Rejecting the Prince

Royal Secrets #8

by Laura D. Bastian

She’s the daughter of the royal horse trainer. He’s the prince she berated for taking his own horse for a joy ride. Can they swallow their pride and find a way to work together?

Kimber isn’t sure she wants to keep working for a Prince of Durham, especially when he refuses to consider using a female jockey in the Royal Stakes races. But she’s not willing to give up three years of training one of his horses with a good chance to win just to follow tradition.

Prince Oliver, the nephew of the royal family in Durham, has loved horses almost as much as his late father and would do anything to protect his legacy and memory. But when a beautiful and feisty trainer starts to make him question everything he thought he knew, he worries upholding one tradition might mean the loss of more than a race.

Royal Secrets Series:
1. Taming the Prince by Lindzee Armstrong
2. Dancing with the Prince by Laura D. Bastian
3. Serving the Prince by Lucinda Whitney
4. Dating the Prince by Lindzee Armstrong
5. Forgetting the Prince by Laura D. Bastian
6. Rescuing the Prince by Lucinda Whitney
7. Winning Back the Princess by Lindzee Armstrong
8. Rejecting the Prince by Laura D. Bastian
9. Protecting the Princess by Lucinda Whitney

Genres: Contemporary Romance

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2019

About the author

Laura grew up in a small town in central Utah and now lives in another small town in northern Utah. She always loved stargazing and imagining life outside her own little world. Though they grew up only thirty miles apart, she didn't meet her husband until they went to college. A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, Laura has been using that training as she raises her children and writes make believe worlds. You can usually find her on her laptop either typing away, or on social media interacting with friends.

Reviews

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been such a fun one to get lost in. I haven't found one of the books yet that I didn't love. Rejecting the Prince was no exception. I honestly had so much fun reading it. The two main characters, Kimber and Oliver, were two characters that I really thoroughly enjoyed reading about. I loved their back stories, their personalities and so much more. The chemistry between them was very well written. And their back and forth banter too!

If you haven't had the chance to read any of this series, let me tell you that it is one I highly recommend. The three authors who collaborated on it are three of my favorite authors. Very talented ladies. You can read all the books, pick and choose one or two. Read all by one author. How ever you want to enjoy them.

I loved finally seeing more about Oliver and his life. In the previous books we're given little hints about him and his horses but I loved seeing it more up close in this book. I guess I should probably say, reading it, not seeing it. Hee Hee! I'm a horse lover and just thought it was so neat how Laura Bastian added in all the great horse scenes and info about training and racing. Pretty fun! So you horse fans out there, you might really enjoy this one...especially if you're a fan of reading books about royalty and sweet romance!

Content: Clean

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest book in the Royal Secrets series is Prince Oliver's story. Oliver has loved horses since he was young and learned about them from his late father. They're his passion, and going back home to Dorset Hall, his country estate, was where he went to rest and get rejuvenated by spending time with his horses. Out riding one of his horses, he's surprised to see a woman waving her arms yelling at him "Get off that horse, you idiot!"

Kimber is the daughter of Prince Oliver's long-time horse trainer. She's also passionate about horses, and had no idea it was Prince Oliver riding Complexity when she called him an idiot and yelled at him to get off of the horse. She's pretty sure she's going to be fired, but Oliver finds himself smiling over the spunky horse trainer.

These two have great chemistry but Kimber is very aware of what a relationship with Prince Oliver would mean--especially public scrutiny over her job as one of his horse trainers. With two horses of his horses in the running for the Triple Stakes Crown will their relationship stay strictly professional?

Kimber is more than just a horse trainer. She has new kinder ways to train the race horses and truly cares about what happens to the animals after their days of racing are over. She and Oliver are a great match. She spends a lot of time (maybe too much) wondering and worrying about what would happen to her job if she were to get romantically involved with Oliver. Oliver isn't the type of man who would fire her if their relationship didn't work out and would certainly stand up for her if anyone questioned her abilities.

This is a sweet story that you can read in a couple of hours. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting. I may read again and rate it higher. It seemed odd to me that someone would reject a prince. Maybe that is what made the book interesting. Do I recommend---Yes. Look forward to reading the other books in this series.

[Lady The Owls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved the story, not just for the romance but the horses and the races. It was exciting and kept me on my seat as I rooted for Kimber's hard work to show she was the best. I also loved the way the love story evolved and finally came together. Lots of energy within the story and not like your usual love stories.

[Lindzee Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are going to love this next installment in the Royal Secrets series! Prince Oliver is positively dreamy.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I loved all the horses and horse racing. It was so fun. I love the movie Secretariat and thought of it often throughout this book. That's the only reference I have to horse racing. Oliver loves his horses and they help him feel close to his father. Kimber also loves horses and loves training them with her father. The chemistry between Oliver and Kimber is instant and it was fun seeing their relationship develop. This is a fun addition to the series.

[Anna B · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Rejecting The Prince” Laura has perfected the working girl wins the prince fantasy so many of us have had.

When Kimber, the prince’s horse trainer sees a stranger running one of his horses harder than he should be, she jumps in with a demand to stop. Oops! It’s none other than Prince Oliver himself. She’s passionate about the horses and is trying more humane ways to motivate her racers. Before she can pull it back she’s berating the prince. Why can’t she keep her mouth shut? Will she lose her job?

Oliver is a little taken aback by the spunky trainer who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Intrigued by Kimber he decides to spend more time around the beauty who loves his horses as much as he does. He finds himself more and more drawn to her as they work together preparing for the triple stakes races. Is it possible a relationship could grow and flourish when he’s so much in the public eye?

In the midst of the excitement of the races, as they dance around their attraction to each other will they end up with their happily ever after?

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Royal princes, country estates, great characters, and horses make for a very interesting and spellbinding story centered around horse racing, jockeys, and their trainers. How nice to have a female jockey and trainer with their own methods for winning horse races. I loved the pacing of the story and Kimber's trepidation over her feelings for Prince Oliver and what people would think since she was his employee. It made the story more interesting and believable. I could picture this as a Hallmark movie. I loved the ball scene! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's trying to be smart and stay safe from gossip that could be detrimental to her chosen career. Who knew that could cause her a broken heart?
He just wants a chance with the first woman to really fascinate him.

The characters were well done. I loved the racing aspect. I've no idea how accurate any of it was, but it read well. The final race's outcome was expected, but I still enjoyed reading it.

I like that there was no "bad guy" in the story. The drama is based on their lifestyles and the fact that he's a royal and her boss.

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rejecting the Prince" by Laura D. Bastian
I was gifted an ARC by the author and was asked to keep an eye out for any typos/mistakes that had not already been caught during previous editing rounds. Well, sad to say... or maybe not so sad to say... I got so caught up in the story that I forgot to do any proof-reading. But I can say I did thoroughly enjoy my time with Kimber and Oliver, and Mercurious, too. This is a sweet, clean contemporary romance. A truly fun read.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Rejecting the Prince. I loved it! Prince Oliver is not just handsome and royal, he is kind and patient. Kimber wants to improve the lot of race horses with more human training and care after they are no winners. She has trained one of Oliver's mares with kindness and a female jockey. This book has great horses, awesome races and romance. You are going to love it!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment in the Royal Secrets series. So glad to see Prince Oliver having his turn to find someone special. Kimber is his horse trainer. It was fun having the racing of the horses included in the story. A great clean read.

I received an ARC and this is my own opinion.

[nss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright. This book had an awesome storyline and, in my opinion, had the potential to be even more entertaining that it already is. If you know me, then you’ll know I am partial to the “commoner falls in love with a royal” storyline— I adore it because it features two people from different worlds coming together for love. Kimber and Oliver clash immediately and it’s so fun to see attraction intermingling with both character’s inherent stubbornness. I immediately loved Kimber because the author shapes her so finely into a character that clearly has an admirable love for animals and a strong will— evident in how she does not back down from scolding someone for riding a certain horse too hard, even when the rider reveals himself as the prince. Oliver is a down to earth prince, without being unrealistic— kudos to the author for being able to make Oliver as realistic as possible. He shows Kimber respect and treats her with dignity by speaking to her kindly and simply by listening to her. One thing that bothered me about this novel was the fact that the characters didn’t develop enough and the story could’ve been the teeniest bit more complex— a little complexity where Kimber and Oliver’s romance is concerned would have been nice as I felt they made too many excuses as to why they should not be together. I understand these two characters come from different worlds but Kimber’s beating around the bush was slightly weak in my eyes. Overall, I think the author did a fantastic job here by creating an entertaining story that really did make me eager to find out what was going to happen next. I’ve given this short, sweet, fun novel 3/5 stars because I would have preferred a little more depth overall.


I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Elaine A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince Oliver has many interests but his favorite is his race horses. His uncle, the King, helped him choose a trainer. On a visit to his home and stables he meets the trainer’s daughter, who is also training horses, when she yells at him for riding his favorite horse. She touches him that day and he must then work to either forget her, which seems impossible, or convince her that she should take a chance on him. Kimber loves training horses and feels that mares should be allowed to race and that female jockeys should be allowed. So she trains the mare using a female jockey. And hopes that she can show Prince Oliver that females can outrace the males. See how these two come to terms with their differences, or are there really any differences.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I enjoyed Kimber and her love and care for horses. I liked that she didn't fall for the handsome prince right off. She showed herself to be a strong independent woman. Those traits are what opened Prince Oliver's eyes to see Kimber. He was floored that she didn't immediately take to him. I enjoyed how the story progressed. There was a lot of development of Kimber and Oliver's characters. Overall, a very sweet clean romance.
I was given a copy of this book. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Anne Wingate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's All About Winning

But winning what?
Oliver is a prince, but his father was the second son and he has plenty of cousins, so he doesn't have to worry about becoming king.
Kimber trains race horses. To be precise, she trains Oliver's race horses.
Oliver loves his horses. So does Kimber.
That's a starting point.
Bastian writes feel-good,clean romances in which both the woman and the man are strong. No wimpy, needy heroines for her.
Recommended for all readers of clean royal romance.

[F.J.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book would have been so much better if the prince was aware of his head trainer's daughter as a younger girl. She's lived there for many years and he never knew his trainer had a daughter? I love stories where they know "of" each other but then years later have a connection. In addition, how could a serious horse breeder (the Prince) make the decisions he did? I won't say what they are because I don't want to give the story away.

Otherwise, it was a fun read. I'm an author myself so I look at things perhaps with a more critical eye.

[Karen Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rejecting the Prince

Cute royal romance story about a horse trainer and her Prince. Kimberly has worked for the Prince in his stables as a horse trainer with her father for a time, having been hired by her father. Since he spends most of his time at the palace of his aunt and uncle, the King, he has not met her before his trip to honor his parents on the anniversary of their death. They become close while she is training one his horses to run in the Royal Stakes races. She is reluctant to a relationship with him because her status. Will he be able to change her mind?

[Charmaine Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books that have princes (living my fairytale dreams through books with princes) and I loved how strong the characters are. They're both not afraid to stand up to each other, which I like in characters. I absolutely loved reading this book and had a hard time putting it down because of the way it was written and how it flowed in a way that will grasp your attention from beginning to end. Loved it and would recommend if you like books with strong female characters and princes.

[Terressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story that just adds to the series! I really enjoyed the story through the horse racing angle. It was quite enjoyable. Great characters.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists,
and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive
reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this
in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Story

This was a fun shorter length novel (longer than a novella but shorter novel). I enjoyed following the love story between a horse trainer and the owner of the horse, a prince (cousin to the crowned prince in a pretend European nation in the series world). She really didn’t want to fall for the prince, due to being his employee and not wanting to have the media spotlight on her. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the rest in the series!

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is a horse trainer, he is a Prince. She is shy and quiet, he is suave and debonair. She is an employee, he is the boss. She thinks she isn't good enough for a Prince, he knows she is. Read this great story to see how their worlds collide.
I recommend this book to all who like good clean happy endings.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of opposites in love despite the odds. The characters are strong and the author does a great job describing them and the scenes in vivid detail. She moves the story quickly and smoothly and I enjoyed reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this story a lot. She is fiesty, Prince Oliver is charming & willing to let her continue to train his horse. I like that this book has horse racing in it. The end I did not expect which made it more exciting & enjoyable. I highly recommend this book & this author. I received an ARC & this is my honest, voluntary opinion.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal romance

For a prince who never had known rejection, he sure had to face it a lot in this book. The book was very appropriately named. That being said a little rejection for prince only made him try harder and realize the prize he had to gain if you could only win her over. A sweet book. Definitely makes me want to go horseback riding.

[Angel Mcduffie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though times have changed can a prince and one of his royal horse trainers find true love together or will the pressure of his birthright keep them apart.. This is a sweet and clean romance for all ages

[Linda Syman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one for horses but loved this book!

Horses and race horses at that, but throw in a good romance and a prince who has to fight for the attention of his trainer. That equals a great book.

[Coffee Chat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and romantic story. I enjoyed Kimber and Oliver's love of horses. The characters are well developed and have just the right amount of chemistry. The story is a well developed, fast pasted, clean romance that will keep your interest.

[Dianne Boadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Laura’s latest novel Rejecting the Prince. We follow the mounting attraction between Kimber and Oliver as they overcome their doubts about letting their feelings for each other win out and lead to a HEA

[Teresa Bertolio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally fell in love with this sweet story! It's a page turner and a fast read! Horse lovers will love all the scenes with these magnificent creatures in the beautiful countryside. Powerful characters and plenty of witty conversations. I highly recommend this book and author! Happy reading!