The Reluctant Princess

Her Royal Duty #2

by Melissa McClone

She wants to work on a pit crew—not be a princess.

Mechanic Isabel “Izzy” Poussard’s life revolves around cars. Determined to be a member of a racing team’s pit crew, she’ll do whatever it takes to make her dream come true. The last thing she expects is for a gorgeous guy to step out of a limousine and tell her she’s a long-lost princess…and his wife.

Crown Prince Nikola “Niko” Kresimir of Vernonia wants one thing from Isabel—an annulment. The pretty American wearing grease-stained coveralls is too rough around the edges to be the future queen. Their marriage, the result of an archaic custom neither knew about, needs to end so he can modernize his country.

As sparks fly, Niko and Izzy fight their growing attraction for each other. Neither wants to remain in an arranged marriage, but that might be the only way to keep peace in the kingdom. Is a love match possible where all their dreams can come true? Or will aspirations and pride keep them from living happily ever after?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Royalty, Fiction, Princesses, Adult

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2011

About the author

I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, two daughters, son, dog and too many cats! I write "sweeter" contemporary romance novels for Harlequin and Tule Publishing.

Reviews

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Jenna, ☆☆☆☆

If you are a royal lover than this story is definitely for you.

We meet American Izzy who is spunky and feisty and not what you expect a princess to be. We also meet Prince Niko who is your very typical royal, very proper and follows the rules.

This story takes you on a bit of a roller coaster, but an extremely enjoyable one. The chemistry between these two is fantastic, despite their stubbornness lol. The story line flows very nicely and ends so very beautifully.

[Ellie Thornton]

Loved it. Read it in one sitting.

The story was clever and well thought out and the characters very likable. It was easy to root for them from the beginning. And the twist on royalty was so clever. I also enjoyed the backstory of the prince and his family. That they fought in a civil war gave depth to the story that was refreshing. I also totally loved how Izzy found out who Dee was. Totally brill and had me grinning from ear to ear.

[Montana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like eating cotton candy only to discover there isn't even a paper cone inside.

[Priyanka Dhingra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am honoured to review the whole series of The Royal Duty series by Melisa McClone. I am a huge fan of the Royal Books and I love to read these kinda books but this is the first time I am reviewing this author's book.
The first book in the series is The Reluctant Princess and it can be read stand-alone. This story is about Crown Prince Nikola Tomislav who has already signed a contract to marry Princess Juliana for the betterment of their country and so that he can be the future king. But things aren't east as they seem.
Prince Nikola is already Married to the Princess Isabel Poussard who according to the sources, was dead from last two decades in a car accident with the king and queen of the other country. Recently, he came to know that she is very much alive and is in America. When he reached there to meet the Princess, the things became difficult for him. As she didn't know that she is the princess and that she is married to the Prince Nikola. Isabel or Izzy is a Part-time worker at the Garage and whose dream is to form a car racing team. Both of them have different priorities in their lives and they don't know how will they going to accept this big change in their lives which according to them they are not ready for.
This book is good. But according to me, It's Only a one time read. You won't be able to read this Again. A lot of twists and turns is present in this book and if you like Royal Romance then this book is perfect for you.
Arc was generously provided for an honest review.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reluctant Princess by Melissa McClone is book One in Her Royal Duty Series. This is the story of Isabel “Izzy” Poussard and Crown Prince Nikola “Niko” Kresimir of Vernonia.
Izzy is working toward her goal to be a mechanic on a pit crew racing team when her life has to make a turn. Nicko is working to save his kingdom which he thinks will work if he marries but first he needs to annual a previous marriages set up when he was young. Izzy is informed that she is the long lost Princes and her parents who have past had married her off to Niko when she was young to settle the upset of the Kingdom.. Izzy agrees to go to Vernonia to get settle the issue. But they start to learn more about the other besides the sparks that are flying between the two.
Loved their story!

