I have a love/hate relationship with Nana Malone books. They are well written, have fun characters, and keep building on each other; but they are a bit predictable, can get confusing, and there’s always a cliffhanger! I hate cliffhangers! That said, I enjoyed this book more than most of Ms. Malone’s. The blurb didn’t give much away, which was fun and infuriating at the same time...
This books gives us a look (finally!) at the mysterious Ariel we’ve seen in so many of the previous books. She’s tasked with the safety of the banished Prince; and it turns out they have a past together. This is book one in what has to be a second chance love story.
I have enjoyed the tibits of Ariel in previous books, and was hoping she’d get a book soon so her character could be explained and explored. I’ve liked all the heroines by Ms. Malone, but I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for Ariel. Bossy, practical, with such a fantastic and unexpected back story. Prince Tristan is away from home, being a sort of famous for being famous type of Prince while actually being a soccer star. He’s been mentioned in previous books, but not enough to get a feel for his character. He has such a good personality and kind soul and generous heart! Despite that, he’s set himself on a winding path to what he thinks is redemption. These two have amazing hurdles to work through, and it’s been fun to read their journey
The setup for these two to be romantically involved was a bit convoluted, but once laid out, made total sense for these two to have been friends and then more when younger. And then life kept them apart...but when it shoves them together, no force on Earth can keep them apart. Despite the years, the heartache, the circumstances, they are pulled together. Their poor tortured slow burn start keeps the readers interested.
Return of the Prince was a much faster read than many of Ms. Malone’s books. It was full of fantastic imagery and well written dialogue. I got sucked into this book surprisingly quickly, and was sad when it ended so quickly. What trouble will Ariel get into with her royal bestie?
This and the Heiress Duet are my favorites by Ms. Malone. If only they weren’t cliffhangers! I hate having to wait for the ending. Waiting for subsequent books in a series is hard enough, but waiting for the end of the mystery and the happily ever after is not my strong suit.
Favorite Quotes:
“There was no hiding from the intimacy between us, no running from it. No concealing the vulnerability.”
“I loved you from that moment I walked in and you tried to explain the benefit of action movies to me, a guy.”
“You might be a prince, but you are no gentleman.”
“...Something long dead that I’d buried, flared into life, like a single green leaf in a barren desert, pulling low on my belly, growing roots and taking hold. It smelled, looked and tasted like hope.”
Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5 Characters = 5/5 Heat = 5/5 Writing Style = 4/5 Overall Rating = 4/5
**Reviewed for Amity Book Reviews**