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The Wedding Night They Never Had
It’s now or never for this royal couple in Jackie Ashenden’s latest dramatic, sexy romance for Harlequin Presents.
He must take a bride…
But he already has a wife!
Charming Prince Cassius wed young Inara Donati to save her from a dreadful forced betrothal. But their arrangement was only on paper. Five years later, after tragedy makes him king, Cassius needs heirs, and for that he requires a real queen!
Bookish Inara isn’t made for court life. But when Cassius demands a divorce, even she’s surprised by the strength of her refusal—and unfulfilled desire. Yet to find the courage to ask him for a true marriage, Inara must first believe she can be the queen he needs…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
He must take a bride…
But he already has a wife!
Charming Prince Cassius wed young Inara Donati to save her from a dreadful forced betrothal. But their arrangement was only on paper. Five years later, after tragedy makes him king, Cassius needs heirs, and for that he requires a real queen!
Bookish Inara isn’t made for court life. But when Cassius demands a divorce, even she’s surprised by the strength of her refusal—and unfulfilled desire. Yet to find the courage to ask him for a true marriage, Inara must first believe she can be the queen he needs…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
153 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2021
80 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Ashenden
487 books976 followersJackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 6, 2021
2,5 stars!
September 4, 2021
I received a copy from NetGalley & Publisher for an honest review.
Unfortunately this one did not work for me. Not only did I not find they had any chemistry, but the characters came across as unlikable with heroine often too naïve & Hero an asshole.
It was also not a safe read for me because even though this was a “marriage of convenience” with heroine being a child when he marries her, he still fooled around for 2 years after they married. For me that is called cheating. Yes, I know he didn’t take the marriage seriously and she was a kid, blah, blah, BUT in fictional romances I need my Heroes to stay celibate no matter the circumstances AFTER heroine comes into the picture. This one did not and it ruined it after that.
Unfortunately this one did not work for me. Not only did I not find they had any chemistry, but the characters came across as unlikable with heroine often too naïve & Hero an asshole.
It was also not a safe read for me because even though this was a “marriage of convenience” with heroine being a child when he marries her, he still fooled around for 2 years after they married. For me that is called cheating. Yes, I know he didn’t take the marriage seriously and she was a kid, blah, blah, BUT in fictional romances I need my Heroes to stay celibate no matter the circumstances AFTER heroine comes into the picture. This one did not and it ruined it after that.
August 10, 2021
A lovely read ,loved the epilogue
August 30, 2021
A fairytale at many levels. To delve into their HEA.. you’d have to put your guard down!
The h and H meet like you meet a stranger in a cab ride. The H who is a stately prince has no security and anyone at all can come and barge into his limo and sit right next to him and share their sob story. He even offers marriage and protection.
Tbh this premise was starkly unbelievable for me. I tried and tried and just couldn’t accept the H as a king or the very very young teen h as an adult. The stately prince feels bad for the h and marries her to offer wealth, status and protection.
The h and H don’t connect much in these 5 years. The h outgrows her awkward early teens and is now barely legal at 21. The H is.. I can’t recall how old. Inara is a nerd but she also craves for her husband to acknowledge her as an adult and his wife. Insert missing intimate life.
Ahh tedious business further writing down my thoughts. I will say that their first session with the brandy scene was burning hot. Just the prelude of it. I was disappointed at the rest of it given first times and all.
I found the h to be very childish. She couldn’t make up her mind I felt and I didn’t see any friendship or chemistry between the mc’s. Also there are pages and pages of monologues and there is only so much awkward silence you can read into when the main couple is already on incommunicado.
On to the next.
The h and H meet like you meet a stranger in a cab ride. The H who is a stately prince has no security and anyone at all can come and barge into his limo and sit right next to him and share their sob story. He even offers marriage and protection.
Tbh this premise was starkly unbelievable for me. I tried and tried and just couldn’t accept the H as a king or the very very young teen h as an adult. The stately prince feels bad for the h and marries her to offer wealth, status and protection.
The h and H don’t connect much in these 5 years. The h outgrows her awkward early teens and is now barely legal at 21. The H is.. I can’t recall how old. Inara is a nerd but she also craves for her husband to acknowledge her as an adult and his wife. Insert missing intimate life.
Ahh tedious business further writing down my thoughts. I will say that their first session with the brandy scene was burning hot. Just the prelude of it. I was disappointed at the rest of it given first times and all.
I found the h to be very childish. She couldn’t make up her mind I felt and I didn’t see any friendship or chemistry between the mc’s. Also there are pages and pages of monologues and there is only so much awkward silence you can read into when the main couple is already on incommunicado.
On to the next.
September 9, 2021
I received an ARC copy in exchange of an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for your trust.
When she was 16 years old, Inara asked Prince Cassius of Aveiras for help so that she could free herself from a forced marriage. The prince, a consummate womanizer, offers her a marriage of convenience as a solution, and she agrees. Five years later, Cassius, now the King after a tragic event that culminated with the death of his parents and his twin older brother —the king, the queen and the crown prince—, needs heirs and, therefore, he must divorce Inara and find a woman more suited to the demands of the Crown. The problem? Inara, who is in love with Cassius, refuses to give the King a divorce, so she will have to overcome her issues and insecurities so she could fulfill her role as wife and queen.
Cassius is the typical playboy, the black sheep of the family, carefree, following his own rules. The death of his family plunges him into a deep sense of guilt, which defines his personality; After that event, he changes to become the king his people need. Suppressing his rebellious impulses and influenced by the pressures of his deceased father and his royal position, he's unwilling to go back to being the selfish prince that, according to him, he used to be. Furthermore, he doesn't know how to love, because no one has given him love.
On the other hand, we see through the pages the evolution of Inara, from the desperate teenager to the determined woman to be the queen Aveiras deserves and the King's wife. What will never change are her limitations: the young woman, a math genius, has a lot of trouble socializing with people, thus preferring numbers to royalty stuff. The fact that her parents have made things worse for her by demanding what she cannot give has locked her in a shell that she must break if she wants to remain married to Cassius.
They are both very similar; there are no opposites attracts here. And it is precisely those parallels between both that make them work as a couple. Of course, the chemistry is remarkable, but sometimes it is weird. However, the love between them is credible.
The story is made so that the main characters are the focus of the plot. With no active supporting characters, all scenes are themselves in different settings. I think that some characters who interacted with the hero and the heroine would have reinforced the plot. It doesn't mean that the passive secondary characters (their respective families) haven't done a good job, on the contrary. They do it perfectly, especially when it comes to influencing the main characters. Despite this, the writing is good and there are no loose ends and no meaningless scenes. Also, the ending is excellent, with a wonderful epilogue that I loved.
In conclusion, a story that, while not perfect, is very beautiful and interesting. It is a book that I couldn't put down until I finished it and I found it pleasant to read. Highly recommended.
When she was 16 years old, Inara asked Prince Cassius of Aveiras for help so that she could free herself from a forced marriage. The prince, a consummate womanizer, offers her a marriage of convenience as a solution, and she agrees. Five years later, Cassius, now the King after a tragic event that culminated with the death of his parents and his twin older brother —the king, the queen and the crown prince—, needs heirs and, therefore, he must divorce Inara and find a woman more suited to the demands of the Crown. The problem? Inara, who is in love with Cassius, refuses to give the King a divorce, so she will have to overcome her issues and insecurities so she could fulfill her role as wife and queen.
Cassius is the typical playboy, the black sheep of the family, carefree, following his own rules. The death of his family plunges him into a deep sense of guilt, which defines his personality; After that event, he changes to become the king his people need. Suppressing his rebellious impulses and influenced by the pressures of his deceased father and his royal position, he's unwilling to go back to being the selfish prince that, according to him, he used to be. Furthermore, he doesn't know how to love, because no one has given him love.
On the other hand, we see through the pages the evolution of Inara, from the desperate teenager to the determined woman to be the queen Aveiras deserves and the King's wife. What will never change are her limitations: the young woman, a math genius, has a lot of trouble socializing with people, thus preferring numbers to royalty stuff. The fact that her parents have made things worse for her by demanding what she cannot give has locked her in a shell that she must break if she wants to remain married to Cassius.
They are both very similar; there are no opposites attracts here. And it is precisely those parallels between both that make them work as a couple. Of course, the chemistry is remarkable, but sometimes it is weird. However, the love between them is credible.
The story is made so that the main characters are the focus of the plot. With no active supporting characters, all scenes are themselves in different settings. I think that some characters who interacted with the hero and the heroine would have reinforced the plot. It doesn't mean that the passive secondary characters (their respective families) haven't done a good job, on the contrary. They do it perfectly, especially when it comes to influencing the main characters. Despite this, the writing is good and there are no loose ends and no meaningless scenes. Also, the ending is excellent, with a wonderful epilogue that I loved.
In conclusion, a story that, while not perfect, is very beautiful and interesting. It is a book that I couldn't put down until I finished it and I found it pleasant to read. Highly recommended.
August 2, 2021
I loved this story. They both save each other.
H is a playboy prince who can’t seem to live up to his families expectations. h is 16, smart and socially awkward. her family is seeking status and wants to marry her off to a much older man. h jumps into H’s limo and begs him to save her. He marries her, a marriage in name only, and intends to divorce her when she’s 18. Two years later, His entire family is killed and he becomes king. Putting the divorce on hold, he spends the next 3 years devoting his time to his duty. Needing an heir, he finally shows up and shocks the h with his divorce request. h has fallen in love with H and shocks him and herself by refusing the divorce. And their story toward a hard fought HEA begins….
Safe read. h is a virgin. H has been celibate for 3 years. No OW/OM.
H is a playboy prince who can’t seem to live up to his families expectations. h is 16, smart and socially awkward. her family is seeking status and wants to marry her off to a much older man. h jumps into H’s limo and begs him to save her. He marries her, a marriage in name only, and intends to divorce her when she’s 18. Two years later, His entire family is killed and he becomes king. Putting the divorce on hold, he spends the next 3 years devoting his time to his duty. Needing an heir, he finally shows up and shocks the h with his divorce request. h has fallen in love with H and shocks him and herself by refusing the divorce. And their story toward a hard fought HEA begins….
Safe read. h is a virgin. H has been celibate for 3 years. No OW/OM.
July 27, 2021
What an amazing story Ms. Ashenden penned. Inara is a young girl who is running from a forced marriage that can only take place if she is pure. With that she jumps into the limo of Prince Cassius known for his love of women, she pleads with him to ruin her so this evil man won't marry her. Never known for protecting anyone he takes her under his wing as he knows it will be helpful for him also. He marries her and puts her in a beautiful house and ignores her except for brief times for 5 years. When he comes after that time telling her he is going to get a divorce, she refuses. What happens? Loved this story so much and another fantastic book by this author. She is definetly one to follow. Watch Inara bring Cassius to his knees. awesome story
August 26, 2021
Fascinating, slow-burn romance!
Cassius rescues a sixteen-year-old Inara from a forced marriage to a horrible man, though his own reputation as the playboy prince is hardly seen as an improvement. A couple years later, tragedy forces him to assume the crown and he focuses on straightening up his life to avoid bringing any more scandal. That includes continuing to ignore his child bride, now a twenty-one-year-old woman, until he realizes his need for an heir and therefore, a divorce first.
Inara, despite her growing feelings for her husband, is happy to be married in name only, as she vastly prefers her quiet scholarly life to the spotlight that usually surrounds the royal family. Her reaction to his request surprises them both, leading to the rather sudden change in the direction of their marriage.
I loved the way their romance grew from their careful friendship, and how she helped him come to grips with all the emotional undercurrents he'd been ignoring for so long. The entire plot was fresh, vibrant, and authentic, even while set in a completely fictional environment.
I'm never disappointed reading a Jackie Ashenden romance, and this one brings all the steam and sizzle that we expect. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves royal romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Cassius rescues a sixteen-year-old Inara from a forced marriage to a horrible man, though his own reputation as the playboy prince is hardly seen as an improvement. A couple years later, tragedy forces him to assume the crown and he focuses on straightening up his life to avoid bringing any more scandal. That includes continuing to ignore his child bride, now a twenty-one-year-old woman, until he realizes his need for an heir and therefore, a divorce first.
Inara, despite her growing feelings for her husband, is happy to be married in name only, as she vastly prefers her quiet scholarly life to the spotlight that usually surrounds the royal family. Her reaction to his request surprises them both, leading to the rather sudden change in the direction of their marriage.
I loved the way their romance grew from their careful friendship, and how she helped him come to grips with all the emotional undercurrents he'd been ignoring for so long. The entire plot was fresh, vibrant, and authentic, even while set in a completely fictional environment.
I'm never disappointed reading a Jackie Ashenden romance, and this one brings all the steam and sizzle that we expect. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves royal romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
August 25, 2021
Rakish Prince Cassius is shocked when 16-year-old Inara asks him to save her from an arranged marriage with an abusive aristocrat old enough to be her grandfather. So he does the only thing he can: he marries her. The plan is to divorce her once she's of age and no longer under the control of her parents. But when the time comes, bookish Inara doesn't want to let him go. Can she prove she can be the queen he needs?
This book is so much fun. It's a Regency-style plot set in the present day, and it works surprisingly well. Cassius helps Inara come out of her shell (with a lot of missteps along the way), and she helps him reconnect with the carefree prince he was before he inherited the pressures of the monarchy. This is an entertaining, opposites-attract royal romance.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This book is so much fun. It's a Regency-style plot set in the present day, and it works surprisingly well. Cassius helps Inara come out of her shell (with a lot of missteps along the way), and she helps him reconnect with the carefree prince he was before he inherited the pressures of the monarchy. This is an entertaining, opposites-attract royal romance.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 30, 2021
I didnt really like it, it started out with the hero deciding out of 4 woman who he was going to choose to bed and had just decided to have all 4 when he met heroine. That really grosses me out that he was the type to be with 4 women at once. He then married heroine and still slept with lots of other women for 2 years (I get that she was only 16 and no way could he have been with her and he was celibate for 3 years once she was 18 because his family died, so it doesn't bother me as much as it normally would). I personally didnt like the heroine and all her quirks (clumsy, can't remember things unless it's numbers, etc). As for the ending I didnt care for it, if the heroine hadn't decided to stay the hero fully planned to look for a new wife the next morning, he never planned to go after her. P.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
I had really had a great time reading this. I enjoyed the characters, and of course, it's a royal romance which I'm a sucker for. I would've liked a little bit more tension from the characters, but with it being such a short book that was to be expected. Overall I would recommend picking it up.
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
I had really had a great time reading this. I enjoyed the characters, and of course, it's a royal romance which I'm a sucker for. I would've liked a little bit more tension from the characters, but with it being such a short book that was to be expected. Overall I would recommend picking it up.
July 20, 2022
Boring to tears
This book was exhausting. Pages and pages of internal thoughts and feelings. I suffered through less than half of the book before giving up. As it was, I was only reading the last paragraph of each page of the h's personal thoughts and fears...when it seems it there was about to be some action...it Just lead to more pages and pages of the male's mental gymnastics.
If that's your thing then go for it.
This book was exhausting. Pages and pages of internal thoughts and feelings. I suffered through less than half of the book before giving up. As it was, I was only reading the last paragraph of each page of the h's personal thoughts and fears...when it seems it there was about to be some action...it Just lead to more pages and pages of the male's mental gymnastics.
If that's your thing then go for it.
August 4, 2021
Honestly, this story is sweeter than i expected. The hero might think that he was very much not a good person because he was a womanizer, but deep down he was a nice person. He helped a teeneger to get out of the mess that her parents created by sending her off to marry an abusive old man. He married her, then tragedy striked which left him no choice but to be a King.
August 8, 2021
Newer blurb:
Finally awakening his royal bride!
As King, Cassius requires a real queen by his side. Not Inara, his wife in name only. But when their unfulfilled desire finally gives her the courage to ask for a true marriage, can Inara be the queen he needs?
Finally awakening his royal bride!
As King, Cassius requires a real queen by his side. Not Inara, his wife in name only. But when their unfulfilled desire finally gives her the courage to ask for a true marriage, can Inara be the queen he needs?
August 29, 2021
An okay read
This book had a lot of angst and sorrow, both characters had troublesome childhoods. They ran hot and cold and I couldn’t get into them. The plot was weak. The ending felt rushed.
This book had a lot of angst and sorrow, both characters had troublesome childhoods. They ran hot and cold and I couldn’t get into them. The plot was weak. The ending felt rushed.
July 19, 2022
Smart girl
It's kind of refreshing to see a smart girl like Inara be the one that was needed all along. Cassius may have married her to protect her. Little did he know that she would later save him. This is a really great story about a really smart woman and the man she loves!
It's kind of refreshing to see a smart girl like Inara be the one that was needed all along. Cassius may have married her to protect her. Little did he know that she would later save him. This is a really great story about a really smart woman and the man she loves!
November 11, 2022
2.5 stars
Entertaining enough, although too short to really develop the characters and the romance. Also a little bit of a creep factor with the bride's age at the time of their marriage and the way the king called her "little one" all the time.
Entertaining enough, although too short to really develop the characters and the romance. Also a little bit of a creep factor with the bride's age at the time of their marriage and the way the king called her "little one" all the time.
August 30, 2021
It was good
It's a short read lots of emotions..the book is short she does a good job of building a world. I liked how it turned out
It's a short read lots of emotions..the book is short she does a good job of building a world. I liked how it turned out
September 4, 2021
Good book
January 8, 2023
Good book I really enjoyed it
August 23, 2022
The Wedding Night They Never Had by Jackie Ashenden is fantastic! It evolves on levels that outdo themselves each chapter.
Prince Cassius, the carefree spare, saves Inara from an arranged marriage by marrying him herself. His simple plan is to divorce her in two years when she’s an adult and able to safely make her own way in life. Life throws a cruel curve ball and the tragedy in Prince Cassius’s life spins the original plan out the window. Two years have turned into five and needing heirs he asks Inara for a divorce.
Inara’s mostly happy with her life, she’s left to her own devices and she doesn’t care the press call her “The Prince's Forgotten Bride”. Inara has come to love her King during his infrequent visits. A divorce? It’s a no from her!
I adore this story. Jackie Ashenden has paired a broken alpha hero with a complete opposite and brings them together beautifully. I loved the evolving pair. I was moved multiple times. I loved Inara’s braveness when she attends an event “her” way. I loved it when Cassius figured out Inara’s training wasn’t working. I felt Cassius’s pain. I loved the relationship growing and I loved the epilogue. I loved the little things like Inara's messyness that annoyed Cassius and I loved her mind. Pretty sure she's a unique Presents heroine.
Yes, I adored this one! I’m pretty sure The Wedding Night They Never Had will be one of my most favorite stories I’ve read this year.
Prince Cassius, the carefree spare, saves Inara from an arranged marriage by marrying him herself. His simple plan is to divorce her in two years when she’s an adult and able to safely make her own way in life. Life throws a cruel curve ball and the tragedy in Prince Cassius’s life spins the original plan out the window. Two years have turned into five and needing heirs he asks Inara for a divorce.
Inara’s mostly happy with her life, she’s left to her own devices and she doesn’t care the press call her “The Prince's Forgotten Bride”. Inara has come to love her King during his infrequent visits. A divorce? It’s a no from her!
I adore this story. Jackie Ashenden has paired a broken alpha hero with a complete opposite and brings them together beautifully. I loved the evolving pair. I was moved multiple times. I loved Inara’s braveness when she attends an event “her” way. I loved it when Cassius figured out Inara’s training wasn’t working. I felt Cassius’s pain. I loved the relationship growing and I loved the epilogue. I loved the little things like Inara's messyness that annoyed Cassius and I loved her mind. Pretty sure she's a unique Presents heroine.
Yes, I adored this one! I’m pretty sure The Wedding Night They Never Had will be one of my most favorite stories I’ve read this year.
hq-to-read
August 9, 2021He must take a bride…
But he already has a wife!
Charming Prince Cassius wed young Inara Donati to save her from a dreadful forced betrothal. But their arrangement was only on paper. Five years later, after tragedy makes him king, Cassius needs heirs, and for that he requires a real queen!
Bookish Inara isn’t made for court life. But when Cassius demands a divorce, even she’s surprised by the strength of her refusal—and unfulfilled desire. Yet to find the courage to ask him for a true marriage, Inara must first believe she can be the queen he needs…
But he already has a wife!
Charming Prince Cassius wed young Inara Donati to save her from a dreadful forced betrothal. But their arrangement was only on paper. Five years later, after tragedy makes him king, Cassius needs heirs, and for that he requires a real queen!
Bookish Inara isn’t made for court life. But when Cassius demands a divorce, even she’s surprised by the strength of her refusal—and unfulfilled desire. Yet to find the courage to ask him for a true marriage, Inara must first believe she can be the queen he needs…
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews