The Rancher's Runaway Princess

The Cowboy Collection

by Donna Alward

Brooding ranch owner Brody Hamilton keeps his heart out of reach. But there's something about vivacious stable manager Lucy that brings joy to his hardened soul.

Lucy Farnsworth has just discovered she's of royal blood. She should be glad, but it has blown her world apart, and she finds herself just wanting to be the old Lucy again.

At Prairie Rose Ranch, Lucy's found the man who makes her feel she belongs. Only, she hasn't told him she's a princess....

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Royalty, Category Romance, Harlequin

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Since 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire.

Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.

Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tea in the drawing room was not quite the same as hot coffee and cookies in the kitchen.

Lucy's mother dies and she finds out her father is King Alexander of Marazur. She is a princess. She's only known she is a princess for a few months. Even though this seems like it would be a lovely fairy tale, Lucy is very upset. She loved her mother, now she's dead. She loved her simple farm life being a horsewoman. Now she lives in a Mediterranean palace. King Alexander sends her to Canada to broker a horse deal.

Brody runs a horse ranch with good stock. When Lucy arrives, they instantly dislike each other and start fighting.

Let's analyze!

ANALYSIS

This is one of those romances I just can't figure out. Why would two people who bicker all the time be a good romantic match?

They wouldn't.

These two fight and fight and fight and fight. Oftentimes about nothing. Oftentimes one will just walk in a room and start picking a fight with the other. For no reason. I was baffled.

Then they are kissing. Sometimes in the middle of an argument! It just made no goshdarn sense. o.O I was so confused.

Was I supposed to find this romantic? Sexy? Because it was actually making me think that these two would be TERRIBLE together and should never have a relationship.

They also are both pretty unlikable people. People who pick fights for no reason. Brody is hostile and judgmental. Lucy is manipulative and has a short temper. I didn't like either one of them.

HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?

No sex. Some kissing.


TL;DR I don't understand when authors do this. What is sexy or romantic about constant bickering? They weren't even fighting about anything! Sometimes they would fight about absolutely nothing! They would pick on each other. One would walk in a room and pick a fight deliberately with the other. Feelings were constantly getting hurt. Everyone was angry and upset all the time. Then they were kissing! It just made no sense. :( Match made in hell IMO.

ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Contemporary Romance
Cowboy/Western Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Royalty Romance
He's a Rancher and Horse Breeder; She is a Horse Expert and a Princess.

NAMES IN THIS BOOK:

Lucy f Luciana
Bob – GPS
Alexander – m
Brody m
Martha f
Pretty Colleen – horse
Pretty Piece – horse
Lisa f
Cally
Bill m
Arnie m
Mary Ellen f
Bruce – m
Ahab – horse
Raoul – m
Betty f
Jen f
Agnes f
John m
Irene f
Hal m
Mathilda f
Wade m
Delilah f
Suze f Suzanne
Matt m
Diego m

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Jan09

What girl didn’t dream of having a pony of her own? Well, probably those who lived on a ranch…but other than those girls? And didn’t we all at one point dream of finding out we were really a princess? (Fess up!) So take horses, lots of horses, add in a princess who’s incognito, mix with a hunky rancher who’s nursing some angst, and—voila! We have Donna Alward’s Harlequin release “The Rancher’s Runaway Princess”.

Lucy just wants to be ‘normal’ again…well, whatever normal should be for her now. When her mother was diagnosed terminal, she dropped the bombshell about Lucy’s father…the King! Then she made Lucy promise to ‘give him and his family a chance’. So not long afterward Lucy, who always considered herself a middle-class, cup-of-tea-in-the-kitchen kind of gal, became Princess Luciana and since then, NOTHING in her life has ‘fit’. She’s angry with her mother for dying, angry with her father for deserting her mother, and angry with herself for feeling so lost. When her father offers her the opportunity to travel to Canada and check out a horse farm for possible stud/breeding purposes, Lucy is thrilled. Finally, something she knows how to do, is comfortable with, and can use to ‘prove’ herself to everyone. But just to be on the safe side…she’ll just be Lucy, not Princess Luciana. Of course, she didn’t count on falling in love.

