The Baby and the Blueblood

Eastport Bay Billionaires #3

by Tru Taylor

You can’t really grasp the full essence of the word “mortified” until you’ve stood face to face with the former love of your life—covered head to toe in soot and cobwebs. – Cinda Brown

She’s risen from the ashes of heartbreak…
As a single mom, I’m not looking for Prince Charming. The last time I fell for a handsome, sophisticated, wealthy guy, he left me at the worst possible time without a look backward or even a word of explanation.

He did leave me with a lovely parting gift though… which arrived nine months later.

With no way to reach him, I picked up the pieces of that shattered glass slipper and moved on. Now I’m running my own business—the Fairy Godmother Cleaning Agency. My hands—and all my hours—are more than full managing my employees (including my two hapless stepsisters) and keeping my four-year-old son happy, healthy, fed, and clothed.

It’s not easy doing it all on my own, but I have zero interest in a new relationship. And who has the time? My high society clients expect their Eastport Bay, Rhode Island mansions to be sparkling—on schedule—come hell, high water, or hurricane.

So when a flu epidemic sweeps through my agency the day before the royal family of Aubernesse is to arrive in Eastport Bay, I put on a uniform and pick up the slack, working furiously to make sure their gorgeous vacation home is immaculate and ready for the elaborate ball they’re planning to throw.

He’s looking for the perfect fit…
I’m back in Eastport Bay for the first time in five years—and not exactly happy to be here. There’s a reason I’ve stayed away so long.

The place lost its magic for me long ago—the night the only girl I’ve ever loved proved beyond a shadow of a doubt she didn’t feel the same.

But this trip is non-negotiable, a matter of duty. I’m planning to fly in, attend the ridiculous ball my mother is so insistent upon, then get back to my life in Europe as quickly as possible.

That is until I arrive at the family estate early and catch the cleaning crew still at work.

And get a look at the woman beneath that coating of dust, ash, and spiderwebs…

**The Baby and the Blue Blood is a small-town rom com take on Cinderella, filled with heart, heat, and secret baby/second chance/royal billionaire romance fun!**

Author's note: While all the books in the Eastport Bay Billionaires series stand alone, you'll get even more reading pleasure by reading them together! Here's the series reading list so far:

Bookworm and the Beast- A small town Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Romance
Bargain with the Bachelor- A small town Roommates to Lovers Fake Dating Romance
The Baby and the Blueblood- A small town Secret Baby Second Chance Royal Romance

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Royalty, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Billionaires, Second Chance Romance

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

Award-winning author Tru Taylor writes small town romance that's hot and sunny (and a little bit funny.)

She runs on Coke Zero and dark chocolate, lives for lunches with her girlfriends, and drives to the town beach several times a week to watch the sun set over the water.

She loves LOVE and will attempt to turn any show or movie she's watching into a romance whether it is one or not. Star Wars? A romance. Lord of the Rings? Clearly a romance. The Expendables? Okay, well not even Tru can redeem that one.

When she's not writing, Tru enjoys watching movies and reading books with happy endings, spending time with Mr. Tru and her two kids, and sneaking Hershey's Kisses from the top shelf of the freezer throughout the day. (Top shelf because... two kids. Enough said.)

Tru is the author of the Eastport Bay small town rom com series and loves living in a small New England town where she's surrounded every day by the beautiful coastal setting you see brought to life in her books.

Reviews

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a second chance, single mom, cinderella retelling!

they've met 4y ago, but she didn't know he was a royal, so when he left she couldn't get in touch with him.
now he's back in town, and he won't leave without her!

i love second chance romance when they don't hate each other, i just love when they're still in love, idk why is just so cute!!
also, there's a force proximity trope!

[Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥



I am not normally the swooning type. Thirsty -- yes, but clutch my chest and sigh is not my typical reaction to MMCs. Alexander Wessex, however, definitely brought his Prince Charming A-game and managed to get a swoon out of me.

The Baby and the Blueblood has now taken the favorite spot in this series of fairy tale retellings (though clearly I love them all). It is a second-chance romance between two people who had a misunderstanding years ago. Recent circumstances have them crossing paths again, but have they become so different from who they were in the past, and have their feelings for each other changed?

Cinda is the hardworking owner of a local cleaning service in a well-to-do coastal town. On top of managing her business and raising her adorable four-year-old son AJ by herself, she has to deal with her difficult stepmother and stepsisters. After facing five years of adversity, she's learned to depend only on herself, and I love her grit and drive. Despite building a hard shell around her heart, however, she remains kind and compassionate, and I love that about her, too.

Alex is the heir to the Aubernesse throne. Forced to marry a princess from a nearby kingdom, he travels early to Eastport Bay to get some space before his engagement party. But will he go through with it when he runs into Cinda? What is refreshing about him is that while he is confident and charming, he is also nice and caring. He embodies my ideal of a modern Prince Charming: valiant, dashing, and good-hearted.

These books are my first with Tru Taylor, and what I've come to love about her writing is her world building. These stories still remind you of the classics, but the modern twists and the intricate Easter eggs are so clever and engaging.

** I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. **

[KootenayBookBabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review-

Tru Taylor has done it again! This is a modern take on Cinderella, and it hits the mark in every possible way. Second chance romance, small town, accidental pregnancy, secret baby, billionaire, royalty, Cinderella story…so many tropes in this one it’s amazing!

We’ve met Cinda before in “Bargain with the Billionaire” (definitely give it a read if you haven’t, it isn’t necessary but it makes this book so much better because we get more backstory) she’s a single mom running her own cleaning company and trying to raise her son as best she can.
Alex is royalty and being made to come back to Eastport Bay to announce his engagement to a woman he’s never met before but whom he is arranged to marry. When he sees Cinda in his family home, cleaning, he is swept back in time to the summer they shared together.
We learn that Alex wasn’t completely honest with Cinda about who he was when they were young, and they had many things working against them, their families being a major one.
I loved Alex’s tenacity to re-woo Cinda, and the lengths he goes to complete his mission. I liked Alex immediately, but I was a little annoyed with how he was going to allow his parents to make his life choices for him. He redeems himself though, when he chooses Cinda for himself, his parents be damned.
Cinda is a strong, independent woman who’s only goal in life is to provide for her son. I love this about Cinda, she’s relatable, and you want to root for her from the get-go. Like any mom, she’s selfless to a fault, willing to sacrifice her own happiness to protect her son.
As with the other books in this universe, our characters get their Happily Ever After and there’s no cliff hanger, which I love! This book was a fun, easy to read, steamy romance and I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t like it. I would recommend to any who likes romance.
I’m excited for the next book in the series, “The baby-whisperer and the brute” which is set to release in October 2021. You can read “The Baby and the Blueblood” and all the previous Eastbay Port Billionaire books on Kindle Unlimited.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby and the Blueblood is loosely based on Cinderella, and I LOVED it. Cinda & Alex met while he was in the states, and they fell in love. Things out of her control happened, and they both thought the other had hurt them so resentment was born. Oh, and Alex left Cinda with a party favor from that time. This story takes place several years later when the flu took out half of Cinda's employees so she had to put on the uniform to help because she had a big account with a royal family from Aubernesse. Alex is actually the crown prince of Aubernesse, and while he's been able to get out of going the past years, this year he can't since he's been contracted to marry someone his parents picked out. Little did he know that he would run into Cinda the day that he arrived ahead of his family, and while she's running, he's doing whatever it takes to finally talk to her. He has no clue as to what is coming for him, and when Cinda finally has no choice but to talk to him, they figure out that neither had hurt the other (some twists there) but how will they go forward?! She didn't know who he was & now that she does, she doesn't want that life especially since she knows his family would never go for it, oh, and he hasn't told her about the engagement either. Can Alex talk Cinda into a second chance to be a family despite all the obstacles?! You know what to do to find out! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Nikki Costello ***Crazy Cajun Book Addicts Blog*** · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second chance romance has a little bit of cinderella and a while lotta love. I'm a new reader to Tru Taylor and really enjoyed The Baby And The Blueblood.

Five years ago Alex and Cinda spent a summer together but due to circumstances beyond their control they were forced to part. Now Alec is back and no matter how much Cinder tries to avoid him, Alex is determined that's not going to happen. But both Alex and Cinder have secrets how will they fair when everything comes to light will this be their second and will they finally get their HEA.

A great story and I cannot wait to read Sully and Angelina's story next.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it

I didn't like this one as much as the first two. But it was still good. I'm running to get book 4 now because I got super interested in reading the epilogue with the neighbor and his girls

[Haleemah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very fast read skipped a lot of the description it just got boring and also with the whole past they had would’ve been nice to hear more about it…

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

RATING: 2/5

SHORT SUMMARY:

MCs: Alex and Cinda

5 years ago, Alex and Cinda meat in a beach club. Cinda doesn’t know that Alex is part of the royal family. They agreed to meet, but Cinda’s father suddenly died and the message she sent to Alex, did not reach him. Alex tried to search for Cinda but his father concocted a scheme so Alex would not find Cinda. Little did Alex know, they have a child named AJ.
They met 5 years after and so their love story continued.

REVIEW:

I really did not enjoy it. There was no moment when I felt warm and fuzzy, or something really interesting piqued my attention. I finished it for the sake of finishing a book. I don’t know why it got 4.16 rating in Goodreads. Probably this story and writing are not just for me.

[Becca Stanfield Vernon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded great as I read the synopsis, but it was a let down. I didn’t enjoy the take on the Cinderella story. I was bored throughout & had a hard time finishing. I felt parts where immature & lacking a connection. The characters were ok just felt like something was missing. The h was names Cinda how cheesy is that.
Told in dual POV.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay

This book was just okay for me. Something about it never really sat right. I found it just so far out there that she never knew in all that time that he was a prince and that he (as a prince) couldn’t have tracked her down easier than what he tried. Just didn’t really do it for me.

[Justadele · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

[R M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read and a take on Cinderella.
It was cute. But the depth of shenanigans of the Prince and Cinda’s stepmother were terrible. Alex forgave awfully easily.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Story & Audible Listen🎧 A Captivating Delight!

The Baby and the Blueblood
Eastport Bay Billionaires, Book 3
By: Tru Taylor
Narrated by: Laney Scott, Baz Tonetto

This is a fabulously charming second chance romance novel and I loved everything about it, from Tru Taylor’s wonderful writing style to the fabulous characters and storylines to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. I am not sure how this author stayed off my radar, which is embarrassing to admit, but she certainly grabbed my attention now and so did this book, captivating my attention from start to end. I loved how she put her own spin on the classic fairytale Cinderella in a modern world. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to like and care about too. Cinda Brown, a single mom, runs her own business, the Fairy Godmother Cleaning Agency in her hometown of Eastport Bay, and many of her clients are high society and own vacation homes or rather mansions. Short staffed because of a flu outbreak, she fills in and helps freshen and clean the Royal family of Auberneese’s mansion, prior to their arrival. She was not expecting to see the only man she ever loved, the one who broke her heart, and she was not expecting him to be royalty, either. Prince Alex of Aubernesse has not visited his family’s Rhode Island estate in five years and if it was up to him, he would not be there at all, but the party is in his honor, an announcement of his engagement to his future bride in his arranged marriage. He arrived early because he never got closure from the relationship he had with the girl he fell in love with five years earlier in this same town. And to his surprise he finds that girl, Cinda is in his home, cleaning. He wants to talk to her, but she does not give him the time of day. He is not sure why the cold shoulder it was her who stood him up five years ago and broke his heart. This is a fabulous, small town, second chance romance, the story is both cleverly and beautifully plotted with the perfect balance of drama, humor, some twists, heartfelt emotions and some steamy sexy times. I loved how everything falls in place and the parallels to Cinderella, evil stepmother and sisters and the most charming of princes. I adored her son A.J too. Tru Taylor, thank you for this fabulously delightful story and emotional rollercoaster ride, I am looking forward to checking out more of your books, glad to hear more of them are coming to audio too.

🎧📚🎧 And for the wonderful narration, Laney Scott and Baz Tonetto are talented narrators and versatile voice artists. They did a great job with the character voices and had a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, sounding believable and just as I pictured the characters to sound. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the great listen.

[Frances Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ebook ARC, from he author, on the condition that I write an honest review.
I am loving this whole series with all of the bachelors finding their loves, and each told in a modernized fairy tale form. This book was about Alex and Cinda. They had met several years ago, while she worked the social club, and he was visiting the area. They fell in love, but circumstances led to him leaving suddenly, to return to his country, without saying goodbye to Cinda.
In the meantime Cinda goes thru her own family turmoil, and realizes that she is carrying the child of Alex. She was never able to locate him, and continues her life as independently as she can. Working hard to keep her baby fed, clothed, and a roof over their head.
Alex returns five years later to the same area, and discovers, that Cinda still lives there. They reunite, but hurt feelings are present, they are stranded on an island together, due to a hurricane, and are finally able to talk things through. He finally meets his son, and attempts to become a family, but their social standings are so different, and Cinda turns him away. She eventually realizes that her son needs to know his father, and goes to the ball to talk to Alex. Alex’s father attempts to send her away, but Alex interferes, and the family learns about his child. They finally accept the situation and the couple obtains their HEA, with a beautiful ending.
I highly recommend this ebook, because of the great story, the characters, and flow of the story.

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...sometimes, the first one to move into your heart simply refuses to vacate the premises."

Cinda & Alex had a fling 5 years ago, but after some crossed wires, they both went their separate ways. Now, Alex has returned to Eastport Bay, and Cinda finds that while she wants to keep her secrets, her heart and body won't let her. And when Alex's secrets are also revealed, she must, once and for all, decide if she prefers life with or without Alex in it.

This Cinderella-esque romance was an enjoyable read. I liked the glimpses we were afforded of Cinda in the previous book, and was curious about her backstory. I liked the way Tru Taylor had me submerged in the pages of this book. I couldn't stop reading! I just loved the way the story unfolded.

You can't help but like Cinda - she's a heroine that you can relate to; she works hard and prefers not to rely on anyone or look out for favours. And having had to raise her son alone has only cemented her desire to make sure he understands the value of honest, hard work. Alex was a sweetheart. I admired his tenacity and determination to make sure that Cinda didn't totally succeed in avoiding him. I liked that he always tried to do the right and honorable things.

This second chance, secret baby royal romance will warm your heart. I unreservedly recommend it.

As usual, Tru Taylor has whetted my appetite for the next novel, and I am eagerly looking forward to it.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby and the Blueblood
Eastport Bay Billionaires, Book 3
By: Tru Taylor
Narrated by: Laney Scott, Baz Tonetto

I absolutely love retelling of fairy tales and Tru Taylor does a fantastic remake of Cinderella with The Baby and the Blueblood. Alex and Cinda met four years earlier. He, a prince but keeping his identity to himself falls in love with a waitress. Making plans for the future may have been in the works but circumstances and misunderstandings cloud their paths and now when they meet again, everything and nothing has changed. But will they be able to find their way back to each other? Oh my, the swoony Alex had me from the beginning. He could not have been more romantic, hurricane and all! Cinda has to be one of my favorite heroines. Ambitious, full time mom and protective of everything she is and has accomplished. This book had me from the start and kept me engaged the entire time.I now have to go back and enjoy the first two stories in this series!

Laney Scott and Baz Tonetto are our princess and prince bringing this royal story to life. Not only is this my first Tru Taylor book, but it's the first time I have heard these two narrators. They work very well together with voices that are perfectly cast to their characters. I love the child's voice too, making me fall deeper into the story. This is a wonderful listen and made my weekend.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A royal, second chance, small town, single mother, secret baby romance?..... "THE BABY AND THE BLUEBLOOD" is the retelling of Cinderella complete with wicked stepmother, spoiled step sisters and handsome prince that has to take a bride.

The thing I liked most about this romance was that Alex and Cinda’s love for one another endured while they were apart. The problem had been misunderstandings and miscommunication that prevented Cinda from letting Alex know he was going to be a father.
Once he convinces her to clean his huge home on the island just as a hurricane is about to make landfall.. they finally reconnect, except Cinda holds back some very Important info ... yet Alex is just as Guilty by not speaking up either........but when they return to Eastport THEY both come face to face with their deceits (so to speak)..........I had tears in my eyes when AL made a comment and Cinda broke down crying from the huge wall she had put up for herself .... Love how Kristal comes to her aid and helps her like the Good "Fairy Godmother" would do and gets her to the ball ....
Clearing up an arranged marriage and a meddling father needed to come to pass in order for Alex, Cinda and AJ to become a family. A heart warming finish!

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.85 Stars🌟🌟🌟

Cinda and Alex met years ago when she was working at a social club and he was visiting. They fell in love but then Alex had to return to his country withou saying goodbye 😔

During that time Cinda goes through her own problems and she discovers that she is having Alexs baby. She tried to find him but to no avail.
Five years later and Alex returna just to get a break from his family and finds Cinda again. But can things go back to the way it was? Hurt feelings not to mention plus family intervening... Will they be able to get back what they had especially with a little boy added to the mix😬

I enjoyed this. These had awesome chemistry and fate definitely stepped in☺ it was a sweet, romantic single parent story. I loved Cinda she was a fierce mama bear and wanted what was best for her son. Alex was definitely your fantasy of Prince Charming. I loved this story and it was my first story by this author as well and definitely found a new author for me☺❤

Read on behalf of
Fay's Corner

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit Cinderella and all second chance romance. Five years earlier Cinda and Alex had a summer fling that looked to be turning into something much bigger, but it wasn’t to be at the time. Now they’re both back where it all began, and a hurricane might just force them to hash out everything that happened between them. I loved Cinda’s fierce mamma bear personality, however her resistance to having an adult conversation with Alex frustrated me. Alex is sneaky and underhanded, but with Cinda running scared, I don’t really blame him for most of his actions. There’s lots of big emotional things this pair needs to work through in this book, yet there were also all kinds of cute silly moments that kept me laughing. The lead in for the next book makes me think it’s going to be even funnier than this one was, which means I can’t wait to read it.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through Give Me Books Promotions.

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cute take on the fairytale of Cinderella. I love how imaginative the author is in writing this series. Though this book easily stands alone, its very connected to the 2nd book in the series Bargain with the Bachelor as that is the book that Cinda is first introduced in.

In this story we meet the Prince Alex who fell for Cinda 5 years before. He is back in town to announce his engagement to a princess at a ball. However before he can do that he meets Cinda again and he wants some answers about what happened 5 years before when she disappeared on him.

This was an awesome second chance at romance story with a royal prince and a single mom. I really loved it. It has a sorta love triangle since the prince is supposed to announce his engagement to this other woman. I am really loving this series and cannot wait to read more by this author.

I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinda Brown and Alexander Wessex's secret summer romance came to an end when Alex had to return to his home country without saying goodbye. With no way to contact him after he left, Cinda was unable to let Alex know when she found out that she was pregnant. Five years later, after giving birth to her son AJ and building a successful house cleaning business, Cinda was shocked to come face-to-face with Alex again and learn his true identity as the Crown Prince of Aubernesse. Afraid of what might happen if Alex learned about their son's existence, Cinda did everything in her power to avoid Alex, but he was determined to learn the truth about what had caused their relationship to end so abruptly. Would they be able to work through the misunderstandings and pain of the past in order to build a new future together as a family?

Cinda and Alex were both endearing, relatable characters, and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA. I loved that Cinda was so much of a mama bear and put her son first in everything she did. As for Alex, I appreciated his efforts to woo Cinda and the way he took care of her after she injured her ankle. He may have grown up in a palace surrounded by servants, but he actually had some practical life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and first aid, which was honestly impressive (and a bit surprising).

Overall, I adored this charming modern take on "Cinderella" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. This series just keeps getting better with every book, and I can't wait to find out what the author has in store for us next.

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

[ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it was a good book and I love the second chance stumble but a protagonist pissed me off a lot, why does she want to charge H to be honest if she isn't??? she was very hypocritical and didn't even let him explain himself, usually I side with single mothers because they have a reason to have hidden the child but in this case it was all a lack of communication. The H was ready to give up everything for her and she just runs away because she felt cheated.

pt:
No geral foi um bom livro e eu adoro a trope de second chance mas a protagonista me irritou muito, por que ela quer cobrar do H ser honesto se ela não é??? ela foi muito hipocrita e nem deixou ele se explicar, geralmente eu fico do lado das singles moms por que elas tem um motivo para terem escondido o filho mas nesse caso foi tudo falta de comunicação. O H estava pronto para desistir de tudo por ela e ela simplesmente foge porque se sentiu enganada, me poupe.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in this series and is Alex and Cinda’s story. These two met 50years previously and after a summer fling, Alex left with any explanation, and leaving Cinda with a little surprise, and no contact details for Alex. Now Cinda is running her own cleaning company, and she is a single mom to a little boy, who she works hard to support them both. When a royal family are heading to Eastport, and a flu pandemic affects her workers, she puts her uniform on to get the mansion ready for the wealthy guests. Alex is back in town a day earlies that his family, only to cross paths with Cinda. What will happen when her huge secret is revealed? This is a good story which is a 2nd chance romance story, with emotions, family, turmoil, and secrets, which leads to an intriguing page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I recommend.

[Louise O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby and the Blueblood is book 3 in the Eastbay Billionaires series, a modern day take on the classic fairy tales.

Cinda is working her butt off making sure that her company is successful but its even harder when her step siblings turn up when they want. When she has to get back out there to help ensure that the biggest job is done on time she comes face to face with a man she never thought she would see again. Giving them a second chance is not as easy as it seems, there is more hearts at play this time around.

I personally enjoyed this story, I am loving the fairytale twist that Tru has put into each of the books. Cinda and Alex has so much chemistry throughout this story, once I started I didn’t want to put it down.
Star Rating: Plot: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Heat: 4/5 Writing Style: 4/5 Overall: 4/5

[J Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Get ready for another super fun fairytale retelling! This story combines the perfect amount of heart and heat that we’ve come to love from Tru Taylor.

Cinda is a headstrong heroine and Alex is her hero with a heart of gold. Their chemistry is immediately rekindled upon seeing each again, complete with a whirlwind of emotions. A stolen moment on a secluded island in picturesque New England sets them on a collision course with the unanswered questions of their past.

‘I was ravenous for him, intimate muscles clenching on an emptiness I was desperate for him to fill.’

So many heartfelt, swoon-worthy moments leads to the sweetest happily ever after!

I received a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal second chance romance

What’s not to like about a royal, second chance, small town, single mother, secret baby romance? THE BABY AND THE BLUEBLOOD is a retelling of Cinderella complete with wicked stepmother, spoiled step sisters and handsome prince that has to take a bride.

The thing I liked most about this romance was that Alex and Cinda’s love for one another endured while they were apart. The problem had been misunderstandings and miscommunication that prevented Cinda from letting Alex know he was going to be a father.

Clearing up an arranged marriage and meddling father needed to come to pass in order for Alex, Cinda and AJ to become a family. A heart warming finish!

[Malia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was overall super good. I just think some of the tropes in it weren't for me. I'm not huge into second chance due to them already having that chemistry it doesn't need to grow. It felt like the characters didn't grow or progress. Everything happened in a matter of a few days in the books timeline, which doesn't leave much room for tension or the most amazing stunning plot. The ending was also very all over the place and confusing. The characters would say one thing, then a page later do the exact opposite it was kinda bizzare. With that being said, I did have a great time reading, and I did enjoy the book. I would recommend it, just it may not be the most amazing master piece of a book.

[JOYCE PITTARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

Cinda and Alex had a fairytale story. Except Cinda had no idea who the real Alex was. 5 years later they cross paths when he comes back and she and her company are cleaning his family's home. Both shocked when he walks in. She hiding a very big secret in one way, but didn't know how to find him. He thought she didn't show up on there last date 5 years ago, although he didn't realize her father had died suddenly. Results a son AJ. When stranded together she hits about AJ, BUT DOESN'T reveal the truth. Both still love each other. When he flys her home after being stranded he sees AJ for the first time and he knows without a doubt he is his. Several hoops to run through but is a HEA.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! It is set in the Cinderella theme and the author did a super job! Many times I was smiling at the many references while listening. I enjoyed the storyline as well as the characters. Cinda and her cleaning agency…loved it! Alex I was u sure of at first but as the story grew I realized I was completely into both main characters. I could see their history and how that changed their future.

I did listen to this on audio. Both narrators do a wonderful job. I have not listened to Baz Tonetto before and he pulled off the cultured blue blood perfectly. We get a sneak peek into the next book and I am looking forward to listening to it!

[kgagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so enchanting by Cinda and Alex's second chance - forbidden romance. Cinda is a single mom working hard to make a good life for her adorable young son. She unexpectedly runs into her first and only man she has ever loved after he suddenly left town without saying a word. Alex is back in town at the request of his parents. He doesn't want to face his future until he reconciles his past that as haunted him for 5 years. When he sees Cinda again, all the feelings of love overtake the hurt he felt thinking Cinda stood him up when he wanted her most. Now they are forced to face the truth and they begin to imagine they might have a future together. But they come from completely different worlds and Cinda isn't sure the royal family will accept a commoner. Cinda also has her own secrets that could break both their hearts, but Alex will do whatever it takes to prove that Cinda is his, forever.
This is a fun, heartwarming, sweet and sizzling romance. The narration by Laney Scott, and Baz Tonetto was fantastic. They really brought out the push/pull between both Cinda and Alex, and allowed us to experience their strengths and vulnerabilities, and their sexual tension was palpable! This fun, emotional and sizzling royal romance will make you believe in fairy-tales!