[Gitanjali Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a fairytale love story and I love how Izzy was more relatable and real.Izzy stands strong and she doesn't change herself even when it is revealed that she is a princess..
Prince Nicholas,though hot and perfect definitely needed a good lesson from Izzy.I didn't enjoy all those too old traditions he was following and how he pushed Izzy to follow them.He needs to first modernize his own ideas and beliefs and then bring changes in his kingdom.
Good plot but dull at times..I felt it dragged on when the end was predictable. Overall a good beginning!!

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reluctant Princess (Her Royal Duty, #1) by Melissa McClone  
 
Is there a such thing as a heartgasm, because I'm pretty sure I've just had one. McClone builds a fairytale out of heartache. Izzy and Niko must grow their happy ending from the ashes of despair. The Reluctant Princess is the beginning of a second chance for a nation that almost lost it's way. One woman provides the key, but in redeeming a country, will she lose all hope or find the missing pieces of her broken heart? Ever girl loves a fairytale. McClone steps outside of that and creates a masterpiece.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa McClone is a new author to this reader and I can say this was a very nice and enjoyable read.
I love anything dealing with royals and a nice comfy story. The characters were likeable. Although there was some back story in the book, it was not an annoyance for me. Again an enjoyable and good read.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book on a lark. I found it schmaltzy, formulated, highly improbable, but I liked it....REALLY LIKED IT! What set it apart from all the other Cinderella-like fantasies? The very unique and original story, the writer's considerable writing skill in pulling it off, and the lovable and attractive characters in the story itself. This is a stand-alone in a 3 part collection. Well, I'm off to read about Princess Julianne's adventure in the next installment. Such an entertaining and escapist read!

[Innocent · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow, this book is intriguing, Izzy finds it hard to be a princess because of what is expected of her..
but at last she finds her place.

[KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, royal romance.

Izzy and Niko are like oil and water, quite literally in Izzy's case since she is a grease monkey. This book stretches the imagination, but it is a cute, fun read with a quick HEA and sweetness.

I enjoyed the stubbornness of Izzy and the interplay between these two.

Cute, fun read.

I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.

[Hopeless Romantic Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a joy to read!

This book take you to an understanding of how royalty marries. Majority of the world is curious of every royalties lovelife. Some news exaggerates for publicity. The emulation is ridiculous! End of the day, they are human and individuals like us. I truly enjoyed reading this story its one of those HEA. But of course not all is as perfect, classic example is Charles and Diana. Anyway, thanks for this. Entertaining and insightful!

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

American girl finds out she's a secret princess when her husband comes to ask her for an annulment. When Izzy was an infant, she was married to the second son of the king of Vernonia, a country in the Balkans. Niko, her husband, is quick to point out that 1) those kinds of marriages are illegal today and 2) it was only done to appease the Separatists who were loyal to Izzy's dad. The whole thing backfired spectacularly and there was a war. Izzy's parents were killed and she was raised by their friend and chauffeur in America. He instilled a deep love for cars in her and she enjoys her work as a mechanic and dreams of being in a NASCAR pit crew.

Niko, on the other hand, is a second son who became crown prince because his brother was killed in the civil war. He has become a duty automaton who is nearly engaged to the most perfect royal on the planet before he learns that his wife is alive. He brings her back to Vernonia to get approval for the annulment, but word soon leaks that Izzy is alive and circumstances make it so the two must stay married.

I struggled with this book because while I thought the characters were well done, Vernonia didn't feel very fleshed out. Izzy was never taught their native language by her Uncle Frank (why?) and never seeks to learn it. The Separatists were enraged by the wedding of Izzy and Niko over two decades ago, but now demand they stay married.

It was also sad to me that Izzy had to completely give up her dream to be an acceptable crown princess.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine one day getting your entire life upended and discovering your entire life has been one lie after another. This is what happens to mechanic Isabel “Izzy” Poussard. Izzy had one dream in life, become a pit crew member for a racing team. She knew it was all lies that she was a long lost princess and the wife to Prince Niko. Izzy agrees to visit Vernonia, instead she finds that she must fulfill her obligations and complete the dreams established for her by her parents, before their death. Izzy is quite strong willed and stubborn which drives Niko crazy; but he must learn to adjust his reactions to Izzy and her behavior in order to keep the peace between them. Izzy is enthralled with her part of the country and appreciates that the people accept her for who she is.

