The Prince's Nine-Month Scandal

Scandalous Royal Brides #1

by Caitlin Crews

A shocking royal pregnancy!

Personal assistant Natalie Monette’s life transforms when she meets her secret identical twin. Except Valentina is a sophisticated princess, unhappily engaged to the supremely arrogant Crown Prince Rodolfo. Impulsively, Natalie agrees to swap identities for six weeks. Her plan is to put Rodolfo in his place…until she’s enticed by the heat between them!

Prince Rodolfo can’t understand why, having never felt any desire for his betrothed, he now can’t keep his hands off this captivating woman. But scandal abounds when he discovers who he’s taken to his bed...and that she’s carrying his heir!

Genres: Harlequin Presents, Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary Romance

192 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2017

About the author

Caitlin Crews discovered her first romance novel at the age of twelve, in a bargain bin at the local five and dime. It involved swashbuckling pirates, grand adventures, a heroine with rustling skirts and a mind of her own, and a seriously mouthwatering and masterful hero. The book (the title of which remains lost in the mists of time) made a serious impression. Caitlin was immediately smitten with romances and romance heroes, to the detriment of her middle school social life. And so began her life-long love affair with romance novels, many of which she insists on keeping near her at all times, thus creating a fire hazard of love wherever she lives.

Caitlin has made her home in places as far-flung as York, England and Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised near New York City, and fell in love with London on her first visit when she was a teenager. She has backpacked in Zimbabwe, been on safari in Botswana, and visited tiny villages in Namibia. She has, while visiting the place in question, declared her intention to live in Prague, Dublin, Paris, Athens, Nice, the Greek Islands, Rome, Venice, and/or any of the Hawaiian islands. Writing about exotic places seems like the next best thing to actually moving there.

She currently lives in Oregon with her animator/comic book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.

Reviews

[Claire]

4 Stars!


I really enjoyed The Prince’s Nine-Month Scandal, Caitlin Crews gives good verbal sparring and Natalie and Rodolfo had it pretty much from the get-go.

She looked the way she always did, and yet she didn’t…”

This is a twist on a Cinderella story, but rather than have ugly sisters, Natalie has a twin sister, she’s never met, a sister who it turns out is the Crown Princess of Murin. So after a little switcheroo in a public toilet, they each go off to live the others lives for a month or so.

He liked his sport extreme and his sex excessive.

Prince Rodolfo is known to be a bit of a playboy, but upon meeting Natalie (now known as Valentina) and realizing he may have underestimated the woman he is marrying. Their betrothal may be arranged, but the feelings she incites in him with her new, confident forthright attitude set his blood boiling in all the right ways.

"Maybe a little chaos is exactly what you need."

Everything happens pretty quickly in this one, even though the time frame actually encompasses a couple of months. The books title pretty much clues you in on what is going to happen with Natalie and Rodolfo, and the author set it up really nicely so that reader can move straight one the next book; The Billionaire’s Secret princess. Which I will be starting next!

"No one will believe it."



ARC provided via Netgalley as part of the Mills & Boon Insiders review programme, in exchange for the above honest review.

[Esther]

ARC provided by NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review.

Twin separated at birth. One twin, Natalie is an assistant to a powerful and wealthy business man, Achilles Casilieris. The other twin, Valentina is a princess. The two meet by accident at a private airport bathroom and devise a plan to trade places for 6 weeks. Natalie was thinking of quitting as she has no life working for her demanding boss and thought it would be fun to play a princess. Valentina wants to live a normal life and have some fun before she has to marry prince Rodolfo.

This story line just didn't work. So many holes in it and way out there scenarios that. One example is Rodolfo walks into a room at the palace for his scheduled/routine short meeting with Valentina and finds all of a sudden he's attracted to her and doesn't ever figure out she's different??? That's just a sampling of several issues with the storyline. This so called meeting was about 1/3 of the book and the monologue and dialogue was way too long, as was loosing interest in the story. Also, I don't think the two MC met more then a handful of times from what I can tell in the story but int he end they are in love???

I didn't really care for the hero, he seemed to arrogant and stuck on himself. The heroine was okay, but her issue with her mother and the prince theory was silly and over used in the storyline.

The monologue and inter dialogue was an issue, which seems to be the norm most times with this author. The sneak read I got from Valentina's forth coming story seems more promising, as the hero figures out quickly that "Natalie" isn't really Natalie. So fingers crossed for a better read on the next princess HEA.

