Title: The Prince’s BrideAuthor: Charis Michaels
Series: Hidden Royals #2
Pages: 384
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
Publisher: AVON BOOKS
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
Lady Marrianne “Ryan” Daventry was betrothed to an obscure French prince when she was just a baby. Years later, the young prince entered exile and was never heard from again. Lady Ryan considers the betrothal off; she can hardly marry a dead man. Now another French royal has inherited the princedom and he claims the old betrothal still stands—with himself as the bridegroom. Rather than fight the cruel new prince, Lady Ryan sets out to reveal him as an imposter. She needs only to locate the original lost prince and prove he’s still alive.
Prince Gabriel d’Orleans is still living, but he’s very difficult to find. He goes by the name of Gabriel Reign and lives in the forest, working as a horse trainer for wealthy clients. He’s hardly a pauper, but he’s also not a prince. His life in the woods conceals his true identity and keeps him safe—but also alone.
Using an old childhood letter as her only guide, Lady Ryan sets out for Savernake Forest to find the missing prince. When danger thrusts them together unexpectedly, Lady Ryan is shocked at his rustic life and his commitment to his new identity. More shocking is her fierce attraction to the rugged horseman. Meanwhile, Gabriel never planned to be discovered and he certainly never planned on falling in love. But passion has a way of upending the most careful of plans, and even the strictest boundaries are no match for the transcendent power of love.
This blog uses affiliate links for some book recommendations, and if you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting this little bookish corner of the internet!
This is such a unique story and a great addition to the Hidden Royals series. I loved Say Yes to the Princess, the first book in the series, when I read it last year and couldn’t wait to read Gabriel’s story. Gabriel is a prince and the sister to the FMC in Say Yes to the Princess. Like his sister, his story is heartbreaking, and their struggles after they fled France are vastly different.
Gabriel and Ryan were betrothed as children, but they haven’t seen each other in years since Gabriel and his siblings fled during the French Revolution, and other members of his family were executed. Gabriel has lived his life in hiding, safe from the dangers that surrounded his younger years, and is presumed dead. He lives alone in a cave-turned-home with only the animals for company, and he rarely ventures from the wilderness in which he lives. His is a solitary existence.
It’s been fifteen years since Gabriel left France, and his vile cousin wants to claim Gabriel’s betrothal (and everything else that belongs to Gabriel) as his own, but Ryan goes on a journey to find Gabriel so the unwanted marriage won’t happen. When she and Gabriel meet, the sparks fly. They have such a chemistry-filled romance and a story that kind of reminded me of Tarzan meets Beauty and the Beast.
Ryan is so understanding and sympathetic toward Gabriel, and it’s clear they care for each other deeply. But Gabriel has lived in isolation for a long time, and his old fears remain. He’s justifiably afraid of reentering society and facing all that comes with it. Gabriel must find the courage to leave the safety of his anonymous life if he wants to help Ryan, but it’s a struggle for him. I like that Ryan doesn’t pressure Gabriel even though her situation is dire. She never forces him to do anything out of his comfort zone, and she accepts and likes him the way he is.
I also like that the main characters from the first book in the series are in this book as well. I was so hoping to see Elise reunite with Gabriel. These siblings have been apart for fifteen years, and Elise was desperate to find out what happened to him, so to see this reunion, and to catch up with some favorite characters, was fantastic!
I really enjoyed this story, as I enjoy all of Michaels’s romances. It has a unique story, well-developed characters, and a wonderfully swoon-worthy love story. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- The romance.
- The secondary characters.
- secret royalty
- second chance, long lost romance
CHARIS MICHAELS is thrilled to be making her debut with Avon Impulse. Prior to writing romance, she studied Journalism at Texas A&M and managed PR for a trade association. She has also worked as a tour guide at Disney World, harvested peaches on her family’s farm, and entertained children as the “Story Godmother” at birthday parties. She has lived in Texas, Florida, and London, England. She now makes her home in the Washington, D.C.-metro area.
One thought on “Book Review: The Prince’s Bride by Charis Michaels”