I loved this rags to riches love story. I loved how Izzy refused to change her ways just because she became a princess. Niko has so much pride in his title as a prince that he forgets he’s also human. I loved how he realized that loved Izzy and would do anything to keep her as his wife.

Ms. McClone wrote a wonderfully sweet and moving love story that is not to be missed. This story contains laughable and lovable dialogue, endearing and likeable characters and the magic of love. I highly recommend this sweet book, The Relunctant Princess, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Sofia Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this little book and the connection between the main characters gave me a warm fuzzy feeling that lasted after I closed the final page.

I found the writing to be well done for the most part: I didn't find myself skimming or cringing at anything. Although at the beginning I was a little confused by the situation in the monarchy. Of course it's not very long, and the character of the prince isn't extremely developed so it is somewhat fluffy. Still, it hit a deep spot with me because of the theme of being your authentic self.

If you enjoy princess tales, you'll probably like this book. It's not too long of a read, so it's perfect if you need a little afternoon pick me up. You will notice some familiar themes and tropes from such stories as The Princess Diaries movies, as well as a Christmas Prince on Netflix.

But the main character will be a little different as she's a mechanic without a desire to be primped and made into a princess, and not willing to budge on expressing her personality.

SPOILER
In some ways the predicament that makes her into a princess is a bit gross and disturbing in that it seemed like she had no choice but to marry someone she doesn't know well--but it captivated me into continuing to read the book anyway. It also ended in an empowering way.

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one is more surprised than Izzy when a limo shows up at the garage where she works. The occupant is even more shocking, a prince who claims she is his wife. All because of a box that belonged to her mother that she is looking for a key to open it.

Prince Niko now has a problem, he has a fiancé, Princess Juliana, their marriage will help rebuild and modernized his country following the conflict that had taken his brother's life. Not a love match but one that is advantageous for both their countries. He needs Izzy to agree to an annulment so things can move forward as planned.

A princess of a country she's never been to, leads Izzy to a journey even more difficult than she could imagine.

This story becomes even more complicated when the King refuses to let them annul the marriage stating it would cause irrevocable damage to the peace.

I also fell in love with Princess Juliana she is definitely a class act and is instrumental in helping Izzy manage her new role.

A delightful story of an interesting marriage that leads to falling in love. With some laughter, some tears and just enough heat this book is a must read.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince Niko and Izzy look to be polar opposites in this wonderful story from sweet author Melissa McClone, but first impressions are often wrong, as our couple discovers.
Izzy is an independent and modern women, more interested in repairing cars and working in the pit crew for a Formula One race car. She’s understandably taken aback by the very attractive stranger who claims she is a princess!
Prince Niko is on the verge of marrying Princess Juliana, as well as modernizing his small country. But his very old-fashioned views are in conflict with his headstrong child bride’s current reality. Can these two royals work out their differences for the good of both their home country as well as themselves?
With rich, full characters and a delightful tip of the hat to The Princess Diaries movies, McClone once again weaves a magical spell of love, loyalty and friendship between not only our leading couple but with the fun secondary characters from both the U.S and Vernonia. Sweet with a slight touch of heat (yes, the closed door scene is a little less fade to black than other books by the author, but by no means racy!), The Reluctant Bride is a delicious page turner. Bravo!!

[Christyg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love the story of a Prince and Princess? Niko is the crown prince and knows all about duty to his country and the sacrifices that come with it. He's planning to get engaged to a princess of another country for the betterment of his country of Vernonia. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. Izzy is pretty alone in the world but she has big dreams. Being a woman in a predominantly male world, she is strong and confident even with no family to offer support. Then her entire world is shaken. Imagine the surprise of finding out you are not who you thought you were. Then add in that you are really a princess who was thought to be dead. Talk about a twist in the road! Niko and Izzy have a connection from their first meeting. Niko has finally met his match. They both have to figure out the path they will take both individually and together. I really enjoyed this story and will try some other books by this author. I received an advance copy for an honest review.

[Leslie Ooten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay for me. The writing wasn't bad, but it didn't flow as well as I would have liked. Izzy was SO stubborn, and it made me not like her for the most part. While I understand doing things for yourself, she was thrust into a situation that she knew NOTHING about, and was annoyed when Niko tried to tell her what was expected of her. He could have been nicer about some things, but I don't think it would have mattered. Izzy could have not agreed to be the princess, but she chose to, but was aggravated that she couldn't do the things she wanted. I'm not a princess, but even I know they are held to a different standard. Also, Niko told her up front that theirs was not a love match, but because she feel in love on their honeymoon, she was mad that Niko didn't return her feelings. I'm still not sure how she went from tolerating him to loving him, but oh well. The ending itself was nice, and these 2 do get their HEA. This was a first for me from this author, but I would read her again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book because of the well-developed and likable characters. Izzy is definitely a unique woman, while Niko is trying to fulfill his duty to his country as has been drilled into him since he was a boy. They are very attracted to each other even while pursuing an annulment of their child marriage. The plot has a lot of twists and turns and moves quickly. There was only about one page that I did not care for. I usually read clean/wholesome romances, and in this book readers stay in the bedroom longer on the wedding night than I thought at all necessary. It was not vulgar, but just more information than needed. I would not let my tween or young teen read this. Again, it was only about a page or so. I loved the way that Niko and Izzy both react to a national disaster in their country. I also enjoyed the humor in the book. There's a great scene about The Princess Diaries. There is a touching HEA and epilogue. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion.

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and I am hooked. This book grabbed me on the first page. I fell in love with all the characters and the story. From the moment that Niko and Izzy meant there was this strong connection between them. They were drawn to each other. Both of them were stubborn and refused to give in. Then Niko's father manipulated the situation and they had no choice but to stay married. On their wedding day both of them knew in their hearts that they had fallen in love but in their heads they were not so sure. This book is about learning to love and accept someone for who they are. It is about listening and knowing that sometimes it is okay to make some changes. It is about not only about two people falling in love but it is about a country learning to love each other and learning to love Izzy. I cannot wait for Jules book. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would seem like a fairy tale, Izzy finding out she is a long lost princess and married to prince. But reality is far removed from fantasy when she is forced to move to another country and change who she is and give up what she loves all for a man who keeps pushing her away and making her feel like she is not the princess he would have ever wanted. I loved that Izzy was a mechanic and she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and do what was needed for the good of her people. Prince Niko does redeem himself, but I didn’t like him and how he treated Izzy at first. I loved the idea of the marriage box that contained pictures and letters from her parents who gave their lives for their country and that Niko held the key. His father King “Dee” was funny and romantic at heart. Poor Princess Julianna with all her doomed arranged marriages, I really hope she finds the one for her in the next book.

[Amy Crull · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Izzy isn't your normal princess. She likes getting dirty while working on cars. She knows her way around an engine and has plans to be on a pit crew someday. Her world get rocked when she gets an email. Prince Niko has a plan to save his country and keep his crown. His country has been rocked by a civil war. They are trying to heal and move on. Izzy has a marriage box that connects to him. She doesn't know what it means or why she is needed. This is when the story turns.. Prince Niko and Princess Izzy have a plan of their own. This gets all messed up. They come from different worlds but they manage to make it work. Izzy sees a different side to Niko and tries to make him see there's a reason to modernize the world. She may not be a normal Princess but the people still love her. She shows what she good and her heart shows the love she has for the country. This was a great story! Can't wait to read the next one!!

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!
It's an enchanting new series!
Excited to read the other stories in it.
It is a captivating & charming story.
Niko, is the Crown Prince of Vernonia.
He was raised to put duty to his country, first. When the family's Bridal box, that
has been missing for decades was found, Niko, was sent to retrieve it.
Izzy, a mechanic in Charlotte. She had
been raised by her late Uncle Frank.
She has worked hard toward her goal
of being on a pit crew, for the Formula
One race cars.
But, the life Izzy knew, changed when
Niko, pulled up in his limo. She would
& could not believe what he was telling
her. And a mechanic, in greasy overalls,
is not what Niko, expected to find.
She reluctantly agree to travel to
Vernonia, with Niko.
The emotions, the humor & their chemistry pulled me in, & kept me hooked, till the end!!!

[Anna Theurer (Anna's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Reluctant Princess is a sweet, royal romance about duty, loyalty, honor, and most of all - love. The storyline is clever and intriguing and the book moves at a good pace. This would be the perfect weekend or beach read. Prince Niko of Veronia is well aware of his duty and knows that he must marry. He is a likable, well-developed hero and one cannot help but admire his dedication to the throne and to his people. He knows he must marry and he never expects to find love. Isabel/Izzy is a fun heroine. She is spirited and independent and I absolutely love that she is a mechanic with a goal of being a member of a race car pit crew. Niko and Izzy make a great couple. This isn’t a steamy read, but rather a clean romance. In terms of secondary characters, I also really liked Julianna - I am definitely looking forward to her book. I received The Reluctant Princess for free and I am excited to read more works by this author.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book! The Reluctant Princess is a story about going from rags to riches. This is not your everyday Cinderella story though. Instead of a hopeful girl wanting to be a princess, you have a girl who would rather be anything but. That is what makes this book a unique read.

I liked the plot and characters in this book. They were written well and made me feel invested in the series. I really loved how I was able to relate to Izzy. She is what I would imagine myself to be if I was put in a similar situation. Well, maybe without the grease.

The one part about this book I felt could have been better was that sometimes the dialogue felt a little stiff. I didn't mind it too much since it is a royalty book, but at times, it did distract me.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and would read again!

Ratings:
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Heat: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

[United Indie Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I've volunteered to review this book for United Indie Book Blog. This author is new to me. The Reluctant Princess is the first book in Her Royal Duty series. This story is about Izzy who is not your normal type of a princess. The Reluctant Princess is a sweet, royal romance about duty, loyalty, honor, and love. Prince Niko was raised to put duty to his country, first. Izzy is a very strong and stubborn lady. Izzy and Niko have a connection and chemistry that is undeniable. This story is filled with great characters, romance and twists. Once I started reading I could NOT stop reading. I had o know what was going to happen between Izzy and Niko. I highly recommend this sweet book, looking forward to reading more in this series. It's a MUST READ!!!!! Keep up the amazing work!

review by CHANTELLE

[Narci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book with a great message to all young girls out there – just be yourself. Isabel Poussard aka Izzy is a stubborn, strong, independent woman who wants to just be herself, and be loved for who she is. Izzy is entrusted into this life she didn’t expect and is forced to make life altering decisions and sacrifices for those she doesn’t know. Crown Prince Nikola Tomislav Kresimir of Veronia is to go to America to retrieve a box he needs in order to marry his arranged marriage. However, things don’t turn out to be as Niko expected when he meets a certain stubborn mechanic who is supposed to be the missing princess, aka his wife. I received this as a gift from our wonderful Melissa McClone who did an amazing job capturing our attention with this unique arranged marriage. I really enjoyed this story.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely enchanted by "The Reluctant Princess", a beautifully written contemporary romance that kept me entertained and intrigued from the beginning and I wanted it to continue when I got to the end. I really liked independent and stubborn Isabel "Izzy" Poussard who wants to work on a racing team's pit crew and loved her dynamic with the other characters especially Crown Prince Nikola Tomislav Kresimir of Veronia. This is a great beginning to the Her Royal Duty series by gifted author Melissa McClone and a must-read for fans of sweet and tender romances.

I received an advance reader copy of this book and am leaving my voluntary and honest review. I also purchased a copy for my keeper library.

[Cheryl Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one in the Her Royal Duty series and it features Niko and Izzy. This story is highly entertaining. It’s about family, duty, responsibility, obligation and ultimately love. She is about as far from princess material as she can get and he doesn’t EVER let her forget it. I thought Niko was going to be a nice guy. I thought he was going to be the prince of every girls’ dreams but in my opinion, he was a disappointment. There is so much happening and he’s so stuck on his ideals, that he doesn’t take her feelings into consideration. I feel so sad for her because he listens to her but doesn’t really hear her.

The story line is fantastic! The characters are great too. I just didn’t like the prince.