughter as you could have determined by now many times over. Yet you have chosen not to know for certain because you are indulging in meddling of the most—” “In your king it is not meddling. It is ruling. Ah, truly, this is by far the most fun I have had in a very, very long time. Let us enjoy this holiday.”
Hunter gets intel from April's soup kitchen friends and former roommate. Grady talks to Michael about the White House footage, asks him to find out who [Hunter] is. Hunter talks to Reese, his wife, and mother, then to the staff.
April tells Jozef she's not his granddaughter. He tells her that her file came across his desk when she was in elementary school. “My holidays stretched before me lonely and dull, with only the strictures of the doctors and the surgery next month to look forward to. Instead, I have been having a delightful time. My best holidays in decades.” Jozef asks her to keep this conversation secret.
Leslie and Tris decide they with Grady and Michael will have dinner tonight to discuss April. GG Beatrice assures Hunter April is her great granddaughter. Hunter flies to New York to interview Gerard's agent.
GG Beatrice tells Leslie not to worry, she's met Hunter and approves. The Craig family has the same left hand fingers gene.
Hunter's next stop is Chicago. April calls Leslie just as they're getting on the plane. Reese and I are done, can't tell you much more.
April misses Hunter. The days drag. Sharon relieves Derek so they can bake with her 2 kids. Madame watches. She looks at April's recipe; my grandmother had a similar recipe. A: It's my paternal grandmother's recipe. The story is my grandmother had the recipe from her mother. Do you remember your grandmother? M: Yes. Sharon does, too.
Hunter finds Leslie at the Monroe house, Grady joins them, along with Bette, Paul, and Paul's parents. Leslie makes him stay for eggnog and cookies. L: Too bad Tris and Michael will be here tomorrow night. H: I fly overseas tomorrow. L: How lovely, you can stay with us until tomorrow, to truly get to know April.
Sharon catches Hunter in the office early Saturday when he returns from Bariavak. Friends of April's family, senators from 3 states have written about his inquiry into April.
Then he reports to Jozef. No new news on granddaughter. "Perhaps if Laurentz and I had known what would happen to our families…perhaps we would have made different choices. What of you, Hunter? What choice will you make?” “Me? My choices are made.” “You are too intelligent a man to lie to yourself, Hunter. You have many choices. The most important being about April, and what you will do with your love for her and hers for you.” “She doesn’t—” “Don’t be a fool as well as a liar, Hunter. She does. But to claim her love, you must ask her for it, and you must ask her to accept yours.”
6 days after the White House party, April bumps into Hunter. She asks him to translate a word for her. Devil child, like you rascal. No, it was literal; don't know if Madame meant me or Sharon's kids. He laughs, startling her.
Jozef tells Sharon, Hunter, and Derek that he and April will stay at the embassy the 24th, 25th, and not leave until dinner the 26th. H: Security needs don't stop because you stay inside.
Jozef tells Hunter: I will help you acquire an appropriate gift for Ms. Sharon, your friend, co-worker, and baker of excellent cookies. In return, what do I give April? She won't take a jewel. H: I think I know. If you’re willing to have Madame be royally ticked at you. J: What could be better?
Christmas Eve morning, Sharon comes with loads of cookies. April gives her cookie cutters and a certificate for Mommy and Me baking classes. Hunter quietly gives her an envelope. “What is this?” “Open it later.” “No way.” She tore it open. He gave her a donation in her name to a scholarship fund she supports. April smiles at him. Rupert has already delivered baskets to friends in Reese's and the hotel's staff, her coworkers (Brussel sprouts to the jerk). Rupert will deliver baskets to the soup kitchen and the animal shelter. April and Hunter have deliveries to Etienne and Maurice.
Christmas Day, after breakfast, the 4 go to the library to open gifts. Jozef gives April Dragon. She cries. They worry, until Dragon slurps her tears and she laughs. A: When you followed me to the shelter a few weeks ago-- H: What? She looks at him. Jozef had him groomed, Rupert took care of him last 2 days, Hunter during the 2 nights. In his bed, so no barking. They open gifts that reveal thought and care. They eat dinner by the tree. April tells Hunter his gift will be ready tomorrow. She thanks him for the snow globe of the Capitol, the view they had seen together as snowflakes began to fall after ice skating.
The next day, they're all exhausted after the Open House. Jozef is too tired to go to the restaurant. He asks April to go and commands Hunter to take her. She closes her eyes in the car. H: Do you want to go to the restaurant? A: No, but the king…. He calls Sharon, tells her to take the reservation. H: Now where? A: I'd say home, but I don't have one. He takes her to his apartment, orders pizza. She reads the titles of books on the shelves. “I don’t have a dossier on you or resources for a detailed report, so I make do.” He invites her to look through his medicine cabinet. She sees her silk dress, returns in one of his shirts and black boxer shorts. “Mind…?” “Cold … uh, won’t you get cold?” “I didn’t want to risk spilling on the dress.” “April, I didn’t bring you here for…with any expectations.” “That’s too bad, Hunter.” Just as he steps toward her, the pizza arrives. He offers beer or water. Water, I don't like the taste of beer. He puts back his beer and pulls out 2 waters. After watching a basketball game, they make love twice, then shower, then he pleasures her. She reflects on his generosity while he calls Derek to say they're not coming home.
During the night, he tells her his memories and about his meeting his cousins. In the morning, she gives him an address and phone number. Scotty's parents live 30m away and want to see you. No. They drive back to the embassy. She urges him to go. He's named after them, her maiden name Hunter, his first name Pierce.
Madame comes to her room. Madame was there during the rebellion. Laurentz, Hunter's dad, was the head of the king’s personal security, got permission to bring Hunter to the palace. Laurentz is the one who turned the tide, then came back to learn the granddaughter was taken. He and Madame's son must've gotten close because they were both killed. Madame's brother and Hunter were with the king when word came back. Hunter blamed the king for his father's death. Jozef ordered that Hunter be reared in the royal household, but he ran away. They heard of a boy being sheltered by soldiers. Jozef, Madame's brother, and a few more went to him. The soldier said the boy only goes where he wants. Hunter pointed at Jozef: He killed my father; I never want to see him or that place again. Jozef hasn't cried since. Madame was tasked to get him to the States; took 2 tries. She came to USA when Hunter did. Tried to get him adopted, he refused. Tried to get him into better school, he refused. King always kept track. April asks why Madame never calls him Hunter. “Because that is not the name my niece gave the son she and her husband loved so much.”
