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Kidnapped for His Royal Heir
From royally seduced…
To prisoner in paradise!
Prince Zakary allows himself no weaknesses. His kingdom paid the price of a ruler’s debauchery once before, but never again. The only threat to Zak’s ruthless self-control is his red-hot attraction to untouched heiress Violet! And when she’s transferred to his company, it’s not long before their unstoppable chemistry consumes them both—with lasting consequences!
To secure his legacy, Zak demands Violet meet him at the altar. And when she refuses? This powerful prince will keep Violet a willing captive on his private Caribbean island until she says, “I do!”
To prisoner in paradise!
Prince Zakary allows himself no weaknesses. His kingdom paid the price of a ruler’s debauchery once before, but never again. The only threat to Zak’s ruthless self-control is his red-hot attraction to untouched heiress Violet! And when she’s transferred to his company, it’s not long before their unstoppable chemistry consumes them both—with lasting consequences!
To secure his legacy, Zak demands Violet meet him at the altar. And when she refuses? This powerful prince will keep Violet a willing captive on his private Caribbean island until she says, “I do!”
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2020
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66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 4, 2020
In this novel, the heroine, Violet, pays for the sins of her awful mother.
Maya Blake brings us Zak's story, in this novel. He's the younger brother of the H, Remi from Crown Prince's Bought Bride. I didn't make the connection immediately, because the author's written 2 entirely unrelated novels between this one and Crown Prince's Bought Bride.
These MC's romantic storyline occurs on a parallel timeline to the events of Crown Prince's Bought Bride. The H, Zak, is more distant, cynical and haughty than his brother. He distrusts everyone and thinks that most women, but especially the heroine, will do whatever it takes to become the bride of a billionaire prince.
His attitude isn't totally unfounded, because Countess Barringhall ( the heroine's mother ) had been a prized menace in Crown Prince's Bought Bride, when she had pulled out all stops to inveigle Zak's brother to dump his heroine and marry her oldest daughter Charlotte.
This is the H, Zak:
Countess Barringhall could give Kris Jenner a run for her money, in the momager stakes. She's got a Phd in The Tacky Dynamics of Attention Whoring, has every tabloid and paparazzi on speed dial and has been known to sell upper class gossip to the newspapers, just to pad her depleted bank account. Her desperation to marry her daughters to royalty, is absolutely cringeworthy.
Her main goal in life is to marry off one of her daughters to a Montegovan prince. In Crown Prince's Bought Bride, she deployed Machiavellian tactics to get the H's brother to dump his heroine and marry her oldest daughter Charlotte.
Zak's own budding romantic interest in Violet, when the latter had been 18, died instantly when he discovered what her mother had been up to:
But he’d also secretly entertained the possibility of a liaison with Violet down the line.
Only he’d discovered there was nothing remotely honourable about the Barringhalls.
Violet had been shattered after his sudden, mocking rejection on the night of her 18th birthday party.
This is the heroine, Violet:
At the start of the novel, Violet's employed as a conservationist intern cum general dogsbody, at the H's firm. The H, who incorrectly assumes that she's just using her job to inveigle her way into his life, has been overworking her with ruthless precision.
He's got her fetching and carrying for him...
...Keeping track of everything on the global conservation calendar...
...Performing PA duties even though he's already got a PA...
...And acting as an administrative shield between him and encroaching busybody sycophants...
His self righteous condescension has almost pushed the heroine to breaking point...
But she's determined to soldier on and earn her credentials and that all important letter of recommendation, so that she can build her career far away from her mother's controlling influence.
The middle part of the story was a little bland, because I was slightly bored with all the exposition that focused on the development of eco-lodges in Tanzania. As a few of my Goodreads' friends know, I'm a voracious reader of international daily news/important current issues like environmental concerns. This can get quite depressing at times. As such, I dislike information dumping and prefer not to be inundated with these issues, when I'm reading escapist romantic fiction.
It also makes my cynical mind wonder if it's an activist author's attempts to preach to us. To be fair, Maya Blake didn't adopt a dominant preaching tone ( and for that I'm thankful ) or mention the term *carbon footprint* but I guess my brain has become so saturated with the current OTT global shenanigans of the climate police, that this trope ( because it's linked to the environment ) failed to entertain me.
... Especially the part where they're flying all over the world on private jets, while sanctimoniously preaching about environmental conservation. It reminds me of a few faux woke, famous, real life hypocrites du jour.
