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Nordic Royals #3
A Nordic King
A STANDALONE ROYAL ROMANCE
When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.
Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.
Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.
Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.
And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.
Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.
It’s their father.
Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible.
Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.
But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.
You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?
Try falling in love with a king.
A Standalone Royal Romance Spin-Off
When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.
Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.
Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.
Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.
And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.
Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.
It’s their father.
Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible.
Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.
But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.
You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?
Try falling in love with a king.
A Standalone Royal Romance Spin-Off
376 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2018
3903 people are currently reading
11836 people want to read
About the author
Karina Halle
122 books19.6k followersKarina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,198 reviews
September 23, 2018
"There’s something about the warmth and depth of her eyes that makes it impossible to think. It’s like slipping into a warm bath until you’re so enthralled you wouldn’t even notice if you drowned."
I was really looking forward to getting into this one, and although it's around the 2.5 rating - I enjoyed myself in some occasions.
____________
A Nordic King I'm going to keep this review really short.
This is my first Karina Halle book.
I've heard so much about how lovely her writing and her books are, I actually squealed a bit when I saw this on my kindle.
I think I need to stop hyping books and authors in my head. It's not fair for both parties.
When Aurora finds out that she is going to be the nanny for the two little princesses of Denmark, she never expects her boss - The King Of Denmark - to be a royal pain in the ass. King Aksel is fourteen years older than her and completely off limits - but Aurora can't help but feel a sense of attraction to him.
That was the main falling factor for me. I really couldn't feel the spark or the chemistry. This book was humorous and such a little gem to cuddle up to. Yet, it seriously felt like it was lacking some sparks! With a story and a trope that has been done before, it did contain its fair few of cringe lines and cliche "the girl trips over and looks up at the guy" moments, but I actually enjoy all those if it's paired with some killer steam.
I enjoyed many moments though and will be reading more of Halle in the future!
I was really looking forward to getting into this one, and although it's around the 2.5 rating - I enjoyed myself in some occasions.
____________
A Nordic King I'm going to keep this review really short.
This is my first Karina Halle book.
I've heard so much about how lovely her writing and her books are, I actually squealed a bit when I saw this on my kindle.
I think I need to stop hyping books and authors in my head. It's not fair for both parties.
When Aurora finds out that she is going to be the nanny for the two little princesses of Denmark, she never expects her boss - The King Of Denmark - to be a royal pain in the ass. King Aksel is fourteen years older than her and completely off limits - but Aurora can't help but feel a sense of attraction to him.
"There is no one way to fall in love. It may scar you, make its mark, but that fall, that impact, is different for everyone."
That was the main falling factor for me. I really couldn't feel the spark or the chemistry. This book was humorous and such a little gem to cuddle up to. Yet, it seriously felt like it was lacking some sparks! With a story and a trope that has been done before, it did contain its fair few of cringe lines and cliche "the girl trips over and looks up at the guy" moments, but I actually enjoy all those if it's paired with some killer steam.
I enjoyed many moments though and will be reading more of Halle in the future!
September 22, 2018
5 stars!!
A Nordic King is my new favorite Karina Halle book (after The Play- my all time favorite)! I am obsessed with this book. Seriously, I loved it so much! It was fun, angsty, sweet, emotional, and sexy. There was nothing I didn’t love about it, an all around perfect read for me!
Aurora is looking for a new job as a nanny. She never in a million years expects to interview to be the nanny for the two little princesses of Denmark. But here she is. She’s even more surprised when she gets the job. Now, the aloof and moody King Aksel is her boss. At first, these two go round and round. I love that Aurora has a back bone and doesn’t let Aksel walk all over her. With time, and the connection they share, she starts to fall for him.
While Aurora is slowly falling for Aksel, she is already been head over heals for his daughters. I love the relationship that the three girlies have. And little Snarf-Snarf, maybe the best part of the book LOL! The family dynamic of this story was just as beautiful as the romance. Aurora is an amazing heroine, and then there is Aksel. He’s had a rough life, especially lately. He’s a bit of a jerk at times, but god did I love him! Watching him fall for Aurora and seeing it change him was such a beautiful thing!
This couple had so much passion. Their romance was forbidden, sexy, and intense. I adored the both of them and seriously had so much love for this book! I can’t recommend it enough. If you love fairy tale romances and slow burns, this is the book for you. It’s a beautiful book about family, forgiveness, love, and it made me laugh, cry, and left me with the biggest smile on my face. 5 stars to A Nordic King!
A Nordic King is my new favorite Karina Halle book (after The Play- my all time favorite)! I am obsessed with this book. Seriously, I loved it so much! It was fun, angsty, sweet, emotional, and sexy. There was nothing I didn’t love about it, an all around perfect read for me!
Aurora is looking for a new job as a nanny. She never in a million years expects to interview to be the nanny for the two little princesses of Denmark. But here she is. She’s even more surprised when she gets the job. Now, the aloof and moody King Aksel is her boss. At first, these two go round and round. I love that Aurora has a back bone and doesn’t let Aksel walk all over her. With time, and the connection they share, she starts to fall for him.
Bloody hell. I think I’m in love with my boss. A king. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
While Aurora is slowly falling for Aksel, she is already been head over heals for his daughters. I love the relationship that the three girlies have. And little Snarf-Snarf, maybe the best part of the book LOL! The family dynamic of this story was just as beautiful as the romance. Aurora is an amazing heroine, and then there is Aksel. He’s had a rough life, especially lately. He’s a bit of a jerk at times, but god did I love him! Watching him fall for Aurora and seeing it change him was such a beautiful thing!
She’s not just a nanny. She’s Aurora. She’s my reckoning and savior all at once. She’s her namesake, those northern lights that brighten the darkest winter skies. She’s my homecoming.
This couple had so much passion. Their romance was forbidden, sexy, and intense. I adored the both of them and seriously had so much love for this book! I can’t recommend it enough. If you love fairy tale romances and slow burns, this is the book for you. It’s a beautiful book about family, forgiveness, love, and it made me laugh, cry, and left me with the biggest smile on my face. 5 stars to A Nordic King!
“I am a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
August 9, 2019
3.5 Stars
This was a really cute read and I enjoyed it. It was a lot more saccharine at certain times than I was expecting (I always think of grittier romance when I think of Karina Halle, for some reason), but I had fun with it.
I am a sucker for the nanny/single dad trope...and you add royalty and an 10+ year age gap and I'm like a pig in shit. Speaking of pig. The pet pig Snarf Snarf was super cute.
Perfect for a day when you feel like something light and steamy. I will probably snag the other books in the series too, especially since they are available via Kindle Unlimited.
This was a really cute read and I enjoyed it. It was a lot more saccharine at certain times than I was expecting (I always think of grittier romance when I think of Karina Halle, for some reason), but I had fun with it.
I am a sucker for the nanny/single dad trope...and you add royalty and an 10+ year age gap and I'm like a pig in shit. Speaking of pig. The pet pig Snarf Snarf was super cute.
Perfect for a day when you feel like something light and steamy. I will probably snag the other books in the series too, especially since they are available via Kindle Unlimited.
Want to read
August 21, 2018
COVER REVEAL! [le swoon!]
Stand-alone.
Release: 2018
Blurb:
When I first applied for the job I thought it would be like all the others: working as a nanny for an aristocratic family.
Then I got the job and found out how wrong I was.
Now I’m the new nanny for two adorable little girls who happen to be princesses.
Their father is the widowed King of Denmark.
And my new home? The royal palace in Copenhagen.
Adjusting to my new life isn't easy but the hardest part hasn’t been the girls who still grieve over the loss of their mother.
It’s their father.
Cold, mysterious and moody, with an icy stare that seems to penetrate your soul, King Aksel may have hired me to take care of his daughters but he wants as little to do with me as possible.
Yet the longer I share these palace walls with this man, the more that I’m drawn to him. His chiseled face and sexual swagger are only part of the package. It’s in the long, intense glances at the dinner table, the way we’ll brush up against each other in the halls, the rare glimpses of the man deep inside, like the sun passing through clouds.
But no matter how I feel about him, we can never be together.
You think it's bad enough being in love with your boss?
Try falling in love with a king.
September 21, 2018
Live Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
❤❤ 5 snarf snarf stars ❤❤
This is by far my favorite book from Karina, I was lucky enough to beat read it and I can say this book is fantastic.A Nordic King is an addictive,captivating,sweet,sexy and heartwarming story.
The relationship between Aksel and Aurora is unique.They didn't start very well since Aksel was a little bit jerk in the beginning but you can understand why.Once they start spending time together they have a great relationship.Their romance has tension,intensity and some passionate moments.
I loved the secondary characters a lot and Snarf snarf!!Katrina Halle doesn't stop surprising me every time.Her stories are always so refreshing and sexy.
❤❤ 5 snarf snarf stars ❤❤
This is by far my favorite book from Karina, I was lucky enough to beat read it and I can say this book is fantastic.A Nordic King is an addictive,captivating,sweet,sexy and heartwarming story.
The relationship between Aksel and Aurora is unique.They didn't start very well since Aksel was a little bit jerk in the beginning but you can understand why.Once they start spending time together they have a great relationship.Their romance has tension,intensity and some passionate moments.
I loved the secondary characters a lot and Snarf snarf!!Katrina Halle doesn't stop surprising me every time.Her stories are always so refreshing and sexy.
December 13, 2018
2.5 stars
Not a bad book by all means, but even despite the author warned the characters are fictionaly fictional and have no parallels to the actual Danish Royal Family, I couldn't stop thinking about the similarities. Definitely my personal issue.
I'm neither obsessed with the Royals nor I follow their lives, but living in Europe and picking up gossip magazines e.g. waiting at the doctors, I know about them. The Danish Family is actually a very nice one, IMO, Queen Margrethe II is a lovely lady and I wish King's mother in the book wasn't locked up in a clinic...
And again, the heroine/the nanny is Australian, so is Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.
But what bothered me, and again it can be my personal issue, the plot holes.
What a Royal family would hire a nanny without doing a complete background check with actual real results?!... Apparently the fictional one, coz this nanny had a shady past and even changed her name.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a brilliant twist!
The Kind Asshole, it's how she called him at the beginning, was a rude man indeed. But since he looked good and smelled masculine, it was ok I guess.
Did you ever think about how does an asshole smell? Coz so many books have an asshole hero and latest after smelling his devine scent the females get hot and aroused.
The power of asshole odor, ladies, that is the Secret!
She wore miniskirts as an uniform 🙄
It made me think about the show 'The Nanny'. Again it's probably my personal lack of knowledge about the Royal etiquette, but apparently it's not an issue at all.
You hire a nanny, she wears miniskirts, you make her your Queen.
Puzzle solved. Ah, and the smell of course. Silly me!
I may rolled my eyes at the circumstances of the accident and that he kept the lover of his ex as his private secretary. Coz he blackmailed the King to write a book about the true events of that horrible evening on Madeira.
Am I paranoid or does it sound familiar to the tragedy of the GB Royals?...
And of course there was an evil ex-wife! Of course!!! I'm surprised she didn't resurrected to cause drama-lama.
I guess my main problem, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, I never dreamed to become a princess. Never! Prince Charming on the white horse? Did you meet one? I did, many of them, I mean the horses of course.
Despite all odds and my dark childhood I didn't hate the book. I like that they communicated, when the truth about her past came out, and didn't break up with all those cliche-consecutions.
Cute kids. Sweet epilogue with babies.
I clicked 3, coz he wasn't a manwhore, she didn't reach the status of doormat and the pig as a pet was adorable.
Yep, the pig saved the book for me! 🐷
story of my bookish life...
Not a bad book by all means, but even despite the author warned the characters are fictionaly fictional and have no parallels to the actual Danish Royal Family, I couldn't stop thinking about the similarities. Definitely my personal issue.
I'm neither obsessed with the Royals nor I follow their lives, but living in Europe and picking up gossip magazines e.g. waiting at the doctors, I know about them. The Danish Family is actually a very nice one, IMO, Queen Margrethe II is a lovely lady and I wish King's mother in the book wasn't locked up in a clinic...
And again, the heroine/the nanny is Australian, so is Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.
But what bothered me, and again it can be my personal issue, the plot holes.
What a Royal family would hire a nanny without doing a complete background check with actual real results?!... Apparently the fictional one, coz this nanny had a shady past and even changed her name.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a brilliant twist!
The Kind Asshole, it's how she called him at the beginning, was a rude man indeed. But since he looked good and smelled masculine, it was ok I guess.
Did you ever think about how does an asshole smell? Coz so many books have an asshole hero and latest after smelling his devine scent the females get hot and aroused.
The power of asshole odor, ladies, that is the Secret!
She wore miniskirts as an uniform 🙄
It made me think about the show 'The Nanny'. Again it's probably my personal lack of knowledge about the Royal etiquette, but apparently it's not an issue at all.
You hire a nanny, she wears miniskirts, you make her your Queen.
Puzzle solved. Ah, and the smell of course. Silly me!
I may rolled my eyes at the circumstances of the accident and that he kept the lover of his ex as his private secretary. Coz he blackmailed the King to write a book about the true events of that horrible evening on Madeira.
Am I paranoid or does it sound familiar to the tragedy of the GB Royals?...
And of course there was an evil ex-wife! Of course!!! I'm surprised she didn't resurrected to cause drama-lama.
I guess my main problem, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, I never dreamed to become a princess. Never! Prince Charming on the white horse? Did you meet one? I did, many of them, I mean the horses of course.
Despite all odds and my dark childhood I didn't hate the book. I like that they communicated, when the truth about her past came out, and didn't break up with all those cliche-consecutions.
Cute kids. Sweet epilogue with babies.
I clicked 3, coz he wasn't a manwhore, she didn't reach the status of doormat and the pig as a pet was adorable.
Yep, the pig saved the book for me! 🐷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2018
MY REVIEW: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
A NORDIC KING: Is a full length, standalone royal romance novel by Karina Halle.
Spoken in ‘Dual Perspectives’ In this we meet ‘arsehole’ King Aksel from Denmark and Australian nanny Aurora.
Aksel King of Denmark runs a prosperous country at the age of forty and one of the youngest kings in recent history and has tragically become widowed, leaving two precious Princesses aged five and six, without their mother, and him floundering with no idea how to raise his two girls single handedly and opts to hire a nanny on a one year contract.
Twenty six year old Aurora is well over her head and has no experience whatsoever when it comes to nannying two legit princesses though she does have experience under her belt and is well sort after, the placement agency thought she would be the best match for King Aksel and his children.
Meeting Aksel for the first time she dubbed him as an asshole and it was only due to connecting with his daughters that she was given the job as their nanny. Over time she thaws his hardened heart, and brings light into the castle, a slow burn romance ensues.
He's rich, powerful, privileged.
The King of a prosperous nation.
I'm just a girl. A nanny. Australian trailer trash.
There are a million reasons why we shouldn't work.
So many factors figured into me wanting to read this book, single hot guy raising two kids, heart turns to mush, add in he’s royal, yep I was a goner, author and synopsis pretty much just sealed the deal, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one!!
A Nordic King was so unexpectedly good, I devoured this, I swooned, I giggled, I loved, I couldn't put it down, a beautiful fairy tale that had its hooks into me as soon as I started. Cute moments, sweet moments, sexy moments, that had my heart in a flutter. Definitely a must read!!
September 26, 2018
★ 4 “Once upon a dream” STARS ★
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Esse é o primeiro contato que tenho com o trabalho da autora e eu gostei bastante desse livro e principalmente da escrita dela.
A princípio eu não estava confiante de que iria gostar, pois esse tipo de enredo de conto de fadas moderno não me atrai muito...
Porém para a minha surpresa, a leitura foi fluida, viciante e prazerosa.
Eu gostei da personalidade da Aurora e de que ela não ficou intimidada com Aksel e seu título. Pra mim, essa mocinha foi uma personagem encantadora e me agradou bastante. Não tive dificuldades em me conectar com ela.
Eu senti simpatia por Aksel logo no prólogo. Porém esse sentimento ficou levemente abalado a partir do momento em que ele conheceu a Aurora e se revelou um idiota, porém um idiota “suportável”, se é que isso faz sentido...
O relacionamento dos dois foi se desenvolvendo em um ritmo bom. Gostei muito que não foi aquela coisa instantaneamente instantânea. Apesar que tive a impressão que a partir de certo ponto, a trama ganhou um passo mais acelerado.
Agora, as minhas verdadeiras paixões nessa história, sem sombra de dúvidas, foram as princesas Clara e Freja, filhas de Aksel.
Sério, eu simplesmente adorei essas duas! Não teve como não me apaixonar por suas personalidades. Com a adição de Snack Snack, tudo ficou ainda mais encantador!
E me agradou imensamente ver que esse elemento(crianças) foi realmente abordado e teve destaque e importância na trama.
Claro que não foi uma história perfeita, há sim pontos que não me agradaram tanto, no entanto, de modo geral, foi uma ótima, divertida e agradável experiência!!
“I have a home in your heart and a love that won’t stop bleeding. I need you in my life, you are my life, you are my sun that I’ve waited too many winters for.”
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Esse é o primeiro contato que tenho com o trabalho da autora e eu gostei bastante desse livro e principalmente da escrita dela.
A princípio eu não estava confiante de que iria gostar, pois esse tipo de enredo de conto de fadas moderno não me atrai muito...
Porém para a minha surpresa, a leitura foi fluida, viciante e prazerosa.
Eu gostei da personalidade da Aurora e de que ela não ficou intimidada com Aksel e seu título. Pra mim, essa mocinha foi uma personagem encantadora e me agradou bastante. Não tive dificuldades em me conectar com ela.
Eu senti simpatia por Aksel logo no prólogo. Porém esse sentimento ficou levemente abalado a partir do momento em que ele conheceu a Aurora e se revelou um idiota, porém um idiota “suportável”, se é que isso faz sentido...
O relacionamento dos dois foi se desenvolvendo em um ritmo bom. Gostei muito que não foi aquela coisa instantaneamente instantânea. Apesar que tive a impressão que a partir de certo ponto, a trama ganhou um passo mais acelerado.
Agora, as minhas verdadeiras paixões nessa história, sem sombra de dúvidas, foram as princesas Clara e Freja, filhas de Aksel.
Sério, eu simplesmente adorei essas duas! Não teve como não me apaixonar por suas personalidades. Com a adição de Snack Snack, tudo ficou ainda mais encantador!
E me agradou imensamente ver que esse elemento(crianças) foi realmente abordado e teve destaque e importância na trama.
Claro que não foi uma história perfeita, há sim pontos que não me agradaram tanto, no entanto, de modo geral, foi uma ótima, divertida e agradável experiência!!
September 23, 2018
4 STARS!
The plot is simple: Stoic, widowed king...
Soooooo . . . when I saw the VERY glowing early reviews, I got a tad nervous. I mean, good reviews are just that - good. But glowing has a tendency to make me twitchy. For some reason, my idea of a fabulous romance rarely jibes with everyone else's.
The verdict? Good news for most people! (LOL) But for me, A Nordic King was good, but it wasn't great.
Don't get me wrong though, there's definitely a lot to recommend in this one, namely the quality of the romance.
Their relationship - from disdain to grudging respect to love - was well thought out and contained a lot of great moments.
BUT maybe that was the point, to craft a laid-back, dreamy love story between two people who are much better off together than on their own.
Love requires bravery.A sweet, low angst fairy tale with likable main characters, adorable kids, and a pet pig!
The plot is simple: Stoic, widowed king...
It was a tense, cold kind of attractiveness, like his face and body and spirit were forged in steel and you might turn to stone if you looked at him too long....hires nice young woman...
"You're full of light and energy and this house has been ensconced in darkness."...as his daughters' nanny. You can guess the rest. :-)
Soooooo . . . when I saw the VERY glowing early reviews, I got a tad nervous. I mean, good reviews are just that - good. But glowing has a tendency to make me twitchy. For some reason, my idea of a fabulous romance rarely jibes with everyone else's.
The verdict? Good news for most people! (LOL) But for me, A Nordic King was good, but it wasn't great.
Don't get me wrong though, there's definitely a lot to recommend in this one, namely the quality of the romance.
"I've waited forty years for my heart to have a home," he says softly. "I've waited for you."And for a story that began so precariously perched on the edge of the cliché cliff, Ms. Halle did a really good job of not throwing Aksel and Aurora into the cheesy abyss.
Their relationship - from disdain to grudging respect to love - was well thought out and contained a lot of great moments.
I don't even know what I'm feeling most of the time, just that it's there and it's deep and raw and persistent and centered around him.I just thought that perhaps too much was revealed through internal monologue instead of through actual conversation. Plus, the conflict was resolved too easily.
BUT maybe that was the point, to craft a laid-back, dreamy love story between two people who are much better off together than on their own.
I feel different in every way, like something inside me has been unlocked, a lock I'd been unsuccessfully trying to pick for a very long time.I recommend for those of you whose hearts are swayed by sweetness. :-)
December 15, 2018
4.5
okay I loved the heck out of this
okay I loved the heck out of this
November 18, 2019
4 stars
“I’m a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
This series is so fun and enjoyable to read. Or maybe it’s just a good fun way to avoid my responsibilities, but who cares, I’m enjoying it.
This one was just as good as the second book. It was fun, sexy, sweet, and so freakin enjoyable. It’s the kind of book you read when you wanna have a quick good time...or when you want to avoid your responsibilities!
“I’m a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
This series is so fun and enjoyable to read. Or maybe it’s just a good fun way to avoid my responsibilities, but who cares, I’m enjoying it.
This one was just as good as the second book. It was fun, sexy, sweet, and so freakin enjoyable. It’s the kind of book you read when you wanna have a quick good time...or when you want to avoid your responsibilities!
September 16, 2018
5 TRILLION STARS!!!! I was owned by this romance. An absolutely incredible love story with all the sweet feels. Gah! I’m going to have THE MOST INTENSE BOOK HANGOVER EVER. What a read. You must pick this book up. Also, 100% a standalone. YOU. NEED. THIS. Full review to come.
October 19, 2018
Lurved hard. This royal totally got to me :D *le sigh*
September 19, 2022
I honestly went into this book with low expectations because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the whole ‘royalty’ thing in a regular setting as opposed to a fantasy book — but I ended up really enjoying my time reading this… so I’m happy to say it went better than expected
I loved the tension and banter in the beginning, loved the whole kids aspect, loved seeing Aksel reluctantly give into his feelings for her and slowly become nicer and happier because she was around, I loved when he got jealous and wanted to claim her as his, and I loved that there wasn’t a stupid third act breakup and that they were actually adults and talked through what they had to. Definitely giving it extra points for that and the fact that there wasn’t any pointless miscommunication.
Yea, it was a bit cliche, slightly corny and not extremely realistic at times - but I knew I might feel that way going into it because of how iffy I was about the whole king/princess/palace thing… but it really wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be — so I let the few odd things that happened throughout the story slide (like her wearing mini skirts around the palace every day just to spite the king, the fact that the royal family didn’t do a thorough background check on her, and other random things like that)
I honestly had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it, and never felt like I was bored or had the urge to skim — so that’s all that really matters to me and therefore I definitely think it’s worth checking out if you’re into nanny forbidden romances and don’t mind the whole ‘nanny becomes the queen’ thing.
I loved the tension and banter in the beginning, loved the whole kids aspect, loved seeing Aksel reluctantly give into his feelings for her and slowly become nicer and happier because she was around, I loved when he got jealous and wanted to claim her as his, and I loved that there wasn’t a stupid third act breakup and that they were actually adults and talked through what they had to. Definitely giving it extra points for that and the fact that there wasn’t any pointless miscommunication.
Yea, it was a bit cliche, slightly corny and not extremely realistic at times - but I knew I might feel that way going into it because of how iffy I was about the whole king/princess/palace thing… but it really wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be — so I let the few odd things that happened throughout the story slide (like her wearing mini skirts around the palace every day just to spite the king, the fact that the royal family didn’t do a thorough background check on her, and other random things like that)
I honestly had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it, and never felt like I was bored or had the urge to skim — so that’s all that really matters to me and therefore I definitely think it’s worth checking out if you’re into nanny forbidden romances and don’t mind the whole ‘nanny becomes the queen’ thing.
January 2, 2025
5⭑
THIS BOOK WAS SOOOOOOOOO GOOD. It was honestly incredible and it gave me everything that I wanted it to and more.
This follows Aurora, who goes to work for the Royal Family in Denmark as a nanny to the King’s two daughters. The King, Aksel, is struggling with his royal duties and looking after his children after his wife died so finally gives in to hire a new nanny.
The kids are actually adorable and they make the book that much better. I loved all of Aurora’s interaction with the girls and how cute and kind they were. They were also hilarious. They had cute and funny one liners and even named their pet pig Snarf Snarf. I just loved all the moments with the kids.
The book was a tiny bit slow burn for the first half of the book but I loved the development between Aurora and Aksel’s feelings. Aksel just wants to be loved for who he is and not what he is. He came out with the cutest, most swoon worthy quotes that I wanted to cry.
The only thing stopping me from giving this book 5 stars is that ending felt a bit too rushed for my liking but overall it was an excellent book. *** edit - I changed my mind. It’s a 5 star read for me lol***
My fave quotes;
- “I’m a king with a palace full of treasures and yet she is my greatest possession”
- “I am a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
Side note - this is the third book in this series but you don’t have to read the others as this can be read as a complete stand-alone. Even I haven’t read the other books in the series lol.
THIS BOOK WAS SOOOOOOOOO GOOD. It was honestly incredible and it gave me everything that I wanted it to and more.
This follows Aurora, who goes to work for the Royal Family in Denmark as a nanny to the King’s two daughters. The King, Aksel, is struggling with his royal duties and looking after his children after his wife died so finally gives in to hire a new nanny.
The kids are actually adorable and they make the book that much better. I loved all of Aurora’s interaction with the girls and how cute and kind they were. They were also hilarious. They had cute and funny one liners and even named their pet pig Snarf Snarf. I just loved all the moments with the kids.
The book was a tiny bit slow burn for the first half of the book but I loved the development between Aurora and Aksel’s feelings. Aksel just wants to be loved for who he is and not what he is. He came out with the cutest, most swoon worthy quotes that I wanted to cry.
The only thing stopping me from giving this book 5 stars is that ending felt a bit too rushed for my liking but overall it was an excellent book. *** edit - I changed my mind. It’s a 5 star read for me lol***
My fave quotes;
- “I’m a king with a palace full of treasures and yet she is my greatest possession”
- “I am a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
Side note - this is the third book in this series but you don’t have to read the others as this can be read as a complete stand-alone. Even I haven’t read the other books in the series lol.
September 21, 2018
5 "Once Upon a Dream" Stars!
OH MY GAWD! I think my heart just exploded inside my chest because of this book, THIS BOOK! King Aksel & Aurora are EVERYTHING!
Wearing his guilt like a crown, King Aksel never thought he would ever find his path to redemption until the woman he hired to be the nanny of his two daughters made her mission to light up his dark palace—and his heart.
As everything Karina Halle, the writing was extraordinary—addictive, and the characters unforgettable, Snarf Snarf ♥. Halle has once again blown me away with this beautiful tale of royal hotness—a deliciously sexy slow-burn romance that's magical, forbidden, steamy, funny, heart-warming, and downright cute.
A Nordic King will make every hopeless romantic out there swoon, blush, and smile for days. Be sure to pack your bags before you start reading because when you hit the end, you will want nothing more than to get your ass to Denmark to find your own King.
There's nothing like a King to be one of my Top 2018 reads!
You can find me here: INSTAGRAM
September 19, 2018
5 'Free together' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
Hail to the King and his Goddess! Karina simply outdid herself with this one because, my God, what an amazing read I just experienced! The angst, the slow burn, the feels and the intensity of the chemistry between Aurora and Aksel made A Nordic King an absolute must-read, especially if you are a fan of royal romances and Karina Halle's contemporary stories. I do feel like Karina keeps getting better on her royal-themed stories because this one is definitely one of my favorites.
So, A Nordic King is Karina's newest standalone release (out this Friday, yay!). Yeah I do recommend reading her other two royal books because they are great but it's not necessary if you want to read this one alone. Now, this story is focused on King Aksel of Denmark and Aurora James, the newest nanny of Aksel's two adorable girls. It's been two years since the king's wife died but Aksel still is very much affected because of it. Especially because he loves his girls so much. Aurora is also escaping from a past life and when she meets Aksel and his girls, her world is forever changed. What starts as a journey of two people pushing each other away, finishes as one hell of a romantic, adorable, sexy and emotional love story!
Fate has made me the lost king, encased in cheap armor that only keeps up appearances, forever fighting a battle he will never win.
I loved this book. LOVED IT. I don't know how Karina does it but she just clicks all my boxes when it comes to enjoying a romance novel to the fullest. A Nordic King has everything I love about royal romances: two outstanding main characters, a couple of adorable little girls, an amazing slow burn, lots of angst, lots of emotion, lots of romantic moments and lots of sexy times! Aksel and Aurora's relationship evolves with every scene and I did love they took their time to actually become something more than boss and employee.
“Look at you,” he whispers harshly, gaze roaming all over my face from my eyes to my nose to my temples to my lips.
“Me?”
He gives a faint shake of his head. “What a rare and beautiful thing you are.”
These two are deep characters that completely stole my heart with their story. And yes, I adored Freya and Clara too (so freaking cute, every single time!). But, of course, the best part about A Nordic King is the couple. When Aksel and Aurora actually become more, when all that slow burn explodes.. Holy Moly, guys! The sexual tension and the actual sex between this couple is freaking intense. Aksel is a dirty mouthed king and Aurora absolutely loves it (and me too!). These two are passionate as heck and when they express their love for each other it actually becomes incredibly romantic (which I always love). Yes, the ending was super great and I am so glad these two and the girls are such a lovely family!
“I am a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
Therefore, I am rating A Nordic King with 5 STARS because this story felt like a beautiful fairy tale coming true. Who does not love a sexy king, a sassy nanny and lots of chemistry in between? I am definitely not complaining! I am so glad Karina put lots of emphasis on the slow burn, the familiar moments and the romanticism. And, obviously, let's not forget the explosive sex between Aksel and Aurora because it was mind-blowing! If you are a fan of Karina's or you love royal romances, this is a must-read so be sure to check it out.
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
Hail to the King and his Goddess! Karina simply outdid herself with this one because, my God, what an amazing read I just experienced! The angst, the slow burn, the feels and the intensity of the chemistry between Aurora and Aksel made A Nordic King an absolute must-read, especially if you are a fan of royal romances and Karina Halle's contemporary stories. I do feel like Karina keeps getting better on her royal-themed stories because this one is definitely one of my favorites.
So, A Nordic King is Karina's newest standalone release (out this Friday, yay!). Yeah I do recommend reading her other two royal books because they are great but it's not necessary if you want to read this one alone. Now, this story is focused on King Aksel of Denmark and Aurora James, the newest nanny of Aksel's two adorable girls. It's been two years since the king's wife died but Aksel still is very much affected because of it. Especially because he loves his girls so much. Aurora is also escaping from a past life and when she meets Aksel and his girls, her world is forever changed. What starts as a journey of two people pushing each other away, finishes as one hell of a romantic, adorable, sexy and emotional love story!
Fate has made me the lost king, encased in cheap armor that only keeps up appearances, forever fighting a battle he will never win.
I loved this book. LOVED IT. I don't know how Karina does it but she just clicks all my boxes when it comes to enjoying a romance novel to the fullest. A Nordic King has everything I love about royal romances: two outstanding main characters, a couple of adorable little girls, an amazing slow burn, lots of angst, lots of emotion, lots of romantic moments and lots of sexy times! Aksel and Aurora's relationship evolves with every scene and I did love they took their time to actually become something more than boss and employee.
“Look at you,” he whispers harshly, gaze roaming all over my face from my eyes to my nose to my temples to my lips.
“Me?”
He gives a faint shake of his head. “What a rare and beautiful thing you are.”
These two are deep characters that completely stole my heart with their story. And yes, I adored Freya and Clara too (so freaking cute, every single time!). But, of course, the best part about A Nordic King is the couple. When Aksel and Aurora actually become more, when all that slow burn explodes.. Holy Moly, guys! The sexual tension and the actual sex between this couple is freaking intense. Aksel is a dirty mouthed king and Aurora absolutely loves it (and me too!). These two are passionate as heck and when they express their love for each other it actually becomes incredibly romantic (which I always love). Yes, the ending was super great and I am so glad these two and the girls are such a lovely family!
“I am a king. And I belong to you in ways I never thought possible. More than I belong to my country, more than I belong to the people, I belong to you.”
Therefore, I am rating A Nordic King with 5 STARS because this story felt like a beautiful fairy tale coming true. Who does not love a sexy king, a sassy nanny and lots of chemistry in between? I am definitely not complaining! I am so glad Karina put lots of emphasis on the slow burn, the familiar moments and the romanticism. And, obviously, let's not forget the explosive sex between Aksel and Aurora because it was mind-blowing! If you are a fan of Karina's or you love royal romances, this is a must-read so be sure to check it out.
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
November 26, 2018
This is a 4.5 stars book rounded to 4. I was hooked from the first chapter from Aksel's POV and couldn't stop reading! However, a jarring scene or two in the middle really threw me off, so I'm rounding down instead of rounding up. But for the most part, I really enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would. And I'll be checking out other books written by this author.
What I loved:
* The H Aksel really tears your heart out. He's a great father. He's a man of deep, intense emotions. When he begins with his POV of how his heart has shattered, I felt like mine shattered for him at the same time. THIS is how an author builds sympathy and empathy for a potentially "disagreeable" assholish hero, folks -- pay attention and learn! (some of you other authors who only write the asshole part with a gigantic cock and expect us readers to love it)
* The h I really liked as well. Her kindness and sweetness and natural ability with the princesses. But also her fiery side that doesn't let a KING talk down to her. That demands to be treated like an equal human being. And I really do like Aussies in general. There's a real fun and sunny yet don't-mess-with-me vibe that I've always liked.
* The girls. This is how you write believable, wonderful children that even people who don't like children will not be irritated by them. I liked both Clara and Freja very well. I loved Snarf Snarf too.
What threw me off was this - after half, the book, the couple hasn't even gotten a kiss. And I didn't even mind! I was reading it at this point for the emotions and intensity and the chemistry and the growing relationship. The author didn't even hint much sexual desires all through 50% of the book.
Then BAM! First there was a very contrived scene where Aksel pretends to fire Aurora in order to get her to reveal how she really feels about him. It was TOO contrived and cruel, as if the author was just trying to get the reader's heart to stab with pain and twist FOR NO GOOD REASON!! There are so many other ways it could have gone down. Soooooo many other ways. His explanation later did NOT satisfy me at all!
And then, after he put the h through an emotional wringer and she's CRYING and scared shitless, THEY BOTH decide to do rough doggy-style banging FOR THEIR FIRST TIME TOGETHER after 2+ years of drought on his side ON THE FLOOR OF HIS OFFICE so hard she gets rug burns on her knees. After which, he pulls up his pants and leaves.
WWWHHHHHHHHATTTTTTT??????
I was suffering from whip lash of what appears to be a personality split of the author, who was up to that point writing such a beautiful story, and then suddenly, instead of an intense emotional love-making scene, I get a rough banging with not even a brief cuddle after. I'm like - WHERE DID THIS WRITER COME FROM??????
Both those scenes did not in any shape or form fit into this story. A second sex scene was a quickie in an alcove. Also weird. Only from the third scene onwards did things get back to "normal."
But by then I wasn't really sure what was going on. I started skimming the story whereas I read it word for word up to that disastrous scene. It was the most bizarre thing!!!
I thought about tearing another star off, but I still loved the story. I still loved Aksel. He's SUCH A STRONG hero, so deserving of love, so hungry for it, and he gives it SO GOOD! (The love, never mind the sex, the sex I honestly don't know how to feel about tho I have nothing against rough sex, it's just WEIRD in this novel)
I've been seeing other of Halle's novels pop up on my feed. I've been intrigued enough by the covers. Not so much by the blurbs. It's the single widowed father trope that got me to try this one. So we shall see about her others... maybe, maybe not.
What I loved:
* The H Aksel really tears your heart out. He's a great father. He's a man of deep, intense emotions. When he begins with his POV of how his heart has shattered, I felt like mine shattered for him at the same time. THIS is how an author builds sympathy and empathy for a potentially "disagreeable" assholish hero, folks -- pay attention and learn! (some of you other authors who only write the asshole part with a gigantic cock and expect us readers to love it)
* The h I really liked as well. Her kindness and sweetness and natural ability with the princesses. But also her fiery side that doesn't let a KING talk down to her. That demands to be treated like an equal human being. And I really do like Aussies in general. There's a real fun and sunny yet don't-mess-with-me vibe that I've always liked.
* The girls. This is how you write believable, wonderful children that even people who don't like children will not be irritated by them. I liked both Clara and Freja very well. I loved Snarf Snarf too.
What threw me off was this - after half, the book, the couple hasn't even gotten a kiss. And I didn't even mind! I was reading it at this point for the emotions and intensity and the chemistry and the growing relationship. The author didn't even hint much sexual desires all through 50% of the book.
Then BAM! First there was a very contrived scene where Aksel pretends to fire Aurora in order to get her to reveal how she really feels about him. It was TOO contrived and cruel, as if the author was just trying to get the reader's heart to stab with pain and twist FOR NO GOOD REASON!! There are so many other ways it could have gone down. Soooooo many other ways. His explanation later did NOT satisfy me at all!
And then, after he put the h through an emotional wringer and she's CRYING and scared shitless, THEY BOTH decide to do rough doggy-style banging FOR THEIR FIRST TIME TOGETHER after 2+ years of drought on his side ON THE FLOOR OF HIS OFFICE so hard she gets rug burns on her knees. After which, he pulls up his pants and leaves.
WWWHHHHHHHHATTTTTTT??????
I was suffering from whip lash of what appears to be a personality split of the author, who was up to that point writing such a beautiful story, and then suddenly, instead of an intense emotional love-making scene, I get a rough banging with not even a brief cuddle after. I'm like - WHERE DID THIS WRITER COME FROM??????
Both those scenes did not in any shape or form fit into this story. A second sex scene was a quickie in an alcove. Also weird. Only from the third scene onwards did things get back to "normal."
But by then I wasn't really sure what was going on. I started skimming the story whereas I read it word for word up to that disastrous scene. It was the most bizarre thing!!!
I thought about tearing another star off, but I still loved the story. I still loved Aksel. He's SUCH A STRONG hero, so deserving of love, so hungry for it, and he gives it SO GOOD! (The love, never mind the sex, the sex I honestly don't know how to feel about tho I have nothing against rough sex, it's just WEIRD in this novel)
I've been seeing other of Halle's novels pop up on my feed. I've been intrigued enough by the covers. Not so much by the blurbs. It's the single widowed father trope that got me to try this one. So we shall see about her others... maybe, maybe not.
September 22, 2018
I don't read these type of tropes (especially themes with divorced or windowed single fathers) because they are not to my liking, but for some reason I skimmed this one and found my opinion did not change.....
For anyone who cares:
Hero is a bit older then the heroine (I think 14 yrs older?), a widower for two years and celibate. His wife whom he married because he was in love with her, cheated on him with another man and he has guilt feelings over her death - as well as anger issues.
He treats heroine horribly in the beginning and tells her this about his wife:
“It’s true. We didn’t love each other. At least, she never loved me. She pretended to, to win me over, to get the crown. And I was a dumb fool, eager for anything she could give me. Eager for someone to love me, as pathetic as that sounds. So, I fell in love with her and we got married and we had two beautiful children and then the truth became my reality.”
“She never loved me,” he goes on. “And eventually, because you can only give as much as you get, I stopped loving her. We became two people who lived in the same house and that was it. We weren’t friends. We weren’t business partners. We weren’t even parents. We both just sort of managed the girls without consulting each other about it. I feared I screwed them up for life.”
Even though he learned of her affair & confronted her about it, he never planned to divorce her. I know others liked the romance between Hero & heroine, but for me (even though I skimmed), it just wasn't there. I felt no chemistry or anything between them. With the age difference & his previous experience with the ex, I felt as if heroine got short-changed.
For anyone who cares:
Hero is a bit older then the heroine (I think 14 yrs older?), a widower for two years and celibate. His wife whom he married because he was in love with her, cheated on him with another man and he has guilt feelings over her death - as well as anger issues.
He treats heroine horribly in the beginning and tells her this about his wife:
“It’s true. We didn’t love each other. At least, she never loved me. She pretended to, to win me over, to get the crown. And I was a dumb fool, eager for anything she could give me. Eager for someone to love me, as pathetic as that sounds. So, I fell in love with her and we got married and we had two beautiful children and then the truth became my reality.”
“She never loved me,” he goes on. “And eventually, because you can only give as much as you get, I stopped loving her. We became two people who lived in the same house and that was it. We weren’t friends. We weren’t business partners. We weren’t even parents. We both just sort of managed the girls without consulting each other about it. I feared I screwed them up for life.”
Even though he learned of her affair & confronted her about it, he never planned to divorce her. I know others liked the romance between Hero & heroine, but for me (even though I skimmed), it just wasn't there. I felt no chemistry or anything between them. With the age difference & his previous experience with the ex, I felt as if heroine got short-changed.
October 8, 2018
meh
Wow, a book with 4.2 rating and all my friends loved it! Must be awesome! And ah, awesome it was.
I have to give it that, the writing style was decent (first time reading this author too). And it wasn't bad for about, oh, say 55%. Then it became boring and annoying and, of course, the characters became a bit too idiotic.
Dunno why so many people loved it. Yes, he's a kind and she's the nanny. So what? Is that all it takes to make a book good?
If you do decide to try it, good luck and hope you enjoy it more than I did.
Wow, a book with 4.2 rating and all my friends loved it! Must be awesome! And ah, awesome it was.
I have to give it that, the writing style was decent (first time reading this author too). And it wasn't bad for about, oh, say 55%. Then it became boring and annoying and, of course, the characters became a bit too idiotic.
Dunno why so many people loved it. Yes, he's a kind and she's the nanny. So what? Is that all it takes to make a book good?
If you do decide to try it, good luck and hope you enjoy it more than I did.
January 1, 2025
this was cute.
my only problem is their romance went from 0 to 100. everything happened so fast i thought i accidentally skipped a few chapters.
⋆⭒˚.⋆pre~read⋆.˚⭒⋆
i saw the tropes and immediately downloaded.
❥ single dad×nanny
❥ mmc is the king of denmark
❥ grumpy×sunshine
❥ age~gap
♡ i rented from kindle unlimited ♡
my only problem is their romance went from 0 to 100. everything happened so fast i thought i accidentally skipped a few chapters.
⋆⭒˚.⋆pre~read⋆.˚⭒⋆
i saw the tropes and immediately downloaded.
❥ single dad×nanny
❥ mmc is the king of denmark
❥ grumpy×sunshine
❥ age~gap
♡ i rented from kindle unlimited ♡
September 24, 2018
3.75 Stars
September 21, 2018
King Aksel is a widowed single father of two little girls. His wife passed away two years ago, the people’s beloved queen, but nothing is as it appears and the king has been living with guilt and anger because of their secrets. Aurora is a nanny who loves working with children but she’s no Mary Poppins - she’s sassy, strong willed, smart mouthed and says what’s on her mind. I loved the chemistry between the king and his nanny. Fantastic banter, intense sexual tension and a good amount of humor - the two of them were perfect! I loved Aurora’s love for the little princesses and their personalities as well. From the first page of this book, I was hooked and didn’t want to put this down. I have been waiting anxiously for this book since it was announced and I can honestly say that the wait was worth it - this was perfect!!! If you love a good single father story, you’ll love this book. If royal romances are your jam, you’ll love this book. If you like a super sexy story with steamy scenes that leave you fanning yourself to cool down, you’ll love this book! This is a top favorite of 2018 and one of my favorite books ever! Highly recommend!!! 🤴 👸 👑
June 9, 2020
“There is no one way to fall in love. It may scar you, make its mark, but that fall, that impact, is different for everyone.”
This book was on my tbr for such a long time that I just had to pick it up.
Aurora is a young nanny who moves to Copenhagen to take care of the two daughters of the King of Denmark, King Aksel, whose wife has recently been killed in an accident. We follow the progression of their relationship, as their aversion turns into a toe-curling romance.
There was a fourteen year span between the main characters that did not prevent me from enjoying the book. The spark between them was undeniable. Their chemistry was off the charts. Aksel was broody, moody and rude. Aurora had a backbone and marched to the beat of her own drums. She did not let him walk all over her and brought out the best in him.
Apart from the melodrama near the end of the story, I liked the fairytale-like ambiance and the angsty, slow burning romance.
March 23, 2019
With lacking of the royal protocol in this book,it is a decent read. It is some sort of modern cinderella story. Miss Halle always able to write a romance story with a proper character development. The story is medium good. The chemistry between the characters are out of the chart. Plus the pig pet is such a good additional.
It is a bit too dragging though. I wish the story can be more focus on Aksel past without Aurora past mix into the last minute.
But again somehow Miss Halle make it work.
4 stars
It is a bit too dragging though. I wish the story can be more focus on Aksel past without Aurora past mix into the last minute.
But again somehow Miss Halle make it work.
4 stars
December 31, 2025
2.75 stars
I usually love royalty romances but this one didn't really work for me. With this particular trope it's a bit tricky, it either works or it doesn't. Liberties are taken and you have to suspend belief going in, especially if it's a Contemporary Romance. It's a looooot of layers and details to unpack as far as protocols, rules, etiquette, lifestyle, etc. So I get it. I'm not asking for 100% accuracy and I'm no expert and don't even care to be. It's FictionLand. But even so, I really wish Karina Halle did her due diligence a little more beyond checking how to say Danish phrases correctly because the loose world building and things that happen were far too ridiculous for even me to swallow.
This very much felt like window dressing for a royalty romance. The hero Aksel is the King of Denmark, he's a 40 year old widower with 2 little girls and in need of a nanny. His girls Freja and Clara, 5 and 6, attend public school with no security details or bodyguards. Yes that's right, royal Princesses just getting dropped off at the front gate of a public school like nothing. They live in a Palace right in the middle of the town square where tourists are always milling about in the courtyard and can "see through the palace windows" (I've never been to Denmark so maybe this is true?). There is no mention of security details (the girls have bodyguards who watch from "afar" at times is what we are passingly told but you never see them intervene), no formal guards or staff beyond one cook, a butler and a driver. The King making a public address to the public on a National holiday right outside on the front steps (which sounded more like a stoop) of the palace with no pomp or procession or barrier of any kind. Does Halle not believe a King needs security detail at all? Kind of like a low budget Hallmark Christmas movie with a Prince from a make believe obscure foreign country with a few random spare extras in the background in the cheap dresses and tiaras playing the part of “royalty” but don’t look the part at all. That's really what it felt like here. The world building is insanely thin to the point it's distracting. Honestly if we weren't told that the hero is a King and his daughters are princesses you wouldn't know it at all. People coming and going in the palace with no announcements or protocol. And most importantly, the hero hires the heroine as his nanny but doesn't even think to do a background check on her?????
Which of course rears it's ugly head near the end as the third act conflict in the most predictable way possible. He's willing to check out why she left her previous employer but doesn't even bother to do a background check? O_o
You are probably thinking I didn't enjoy this because I'm being a complete anal nitpicky grouch over details. No. I could overlook all that if other things made sense and the romance didn't feel so over the top cheesy. The heroine Aurora was another thing I struggled with. She's a 26 year old Nanny from Australia. She's supposedly been working as a professional nanny for 10 years all over Europe, she has experience working with high profile (nonroyal) elite families and highly recommended by her agency is what we are told. But this woman just felt and sounded way too green, inexperienced and emotionally immature in how she would act and react to things. Both professionally and personally. She came off more like a 18 year old naive girl who babysits on a whim and has no filter and bursts into tears at the drop of a hat. How did she deal with difficult charges in her previous positions when she acts like a sensitive snowflake is truly beyond me. Aurora kept making rash, reckless, high-handed decisions that were bizarre at best and stupid at worst. I cannot deal with characters that don't make smart decisions repeatedly and then act shocked when the worst does happen. Every time. I just didn't get her. I mean who the hell buys short skirts for her Nanny uniform just to goad her employer who happens to be a fucking King? I know that was supposed to highlight how free spirited and "sassy" she is in contrast to the much older starchy hero but it just set the wrong vibe for me. She takes the girls to an amusement park and one of them throws an epic tantrum in front of gawking strangers who are taking pictures. What does Nanny McPhee do? Threatens strangers that the Royal family will sue them for taking pictures. *major facepalm* How is this woman a professional experienced Nanny??? She even makes the girls promise not to tell their father what happened and doesn't think it will get published in tabloids. Guess what? It does. How do you think nothing will be leaked to the press when you work for the fucking monarchy, you empty-headed twat?!.... Common sense was severely lacking with this heroine. If this was someone with zero experience I could understand it better, but she has 10 years experience but acted like a hysterical naive emotional ninny half the time.
