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Ever After
As next in line for the Evergreen crown, Prince Merrick Davendall’s future involves ruling, marriage, and producing an heir of his own. But he’s long been tormented by desires that are far from princely. Especially when the beautiful Cassius is promoted to be his new valet, and Merrick is struck by a longing like never before—a longing to know him far beyond royal and servant.
After his father’s passing, Cassius Havendale’s sole duty is to provide for his family. A promotion to serve a pampered prince is something he endures only for their sake. Surely Prince Merrick has no understanding of the true suffering of the common people, nor could he possibly understand what it’s like to desperately desire something he cannot have.
Except the prince is not at all what Cassius imagined. Kind, humorous, and caring to those in need, he also shares Cassius’s affinity for the arts. In fact, Merrick understands his deepest vulnerabilities in a most remarkable way.
As their affection deepens, the underlying tension between them becomes unbearable and they’re unable to ignore it any longer. But when the queen prepares a lavish ball with all the eligible ladies in the land in attendance, Merrick must fulfill his obligations to his country, and Cassius has the needs of his family to consider. They’ve long known their stolen moments would have to come to an end, but are they ready to give up one another and the idea of a happily-ever-after?
***PLEASE NOTE: EVER AFTER is a romantic fairy tale—minus the magic—that features one compassionate prince, one brooding valet, and plenty of angsty, forbidden love. It’s loosely based on a certain treasured fairy tale in a wintery make-believe setting that wouldn’t be considered contemporary but also isn’t based on any specific time period and doesn’t play by any traditional rules.
After his father’s passing, Cassius Havendale’s sole duty is to provide for his family. A promotion to serve a pampered prince is something he endures only for their sake. Surely Prince Merrick has no understanding of the true suffering of the common people, nor could he possibly understand what it’s like to desperately desire something he cannot have.
Except the prince is not at all what Cassius imagined. Kind, humorous, and caring to those in need, he also shares Cassius’s affinity for the arts. In fact, Merrick understands his deepest vulnerabilities in a most remarkable way.
As their affection deepens, the underlying tension between them becomes unbearable and they’re unable to ignore it any longer. But when the queen prepares a lavish ball with all the eligible ladies in the land in attendance, Merrick must fulfill his obligations to his country, and Cassius has the needs of his family to consider. They’ve long known their stolen moments would have to come to an end, but are they ready to give up one another and the idea of a happily-ever-after?
***PLEASE NOTE: EVER AFTER is a romantic fairy tale—minus the magic—that features one compassionate prince, one brooding valet, and plenty of angsty, forbidden love. It’s loosely based on a certain treasured fairy tale in a wintery make-believe setting that wouldn’t be considered contemporary but also isn’t based on any specific time period and doesn’t play by any traditional rules.
266 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2018
286 people are currently reading
2165 people want to read
About the author
Riley Hart
116 books7,107 followersRiley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She's a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her reading.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
February 28, 2018
He was like the most beautiful words Cassius could ever write brought to life. He was the greatest story ever told.
Ever After takes place in a fantasy world with kingdoms and castles.
There is no magic; phones and television don't exist; and the description of clothing harkens back to the 19th century. But there are cars, trains, and modern plumbing amenities. Sadly, same-sex relationships are frowned upon, particularly for a prince expected to carry on the royal lineage.
So what's a prince to do when he falls in love with his valet?
Ask him to dance but of course.
Nothing else in the world made any bit of sense except this. Merrick and Cas. A prince who had found his own prince.
When Merrick's valet Geoffrey retires, the young footman, Cassius, fills the role. Following his father's death, Cassius works to support his wheelchair-bound mum and two younger sisters. Cas keeps to himself and is not one for gossip. He's jaded and feels disdain for the royal family. The last thing he expects is to find his soul mate among them.
Prince Merrick has always hidden his desire for men. His parents are relentless in pushing him to find a woman to marry and produce an heir. Indeed, his mother plans a ball and invites every eligible young woman in the kingdom hoping Merrick will fall in love.
But Merrick has already fallen: Not for a woman but a man. Not for an aristocrat but a servant.
Ever After has all the elements I adore in a romance novel:
- Strong relationship development: Cas and Merrick share a love of art (Cas writes poems and stories; Merrick draws) and horses. They bond over lingering conversation and passionate kisses.
- Well-developed secondary characters: Merrick's sister Marjorie is a true gem, and his parents, while old fashioned, love their son. Cas's family and his friend Valor are nothing if not supportive. I love the close relationship Cas has with his younger sisters.
- Endearing MCs: Gentle and unfailingly kind, Merrick dedicates all his time toward helping children in need. Cas is strong-willed and loyal, and would do anything for his family.
- Charming dialogue: Somewhat formal and archaic, but that's what made it so appealing. Cas calls Merrick Your Highness and later my prince, which made me smile every single time.
"Do you still want me, my prince?"
"I have never wanted another the way I want you."
- Passion and steam aplenty, with a spicy slow burn: Strong attraction brings the men together; they know their love is madness, but they can't stay away.
"If I cannot have more, then I will gladly take one night with you."
- Happily Ever After ending
This book was an absolute JOY to read. It's ROMANTIC! SWEET! SEXY! And definitely one of my top reads of 2018.
March 8, 2018
I think I’m in the minority here about this very highly-raved book. 😬 Look, I like this book enough but I didn’t fall in love with it as I thought I would. 😭 May be because my expectations were too high on this one? I don’t know but this read like a very unparticular novel to me.
Cassius is working as a footman at the royal palace of Evergreen. And he loathed his job. He loathed almost everything about it except the pay. But when he got an opportunity to become a valet apprentice for the crown prince of Evergreen, he had to jump at the chance in order to support his widowed mother and two younger sisters. He knew the job is going to be physically and mentally demanding. But what he didn’t expect was to find the crown prince to be a charming, kind and a considerate person.
Prince Merrick, the next in line for the throne of Evergreen, a dutiful son and a brother, and a worthy heir for the kingdom, everything about his life isn’t all fairytale as commonfolks think it is. He has responsibilities that he can’t run away from and a truth he’s been hiding his whole life in order not to disappoint his parents and his kingdom. When his former valet had to retire due to old age, he found his new valet to be incredibly charming, seductive and interesting. May be Cassius is the answer he’s been waiting for his whole life.
As the UST and attraction between Merrick and Cassius escalated very quickly, they realized that there’s simply no future for them. A prince who has the world at his fingers and a valet who is dirt-poor and a servant to the throne, how could they hope for a happy ending? But the attraction between them is undeniable, tangible and inevitable. May be the winter solstice ball is the answer to the prayers of these star-crossed lovers?