Derek brings them to the king. Michael is there! His family was together for the holidays, except for April. Jozef says counting April as family is something they have in common. It's all over the internet that she's his granddaughter.
Hunter meets Scotty's family; Memphis is there, too. H: I'm the reason Scotty died.
Rupert brings in the rest of April's family, minus the kids. Leslie and April talk privately. She's attaching to older men (only Reese romantically) because she doesn't want to be Melly, never growing up, never taking responsibility.
Hunter returns. Rupert tells him Jozef wants to see him, but he goes to April first. He tells April he learned he'd remembered everything all wrong. "I blamed him as a kid and I never stopped blaming him because I never looked at what I was thinking—feeling.” Kisses.
They go to the office, filled with everyone, including GG Beatrice. Jozef will have a press conference to say he knew April wasn't his granddaughter before she even came. H: Why did you agree to see her? A: Because I wasn't alone. He wanted to see you. Jozef offers him his father's position, head of security. No.
January, Jozef comes through surgery successfully. April goes back to work. “I am not the least disappointed that I turned out not to be the princess. I have been enriched beyond measure — I have two dogs I love, a cherished friend, and the most wonderful and challenging man in the world who is going to become my husband later this year.”
In Wisconsin, Katie Davis opens the magazine. They’d been right. All the people who’d told her all day that the woman on this week’s cover of People magazine could be her sister.
Sex: 1 long scene
Language: 0 F words, 29 Lord's name in vain, 0 S words
Violence: no
Cliffhanger: no
Do I need to read books before this one: no, but there were times I felt I missed something
Would I read more of the series: yes, this author is good
----SUMMARY----
Sharon Johnson wants Hunter Pierce to recruit April Gareaux to play King Jozef's missing granddaughter. “It’s humanitarian, it doesn’t hurt anyone, it’ll give him happier holidays, and, yes, it might get overflight renewed, which would help our military.” King Jozef will have surgery January 2.
April thinks she's being followed. She should feel happy--engaged to Reese, living with him and his mom in mom's beautiful estate. He's 20y older. Maybe Reese's ex, Roberta, is following her. Boss tells her a hot man is waiting in the conference room. She enters, sizes him up. When Hunter sizes her up, she recognizes the feeling, You've been following me. He asks her, on behalf of the country, to pretend to be a princess until January. No.
At home, Mrs Warrington wants to see her. Roberta has returned, they've reconciled, your things are packed. April goes to the kitchen to say goodbye to her friends. She doesn't know where to tell the taxi driver to take her.
Hunter's still following her.
April goes to the animal shelter to be loved without having to explain. She sees Rufus is to be killed in the morning, adopts him. But where to go? GG Beatrice won't take a dog. Everyone else is in Illinois. She goes to her old neighbor, Mandy; falls asleep without shedding a tear for her engagement. In the morning, she calls State.
She meets Hunter, starts princess school. Not the Disney kind, the Grimm kind.
Wednesday Manny brings food. For Rufus, too. Hunter reminds her of her oath of silence. A: Why won't you tell me how princess disappeared? Operational security. A: There's something more, isn't there? Hunter waltzes with her. She gets it with him. He shows her her left pinky is the same length as her ring finger. A very strong gene in the Bariavak royal family.
Thanksgiving he drives her to a soup kitchen. He struggles with memories. She greets everyone, over half by name and conversations ensue. After, she delivers dinner to 2 who won't come to the kitchen, then to animals at the shelter. Dragon's an obvious favorite. Dragon's date is 12/27. Then she and Hunter go to get her Christmas decor. H: You can't put up a tree in the hotel. When they get to the hotel, they eat dinner, watch Christmas Vacation.
Hunter announces Friday that the king's agreed to meet her Saturday. She panics. Sharon insists on a hair cut for confidence. He takes her to the ritziest place in DC; he knows the owner, Etienne. After, she feels beautiful, wants to go for a drink. No. While she showers, he sets up champagne in front of her window. She goes into the living room where he sleeps, opens curtains to show snow, Thank you.
They drive to the embassy. She wants to know about Jozef's family; they could be mine, too. She wants him to rest, not do the diplomatic Christmas things. We can decorate a tree and bake cookies. Madame Sabdoka frowns. J: Staff does that, but most are gone. A: Then it makes sense for me to do it. Jozef asks her to stay with him. A: No, I can't; I have a dog. J: He's welcome, too. Madame gasps. I require that Hunter be on hand, since you know English even better than your native Bariavakian. Jozef thought he'd had April pegged, but her reluctance was about a dog. He's excited by the uncertainty of the upcoming month.
April packs. Lots of hotel employees come to give hugs goodbye. They arrive Sunday. Jozef decides meals will be informal and family style; Madame frowns. At dinner, April thinks Hunter and Jozef know each other. Breakfast is just April and Jozef. He wants to buy her clothes so he can take her to functions. Later, she tells Hunter she can't let Jozef do that.
April reads about Bariavak in the library. Hunter arrives. She tells him what she did for Gerard Littrell. 2 months after he died, she hooked up with Reese.
Tris and Leslie are concerned they haven't heard from April.
After dinner, Hunter takes April shopping at an exclusive clothier, calls Maurice by first name! April baked muffins as a thank you for their working late. They eat and talk first, Maurice stares at her for 22m. He wants her to strip to lingerie, she won't because of Hunter. Tonya takes her into another room, puts her in form fitting clothes. Just as bad. “You have a fine, high bosom, and we shall show that off.” “No.” Hunter’s voice was low and sounded strangled. April wants to Wicked Witch melt.
Hunter tells her he, Etienne, and Maurice know each other from childhood. A: Being a kid isn't easy; when I was 13yo, I considered suicide. Hunter was in a boarding school for misfits (not yet criminals), and the 3 of them were misfits among misfits. Maurice designed and sewed, Etienne was gay and a foreigner, Hunter a foreigner who stood up for the other 2. They have a moment walking into the embassy.
Jozef invites them to see the embassy's tree. The residence one will be more relaxed, right? Jozef puts her in charge, Hunter will help.
Leslie tells Tris she talked to Grady, who said to wait until the weekend. Leslie's calling Friday 5:01pm.
At the tree farm, April looks through 47K trees. She has Hunter untie 9 to twirl, thump, and circle. He holds her hand, forgets to let go until Rupert (driver) sees them.
In the morning, Hunter helps April decorate the tree. He goes to buy missing equipment. When he gets back, she's crying from memories. He doesn't care about Christmas, she doesn't press. She shares her memories. He sees she's missing her family.
They attend the lighting of the National Tree. Hunter thinks too many VIPs admire April. Jozef then asks Hunter to escort April to see the trees. Hunter holds her close to avoid jostling. They have a moment.
Tris shows Leslie the lighting ceremony. Why hasn't she told us anything? What about “The guy who looks at April like he’s trying his damnedest not to look at her, because he’s doing his damnedest not to feel what he feels when he looks at her?” Bette Monroe shares concerns, offers support. GG Beatrice is upset April's not coming to the Craig Christmas party.
April's writing Christmas cards. Hunter goes in. She blushes, turns to him, I knew it was you. You can't have. But she knew she was being followed when it was him, but not Derek.
April asks Madame to join her and Jozef to Mt Vernon tonight. Madame is affronted, leaves. April apologizes to Jozef, adds another layer of pavement to hell (Hunter explains idiom). J: You could have ordered her. A: How would an order make her want to join us?
Jozef backs out of Mt Vernon, gets Hunter to go. A: You didn’t even try. "Try what?” He had tried—his damnedest—not to let her know the effect she had on him, not to touch her the way he’d wanted to. A: You actively resist any chance that you might enjoy Christmas. Or is it me? You could send Christmas cards. H: My family's dead. A: Not anyone? H: No. A: What about the family of your soldier? H: I was a kid, not exactly in a position to exchange business cards with these guys. I knew him as Scotty.
April asks Hunter for gift ideas for Sharon. He has no idea, he never gives her 1. Jozef says April can shop with Madame, and Hunter will be security. Madame gets her shopping done at places without price tags. April scouts at a mall to buy at the outlet mall. At home, Jozef asks if shopping was successful. Madame goes to her office, April to her room. H: Have you ever watched those nature shows where two Big Horn sheep run at each other, lock horns and butt heads? J: Why is it important to you that I sign this flying agreement? Faster air response. “To protect soldiers you don’t know in a war you’re not part of, because of the one soldier who died. Ah, Hunter, you are more Bariavakian than you know.”
Hunter finds April trying on a dress with Sharon. “Sometimes you need a dress that’s dynamite to blast through granite.” They get his opinion. It's too low. Because it turns him on fire. "Einstein should have had a formula to show how a low-cut dress and a deep sigh could bring a man to his knees." As he escapes before anyone sees his physical reaction, he hears Sharon chuckle, Ka-boom! He sits on a frozen bench outside, thinking, tortured.
A: You should be ashamed of yourself. If you didn’t bite other people’s heads off and if you weren’t so hard-headed yourself, you wouldn’t be out here freezing with no jacket on. His mouth quirked. “That’s why you think I should be ashamed of myself?” Tell me what you remember about the soldiers. He had been near death when he reached out to touch a shiny flag painted on a truck. Scotty named him, kept him with him 4-5m, until he died. Memphis gave him to a nurse; a doctor got him to a US hospital. He got scholarships, his citizenship, graduated, and worked for the government. He doesn't remember his parents.
April and Sharon double-team Madame about baking cookies in the embassy’s kitchen Tuesday. Ice skating Friday, April's outfit is distracting him terribly. She goads him into skating with her. He remembers his papa teaching him how. He gets on the ice, it all comes back to him. She takes his hand, teaches him a spin, he hears Papa's voice, stops suddenly. “'Hunter.' Her voice told him before his own body realized that tears threatened." He kisses her to hide weakness. They leave. It starts snowing, she opens her mouth to catch snowflakes, he almost kisses her again.
Saturday morning, Hunter sees her lie to the king, then sneak out to go to the animal shelter. He watches as she cries with Dragon.
At the White House party, Hunter's concerned she's dancing with 9-Handed Neil again. Neil sneaks her into an alcove, she says No just as Hunter shows up. Neil leaves, Hunter's mad she was in danger, kisses her, almost makes love to her.
At the embassy, Hunter asks to meet with Jozef. Hunter wants Jozef to protect April from politicians. Jozef knows Hunter, not Neil, kissed April. I'll resign. No, you won't. He gives Hunter a new commission, already approved by his boss.
Madame comes in immediately after. Jozef remembers when they'd been in love once. Her only child died in the rebellion, then her husband. She'd been here since. ���You are not going to get involved with the personal life of some young American. Or with the romance of this young woman who may—or may not be your granddaughter as you could have determined by now many times over. Yet you have chosen not to know for certain because you are indulging in meddling of the most—” “In your king it is not meddling. It is ruling. Ah, truly, this is by far the most fun I have had in a very, very long time. Let us enjoy this holiday.”
Hunter gets intel from April's soup kitchen friends and former roommate. Grady talks to Michael about the White House footage, asks him to find out who [Hunter] is. Hunter talks to Reese, his wife, and mother, then to the staff.
April tells Jozef she's not his granddaughter. He tells her that her file came across his desk when she was in elementary school. “My holidays stretched before me lonely and dull, with only the strictures of the doctors and the surgery next month to look forward to. Instead, I have been having a delightful time. My best holidays in decades.” Jozef asks her to keep this conversation secret.
