The Prince’s Bride

The Prince’s Bride by Charis Micheals

If you have never read on of Charis Michael’s historical romance novels, you are in for a treat. Her Awakened by A Kiss Series that was a reimagining of fairy tales was a solid romcom female empowering (within in the historical romance world) romp. 

This story starts off with a very Robin Hood feel. (noble living in the woods, saving damsel in distress) Heck the female MC is named Marianne (she goes by Ryan). But Prince Gabriel d’Orleans is not out there fighting capitalism and greed, no he is just hiding from the world. A French prince living in exile, afraid the French revolutionists will hunt him down, Gabriel has made a life for himself in the forest. He rehabilitates horses for rich lords (business is done by his adoptive brother so he can be anonymous). He has gone from princeling with court manners to a pretty hardened recluse. And that is where Ryan finds him (which no one else can do). She is his long forgotten arranged marriage fiancée. She has come to the forest to find the Prince and bring him back to her home, where his evil usurping cousin is trying to enforce the betrothal of her to the “prince” (even though he is not the original prince in the betrothal). Gabriel says nope, not going back, don’t want to be a prince, I wanna live in the forest a feral recluse, go away. She is like ok well I guess I will go home and get beaten by your asshole cousin while he makes moves on my 15 year old sister. Gabriel feels a little bad (they have already dry humped at this point). So he offers to take her to his sister’s house, so the sister can help solve the issue. The sister he hasn’t seen since leaving France. I am going to yada yada yada the rest to avoid too much spoiling. 

I liked this book. I liked Ryan as a woman who knows her mind and is on a mission. She briefly considers seducing Gabriel to get his help. But he ends up wanting to help after he hears the horrors of what is going on back home. But she has the awareness to realize forcing Gabriel’s hand and making him return as the Prince, takes away his choices. And she is acutely aware of how much that sucks. She is very modern in her thinking and in action. I also apricated that her discovery of her own sexuality is not a blushing virgin. But very much a woman that has no idea anything about sex. And he while having had sex, has no clue as to how to have a relationship with any woman. Their night time fumblings are steamy and feel historically appropriate for the characters. I hate it when the FMC in an historical piece is really just a modern woman in fancy dresses. Charis Michaels does a great job threading the needle of self-actualize woman and the constraints of the time. 

So lets talk about Gabriel. Having run away from mercenaries out for his royal blood when he was 11. He is taken in by a woodsman that teaches him to heal horses (by gentle reassurance). The great thing about him is he is well read enough that he is capable of living in civilization, but he has the brooding cowboy aura about him. He is a bit rough in the beginning, having to fight himself to become the book boyfriend we know he is destined to be. 

Both these characters and the his long lost sister and her family (this is the second book in the Hidden Royals series and the first book clearly introduces the sister and her husband) are all fun characters to be around. They are loving a silly and just living their lives. Usually when you have a cameo from another couple from another book it is brief. Here the alumni couple is very active in the eventual resolution. 

So in summation – the plot is at least a little more imaginative under the long lost prince trope, the characters are people you want to spend time with, and the steam is hot. It is well written and very much worth your time. 

Thank you Avon for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.