My Wicked Prince

by Molly O'Keefe

He was my stepbrother.
My Prince Charming.
My fairy tale gone totally wrong...

My mother marrying the king was supposed to give my mom and me our happily ever after. But my life has never been a bedtime story and no prince with a fancy shoe is turning me into a Cinderella.

I had big plans outside of my small but powerful country. But Gunnar, the wicked prince in a gorgeous package, was temptation too strong for me to resist. His sweet lies and sweeter kisses pulled me back into his arms over and over again until his cold cruel heart finally broke mine for good.

Now he's going to be King and he wants me back in his country, his palace...and his bed.

And we all must bow to the King.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Royalty, Second Chance, Fiction, Enemies To Lovers

255 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2019

About the author

This author is also published under: M. O'Keefe.

Molly O'Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring every character's road towards happily ever after.

Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she's not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.

Reviews

[Paula (on hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

SPOILERS!!!!!

In my opinion, after the main couple meet,it is cheating if they hook up with OP. In this story, heroine became involved with OM a year after meeting & being attracted to Hero. She dated & slept with this OM for over a year while hero remained celibate. Then after they broke up, in the "present", heroine was not celibate (she said she had a ONS a year after Hero left). However Hero said he never slept with anyone after meeting heroine - though he said he did try many times with OW but couldn't go all the way (he owned sleazy Bars so I'm sure he was referring to many BJs & other stuff).

Aside from this, this was a snoozefest for me. Hero was a Manho in the beginning who had a threesome with some "Princess" & a Rugby Player. (IMO - The way that hookup was described, it made it seem as if the Rugby Player was a male and he was Bi? There was no reference to Hero being bisexual but there was a POV in which he boasted about getting the Rugby Player. I assume Rugby Players are male? Whatever...) Anyway, he was set to marry OW (a Princess) after hooking up with heroine & falling in love with her. He would have gone through with it if his father had not banned him.

[Molly O'Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEY!!!! I'm so thrilled to announce My Wicked Prince! It will be free in KU and 2.99 during preorder and the first week of sale!

Amazon https://amzn.to/2UDXQqW
International: https://geni.us/m1TC10

[aarya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. O’Keefe’s voice is excellent, but I didn’t enjoy it for various reasons:

- Like 70% of the book took place in flashbacks. First, I don’t like flashbacks. Second, they got back together so quickly in the present day (and without much conflict) that I couldn’t help but wonder why they had stayed separated for three years.

- I’m sorry, but the banishment thing by the king was so dumb. And I hate it when a separation is caused because one of the protagonists lies and convinces the other that they don’t love them anymore. I really don’t like this plot device.

- Even if I accepted the fact that the estrangement happened for good reasons (which I don’t), the idea that the hero made all this money to help the broke kingdom without telling the heroine made my eyes roll. The estrangement could’ve ended so easily and with a simple clarifying conversation.

I’m obviously in the minority opinion about this but that’s fine. It’s not a bad book and I don’t despise it. Just not for me.

[SuperWendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like a longer Harlequin Presents with trademarks one would expect from an O'Keefe story (the angsty hero, the heroine determined to save her little corner of the world, the gloriously delicious tension). Poor little rich boy prince with Daddy Issues falls for his new stepsister who has ambitions to join the United Nations. Their attraction is impossible but undeniable.

There's a lot of both hero and heroine falling back into bad habits, pushing each other away, and it does all get a little exhausting after a while. Also, after a fantastic first chapter set in present day, I wasn't wild about the story going into flashback mode with Chapter Two and largely staying there for 85% of the book. Not a choice I would have made - but here we are.

I didn't love this like I have other books by this author, but it was still a good read for me and I didn't want to put it down. Highly recommended for Harlequin Presents fans who want a royalty story with some hotter sex scenes. A B- for me.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wanted to share, in this review, all of the places in this book that I hi-lighted. All of the words that tore me apart or made me pause and take a breath. But, as always with this author, there were far too many times that my breath was stolen and I didn’t want to spoil this amazing story for the would be reader.

Gunnar Falk is a handsome, reluctant Prince who will eventually be left to rule a crumbling kingdom. Brenna is the common daughter of the woman who is about to marry his father, the ailing king.

I would not say that their initial meeting was love a first sight. Brenna was entirely too self aware to entertain the idea that this beautiful playboy would set his sights on a girl with an unusual sense of style and curvy figure that could not begin to complete with the women she’d seen him photographed with. That didn’t stop her, though, from noticing him. And he, in turn, from noticing her.