Leslie and Tris decide they with Grady and Michael will have dinner tonight to discuss April. GG Beatrice assures Hunter April is her great granddaughter. Hunter flies to New York to interview Gerard's agent.
GG Beatrice tells Leslie not to worry, she's met Hunter and approves. The Craig family has the same left hand fingers gene.
Hunter's next stop is Chicago. April calls Leslie just as they're getting on the plane. Reese and I are done, can't tell you much more.
April misses Hunter. The days drag. Sharon relieves Derek so they can bake with her 2 kids. Madame watches. She looks at April's recipe; my grandmother had a similar recipe. A: It's my paternal grandmother's recipe. The story is my grandmother had the recipe from her mother. Do you remember your grandmother? M: Yes. Sharon does, too.
Hunter finds Leslie at the Monroe house, Grady joins them, along with Bette, Paul, and Paul's parents. Leslie makes him stay for eggnog and cookies. L: Too bad Tris and Michael will be here tomorrow night. H: I fly overseas tomorrow. L: How lovely, you can stay with us until tomorrow, to truly get to know April.
Sharon catches Hunter in the office early Saturday when he returns from Bariavak. Friends of April's family, senators from 3 states have written about his inquiry into April.
Then he reports to Jozef. No new news on granddaughter. "Perhaps if Laurentz and I had known what would happen to our families…perhaps we would have made different choices. What of you, Hunter? What choice will you make?” “Me? My choices are made.” “You are too intelligent a man to lie to yourself, Hunter. You have many choices. The most important being about April, and what you will do with your love for her and hers for you.” “She doesn’t—” “Don’t be a fool as well as a liar, Hunter. She does. But to claim her love, you must ask her for it, and you must ask her to accept yours.”
6 days after the White House party, April bumps into Hunter. She asks him to translate a word for her. Devil child, like you rascal. No, it was literal; don't know if Madame meant me or Sharon's kids. He laughs, startling her.
Jozef tells Sharon, Hunter, and Derek that he and April will stay at the embassy the 24th, 25th, and not leave until dinner the 26th. H: Security needs don't stop because you stay inside.
Jozef tells Hunter: I will help you acquire an appropriate gift for Ms. Sharon, your friend, co-worker, and baker of excellent cookies. In return, what do I give April? She won't take a jewel. H: I think I know. If you’re willing to have Madame be royally ticked at you. J: What could be better?
Christmas Eve morning, Sharon comes with loads of cookies. April gives her cookie cutters and a certificate for Mommy and Me baking classes. Hunter quietly gives her an envelope. “What is this?” “Open it later.” “No way.” She tore it open. He gave her a donation in her name to a scholarship fund she supports. April smiles at him. Rupert has already delivered baskets to friends in Reese's and the hotel's staff, her coworkers (Brussel sprouts to the jerk). Rupert will deliver baskets to the soup kitchen and the animal shelter. April and Hunter have deliveries to Etienne and Maurice.
Christmas Day, after breakfast, the 4 go to the library to open gifts. Jozef gives April Dragon. She cries. They worry, until Dragon slurps her tears and she laughs. A: When you followed me to the shelter a few weeks ago-- H: What? She looks at him. Jozef had him groomed, Rupert took care of him last 2 days, Hunter during the 2 nights. In his bed, so no barking. They open gifts that reveal thought and care. They eat dinner by the tree. April tells Hunter his gift will be ready tomorrow. She thanks him for the snow globe of the Capitol, the view they had seen together as snowflakes began to fall after ice skating.
The next day, they're all exhausted after the Open House. Jozef is too tired to go to the restaurant. He asks April to go and commands Hunter to take her. She closes her eyes in the car. H: Do you want to go to the restaurant? A: No, but the king…. He calls Sharon, tells her to take the reservation. H: Now where? A: I'd say home, but I don't have one. He takes her to his apartment, orders pizza. She reads the titles of books on the shelves. “I don’t have a dossier on you or resources for a detailed report, so I make do.” He invites her to look through his medicine cabinet. She sees her silk dress, returns in one of his shirts and black boxer shorts. “Mind…?” “Cold … uh, won’t you get cold?” “I didn’t want to risk spilling on the dress.” “April, I didn’t bring you here for…with any expectations.” “That’s too bad, Hunter.” Just as he steps toward her, the pizza arrives. He offers beer or water. Water, I don't like the taste of beer. He puts back his beer and pulls out 2 waters. After watching a basketball game, they make love twice, then shower, then he pleasures her. She reflects on his generosity while he calls Derek to say they're not coming home.
During the night, he tells her his memories and about his meeting his cousins. In the morning, she gives him an address and phone number. Scotty's parents live 30m away and want to see you. No. They drive back to the embassy. She urges him to go. He's named after them, her maiden name Hunter, his first name Pierce.
Madame comes to her room. Madame was there during the rebellion. Laurentz, Hunter's dad, was the head of the king’s personal security, got permission to bring Hunter to the palace. Laurentz is the one who turned the tide, then came back to learn the granddaughter was taken. He and Madame's son must've gotten close because they were both killed. Madame's brother and Hunter were with the king when word came back. Hunter blamed the king for his father's death. Jozef ordered that Hunter be reared in the royal household, but he ran away. They heard of a boy being sheltered by soldiers. Jozef, Madame's brother, and a few more went to him. The soldier said the boy only goes where he wants. Hunter pointed at Jozef: He killed my father; I never want to see him or that place again. Jozef hasn't cried since. Madame was tasked to get him to the States; took 2 tries. She came to USA when Hunter did. Tried to get him adopted, he refused. Tried to get him into better school, he refused. King always kept track. April asks why Madame never calls him Hunter. “Because that is not the name my niece gave the son she and her husband loved so much.”
Derek brings them to the king. Michael is there! His family was together for the holidays, except for April. Jozef says counting April as family is something they have in common. It's all over the internet that she's his granddaughter.
Hunter meets Scotty's family; Memphis is there, too. H: I'm the reason Scotty died.