My first problem with this book is Cassius’ attitude at the beginning of the book. I hate that he resented the royal family and people who has money in general because he doesn’t. 😒 Hear me out, may be because I was raised in a society where we believe resentment towards others because they have what you don’t have is the most toxic action, I find Cassius’ attitude to be highly offensive and irritating. 😕 It’s one thing to resent yourself for not working hard enough or not trying enough to achieve the things you want, why would you resent someone just because they were born from a good family? 😐 Ah, it annoyed me to no end. And Cas’ attitude towards Merrick changed in the blink of an eye. One minute, he was resenting the royal family and thinking that prince is a brat, and the next he’s attracted to him like a moth to a flame. 🙄 And I know that this is a fairytale retelling although loosely built on it. However, I did hope for some refreshing details, some interesting and authentic twists and turns and alas, I got none! 😕 Don’t get me wrong, as I said, I like the story enough. But the whole book to me read like “Oh, my sweet Cassius! Oh, my sweet Prince! Oh, Merrick!” 😒 I guess it’s just too simple and sappy for my taste. 😁 The sex was entertaining enough but nothing that’d make you hot and bothered and sweat. I also wasn’t that entertained by the ending. It was ok, they got a HEA but not a satisfying one for me. Although I have some issues with this book, it’s undeniably a well-written and sweet book which is also available on KU. 😊 So I guess you should give it a shot if you are into low-angst and simple love stories. 😌 I think I’m going to take some space from reading fairytale retellings for a while. Seems like I need some very dark, complicated, psychologically twisted stories to get out of this book slump.
Favorite excerpts from the novel: ❤️
“We are both bound, shackled by aspects of our lives that are out of our control.”
“You are pure and real and complicated. To someone like me, you might simply be everything.”
“We are the same, you and I, Cas. To the marrow of our bones, we are but one.”
“I have never wanted another the way I want you. There will never be another I love the way I love you.”
3 it was sweet stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cassius is working as a footman at the royal palace of Evergreen. And he loathed his job. He loathed almost everything about it except the pay. But when he got an opportunity to become a valet apprentice for the crown prince of Evergreen, he had to jump at the chance in order to support his widowed mother and two younger sisters. He knew the job is going to be physically and mentally demanding. But what he didn’t expect was to find the crown prince to be a charming, kind and a considerate person.
Prince Merrick, the next in line for the throne of Evergreen, a dutiful son and a brother, and a worthy heir for the kingdom, everything about his life isn’t all fairytale as commonfolks think it is. He has responsibilities that he can’t run away from and a truth he’s been hiding his whole life in order not to disappoint his parents and his kingdom. When his former valet had to retire due to old age, he found his new valet to be incredibly charming, seductive and interesting. May be Cassius is the answer he’s been waiting for his whole life.
As the UST and attraction between Merrick and Cassius escalated very quickly, they realized that there’s simply no future for them. A prince who has the world at his fingers and a valet who is dirt-poor and a servant to the throne, how could they hope for a happy ending? But the attraction between them is undeniable, tangible and inevitable. May be the winter solstice ball is the answer to the prayers of these star-crossed lovers?
My first problem with this book is Cassius’ attitude at the beginning of the book. I hate that he resented the royal family and people who has money in general because he doesn’t. 😒 Hear me out, may be because I was raised in a society where we believe resentment towards others because they have what you don’t have is the most toxic action, I find Cassius’ attitude to be highly offensive and irritating. 😕 It’s one thing to resent yourself for not working hard enough or not trying enough to achieve the things you want, why would you resent someone just because they were born from a good family? 😐 Ah, it annoyed me to no end. And Cas’ attitude towards Merrick changed in the blink of an eye. One minute, he was resenting the royal family and thinking that prince is a brat, and the next he’s attracted to him like a moth to a flame. 🙄 And I know that this is a fairytale retelling although loosely built on it. However, I did hope for some refreshing details, some interesting and authentic twists and turns and alas, I got none! 😕 Don’t get me wrong, as I said, I like the story enough. But the whole book to me read like “Oh, my sweet Cassius! Oh, my sweet Prince! Oh, Merrick!” 😒 I guess it’s just too simple and sappy for my taste. 😁 The sex was entertaining enough but nothing that’d make you hot and bothered and sweat. I also wasn’t that entertained by the ending. It was ok, they got a HEA but not a satisfying one for me. Although I have some issues with this book, it’s undeniably a well-written and sweet book which is also available on KU. 😊 So I guess you should give it a shot if you are into low-angst and simple love stories. 😌 I think I’m going to take some space from reading fairytale retellings for a while. Seems like I need some very dark, complicated, psychologically twisted stories to get out of this book slump.
Favorite excerpts from the novel: ❤️
“We are both bound, shackled by aspects of our lives that are out of our control.”
“You are pure and real and complicated. To someone like me, you might simply be everything.”
“We are the same, you and I, Cas. To the marrow of our bones, we are but one.”
“I have never wanted another the way I want you. There will never be another I love the way I love you.”
3 it was sweet stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 2, 2018
This fairytale of two lovers in a time when same sex attraction was frowned upon, especially in society circles, definitely had its share of extremely touching moments.
The scene with the orphans and the snowball fight.
The scenes in Merrick's secret clearing in the forest, where Cas finally began to let the prince in.
The scenes where Princess Marjorie truly had her beloved brother's best interests and happiness at heart.
Visiting Cassius' family.
The night they shared at the inn.
And yet...
There was a lot of internal monologuing as to their plight, due to not only their mutual attractions toward men, but also in regards to the differences in their social statuses. How can a prince and his valet truly find their Happily Ever After?
As a result, the story felt a bit unnecessarily long to me, covering a lot of the same concerns over and over again, which left me feeling a bit bored and wishing that "something" would happen. Sooner rather than eventually.
Yes, I got that the pining and longing was a large part of all Cinderella-esque stories, but that didn't alleviate those moments of monotony for me. Maybe I'm just not really a fairytale kinda guy.
I did truly love the ending sections, from their night of being stranded at the inn and forward. That was when "things" actually started happening, some good and some that were heartbreaking, with the pacing finally being stepped up to what I usually prefer.
So while several parts of the story had me fully engaged and feeling *all* the feels, other parts felt more protracted, leaving this one with a solid 3.75 star rating when all was said and done.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
This book is also *FREE* with Kindle Unlimited membership.
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March 5, 2018
3.5 Stars
"Once upon a time there was an exquisite prince
Who filled my wintry soul with all the colors of spring
He became my day, my night, my sun, my moon
My heart, my soul, my very bones
My Ever After"
Merrick is a prince and it’s time to get married and produce an heir. His parents, the king and the queen, pressured him to choose a wife, even the queen herself chose some girls and introduced them to the prince but none of them fascinated him. The prince has someone else in his mind, someone that his parents won’t approve. He wants his valet’s friendship and company! But rules would always be different for him.
Cassius’s father died a few years ago, his mother is ill and he has two little sisters. He’s the man of the house and he’s the one who must provide for them. So there is no time to make a mistake! His father always said you must be realistic and dreams do not put food on the table. So wanting the prince wasn’t on the table. Such actions were not only considered unnatural but also improper for someone like Merrick. But he couldn’t fight with his desire. All he thought/saw was the prince!
Such a cute story with likable characters. I liked both of them, so mature. My only problem was it was a bit slow for my taste. It’s so sweet, well-written and angst-free! Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It can be read as a stand-alone novel. Overall, I had a good time with this one and hope you enjoy it as well!
"Once upon a time there was an exquisite prince
Who filled my wintry soul with all the colors of spring
He became my day, my night, my sun, my moon
My heart, my soul, my very bones
My Ever After"
Merrick is a prince and it’s time to get married and produce an heir. His parents, the king and the queen, pressured him to choose a wife, even the queen herself chose some girls and introduced them to the prince but none of them fascinated him. The prince has someone else in his mind, someone that his parents won’t approve. He wants his valet’s friendship and company! But rules would always be different for him.
Cassius’s father died a few years ago, his mother is ill and he has two little sisters. He’s the man of the house and he’s the one who must provide for them. So there is no time to make a mistake! His father always said you must be realistic and dreams do not put food on the table. So wanting the prince wasn’t on the table. Such actions were not only considered unnatural but also improper for someone like Merrick. But he couldn’t fight with his desire. All he thought/saw was the prince!
Such a cute story with likable characters. I liked both of them, so mature. My only problem was it was a bit slow for my taste. It’s so sweet, well-written and angst-free! Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It can be read as a stand-alone novel. Overall, I had a good time with this one and hope you enjoy it as well!
March 6, 2018
All of my friends have loved Ever After: A Gay Fairy Tale, and with two big-name authors (Riley Hart and Christina Lee) and that gorgeous cover, I figured I had a sure-thing on my hands.
While I ended up liking the story, it was just missing that special something to take it from "like" to "love."
First of all, from that cover, I was expecting the setting of the book to be in medieval times (alternate history, of course, because it is called "a gay fairy tale"). I was really, really surprised to find that the book is actually set in an alternate 1930s or later-type era. There are cars, modern-ish clothes, modern plumbing, and modern conveniences. It was a little disappointing, to be honest.
The story itself is sweet, sweet, sweet with very little conflict or tension. Sure, the two men try to hide their relationship from their family and friends, but everyone that does find out is immediately accepting. They are also both these perfect, kind, no-fault characters, something that was nice to read but didn't give that story the tension or realism I was craving.
I was hoping for a story with a little more substance. The basic plot reminded me vaguely of A Gentleman's Position, an all-time favorite of mine, and I was longing for something of similar weight. I didn't get that with Ever After: A Gay Fairy Tale, but I did get a nice, much, much fluffier story.
I really, really wanted to love this story to break my reading streak of mediocre books, but though I thought it was adorable, it wasn't a homerun for me. I'd recommend this one for fans of this author duo and for readers who want something to warm their hearts and give them as escape from reality.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
*~~Check out all of my reviews & my bookstagram at the links below~~*
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While I ended up liking the story, it was just missing that special something to take it from "like" to "love."
First of all, from that cover, I was expecting the setting of the book to be in medieval times (alternate history, of course, because it is called "a gay fairy tale"). I was really, really surprised to find that the book is actually set in an alternate 1930s or later-type era. There are cars, modern-ish clothes, modern plumbing, and modern conveniences. It was a little disappointing, to be honest.
The story itself is sweet, sweet, sweet with very little conflict or tension. Sure, the two men try to hide their relationship from their family and friends, but everyone that does find out is immediately accepting. They are also both these perfect, kind, no-fault characters, something that was nice to read but didn't give that story the tension or realism I was craving.
I was hoping for a story with a little more substance. The basic plot reminded me vaguely of A Gentleman's Position, an all-time favorite of mine, and I was longing for something of similar weight. I didn't get that with Ever After: A Gay Fairy Tale, but I did get a nice, much, much fluffier story.
I really, really wanted to love this story to break my reading streak of mediocre books, but though I thought it was adorable, it wasn't a homerun for me. I'd recommend this one for fans of this author duo and for readers who want something to warm their hearts and give them as escape from reality.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
*~~Check out all of my reviews & my bookstagram at the links below~~*
Recently read
February 28, 2018
This fairy tale should be an epic animated classic, one where young boys can dream of finding their handsome Prince and handsome Princes can dream of finding their person - the one who loves them for themselves.
It's a truly beautiful Cinderella story which perfectly lives up to the stunning Jay Aheer cover which inspired its creation. The storytelling is compelling, although some youngsters might find there's "too much kissing" ;) when grandpa reads it to them when they're poorly at home.
But, just like in all true fairy tales, there are hurdles to overcome, challenges to face, although there is no real villain to fight, before Cassius and Merrick get their Ever After.
Everything about this story works and I couldn't put it down, I loved the setting, the secondary characters, the world building, and I loved how Cas and Merrick found the courage to be a valet and a prince in love.
For me, the steam level worked well within the almost medieval (but with cars and mod cons) feel of the narrative and with the relatively young ages (Cas is 24, Merrick a similar age) of the lovers.
When the steamy bits do arrive, they're sweet and emotionally driven not just lustful, although they're definitely not tame. These two authors write brilliantly together and this book is no exception.
#ARC kindly provided by the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.
It's a truly beautiful Cinderella story which perfectly lives up to the stunning Jay Aheer cover which inspired its creation. The storytelling is compelling, although some youngsters might find there's "too much kissing" ;) when grandpa reads it to them when they're poorly at home.
But, just like in all true fairy tales, there are hurdles to overcome, challenges to face, although there is no real villain to fight, before Cassius and Merrick get their Ever After.
Everything about this story works and I couldn't put it down, I loved the setting, the secondary characters, the world building, and I loved how Cas and Merrick found the courage to be a valet and a prince in love.
For me, the steam level worked well within the almost medieval (but with cars and mod cons) feel of the narrative and with the relatively young ages (Cas is 24, Merrick a similar age) of the lovers.
When the steamy bits do arrive, they're sweet and emotionally driven not just lustful, although they're definitely not tame. These two authors write brilliantly together and this book is no exception.
#ARC kindly provided by the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.
January 2, 2020
3 Hearts - BR with LiaB!!
To be honest, I’m a bit torn about how I feel about this story. I can see how this could appeal to many and also, I can see how some might be not as enamored.
Prince Merrick has a lot of responsibility weighing on him. He’s to inherit the throne and needs to find a wife because most importantly, he needs to provide an heir. Funny that. Too bad he doesn’t fancy women. At all. However, Merrick knows his duty and he resigns himself to his fate, but it seems that his new valet Cassius, through no fault of his own, won’t allow Merrick to just easily fall in line and accept what he’s honor bound to do.
Cassius on the other hand, has a pretty big chip on his shoulder, having had to struggle his whole life to help support his family by working very very hard. Now, more than ever since his father has passed away, he must not jeopardize his new job as he’s the sole provider for his sick mum and two younger sisters. Cassius wants to hate Prince Merrick on principle, but as he gets to know him, he can’t help but admire all that the prince does for his people and see a caring man who’s just as trapped as he is.
I have to give credit because this is a thoughtful rumination on class differences and the weight of responsibility on both these men. It is realistic in the evolving relationship between a prince and his servant where crossing the social lines is unheard of and not condoned. The attraction and feels are organic, and the inner turmoil these men go through was heartfelt.
However, this has brought home the fact that I have a tough relationship with historicals (though this is very historical-lite in its fictional setting) which always encompasses MC’s who have to be in the closet, and it just makes me a complete nervous nelly, and my overall enjoyment is quite affected. Plus, for some reason the idea of a fairy tale really appeals but ultimately, it never enchants me as much as I’d like it to. Despite my personal qualms, I'm sure many will love this very romantic story about two disparate individuals who have nary a chance at finding their happy ever after with each other.
This is light in the overall angst thankfully, as well as having some good steamy scenes, but perhaps because of its fairy tale connotations, this clashed with its more contemporary leanings and thus, it felt disjointed and a bit underwhelming to me.
Regardless, Hart and Lee are typically consistent wins, and if you’re familiar with that and agree, I don’t think readers will be disappointed.
Thank you to the authors/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
To be honest, I’m a bit torn about how I feel about this story. I can see how this could appeal to many and also, I can see how some might be not as enamored.
Prince Merrick has a lot of responsibility weighing on him. He’s to inherit the throne and needs to find a wife because most importantly, he needs to provide an heir. Funny that. Too bad he doesn’t fancy women. At all. However, Merrick knows his duty and he resigns himself to his fate, but it seems that his new valet Cassius, through no fault of his own, won’t allow Merrick to just easily fall in line and accept what he’s honor bound to do.
Cassius on the other hand, has a pretty big chip on his shoulder, having had to struggle his whole life to help support his family by working very very hard. Now, more than ever since his father has passed away, he must not jeopardize his new job as he’s the sole provider for his sick mum and two younger sisters. Cassius wants to hate Prince Merrick on principle, but as he gets to know him, he can’t help but admire all that the prince does for his people and see a caring man who’s just as trapped as he is.
I have to give credit because this is a thoughtful rumination on class differences and the weight of responsibility on both these men. It is realistic in the evolving relationship between a prince and his servant where crossing the social lines is unheard of and not condoned. The attraction and feels are organic, and the inner turmoil these men go through was heartfelt.
However, this has brought home the fact that I have a tough relationship with historicals (though this is very historical-lite in its fictional setting) which always encompasses MC’s who have to be in the closet, and it just makes me a complete nervous nelly, and my overall enjoyment is quite affected. Plus, for some reason the idea of a fairy tale really appeals but ultimately, it never enchants me as much as I’d like it to. Despite my personal qualms, I'm sure many will love this very romantic story about two disparate individuals who have nary a chance at finding their happy ever after with each other.
This is light in the overall angst thankfully, as well as having some good steamy scenes, but perhaps because of its fairy tale connotations, this clashed with its more contemporary leanings and thus, it felt disjointed and a bit underwhelming to me.
Regardless, Hart and Lee are typically consistent wins, and if you’re familiar with that and agree, I don’t think readers will be disappointed.
Thank you to the authors/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
February 28, 2018
Ever After by Riley Hart and Christina Lee is a sweet, magical, and passionate story all wrapped with a happily Ever After. No pun intended. It's a fantasy story about a young prince being pressured to chose a bride, but he instead finds himself falling in love with his new valet. Although Merrick, the prince, and Cassius, his valet come from different backgrounds, they are very similar. They're both simple men who enjoy art and nature and want nothing more than the freedom to live and love openly.
There was so much to love about this book, some highlights:
-Exquisite relationship development.
-The dialogue. The way Merrick and Cas spoke to each other would hit me right in the feels. I'd find myself sighing or grinning.
-The characters were lovable- even Merrick's dad, the king, who could come across as gruff.
-Alternating POVs.
-Forbidden love. There's something about secret rendezvous that always make my heart and race and deliriously happy.
I'd also like to give kudos to Riley Hart and Christina Lee for trying something different, outside their comfort zone. It paid off because this was such a joy to read. I'm hoping there will be more stories- maybe the Duke of Lexington?
I'm giving Ever After 5 "Magical" Stars!!
March 8, 2018
4 stars!
This was a sweet and lovely read. I enjoyed the forbidden aspect of the love between prince Merrick and his valet Cassius. How their attraction grew, those looks they shared, and the touches that linger, it made the build more intense. Even though the angst was low I was surprised how emotional it was. These guys had me teary for the last couple of chapters you definitely felt the love and devotion to each other. And how how much they would of sacrifice for the sake of duty even if it broke their heart.
So a lovely and sweet fairy tale it turn out to be with a handsome and prideful valet with his Prince Charming and their ever after. ♥️
This was a sweet and lovely read. I enjoyed the forbidden aspect of the love between prince Merrick and his valet Cassius. How their attraction grew, those looks they shared, and the touches that linger, it made the build more intense. Even though the angst was low I was surprised how emotional it was. These guys had me teary for the last couple of chapters you definitely felt the love and devotion to each other. And how how much they would of sacrifice for the sake of duty even if it broke their heart.
So a lovely and sweet fairy tale it turn out to be with a handsome and prideful valet with his Prince Charming and their ever after. ♥️
March 6, 2018
I just spent the last 20% of this book in tears... a lot of happy ones and some sad. The authors did an astounding job of writing this fairy tale. The world-building was wonderfully done, and the characters including the large secondary cast were fully-fleshed and real enough to step right out of this book into our world. The story itself... a tale as old as time... was beautifully written and paced. The authors latched onto me in the first chapter and never let me go for a second. I would have read this book in one sitting except for annoying things like sleep and work. Merrick and Cassius were amazing, fun, heartbreaking and truely magnificent! This book worked for me in every way possible and the only thing more I could ask for would be a sequel continuing on with the next chapter in their lives because their future is bright!
March 25, 2018
4.5 Stars
Ever After is a truly beautiful and heart-warming fairy tale romance about the forbidden love that blossoms between a benevolent prince and his devoted valet.
When they first meet, Prince Merrick and his new valet Cassius are just two young men living dedicated lives of duty and honour, both trying to do what’s best for their families and for the greater good of the kingdom they serve.
Although both men come from different walks of life and have different kinds of expectations placed upon them, they cannot deny the unexpected bond of mutual attraction and easy companionship that grows between them.
In one another’s company they each find a necessary kind of solace that has been missing from their lives, which slowly and surely develops into deeper feelings of longing and adoration that they can only deny for so long.
Merrick and Cassius’s love story is all things pure and sweet, and although they spend a great deal of the story struggling with the pressures of their responsibilities and the realities of their situation, this is still very much an optimistic love story . Their romance features a delicious slow-burn full of hidden glances and tender touches, with plenty of eventual steam to please the pervs among us.
On top of the wonderful relationship development, this story also had some fairly unique world-building going on, too. Unlike most fairy tale stories, this world had no magic or make-believe, instead, the kingdom of Evergreen was a fascinating mix of old world and new, featuring cars and trains and household amenities not usually present in such stories, but still encompassing all the elements one might envisage when fancying up a fairy tale kingdom in their mind. It was an interesting concept to undertake, but it worked well here.
An element of the story that I really appreciated was in the impressive development of the secondary cast that made up the women in Cassius and Merrick's lives. These women (sisters and mothers alike) were spunky and strong-willed, and most of all, they were resoundingly and unequivocally supportive of Cassius and Merrick throughout the story. I love seeing these kinds of female characters portrayed positively in M/M romance - it's something we could use more of.
This is one of those stories I feel was practically written to meet my every personal reading desire. Not only do I highly rate Hart and Lee as authors, together or alone, but I also have a great love for all things written within the realms of fairy-tale romance. I truly believe you’re never too old to read and love these kinds of stories.
Simply put, this story made my heart happy.
Ever After is a truly beautiful and heart-warming fairy tale romance about the forbidden love that blossoms between a benevolent prince and his devoted valet.
When they first meet, Prince Merrick and his new valet Cassius are just two young men living dedicated lives of duty and honour, both trying to do what’s best for their families and for the greater good of the kingdom they serve.
Although both men come from different walks of life and have different kinds of expectations placed upon them, they cannot deny the unexpected bond of mutual attraction and easy companionship that grows between them.
In one another’s company they each find a necessary kind of solace that has been missing from their lives, which slowly and surely develops into deeper feelings of longing and adoration that they can only deny for so long.
Merrick and Cassius’s love story is all things pure and sweet, and although they spend a great deal of the story struggling with the pressures of their responsibilities and the realities of their situation, this is still very much an optimistic love story . Their romance features a delicious slow-burn full of hidden glances and tender touches, with plenty of eventual steam to please the pervs among us.
On top of the wonderful relationship development, this story also had some fairly unique world-building going on, too. Unlike most fairy tale stories, this world had no magic or make-believe, instead, the kingdom of Evergreen was a fascinating mix of old world and new, featuring cars and trains and household amenities not usually present in such stories, but still encompassing all the elements one might envisage when fancying up a fairy tale kingdom in their mind. It was an interesting concept to undertake, but it worked well here.
An element of the story that I really appreciated was in the impressive development of the secondary cast that made up the women in Cassius and Merrick's lives. These women (sisters and mothers alike) were spunky and strong-willed, and most of all, they were resoundingly and unequivocally supportive of Cassius and Merrick throughout the story. I love seeing these kinds of female characters portrayed positively in M/M romance - it's something we could use more of.
This is one of those stories I feel was practically written to meet my every personal reading desire. Not only do I highly rate Hart and Lee as authors, together or alone, but I also have a great love for all things written within the realms of fairy-tale romance. I truly believe you’re never too old to read and love these kinds of stories.
Simply put, this story made my heart happy.
March 5, 2018
Gorgeously perfect. EVER AFTER by Riley Hart and Christina Lee was simply magical. A scandalous yet genuine showcasing of love, forgiveness and acceptance.
I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect rendition of a fairytale. This book encapsulated all that is necessary to win over a reader. I was sucked in right from the beginning with Cassius and Merrick and their initial weariness of one another, but they grew wonderfully together and separately.
Lee and Hart highlighted the most amazing parts of these individually fabulous men. Cassius with his heart on his sleeve, his unyielding devotion and his admiration and love for his family. Prince Merrick so different from the rest of his family and not because of his interest in men, but because he valued the important things in life, like love and family and not what he’s been raised to, like the monarchy and keeping up appearances. Both lovely in their own right, different in demeanour and personality but together in their binding love for each other.
I adored the family unit of Cas’s. His gorgeous mother and lovely sisters were so welcoming and accepting. They was never an issue with Cassius’s sexual orientation, so long as he was happy and loved with his whole heart. Even though it took a while for Prince Merricks mother and father more time to accept their sons position, they did come around, but it was his sister, Marjorie who showed her love for her brother no matter what.
The love and adoration for these two leapt of the page and I couldn’t put this little piece of sunshine down. I am a huge fan of M/M and I jump at any opportunity I can to read more-even though this has been a first for me for this author duo, I’d love the opportunity to read more of what they have to offer.
A sexy, sweet and wonderfully written book. I loved every minute.
-ARC received in exchange for an honest review-
*Reviewed by Jess for JoAndIsaLoveBooks Blog*
I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect rendition of a fairytale. This book encapsulated all that is necessary to win over a reader. I was sucked in right from the beginning with Cassius and Merrick and their initial weariness of one another, but they grew wonderfully together and separately.
Lee and Hart highlighted the most amazing parts of these individually fabulous men. Cassius with his heart on his sleeve, his unyielding devotion and his admiration and love for his family. Prince Merrick so different from the rest of his family and not because of his interest in men, but because he valued the important things in life, like love and family and not what he’s been raised to, like the monarchy and keeping up appearances. Both lovely in their own right, different in demeanour and personality but together in their binding love for each other.
I adored the family unit of Cas’s. His gorgeous mother and lovely sisters were so welcoming and accepting. They was never an issue with Cassius’s sexual orientation, so long as he was happy and loved with his whole heart. Even though it took a while for Prince Merricks mother and father more time to accept their sons position, they did come around, but it was his sister, Marjorie who showed her love for her brother no matter what.
The love and adoration for these two leapt of the page and I couldn’t put this little piece of sunshine down. I am a huge fan of M/M and I jump at any opportunity I can to read more-even though this has been a first for me for this author duo, I’d love the opportunity to read more of what they have to offer.
A sexy, sweet and wonderfully written book. I loved every minute.
-ARC received in exchange for an honest review-
*Reviewed by Jess for JoAndIsaLoveBooks Blog*
i-m-a-quitter
March 19, 2018DNF @ 53%
I just couldn't get in to this one. It took me a week just to get to 53%, and it's not a long book. At all. Honestly, there was really nothing wrong with it. It just never grabbed my attention.
I'm not a super big fan of historicals to begin with and combined with the slow build of this one I found myself losing interest. The pace was just too slow and the plot to lackluster.
Maybe I'll go back to it someday....
I just couldn't get in to this one. It took me a week just to get to 53%, and it's not a long book. At all. Honestly, there was really nothing wrong with it. It just never grabbed my attention.
I'm not a super big fan of historicals to begin with and combined with the slow build of this one I found myself losing interest. The pace was just too slow and the plot to lackluster.
Maybe I'll go back to it someday....
March 13, 2018
For fan of a fairy tale, set up in a fantasy world quite close to our time, but not our time either (I know, I don’t make much sense : sue me, LOL), where a prince and his new valet slowly but irrevocably fall in love.
It’s a slow burn with a lot of sexual tension and a fight between passion and reality, destiny and responsibilities. It’s sweet, full of stolen moments filled with tenderness.
I needed a fluffy read with two charming MCs, supportive friends and family and a nice HEA that could bring a happy sigh and put a smile on my face : mission accomplished.
It’s a slow burn with a lot of sexual tension and a fight between passion and reality, destiny and responsibilities. It’s sweet, full of stolen moments filled with tenderness.
I needed a fluffy read with two charming MCs, supportive friends and family and a nice HEA that could bring a happy sigh and put a smile on my face : mission accomplished.
May 14, 2019
Overall a sweet story. There was a lot of blushing and apologizing, which was kind of cute. I liked the bond between Merrick and Cassius, the time they spent together talking and sharing things they love was really nice.
However, I have two niggles. Given the formal language they mostly used and the romantic vibe of the story, the intimate scenes felt out of place and a bit cringy, and the language was too contemporary. I would actually prefer it if there were no intimate scenes at all. Also fade to black scenes would work here just fine.
The other thing is that to me this story felt more like a historical romance than a fairy tale.
However, I have two niggles. Given the formal language they mostly used and the romantic vibe of the story, the intimate scenes felt out of place and a bit cringy, and the language was too contemporary. I would actually prefer it if there were no intimate scenes at all. Also fade to black scenes would work here just fine.
The other thing is that to me this story felt more like a historical romance than a fairy tale.
February 26, 2018
This was the sweetest fairy tale I have yet to read!
Filled with longing glances, sweet smiles, laughs, passion, tears, forbidden love, and heartbreak. UGH!
I adored every minute of it! I also shed many tears, and happy smiles!
Bravo, Christina and Riley!! It was beautiful!
Filled with longing glances, sweet smiles, laughs, passion, tears, forbidden love, and heartbreak. UGH!
I adored every minute of it! I also shed many tears, and happy smiles!
Bravo, Christina and Riley!! It was beautiful!
December 18, 2019
3.5 stars
March 7, 2018
I loved this! It was so sweet and adorable and fascinating. What was fascinating was that this world seemed to be a mix of historical and modern day. Like as far as I could discern, there were not tvs or phones or radio, etc, so like it is in historical times. But at the same time, they have modern-ish clothing and cars are a thing in this world. But society is still fairly conservative, enough that woman's roles are pretty traditional and being anything other than straight is a bad thing. It even talks about one guy being outed who was exiled, or whatever.
So this world was like a mix of the past and the present and I found that really interesting. Like the common hairstyle for men is long hair pulled up in a tie all the time. Like in 1800 or whatever, but yet they drove cars haha.
But enough about all that, lets get into Cassius and Merrick.
They were so great together. Cassius comes from a fairly poor background, and he has a job at the castle so he can provide for his family after his father has died (he has his mother and two sisters, and I don't know if society won't let women work or if it's up to Cassius to provide for them because his mother is in a wheelchair, and one sister is 15 years old and the other younger, kid age. I don't know, but it seems like women aren't allowed to really work, though it is hard to tell). Cassius made his way up the ranks of servants, so to speak until he gets to be a footman.
Cassius and Merrick have a really sweet first meeting, even with Cassius who has a slightly negative opinion of the royals in general because they have so much when he and his family have so little. It's hard for him not to feel resentful, even if he doesn't dislike the actual people in the royal family in particular. But they have a connection from the first moment they interact, and when Merrick's aging valet has to retire, of course Cassius is recommended to take over, and they fall in love.
I will say that at times these two felt almost too perfect - they were both kind, good hearted men who apologized for the smallest things, even when they didn't truly do anything wrong, but they felt bad anyway and apologized. And that isn't bad at all, but I was wondering if these two weren't only perfect for each other, but perfect in general. But they both had their moments of just being human beings, of being unfair or scared or filled with doubt, and so on.
So I'll settle with that these two were amazing men who were amazing together haha.
This was, after all, a fairytale, and these two do get their happy ending with only a little bit of angst. Once they actually do have to deal with people knowing, most people around them, who are closest to them, are actually pretty good about it.
But one thing a fairytale usually doesn't have, is the sexytimes, but we got plenty of that in this, and they were good ;).
These two writers together are really good. I've read one other by them, called Living Out Loud, and I enjoyed that too. I think these two should continue to co-author books because they work well together.
If you're in the mood for a gay fairytale au story with fairly low angst, good chemistry between the MC's, and a requisite fairytale happy ending, then this one is for you. Definitely recommend! :D
So this world was like a mix of the past and the present and I found that really interesting. Like the common hairstyle for men is long hair pulled up in a tie all the time. Like in 1800 or whatever, but yet they drove cars haha.
But enough about all that, lets get into Cassius and Merrick.
They were so great together. Cassius comes from a fairly poor background, and he has a job at the castle so he can provide for his family after his father has died (he has his mother and two sisters, and I don't know if society won't let women work or if it's up to Cassius to provide for them because his mother is in a wheelchair, and one sister is 15 years old and the other younger, kid age. I don't know, but it seems like women aren't allowed to really work, though it is hard to tell). Cassius made his way up the ranks of servants, so to speak until he gets to be a footman.
Cassius and Merrick have a really sweet first meeting, even with Cassius who has a slightly negative opinion of the royals in general because they have so much when he and his family have so little. It's hard for him not to feel resentful, even if he doesn't dislike the actual people in the royal family in particular. But they have a connection from the first moment they interact, and when Merrick's aging valet has to retire, of course Cassius is recommended to take over, and they fall in love.
I will say that at times these two felt almost too perfect - they were both kind, good hearted men who apologized for the smallest things, even when they didn't truly do anything wrong, but they felt bad anyway and apologized. And that isn't bad at all, but I was wondering if these two weren't only perfect for each other, but perfect in general. But they both had their moments of just being human beings, of being unfair or scared or filled with doubt, and so on.
So I'll settle with that these two were amazing men who were amazing together haha.
This was, after all, a fairytale, and these two do get their happy ending with only a little bit of angst. Once they actually do have to deal with people knowing, most people around them, who are closest to them, are actually pretty good about it.
But one thing a fairytale usually doesn't have, is the sexytimes, but we got plenty of that in this, and they were good ;).
These two writers together are really good. I've read one other by them, called Living Out Loud, and I enjoyed that too. I think these two should continue to co-author books because they work well together.
If you're in the mood for a gay fairytale au story with fairly low angst, good chemistry between the MC's, and a requisite fairytale happy ending, then this one is for you. Definitely recommend! :D
February 22, 2023
DNF @ 57%
I'm so bored that I'm struggling not to fall asleep. The only positive part of the story is that the authors actually take the royal family's duties seriously, which didn't happen in any of the other modern royalty MM romances I've tried. Merrick lives a privileged life but he also works very hard, doing multiple engagements per day, six days a week and having to be a public figure from morning to night.
Unfortunately, everything else was bland and boring. The characters were very generic, there was barely any plot and most of the story consisted of repetitive internal monologuing. The MCs would do something minor then they would spend pages angsting over having done that tiny thing and wondering what the other MC thinks about it. This happened over and over again with barely any forward movement. The worst example of this was how Cassius' internal thoughts about Merrick never moved forward. He'll be thinking about how the prince is spoiled, unaware of his privilege and has completely different desires from commoners. Then something small happens where Merrick proves that's not the case. Well, this just SCANDALIZES Cassius every single time and he spends pages thinking about how this changes his view of Merrick. Except a few pages later, we rewind the character development and the entire sequence starts again.
Making things worse is that the authors do that stupid thing where they think formal speech = not using contractions. This is dumb, lazy and doesn't reflect how posh or old fashioned people speak and it's one of my pet peeves because it makes the dialog atrocious.
Here's an example of a conversation between Merrick and Cassius (I removed the small action phrases in between since the point is to showcase how the dialog was written):
"I shall never forget this moment. It will be with me always and I will always long for more."
"I will forever long for more as well, my Prince."
"Thank you."
"Please do not thank me for this."
U-N-B-E-A-R-A-B-L-E. So not only does the majority of the story consist of repetitive internal monologuing but when the characters ARE talking to each other, the dialog is painful to read.
I clung on until nearly 60% because this is the only modern MM romance I've read where the royal family's duties were actually depicted accurately, which made me hope things would improve. But even if I were to ignore the repetition, the terrible dialog and the blandness of the characters, I nearly fell asleep because there's very little plot. What plot does exist moves extremely slowly and it's not interesting.
I should have known this wouldn't for me because none of the Riley Hart stories I've tried have been my thing but because it was co-written with Christina Lee (who I hadn't read before) and it's a fantasy romance, I thought it might work. It didn't so lesson learned: I'm going to steer clear of Riley Hart's books from now on, no matter what genre they're in.
I'm so bored that I'm struggling not to fall asleep. The only positive part of the story is that the authors actually take the royal family's duties seriously, which didn't happen in any of the other modern royalty MM romances I've tried. Merrick lives a privileged life but he also works very hard, doing multiple engagements per day, six days a week and having to be a public figure from morning to night.
Unfortunately, everything else was bland and boring. The characters were very generic, there was barely any plot and most of the story consisted of repetitive internal monologuing. The MCs would do something minor then they would spend pages angsting over having done that tiny thing and wondering what the other MC thinks about it. This happened over and over again with barely any forward movement. The worst example of this was how Cassius' internal thoughts about Merrick never moved forward. He'll be thinking about how the prince is spoiled, unaware of his privilege and has completely different desires from commoners. Then something small happens where Merrick proves that's not the case. Well, this just SCANDALIZES Cassius every single time and he spends pages thinking about how this changes his view of Merrick. Except a few pages later, we rewind the character development and the entire sequence starts again.
Making things worse is that the authors do that stupid thing where they think formal speech = not using contractions. This is dumb, lazy and doesn't reflect how posh or old fashioned people speak and it's one of my pet peeves because it makes the dialog atrocious.
Here's an example of a conversation between Merrick and Cassius (I removed the small action phrases in between since the point is to showcase how the dialog was written):
"I shall never forget this moment. It will be with me always and I will always long for more."
"I will forever long for more as well, my Prince."
"Thank you."
"Please do not thank me for this."
U-N-B-E-A-R-A-B-L-E. So not only does the majority of the story consist of repetitive internal monologuing but when the characters ARE talking to each other, the dialog is painful to read.
I clung on until nearly 60% because this is the only modern MM romance I've read where the royal family's duties were actually depicted accurately, which made me hope things would improve. But even if I were to ignore the repetition, the terrible dialog and the blandness of the characters, I nearly fell asleep because there's very little plot. What plot does exist moves extremely slowly and it's not interesting.
I should have known this wouldn't for me because none of the Riley Hart stories I've tried have been my thing but because it was co-written with Christina Lee (who I hadn't read before) and it's a fantasy romance, I thought it might work. It didn't so lesson learned: I'm going to steer clear of Riley Hart's books from now on, no matter what genre they're in.
did-not-finish
July 2, 2021DNF @ 71%
I know I'm probably in the minority with this one, but I just couldn't waste anymore time on a book I don't enjoy.
The setting is fantasy only in that it is set in an imaginary kingdom that really resembles England around the beginning of the 20th century, or at least that's how I imagined it. This is neither good nor bad, I'm just mentioning this in case someone expected a proper fantasy based on the book cover. If you asked me, I would call it a historical .
The two MCs are kind of boring, and the dialogue is all about one MC uttering a cliche declaration of love/devotion/etc and the other MC just repeating it verbatim and tacking on a ", too" at the end. This pissed me off to no end.
I couldn't see the plot going anywhere, and not in a good, keeping-me-on-my-toes way, but in a "is there a point and when will we get to it?" way. It seems the only point was to listen to the historical-type angst in the MCs heads and wait for something to actually happen.
Finally, at 71% I decided I didn't care enough to finish this story.
I know I'm probably in the minority with this one, but I just couldn't waste anymore time on a book I don't enjoy.
The setting is fantasy only in that it is set in an imaginary kingdom that really resembles England around the beginning of the 20th century, or at least that's how I imagined it. This is neither good nor bad, I'm just mentioning this in case someone expected a proper fantasy based on the book cover. If you asked me, I would call it a historical .
The two MCs are kind of boring, and the dialogue is all about one MC uttering a cliche declaration of love/devotion/etc and the other MC just repeating it verbatim and tacking on a ", too" at the end. This pissed me off to no end.
I couldn't see the plot going anywhere, and not in a good, keeping-me-on-my-toes way, but in a "is there a point and when will we get to it?" way. It seems the only point was to listen to the historical-type angst in the MCs heads and wait for something to actually happen.
Finally, at 71% I decided I didn't care enough to finish this story.
Want to read
November 23, 2021GAY FAIRYTALES!!
my queer heart is blossoming under all this rep🥺💛
Goodreads | My blog | Storygraph | Pinterest | Instagram
my queer heart is blossoming under all this rep🥺💛
Goodreads | My blog | Storygraph | Pinterest | Instagram
March 5, 2018
I am a huge fan of Fairy Tale retellings and this was a mostly sweet addition.
It just kind of bored me.
Nothing much really happened and the drama that we finally got did not please me.
It was mostly sweet though!
It just kind of bored me.
Nothing much really happened and the drama that we finally got did not please me.
It was mostly sweet though!
May 13, 2018
3.5 stars. This was a fun read. Since I can't say it better than A Reader Obsessed, I'm just going to quote her when she says, "I have to give credit because this is a thoughtful rumination on class differences and the weight of responsibility on both these men. It is realistic in the evolving relationship between a prince and his servant where crossing the social lines is unheard of and not condoned. The attraction and feels are organic, and the inner turmoil these men go through was heartfelt." I couldn't agree more!
Overall, this is a nice feel-good fairy tale with a happy ending. Currently a free read on Kindle Unlimited. :)
Overall, this is a nice feel-good fairy tale with a happy ending. Currently a free read on Kindle Unlimited. :)
March 3, 2018
Ever After
Cute book. A m/m fairytale between a prince and his valet. I'll confess I struggled getting through the first half of this story and found myself often getting bored. So I will say, you have to be patient with this book in order for the pay off because it does eventually pick up.
Like every "Cinderella story" there is always the obstacles that keep the two loves apart. In this case there were quite a few. First, there's the social hierarchy. A Prince is not to associate romantically with a commoner. Second, there is also the fact that the Prince does not want a woman in his life but a man. However, the Prince is next in line for the crown and is expected to find a woman to marry.
Throughout the book the Prince is pressured by his parents to find a woman to marry in order to produce an heir. His parent appear to be old school and traditional, so, the Prince hides his true self from them. He does not expect them to understand his nature and it seems he is only able to be himself around his new Valet.
It is sweet story. I did enjoy how the two men grew closer over time. Their relationship is initially Prince/Valet but eventually the dynamic changes and they become friends then lovers. They have so much in common and yet social classes, among other things, separate them. They do try to resist the pull, for they know they cannot be, but their connection is too strong and they fall into one another.
The big conflict is how can their relationship work when the Prince is expected to lead a certain life. Can they even be or must they sacrifice their happiness for the success of the kingdom? They often find themselves conflicting with their emotions because of this. So, there is a bit of angst but there is also Overall it's an ok read.
Cute book. A m/m fairytale between a prince and his valet. I'll confess I struggled getting through the first half of this story and found myself often getting bored. So I will say, you have to be patient with this book in order for the pay off because it does eventually pick up.
Like every "Cinderella story" there is always the obstacles that keep the two loves apart. In this case there were quite a few. First, there's the social hierarchy. A Prince is not to associate romantically with a commoner. Second, there is also the fact that the Prince does not want a woman in his life but a man. However, the Prince is next in line for the crown and is expected to find a woman to marry.
Throughout the book the Prince is pressured by his parents to find a woman to marry in order to produce an heir. His parent appear to be old school and traditional, so, the Prince hides his true self from them. He does not expect them to understand his nature and it seems he is only able to be himself around his new Valet.
It is sweet story. I did enjoy how the two men grew closer over time. Their relationship is initially Prince/Valet but eventually the dynamic changes and they become friends then lovers. They have so much in common and yet social classes, among other things, separate them. They do try to resist the pull, for they know they cannot be, but their connection is too strong and they fall into one another.
The big conflict is how can their relationship work when the Prince is expected to lead a certain life. Can they even be or must they sacrifice their happiness for the success of the kingdom? They often find themselves conflicting with their emotions because of this. So, there is a bit of angst but there is also Overall it's an ok read.
March 2, 2018
Prince Merrick isn't your normal Prince. He does dream of children that could be heirs for the family, but more like children he adopts from the local orphanage. His desires lie towards a different gender....which is prohibited in his level of society and goes completely against his family expectations for him.
Cassius has come to work at the castle after his father has passed to help his mother and sisters live a life that they deserve. Moving up quickly in the ranks has him as the prince's valet. Wanting to hate him for never having to WANT for anything, he finds he is more intrigued by him and wants to know more....in ways he should definitely NOT WANT the prince.
This fairy tale is one I was able to get into quickly and really wanted to hurry up and finish; it was that good. The chemistry, hot sections and watching the characters develop and come into their own, finding out about themselves and each other along the way made this a definitive 5 stars!!
March 18, 2018
“There will never be another I love the way I love you.”
From the moment I opened this book, I got this fluttery feeling in my stomach, telling me I was in for quite a treat. Superbly written, deeply affecting, and deliciously angsty, this was the perfect melding of escapist make-believe with truths from our own reality, creating a timeless love story of a prince falling for a commoner that will steal your sleep and feed your soul. Reading this book made me feel again like my twelve-year-old self who loved fairy tales above all else, and found herself escaping in them every chance she got, and as soon as I was done reading the last page, all I wanted to do was go back to the beginning and read this beautiful story all over again.
Continue reading this 6-star review...
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March 1, 2018
4 stars.
Ever After was magical. And adorable. And swoon-worthy. And did I mention magical? And they get their happily ever after. No pun intended.
I loved Cassius and Merrick. And all the side characters. In fact this entire story was fully developed which made everything so much more enjoyable. And it was told is dual POV's. Because yes. I really needed that!
I don't know if this book is the first for them being a duo but it was well done. Everything flowed so effortlessly that you couldn't tell that two people wrote it.
An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Ever After was magical. And adorable. And swoon-worthy. And did I mention magical? And they get their happily ever after. No pun intended.
I loved Cassius and Merrick. And all the side characters. In fact this entire story was fully developed which made everything so much more enjoyable. And it was told is dual POV's. Because yes. I really needed that!
I don't know if this book is the first for them being a duo but it was well done. Everything flowed so effortlessly that you couldn't tell that two people wrote it.
An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 28, 2018EVER AFTER is now LIVE (and available in KU)!
March 2, 2018
A cute fairytale.
August 3, 2018
This was almost unreadable.
I'd like to provide a balanced review, one that acknowledges a book's strengths. In this case, I can't.
Oh - wait - the cover's quite cute.
So what made this book - by a respected author whose other works I've enjoyed - what made this so awful? It doesn't have an original plot, of course (but to be fair most CRs & HRs don't). The conflict is manufactured and slight (one good conversation at the end solves all), the characterisation is vapid & vestigial, the sense of period non-existent (though the mention of car headlights suggests we've left the Renaissance behind).
If only that were all - for even a slight plot can be rescued by competent writing.
When I say that this reads like your teenaged daughter's first clumsy amateurish attempt at fantasy fiction, I insult teenaged daughers worldwide. But really! - in the first few chapters, when we're supposed to be getting to know the characters? Page after page of tell, tell, tell. I counted 6 pages in a row, at one point, with nary a break for speech. (I exaggerate - one character says, "You may enter," and one replies, "Your Highness".)
Successive sentences constructed in exactly the same way - "He only attended major events...", "He favored leaving town...", "He longed for..." This is kindergarten writing.
Paragraphs full of unimportant tedious detail -
"Geoffrey held open his waistcoat, and Merrick turned so the material could be slipped over his arms. Once it hung on his shoulders, he twisted around to allow his valet to help with the buttons."
Using "fancy" words unnecessarily, so "the dance is starting" becomes "It is time to partake in the dancing portion". Oh dear.
The style lurches uneasily from sentimental to neo-medieval (lots of longing for stables and inns), to agony-aunt (his sister recommends the prince achieve "Closure, as they say") to marketing speak (the prince wants "to be as relatable as he could with the public").
And don't get me started on the valet helping the prince dress for the ball in white "knickers" which he accessorises with boots (see cute cover). No, no, no.
I'm in a minority here, as there are many other reviews that clearly found something in the book I missed completely. But I shall be very careful in the future to avoid judging a book by its cover.
I'd like to provide a balanced review, one that acknowledges a book's strengths. In this case, I can't.
Oh - wait - the cover's quite cute.
So what made this book - by a respected author whose other works I've enjoyed - what made this so awful? It doesn't have an original plot, of course (but to be fair most CRs & HRs don't). The conflict is manufactured and slight (one good conversation at the end solves all), the characterisation is vapid & vestigial, the sense of period non-existent (though the mention of car headlights suggests we've left the Renaissance behind).
If only that were all - for even a slight plot can be rescued by competent writing.
When I say that this reads like your teenaged daughter's first clumsy amateurish attempt at fantasy fiction, I insult teenaged daughers worldwide. But really! - in the first few chapters, when we're supposed to be getting to know the characters? Page after page of tell, tell, tell. I counted 6 pages in a row, at one point, with nary a break for speech. (I exaggerate - one character says, "You may enter," and one replies, "Your Highness".)
Successive sentences constructed in exactly the same way - "He only attended major events...", "He favored leaving town...", "He longed for..." This is kindergarten writing.
Paragraphs full of unimportant tedious detail -
"Geoffrey held open his waistcoat, and Merrick turned so the material could be slipped over his arms. Once it hung on his shoulders, he twisted around to allow his valet to help with the buttons."
Using "fancy" words unnecessarily, so "the dance is starting" becomes "It is time to partake in the dancing portion". Oh dear.
The style lurches uneasily from sentimental to neo-medieval (lots of longing for stables and inns), to agony-aunt (his sister recommends the prince achieve "Closure, as they say") to marketing speak (the prince wants "to be as relatable as he could with the public").
And don't get me started on the valet helping the prince dress for the ball in white "knickers" which he accessorises with boots (see cute cover). No, no, no.
I'm in a minority here, as there are many other reviews that clearly found something in the book I missed completely. But I shall be very careful in the future to avoid judging a book by its cover.
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