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Enchanting Confections
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery : A Prince and the Pauper Retelling
A teaspoon of borrowed identities
A cup of courtly deception
And a serving of peril hidden in plain sight
For Nin, the dream was never a tiara—only survival. But when a desperate bargain promises her brother’s safety in exchange for taking a princess’s place, she can’t refuse. Thrust into a world of luxury and suspicion, Nin must master courtly etiquette to keep the true princess hidden. One mistake could cost more than her secret, it could cost lives.
Captain Cedric Duval lives by a strict code of order, discipline, and restraint. Training a street-smart pauper to impersonate a princess, however, proves far more difficult than any security drill. As he teaches Nin curtsies and royal customs, he begins to question the wisdom of his plan… and his growing feelings for the girl beneath the disguise.
With a royal wedding drawing near, Nin and Cedric must survive a court where danger lurks in the shadows and every dance could reveal hidden truths. Each step closer to uncovering the plot puts their deception—and their hearts—at risk. If they fail, it won’t be a princess the assassin strikes, it will be the girl wearing her tiara.
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery, a gender-swapped retelling of The Prince and the Pauper, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as "swapped identities", "slow-burn", "princess training", and "bodyguard romance". It is a part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth.
A cup of courtly deception
And a serving of peril hidden in plain sight
For Nin, the dream was never a tiara—only survival. But when a desperate bargain promises her brother’s safety in exchange for taking a princess’s place, she can’t refuse. Thrust into a world of luxury and suspicion, Nin must master courtly etiquette to keep the true princess hidden. One mistake could cost more than her secret, it could cost lives.
Captain Cedric Duval lives by a strict code of order, discipline, and restraint. Training a street-smart pauper to impersonate a princess, however, proves far more difficult than any security drill. As he teaches Nin curtsies and royal customs, he begins to question the wisdom of his plan… and his growing feelings for the girl beneath the disguise.
With a royal wedding drawing near, Nin and Cedric must survive a court where danger lurks in the shadows and every dance could reveal hidden truths. Each step closer to uncovering the plot puts their deception—and their hearts—at risk. If they fail, it won’t be a princess the assassin strikes, it will be the girl wearing her tiara.
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery, a gender-swapped retelling of The Prince and the Pauper, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as "swapped identities", "slow-burn", "princess training", and "bodyguard romance". It is a part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2026
About the author
Ashley Evercott
12 books26 followersAshley Evercott is a Southern California author of fairytale retellings and romantasy fiction. Known for her no-spice romance, she specializes in weaving stories of magic and star-crossed lovers.
When she isn’t writing, Ashley can be found dreaming of enchanting worlds under a backyard palm tree. She lives with her husband, toddler, and a formerly feral tabby who has fully embraced the quiet life of an indoor cat.
When she isn’t writing, Ashley can be found dreaming of enchanting worlds under a backyard palm tree. She lives with her husband, toddler, and a formerly feral tabby who has fully embraced the quiet life of an indoor cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 4, 2026
3 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fairytale Retelling (with light magic*)
The Princess and the Pauper was one of my favorite Barbie movies when I was a little girl, so I was excited to read this one when I first heard about it. It’s not a super common retelling told in the clean fairytale market. This book is different from that classic movie, but I saw nods to it—like with all the mentions of pink and blue items. 🩷🩵
The historical French-inspired setting with the powered wigs and tricorne hats was such an interesting element to this story! I can’t say that I gravitate towards that time period, so it wasn’t really a selling point for me, but it gave this fairytale a neat twist.
I will note that I did figure out the culprit as soon as the person appeared on page, which was a little disappointing but understandable because there wasn’t many people it could be and the book was on the shorter side.
For some reason, I didn’t feel connected to either of our main characters or their romance. They felt a little stilted. Their first and second kisses felt a little intense for the lack of emotions that were shown by them prior. I didn't love how those kisses were described. They obviously had more important goals prior—like keeping Nin from being killed as she poses as the Princess so I appreciate that their focus was mainly on that—but they weren’t my favorite couple or characters, personally. I think it would be far to say that this was more of a plot-driven book than a character-driven one. I was going to give this book 3.5 stars, but after thinking about those kisses, I decided to lower my rating a touch because of them and the phrases used. It was a little heavy for a couple that didn't seem overly attracted to each other in that way previously.
*On the magic content: at first, I thought this book was going to be non-magical, but there is light magic in the book with mentions of Enchanted items that were made with the Maker’s Breath. Characters pray and say thanks to the Maker at different times during this book, so it’s easy to assume that He is supposed to be God, which reminds me of the High King in Melanie Cellier’s “Four Kingdoms” series.
Main Content-
Spiritual + Magic-
A couple prayers.
“Artisans” are those who are able to craft items with the Maker’s Breath which enchants them with special abilities (such a bathtub keeping the water at the perfect temperature, a room staying a comfortable temperature despite many people in a room, a candle that never melts, a necklace enchanted to alert another item if touched, and another piece of jewelry that has a protection against a drug/poison on it).
There is also a magical powder called “Silent Breath” which is “corrupted magic” and defiles the Maker’s Breath (whoever it is used on becomes very obedient to the person who has the powder).
Mentions of the Maker; Mentions of prayers, praying to, & thanking the Maker; A few mentions of miracles; A mention of a priest.
Mentions of luck & being lucky.
Language + Negative/Dangerous Situations-
No language stronger than ‘stupid’ and ‘confound it all’; Something is called a ‘little bugger’; Nin and Cedric curse a few times, but it’s not written on-page (a couple other mentions of curses being said, but not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eavesdropping; When posing as the princess, Nin does lie to others.
Nin has been a thief to survive and provide for her younger brother after their parents’ deaths; Nin steals/pickpockets on-page and there’s no remorse due to it being for survival.
Being attacked and choked, Being hit, Fighting, Holding someone a knife-point, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, & Passing out (up to a handful of sentences); Being drugged with a magical powder & nearly killed (to make it look like a suicide, up to a few sentences); Nin also knees a man in the groin when being attacked.
Seeing a dead/poisoned body (up to a few sentences).
Many mentions of assassins & assassination attempts (including by snake bite, poisons, causing a horse to throw its rider, and stabbings); Mentions of illnesses & deaths; Mentions of poisons & drugs (and deaths or near deaths, including suicides); Mentions of criminals, thieves, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of fights/fighting, injuries, & blood; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & taverns; Mentions of lies, lying, & deceit; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of wars; A few mentions of a couple shouting and throwing stuff during an argument; A few mentions of smoking, pipes, & tobacco; A couple mentions of treason & someone almost being hanged at the gallows for it.
Romance/Sexual-
Staring at lips (up to a couple sentences),
2 hand kisses,
2 forehead/hair kisses,
1 almost kiss (up to a few sentences),
1 kiss lasting a sentence,
2 kisses lasting 4-6 sentences (mentioning swollen lips afterwards).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Sparkles, Tingles, Flutters, Warmth, Nearness, Smelling, & Noticing (up to a few sentences); Blushes & Flirting.
Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of kisses.
The Princess and the Pauper was one of my favorite Barbie movies when I was a little girl, so I was excited to read this one when I first heard about it. It’s not a super common retelling told in the clean fairytale market. This book is different from that classic movie, but I saw nods to it—like with all the mentions of pink and blue items. 🩷🩵
The historical French-inspired setting with the powered wigs and tricorne hats was such an interesting element to this story! I can’t say that I gravitate towards that time period, so it wasn’t really a selling point for me, but it gave this fairytale a neat twist.