Rupert brings in the rest of April's family, minus the kids. Leslie and April talk privately. She's attaching to older men (only Reese romantically) because she doesn't want to be Melly, never growing up, never taking responsibility.
Hunter returns. Rupert tells him Jozef wants to see him, but he goes to April first. He tells April he learned he'd remembered everything all wrong. "I blamed him as a kid and I never stopped blaming him because I never looked at what I was thinking—feeling.” Kisses.
They go to the office, filled with everyone, including GG Beatrice. Jozef will have a press conference to say he knew April wasn't his granddaughter before she even came. H: Why did you agree to see her? A: Because I wasn't alone. He wanted to see you. Jozef offers him his father's position, head of security. No.
January, Jozef comes through surgery successfully. April goes back to work. “I am not the least disappointed that I turned out not to be the princess. I have been enriched beyond measure — I have two dogs I love, a cherished friend, and the most wonderful and challenging man in the world who is going to become my husband later this year.”
In Wisconsin, Katie Davis opens the magazine. They’d been right. All the people who’d told her all day that the woman on this week’s cover of People magazine could be her sister.
December 24, 2023
This was my 13th Christmas Romance this year from Kobo+
I gave this story 3 stars. There was a mystery to solve and not very much romance. Near the end the couple kissed once and the next thing you know they jump into bed. What was well written were all the extra characters and the mystery that needed solving.
Review I liked:This was a great story, that made me struggle with my rating. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the festive emotions, I did not like the romance and I missed out on some of the background stuff about our main characters.
April is a delight. She has only love and kindness in her heart for everybody and seems not to be familiar with hate or any kind of bad emotions. She takes the bad in her life as it comes. Yes, unfortunate things happen, now we have to deal with them and sort everything out. Her positive attitude does not pass unnoticed by the grumpier characters and I love the effect she has on them.
Hunter’s professional attitude is visible throughout the book. He never breaches protocol, he never acts in an unprofessional way and definitely he doesn’t let his emotions run free. However, April manages to crack that wall a little bit and slip through it. He will start appreciating the little things more and all thanks to her.
The Christmas spirit is definitely present in the book and the representation is perfectly done. We see all the loved ones around the Christmas tree, with the cooking, the present sharing and all the traditional elements. It felt cozy, like family moments should be. I loved that very much
However, I did not enjoy the romance, especially the intimate moments. They felt forced and out of place. To be honest, I didn’t see the need adding those scenes, especially if the author was not comfortable writing them. The book is much better without that part. Also, I missed some parts in April’s professional background. She didn’t seem to have a stable career and at her age, she still didn’t know where she wanted her career to go to.
Putting in balance the good and the not so good elements, I cannot give more than 3 stars, and that is mainly because I felt the Christmas festivities being so well done.
I gave this story 3 stars. There was a mystery to solve and not very much romance. Near the end the couple kissed once and the next thing you know they jump into bed. What was well written were all the extra characters and the mystery that needed solving.
Review I liked:This was a great story, that made me struggle with my rating. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the festive emotions, I did not like the romance and I missed out on some of the background stuff about our main characters.
April is a delight. She has only love and kindness in her heart for everybody and seems not to be familiar with hate or any kind of bad emotions. She takes the bad in her life as it comes. Yes, unfortunate things happen, now we have to deal with them and sort everything out. Her positive attitude does not pass unnoticed by the grumpier characters and I love the effect she has on them.
Hunter’s professional attitude is visible throughout the book. He never breaches protocol, he never acts in an unprofessional way and definitely he doesn’t let his emotions run free. However, April manages to crack that wall a little bit and slip through it. He will start appreciating the little things more and all thanks to her.
The Christmas spirit is definitely present in the book and the representation is perfectly done. We see all the loved ones around the Christmas tree, with the cooking, the present sharing and all the traditional elements. It felt cozy, like family moments should be. I loved that very much
However, I did not enjoy the romance, especially the intimate moments. They felt forced and out of place. To be honest, I didn’t see the need adding those scenes, especially if the author was not comfortable writing them. The book is much better without that part. Also, I missed some parts in April’s professional background. She didn’t seem to have a stable career and at her age, she still didn’t know where she wanted her career to go to.
Putting in balance the good and the not so good elements, I cannot give more than 3 stars, and that is mainly because I felt the Christmas festivities being so well done.
December 23, 2022
This was a great story, that made me struggle with my rating. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the festive emotions, I did not like the romance and I missed out on some of the background stuff about our main characters.
April is a delight. She has only love and kindness in her heart for everybody and seems not to be familiar with hate or any kind of bad emotions. She takes the bad in her life as it comes. Yes, unfortunate things happen, now we have to deal with them and sort everything out. Her positive attitude does not pass unnoticed by the grumpier characters and I love the effect she has on them.
Hunter’s professional attitude is visible throughout the book. He never breaches protocol, he never acts in an unprofessional way and definitely he doesn’t let his emotions run free. However, April manages to crack that wall a little bit and slip through it. He will start appreciating the little things more and all thanks to her.
The Christmas spirit is definitely present in the book and the representation is perfectly done. We see all the loved ones around the Christmas tree, with the cooking, the present sharing and all the traditional elements. It felt cozy, like family moments should be. I loved that very much
However, I did not enjoy the romance, especially the intimate moments. They felt forced and out of place. To be honest, I didn’t see the need adding those scenes, especially if the author was not comfortable writing them. The book is much better without that part. Also, I missed some parts in April’s professional background. She didn’t seem to have a stable career and at her age, she still didn’t know where she wanted her career to go to.
Putting in balance the good and the not so good elements, I cannot give more than 3 stars, and that is mainly because I felt the Christmas festivities being so well done.
April is a delight. She has only love and kindness in her heart for everybody and seems not to be familiar with hate or any kind of bad emotions. She takes the bad in her life as it comes. Yes, unfortunate things happen, now we have to deal with them and sort everything out. Her positive attitude does not pass unnoticed by the grumpier characters and I love the effect she has on them.
Hunter’s professional attitude is visible throughout the book. He never breaches protocol, he never acts in an unprofessional way and definitely he doesn’t let his emotions run free. However, April manages to crack that wall a little bit and slip through it. He will start appreciating the little things more and all thanks to her.
The Christmas spirit is definitely present in the book and the representation is perfectly done. We see all the loved ones around the Christmas tree, with the cooking, the present sharing and all the traditional elements. It felt cozy, like family moments should be. I loved that very much
However, I did not enjoy the romance, especially the intimate moments. They felt forced and out of place. To be honest, I didn’t see the need adding those scenes, especially if the author was not comfortable writing them. The book is much better without that part. Also, I missed some parts in April’s professional background. She didn’t seem to have a stable career and at her age, she still didn’t know where she wanted her career to go to.
Putting in balance the good and the not so good elements, I cannot give more than 3 stars, and that is mainly because I felt the Christmas festivities being so well done.
February 17, 2020
3.25 stars
This is the first book of this author for me and it was pretty okay.
I was hovering around 4 stars and even more when the book began. What made me reduce the rating was the overuse of adverbs and the kind of awkward writing of sex scenes (two in succession somewhere around 75% of the book). What irked me was that the author's discomfort at writing them showed. A published book shouldn't have that.
The story has enough humor and Christmas to keep it happy and light despite the sad backstory of our hero. Some characters are pretty interesting and entertaining (I like characters with quirks).
Another thing I disliked was that the heroine's engagement with a man 20 years her senior wasn't even explained. The man's pathetic, and going by the spunk the heroine has, I see no reason for her to even get engaged to him. The explanation isn't satisfactory.
But I do like how the characters don't immediately jump into the bed. Instead, there is steady progress in the relationship and hence the 3.25 stars.
This is the first book of this author for me and it was pretty okay.
I was hovering around 4 stars and even more when the book began. What made me reduce the rating was the overuse of adverbs and the kind of awkward writing of sex scenes (two in succession somewhere around 75% of the book). What irked me was that the author's discomfort at writing them showed. A published book shouldn't have that.
The story has enough humor and Christmas to keep it happy and light despite the sad backstory of our hero. Some characters are pretty interesting and entertaining (I like characters with quirks).
Another thing I disliked was that the heroine's engagement with a man 20 years her senior wasn't even explained. The man's pathetic, and going by the spunk the heroine has, I see no reason for her to even get engaged to him. The explanation isn't satisfactory.
But I do like how the characters don't immediately jump into the bed. Instead, there is steady progress in the relationship and hence the 3.25 stars.
January 1, 2020
The Christmas Princess is part four of the wedding series but can be read as a stand-alone book.
April is engaged to an older man who lives with his mother and has no backbone. She works trying to promote brussels sprouts for her job. She had an unconventional childhood raised by her Grandma and family and adopted family of the heart.
Shortly into this book her engagement ends. She gets a strange offer from a special agent to pretend to be a long lost princess over the Christmas holiday period. She will need lots of training to be passable to His Majesty.
Special Agent Hunter is recruiter, trainer, security and highly attracted to April. He fights his desire knowing it isn't appropriate. April brings a breath of fresh air and cheerful outlook to the hotel they train in then the embassy where she meets the King.n
This is a fun and light read. It has some funny moments and more emotional ones. Will Hunter and April get their happy ever after?
April is engaged to an older man who lives with his mother and has no backbone. She works trying to promote brussels sprouts for her job. She had an unconventional childhood raised by her Grandma and family and adopted family of the heart.
Shortly into this book her engagement ends. She gets a strange offer from a special agent to pretend to be a long lost princess over the Christmas holiday period. She will need lots of training to be passable to His Majesty.
Special Agent Hunter is recruiter, trainer, security and highly attracted to April. He fights his desire knowing it isn't appropriate. April brings a breath of fresh air and cheerful outlook to the hotel they train in then the embassy where she meets the King.n
This is a fun and light read. It has some funny moments and more emotional ones. Will Hunter and April get their happy ever after?
February 18, 2023
Good story, has porn
I read every review before I downloaded this as an ebook. Noone mentioned porn aka steamy, passionate. But this book does contain a pornographic scene and several short pornographic thoughts by Hunter. The plot itself was excellent & had a twist I didn't expect. However, the last page contains a preview of another book, I am assuming. It was also a cliffhanger to this story, in a way. I enjoyed the dogs Rufus & Dragon. I have 2 rescue dogs of my own & can't bear to visit animal shelters as I'd want to take every dog home. Do that part of the story appealed to me, as did April's love for them, as well.
Hunter was the typical, closed off to love hero but his quiet manner appealed to me, reminding me if my husband. If the porn had been left out, this would have been a 5 star romance novel.
I read every review before I downloaded this as an ebook. Noone mentioned porn aka steamy, passionate. But this book does contain a pornographic scene and several short pornographic thoughts by Hunter. The plot itself was excellent & had a twist I didn't expect. However, the last page contains a preview of another book, I am assuming. It was also a cliffhanger to this story, in a way. I enjoyed the dogs Rufus & Dragon. I have 2 rescue dogs of my own & can't bear to visit animal shelters as I'd want to take every dog home. Do that part of the story appealed to me, as did April's love for them, as well.
Hunter was the typical, closed off to love hero but his quiet manner appealed to me, reminding me if my husband. If the porn had been left out, this would have been a 5 star romance novel.
December 3, 2019
Great new author for me!
I just discovered Ms. McLinn. I so loved The Christmas Princess. This story is a fast paced ,feel good story that you can't put down. April and Hunter's story is wonderful. I love in Northern Virginia and know all the locations mentioned in the story. It was just like being in the front row as the story was being told. Christmas in DC is magical and Ms. McMinn brought the beauty and magic to those who cannot be there to enjoy it. April and Hunter lead us on a mad chase to help a sling monarch have a wonderful holiday, one that could be his last and answer the question ,who is the missing princess. I can't wait to read what is next in the series. Enjoy!
I just discovered Ms. McLinn. I so loved The Christmas Princess. This story is a fast paced ,feel good story that you can't put down. April and Hunter's story is wonderful. I love in Northern Virginia and know all the locations mentioned in the story. It was just like being in the front row as the story was being told. Christmas in DC is magical and Ms. McMinn brought the beauty and magic to those who cannot be there to enjoy it. April and Hunter lead us on a mad chase to help a sling monarch have a wonderful holiday, one that could be his last and answer the question ,who is the missing princess. I can't wait to read what is next in the series. Enjoy!
December 23, 2020
This was a plausible story line of a King in a fantasy country trying to find his orphaned granddaughter who had been kidnapped about 20 years earlier. At the same time, a young man from the Department of State of the US government has found what he believes is a perfect candidate for his granddaughter who will spend the month of Christmas with the King while Hunter tries to convince the King to sign an extension of a US flyover treaty. It had some good characters, a little humor, and some cute dogs; but I was so frustrated when at 80% in a very sexually explicit scene appeared that wasn't the least bit necessary to the story line. This is the 4th book in the series and read well as a standalone, but I will not be reading any further books in the series.
October 5, 2023
3 1/2****. This was a nice Christmas time missing princess and forbidden romance. April is a look alike for a missing princess and possible heiress to a small kingdom. Hunter, is a State Department agent whose job it is to present April to the king who has failing health and needs some happiness over the holidays.
Whether April is a princess or not, she is a perpetual do gooder with a love for helping the homeless, abandoned animals and everything Christmas. Hunter has a dark and painful past and struggles with his growing feelings for April, his indifference to Christmas and and his duties with the State department. This is a slow burn romance with many blatant holiday tropes. It makes for a sweet holiday read.
Whether April is a princess or not, she is a perpetual do gooder with a love for helping the homeless, abandoned animals and everything Christmas. Hunter has a dark and painful past and struggles with his growing feelings for April, his indifference to Christmas and and his duties with the State department. This is a slow burn romance with many blatant holiday tropes. It makes for a sweet holiday read.
December 3, 2019
3.5 stars.
Meh. Not bad, but not riveting.
If the King of Bariavak truly thought April might be his granddaughter wouldn’t he have his own people conducting such interviews? For heaven’s sake, wouldn’t he have DNA tests done?
Exactly! This one "little" implausibility really bugged me. Although…
This one can be read as a stand-alone, but be prepared to keep track of a lot of names. Not having read the previous novels in the series, I was a bit lost as to who's who at times.
Meh. Not bad, but not riveting.
If the King of Bariavak truly thought April might be his granddaughter wouldn’t he have his own people conducting such interviews? For heaven’s sake, wouldn’t he have DNA tests done?
Exactly! This one "little" implausibility really bugged me. Although…
This one can be read as a stand-alone, but be prepared to keep track of a lot of names. Not having read the previous novels in the series, I was a bit lost as to who's who at times.
December 9, 2019
I have been reading and enjoying books by Patricia McLinn for many years. When I see she has written a book, especially if it's a freebie, I don't hesitate to get it. A Christmas Princess is an interesting read, probably with an impossible plot, but at Christmas time, the unexpected often does happen. I liked April and Hunter and enjoyed the chemistry between them. Now I'm interested to see if King Josef ever finds his granddaughter which means I'll probably purchase the next book in the series. The book Hoops, which precedes this novel is one of my all-time favorite romance books--lots of fun to read.
January 22, 2020
Really enjoyed this book, hadnt read any others in the series, but would go back and read them now.
found it a easy to read and enjoyed the characters. i dont give spoilers and prefer to let people make up their own minds, i feel that there is sufficient info on the book sleeve to entice a reader and then its up to them if they continue to read or not.
i will certainly look for other books by this author as i found her style an easy and interesting style. the characters were neither overworked or underdeveloped. i always find if you can envisage the book as being real life characters then the author has done their job.
found it a easy to read and enjoyed the characters. i dont give spoilers and prefer to let people make up their own minds, i feel that there is sufficient info on the book sleeve to entice a reader and then its up to them if they continue to read or not.
i will certainly look for other books by this author as i found her style an easy and interesting style. the characters were neither overworked or underdeveloped. i always find if you can envisage the book as being real life characters then the author has done their job.
February 12, 2021
Sweet HEA story
This is the story of April, a sweet, dog-loving young lady with a rough up-bringing, who is mistaken for the grand daughter of a king. Apparently the princess was abducted as an infant, and the king always hoped to find her. Besides the perceived physical appearance, there is a genetic abnormality that April possesses. Also in the mix is a handsome young man, Hunter, who turns out to have long-ago connections to the king. I don't have to tell you what happens between April & Hunter, but there are twists & turns along the way.
I enjoyed reading this happy romantic story & will look into the others in Ms. McLinn's Wedding Series.
This is the story of April, a sweet, dog-loving young lady with a rough up-bringing, who is mistaken for the grand daughter of a king. Apparently the princess was abducted as an infant, and the king always hoped to find her. Besides the perceived physical appearance, there is a genetic abnormality that April possesses. Also in the mix is a handsome young man, Hunter, who turns out to have long-ago connections to the king. I don't have to tell you what happens between April & Hunter, but there are twists & turns along the way.
I enjoyed reading this happy romantic story & will look into the others in Ms. McLinn's Wedding Series.
January 2, 2023
A young lobbyist (for brussels sprouts, of all things!) with an uncanny resemblance to a long-missing princess. . . a former war orphan, now working confidential details for the State Department. . . are thrown together in a "help out your country" plan that has our heroine imitating a princess for a month. Both Hunter and April have ghosts from their past they need to deal with, and this sweet book puts them through their paces before they can achieve their happily-ever-after. The first few chapters in particular were really hilarious. My one complaint: too many secondary characters with relationships I couldn't keep track of! But all in all, a fun book.
December 8, 2019
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the novel THE CHRISTMAS PRINCESS The Wedding Series Book 5 by Patricia McLinn and this review was given freely.
A mildly twisted transnational saga based on misunderstandings which features strong family bonds, drama,intrigue and moments of humor culminating in a happy ending and a hook for the sequel.
Special Agent Hunter Pierce convinces April Gareaux to pose as King Josef's long lost granddaughter in a plot to get US air clearance but finds love and peace while uncovering secrets from his past.
I purchased a copy of the novel THE CHRISTMAS PRINCESS The Wedding Series Book 5 by Patricia McLinn and this review was given freely.
A mildly twisted transnational saga based on misunderstandings which features strong family bonds, drama,intrigue and moments of humor culminating in a happy ending and a hook for the sequel.
Special Agent Hunter Pierce convinces April Gareaux to pose as King Josef's long lost granddaughter in a plot to get US air clearance but finds love and peace while uncovering secrets from his past.
January 1, 2021
Sweetest story ever!
I really enjoyed this story, between friendships and a possible love interest, this had it all. From start to finish, April was a people fixer. She had a big heart that needed a man who’s heart needed someone like her. Hunter’s childhood has scarred him and left him unable to love and enjoy life. Also a possible grandfather that needs to find a missing granddaughter, April fills his heart with a special friendship. It includes a preview for the next in this series, and it may answer the questions this story leaves you with!
I really enjoyed this story, between friendships and a possible love interest, this had it all. From start to finish, April was a people fixer. She had a big heart that needed a man who’s heart needed someone like her. Hunter’s childhood has scarred him and left him unable to love and enjoy life. Also a possible grandfather that needs to find a missing granddaughter, April fills his heart with a special friendship. It includes a preview for the next in this series, and it may answer the questions this story leaves you with!
December 17, 2022
April Gareaux was engaged to an older man who lives with his mother then the engagement is called off. April has an opportunity of a lifetime to spend the Christmas holidays with King Jozef of Bariavak in Washington, D.C. as his long-lost granddaughter. Hunter Pierce is the diplomatic security agent for King Jozef assigned to train and protect April. While Hunter is training April to become the princess he and April soon fall for each other. I really enjoyed this heartwarming holiday fiction romance novel.
June 14, 2023
The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn is a well written and uplifting story. It’s not an earth shattering storyline but a simple recipe of a feel good love story. It was a very relaxing and pleasant read. I recommend this book for those nights or weekends when you need an uplifting magical romantic story that leaves you feeling hopeful. The plot is unique and kept me interested until the end which is rare since most romance books these days are either recycled classics or raunchy over the top. I look forward to reading more of her work.
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May 16, 2020So now I need to read Katie’s story!
Loved this one. Great twists. You think the book is about one character and one story, but it’s really about something else. You think you want one thing and think it’s going to happen that way, but then the story shifts and holy cow...that’s good, too!
I loved the real life truth of how the right person can break through and change someone’s life.
Great layering of storylines and hidden clues. Expertly done!
Loved this one. Great twists. You think the book is about one character and one story, but it’s really about something else. You think you want one thing and think it’s going to happen that way, but then the story shifts and holy cow...that’s good, too!
I loved the real life truth of how the right person can break through and change someone’s life.
Great layering of storylines and hidden clues. Expertly done!
September 15, 2020
While I did enjoy the story, there were things that could be better. About 30% in and throughout to the end, there were so many errors that it was distracting. In several other areas, I actually got confused on the dialog and who was saying what and whether I'd accidentally skipped pages (happens when my bird taps my Kindle screen) -- I hadn't. The book definitely needs to be proofed/edited.
December 13, 2022
Very enjoyable
I had a hard time putting this book down. It is now 4 am and I have just finished it and ordered book 1 in the series. I am a voracious reader and it is not easy to find an author whose writing I enjoy so much I'm willing to commit to reading a 9 book series. I enjoy a series where each book can be read as a stand alone yet characters you met in one book become the main characters in the next book. I highly recommend this author's captivating writing.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It is now 4 am and I have just finished it and ordered book 1 in the series. I am a voracious reader and it is not easy to find an author whose writing I enjoy so much I'm willing to commit to reading a 9 book series. I enjoy a series where each book can be read as a stand alone yet characters you met in one book become the main characters in the next book. I highly recommend this author's captivating writing.
December 22, 2022
Suspense and Romance
While not from the "romantic suspense" genre, not filled with car chases abd blazing guns, the mystery in this book gripped me from page 1 and kept me enthralled until the very end. Thus beautifully crafted story has lovely characters and a fascinating and unique plot. Although in places I found it confusing it is still one of the best stories I have read in ages.
While not from the "romantic suspense" genre, not filled with car chases abd blazing guns, the mystery in this book gripped me from page 1 and kept me enthralled until the very end. Thus beautifully crafted story has lovely characters and a fascinating and unique plot. Although in places I found it confusing it is still one of the best stories I have read in ages.
December 22, 2022
I absolutely loved this book, my first from this author. While, as other reviewers have mentioned, it was in need of some editing because of words with wrong endings or extra words in sentences, it was not enough to detract from the story. I found it to be very rich in detail, with family relationships and the intricacies and twists in the story. The Christmas Princess is like the best mix between Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries. Loved it, so cute.
December 26, 2022
A holiday gift to the readers!
Patricia McLinn has written a masterful storyline that is unique, fascinating and tender! Her characterizations are "spot on" and are layered with nuanced human understanding!
All the people in this book are well developed, realistic and remarkable! The collective cast are great!
I loved the story, plot, narrative and dialogue! A beautiful, well crafted manuscript!
Patricia McLinn has written a masterful storyline that is unique, fascinating and tender! Her characterizations are "spot on" and are layered with nuanced human understanding!
All the people in this book are well developed, realistic and remarkable! The collective cast are great!
I loved the story, plot, narrative and dialogue! A beautiful, well crafted manuscript!
November 23, 2019
April prospects for the holidays, was looking less than what she hoped for, just being dumped. A special offer, to be a pretend princess, especially at this time of year. Hunter seeing her, and the joy she brings. There maybe more to this being a few weeks. A delightful addition to this series, to enjoy.
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