Brody carries a world of burdens on his shoulders. First his father was horribly injured and his mother killed in a car wreck so he had to take over the ranch. Then he found out a silent partner had embezzled most of the ranch’s profits. And finally, his excuse of a wife left him once the troubles began. Since then, he’s worked himself to the bone bringing the ranch back to stability. But he’s never forgotten his lesson…rich, flashy girls don’t belong on a ranch and there’s no such thing as love. Of course, Brody didn’t count on meeting Lucy.

This was a sweet, almost fairytale, and definitely G-rated romance. And even though the plot had several overused contrivances, Alward managed to make the story readable. She describes her stories as ‘feel good romances’ and this one, at least, filled the bill. Her descriptions of Canada were beautifully detailed and made me want to visit. My only real beef with the story is the myriad of ‘angsty’ elements used. It was hard not to feel sorry for the hero and heroine as it seemed nothing good had ever happened in their lives--dead mothers, absent/very ill fathers, embezzlement, broken marriage, etc. And all these things were overcome in just a few days! I just couldn’t buy it, and probably because this was a Harlequin Romance, I also didn’t feel any sexual tension between the hero and heroine…but that’s just my take.

“The Rancher’s Runaway Princess” is a very sweet story targeted to a specific readership. There’s nothing wrong with that…it’s just not my thing. But I do know plenty of readers will find great enjoyment reading Donna Alward’s latest release.

[romancejunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy and Brody fall in love when she goes to his ranch to see if things are alright there, but the secrets she has been keeping from him could make all the love they had found fall apart.
Heartwarming and romantic.

[Eri | Encrucijadas cotidianas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brody es un ranchero que no confía en las mujeres ni en el amor, menos aun en esa joven llamada Lucy que es y sabe más de lo que aparenta a simple vista, por otro lado, la vida de Lucy dio un giro de 360 grados en los últimos meses y lo único que ella quería era cumplir con el cargo que tiene actualmente en una importarte casa real pero a la vez, las ganas de reencontrarse con ella misma, con sus raíces y sus deseos.
La historia es entretenida y de rápida lectura, tanto Lucy como Brody deben aprender a confiar tanto en ellos como en sus propios sentimientos, aprender a comprender los pensamientos tumultuosos que pueden generarse en las personas... el final sin dudas es mi favorito, un final sacado de un cuento de princesas.

[Sheila Melo · Rating 2 out of 5]

FINAL DECISION:  Nice story, but it was uneven.  I liked the second half much more than the first half.

THE STORY: Lucy Farnsworth has come to Canada to check out a horse farm for the royal family of Marazur.  She becomes attracted to rancher Brody Hamilton, but Lucy is keeping a secret.  She is actually Princess Luciana, the daughter of the King of Marazur.  Lucy discovered this only as her mother was dying and Lucy has had her world turned upside down.  Her father has offered her the opportunity to perform this task in order to give herself some space from her new life.  But as she falls for Brody, her deception becomes more of a problem.

OPINION:  The story here was nice and for those who are looking for a sweet read, this is a nice one.  For me, however, I want more passion between the characters.  Both Brody and Lucy are too nice.  Their conflicts didn't feel like they were something that could not be overcome.

Brody is a brooding and hurt man.  He has been burned before so as he becomes more and more attracted to Lucy, he acts out in response.  Lucy is confused about her own life and she is keeping the secret of her true identity as a princess.  (Thus, it is perfectly reasonable that Brody doesn't trust her).

I'm not against sweet books without sex, but I didn't think there was enough emotional passion to keep the story going.  Rather, the story is premised primarily on the secrets that both Brody and Lucy are keeping.

The story picked up in the second half and if the entire book was as compelling as the first half, I would have given it a better rating.  I thought in the second half as the two get closer, there was a more interesting and personal story.

I liked this story but there was not enough meat here to make this a book that I will think about in a month.  Rather, this is a sweet one time read.

WORTH MENTIONING: This is definitely a book in the sweet category.  There is nothing more than kissing between the characters.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS is the first book in the Larch Valley series.  It is also the prequel to the Princes of Marazur series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 2.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com

[Erica Paré · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book we meet a new princess who is missing her old life. Lucy, Princess Luciana, goes to Alberta and meets a rancher to see about reaching a business deal for the King of Marazur. Brody, the rancher, doesn't know that she is a princess and Lucy is doing everything in her power to ensure it stays that way. What I did like about the book is that Lucy is a character who shows that girls can be just as knowledgeable in male dominated roles, and sometimes even more. What I didn't like about this book is that the book jumps really quickly. A few meals later and all of a sudden she has been at the ranch for a few weeks? How did that happen? There was also no real build up in their personalities. One moment they disliked each other, the next they were kissing.

[Lilly Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Farnsworth has lost her balance. Her roots have been heaved up with the loss of her mother and the discovery that her father is actually alive and the monarch of a far away country. Joining him as Princess is a promise she made to her mother, but her heart yearns for something simpler, something pure. Only in the company of horses does she find some solace. In desperation to prove herself to her father, she embarks on a journey to enrich her father’s royal stables by making an agreement with a successful ranch owner in Canada. The difficulty lies in working with Brody Hamilton, the ranch’s owner. He’s sexy, moody, and confusing.

Brody’s life has been anything but easy and he resents the people that play “princess” – his ex wife taught him that lesson all too well, abandoning him in the darkest time of his life. With the loss of his family, Brody took on the ranch by himself. Now he has an opportunity to really put it on the map – an agreement with a Royal stable. But the negotiation isn’t easy when the beautiful woman sent by the King is clearly hiding something. He can’t bring himself to trust another princess.

In keeping her identity secret, Lucy engages Brody’s suspicions. In turn he hides his difficulties from her. As the two work out their differences, they also find a sense of belonging, a bond that blooms with sensuality and finally love.

This book has a lovely flow to it – it pulls you along with the evolution of the characters in a way that leaves you with a smile on your face. Well written and descriptive, this book is a wonderful weekend read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Lucy arrived at Prairie Rose Ranch to work out a deal with Brody for the king of Marazur. As far as Brody knew, she is simply the king's stable manager. Brody was drawn to her, but had had a bad experience with a woman and kept comparing Lucy to her. This caused him to be nice one minute, then cold the next. Meanwhile, Lucy was happy being on the ranch, around the horses and getting to know Brody. She had a chance to be the old Lucy, before she found out that she was a princess. When she and Brody grew closer, and he told her things about himself that he normally didn't share, she began to feel guilty about hiding her identity. She was afraid to tell him for fear of losing their friendship and budding relationship. When he did find out, the blow-up was painful and made me cry in several places.. The ending was very satisfying.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Some moments were so entirely incredible. And yeah, I know this isn't exactly a part of the book, though it definitely plays out in it, Donna has a letter in the beginning that brought tears to my eyes. Loved it. I'm also wondering if there are going to be books/stories for the two brothers. Definitely piqued my interest.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a sweet story, better than I had expected. it was a quick HEA and sometimes I just need that in between heavy reads.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rancher's Runaway Princess: A Secret Royalty by Donna Alward part of her Cowboy Collection, is a love story that follows Lucy Farnsworth who has lost her balance. Her roots have been heaved up with the loss of her mother and the discovery that her father is actually alive and the monarch of a far away country, in the Mediterranean. Fulfilling a promise she made to her mother she joins him, but her heart yearns for something simpler, something pure. Only in the company of horses does she find some solace. In desperation to prove herself to her father, she agrees to embark on a journey to enrich her father’s royal stables by making an agreement to providing horses or stud fees for the monarchy's famous stables with a successful ranch owner in Canada. When Lucy arrived at Prairie Rose Ranch, Brody Hamilton, the ranch’s owner, thought she was the king's stable manager. From the beginning, Brody was drawn to her, but after a previous awful experience with his ex-wife, Brody ran hot and cold toward Lucy. Lucy was happy being on the ranch, around the horses and getting to know Brody. She didn't expect to be so attracted to the stoic, sometimes sarcastic rancher, nor did she expect to feel so homesick for the ranch she'd left after her mother died.

In keeping her identity secret, Lucy engages Brody’s suspicions. In turn he hides his difficulties from her. As these two work out their differences, they find a sense of belonging, a bond that blooms with sensuality and finally love. There is a lot of angst and regrets but also stubbornness, hurt, anger, sorrow, tears, rescues, businesses and a small town to boot. There are so many endearing and likable secondary character; many needing their own stories. I enjoyed this story and definitely recommend The Rancher's Runaway Princess to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book in addition to having purchased this book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brody owns a Canadian ranch where he wants to build a world-class breeding program. To do this, he contacts King Alexander, a well-respected rancher, who then sends his daughter, Lucy, to visit Brody’s ranch and check out his stables.

Lucy was raised on a ranch by her single mother. She loves her ranch life and working with her beloved horses. She never wants to leave. Unfortunately, before her mother dies, she tells Lucy that her father is alive and is a king. She forces Lucy to promise that she will move in with her father after she dies to get to know him.

This is a huge shock for Lucy. She resentfully honors her mother’s promise and moves into her father’s palace with the rest of his family. Unfortunately she is miserable because she feels like an unwanted outsider. When her father sends her to check out Brody’s stable, she is excited to return to the familiar setting. However, Lucy decides not to tell anyone that she is the king’s daughter. She wants to forget her life as a princess and visit the ranch as her real self, Lucy, the horse expert.

Brody has his own issues with his ranch, his family and an e-wife. As a result of these problems, he decides to bury his emotions and refuse to deal with any feelings. Unfortunately for him, Lucy brings out these unwanted emotions. Therefore, in order to keep his feelings under control, Brody makes Lucy’s life miserable by constantly picking on her and on everything she does.

Lucy also discovers that she has feelings for Brody. However, between Brody’s sour attitude and his constant reminders that he doesn’t believe in love, Lucy remains angry most of the time. Consequently, she, too, fights her feelings

Readers will enjoy their constantly changing emotions as they both fight their unwanted love for each other.

[Knight Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy was rediscovering herself, after her mother told her that her father was King Alexander of Marazur, and she was terminally ill. Her mother asked her not to judge her father harshly as he did not know about her, and she asked Lucy to go to Marazur to live with her father after she passed. Lucy did not feel like she fit in there so he sent her to Prairie Rose Ranch in Canada to possibly set up a breeding contract between the two stables with Lucy being the experienced horse woman that she was. When she reached the ranch she introduced herself as Lucy Farnsworth the name she grew up using in Virginia until three months previously. Like anywhere else a woman in a man's world, she had to prove herself to the owner, Brody Hamilton as he had a real chip on his shoulder, and he was keeping as many or more secrets than Lucy. Those two knew exactly how to go for each other's jugular vein causing the most blood loss. Then one day the daggers slipped lower to the heart, and they were both lost of what to do. She felt at home on the ranch, but he could not see past her going back to Marazur. A heart wrenching love story of two lost souls healing one another and living on different continents.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rancher's Runaway Princess has ties to two of the author's series. One I've read and while I've read a few from her Cowboy Collection I've added more to my TBR pile. This is Lucy and Brody's story and is set in Canada. She's a princess sent by her father, the King, to look into a breeding program with Brody's horses. What happens when royalty and a cowboy meet especially when you don't know you're dealing with a member of the royal family?

There are lies and secrets, angst, memories, reminisces, beautiful descriptions and many heartwarming moments too. I liked the small town vibe but of course there is gossip and truths told even when Brody doesn't want her to know things about his family or his past. I enjoyed that much of the story was told in the outdoors.

There are a few unexpected twists to the story which has a good flow. There is closure especially with the epilogue. I look forward to meeting up with these characters again and reading more books by Ms. Alward.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean love story about a young woman who has recently lost her mother, her home, and has also discovered that she's a secret princess at a small monarchy in the Mediterranean. Her father, the King, has sent her to a ranch to work on an agreement for providing horses or stud fees for the monarchy's famous stables.

She didn't expect to be so attracted to the stoic, sometimes sarcastic rancher, nor did she expect to feel so homesick for the ranch that she'd left after her mother died. Well written and fun to read.

I was provided with an advance reader copy of the book from Booksprout. This is my honest review.

[Lori R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Lucy Farnsworth aka Princess Luciana.  I liked that she was a compelling character whose past few months were heartbreaking as she had to find her way.  She had lost her mom, her job, and her home, and suddenly learned she was Princess Luciana.I liked Brody Hamilton who lived on Prairie Rose Ranch and ran a breeding program for horses.  When Brody and Lucy met there were definitely sparks but Brody was not about to trust her or any woman for that matter.  I enjoyed reading about his past and what led him to feel that way. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brody and Lucy can't help but antagonise each other, both feel frustrated with the other due to a mix of distrust as well as attraction. I liked how both were hiding something from each other and had to learn to open up and trust each other. This is the first in the series I have read and was excited to see there are plenty more already out for me to go back to and read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

I really enjoyed this story, well-written and quick to read. The undercover princess storyline pulled me in, Lucy is new to royal life and is really just down to earth at heart so when she goes to Brody's ranch to look at horses for her father's stables, she goes as Lucy and hides her princess identity. There is plenty of chemistry between Brody and Lucy but will the secrets they've kept from each other keep them apart?

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Lucy and Brody. The author does a great job developing the story and painting her scenes perfectly. She weaves a sweet romance with secrets, adds in a bit of sarcasm and delivers an interesting read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story with interesting characters and the journey toward romance but with a big secret! Lots of interesting banter and interaction between the characters. Love the horses. The road to romance is never easy but when there's a secret it makes it even more difficult to navigate. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Indovina, indovinello... cosa salverà Nadia di questo libro?
Per chi ormai mi conosce, la risposta è moooolto semplice e ovvia: il figaccione di turno, tormentato e tormentoso.
Tutto il resto è abbastanza noioso e dimenticabile.
2 stelle perché sono buona.

[Tracy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rancher's Runaway Princess: A Secret Royalty Western Romance
Cowboy Collection
Donna Alward

The story and characters, Brody and Lucy, were well written and developed. I enjoyed the chemistry, drama, and journey. Great read.

[Pauline Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. A small town story that Brody has dealt with his whole life and now has the responsibility of running the family ranch. Lucy has a secret that gets revealed and turns her life upside down.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stubborn souls

When life gives you lemons lets be blockheads. These two went through some crazy hard knocks but their stubbornness could end a future. Very romantic even if it didn't want to be.

[Fedora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable introduction to Larch Valley and a new series.

Solid characters, although slight minus points for lack of communication :)

[Sylvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story with a few twists but predictable. An enjoyable read

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st time in a long time that character's emotions prompted tears. Lots of unresolved issues midway through book.

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm still trying to figure out why the heroine likes the hero. Brody seemed to be looking for a target for his unresolved anger at his ex and Lucy walked away from almost every encounter with him with her feelings hurt. Then there's the whole insta-love gimmick. Basically, if you love your hero to be cranky and your heroine a door mat and for their relationship to be developed through arguments and cold shoulders, this is the book for you. Definitely not my cup of tea.

[Lou Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Michaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok and a quick read but it never really felt like anything was happening in regards to the reason she was at the ranch in the first place. She could literally have been on holiday. The ending was rushed too, like the author had just realised that she had 2 chapters left and the couple wasn't together yet.