[Xai Xai]

I cannot wait for the other twin's story. This was a wonderful read.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K]

Quick Summary: I loved the separated at birth concept associated with this book. Unfortunately, the pacing and movement of the story was too slow, and the content was largely unbelievable. Additionally, the book felt unfinished, somehow.
Rating: 2/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: Adult
Status: Contemporary
Chemistry/Intensity:+/-
Conflict/Drama: +/-
Family Dysfunction: Yes
HEA: Yes
Source: NetGalley

[Gwessie Tee]

Received as an arc in return for an honest review naughtiness 3*

Utterly loved this book, its been a little while since I've been able to read one of Caitlins books so I jumped at the chance to read this book and its sister book which I will be starting straight afterwards I love duos if the publisher couldn't put it all in the same book I'm glad at least that the second book is right there along with it on release day though to be honest they could both stand on their own if they wanted it that way too.

As always I will not give spoilers its as unfair to a new reader as well as the author, however I will say this, I very much loved this book its exactly why I stick to romance novels as the main genre for me I need the HEA even if theres a twisting and turning on the way to get there it makes it more special, I do get a buzz from reading romance novels and this is why especially the journey of the couple involved you know where its going but not exactly how you picture their journey to it, the most wonderful endings. This was one of them and Caitlin as always did not dissapoint, thank you Caitlin for writing it and Mills and Boon for publishing it.

[iamGamz]

I so enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted, witty, and fun to read. It is a well done, modern, HP twist of the Prince and the Pauper.

The h in this book is the "pauper". She's the lost twin who didn't know she was a real princess. The H is the daredevil prince who beleives he can never live up to his dead brother's reputatiion. Together, they make magic and allow each other to see their own possibilities.

The author didn't take the book too seriously. She created likeable, silly characters, in keeping with the whole fairy tale trope. It was meant to be lighthearted and fun, and it accomplished that goal wanderfully.

[Kay]

A somewhat ludicrous premise to start, but also an unfair judgement as that's why we read and love the HP. The twin switching, princess-commoner-fantasy, once off the ground, when commoner-turned-princess Natalie meets her ignorant, wild fiancé, Rodolfo, makes for great banter. Crews's signature zingy prose of physical and emotional engagement won me over. If you'd like to read a more extensive review, please follow the link to my blog:

https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...

Please note that I received an e-ARC of Prince's Nine-Month Scandal from Harlequin Books, via Netgalley.

[Maria Rose]

The Prince’s Nine-Month Scandal by Caitlin Crews is the first of a duet of romances featuring twins separated at birth who didn’t know about the others existence until the fateful day they meet. This story is Natalie Monette’s, personal assistant to a billionaire, raised by a single mother who told her there’s no such thing as Prince Charming. When a chance encounter with Princess Valentina of Murin reveals a face identical to her own they hatch a plan. Princess Valentina is affianced to Prince Rudolfo of Tissely and preparing for a royal wedding. She wants a chance to live a normal life for the few weeks remaining before her wedding, and Natalie can’t resist the lure of finding out what life as a Princess is really like, especially with the new knowledge that she must be part of the royal family. Princess Valentina assures Natalie that it’s purely an arranged marriage between her and Rudolfo and they make the switch, with none the wiser.

Used to the life of a billionaire from her work with her boss, Natalie is able to slip almost seamlessly into the role of a Princess. But she doesn’t count on the searing attraction she feels for Rudolfo, nor for the way their sparring makes her feel. She’s not the only one struck by the attraction between them as Rudolfo struggles to make sense of the woman who seems nothing like the fiance he’s used to. The passion that flares between them gives him hope that they can make their marriage a real one. But when Natalie’s secret is revealed, will it ruin their chance at happiness?

For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.

[Se Mcgregor]

2.5 I usually LOVE books by Caitlin Crews, but unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with Natalie or Rodolfo's characters. Perhaps the storyline - poor twin changing places with rich twin - has just been done too many times! Most recently in Jane Porters duo Not Fit for a King? and His Majesty's Mistake.

While I'm hesitant about reading the other book in the series, (due to less than great reviews) it may inspire me to re-read this one. Perhaps I was having a bad day?

[Megan]

Probably the most pointless book to come from mills and boon.
Its completely misleading '9 month scandal' there was no scandal. They have sex she screams she isnt the princess at him. Fast forward the wedding, he bumps into the princess and confesses he loves her looks up and bam there is the not-so-princess-but-is-princess. The king is happy and then done.
No massive I'm up duff and hes screamig running for the hills. (There is an announcement of pregnancy but at the very very end).
Don't excite me with pregnancy and give me nothing.

[Coral]

Plot: 4/5
Characterisation: 3/5
Prose: 3/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5

[Susan in Perthshire]

I loved this, the first in the scandalous Royal Brides series. An interesting take on the ‘twins separated at birth’ trope and beautifully executed. As always, the dialogue that Caitlin writes is fresh, intelligent, witty and so satisfying. Caitlin creates a believable word with main characters to love!