I will note that I did figure out the culprit as soon as the person appeared on page, which was a little disappointing but understandable because there wasn’t many people it could be and the book was on the shorter side.
For some reason, I didn’t feel connected to either of our main characters or their romance. They felt a little stilted. Their first and second kisses felt a little intense for the lack of emotions that were shown by them prior. I didn't love how those kisses were described. They obviously had more important goals prior—like keeping Nin from being killed as she poses as the Princess so I appreciate that their focus was mainly on that—but they weren’t my favorite couple or characters, personally. I think it would be far to say that this was more of a plot-driven book than a character-driven one. I was going to give this book 3.5 stars, but after thinking about those kisses, I decided to lower my rating a touch because of them and the phrases used. It was a little heavy for a couple that didn't seem overly attracted to each other in that way previously.
*On the magic content: at first, I thought this book was going to be non-magical, but there is light magic in the book with mentions of Enchanted items that were made with the Maker’s Breath. Characters pray and say thanks to the Maker at different times during this book, so it’s easy to assume that He is supposed to be God, which reminds me of the High King in Melanie Cellier’s “Four Kingdoms” series.
Main Content-
Spiritual + Magic-
A couple prayers.
“Artisans” are those who are able to craft items with the Maker’s Breath which enchants them with special abilities (such a bathtub keeping the water at the perfect temperature, a room staying a comfortable temperature despite many people in a room, a candle that never melts, a necklace enchanted to alert another item if touched, and another piece of jewelry that has a protection against a drug/poison on it).
There is also a magical powder called “Silent Breath” which is “corrupted magic” and defiles the Maker’s Breath (whoever it is used on becomes very obedient to the person who has the powder).
Mentions of the Maker; Mentions of prayers, praying to, & thanking the Maker; A few mentions of miracles; A mention of a priest.
Mentions of luck & being lucky.
Language + Negative/Dangerous Situations-
No language stronger than ‘stupid’ and ‘confound it all’; Something is called a ‘little bugger’; Nin and Cedric curse a few times, but it’s not written on-page (a couple other mentions of curses being said, but not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eavesdropping; When posing as the princess, Nin does lie to others.
Nin has been a thief to survive and provide for her younger brother after their parents’ deaths; Nin steals/pickpockets on-page and there’s no remorse due to it being for survival.
Being attacked and choked, Being hit, Fighting, Holding someone a knife-point, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, & Passing out (up to a handful of sentences); Being drugged with a magical powder & nearly killed (to make it look like a suicide, up to a few sentences); Nin also knees a man in the groin when being attacked.
Seeing a dead/poisoned body (up to a few sentences).
Many mentions of assassins & assassination attempts (including by snake bite, poisons, causing a horse to throw its rider, and stabbings); Mentions of illnesses & deaths; Mentions of poisons & drugs (and deaths or near deaths, including suicides); Mentions of criminals, thieves, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of fights/fighting, injuries, & blood; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & taverns; Mentions of lies, lying, & deceit; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of wars; A few mentions of a couple shouting and throwing stuff during an argument; A few mentions of smoking, pipes, & tobacco; A couple mentions of treason & someone almost being hanged at the gallows for it.
Romance/Sexual-
Staring at lips (up to a couple sentences),
2 hand kisses,
2 forehead/hair kisses,
1 almost kiss (up to a few sentences),
1 kiss lasting a sentence,
2 kisses lasting 4-6 sentences (mentioning swollen lips afterwards).
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Sparkles, Tingles, Flutters, Warmth, Nearness, Smelling, & Noticing (up to a few sentences); Blushes & Flirting.
Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of kisses.
June 22, 2026
I am officially declaring that Nin and Cedric must be protected at all costs.
This was a delightful read. Evercott put an enjoyable twist on The Prince and the Pauper. Nin's character arc is really well-rounded and it was fun to watch her grow and keep the facade while retaining her spark and determination. Cedric, serious and duty-bound, was the perfect match and I enjoyed watching their story unfold.
I also liked how the parents in this story were good and cared about their daughter. While I understand the need for parents of other types in fantasy tales, it was refreshing to read about caring parents. The supporting characters were good as well, especially Lucille, Alain, and Adelina (I'm pleading for the latter two receive their own stories, btw).
And, while I've never cared about stories set in France or France-inspired lands, Evercott did a great job of keeping certain elements of historical French culture/aesthetic while making it fantasy and magical.
Perfect for readers who enjoy clean fantasy retellings with danger, sweet romance, and an engaging plot.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was a delightful read. Evercott put an enjoyable twist on The Prince and the Pauper. Nin's character arc is really well-rounded and it was fun to watch her grow and keep the facade while retaining her spark and determination. Cedric, serious and duty-bound, was the perfect match and I enjoyed watching their story unfold.
I also liked how the parents in this story were good and cared about their daughter. While I understand the need for parents of other types in fantasy tales, it was refreshing to read about caring parents. The supporting characters were good as well, especially Lucille, Alain, and Adelina (I'm pleading for the latter two receive their own stories, btw).
And, while I've never cared about stories set in France or France-inspired lands, Evercott did a great job of keeping certain elements of historical French culture/aesthetic while making it fantasy and magical.
Perfect for readers who enjoy clean fantasy retellings with danger, sweet romance, and an engaging plot.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
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May 14, 2026
I received this ebook arc from the author in exchange for an honest review. This was a unique retelling of the Princess and the Pauper and I really liked it! I was hooked from the start. I liked Nin. She was strong and brave. She took on a dangerous role and didn’t give up. I do wish we would’ve seen more of her with the princess, especially at the end. Cedric was so mean and rough at the beginning. I didn’t like him. It took a while for him to truly change and for me to like him. I didn’t care for the amount of times he swore under his breath. About over halfway through the book, I did start to like the two of them together. Overall, this was an enjoyable retelling! This is my first by this author and it definitely won’t be my last!
May 23, 2026
ARC Review - A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery by Ashley Evercott.
A sweet and heartwarming retelling of the Prince and the Pauper, part of the Enchanting Confections series.
Nin was such a wonderful character in every aspect. Her caring heart and love for her brother was sweet and touching. She climbed into the hearts of everyone. She was strong and determined to proof herself capable to do what she was set out to do.
Cedric was a fierce protector and a Guard with a heart of gold even if he didn’t always know it himself.
I enjoyed this story from start to end. The writing style of Ashley is easy to follow and understandable.
I will highly recommended to all readers who enjoys a clean, exciting and sweet fairytale retelling.
A sweet and heartwarming retelling of the Prince and the Pauper, part of the Enchanting Confections series.
Nin was such a wonderful character in every aspect. Her caring heart and love for her brother was sweet and touching. She climbed into the hearts of everyone. She was strong and determined to proof herself capable to do what she was set out to do.
Cedric was a fierce protector and a Guard with a heart of gold even if he didn’t always know it himself.
I enjoyed this story from start to end. The writing style of Ashley is easy to follow and understandable.
I will highly recommended to all readers who enjoys a clean, exciting and sweet fairytale retelling.
June 18, 2026
I happen to be a huge fan of the original The Prince & the Pauper by Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain). Don't roast me! I like his given name. *wink
So, this was a fun twist on this beloved classic. Nin is brought in to be a body double. Yeah, laying it right out on the line.
Her guard, Cedric finds her on the streets pickpocketing to keep food on the table for her ill brother.
