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The Royals of Coradova #1
Heart of Mine
We were never supposed to fall in love.
He's the Crown Prince of Coradova, and I've been his best friend since childhood. One kiss changed everything.
My name is Madison Kavanaugh and I grew up in a small, modern-day kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. My life in Coradova was better than any fairytale -- until I fell in love with my best friend, and the one person I couldn't have. Crown Prince Alexander.
Now I'm forced to fight a love I can't give into. But with every look, every touch, I fall deeper for the prince who holds my heart.
Amid a political storm of intrigue and mystery, I will risk everything for Alexander.
Even my life.
If you like the royal aspect of Kiera Cass' The Selection and the romantic mysteries of Colleen Coble, you'll love this sweet and swoon-worthy royal romance.
Pick up HEART OF MINE today, and discover the Mediterranean kingdom of love, mystery, and happily-ever-afters...
_____________________________
(Note: Heart of Mine is a standalone novel in The Royals of Coradova series, a collection of sweet contemporary royal romances. While you can read them in any order, it is more fun to read them in sequence.)
My name is Madison Kavanaugh and I grew up in a small, modern-day kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. My life in Coradova was better than any fairytale -- until I fell in love with my best friend, and the one person I couldn't have. Crown Prince Alexander.
Now I'm forced to fight a love I can't give into. But with every look, every touch, I fall deeper for the prince who holds my heart.
Amid a political storm of intrigue and mystery, I will risk everything for Alexander.
Even my life.
If you like the royal aspect of Kiera Cass' The Selection and the romantic mysteries of Colleen Coble, you'll love this sweet and swoon-worthy royal romance.
Pick up HEART OF MINE today, and discover the Mediterranean kingdom of love, mystery, and happily-ever-afters...
_____________________________
(Note: Heart of Mine is a standalone novel in The Royals of Coradova series, a collection of sweet contemporary royal romances. While you can read them in any order, it is more fun to read them in sequence.)
ebook
First published March 30, 2018
160 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Bergman
6 books21 followersFrom her home in the mountains, Lindsay Bergman writes Sweet Contemporary Romance. When she's not writing, she enjoys camping, reading and coffee. Someday, she plans to travel the country with her husband, two children and Great Dane mix.
The characters that most often come to her are flawed and sometimes broken, until love transforms them. She tends to write about strong, courageous young women and the alluring men who fall in love with them.
Her heartfelt and swoon-worthy romances, sweeping scenery and mysterious plots will keep you turning pages late into the night. So what are you waiting for? Get lost in her world of royals, cowboys and happily-ever-afters.
Follow Lindsay on Facebook:
https://fb.me//lindsaybergmanbooks
The characters that most often come to her are flawed and sometimes broken, until love transforms them. She tends to write about strong, courageous young women and the alluring men who fall in love with them.
Her heartfelt and swoon-worthy romances, sweeping scenery and mysterious plots will keep you turning pages late into the night. So what are you waiting for? Get lost in her world of royals, cowboys and happily-ever-afters.
Follow Lindsay on Facebook:
https://fb.me//lindsaybergmanbooks
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 7, 2019
Couldn't finish, too redundant
I'm all for a book that describes how amazing the sky or the ocean look, or how incredibly appealing the main guy is, but when it feels like that's all the book is doing, repeating the same descriptions... I can't handle it.
The premise of the novel seemed intriguing, but the pace was incredibly slow. After only getting through 30 or so percent I cut my losses and moved on.
On a steaminess level I would have to rate this a pretty hot PG-13. Not a fan of the smoldering kisses.
I'm all for a book that describes how amazing the sky or the ocean look, or how incredibly appealing the main guy is, but when it feels like that's all the book is doing, repeating the same descriptions... I can't handle it.
The premise of the novel seemed intriguing, but the pace was incredibly slow. After only getting through 30 or so percent I cut my losses and moved on.
On a steaminess level I would have to rate this a pretty hot PG-13. Not a fan of the smoldering kisses.
August 3, 2018
I honestly don’t know how to tackle this one.
I picked up Heart of Mine as a listing in a book group. I started it and almost immediately hit a wall. The writing wasn’t for me and the dialogue felt, I don’t know, forced?
But after dropping it for a bit, I kept wanting to give it another shot.
So, the other day I thought why not? Off I went to bed and gave it another crack. Once I pushed through my many eye roll moments I found myself still awake at 4am! Not bad for a book I was struggling to connect with!