While Brenna is committed to her career and dreams of one day working for the UN, she finds herself drawn into the problems and politics of the troubled kingdom that she is now calls home and sets out on a tour of the land with her handsome new step-brother.

On this tour, Gunnar finds himself rediscovering his passion for the land that he will someday rule and is drawn to the smart and beautiful Brenna who easily has endeared herself to the people.

I love the angsty slow-burn of this somewhat taboo, step-sibling love affair. The desire and longing between them unfolded in the most authentic way with both thrilling and heartbreaking moments played out over a few years time. I love how smart and strong yet flawed and vulnerable Brenna is and how she easily committed to saving the kingdom as if she was the knight in shining armor, regardless of Gunnar. I loved and hated and loved and hated Gunnar so many times it made my head spin but knew his heart and motives were right where they needed to be most of the time. I loved that there was also a great story intertwined with their relationship that made this book much more than your average romance.

If you love a modern day fairytale with a relatable princess and a handsome prince, Read. This. Book! I promise you that you will smile and cry and rage and swoon and swoon and swoon over and over again.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one (second chance romance! royalty! forbidden love!), but a good 75% of the book is set in the past. I don't mind books written with a past/present setup, but I need at least an equal or more amount of the book set in the present. Otherwise the "second chance romance" part is too rushed, not developed well enough, and ends up unbelievable, which is what happens here.

[Melanie Cesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenna and Gunner are amazing! I absolutely adore Brenna. What a fantastic character, smart and full of strength and heart. I loved watching Gunner grow and transform. These two together are fire. Their connection is explosive and the way they work together to rebuild Vasgar is beautiful. Such an exciting story filled with hope and love.

[Em]

I thought this was pretty great!
Review for AAR to come.

[MJLovestoRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Long Live the King when it was a part of an anthology and did want more from this unique story about a small island kingdom and a forbidden love. Well, Molly O'Keefe has definitely answered my prayers because My Wicked Prince is everything I could have wanted and so much more.

I feel as if we truly have the whole story. The feelings behind the hidden romance that occurred between step-siblings, Gunnar and Brenna. There is no blood between them but when their parents marry and Brenna's mother is suddenly Queen of Vasgar, they are suddenly in each other's lives and find themselves inextricably drawn to the other.

Despite their differences, not only in appearance but upbringing and lifestyle, Brenna and Gunnar simply fit. Even they couldn't explain or understand it but I could sense the chemistry whenever the other was near and when they finally succumb to the passion that has built up between them for so long, it's exquisite.

There is a world of hurt that was bound to happen as Gunnar's brutish father takes matters into his own hands and our couple is forced to live their lives separately. Told in past and present, I loved, however, watching as Brenna becomes this force of nature and sets a course to save her beloved homeland rising to the occasion over and over again.

And Gunnar. Yeah he's a cocky bastard but he has a charm and a vulnerability that make him quite special. There were times I wanted to throttle him for what he had to do in order to keep Brenna safe and allow her to live the life she was destined for, but I understood and it made me love him even more.

When I'm looking for the different kind of love stories that grip me from page one and keep my mind totally engaged and happy, I look no further than one by Molly O'Keefe. And My Wicked Prince is yet another gem in her library of works. I truly loved it. I loved the smart yet sexy romance between Brenna and Gunnar and even now, I wouldn't mind more from this stellar group of characters.

5 huge stars all the way!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/30/2020)! 🎁

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sexy fun read that is a story of forbidden attraction, sacrifice, and forgiveness. It is a very well written book with some well developed amazing characters, a nice easy flow to the story, and an intriguing plot. Overall just a very enjoyable read. Gunnar and Brenna work nicely together and their royal story is one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a bit of trouble getting into the first chapter but after that I pretty much devoured My Wicked Prince. It was a sexy, sweet and awesome royal story. I enjoyed their journey and watching them fall for each other.

Copy provided by author

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Wicked Prince es una lectura rápida y sin fondo, pero que ha logrado lo que busco en estos tipos de lecturas: distraerme.
No me ha gustado los saltos de tiempo y de voz del narrador entre los dos protagonistas, ya que llegaba a ser confuso (Entiendo que se use el narrador doble para poder conocer mejor a distintos personajes, pero últimamente parece que solo se puede hacer esto y que tampoco si tiene cuidado en darles un tono y características propias). Tampoco me ha gustado la falta de comunicación entre los dos protagonistas, asumiendo cosas sin preguntarle al otro.
Odio a los padres de los protagonistas, son abusivos y superficiales.
Me ha gustado, pero, la protagonista Brenna y la dualidad que muestra. Es insegura pero no deja que eso impida plantarle cara a la vida política y real. Pese a su madre y entorno durante la infancia, acaba creyendo en su belleza, inteligencia y poder, sacando a un pais de la pobreza. Tiene un enfoque de atacar a la yugular cuando se encuentra en una encrucijada y de no rendirse, y podemos observarlo en su relación.
Me hubiera gustado que le dieran mas importancia a la parte política del libro, pero entiendo que no es lo importante en esta novela.
Sabes que el final seria un felices para siempre, pero me ha faltado un poco de evolución, nos centramos mucho en su pasado cuando se conocen y al final llevan 3 años sin hablarse y en una semana se comprometen, haz que hablen por favor.

[Jennifer D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this steamy somewhat forbidden romance. It is told in dual POV and periodically flashes between current day and 3-4 years prior. I normally am not a huge fan of the flashing back and forth but this was done in a way that does not take away from the flow of the story, it actually enhances it. Brenna and Prince Gunnar become step siblings and don't get along at all but are totally attracted to each other. They know they can't be together due to the scandal it would cause but they can only fight the attraction for so long once they become friends. I loved the slow burn and the slow unfolding of their relationship. There's a bit of heartbreak but a HEA in the end.

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for honest review with no compensation

My Wicked Prince by Molly O'Keefe is another hot steamy read!

This story is of step siblings and the attraction that is so strong, Gunnar the Prince ends up being banished from his country...while his step sister, Brenna stays and ends up becoming invaluable to the King and their country. When the King dies, Brenna knows she must bring the "Wicked Prince" Gunnar back home to become the next King and run the country.

Hot, steamy, drama and twists that just keep you reading to find out what happens next....

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVED this story!
Gunnar the sullen, sometimes nasty a Prince and Brenna the smart, naive Princess. Plenty of pain, amazing chemistry and enough plot twists to keep things interesting. Such a fantastic story.

[Carolyn Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique royal romance. It made me cry. It made me happy. It gave me all the feels.

[Maheswari · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ swept away on Cinderella theme but damn the sex scene outdid the sweetnesses into a lava combustion

[Atlanta Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different then I imagined it would be. I had assumed it would be a rom-com based on the description (playboy prince meets serious stepsister) with more steam than it had based on the cover (look at that sexy smirk!). This book was not at all a rom-com and although there were a couple sex scenes, aside from those, there wasn't much going on physically.

I was also surprised by the political subplot, which created a note of seriousness to the story. This was actually such a big part of the story that it was almost a co-plot (for lack of better term).

The third thing that was different than I expected was the amount of time the story focused on the past (most of it up to Chapter 20). Perhaps it was just my interpretation of the book summary, but I thought the present day would get more attention and the past events that lead up to it would be secondary.

The story wasn't what I thought it would be but I continued reading it anyway as it was well written, if a bit slow, though that may have been more due to my mood and expectations of a rom-com and less to do with the story and the writing.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a standalone. Especially one with a happily ever after!
I really love how strong Brenna is as a character. She's not ashamed of her gorgeous body (not that she should be) despite the press and their horrendous opinions. And although I am a little annoyed with how Gunnar handled things, I don't think I've ever read about a stronger couple! Great book, lovely characters, minus the King.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 4/10/19.

If it's been a while since I've read a Molly O'Keefe/M. O'Keefe novel, it's easy to forget how absolutely dark and delicious they can be...and oh, goodness, was My Wicked Prince dark and delicious!

My Wicked Prince is a second chance romance with a forbidden stepsibling aspect to it. Brenna's also got a good deal of ugly duckling vibe going on, and throw in a whole lot of palace intrigue and backstabbing and you've got the general gist of this one.

The bulk of the story is told with flashbacks, with brief glimpses back into the present to get us caught up and speed us on to the HEA. If you're not a fan of this technique, or of H/h being with others while they're not together, be warned--this happens here (though not with the one you might expect it to have been...honestly, I didn't have a problem with it but I know it makes others crazy, so be warned). Their big breakup in the "then" also comes from the hero deciding he knows what's better for the heroine and going out of his way to shove her away with both hands--even though it tore me apart to read it, Ms. O'Keefe did a decent job of making me believe that the situation around them was so toxic that the other path wouldn't have worked out well for either Brenna or Gunnar.

And I loved that Brenna didn't follow the path that Gunnar had decided she should, that she ended up being the strong one and doing what was best for her country and left Gunnar to live with his own consequences for so many years. I can't help but feel it was 100% what he deserved. ;) In fact, I would have been ok with her making him do a bit more groveling than he did, but since he wasn't using their time apart in the totally useless way it first appeared he was, I'll cut him some slack.

Plus, darn it, I really, really wanted to see them together for real, so there is that.

The teaser at the end for The Tycoon makes it look all kinds of delicious--adding to my TBR right now!

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brenna Erickson would rather be set adrift on an ice floe than facing off in a seedy sex club in New York with the man who broke her heart three years ago, but if there's one thing she's learned since her mother married into royalty and she became a princess of the island nation of Vasgar, it's that you can't always get what you want. Particularly when what you want - still - is your ridiculously hot and sadly morally flexible stepbrother Gunnar Falk, the crown prince. But the king is dead, and if Brenna can't convince Gunnar to return to the home he abandoned and take the throne the years she's spent trying to save Vasgar from Russian oil interests will have been wasted. So whatever feelings Gunnar's cruel eyes and beautiful mouth may still elicit, Brenna will keep them on lockdown until their business is concluded. Though she can't help but remembering...

If you found the most interesting part of that description to be the implications of the ellipsis, then boy howdy does Molly O'Keefe have the novel for you. Told roughly 75% in flashback, My Wicked Prince traces the evolution of Brenna and Gunnary's relationship from their first less-than-propitious meeting as strangers and new step-siblings through their increasing emotional intimacy and eventual secret love affair. All of which is lovely and awesome, but some of us kind of signed on for the book with the guy with the cruel eyes in the sex club getting redeemed, and it turns out that - and Communism - was just a red herring. (There is bad boy redemption, it just all happens in flashback.) So your mileage on this one will vary depending on how you feel about the bait and switch; for me, the lack of attention to, and the lack of conflict in, the present-day was a bit of a letdown, but not a deal breaker.

O'Keefe clearly writes a good bad boy with a great set of abs, and I've got nothing but love for a woman who makes her female lead as a 6' Valkyrie policy nerd in glasses, so I'll definitely be seeking out some of her other novels. Just reader beware: this one doesn't do exactly what it says on the tin.

[Sara Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to start by telling you I'm giving this one 4 stars but if you've read anything by this author before this book kind of feels out of place in her catalog. She always seems to have the bad boy with issues and the smart girl who doesn't take shit and demands the best from him- she has that trope down, so I wasn't surprised to see this book follows suit.

Here we have Gunnar, heir to the throne and he doesn't really care. His father, the King, is getting married to a commoner who happens to have a daughter, Brenna. Brenna could care less about being in the castle and becoming a princess- she has big plans all on her own and she doesn't plan to stick around longer than she has to. Initially Gunnar isn't really hospitable and Brenna has heard the stories about him being a playboy so her expectations of him aren't high.

Soon enough though, little sparks start flying and the attraction grows and suddenly they have a problem- the optics of a prince getting it on with his stepsister aren't real great. To be honest, as I read the book I kind of had a hard time looking past that. I know they aren't blood related but... it's really strange. I have a step brother and yeah, I would never consider striking up a relationship with him. This book pushes boundaries while at the same time keeping the female lead smart and powerful in her own right. Brenna holds her own and I'm really digging female characters who aren't stupid and meek. I will say though there is a "banishment" (really?!) and Gunnar says some pretty awful things to Brenna, and he's doing it to take the heat off of her, and Brenna believes it. She throws out all logic and gut feelings and that felt like a forced plot twist for me and eye roll worthy.

So overall I'm giving it 4 stars but it's barely getting there. If you want to try Molly O'Keefe, she has other books that are so much better than this one and I would start there first.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenna and Gunnar’s love story in My Wicked Prince by Molly O’Keefe, was a hot, steamy, sexy, emotional and enjoyable tale. Alternating voices between Brenna and Gunnar and going back and forth in time from the first time these two meet, we learn their story as they become royal step-siblings, friends, lovers, and separated by the king’s edict banishing Gunnar from the kingdom. The attraction they had for one another, which had to be disguised and hidden from the parents, led to an off the chart chemistry with wicked electricity arcing between them. These two cared about their country and its residents and definitely worked against Gunnar’s father and uncle’s greed to make it once again an economically rich country. I loved that Gunnar cared so much for Brenna that he allowed himself to leave and allow her to stay. I was surprised at how difficult it was for Brenna to accept that she was truly beautiful and that Gunnar actually loved her.

Ms. O’Keefe wrote a wonderfully sexy and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters giving Brenna and Gunnar a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected. I highly recommend My Wicked Prince to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Alynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was a bumpy ride.
I wish there wasn't the flashback thing at the beginning...I wish the book would have started...where the story actually started and then moved on to the "present" chronologically. Because there was no point in doing the story in flashbacks, it made me want to skip the past altogether and only read the present when most of the story was actually in the "past". Really I could have read the book from the past directly and then reading the present (chronologically then) and I would have appreciated the story way more!!!
Next I must say I was disappointed in the blurb because....it's totally spoiling the entire story! Literally 😱
I couldn't connect to these characters, they felt shallow, the heroine's back story and original dreams are swept away real quick and I just couldn't believe there was any love in their relationship I only saw lust...even toward the end at the final smut scene the girl clearly haven't forgiven him but she's hungry for the D so whatever?? Please nooo :'(
And last...it's not a "safe" romance, they both meet then break-up and the h sleeps with another guy between seeing the man she "love" ?? I understand in real life this is what would happen but obviously I don't read romance books for realness!!
It was still an okay read, and the pace was good but it left me frustrated and disappointed.

[Stephanie Ditmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. This was definitely in my book a little bit taboo, the brother and step-sister love affair. Gunnar is handsome and a prince and when his father the King marries Brenna’s mother their union brings these two together. Brenna is mousy, but intriguing, she’s smart, beautiful underneath all her snarky remarks towards Gunnar. These two are attracted to each other, but it can never be anything more than a sibling relationship. They try to ignore the attraction, a kiss here and a kiss there, but when it turns to something more, how will Brenna cope with the outcome? Life is changing and now Gunnar needs to step up and run his country and he wants Brenna by his side. Their story is deliciously steamy, sexy, complicated, passionate and filled with some drama and topped off with some angst. Such an amazing read, I highly recommend this book.

[Rhonda Brant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is a first for me, I didn’t finish a Molly O’Keefe book, ugh. Started off okay, hence the 3 Stars, but then I just plain ol’ lost interest with the staying back in the “then” instead of giving me something to grab onto in the now. I found Gunnar rather irritating, and Brenna wasn’t much better. She was a law student before her mother becomes queen (doubtful) of Vasgar because of the king’s infactuation with the woman (again doubtful), then all of a sudden because the king shows interest in Brenna’s intellect, she somehow is now the king’s favorite to head up important issues with his country over his own son the prince. I gave up when Gunnar was trying to get back into the good graces with the king, only to end up ousted. This is very unfamiliar territory for me with this authors books, but I’ll be right there for the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trial and Tribulations of Being Royal!!

Gunnar is a prince in the royal family of Vasgar. His father the king has chosen to wed a commoner. This means when Gunnar marries it will be arranged, and to someone with money, enough to save Vasgar. Great. His new step-sister Ingrid is at the head of her class in law school and shows her distain for all by reading a book during introductions.

Can this playboy and this bookworm avoid scrutiny of the press, survive their family’s mishandling of affairs and pull together to save Vasgar? The attraction is forbidden and has no future.

A delightful retelling of their early meeting, and current events 4 years later. Who is good and who is bad, and will either keep their heart intact? Scintillating read. Highly enjoyable

*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Wicked Prince
By Molly O'Keefe
Main Characters: Gunner and Brenna
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
5 out of 5 stars
Let me first say, I loved this story! Gunnar is a prince who will one day be a king. Brenna is the daughter of the king's girlfriend and soon to be Gunner's step-sister. Brenna has aspirations of one day working for the U.N. and is somewhat bookish. Gunner's kingdom is in trouble financially and Brenna becomes committed to trying to help. Up to meeting, Brenna Gunnar is a playboy and really has no interest in his kingdom. Brenna opens his eyes to the possibility and what they could accomplish together. Things definitely do not go according to plan. This story had plenty of angst, sex, love, chemistry. The first book I have read by this author and look forward to reading many more.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Brenna’s mother married the King of Vasgar she finds herself out of her element. She is an introvert who prefers reading her books to people so she is uncertain of why a man like Gunnar would be interested in someone like her.

Gunnar is the heir to the throne of a country that needs to redefine itself if it is going to prosper in the future. From the moment that they meet he is drawn to her and their connection is only deepened by the improvements they want to make to the country.

A relationship develops between them until an evil presence forces them apart. Gunnar is not about to live his life without his Princess and will not allow anyone or anything to stand between them.

This is a sweet and sexy fairytale about two people who find their happy ever after where they least expect it.