After several attempts on the princess's life, Cedric is desparate. Seeing Nin looking very close to the princess, he immediately acts.
Nin is totally out of her element but her grit, determination, and love for her brother and country keeps her moving forward with this crazy idea, knowing that at the end should could very well end up dead!
I totally guessed the murderer and got it right! Ashely was very clever to try to pin it on a specific character, but I saw through that rouse instantly!! Although, it was very convincing!
I'm loving all the stories in this MAS!! So much fun!
So, this was a fun twist on this beloved classic. Nin is brought in to be a body double. Yeah, laying it right out on the line.
Her guard, Cedric finds her on the streets pickpocketing to keep food on the table for her ill brother.
After several attempts on the princess's life, Cedric is desparate. Seeing Nin looking very close to the princess, he immediately acts.
Nin is totally out of her element but her grit, determination, and love for her brother and country keeps her moving forward with this crazy idea, knowing that at the end should could very well end up dead!
I totally guessed the murderer and got it right! Ashely was very clever to try to pin it on a specific character, but I saw through that rouse instantly!! Although, it was very convincing!
I'm loving all the stories in this MAS!! So much fun!
June 12, 2026
Nin is a pauper, Marianne is a princess...and they are nearly duplicates of each other. When the captain of the guard is grasping at straws as assasination attempts come ever closer to succeeding, he's willing to try anything. Even teaching a street urchin to stand in for a betrothed princess.
Everything that you would expect to go wrong...goes wrong. Along the way, you have a girl who is just trying to do whatever it takes to earn the reward she was promised to save a sick and dying brother. And also...she would really. like. a macaron. PLEASE. Just one. Just let her try *one bite* and she'll be happy forever.
This was a sweet book. It was well written - there are some parts of teh pot that you kind of just need to roll with (the King and Queen are expected not to notice that their daughter has been replaced, among other things). So, definitely no Model Parental Relationships here! But it is a cute love story, and everyone gets their happily ever after.
Everything that you would expect to go wrong...goes wrong. Along the way, you have a girl who is just trying to do whatever it takes to earn the reward she was promised to save a sick and dying brother. And also...she would really. like. a macaron. PLEASE. Just one. Just let her try *one bite* and she'll be happy forever.
This was a sweet book. It was well written - there are some parts of teh pot that you kind of just need to roll with (the King and Queen are expected not to notice that their daughter has been replaced, among other things). So, definitely no Model Parental Relationships here! But it is a cute love story, and everyone gets their happily ever after.
July 1, 2026
This story was unexpected to say the least. I'd never read a Prince and the Pauper retelling. It initially felt like something from a Dickens story, then had a few twists, and was utterly delightful. All of the characters were unique and felt real, something a little challenging in a fairy tale. Nin, the pauper-turned-substitute-princess, was perfect. I loved how sweet she was while not lacking personality, a difficult balance. She became a princess, speaking up for herself but extending grace and compassion toward others. I'll admit I missed seeing more of the real princess. The love story was sweet, the slow burn and slow friendship compelling, and the growth in most of the characters was so filled with hope. I loved it. I would gladly read any of Ashley's future books.
I received an ARC as part of the Enchanted Confections review team and have reviewed it willingly.
I received an ARC as part of the Enchanted Confections review team and have reviewed it willingly.
July 31, 2026
I received an ARC copy from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own!
I think this is one of my absolute favorite retellings of A Prince and the Pauper! Obviously the gender of our main characters has been switched to female. Lovers of Barbie's Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper are definitely going to love this book!
Nin, our pauper, is a spunky, resourceful, intellegent, and protective young woman who has agreed to take the place of the current princess to help uncover a plot of assasination. She does have her motivations though; her brother is ill and in serious need of help and that is exactly what she is being offered to become a princess.
Cedric is the captain of the princess's guard and up untill now he has felt himself become closer and closer to becoming a failure and the people plotting to harm the princess are getting closer and closer to their goal. Then one fateful day provides him a solution when a thief tries to pitpocket him; but this is not just any thief, this is a desperate young woman who happens to be nearly identical to the princess. With his understanding of royal court he trains Nin to be royal and navigate the vipers of court and along the way start to unravel the plot to hurt the true princess. But something else begins to happen between Cedric and Nin but is it even something they can hope for to have when this is all over.
The plot of this book was increadible! I have seen this fairytale redone a few times in books and in shows and not often is the reader or the watcher really involved in solving the plot of who is targeting the princess/prince. I was actually pleased to have this book strictly from the pov of the pauper and the princess's captain of the guard. I was also a huge fan of the portrayal of the court in this book. It's nasty and full of people who latch on to mistakes, gossip, and rumors; a bit more realistic to how real courts were in back in our own history. Courts were not magical places with balls and dancing with the occasional bad guy. Rarely did royal children have really indepth relationships with their parents and courts were something you had to navigate to survive, even as royalty. So seeing this being how the author decided to describe the court really pleased me.
I also appreciated, as the reader, actually being there for the development in the relationship in Cedric and Nin. Sometimes, in shorter books like this, this is often glossed over or just given as a surprise to the reader without much context or details. However, you actually see and feel it develop and I will tell you without spoiling anything that it is so much fun to read and it does give you butterflies!
However, I think my favorite thing the author did, was convince me to have the same belief as Nin on who the bad guy was. When I finally got to the end I was actually shocked at who it really was. Like I said, most of the court are vipers and not necessarily good people but I really thought I knew who was behind everything and low and behold I ended up being wrong! It was so clever!
This book was most definitely a 5 star read for me and when I have time I plan on rereading it because it was adorable, thrilling, and sweet ;)
I think this is one of my absolute favorite retellings of A Prince and the Pauper! Obviously the gender of our main characters has been switched to female. Lovers of Barbie's Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper are definitely going to love this book!
Nin, our pauper, is a spunky, resourceful, intellegent, and protective young woman who has agreed to take the place of the current princess to help uncover a plot of assasination. She does have her motivations though; her brother is ill and in serious need of help and that is exactly what she is being offered to become a princess.
Cedric is the captain of the princess's guard and up untill now he has felt himself become closer and closer to becoming a failure and the people plotting to harm the princess are getting closer and closer to their goal. Then one fateful day provides him a solution when a thief tries to pitpocket him; but this is not just any thief, this is a desperate young woman who happens to be nearly identical to the princess. With his understanding of royal court he trains Nin to be royal and navigate the vipers of court and along the way start to unravel the plot to hurt the true princess. But something else begins to happen between Cedric and Nin but is it even something they can hope for to have when this is all over.
The plot of this book was increadible! I have seen this fairytale redone a few times in books and in shows and not often is the reader or the watcher really involved in solving the plot of who is targeting the princess/prince. I was actually pleased to have this book strictly from the pov of the pauper and the princess's captain of the guard. I was also a huge fan of the portrayal of the court in this book. It's nasty and full of people who latch on to mistakes, gossip, and rumors; a bit more realistic to how real courts were in back in our own history. Courts were not magical places with balls and dancing with the occasional bad guy. Rarely did royal children have really indepth relationships with their parents and courts were something you had to navigate to survive, even as royalty. So seeing this being how the author decided to describe the court really pleased me.
I also appreciated, as the reader, actually being there for the development in the relationship in Cedric and Nin. Sometimes, in shorter books like this, this is often glossed over or just given as a surprise to the reader without much context or details. However, you actually see and feel it develop and I will tell you without spoiling anything that it is so much fun to read and it does give you butterflies!
However, I think my favorite thing the author did, was convince me to have the same belief as Nin on who the bad guy was. When I finally got to the end I was actually shocked at who it really was. Like I said, most of the court are vipers and not necessarily good people but I really thought I knew who was behind everything and low and behold I ended up being wrong! It was so clever!
This book was most definitely a 5 star read for me and when I have time I plan on rereading it because it was adorable, thrilling, and sweet ;)
June 5, 2026
*I received an ARC from the author, and all opinions are my own.
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery was a wonderful gender-swapped retelling of the Prince and the Pauper with hidden identities, court politics, and romance!
I loved Barbie Princess and the Pauper growing up, and this book was everything I needed for this story. If you grew up loving that movie, go read this book! It was absolutely amazing!
Nin was a phenomenal character! I went into this book expecting her to be gruff and stoic, but she was the opposite. She wasn’t afraid to stand up and tell people she was capable, but she also had such a love for life. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and nicely balanced with her understanding of the realities of the world she lived in. Seeing the royal court through her eyes was also a lot of fun, especially compared to Cedric’s perspective. She had a unique viewpoint of the court, and I liked seeing it from her perspective. I also loved how seriously she took her job. I kind of expected her to go into pretending to be the princess and not really care that much, but she was genuinely concerned with messing up the princess’s life.
I really enjoyed Cedric, too! He was super protective and I loved seeing that expand to Nin. I also really liked his backstory. Both of our main characters had strong backstories that the author did a wonderful job of weaving into the story. I loved how his backstory was hinted at and effected the way he viewed events happening around him. Cedric also took his job so seriously and I loved all the scenes when he was training Nin to be the princess- they were adorable!
The relationship between Nin and Cedric was amazing! They had such a wonderful relationship and they contrasted each other nicely. There was also the issue of their stations that affected their relationship, and I always love those storylines! Nin was always trying to get Cedric to smile and be less serious, and those moments were amazing! Again, I loved Cedric’s protectiveness over Nin and seeing that grow as they got to know each other was such a lovely part of the story.
The plot itself was so much fun. I am curious as to what the princess was doing while in hiding. The author did a wonderful job of weaving in the reality that Nin was in this position, and she may end up hurt, or worse, with the fun parts of the story. The investigation into who was threatening the royal family was engrossing and I was shocked by the twist!
The court politics in this book was very engaging for me. I love court politics, so I really enjoyed this book. All the scenes with the Queen were especially intriguing. You could tell that maybe she knew something, but you weren’t quite sure. I also enjoyed that Nin had to deal with affections from the princess’s fiancé. It added an interesting facet to the story that I enjoyed. One of my favorite parts of the story was Nin’s obsession with sweets! I loved that she really just wanted a nice dessert but couldn’t have one because the princess liked savory treats. It was a little part of the story, but very well thought out and made the story that much more realistic.
The ending was everything! I love happy endings and I adored this one so much!
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery was a fun gender-swapped Prince and the Pauper retelling with romance, protective MMCs, court politics, and determined FMCs.
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery releases on June 12, 2026.
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery was a wonderful gender-swapped retelling of the Prince and the Pauper with hidden identities, court politics, and romance!
I loved Barbie Princess and the Pauper growing up, and this book was everything I needed for this story. If you grew up loving that movie, go read this book! It was absolutely amazing!
Nin was a phenomenal character! I went into this book expecting her to be gruff and stoic, but she was the opposite. She wasn’t afraid to stand up and tell people she was capable, but she also had such a love for life. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and nicely balanced with her understanding of the realities of the world she lived in. Seeing the royal court through her eyes was also a lot of fun, especially compared to Cedric’s perspective. She had a unique viewpoint of the court, and I liked seeing it from her perspective. I also loved how seriously she took her job. I kind of expected her to go into pretending to be the princess and not really care that much, but she was genuinely concerned with messing up the princess’s life.
I really enjoyed Cedric, too! He was super protective and I loved seeing that expand to Nin. I also really liked his backstory. Both of our main characters had strong backstories that the author did a wonderful job of weaving into the story. I loved how his backstory was hinted at and effected the way he viewed events happening around him. Cedric also took his job so seriously and I loved all the scenes when he was training Nin to be the princess- they were adorable!
The relationship between Nin and Cedric was amazing! They had such a wonderful relationship and they contrasted each other nicely. There was also the issue of their stations that affected their relationship, and I always love those storylines! Nin was always trying to get Cedric to smile and be less serious, and those moments were amazing! Again, I loved Cedric’s protectiveness over Nin and seeing that grow as they got to know each other was such a lovely part of the story.
The plot itself was so much fun. I am curious as to what the princess was doing while in hiding. The author did a wonderful job of weaving in the reality that Nin was in this position, and she may end up hurt, or worse, with the fun parts of the story. The investigation into who was threatening the royal family was engrossing and I was shocked by the twist!
The court politics in this book was very engaging for me. I love court politics, so I really enjoyed this book. All the scenes with the Queen were especially intriguing. You could tell that maybe she knew something, but you weren’t quite sure. I also enjoyed that Nin had to deal with affections from the princess’s fiancé. It added an interesting facet to the story that I enjoyed. One of my favorite parts of the story was Nin’s obsession with sweets! I loved that she really just wanted a nice dessert but couldn’t have one because the princess liked savory treats. It was a little part of the story, but very well thought out and made the story that much more realistic.
The ending was everything! I love happy endings and I adored this one so much!
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery was a fun gender-swapped Prince and the Pauper retelling with romance, protective MMCs, court politics, and determined FMCs.
A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery releases on June 12, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my first time reading a book by Ashley Evercott, and I have to say that I was completely obsessed with this story, starting with the cover and premise (because let's be real: people *do* sometimes judge books based on their covers), and followed through with how incredible this story was!
If you grew up with the Barbie: Princess and the Pauper movie, this story has some of the things that, in my humble opinion, made that movie a masterpiece: the genderbent version of Prince and the Pauper, a swoonworthy-tutor, and high stakes! However, some notable differences that made me love this story even more? Let's break them down:
1. This primarily follows the Pauper, Nin, and as an FMC, she is fantastic. She is intelligent, witty, and has confidence, but her journey feigning royalty feels very human and relatable. I love her determination, her connection with her brother, and that she's not afraid to take matters into her own hands when necessary.
2. The MMC, Cedric, is both the Captain of the Guard and Nin's tutor. He feels believable, and his banter with Nin is so fun to read. He's quietly intense, as his job necessitates, and watching him fall for Nin was so fun! He also has his own backstory that adds a layer of intrigue to him.
3. The stakes are high, but even higher than the aforementioned movie. Rather than a kidnapping scheme, we are dealing with would-be assassins, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't holding my breath constantly. This author does a wonderful job of leaving you wondering how and when people will come after Nin, which immerses you further into the story. (Also, as a tangent: the worldbuilding? Phenomenal.)
Overall, if you love stories with high stakes, high swoon, and lots of royal intrigue, then this book is the one for you!
If you grew up with the Barbie: Princess and the Pauper movie, this story has some of the things that, in my humble opinion, made that movie a masterpiece: the genderbent version of Prince and the Pauper, a swoonworthy-tutor, and high stakes! However, some notable differences that made me love this story even more? Let's break them down:
1. This primarily follows the Pauper, Nin, and as an FMC, she is fantastic. She is intelligent, witty, and has confidence, but her journey feigning royalty feels very human and relatable. I love her determination, her connection with her brother, and that she's not afraid to take matters into her own hands when necessary.
2. The MMC, Cedric, is both the Captain of the Guard and Nin's tutor. He feels believable, and his banter with Nin is so fun to read. He's quietly intense, as his job necessitates, and watching him fall for Nin was so fun! He also has his own backstory that adds a layer of intrigue to him.
3. The stakes are high, but even higher than the aforementioned movie. Rather than a kidnapping scheme, we are dealing with would-be assassins, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't holding my breath constantly. This author does a wonderful job of leaving you wondering how and when people will come after Nin, which immerses you further into the story. (Also, as a tangent: the worldbuilding? Phenomenal.)
Overall, if you love stories with high stakes, high swoon, and lots of royal intrigue, then this book is the one for you!
July 6, 2026
As these are meant to be reviews for books I would expect most people to consider 100% clean, I must preface this review by saying that there is a kiss with an element that makes me uncomfortable. I’d say it’s a mildly-slightly moderately described but it leaves her lips swollen. It also includes “warm and insistent” and “diving in” to “claim a kiss.”
{244 print pages}
Genre: Fantasy, gender-flipped classic retelling [of the Prince and the Pauper]
Tropes: Swapped identities, forced proximity, princess training, bodyguard romance, court intrigue
Setting: French-inspired
Writing style: Dual POV (alternating chapters), 3rd person, past tense
Tone: Mild angst
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Other romantic elements:
• 1 mouth kiss barely described
• 1 near-kiss by princess’s fiancee when he thinks thinks the pauper is her
• 2 instances of looking at lips, 1 one sentence
• 1 instance of her trailing her fingers from his wrist, up his arm, to his chest
• 2 head kisses, no description
• 1 instance of nestling against each other standing up, 1 sentence
• 1 instance of fingers brush, half-sentence reaction; 1 of hands brushing, a few sentences
• 1 instance brushing knuckles with thumb
• Light reactions to touch, fluttering/butterflies
*There are generic references to The Maker, and The Maker’s Breath is used to put power in objects to do certain things.
For the purposes of the story, this retelling only adapts the pauper’s side. It uses a similar premise as Barbie’s The Princess and the Pauper movie in that the pauper needs to act as stand-in for the princess to prevent an act of treason.
Nin and Cedric both seem hardened at first but it didn’t take long to realize their traumas haven’t led them that far. Cedric is still very much a guard and takes that fact incredibly seriously, but it’s ultimately a manifestation of caring about the people under his protection. Nin quickly reveals the more sunshiny side of her disposition, which while I found to be a bit unbelievable at first, I preferred nonetheless. I don’t appreciate cynics who go around being angry all the time; they bug me. She, too, is intent on fulfilling her role, both as a shield of sorts for the princess and as older sister to and only remaining protector of her sick brother. Lucille rounds out the trio with her support and motherly care. She brings Cedric down when he’s getting too demanding or harsh, and to his credit, he takes it to heart.
Though Nin’s brother, Alain, makes just a few appearances, he provides heart to the narrative. He is Nin’s motivation and establishes her as a person who will go the mile to save someone.
Favorite Quotations:
• The sweet aroma cut through the damp, frosty air, drifting over the milling nobles wearing mufflers and thick, woolen cloaks. Their steps were measured, their chins lifted, and an unmistakable snobbery painted their mannerisms. When they spoke to one another, they postured themselves like peacocks trying to outshine the other. Nin grimaced. The nobles were as much on display as the satin dresses propped on mannequins in the shop windows.
• The crowd parted around them as if they were a stone wedged in the middle of a stream.
• He withdrew another, heavier bag from within his coat pockets. The coins clinked within the drawstring purse, and her head snapped to the sound almost comically, like a stray dog catching the scent of meat on the wind.
• Something was wrong. A cold certainty settled in her gut—and her gut had kept her alive long before Cedric ever had.
• The sweetest things, she had learned, were freely given—and freely chosen.
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
{244 print pages}
Genre: Fantasy, gender-flipped classic retelling [of the Prince and the Pauper]
Tropes: Swapped identities, forced proximity, princess training, bodyguard romance, court intrigue
Setting: French-inspired
Writing style: Dual POV (alternating chapters), 3rd person, past tense
Tone: Mild angst
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Other romantic elements:
• 1 mouth kiss barely described
• 1 near-kiss by princess’s fiancee when he thinks thinks the pauper is her
• 2 instances of looking at lips, 1 one sentence
• 1 instance of her trailing her fingers from his wrist, up his arm, to his chest
• 2 head kisses, no description
• 1 instance of nestling against each other standing up, 1 sentence
• 1 instance of fingers brush, half-sentence reaction; 1 of hands brushing, a few sentences
• 1 instance brushing knuckles with thumb
• Light reactions to touch, fluttering/butterflies
*There are generic references to The Maker, and The Maker’s Breath is used to put power in objects to do certain things.
For the purposes of the story, this retelling only adapts the pauper’s side. It uses a similar premise as Barbie’s The Princess and the Pauper movie in that the pauper needs to act as stand-in for the princess to prevent an act of treason.
Nin and Cedric both seem hardened at first but it didn’t take long to realize their traumas haven’t led them that far. Cedric is still very much a guard and takes that fact incredibly seriously, but it’s ultimately a manifestation of caring about the people under his protection. Nin quickly reveals the more sunshiny side of her disposition, which while I found to be a bit unbelievable at first, I preferred nonetheless. I don’t appreciate cynics who go around being angry all the time; they bug me. She, too, is intent on fulfilling her role, both as a shield of sorts for the princess and as older sister to and only remaining protector of her sick brother. Lucille rounds out the trio with her support and motherly care. She brings Cedric down when he’s getting too demanding or harsh, and to his credit, he takes it to heart.
Though Nin’s brother, Alain, makes just a few appearances, he provides heart to the narrative. He is Nin’s motivation and establishes her as a person who will go the mile to save someone.
Favorite Quotations:
• The sweet aroma cut through the damp, frosty air, drifting over the milling nobles wearing mufflers and thick, woolen cloaks. Their steps were measured, their chins lifted, and an unmistakable snobbery painted their mannerisms. When they spoke to one another, they postured themselves like peacocks trying to outshine the other. Nin grimaced. The nobles were as much on display as the satin dresses propped on mannequins in the shop windows.
• The crowd parted around them as if they were a stone wedged in the middle of a stream.
• He withdrew another, heavier bag from within his coat pockets. The coins clinked within the drawstring purse, and her head snapped to the sound almost comically, like a stray dog catching the scent of meat on the wind.
• Something was wrong. A cold certainty settled in her gut—and her gut had kept her alive long before Cedric ever had.
• The sweetest things, she had learned, were freely given—and freely chosen.
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
June 12, 2026
4 stars.
This was a very enjoyable book! I really loved Nin and her determination to help her brother. The dedication she showed while learning to be the princess was especially impressive, particularly since Cedric wasn’t exactly very nice to her at first.
On that note, while I enjoyed the story overall, it took me a while to start rooting for this couple, and most of that was because of Cedric. For a portion of the book after they first met, he was kind of mean to Nin, and it just put me off. Thankfully, he does go through some character development later on and starts to see her differently, which I was very happy about.
As a Prince and the Pauper retelling, this is one of the best I’ve read so far! Normally, it’s very easy for me to get Goose Girl retellings and Prince and the Pauper retellings mixed up because, in my opinion, they often have very similar storylines. This one, however, stands out as one of the more unique Prince and the Pauper retellings I’ve come across.
Also, Lucille was amazing and by far my favorite character.
______________________________
Brief overview of romance content
- Nin thinks that Cedric is attractive.
- She is nervous at undressing before a maid.
- An almost kiss.
- An unwanted almost kiss moment not with the MMC
- Noticing
- A lightly described kiss lasting about 3-4ish paragraphs.
_______________________________
Overall, I would personally be comfortable recommending this book for ages 15 and up. Thanks to the author for the arc copy! I really enjoyed this book!
This was a very enjoyable book! I really loved Nin and her determination to help her brother. The dedication she showed while learning to be the princess was especially impressive, particularly since Cedric wasn’t exactly very nice to her at first.
On that note, while I enjoyed the story overall, it took me a while to start rooting for this couple, and most of that was because of Cedric. For a portion of the book after they first met, he was kind of mean to Nin, and it just put me off. Thankfully, he does go through some character development later on and starts to see her differently, which I was very happy about.
As a Prince and the Pauper retelling, this is one of the best I’ve read so far! Normally, it’s very easy for me to get Goose Girl retellings and Prince and the Pauper retellings mixed up because, in my opinion, they often have very similar storylines. This one, however, stands out as one of the more unique Prince and the Pauper retellings I’ve come across.
Also, Lucille was amazing and by far my favorite character.
______________________________
Brief overview of romance content
- Nin thinks that Cedric is attractive.
- She is nervous at undressing before a maid.
- An almost kiss.
- An unwanted almost kiss moment not with the MMC
- Noticing
- A lightly described kiss lasting about 3-4ish paragraphs.
_______________________________
Overall, I would personally be comfortable recommending this book for ages 15 and up. Thanks to the author for the arc copy! I really enjoyed this book!
June 13, 2026
A Touch of Tiaras and Teachery
Enchanting Confections
By Ashley Evercott
Oh, I absolutely LOVED this story! I loved Nin and how caring for her younger brother was the driving force behind all her actions — pickpocket, double for the princess, assassination bait.
Was it easy to impersonate a princess? Absolutely not — there are rules, multilayered clothes, etiquette, more rules, dancing lessons, and no tasty sweet treats. Did I mention rules? And absolute secrecy — only Captain Cedric Duval, the real princess, and Lucille know what's going on. To breathe even a hint at what they are doing could cost them their lives, their freedom, and well, really, everything.
Yeah, not a fan of death because the big secret plan to save the princess does not go as planned. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to save her brother.
I have never had a macaron before, but after reading this, I need to find someplace that makes them and try one. You'll understand once you've read the story.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Is it all Lollipops and Roses? No.
Does it have a Happily-Ever-After? Yes.
And the ending totally loved it!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Enchanting Confections
By Ashley Evercott
Oh, I absolutely LOVED this story! I loved Nin and how caring for her younger brother was the driving force behind all her actions — pickpocket, double for the princess, assassination bait.
Was it easy to impersonate a princess? Absolutely not — there are rules, multilayered clothes, etiquette, more rules, dancing lessons, and no tasty sweet treats. Did I mention rules? And absolute secrecy — only Captain Cedric Duval, the real princess, and Lucille know what's going on. To breathe even a hint at what they are doing could cost them their lives, their freedom, and well, really, everything.
Yeah, not a fan of death because the big secret plan to save the princess does not go as planned. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to save her brother.
I have never had a macaron before, but after reading this, I need to find someplace that makes them and try one. You'll understand once you've read the story.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Is it all Lollipops and Roses? No.
Does it have a Happily-Ever-After? Yes.
And the ending totally loved it!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.
June 15, 2026
What a beautiful story!
We have our street urchin, Nin, just barely surviving, trying to keep her sick brother alive. Then on the other hand, we have a Captain of the Royal Guard, Cedric, trying his best to keep his princess alive, regardless of how many assassination attempts he has already managed to stop. Then fate brings them together in a most unusual way. On impulse, our fearless captain decides to offer the street urchin a chance at a better life, well, pretty much whatever she wants, in exchange for pretending to be the princess. The only thing our little pickpocket wants is to save her brother’s life so the deal is made—Nin will pretend to be the princess and in exchange, Cedric will purchase a home for her and her brother, along with an income. I really enjoyed this story. I laughed out loud at some parts, there was sadness in others. I truly admired Nin’s courage in facing the court, especially considering the cruelty the nobility displayed. Thank you, Ashley Evercott, for writing such an entertaining story and granting me an escape from reality.
I received a free advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
We have our street urchin, Nin, just barely surviving, trying to keep her sick brother alive. Then on the other hand, we have a Captain of the Royal Guard, Cedric, trying his best to keep his princess alive, regardless of how many assassination attempts he has already managed to stop. Then fate brings them together in a most unusual way. On impulse, our fearless captain decides to offer the street urchin a chance at a better life, well, pretty much whatever she wants, in exchange for pretending to be the princess. The only thing our little pickpocket wants is to save her brother’s life so the deal is made—Nin will pretend to be the princess and in exchange, Cedric will purchase a home for her and her brother, along with an income. I really enjoyed this story. I laughed out loud at some parts, there was sadness in others. I truly admired Nin’s courage in facing the court, especially considering the cruelty the nobility displayed. Thank you, Ashley Evercott, for writing such an entertaining story and granting me an escape from reality.
I received a free advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Macarons can be dangerous to a disguise
I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down! Nin isn't the typical street thief. She has an education and an uncanny resemblence to the princess. It's impressive how much she memorizes and can hold her own in a hostile court. The court politics are next level in this book, which allows the flaws in the captain's plan to show naturally. I liked the mystery plot as it added tension and a chance for Nin to have more agency in the story. Captain Cedric started off as a character who was overly harsh, but grew on me as he softened towards Nin and began to see her as an equal partner. The Queen turned out to be a much stronger character than first impression.
Also, I love macarons, so I thought it was neat how the author used them throughout the book. Clean in language and content. I would highly recommend this book, particularly to readers who enjoy intrigue, disguises, and unexpected romances.
*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down! Nin isn't the typical street thief. She has an education and an uncanny resemblence to the princess. It's impressive how much she memorizes and can hold her own in a hostile court. The court politics are next level in this book, which allows the flaws in the captain's plan to show naturally. I liked the mystery plot as it added tension and a chance for Nin to have more agency in the story. Captain Cedric started off as a character who was overly harsh, but grew on me as he softened towards Nin and began to see her as an equal partner. The Queen turned out to be a much stronger character than first impression.
Also, I love macarons, so I thought it was neat how the author used them throughout the book. Clean in language and content. I would highly recommend this book, particularly to readers who enjoy intrigue, disguises, and unexpected romances.
*I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Warnings: stealing, assassination attempts, deceit, religious mentions of the Maker
I really enjoyed this Prince and the Pauper retelling! All of the characters were amazing with each playing their role perfectly! I liked witnessing the court drama and how the royals didn't let it affect them, especially the queen who was very compassionate and observant. I loved watching Cedric slowly realize that Nin was more than just a stand-in for the princess and how Lucille looked after her and helped him see Nin's worth. I loved how resilient and resourceful Nin was, risking everything so her sick brother could get the proper care. It was thrilling to watch them try to figure out who was trying to assassinate the real Princess and why, especially when Cedric stopped trying to keep Nin out of it and started working with her. The plot twist really shocked me. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, I didn't. I highly recommend this slow-burn no-spice fairytale retelling!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this Prince and the Pauper retelling! All of the characters were amazing with each playing their role perfectly! I liked witnessing the court drama and how the royals didn't let it affect them, especially the queen who was very compassionate and observant. I loved watching Cedric slowly realize that Nin was more than just a stand-in for the princess and how Lucille looked after her and helped him see Nin's worth. I loved how resilient and resourceful Nin was, risking everything so her sick brother could get the proper care. It was thrilling to watch them try to figure out who was trying to assassinate the real Princess and why, especially when Cedric stopped trying to keep Nin out of it and started working with her. The plot twist really shocked me. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, I didn't. I highly recommend this slow-burn no-spice fairytale retelling!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy with no expectation of a review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This retelling was really sweet. I loved the fact that Nin, a pauper trying to take care of her brother, simply wanted to try a fancy macaron. In order to take care of him, Nin would pickpocket. She was caught and offered an amazing opportunity. Now, I will have to admit that I was slightly confused for the first half of the book how the royals were related. I couldn’t figure out if the Princess Marianne was related to the mentioned king and queen or if she was visiting. The relationship seemed very distant. However, about 3/4 of the way through, everything became very clear causing me to love the characters so much more. The romance was very sweet and ending even sweeter. I would say that the last fourth of the book really made it wonderful for me. Cute story!
I received this as an ARC book, but all of the thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dperg...
I received this as an ARC book, but all of the thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dperg...
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first Prince(ss) and the Pauper retelling! I have read the original fairytale, but I've never picked up a retelling. I love Ashley Evercott's stories and this one did not disappoint!
I love that there was some mystery intertwined with the romance. It made the plot even more intriguing. The characters in this story were also really likable. Nin is a brave and strong and loyal. She takes on a deadly task just for someone she loves. She worked hard and isn't afraid to stand up for herself.
Cedric is stubborn, grumpy, and a tad arrogant, but he is also intelligent, strong, and protective. I also loved seeing a MMC with glasses! I haven't seen many main characters with glasses - such a small thing, but it was nice for a change.
Bijou is completely adorable. I love when there is an animal companion in the story.
Lucille is also a wonderful side character. She balances well with Cedric while taking care of Nin.
This story has a little bit of everything, court politics, family dynamics, romance, mystery, and light fantasy (magic). This story also has My Fair Lady vibes, which was really fun.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it!
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I love that there was some mystery intertwined with the romance. It made the plot even more intriguing. The characters in this story were also really likable. Nin is a brave and strong and loyal. She takes on a deadly task just for someone she loves. She worked hard and isn't afraid to stand up for herself.
Cedric is stubborn, grumpy, and a tad arrogant, but he is also intelligent, strong, and protective. I also loved seeing a MMC with glasses! I haven't seen many main characters with glasses - such a small thing, but it was nice for a change.
Bijou is completely adorable. I love when there is an animal companion in the story.
Lucille is also a wonderful side character. She balances well with Cedric while taking care of Nin.
This story has a little bit of everything, court politics, family dynamics, romance, mystery, and light fantasy (magic). This story also has My Fair Lady vibes, which was really fun.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it!
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
June 13, 2026
This was such a fun retelling of the Prince(ess) and The Pauper. This book had everything I needed for an enjoyable read: Action, fast pace, humor, plot twists, sweet romance. I loved Nin she's street smart, funny, optimistic, a touch sarcastic, and would do anything to help her brother. But I think what sold me on her the most is how she handled herself, and to an extent, Cedric (MMC) while in the palace. I also really liked that Cedric couldn't do his investigation without including Nin--giving Nin a chance to really shine. And let's not forget those plot twists--So. Good. I was actually left guessing, and being wrong with my guesses! I love those kinds of plot twists! Overall, this was a really fun and fairly quick read. I enjoyed the characters (especially Lucille, she was fantastic) and the romance was adorable, even if Cedric had a stick up his butt for a bit there. But it was worth it for that ending!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the gentle reminder that moments are precious and that we choose to either savor them or let them pass us by.
Cedric has a princess to protect and a hidden enemy to uncover. When he comes across a thief who is nearly identical to the princess a plan of deception falls into place. Switch the princess for the thief. It should be simple. If only Nin would follow his instructions.
Nin has one purpose: keep her brother alive. When she is caught by the Captain of the
Princess’s guard and given an impossible opportunity, it seems like the only way to get her brother the help he needs. Nothing about the situation is simple, and there is a very real chance that she’ll get hurt, but the stubborn captain is determined to make it all work. If only he would smile once in awhile.
I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Cedric has a princess to protect and a hidden enemy to uncover. When he comes across a thief who is nearly identical to the princess a plan of deception falls into place. Switch the princess for the thief. It should be simple. If only Nin would follow his instructions.
Nin has one purpose: keep her brother alive. When she is caught by the Captain of the
Princess’s guard and given an impossible opportunity, it seems like the only way to get her brother the help he needs. Nothing about the situation is simple, and there is a very real chance that she’ll get hurt, but the stubborn captain is determined to make it all work. If only he would smile once in awhile.
I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a voluntary early ebook. All thoughts are my own.
This gave me a Princess Diaries/Anastasia vibe especially with all the princess lessons. It was so fun.
I loved how we got to see Nin come into her own and find the confidence needed to be among some of those awful nobles. She handed those struggles like a champ!
Cedric is such an honorable sweetheart. He’s overprotectiveness is adorable. He has a great character arc. A jealous Cedric is a cute Cedric by the way!
The relationship between Nin and Cedric felt real and progressed in such a natural way. They suited each other nicely. This was such a sweet book! Another great addition to this multi-author series!
Recommended reading age (12 yrs+)
No spice (just kisses)
No explicit language use
G rated violence/gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️super cute story
This gave me a Princess Diaries/Anastasia vibe especially with all the princess lessons. It was so fun.
I loved how we got to see Nin come into her own and find the confidence needed to be among some of those awful nobles. She handed those struggles like a champ!
Cedric is such an honorable sweetheart. He’s overprotectiveness is adorable. He has a great character arc. A jealous Cedric is a cute Cedric by the way!
The relationship between Nin and Cedric felt real and progressed in such a natural way. They suited each other nicely. This was such a sweet book! Another great addition to this multi-author series!
Recommended reading age (12 yrs+)
No spice (just kisses)
No explicit language use
G rated violence/gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️super cute story
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another fabulous book in the Enchanting Confections Multi-Author Series! This one is a full novel, not novella and, like the others I've read, does not disappoint. The plot was twisted and nuanced without being dark, it ran true to life (the switched 'princess' didn't figure out all things of the court within two days).
The tension and restraint of the characters was believable and admirable. It culminated to, "Silence grew between them. Not the oppressive hush of the empty palace corridors, but something soft and warm, like the buds of springtime anticipating their full blooms."
Totally worth the read for anyone, I would probably say 12/13+, sweet, clean with a touch of treachery. :)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
The tension and restraint of the characters was believable and admirable. It culminated to, "Silence grew between them. Not the oppressive hush of the empty palace corridors, but something soft and warm, like the buds of springtime anticipating their full blooms."
Totally worth the read for anyone, I would probably say 12/13+, sweet, clean with a touch of treachery. :)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
June 27, 2026
A sweet retelling of The Princess and the Pauper mixed with some intrigue!
Nin is such a strong, smart, and caring character. I loved getting to watch her take on the court and stay strong through all of the adversity.
Cedric is so protective and stoic, it was nice to see him start to open up as his care for Nin grew.
Watching Nin learn the ways of the court and how to navigate all of the different expectations was fun. They covered so much that she would’ve needed to know while also acknowledging later that there are just SO MANY RULES that concern silly things that shouldn’t matter.
Definitely check this book out if you like fairytale retellings and a mystery plot!
Thank you to Ashley Evercott for including me on her ARC team! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Nin is such a strong, smart, and caring character. I loved getting to watch her take on the court and stay strong through all of the adversity.
Cedric is so protective and stoic, it was nice to see him start to open up as his care for Nin grew.
Watching Nin learn the ways of the court and how to navigate all of the different expectations was fun. They covered so much that she would’ve needed to know while also acknowledging later that there are just SO MANY RULES that concern silly things that shouldn’t matter.
Definitely check this book out if you like fairytale retellings and a mystery plot!
Thank you to Ashley Evercott for including me on her ARC team! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 5, 2026
This book was a really sweet book. I love the princess and the pauper and found this to be a fun retelling of it.
I loved Cedric and Nin. She stepped in when the princess was in danger and he was the one tasked with making everyone believe she was the princess.
I found it funny watching Cedric fight with his feeling. He’s noble she is not. I get why he was fighting it but there is always a way. He was hard on her in the beginning but a lot was on the line.
Nin was so smart and she figured out things he missed. She did a great job becoming the princess in such a short amount of time. I loved how Nin cared about everyone else before herself. She did everything for her brother.
I really liked the epilogue and the banter in it.
Overall I really liked this book. I loved the characters and the banter. I read this book as an arc.
I loved Cedric and Nin. She stepped in when the princess was in danger and he was the one tasked with making everyone believe she was the princess.
I found it funny watching Cedric fight with his feeling. He’s noble she is not. I get why he was fighting it but there is always a way. He was hard on her in the beginning but a lot was on the line.
Nin was so smart and she figured out things he missed. She did a great job becoming the princess in such a short amount of time. I loved how Nin cared about everyone else before herself. She did everything for her brother.
I really liked the epilogue and the banter in it.
Overall I really liked this book. I loved the characters and the banter. I read this book as an arc.
July 15, 2026
Thanks for providing me with the ARC copy of this book Ashley Evercott, and sorry for the late review.
I very much enjoyed reading this book, while I don’t read to many mysteries I enjoyed seeing how the plot folded out. I really liked the main female character, Nin was enjoyable to read about and I liked how her character was both selfless and easily able to defend herself. I liked seeing the romance develop between Nin and the Captain of the Guard Alain, and I liked that in the end the two were able to be together. Additionally, it was soo sweet how Nin always looked out for her younger brother and the only favor she asked in return from the royal family was so that her brother could have better medical and that they could have a place to live.
P.S. I thought the puppy Bijou, was really cute!
I very much enjoyed reading this book, while I don’t read to many mysteries I enjoyed seeing how the plot folded out. I really liked the main female character, Nin was enjoyable to read about and I liked how her character was both selfless and easily able to defend herself. I liked seeing the romance develop between Nin and the Captain of the Guard Alain, and I liked that in the end the two were able to be together. Additionally, it was soo sweet how Nin always looked out for her younger brother and the only favor she asked in return from the royal family was so that her brother could have better medical and that they could have a place to live.
P.S. I thought the puppy Bijou, was really cute!
May 30, 2026
ARC Review: I absolutely love this book! The storyline follows Nin, a street-smart pauper who strikes a desperate bargain to save her brother. In exchange for his safety, she must impersonate a princess and master royal etiquette to hide the true Princess. Tasked with training her is Captain Cedric Duval, a disciplined guard who begins to develop feelings for her, but does not want to in the least. Together, they must navigate a court full of suspicion and danger before the royal wedding reveals their deception and I was here for it! I loved every minute of it! If you love no spice fantasy with danger, banter, and no cursing, this one is for you! Check it out, along with the 11 other stand alone books in the series!!
June 18, 2026
I received an ARC for the Enchanting confections series. I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this series.
This one is A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery.
This is Nin and Cedric's story...
Nin is a Pauper. She has a sick brother she needs to care for.
Cedric is the princess's guard.
When Nin attempts to pick his pocket he catches her. And he notices how much she resembles the princess. And with the princesses life currently on the line he makes her an offer to take her place. She only asks for a doctor for her sick brother.
Now he is teaching her how to be the perfect Princess. But now she is put at risk and all he wants to do is keep her safe from the danger he put her in.
I love these two they truly work well together.
This one is A Touch of Tiaras and Treachery.
This is Nin and Cedric's story...
Nin is a Pauper. She has a sick brother she needs to care for.
Cedric is the princess's guard.
When Nin attempts to pick his pocket he catches her. And he notices how much she resembles the princess. And with the princesses life currently on the line he makes her an offer to take her place. She only asks for a doctor for her sick brother.
Now he is teaching her how to be the perfect Princess. But now she is put at risk and all he wants to do is keep her safe from the danger he put her in.
I love these two they truly work well together.
June 19, 2026
Very sweet, but kinda unclear ending
I can't for the life of me tell if he stayed captain of the guard or if he retired and became a baker, which I feel matters. They were both extremely stubborn, and took turns being frustrating, but it was enjoyable watching him fight with himself over his feelings. Thank you for giving an unlabeled dual perspective instead of treating your audience like they're idiots. I wish we could have had more conversations between Nin and Marianne. If her brother is really that standoffish, I would think a friend who understands the pressures of being a princess would be a dear treasure. I guess Ashley Evercott just figured she got married and lived HEA with Rodrigo though.
I can't for the life of me tell if he stayed captain of the guard or if he retired and became a baker, which I feel matters. They were both extremely stubborn, and took turns being frustrating, but it was enjoyable watching him fight with himself over his feelings. Thank you for giving an unlabeled dual perspective instead of treating your audience like they're idiots. I wish we could have had more conversations between Nin and Marianne. If her brother is really that standoffish, I would think a friend who understands the pressures of being a princess would be a dear treasure. I guess Ashley Evercott just figured she got married and lived HEA with Rodrigo though.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Assassins, romance, princess-training - quite a twist on the Prince and the Pauper!
I liked the mystery threaded throughout, I enjoyed trying to guess “who-done-it” (and I was wrong!) and quickly sped through the book to figure it out.
There’s a few similarities to the original story (of course they switch places!) but there were a lot of creative changes from the original tale, the most exciting being an ongoing assassination attempt, that I very much enjoyed reading.
Excellent choice for those who love stories of royalty, rags to riches, resilient female leads, and political intrigue.
I read this as an ARC but my review is voluntary and my thought and opinions are my own.
I liked the mystery threaded throughout, I enjoyed trying to guess “who-done-it” (and I was wrong!) and quickly sped through the book to figure it out.
There’s a few similarities to the original story (of course they switch places!) but there were a lot of creative changes from the original tale, the most exciting being an ongoing assassination attempt, that I very much enjoyed reading.
Excellent choice for those who love stories of royalty, rags to riches, resilient female leads, and political intrigue.
I read this as an ARC but my review is voluntary and my thought and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In this cute story, a penniless girl agrees to act as the body double for a princess under threat in exchange for medical care for her sick brother. The royal court was clearly modelled on those of the 1700s in Europe and did a good job a capturing the extravagance, excess, hollowness, and utter disingenuity of those courts. The threat of assassins and the mystery of figuring out who is behind them keeps things interesting while the romance slowly develops between the main characters as they gradually learn to understand an appreciate each other.
I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.
I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.
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