Maddy was feisty... but sounded like she was from a Jane Austen novel. They all did. It was so formal that at times I really struggled to connect. BUT. As I said, maybe the writing style isn’t for me.
Thing is - and this is the part that caught me off guard - I found myself turning the pages interested to find out more.
Maddison and Alexander’s relationship at the beginning was your typical childhood friends. He was chasing everything in a skirt and barely registered his friend. Until someone else was interested... what do you know? **poof** Alex sees Maddy through fresh new eyes.
I wasn’t interested in the teenage section of their story to be honest. Maddy was throwing herself at his feet and Alex was pulling away, hard. It was almost embarrassing to read!
But then they kissed once and she left. Gone.
After that, I was interested. When she sees Alex three years later, things have changed, dramatically.
He’s clearly missed her and the time apart made everything crystal clear for him. In the space of a few days, he’s confessing his love for Maddy and bam, they’re engaged. It all happens a bit fast but the swoon-worthy moments were enough to make it all believable. And there were many swooning moments, oh Alex!
From then on their relationship was tested at every turn and I got it, he is the crown prince and she’s a chick from Montana - hardly a princess in training.
But that’s not what got me. It was the emotion. You could honestly feel their love rip through the both of them. The tangible pain they endured desperately holding on to each other. Until it all came to the most heartbreaking, inevitable peak. Ah! So, so heartbreaking!
THIS is why I enjoyed it! And I was shocked! I know! See, confusing??!
At the beginning it was an alright book and no part of it really blew me away. But. I’m still thinking about it. Those two and their love are still very much on my mind. For that, it’s a good read.
I picked up Heart of Mine as a listing in a book group. I started it and almost immediately hit a wall. The writing wasn’t for me and the dialogue felt, I don’t know, forced?
But after dropping it for a bit, I kept wanting to give it another shot.
So, the other day I thought why not? Off I went to bed and gave it another crack. Once I pushed through my many eye roll moments I found myself still awake at 4am! Not bad for a book I was struggling to connect with!
Maddy was feisty... but sounded like she was from a Jane Austen novel. They all did. It was so formal that at times I really struggled to connect. BUT. As I said, maybe the writing style isn’t for me.
Thing is - and this is the part that caught me off guard - I found myself turning the pages interested to find out more.
Maddison and Alexander’s relationship at the beginning was your typical childhood friends. He was chasing everything in a skirt and barely registered his friend. Until someone else was interested... what do you know? **poof** Alex sees Maddy through fresh new eyes.
I wasn’t interested in the teenage section of their story to be honest. Maddy was throwing herself at his feet and Alex was pulling away, hard. It was almost embarrassing to read!
But then they kissed once and she left. Gone.
After that, I was interested. When she sees Alex three years later, things have changed, dramatically.
He’s clearly missed her and the time apart made everything crystal clear for him. In the space of a few days, he’s confessing his love for Maddy and bam, they’re engaged. It all happens a bit fast but the swoon-worthy moments were enough to make it all believable. And there were many swooning moments, oh Alex!
From then on their relationship was tested at every turn and I got it, he is the crown prince and she’s a chick from Montana - hardly a princess in training.
But that’s not what got me. It was the emotion. You could honestly feel their love rip through the both of them. The tangible pain they endured desperately holding on to each other. Until it all came to the most heartbreaking, inevitable peak. Ah! So, so heartbreaking!
THIS is why I enjoyed it! And I was shocked! I know! See, confusing??!
At the beginning it was an alright book and no part of it really blew me away. But. I’m still thinking about it. Those two and their love are still very much on my mind. For that, it’s a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2020
This is Hallmark's When Calls the Heart meets Nora Roberts. Set in a Mediterranean paradise, this clean royal romance has a touch of mystery and suspense, and plenty of swoon-worthy kisses.
August 24, 2018
Growing up, Madison always thought of Alex as a brother more than a possible boyfriend. But when something sparks between them, Madison finds her thoughts and wishes for Alex changing and she can't help but think he feels the same. Alex has always been her protector, but now she wonders if he could be so much more.
Things are complicated between Alex and Maddy because she isn't of noble blood. A prince must marry someone of noble blood or renounce their claim to the throne. Alex's dad has other plans for Alex and soon a danger arises and threatens Maddy. Maddy must try to remain true to her heart.
HEART OF MINE is a slow paced romance with a twist of danger and mystery. I like how strong Maddy is and how intriguing Alex is portrayed. This sort of gave me a forbidden romance feel and pulled at my heart strings as I cheered for Alex and Maddy's relationship to spark.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to fans of romance, mystery, and royalty.
Things are complicated between Alex and Maddy because she isn't of noble blood. A prince must marry someone of noble blood or renounce their claim to the throne. Alex's dad has other plans for Alex and soon a danger arises and threatens Maddy. Maddy must try to remain true to her heart.
HEART OF MINE is a slow paced romance with a twist of danger and mystery. I like how strong Maddy is and how intriguing Alex is portrayed. This sort of gave me a forbidden romance feel and pulled at my heart strings as I cheered for Alex and Maddy's relationship to spark.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to fans of romance, mystery, and royalty.
August 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this read. It takes the readers back to a time in their lives when first love was so exciting! Remember those butterflies you use to get in high school when your high school crush use to come near, that's what this story evokes. I personally was very endeared by the early part of the story when Alexander and Maddy first meet as teenagers. Their relationship progresses with complicated turns that leave you yearning for the main characters to see their happily ever after. This is a sweet and clean romance, incredibly enough I thought the the minimal amount of sexual tension that is in the book was more than enough to keep me engaged and entertained. If you are into sweet romances this is a great choice!
April 24, 2019
Very romantic
Growing up in Cordovia as house friends of the royal family, Madison, whose family came from a horse farming ranch in Montana, inevitably fell in love with the crown Prince apparent. He was being groomed to become the next King. She allowed him to experience a more normal childhood by getting up to all sorts of escapades. He fell in love with her too, as his best friend. When he proposed she was thrilled to accept his offer but it was not to be. He was required by law to marry royalty in an ancient act of Parliament. Torn apart by unseen enemies, the couple were devastated.
I enjoyed the book but felt too much emphasis was on wealth, clothing, good looks and not balanced by harsh reality.
Growing up in Cordovia as house friends of the royal family, Madison, whose family came from a horse farming ranch in Montana, inevitably fell in love with the crown Prince apparent. He was being groomed to become the next King. She allowed him to experience a more normal childhood by getting up to all sorts of escapades. He fell in love with her too, as his best friend. When he proposed she was thrilled to accept his offer but it was not to be. He was required by law to marry royalty in an ancient act of Parliament. Torn apart by unseen enemies, the couple were devastated.
I enjoyed the book but felt too much emphasis was on wealth, clothing, good looks and not balanced by harsh reality.
December 13, 2018
Sweet Romance with some suspense
My goodness I have not cried so much over a romance book in a loooong time! I’m talking about the this hurts so much but I have to keep reading type of cry.
This book game me all the feels. A YA forbidden romance, the loss and yearning of unrequited love, the passion and care of true love, the feelings of inadequacy, the necessity to fulfill one’s duty, love notes, whispering of sweet nothings in Italian *swoon* then add a stalker, hate notes, kidnapping, suspense and many heart wrenching goodbyes all before culminating to a HEA. This was GREAT!
Cannot wait to read more in this series!
My goodness I have not cried so much over a romance book in a loooong time! I’m talking about the this hurts so much but I have to keep reading type of cry.
This book game me all the feels. A YA forbidden romance, the loss and yearning of unrequited love, the passion and care of true love, the feelings of inadequacy, the necessity to fulfill one’s duty, love notes, whispering of sweet nothings in Italian *swoon* then add a stalker, hate notes, kidnapping, suspense and many heart wrenching goodbyes all before culminating to a HEA. This was GREAT!
Cannot wait to read more in this series!
October 24, 2018
Great read! I'm off to read the sequel.
Finally a sweet YA with a story that transports you to a far away island kingdom. Lots of lively characters with depth and charisma. A story that grabs your interest from the beginning and won't let you go. I like the way the story jumps ahead and when you have questions about what happened, one of the characters makes a comment that answers your question. Colorful character and world building. I like the author's style of writing. Highly recommend!
Finally a sweet YA with a story that transports you to a far away island kingdom. Lots of lively characters with depth and charisma. A story that grabs your interest from the beginning and won't let you go. I like the way the story jumps ahead and when you have questions about what happened, one of the characters makes a comment that answers your question. Colorful character and world building. I like the author's style of writing. Highly recommend!
November 22, 2018
Brilliant
I was given a sample of this book to read but then I found it on KU so thought why not give it a go.
It was incredible it's more of a romantic suspense book because you don't know who the baddy is until the very end it's sweet and wholesome and clean. I love the characters so much I'm going for round 2 with the second straight after this one. I was so hooked that I think I read it in less than two days give or take . Kind of had a binge reading this one thanks to the weather not been good nice to curl up with a good book. Loved it...
I was given a sample of this book to read but then I found it on KU so thought why not give it a go.
It was incredible it's more of a romantic suspense book because you don't know who the baddy is until the very end it's sweet and wholesome and clean. I love the characters so much I'm going for round 2 with the second straight after this one. I was so hooked that I think I read it in less than two days give or take . Kind of had a binge reading this one thanks to the weather not been good nice to curl up with a good book. Loved it...
April 4, 2019
A fun read. The setting in a small royal kingdom reminded me a little of the setting of Princess Diaries 2. A sweet romance without graphic sex. Thus recommended for young adults. I couldn’t put it down until the end. A real cliff hanger!
I gave it a Three stars because it is a light fun reading. I was easy language without hard words to understand. Good for older teens also.
I gave it a Three stars because it is a light fun reading. I was easy language without hard words to understand. Good for older teens also.
March 21, 2019
Heart of Mine
An interesting story. Madison had always been close to the royal family Alexander had been trained to be the future king his entire life. Neither expected to fall so in love. Lots of complications and unexpected events keep this a, complicated tale. A ,diverse cast adds to it as,well. I give it 4 stars
An interesting story. Madison had always been close to the royal family Alexander had been trained to be the future king his entire life. Neither expected to fall so in love. Lots of complications and unexpected events keep this a, complicated tale. A ,diverse cast adds to it as,well. I give it 4 stars
December 21, 2024
Ms. Bergman has crafted a royally beautiful romance between this childhood friends-to-lovers pair.
I thought I would go crazy with the push and pull of these two. They just couldn't get on the same page, with timing, with heart pounding, with kisses.
And it was great.
If you like Cinderella types stories, then grab this one.
I thought I would go crazy with the push and pull of these two. They just couldn't get on the same page, with timing, with heart pounding, with kisses.
And it was great.
If you like Cinderella types stories, then grab this one.
July 31, 2018
Thank you Lindsay Bergman.
The story of Maddy and Alex is beautiful. You made me laugh and ugly cry. The power of love, respect and family shine brightly throughout this novel.
Please read this one!
The story of Maddy and Alex is beautiful. You made me laugh and ugly cry. The power of love, respect and family shine brightly throughout this novel.
Please read this one!
January 16, 2019
Loved it
I absolutely love the story. The characters were very sweet and the romance was full of drama and intrigue. If you are looking for a book that has sweet romance and some mystery to it this is your series!
I absolutely love the story. The characters were very sweet and the romance was full of drama and intrigue. If you are looking for a book that has sweet romance and some mystery to it this is your series!
February 18, 2019
Not bad, but just missing something
I have read a lot of royalty books. This one just felt like something was missing. Maybe I just didn't connect with the characters. This was not the worst royalty book I've read, but not the best either. It was nice, but not great.
I have read a lot of royalty books. This one just felt like something was missing. Maybe I just didn't connect with the characters. This was not the worst royalty book I've read, but not the best either. It was nice, but not great.
May 16, 2018
Very descriptive YA romance with a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. I’m looking forward to the sequel.
February 5, 2019
For me this was a rather different romance. Maddy and Alex's love was established early on, leaving the focus to be on how they dealt with outside attacks to their connection and Maddy's doubts.
March 30, 2019
Ohhhh
This was such a good book. The ebb and flow of emotions took me on a journey. I cried with this book. Something I don’t do often! Looking forward to the rest of this series.
This was such a good book. The ebb and flow of emotions took me on a journey. I cried with this book. Something I don’t do often! Looking forward to the rest of this series.
March 18, 2020
Reading this felt exactly like reading Twilight. Both were terrible and filled with every gender stereotype that makes my skin crawl and I couldn’t put them down. And the typos... 🙄
January 14, 2025
Super sweet royalty story. I really enjoyed reading about Madison and Alexander ❤
October 28, 2018
Who doesn't like a Cinderella story? This one has the added friends to lovers angle altho I feel the switch from one to the other happened really quickly. I wish that there was more to the journey instead of an almost immediate switch.
Like all Prince Charmings, this one comes at a price. The question is always, how much are you willing to sacrifice for your heart's desire.
It was a nice breezy read for the weekend. There were pretty sweet moments (after they became lovers) in the story mixed in with some action.
Like all Prince Charmings, this one comes at a price. The question is always, how much are you willing to sacrifice for your heart's desire.
It was a nice breezy read for the weekend. There were pretty sweet moments (after they became lovers) in the story mixed in with some action.
November 9, 2022
Heart wrenchingly beautiful
My first experience with this author. I'll definitely read more by her! I love the cover of the book! It's what first made me curious about looking into a new- for -me author. Clean, but with lots of kissing and some violence. I cried and i sighed. A lot. Full of friendship, love, and sacrifice. Some unexpected twists and turns. The only reason i didn't give it a 5 was because of how insecure and hung up on the ex's Maddy was. It got a little redundant. But i would have been the same way because i really didn't like how much of a player Alex was. Even thought i understand why he dated so much, I wasnt fully convinced even by the end that he didn't love Emma as more than a friend. That bothered me the way he hedged about his feelings for her. No wonder Maddy was insecure. I didn't feel like i could fully trust him.
All in all, a great read that i couldn't put down. Can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
My first experience with this author. I'll definitely read more by her! I love the cover of the book! It's what first made me curious about looking into a new- for -me author. Clean, but with lots of kissing and some violence. I cried and i sighed. A lot. Full of friendship, love, and sacrifice. Some unexpected twists and turns. The only reason i didn't give it a 5 was because of how insecure and hung up on the ex's Maddy was. It got a little redundant. But i would have been the same way because i really didn't like how much of a player Alex was. Even thought i understand why he dated so much, I wasnt fully convinced even by the end that he didn't love Emma as more than a friend. That bothered me the way he hedged about his feelings for her. No wonder Maddy was insecure. I didn't feel like i could fully trust him.
All in all, a great read that i couldn't put down. Can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
Want to read
March 13, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/13/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
He was a royal prince. She was his best friend from childhood. Their forbidden love will cost them everything.
Twenty-year-old Madison Kavanaugh grew up in a small, modern-day kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. Her life in the paradise of Coradova was better than any fairytale—until she fell in love with the last person she ever expected: Her best friend and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Alexander.
Now everything has changed. As they fight against a love they can’t give into, Alexander and Madison find themselves walking the thin line of friendship.
When a growing danger lurks nearby, the enemy is closer than they realize. Although Madison’s life hangs in the balance, she will willingly risk everything for the prince who holds her heart.
Blurb:
He was a royal prince. She was his best friend from childhood. Their forbidden love will cost them everything.
Twenty-year-old Madison Kavanaugh grew up in a small, modern-day kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. Her life in the paradise of Coradova was better than any fairytale—until she fell in love with the last person she ever expected: Her best friend and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Alexander.
Now everything has changed. As they fight against a love they can’t give into, Alexander and Madison find themselves walking the thin line of friendship.
When a growing danger lurks nearby, the enemy is closer than they realize. Although Madison’s life hangs in the balance, she will willingly risk everything for the prince who holds her heart.
Read
March 30, 2019DNF @ 27%.
First thing that bugged me: how they each said the characters name of whom they were talking to like every other page. Thanks, but I don't need the reminder.
Second: there was an innocence to the book and while that alone doesn't bother me, it was unrealistic given their ages. Too fluffy for me.
Finally: it was really annoying how Maddy didn't even realize that hey, Alexander CAN'T be into me because he's going to be King and I don't even have a title. Maybe THAT was why he kept pushing you away - though he really wasn't that great at it. Which drove me nuts.
First thing that bugged me: how they each said the characters name of whom they were talking to like every other page. Thanks, but I don't need the reminder.
Second: there was an innocence to the book and while that alone doesn't bother me, it was unrealistic given their ages. Too fluffy for me.
Finally: it was really annoying how Maddy didn't even realize that hey, Alexander CAN'T be into me because he's going to be King and I don't even have a title. Maybe THAT was why he kept pushing you away - though he really wasn't that great at it. Which drove me nuts.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews