The Christmas Princess (The Wedding Series, Book 5)

I’ve read Patricia McLinn books off & on over the past few years. The premise of this book sounded promising.The heroine was engaging. The hero was stalwart. The king was delightful. Most of the other characters were slightly veiled. You always felt as if you are not getting their full story, or even half of it. That’s what made the story interesting. The author made you feel as though April really could be the lost princess, especially with the dodgy conversations between her ‘family & friends’. I don’t know if all the State Department and Royalty info is factual, but it sounded plausible.It was a good holiday read. I’m considering purchasing the follow up book.

This was a great story, that made me struggle with my rating. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the festive emotions, I did not like the romance and I missed out on some of the background stuff about our main characters.April is a delight. She has only love and kindness in her heart for everybody and seems not to be familiar with hate or any kind of bad emotions. She takes the bad in her life as it comes. Yes, unfortunate things happen, now we have to deal with them and sort everything out. Her positive attitude does not pass unnoticed by the grumpier characters and I love the effect she has on them.Hunter’s professional attitude is visible throughout the book. He never breaches protocol, he never acts in an unprofessional way and definitely he doesn’t let his emotions run free. However, April manages to crack that wall a little bit and slip through it. He will start appreciating the little things more and all thanks to her.The Christmas spirit is definitely present in the book and the representation is perfectly done. We see all the loved ones around the Christmas tree, with the cooking, the present sharing and all the traditional elements. It felt cozy, like family moments should be. I loved that very muchHowever, I did not enjoy the romance, especially the intimate moments. They felt forced and out of place.To be honest, I didn’t see the need adding those scenes, especially if the author was not comfortable writing them. The book is much better without that part. Also, I missed some parts in April’s professional background. She didn’t seem to have a stable career and at her age, she still didn’t know where she wanted her career to go to.Putting in balance the good and the not so good elements, I cannot give more than 3 stars, and that is mainly because I felt the Christmas festivities being so well done.

I read every review before I downloaded this as an ebook. Noone mentioned porn aka steamy, passionate. But this book does contain a pornographic scene and several short pornographic thoughts by Hunter. The plot itself was excellent & had a twist I didn't expect. However, the last page contains a preview of another book, I am assuming. It was also a cliffhanger to this story, in a way. I enjoyed the dogs Rufus & Dragon. I have 2 rescue dogs of my own & can't bear to visit animal shelters as I'd want to take every dog home. Do that part of the story appealed to me, as did April's love for them, as well.Hunter was the typical, closed off to love hero but his quiet manner appealed to me, reminding me if my husband. If the porn had been left out, this would have been a 5 star romance novel.

I loved the book with one exception: I do not like books without a "true" ending. Oh I know you end with a 'cliff hangar' so we the reader will buy the book next in the series. But as thIS IS MY review I will give my honest opinion thank you

This author developed a romance that more resembled a mystery and did it so very cleanly. The characters are built slowly and evidence is presented in bits and pieces that keeps the reader digging for more of the story to the very end. I, as a reader recommend this book heartily. I have read numerous ones of her books and have found all of them to be enjoyable to read and well constructed.

April Gareaux was engaged to an older man who lives with his mother then the engagement is called off. April has an opportunity of a lifetime to spend the Christmas holidays with King Jozef of Bariavak in Washington, D.C. as his long-lost granddaughter. Hunter Pierce is the diplomatic security agent for King Jozef assigned to train and protect April. While Hunter is training April to become the princess he and April soon fall for each other. I really enjoyed this heartwarming holiday fiction romance novel.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It is now 4 am and I have just finished it and ordered book 1 in the series. I am a voracious reader and it is not easy to find an author whose writing I enjoy so much I'm willing to commit to reading a 9 book series. I enjoy a series where each book can be read as a stand alone yet characters you met in one book become the main characters in the next book. I highly recommend this author's captivating writing.

I think I appreciated the heart opening and developing emotions on our man's side of the story more than our unique adorable female's love growing.

A true Christmas story with a lost Princess, a hidden orphan, a sick King, intrigue and a happily ever after! The first four books in this series were good but this one was great, with some strong characters, a plot full of twists and lots of Christmas traditions, the perfect place to lose yourself for an evening.Hunter and April have some serious sparks but fight it all the way! Which leads to some very steamy 'almost' moments. Unusually for Ms McLinn this book ends with a little bit of a cliff hanger, which is actually great as it means we get to spend more time with April, Hunter and King Jozef!

I really don’t know what to make of this book.I don’t know if it’s really worth the five star reviews it’s been getting.The plot, such as it was, was ok to a degree. Though it seemed a bit confusing at times, I didn’t always feel like I understood what was happening.The characters were ok, though Hunter was entirely too closed off and April seemed a bit too naive.I don’t think this book was for me.

This tale is full of some of my favourite things - dogs and Christmas - kind people and of course romance

I was expecting this to be a light fluffy read. It is that but it's also more. It's about family and community and caring for others. And I loved the gentle twist in the end, and who the book was really about. If you're looking for a light read but with a little more depth, I recommend this.

It went on a bit too long for me. Hunter was so closed off he did not appeal. Of course he had a difficult childhood which is explained later and April eventually draws out the truth. I just didn't get enveloped in the story.