I'm the type of contrary person who doesn't respond to activism in fiction - even if it's for a good cause. Anyway, Tanzania becomes the setting for the MC's budding romance and it was nice to read about the beauty of that country. The MC's are forced to co-exist in closer quarters and the H's unable to fight his libido. He's also jealous of a very nice Tanzanian man who develops a friendship with the heroine.
Recriminations and hostility abound, after they engage in spontaneous outdoor sex. Zak thinks he's no better than his weak willed late father and Violet is filled with regret after the H disappears and refuses to respond to her emails when she realizes she's pregnant and seeks an appointment with him.
She finally gets her chance to tell him, at his brother's wedding reception and he's momentarily dumbfounded !
This is when the *kidnapping* trope comes into play, because he forces her to go with him to his private Caribbean island. The narrative picked up around this point, in the story, because it's focused primarily on the MC's relationship and all ( boring ) extraneous exposition is omitted. The reader finally gets to assess the H's feelings, when he changes tactics in his efforts to woo the stubborn heroine.
Just when she's ready to accept his proposal, her mother's interference breaks down all avenues of communication between the MC's. The ending seemed rushed and there wasn't even an epilogue that revealed the gender of the titular *heir*. I can't give this a higher rating because the emotional connection between the MC's took too long to build.
Safety: No OW, no OM and both MC's are celibate during their 2 month separation. The MC's had shared a passionate make out session, at the heroine's 18th birthday party but they hadn't dated before or after because the H's investigation into Countess Barringhall had poisoned his mind against Violet. He hadn't been celibate after this, but I don't count that as being significant since they hadn't been in a relationship.
NB: The H kept referring to Violet as *Lady Barringhall* and I think that's an incorrect form of address for the daughter of the late Earl Barringhall. He should've called her *Lady Violet*.
Maya Blake brings us Zak's story, in this novel. He's the younger brother of the H, Remi from Crown Prince's Bought Bride. I didn't make the connection immediately, because the author's written 2 entirely unrelated novels between this one and Crown Prince's Bought Bride.
These MC's romantic storyline occurs on a parallel timeline to the events of Crown Prince's Bought Bride. The H, Zak, is more distant, cynical and haughty than his brother. He distrusts everyone and thinks that most women, but especially the heroine, will do whatever it takes to become the bride of a billionaire prince.
His attitude isn't totally unfounded, because Countess Barringhall ( the heroine's mother ) had been a prized menace in Crown Prince's Bought Bride, when she had pulled out all stops to inveigle Zak's brother to dump his heroine and marry her oldest daughter Charlotte.
This is the H, Zak:
Countess Barringhall could give Kris Jenner a run for her money, in the momager stakes. She's got a Phd in The Tacky Dynamics of Attention Whoring, has every tabloid and paparazzi on speed dial and has been known to sell upper class gossip to the newspapers, just to pad her depleted bank account. Her desperation to marry her daughters to royalty, is absolutely cringeworthy.
Her main goal in life is to marry off one of her daughters to a Montegovan prince. In Crown Prince's Bought Bride, she deployed Machiavellian tactics to get the H's brother to dump his heroine and marry her oldest daughter Charlotte.
Zak's own budding romantic interest in Violet, when the latter had been 18, died instantly when he discovered what her mother had been up to:
But he’d also secretly entertained the possibility of a liaison with Violet down the line.
Only he’d discovered there was nothing remotely honourable about the Barringhalls.
Violet had been shattered after his sudden, mocking rejection on the night of her 18th birthday party.
This is the heroine, Violet:
At the start of the novel, Violet's employed as a conservationist intern cum general dogsbody, at the H's firm. The H, who incorrectly assumes that she's just using her job to inveigle her way into his life, has been overworking her with ruthless precision.
He's got her fetching and carrying for him...
...Keeping track of everything on the global conservation calendar...
...Performing PA duties even though he's already got a PA...
...And acting as an administrative shield between him and encroaching busybody sycophants...
His self righteous condescension has almost pushed the heroine to breaking point...
But she's determined to soldier on and earn her credentials and that all important letter of recommendation, so that she can build her career far away from her mother's controlling influence.
The middle part of the story was a little bland, because I was slightly bored with all the exposition that focused on the development of eco-lodges in Tanzania. As a few of my Goodreads' friends know, I'm a voracious reader of international daily news/important current issues like environmental concerns. This can get quite depressing at times. As such, I dislike information dumping and prefer not to be inundated with these issues, when I'm reading escapist romantic fiction.
