Series: Dynasties: The Montoros (Book 6)
Juan Carlos Salazar II never thought he'd become King of
Alma. But when an explosive family secret leaves him next in line for the
throne, he's ready.
Until he catches a glimpse of Princess Portia Lindstrom
at the coronation. Because it's love at first sight with this mysterious woman.
But Portia's secrets test the power of his devotion and Juan Carlos is tempted
to throw duty out the window. Sorely tempted.
Soon he must choose between commitment to country and
family…or his own heart.
Terrific conclusion to the series. After all the twists
and turns of the previous books, the role of King of Alma has come to rest on Juan
Carlos's shoulders. Determined to bring peace and prosperity back to his
country, at his coronation Juan Carlos promised to put his people and his
country first. Then a glimpse of a beautiful woman at his coronation turned his
heart upside down.
I loved Juan Carlos and Portia. I had my doubts about him
in previous books, as he seemed uptight and sometimes unsympathetic to his
cousins' difficulties. However, he won me over quickly in this book. His love
for Alma and its people was evident in his thoughts during the coronation. His
immediate fascination with Portia was a surprise to him, as was the way she
took over his thoughts. Portia was as drawn to Juan Carlos as he was to her. But
she was burned in a previous relationship with a high profile man and had no
intention of getting involved with another one.
I loved the development of the relationship between Juan
Carlos and Portia. He was adorable in his "love at first sight" determination
to win Portia over. The rumors of the missing art treasures gave him the
perfect opportunity to spend more time with her. Portia was wary of the
attraction between them. Her attempts to fight it were a losing battle, though
she tried hard. One of my favorite things about Juan Carlos was how
down-to-earth he was. The time they spent together during the search was almost
like any regular couple as they got to know each other. The connection that
grew between them was more than a physical one, and it wasn't long before they
admitted their love.
But as Portia prepared for their wedding, she discovered
a family secret that changed everything she thought she knew about herself. Devastated,
she broke things off with Juan Carlos, unwilling to bring scandal to his
fledgling monarchy. Hurt by her inexplicable actions, he tried to change her
mind, until she was forced to confess the real reasons she left. I wanted to
shake Juan Carlos at this point because his reaction was to lash out with anger
and distrust. I loved the enlightening conversation he had with a friend, and
how it gave him a new perspective. His big moment at the end was fantastic and
perfect for who and what he was.
I loved the search for the missing art treasures. Juan
Carlos's determination to find them and make them part of the new Alma was
wonderful. I could feel their frustration as their searches turned up empty
time after time. I was very impressed with the cleverness of how they were
hidden when they were finally discovered. It was a very emotional scene.
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