Series: A Crown by Christmas (Book 1)
From his housekeeper…
…to Her Royal Highness?
Reeling from the revelation that he's not the rightful
heir to his country's throne, Crown Prince Luca Valenti heads to the mountains
to find his long-lost sister before scandal erupts. Snowbound with enchanting,
down-to-earth housekeeper Imogen Albright, Luca's learning there's more to life
than royal duty. As the snow melts, Christmas at the palace beckons…but will
Luca make this Cinderella his royal bride?
Imogen has lived in her small Canadian town all her life,
most of it at the Crystal Lake Lodge. First, her parents managed it; now, that
job belongs to her. Though accustomed to dealing with famous people, she's a
bit nervous about the upcoming visit of royalty. Those nerves jump to
double-time as Prince Luca arrives a day ahead of schedule, and just as a
winter storm also arrives. Through unexpected circumstances, Imogen and Luca
end up snowed in alone together at the Lodge.
Luca's life is being turned upside down. His fiancée broke
off their engagement the day before their wedding, in love with another man and
pregnant with his child. To add insult to injury, it turns out his father's
first wife had a child no one knew about, making him no longer the heir to the
throne. He came to the small Canadian town to find his long-lost sister before
the news gets out and causes a scandal.
Though Luca starts out all stiff and proper, it's quickly
evident that there is a heart under that stiff exterior. I liked how he stepped
in to make sure Rachel got to the hospital, even though it left him stranded
alone with Imogen. There was a connection between Luca and Imogen from the
moment they met. Both of them saw past the surface of the other and sensed the
pain that each dealt with. I enjoyed seeing Luca put his royalness aside and
allow his softer side to show. He won my heart with his understanding of
Imogen's pain and his heartfelt view of her future. At the same time, Imogen
saw the loneliness that was so much a part of Luca's life that he barely saw it
himself. Her determination to show him what a "normal" Christmas is
like was sweet. As Luca experienced everything from building snowmen to
roasting hotdogs over the fire, the sparks between him and Imogen grew
stronger. Imogen knew she was falling for Luca and that there was no future in
it, but she resolved to embrace the time they had together.
Their brief idyll came to an end when the roads opened
and Luca could proceed on his mission. Sparks of another kind flew when Imogen
found out his reason for being there. I loved seeing her stand up to Luca and
his pronouncements, especially since he's not used to people telling him no. It
was interesting to see how his outlook on some things changed after a few days
with Imogen, and the effect it had on his subsequent actions. I liked the
scenes with his family and his ex's family after his return home. I enjoyed the
way that he convinced Imogen to visit his home, even though it also involved a
bit of deception. The scenes at the castle were great, and I particularly
enjoyed Luca's statement to the press. I ached a little for both he and Imogen.
Her love for him was undeniable but caught in the belief that there was nothing
possible for them. Luca wanted her in his life but was afraid that she wouldn't
want to be part of his. I loved the ending and the scene in his garden.
This is the first of the trilogy and I am looking forward
to the other books.
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