She constantly acts obtuse and oblivious to things then is shocked and dissolving into tears when the hero is angry with her for her mess ups. Why she would constantly be confused or flippant about things baffled me the most. Like telling a 6 year old that they can be a Vegetarian without talking to their parent about it first then not understanding why their father is upset over that just screams TSTL. She hides a big secret about her past when she lived in Australia and doesn't want to tell Aksel because and I quote directly "he will get angry" and insists nobody will find out. Well guess what, Susie Q? He does find out and he does get angry when it's splashed all over the press. And gee, we have to guess who leaked it to the press when it's obvious as day who has it out for them. It can't be his late wife's lover who still works for the King and hates his guts, can it? *gasp* Oh noooos. Shocking I tell you!
Who is surprised? Nobody.
I think Broken French did it better as far as Nanny/Grumpy Single Father tropes go, with the acerbic European widowed father falling for his Nanny who pushes his buttons while stuck on a yacht. I just was expecting something similar to that one. Slow burn and angst that drags to the end. The sexual tension here is slow burn, at first, but once these two tickle the pickle the emotionally closed off hero is suddenly pouring out all his feelings and emotions like Niagra Falls. Rainbows and unicorns and heart eyes are shooting out of him. That just doesn't work for me especially when it's an age gap and when the stakes are so high. It's more a personal preference but I hate when that happens, where when the couple finally give into their attraction all the emotional tension and angst just falls completely away after sex and it's all fluffy monologues and syrupy goop after that. And it's A LOT here. Shooting stars, Greek Goddess, and "wearing love like a crown" flowery analogies that are endless. ILY's being shared at the 70% felt premature and a bit too soon given the context here. The hero is a ruling King, him being all in and wanting to go public about falling in love with his Nanny with zero qualms given his painful history with his late wife (who was publicly adored) didn't make sense to me. There was just too many contradictions to the characterizations of both hero and heroine. A King trying to raise his little girls should be his #1 priority so him fighting his feelings for his much younger Nanny should have been a bigger struggle and conflict and dragged out longer IMO.
The stakes are much higher and should have been higher but Karina Halle handled it like a sappy Hallmark movie where everything is quickly resolved or brushed under the rug for a rushed HEA and epilogue, which read a little weird (the way she talks to her own kids didn't give me the warm fuzzies, this woman is not good with kids). Aksel's severe guilt and trauma over what happened to his late wife just seemed to evaporate after he sleeps with the heroine and wants to marry her. It just didn't resonate for me and felt disingenuous. These two acted like lovesick teenagers living in a vacation house, the lovey declarations read like YA or bad fan fiction. And I have a hard time believing or picturing this heroine being the ruling Queen of any country. #sorrynotsorry Honestly, I'm surprised because I read another Karina Halle book and it didn't read like this at all. My Life in Shambles felt more like an adult romance than this which confused me even more. Maybe this was just a case of bad book for me but definitely disappointed with this one given all the great things I've heard about it.
Book I Recommend with Same Tropes:
A Hallmark movie that did this exact trope way better:
I usually love royalty romances but this one didn't really work for me. With this particular trope it's a bit tricky, it either works or it doesn't. Liberties are taken and you have to suspend belief going in, especially if it's a Contemporary Romance. It's a looooot of layers and details to unpack as far as protocols, rules, etiquette, lifestyle, etc. So I get it. I'm not asking for 100% accuracy and I'm no expert and don't even care to be. It's FictionLand. But even so, I really wish Karina Halle did her due diligence a little more beyond checking how to say Danish phrases correctly because the loose world building and things that happen were far too ridiculous for even me to swallow.
This very much felt like window dressing for a royalty romance. The hero Aksel is the King of Denmark, he's a 40 year old widower with 2 little girls and in need of a nanny. His girls Freja and Clara, 5 and 6, attend public school with no security details or bodyguards. Yes that's right, royal Princesses just getting dropped off at the front gate of a public school like nothing. They live in a Palace right in the middle of the town square where tourists are always milling about in the courtyard and can "see through the palace windows" (I've never been to Denmark so maybe this is true?). There is no mention of security details (the girls have bodyguards who watch from "afar" at times is what we are passingly told but you never see them intervene), no formal guards or staff beyond one cook, a butler and a driver. The King making a public address to the public on a National holiday right outside on the front steps (which sounded more like a stoop) of the palace with no pomp or procession or barrier of any kind. Does Halle not believe a King needs security detail at all? Kind of like a low budget Hallmark Christmas movie with a Prince from a make believe obscure foreign country with a few random spare extras in the background in the cheap dresses and tiaras playing the part of “royalty” but don’t look the part at all. That's really what it felt like here. The world building is insanely thin to the point it's distracting. Honestly if we weren't told that the hero is a King and his daughters are princesses you wouldn't know it at all. People coming and going in the palace with no announcements or protocol. And most importantly, the hero hires the heroine as his nanny but doesn't even think to do a background check on her?????
Which of course rears it's ugly head near the end as the third act conflict in the most predictable way possible. He's willing to check out why she left her previous employer but doesn't even bother to do a background check? O_o
She’s her namesake, those northern lights that brighten the darkest winter skies. She’s my homecoming. And I’m in love with her.
You are probably thinking I didn't enjoy this because I'm being a complete anal nitpicky grouch over details. No. I could overlook all that if other things made sense and the romance didn't feel so over the top cheesy. The heroine Aurora was another thing I struggled with. She's a 26 year old Nanny from Australia. She's supposedly been working as a professional nanny for 10 years all over Europe, she has experience working with high profile (nonroyal) elite families and highly recommended by her agency is what we are told. But this woman just felt and sounded way too green, inexperienced and emotionally immature in how she would act and react to things. Both professionally and personally. She came off more like a 18 year old naive girl who babysits on a whim and has no filter and bursts into tears at the drop of a hat. How did she deal with difficult charges in her previous positions when she acts like a sensitive snowflake is truly beyond me. Aurora kept making rash, reckless, high-handed decisions that were bizarre at best and stupid at worst. I cannot deal with characters that don't make smart decisions repeatedly and then act shocked when the worst does happen. Every time. I just didn't get her. I mean who the hell buys short skirts for her Nanny uniform just to goad her employer who happens to be a fucking King? I know that was supposed to highlight how free spirited and "sassy" she is in contrast to the much older starchy hero but it just set the wrong vibe for me. She takes the girls to an amusement park and one of them throws an epic tantrum in front of gawking strangers who are taking pictures. What does Nanny McPhee do? Threatens strangers that the Royal family will sue them for taking pictures. *major facepalm* How is this woman a professional experienced Nanny??? She even makes the girls promise not to tell their father what happened and doesn't think it will get published in tabloids. Guess what? It does. How do you think nothing will be leaked to the press when you work for the fucking monarchy, you empty-headed twat?!.... Common sense was severely lacking with this heroine. If this was someone with zero experience I could understand it better, but she has 10 years experience but acted like a hysterical naive emotional ninny half the time.
She constantly acts obtuse and oblivious to things then is shocked and dissolving into tears when the hero is angry with her for her mess ups. Why she would constantly be confused or flippant about things baffled me the most. Like telling a 6 year old that they can be a Vegetarian without talking to their parent about it first then not understanding why their father is upset over that just screams TSTL. She hides a big secret about her past when she lived in Australia and doesn't want to tell Aksel because and I quote directly "he will get angry" and insists nobody will find out. Well guess what, Susie Q? He does find out and he does get angry when it's splashed all over the press. And gee, we have to guess who leaked it to the press when it's obvious as day who has it out for them. It can't be his late wife's lover who still works for the King and hates his guts, can it? *gasp* Oh noooos. Shocking I tell you!
Who is surprised? Nobody.
In moments like this, it feels like we’re unstoppable, immortal, like we’re at the center of a swirling universe, a god and a goddess, with the worlds at our feet. Nothing can touch us.
I think Broken French did it better as far as Nanny/Grumpy Single Father tropes go, with the acerbic European widowed father falling for his Nanny who pushes his buttons while stuck on a yacht. I just was expecting something similar to that one. Slow burn and angst that drags to the end. The sexual tension here is slow burn, at first, but once these two tickle the pickle the emotionally closed off hero is suddenly pouring out all his feelings and emotions like Niagra Falls. Rainbows and unicorns and heart eyes are shooting out of him. That just doesn't work for me especially when it's an age gap and when the stakes are so high. It's more a personal preference but I hate when that happens, where when the couple finally give into their attraction all the emotional tension and angst just falls completely away after sex and it's all fluffy monologues and syrupy goop after that. And it's A LOT here. Shooting stars, Greek Goddess, and "wearing love like a crown" flowery analogies that are endless. ILY's being shared at the 70% felt premature and a bit too soon given the context here. The hero is a ruling King, him being all in and wanting to go public about falling in love with his Nanny with zero qualms given his painful history with his late wife (who was publicly adored) didn't make sense to me. There was just too many contradictions to the characterizations of both hero and heroine. A King trying to raise his little girls should be his #1 priority so him fighting his feelings for his much younger Nanny should have been a bigger struggle and conflict and dragged out longer IMO.
The stakes are much higher and should have been higher but Karina Halle handled it like a sappy Hallmark movie where everything is quickly resolved or brushed under the rug for a rushed HEA and epilogue, which read a little weird (the way she talks to her own kids didn't give me the warm fuzzies, this woman is not good with kids). Aksel's severe guilt and trauma over what happened to his late wife just seemed to evaporate after he sleeps with the heroine and wants to marry her. It just didn't resonate for me and felt disingenuous. These two acted like lovesick teenagers living in a vacation house, the lovey declarations read like YA or bad fan fiction. And I have a hard time believing or picturing this heroine being the ruling Queen of any country. #sorrynotsorry Honestly, I'm surprised because I read another Karina Halle book and it didn't read like this at all. My Life in Shambles felt more like an adult romance than this which confused me even more. Maybe this was just a case of bad book for me but definitely disappointed with this one given all the great things I've heard about it.
Book I Recommend with Same Tropes:
A Hallmark movie that did this exact trope way better:
September 21, 2018
This royal romance completely captivated my heart! Aksel and Aurora had the perfectly sexy and romantic fairy tale that I crave as a romance reader.
This book checked so many of my boxes to make it a swoonworthy, heartwarming love story. Aksel is a handsome tortured king consumed by guilt because of the mistakes of his past. As a result he comes off as an angry jerk and is barely tolerable to those around him. Despite this, he always softens when it comes to his two little girls. There is just something so sexy and endearing about a single dad who loves and adores his daughters as much as he does. And these two princesses know exactly how to get what they want from their daddy.
Aurora is the new nanny and from the beginning sparks start to fly. This is bit of a slow burn or maybe I was just dying for them to admit their feelings for each other. Either way, the anticipation had me going crazy!! This was such a page turner for me! Of course there is a forbidden aspect to this love story because a King getting it on with the nanny was not exactly widely accepted. While this is a definitely hot and sexy book, what got me is the romance. Aurora broke through Aksel's amour. He opened up to her in a way he had never been able to before. Their love story was so beautiful, heartwarming and romantic. This is romance that makes my heart SWOON and makes me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside.
I loved how they became a family and their love with each other and their princesses was so moving. This book also has a lot of humor and a teacup pig named Snarf Snarf makes it even better. LOL. This is the stuff fairy tales are made of! I really recommend for a sexy, sweet and heartfelt royal romance that you should not miss!
5 Stars
Contemporary Romance
POV: Dual
Heat Level: Moderate
HEA
Follow me for your next COMFORT READ!!
This book checked so many of my boxes to make it a swoonworthy, heartwarming love story. Aksel is a handsome tortured king consumed by guilt because of the mistakes of his past. As a result he comes off as an angry jerk and is barely tolerable to those around him. Despite this, he always softens when it comes to his two little girls. There is just something so sexy and endearing about a single dad who loves and adores his daughters as much as he does. And these two princesses know exactly how to get what they want from their daddy.
Aurora is the new nanny and from the beginning sparks start to fly. This is bit of a slow burn or maybe I was just dying for them to admit their feelings for each other. Either way, the anticipation had me going crazy!! This was such a page turner for me! Of course there is a forbidden aspect to this love story because a King getting it on with the nanny was not exactly widely accepted. While this is a definitely hot and sexy book, what got me is the romance. Aurora broke through Aksel's amour. He opened up to her in a way he had never been able to before. Their love story was so beautiful, heartwarming and romantic. This is romance that makes my heart SWOON and makes me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside.
"You love me. I am home."
Tears spring to my eyes. "Home/"
He nods, just an inch, brow forever furrowed. "I've waited forty years for my heart to have a home,"... "I've waited for you."
I loved how they became a family and their love with each other and their princesses was so moving. This book also has a lot of humor and a teacup pig named Snarf Snarf makes it even better. LOL. This is the stuff fairy tales are made of! I really recommend for a sexy, sweet and heartfelt royal romance that you should not miss!
5 Stars
Contemporary Romance
POV: Dual
Heat Level: Moderate
HEA
Follow me for your next COMFORT READ!!
September 24, 2018
Wow.. this book is amazing! :D 🐷👑💕
It has been on my to-read list for some time, I've been very excited to read this. I've seen alot of good reviews on this book and I finally got to read it.
I've read a few books by Karina Halle and I just love her books. This book is by far my most favourite now though.
I was hooked straight from the beginning of this story and sometimes when I read a book I find certain parts either slow or boring but with this book I enjoyed it all.
A few parts in this book made me laugh out loud and that doesn't happen very often for me.
Although this book had funny moments, I really enjoyed the romance it was just perfect.
Aurora is such a lovely character, I just loved her.. she was perfect for Aksel. I loved the whole family and lets not forget the pig and the two girls running around after it.. SO CUTE!!
Ugh, I love this book.
★★★★★
It has been on my to-read list for some time, I've been very excited to read this. I've seen alot of good reviews on this book and I finally got to read it.
I've read a few books by Karina Halle and I just love her books. This book is by far my most favourite now though.
I was hooked straight from the beginning of this story and sometimes when I read a book I find certain parts either slow or boring but with this book I enjoyed it all.
A few parts in this book made me laugh out loud and that doesn't happen very often for me.
Although this book had funny moments, I really enjoyed the romance it was just perfect.
Aurora is such a lovely character, I just loved her.. she was perfect for Aksel. I loved the whole family and lets not forget the pig and the two girls running around after it.. SO CUTE!!
Ugh, I love this book.
★★★★★
September 19, 2018
Karina Halle's royals are like none I've read before. A Nordic King is a complete standalone with no appearances from previous story characters. You can start here, or with The Swedish Price, or The Wild Heir and you're good to go!
Aurora James is an Australian in Europe living life as a nanny to wealthy families. She's between jobs when she gets a call to apply for a secretive charge. Two adorable girls without a mother in the Danish royal palace. What could happen?
"She gave me life again when I'd stopped living mine long ago."
King Aksel has admonished himself because of the death of his wife. He feels he doesn't deserve a happily ever after. Hiring a nanny is the only way he knows how to care for his girls. When Aurora comes to the palace, he knows he'll be in trouble. Love and hope know no bounds when these two get started.
"You love me. I am home."
Tears spring to my eyes. "Home?"
He nods, just an inch, brow forever furrowed. "I've waited forty years for my heart to have a home," he says softly, his voice breaking with emotion. "I've waited for you."
You guys, I have all the love for A Nordic King. All. The. Love. I cannot recommend this book enough. It does start out with super heavy vibes (think The Lie), and just takes off running from there. A Nordic King is super sweet and silly, heartfelt and steamy. It's got all the makings for a spectacular romance, and Karina delivers from page one! With that said, I'm wondering how Karina's writing just keeps getting better and better. But it's really no wonder, is it? She's just that good!
December 10, 2018
★5 Stars! A Nordic King... Is a beautiful, heartwarming, slow burn that leaves you trembling and on the edge of your seat!
The truth is, Aurora, this living goddess in my home, is making me weak and for the first time ever, I have something to lose. Her. I can’t lose her. And I can’t keep her. I don’t know what to do.
A fiery nanny.
A widowed King.
Two adorable princesses.
Forbidden.
Passion.
The TENSION. The STEAM. The ANGST!
An unforgettable read!
More review to come!
The truth is, Aurora, this living goddess in my home, is making me weak and for the first time ever, I have something to lose. Her. I can’t lose her. And I can’t keep her. I don’t know what to do.
A fiery nanny.
A widowed King.
Two adorable princesses.
Forbidden.
Passion.
The TENSION. The STEAM. The ANGST!
An unforgettable read!
More review to come!
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