The Illegitimate Prince's Baby

Royal Seductions #2

by Michelle Celmer

Prince Ethan would never have slept with a palace employee…normally. Then plain-Jane Elizabeth Pryce appeared at the royal ball, unrecognizably gorgeous— and too desirable to ignore. When he finally discovered her true identity, he also learned she was carrying his child. A royal courtship would defuse the scandal. But would a marriage inflame the passion that still burned between them?

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Desire, Royalty, Harlequin Romance, Adult

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 10, 2008

About the author

Michelle Celmer was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, where she grew up. She wanted to be cosmetologist, but after three months at cosmetology school, she decided to left it. She married at 19, and within five years had three kids. She read voraciously, and decided writing. She signed up for a composition course at her local community college. After various manuscripts, her mother gave her "Tell Me Lies" by Jennifer Crusie, and she discovered the romance novels. She decided writing her own romance novel and on 2004, her firts book was published.

Michelle continued linving in southeastern Michigan with her husband, their three children, two dogs and two cats. When she's not writing or busy being a mom, you can find her in the garden or curled up with a romance novel. And if you twist her arm real hard you can usually persuade her into a day of power shopping.

She loves to hear from readers. Write her at P.O Box 300, Clawson, MI 48017.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING 4.5 STARS

The Illegitimate Prince’s Baby is book two in the Royal Seductions series by Michelle Celmer. This is my first book by this author and can easily be read as a stand alone. This is part of my resolution to read one paperback per month. I’ve had this one on my shelf for years. I picked it up at a library book sale. And guess what?! I loved it! It’s a quick read, under two hundred pages, so I read it in one day. What is it about these Harlequin romances? They are always just what I need, even though I didn’t realize it!

Jane Elizabeth Price or “Lizzy,” is twenty nine years old. She has worked in the palace on Morgan Isle for nine years, working her way up. She is now the Queen’s personal assistant and she loves her job. She has received an invite to attend a fancy ball. For her, this is her chance to see how the other half really lives. At work, she is all business, with her appearance and her manner. But now, just for this night, she can be herself.

Prince Ethan Rafferty is the illegitimate half brother of the King of Morgan Isle. He is an American. He only discovered his true heritage recently and life on Morgan Isle has been difficult for him. His relationship with his half brother, the King, strained. Ethan has a reputation for being a one and done. A player. His good looks getting him anyone he wants. When he entered the ball room and saw “her,” he knew he had to know her. But instead of throwing herself at him like most women, she did the complete opposite and put him off, which intrigued him even more.

Of course, Ethan gets his way and gets his night with Lizzy, not realizing who she was, that she worked at the palace. One night wasn’t ever going to be enough so he found a way to see her again and again. He likes being with her, likes who he is with her. Once he realizes that she works at the palace, they find a way to work around things. What could be more perfect? She doesn’t want a relationship and neither does he. They can just enjoy this time together. But you know things are never quite that easy!

I really did enjoy this. It was just easy to read. No real angst. Just some wonderful escapism to make my day a little brighter. I have bunches of these on my book shelf so reading this one makes me look forward to whatever I choose next!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Paula Legate · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to sit down and read a really sweet romance, then I think you will enjoy this story. I did. Both Ethan, and Elizabeth wanted a no strings attached affair, with no comment. While they were having fun, and getting to know one another the two fell in love. Elizabeth worked at the palace for the royal family. When she met prince Ethan she didn’t tell him who she worked for, or who she was. She told him she couldn’t see him again, after she shared one dance with him. The passion, and chemistry was there burning red hot. That one dance turned into dancing the night away. One rule for working for the royal family is she couldn’t date anyone from the royal family. She kept trying to push Ethan away, so she could keep her job. Ethan always found ways to talk her into just one more visit. I liked how the royal family seemed like down to earth people, who cared about the people that worked for them. They did not seem snooty, or mean. I also like how this book made Hanna’s labor long, it was not a quick fictional labor that most books writes about. Most first labors can take 12 hours or more.

I loved this book. I can’t find anything negative to put in this review. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good quick read from Michelle Celmer. I had read this one a few years back but now have the full collection so starting from the beginning again.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth "Lizzy" Pryce just wanted to pretend for one night while at the Ball that she was someone of importance, not that she didn't love her job of being the secretary to the queen. The two of them got along great and with her expecting a baby any day they have had lots to do. So when the King's illegitimate half brother Ethan Rafferty introduces himself to her at the Ball, she is in a hurry to get away from him. For although she wanted to feel important tonight, and being seen with the Prince would do that, she could lose her job by being with him. However, Lizzy learns Ethan is not accustomed to not getting what he wants. Finally she gives in and a secret affair begins. Both claiming to not want any type of relationship, everything is well until feelings develop and they are caught by the king. To save her job, they claim to be getting married. Then, when Lizzy discovers she's pregnant, Ethan finds advice from him brother, whom he does not get along together, to discover he does love her and maybe both his and his half brother's feelings toward each other are unjustified.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Lizzy Pryce, secretary to the queen, gets a chance to attend a ball and hobnob with the royals. She's catches the interest of illegitimate prince, Ethan Rafferty, who is well-known for his playboy ways and his love-em-and-leave-em approach. Lizzy says she's not interested, but she gives plenty of mixed messages and instead of walking away agrees to dance, walk outside with and kiss the playboy prince. Then she says no more and leaves - she's had her bit of romance and anymore would risk her job working at the palace. Ethan always gets what he wants and it's Lizzy he wants...in his bed. So he shows up at her place and has little trouble in seducing her. And then does it again the next night, despite Lizzy's insistence that she's not interested. Ethan finally finds out she's a secretary and gets peeved at her lying, but gets her to agree to a no-strings-affair (putting her job at risk). Things are all good and fine until the King finds out and Ethan has to announce a (fake) engagement in order to save Lizzy's job. But something's going to have to give when Lizzy turns up pregnant - now she's no longer sure it should be a fake-engagement, but a real one. Especially since she's pretty sure feelings are engaged on both sides.

This wasn't bad. It's a lot of chemistry and lust between Lizzy and Ethan and on the bright side, they're both pretty much on the same page about things. I didn't feel like either of them were disadvantaged in the relationship or anything or being taken advantage of. I did mostly dislike Ethan though. He was a bit pushy, but Lizzy's signals were so frickin mixed up I couldn't really blame him for thinking he'd get some if he just turned on the charm...because he always did. My problem was that he oozed a smarmy, sleazy type of charm. I think the author tried to indicate that he was interested in more than sex, but it didn't come across well. Basically Ethan felt like a horn-dog who found a steady source of sex and just wanted to keep tapping that. I rarely got the sense that he wanted to be with Lizzy for Lizzy's sake - it always felt like a sexual thing. So I didn't really buy these two falling in love so much...or maybe that all happened off-page during the 2 months they were sleeping together before Lizzy turns up pregnant. And that was a whole different issue. She tells Ethan who asks her quite seriously if she did it on purpose and she justifiably gets pissed and tells him to leave. He comes back several hours later and says he loves her and ALL is forgiven. He needed just a bit more grovel to my satisfaction.

[Teagan Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 if I could.
God, this book was a mess and I had an amazing time reading it. Did the plot make sense? No. Was it well executed? No. Was it insta-love? Absolutely, but in a really cool way, so points for that.
I had an amazing time reading this book it was so bad and so fun and 10/10 loved/hated it.
Best use of my Birthday night I can think of!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mattie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok but I didn't really like it on the whole. The characters were slightly better then in the last book but just didn't love how stodgy the royalty comes across in this book. P.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lizzy Pryce, the Queen’s personal assistant, decide to see how the other half lives one evening and has what she assume is a one-night stand with Ethan Rafferty the King’s illegitimate half-brother. Not realizing that Lizzy is a palace employee, Ethan continues to pursue her and this is where the tension of the story is built. The best parts of the story are Lizzy trying to get rid of Ethan by giving him a bunch of snarky one-liners and him ignoring them. Once they agree to be in a secret relationship, however, the writing and plot becomes a bit too formulaic.

[Carla Marques · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um livro de bolso muito fácil de ler, uma história mais actualizada da Cinderela.
Jean é a típica trabalhadora e Ethan o Príncipe, eles encontram-se num baile e existe uma química entre eles.
Opinião completa em: http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...

[Mem · Rating 5 out of 5]

D1887 Feb08 Royal Seductions #2 Prince Ethan sees palace employee, Jane Elizabeth Pryce at the Royal ball, to beautiful and desirable to ignore. He discovers her true identity and learns she is pregnant with his child.

[Marse · Rating 4 out of 5]

AY AY AY, MÁS TERNURITA NO SE PUEDE<3

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a person that is "the help" is perfect for "a royal"

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. Loved the Heroine she is great. I like the author. I think, I will read another from her.

[Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan deserved everything he got....... Phillip is smarter than I thought