Natalie and Rudolfo are a perfect t match and I just loved the way their relationship developed. I was upset that the mother made such a tiny appearance and that the resolution never satisfactorily explained why she had done such an awful thing. Never mind, this is a fabulously satisfying and entertaining read.

[Carol]

This book was disappointing. The title and blurb obviously spoil us about the baby scandal but sadly it was hardly a scandal at all. I went into the book under the impression the switch would happen early on (which it did) followed by her falling for her sisters betrothed (also kind of did, more like insta lust) followed by oops I'm preggers! Followed by said scandal on top of him learning her true identity.

That SO did not happen! Instead we get the switch by the twins, the insta attraction/lust. Followed by the guilt of kissing her sisters fiancé. Lots of inner thoughts which quite frankly bored me to tears. Not much character depth, or enough to consider these two actually getting to know one another enough to fly fall in love by the end of the book, which of course they claim to be. And they did even have sex until 70% in and then no special hints at her possibly being knocked up except for the mention of headaches and feeling tired. Then apparently in the last chapter at like 94% her sister Valentina blurts it out to Rodolfo that Natalie is preggers. SIGH. No actual scandal. The author wrote so many words but I never felt like half was needed. She spent the whole book dragging so much out that by the time something really happened in the book it was nearly over and felt rushed.


This book was lame. Interesting plot but never delivered on the actual "scandal".

[Amanda]

The Prince’s Nine-Month Scandal by Caitlin Crews hooked me the instant I read the blurb. Ms. Crews is one crafty painter of words.

Princess Valentina has a secret—she isn’t really the real princess of Murrin. In fact she is Natalie Monette, the personal assistant of broody billionaire Achilles Casilieris (who I’m dying to meet!). Natalie doesn’t know what she’s in for when she swaps places with her identical twin whom she accidentally meets and doesn’t know exits until now. But switching places with Princess Valentina and living the princess’s life for six weeks has its pros and cons. Natalie has to carry out Valentina’s duties and at the same time she must act appropriately. Except— one heady and off-limits distraction is Prince Rodolfo. Being in close proximity to Rodolfo ever so often awakens a need in Natalie, one she wishes to curb. However, things happen – which you will have to find out for yourselves.

Final Verdict:

The attraction between Rodolfo and Natalie is a slow, burning fire. At times it was tense and involves plenty of heated, argumentative conversations. Nevertheless, I was swept away by the taut writing, the distinct dialogue and the achingly petulant main characters who deserve each other. Overall, a thoroughly satisfying read and one I highly recommend!

4.5 Stars

[Mattie]

I didn't like it. The plot was a grown up version of the Parent Trap (without the getting parents back together part) and was not at all believeable. I don't see two grown women trading places after just one conversation.

The MMC was not at all admirable, even after being engaged (to heroine's long lost twin sister) he continued to very publicly date/sleep with other women. Even if it was an unwanted union he still agreed to it and at the very least he could have been discreet. He wasn't even planning to be faithful after they were married. He came across as a massively selfish and unfeeling person.

I liked that he wasn't attracted to the sister he was engaged to, but even once he was attracted to the FMC once he met her, he was extremely resistant to the idea of Fidelity and only agreed once FMC said she would be unfaithful if he was.

I liked that FMC wasn't ok with MMC being unfaithful to her sister and her telling him, however it got old her constantly bringing it up. I was constantly reminded how much I didn't like him and that he wasn't a great guy. Then I started thinking a lot less of her for being attracted to him.

As for the pregnancy, it was a non issue and the title of book probably should have been something else. It was revealed almost at the very end and they had already resolved their issues. P.

[Eileen]

Think Princess and the Pauper meets the Parent Trap with adults and you have an idea what happens with The Prince’s Nine-Month Scandal by Caitlin Crews. Natalie Monette encounters a woman who looks exactly like her, as in identical, in an airport restroom. The other woman, Valentina, is a princess, unhappily engaged to Crown Prince Rodolfo, who she believes is arrogant and uncaring. Natalie is frustrated with her wealthy boss and ready to quit her job. As you might expect, the two swap identities for six-weeks. Natalie plans to put Rodolfo in his place, at least until she meets him. Prince Rodolfo is confused by his fiancé. He never before felt any desire for her but suddenly all he can’t keep his hands off her. It’s as if she’s two different people, but how could that be.

I really enjoyed reading this book and had trouble putting this book down, reading it in one day. Ms. Crews is a wonderful story teller and she seems to always draw me into her books, making me forget the world around me. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Tonya Warner]

Natalie Monette is ready to quit her job and find a new and more peaceful way of life. Hiding out in the bathroom at the airport while trying to decide just where her life should go, she finds herself staring in to her eyes. Or rather, a stranger's eyes that match her own. Princess Valentina could be her twin. Or visa versa. Could she really trade places with the princess and have a few weeks of luxury while Valentina lead her own normal, high stress life.

Crown Prince Rodolfo is set to do his duty an marry the Princess Valentina. Having to fulfill the wishes of his father after the death of his brother, Rodolfo has made it no secret he plans on keeping up his wild lifestyle. But for the first time, his fiancée actually confronts him.

Natalie is able to fool the Prince, the King, and all the people she comes in to contact with. To fool them and make them believe she is Valentina. But falling for her sister's fiancé was not a part of the plan.

An ok story. Ending a bit rushed. Some things definitely missing from the story, but still an ok story.

[Kayla]

Allowed to read through license with NetGalley. I very much enjoyed this book, even though the prince was a little over the top. It is a Harlequin Prince and the Pauper and The Parent Trap (without the matchmaking) story. Two ladies, Natalie the secretary and Valentina the princess, happen to meet in a posh bathroom in London and find they are exact replicas of each other. Very quickly, they make the decision to trade places. While spending time as a princess, Natalie decides to put Valentina's play-boy prince fiance, Rodolfo, in line. However, she starts to have feelings for him, and for him, this new Valentina is like no one he has ever met before. It is a very fast read, being a small Harlequin romance, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I plan to purchase it and Valentina's story for my e-book collection.

[Palabasalibro]

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! What a book!
Think Parent Trap + a Cinderella Story, only Cinderella was already a princess to begin with kind of story.
It was so captivating and good - I couldn't put it down.

The characters were well-developed and had a lot of chemistry together.
If there was more to this story, I would gladly devour it in a heartbeat. It's that good.

I wish we can also read about what happened to princess Valentina in those few weeks. She seemed like a changed person when she eventually emerged again. If her story is the sequel to this - I would gladly read it.

5 Royal stars

[Izzie d]

This is a good story but the second book will need to be read following it as this story is two women who look identical and swap places. Book 2 will deal with the second woman.
Assistant Natalie Monette changes places with Valentina.
Prince Rodolfo is her betrothed and he can't work out why she is so vastly different to the woman he had met with before.
I didn't like that Prince Rodolfo was such a playboy, this kind of hero does not appeal to me at all.
Otherwise was a good story, well written.

[Barbara Stewart]

She was working for a boss that drove her crazy. He was a billionaire so of coarse he acted the way he did which was horrible like a spoiled brat. She went to the bathroom and when she did she bumped into somebody that was her identical twin. Who also happens to be a princess. The princess talked her into exchanging places with her for a while just give her six months to be nobody. Also the princess was engaged to a prince that she didn't love. The book was cute most harlequins are I still like Harlequin been reading my whole life I think.

[Traci Westling]

This was a great quick read about a royal twin scandal with a pregnancy thrown in which is my FAVORITE troupe to read!! Loved the way the women met & conspired their switch! Once into the royal castle it was our fun to read all the witty banter that occurs between Natalie & Rodolfo !! Ms. Crews has a way with playful words & really knows how to paint beautiful picturesque settings ! A lovely cover as well! Well done! A must read !

[Cheryl]

Nice story that you can just enjoy at your leisure. It's about twins separated at birth and they didn't even know about each other. One is a princess the other a PA both are miserable I their lives so they switch. Typical storyline the twin falls for her sisters fiancé. This is the PA posing as the princess' story it will be fun to read the princess as the PA!

[Biggaletta Day]

Not for me, couldn't get into it. HOWEVER I'm looking forward to reading the twin sister's story. She was so much more INTERESTING & EXCITING in her one and only scene.
Summary - Twins separated at birth, with the boring twin and boring hero's story first. So looking forwarding to the more interesting and exciting twin's story who hooks up the badass boss.

[Raffaella De Leonardo]

Una storia trita e ritrita che sarebbe stata anche carina se non fosse per i due protagonisti che non sono riusciti ad intrigarmi e che, anzi, mi sono risultati piuttosto antipatici. Molto indisponente e alquanto pieno di sé il principe Rodolfo, troppo poco decisa nei suoi confronti Natalie, soprattutto nei momenti in cui avrebbe dovuto imporsi.
Si legge ma non è di certo entusiasmante.

[Vanessa]

puzzled at beginning with how few details each twin gave each other except for their current struggle. will be interesting whether the princess in the next book actually figures out where she lives or stuffs it up on her first day to give herself away?

[Sandra R]

3.5 stars. Once again a good romance from this author and well written with steamy sections in the second half. I intend to read the sister's story. My only negative comment is that I don't think the title really matched the content.

[Geraldine Sadiku]

A passionate romance that involves twins who switch places, excellent read.

[Diana McVicker]

Great read. Highly recommend this book!

[Deborah]

It was an enjoyable read but now I'm curious of the other sister!