It also makes my cynical mind wonder if it's an activist author's attempts to preach to us. To be fair, Maya Blake didn't adopt a dominant preaching tone ( and for that I'm thankful ) or mention the term *carbon footprint* but I guess my brain has become so saturated with the current OTT global shenanigans of the climate police, that this trope ( because it's linked to the environment ) failed to entertain me.
... Especially the part where they're flying all over the world on private jets, while sanctimoniously preaching about environmental conservation. It reminds me of a few faux woke, famous, real life hypocrites du jour.
I'm the type of contrary person who doesn't respond to activism in fiction - even if it's for a good cause. Anyway, Tanzania becomes the setting for the MC's budding romance and it was nice to read about the beauty of that country. The MC's are forced to co-exist in closer quarters and the H's unable to fight his libido. He's also jealous of a very nice Tanzanian man who develops a friendship with the heroine.
Recriminations and hostility abound, after they engage in spontaneous outdoor sex. Zak thinks he's no better than his weak willed late father and Violet is filled with regret after the H disappears and refuses to respond to her emails when she realizes she's pregnant and seeks an appointment with him.
She finally gets her chance to tell him, at his brother's wedding reception and he's momentarily dumbfounded !
This is when the *kidnapping* trope comes into play, because he forces her to go with him to his private Caribbean island. The narrative picked up around this point, in the story, because it's focused primarily on the MC's relationship and all ( boring ) extraneous exposition is omitted. The reader finally gets to assess the H's feelings, when he changes tactics in his efforts to woo the stubborn heroine.
Just when she's ready to accept his proposal, her mother's interference breaks down all avenues of communication between the MC's. The ending seemed rushed and there wasn't even an epilogue that revealed the gender of the titular *heir*. I can't give this a higher rating because the emotional connection between the MC's took too long to build.
Safety: No OW, no OM and both MC's are celibate during their 2 month separation. The MC's had shared a passionate make out session, at the heroine's 18th birthday party but they hadn't dated before or after because the H's investigation into Countess Barringhall had poisoned his mind against Violet. He hadn't been celibate after this, but I don't count that as being significant since they hadn't been in a relationship.
NB: The H kept referring to Violet as *Lady Barringhall* and I think that's an incorrect form of address for the daughter of the late Earl Barringhall. He should've called her *Lady Violet*.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2020
Not angsty enough but this is a common problem. 🙄
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March 7, 2020What has happened to Harlequin Presents? no angst, no melodrama, no ruthless alpha heroes something is wrong with Harlequin Presents lately! Only 2 or 3 authors are giving me vintage old school vibes!
May 8, 2020
Oh man was I disappointed with this Presents title! The author totally bungles one of my favorite tropes. I love a good kidnapping, but it's better when the heroine is a tired, overworked waitress or shop clerk who has totally *forgotten* her one night stand with a handsome stranger. What's so annoying about this book is that Violet and Zak just seem so prissy and bitchy with each other in the opening chapters. I literally cringed every time they were together! And then they go to Tanzania and it's like a really, really bad travelogue -- and the nice biracial guy who is showing them around is about ten times sexier than Zak!
(Note to Harlequin, why don't we have any biracial heroes or heroines? You did hear about RWA, right? There was a bit of a nastiness last year, yes? Some very *extreme* nastiness?)
So anyway, the "real" kidnapping happens after Tanzania, where Zak takes Violet to his (make believe) island somewhere in the Caribbean. And man, I got tired of the "he's so imperious and arrogant" stuff from Violet. And then the "he's hurting inside, his father was mean to him" stuff. It just made him look smaller and smaller, like she was making excuses for him. And Zak was like one of these Caitlin Crews heroes, full of sneering remarks and vaguely catty remarks, like he's really one of the girls!
But the last, last straw was the way the author tries to use Violet's mother as a sort of all-purpose villain and scapegoat. It's only the *mother* who wants Zak's billions. It's only the *mother* who loves the idea of being connected to royalty. It's only the *mother* who reads the tabloids. Give me a break already!
You know, with life the way it is right now, Harlequin Presents mean more to me than ever. But it's gonna be a long, long, time before I read another title by Maya Blake.
Three stars out of pity.
(Note to Harlequin, why don't we have any biracial heroes or heroines? You did hear about RWA, right? There was a bit of a nastiness last year, yes? Some very *extreme* nastiness?)
So anyway, the "real" kidnapping happens after Tanzania, where Zak takes Violet to his (make believe) island somewhere in the Caribbean. And man, I got tired of the "he's so imperious and arrogant" stuff from Violet. And then the "he's hurting inside, his father was mean to him" stuff. It just made him look smaller and smaller, like she was making excuses for him. And Zak was like one of these Caitlin Crews heroes, full of sneering remarks and vaguely catty remarks, like he's really one of the girls!
But the last, last straw was the way the author tries to use Violet's mother as a sort of all-purpose villain and scapegoat. It's only the *mother* who wants Zak's billions. It's only the *mother* who loves the idea of being connected to royalty. It's only the *mother* who reads the tabloids. Give me a break already!
You know, with life the way it is right now, Harlequin Presents mean more to me than ever. But it's gonna be a long, long, time before I read another title by Maya Blake.
Three stars out of pity.
March 13, 2020
Needed more angst and more passion and a (detailed epilogue) with babies and pregnancy 😌 because I Love lame and cute epilogues 😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2020
I’ve no idea what’s going on with Harlequin Presents because the releases of the past few months have been dreadful.
Similarly, the marry-for-pregnancy trope needs scraping likewise the kidnap-the-heroine until she marries the hero. I need more dialogue, kindness, fun banter, love between the Hs sans all the fake angst.
FFS, why can’t the hs be fun and not secretaries/PAs? Lastly, just stop with the damaged hero crap and give them loving families. Arrrgggg
March 22, 2020
Disappointing. I could not engage with either of the characters. Violet was the more fleshed out character but her behaviour and motivations throughout the story never rang authentically for me. Zak was a cardboard cut-out and other than his physical attributes, I could find nothing in him which explained why anyone would fall in love with him. It was very late in the book before Violet and Zak actually started to reveal themselves but the ending was so rushed as to be totally unsatisfactory and there was no epilogue. I had hoped to see Maddie and Remi (from Crown Prince’s bought bride), make a proper appearance but no such luck. That was a far superior book.
All the obstacles in this story seemed totally manufactured to me, and I could not believe in it at all. Even the sex scenes seemed mechanical, a bit of the ‘painting by numbers’ approach.
Sorry, this writer has produced lots of books that I have really enjoyed, but this one misses the mark for me.
All the obstacles in this story seemed totally manufactured to me, and I could not believe in it at all. Even the sex scenes seemed mechanical, a bit of the ‘painting by numbers’ approach.
Sorry, this writer has produced lots of books that I have really enjoyed, but this one misses the mark for me.
hq-to-read
March 6, 2020From royally seduced…
To prisoner in paradise!
Prince Zakary allows himself no weaknesses. His kingdom paid the price of a ruler’s debauchery once before, but never again. The only threat to Zak’s ruthless self-control is his red-hot attraction to untouched heiress Violet! And when she’s transferred to his company, it’s not long before their unstoppable chemistry consumes them both—with lasting consequences!
To secure his legacy, Zak demands Violet meet him at the altar. And when she refuses? This powerful prince will keep Violet a willing captive on his private Caribbean island until she says, “I do!” (less)
To prisoner in paradise!
Prince Zakary allows himself no weaknesses. His kingdom paid the price of a ruler’s debauchery once before, but never again. The only threat to Zak’s ruthless self-control is his red-hot attraction to untouched heiress Violet! And when she’s transferred to his company, it’s not long before their unstoppable chemistry consumes them both—with lasting consequences!
To secure his legacy, Zak demands Violet meet him at the altar. And when she refuses? This powerful prince will keep Violet a willing captive on his private Caribbean island until she says, “I do!” (less)
September 26, 2022
It's hard to write a traditional category spicy romance these days, without running afoul of themes that go against the Me Too movement. This book walks an uneasy line between a traditional HP plot and slightly more woke characters.
Violet Barringhall is from an aristocratic but broke family whose social climbing mother's goal is to marry her daughter off to a rich husband. She rejects this goal. Her passions are conservation and Montegovan prince Zak, whom she's dreamed of ever since they shared a kiss six years ago. Violet has scored a job working with Zak's conservation trust, but she's trying to keep her attraction to him under wraps.
Zak's world was shattered when his father's death caused a crisis in the monarchy when his illegitimate son was revealed. Zak is determined to fill his role as head of the conservation trust and to avoid scheming social climbers like Violet Barringhall.
Their attraction grows too strong to deny when they're working onsite in Tanzania, and they share a passionate, no-strings-attached interlude. They leave immediately, and Zak disappears. Violet tries to contact him when she discovers she's pregnant, but she gets no answer and decides to confront him at his brother's wedding. He reacts by kidnapping her and keeping her on his private island until she agrees to marry him.
The chemistry is strong. Violet tingles "down there" so often, I was worried she had a medical problem. The setting in Tanzania is nice, and the nod to modern values of conservation and respect for nature are positives. The kidnapping plot and Violet and Zak's sudden changes of heart didn't really work for me.
This book is part of a series, so understanding the background more might help. For me, it was just okay.
Violet Barringhall is from an aristocratic but broke family whose social climbing mother's goal is to marry her daughter off to a rich husband. She rejects this goal. Her passions are conservation and Montegovan prince Zak, whom she's dreamed of ever since they shared a kiss six years ago. Violet has scored a job working with Zak's conservation trust, but she's trying to keep her attraction to him under wraps.
Zak's world was shattered when his father's death caused a crisis in the monarchy when his illegitimate son was revealed. Zak is determined to fill his role as head of the conservation trust and to avoid scheming social climbers like Violet Barringhall.
Their attraction grows too strong to deny when they're working onsite in Tanzania, and they share a passionate, no-strings-attached interlude. They leave immediately, and Zak disappears. Violet tries to contact him when she discovers she's pregnant, but she gets no answer and decides to confront him at his brother's wedding. He reacts by kidnapping her and keeping her on his private island until she agrees to marry him.
The chemistry is strong. Violet tingles "down there" so often, I was worried she had a medical problem. The setting in Tanzania is nice, and the nod to modern values of conservation and respect for nature are positives. The kidnapping plot and Violet and Zak's sudden changes of heart didn't really work for me.
This book is part of a series, so understanding the background more might help. For me, it was just okay.
September 28, 2024
I didn't like it.
I don't feel like they had a great connection, they were always arguing and not in the cute banter type of way, rather in the he is judging her and makes cutting remarks type of way.
He thought horribly of her based on who her parents were rather than for who she was. I really hate the whole mindset of children being guilty for whatever their parents do.
The hero was so cold and really good at denying himself what he really wanted (heroine) that I don't think he would ever have ended up with heroine if she hadn't been pregnant.
He liked her 6 years before and he kissed her, but then he was easily able to stay away and sleep with lots of other women, all while heroine stayed a virgin. P.
I don't feel like they had a great connection, they were always arguing and not in the cute banter type of way, rather in the he is judging her and makes cutting remarks type of way.
He thought horribly of her based on who her parents were rather than for who she was. I really hate the whole mindset of children being guilty for whatever their parents do.
The hero was so cold and really good at denying himself what he really wanted (heroine) that I don't think he would ever have ended up with heroine if she hadn't been pregnant.
He liked her 6 years before and he kissed her, but then he was easily able to stay away and sleep with lots of other women, all while heroine stayed a virgin. P.
September 12, 2021
Kidnapped for his Royal Heir
This story had many twists and turns going on. He was a prince who had the world in his hands. She happened to be a daughter of a disgraced man of money. Both have parent issues that have kept then from true love. When their past actions have become filled with drama. There was much angst going on. Several things changed their outcome. He seduced an innocent woman. When she lets him know that she is pregnant he kidnapped her. Will being stuck on an island give them time together to figure out what they want together?
This story had many twists and turns going on. He was a prince who had the world in his hands. She happened to be a daughter of a disgraced man of money. Both have parent issues that have kept then from true love. When their past actions have become filled with drama. There was much angst going on. Several things changed their outcome. He seduced an innocent woman. When she lets him know that she is pregnant he kidnapped her. Will being stuck on an island give them time together to figure out what they want together?
Read
April 1, 2020Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Passion in Paradise (Book #9)
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Passion in Paradise (Book #9)
Read
April 1, 2020Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Passion in Paradise (Book #9)
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Passion in Paradise (Book #9)
August 8, 2020
nicely written story but the ending could've been a liitle more
October 30, 2020
hell yeah
December 28, 2023
Puntuación final:
December 26, 2021
This one was fine but it's not my favourite, especially since I was interested in the vacation spot than the story between the leads.
April 14, 2020
Good book
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews