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Once Upon a Temptation #3
Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight
She didn’t see her own beauty…
Then he unmasked it!
Royal assistant Hester knows playboy Prince Alek is totally out of her league. Shockingly, out of the blue, he proposes a marriage of convenience! In return, she’ll have millions to help disadvantaged women. Warily, Hester agrees…
To retain the throne he’s sacrificed everything for, Alek must choose a bride. It’s Hester’s quiet discretion that catches his attention…until their unstoppable chemistry reveals her startling beauty and inner fire. Alek sees the queen that Hester could truly become—but the real question is, can she?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Then he unmasked it!
Royal assistant Hester knows playboy Prince Alek is totally out of her league. Shockingly, out of the blue, he proposes a marriage of convenience! In return, she’ll have millions to help disadvantaged women. Warily, Hester agrees…
To retain the throne he’s sacrificed everything for, Alek must choose a bride. It’s Hester’s quiet discretion that catches his attention…until their unstoppable chemistry reveals her startling beauty and inner fire. Alek sees the queen that Hester could truly become—but the real question is, can she?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2020
102 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Anderson
625 books547 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 6, 2020
3.5 stars.
Ms Hester Moss.
Personal assistant. Calm automaton. Perfect wife. Yes, he was going to give his country their most inoffensive, bland Queen.
In this HPlandia re-telling of The Ugly Duckling, a most deserving heroine gets her fairytale ending in the most unexpected manner.
Hester Moss - our heroine:
📚 Introverted but quirky;
📚 Geeky but not cowardly;
📚 Beautiful but unaware of it.
King Alek of Triscari - our H:
👑 Confident and witty;
👑Cocky but considerate and loyal;
👑Handsome and aware of it.
In the kingdom of Triscari, there was an archaic law which stated that a king could not be coronated until after he's married his queen. This posed a lot of problems for the young, playboy H, who wasn't ready for the shackles of matrimony.
This is the H, Alek:
There were lots of women he could marry, but none willing to divorce him at the end of a year. He found the answer to his problems, when he visited his college student sister and met her assistant, Hester.
This is the heroine, Hester:
Hester was a quiet, competent young woman, with no delusions of grandeur and the H believed that she was the ideal candidate for a temporary, platonic marriage of convenience:
His officials were going to love her, given how much they loathed his usual less than circumspect affairs. And if she presented this shy, blushing bride act to the public, she’d melt all hearts.
I don't like romances about Plain Jane heroines, because they usually stay plain. There have been many an HP novel, that have ended up on my DNF bookshelf, soon after I read the heroine's unflattering description. Shamelessly shallow but unfortunately true.
But the ugly duckling trope is a different matter entirely. It's usually a story about a character whose beauty has been hidden in plain sight. Or who, in Hester's case, has been bullied into believing that she's insignificant and unworthy.
Hester, the heroine, spent a lifetime being bullied by her aunt, uncle and 3 cousins. She was forced to live with them, after her parents had died in a car accident when she was just a child. As the studious, shy cuckoo in a nest of glamorous, extroverted peacocks, her coming of age experiences, were unbearable.
She only agreed to marry the H, because the money would go towards a charity for single, young mothers. On the H's part, the short marriage would be uncomplicated, because his libido wouldn't be sparked by a nondescript little nerd, like Hester.
Little did he know that the unobtrusive heroine would turn out to be sexier and more interesting than any other woman he'd ever met. In fact, his initial thought, after her makeover, was quite hilarious:
He glanced up as a goddess walked into his lounge.
Hester Moss.
The smooth and sophisticated H, didn't know what to do:
Alek gazed at her upturned face. He couldn’t think for the life of him why he’d thought her anything less than stunning. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was striking. Her golden eyes with those incredible lashes? Her lush pouting lips? That infuriating serenity and stillness of her very self? He couldn’t resist putting a careful hand on her waist and drawing her a little closer. He heard the slight catch in her breath but she didn’t frown.
The subsequent story details their evolving relationship, as they transitioned from acquaintances, to friends and then to lovers. They didn't just focus on their sexual connection, but spent time getting to know each other, exchanging confidences, and, something that's relatively rare in HPlandia story arcs: building trust.
Both MC's were light hearted and loved joking around with each other, when conversations got too intense. The H wasn't obnoxiously arrogant, pompous and full of his regality. There were many times when he poked fun at certain grandiose royal customs; not because he was ungrateful or undutiful, but to help ease the heroine's fears about fitting in.
The H's grand, public proclamation of love and respect, for the heroine, was a little far fetched. After all, it's hard to envision a newly coronated king breaking royal protocol. But, since it's just a romance novel, I can live with it.
In a rare turn of events, Natalie Anderson actually included an epilogue ! Colour me shocked, but pleasantly so, because I got to see the MC's happily pregnant with their first child.
Safety: No OW, no OM, no cheating and no separation.
Ms Hester Moss.
Personal assistant. Calm automaton. Perfect wife. Yes, he was going to give his country their most inoffensive, bland Queen.
In this HPlandia re-telling of The Ugly Duckling, a most deserving heroine gets her fairytale ending in the most unexpected manner.
Hester Moss - our heroine:
📚 Introverted but quirky;
📚 Geeky but not cowardly;
📚 Beautiful but unaware of it.
King Alek of Triscari - our H:
👑 Confident and witty;
👑Cocky but considerate and loyal;
👑Handsome and aware of it.
In the kingdom of Triscari, there was an archaic law which stated that a king could not be coronated until after he's married his queen. This posed a lot of problems for the young, playboy H, who wasn't ready for the shackles of matrimony.
This is the H, Alek:
There were lots of women he could marry, but none willing to divorce him at the end of a year. He found the answer to his problems, when he visited his college student sister and met her assistant, Hester.
This is the heroine, Hester:
Hester was a quiet, competent young woman, with no delusions of grandeur and the H believed that she was the ideal candidate for a temporary, platonic marriage of convenience:
His officials were going to love her, given how much they loathed his usual less than circumspect affairs. And if she presented this shy, blushing bride act to the public, she’d melt all hearts.
I don't like romances about Plain Jane heroines, because they usually stay plain. There have been many an HP novel, that have ended up on my DNF bookshelf, soon after I read the heroine's unflattering description. Shamelessly shallow but unfortunately true.
But the ugly duckling trope is a different matter entirely. It's usually a story about a character whose beauty has been hidden in plain sight. Or who, in Hester's case, has been bullied into believing that she's insignificant and unworthy.
Hester, the heroine, spent a lifetime being bullied by her aunt, uncle and 3 cousins. She was forced to live with them, after her parents had died in a car accident when she was just a child. As the studious, shy cuckoo in a nest of glamorous, extroverted peacocks, her coming of age experiences, were unbearable.
She only agreed to marry the H, because the money would go towards a charity for single, young mothers. On the H's part, the short marriage would be uncomplicated, because his libido wouldn't be sparked by a nondescript little nerd, like Hester.
Little did he know that the unobtrusive heroine would turn out to be sexier and more interesting than any other woman he'd ever met. In fact, his initial thought, after her makeover, was quite hilarious:
He glanced up as a goddess walked into his lounge.
Hester Moss.
The smooth and sophisticated H, didn't know what to do:
Alek gazed at her upturned face. He couldn’t think for the life of him why he’d thought her anything less than stunning. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was striking. Her golden eyes with those incredible lashes? Her lush pouting lips? That infuriating serenity and stillness of her very self? He couldn’t resist putting a careful hand on her waist and drawing her a little closer. He heard the slight catch in her breath but she didn’t frown.
The subsequent story details their evolving relationship, as they transitioned from acquaintances, to friends and then to lovers. They didn't just focus on their sexual connection, but spent time getting to know each other, exchanging confidences, and, something that's relatively rare in HPlandia story arcs: building trust.
Both MC's were light hearted and loved joking around with each other, when conversations got too intense. The H wasn't obnoxiously arrogant, pompous and full of his regality. There were many times when he poked fun at certain grandiose royal customs; not because he was ungrateful or undutiful, but to help ease the heroine's fears about fitting in.
The H's grand, public proclamation of love and respect, for the heroine, was a little far fetched. After all, it's hard to envision a newly coronated king breaking royal protocol. But, since it's just a romance novel, I can live with it.
In a rare turn of events, Natalie Anderson actually included an epilogue ! Colour me shocked, but pleasantly so, because I got to see the MC's happily pregnant with their first child.
Safety: No OW, no OM, no cheating and no separation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2021
This was sweet. I wasn’t going to rate it initially as I was so disgusted that the heroine decided to take the high road over her horrible cousins, and I’m not in the mood for a Be a bigger person vibe today. The cousins were pretty evil as in they She invites them to the wedding when I would have much rather read that she invited them to the dungeon for a couple of days ...or weeks.
Still, the hero was a charming ex-cad turned nice hero, and I always love that so 3 stingy stars.
P.S.
Please HP editors, can you put away the HP title generator and go back to the old school ways of naming books.
Alternative titles:
I Found My Love Under a Rock
Queen at First, Wife at Last
Not quitting my day job.
Still, the hero was a charming ex-cad turned nice hero, and I always love that so 3 stingy stars.
P.S.
Please HP editors, can you put away the HP title generator and go back to the old school ways of naming books.
Alternative titles:
I Found My Love Under a Rock
Queen at First, Wife at Last
Not quitting my day job.
April 1, 2020
ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
Review to come.
Review to come.
May 6, 2020
Nice but again too sweet for me.
May 10, 2020
Hero is a player who is not ready to settle down, but alas he must if he wants to be King - which he does as he doesn’t have any other choice. He decides he wants a fake temporary marriage and feels that his sister’s assistant, Hester, will do just fine since she is not his type so no worries about making it real.
However, once the sleeping beauty who has spent her whole life being bullied & has confidence issues gets a makeover, she is stunning and Hero is smacked upside the head and going gaga over her!
What I liked about this story is the fact that it wasn’t all sex and nothing else as some romances these days tend to be. They took their time and developed their relationship and got to know each other. They built trust & support and then came the rest. Woohoo! 👏👏
And surprising of all, Hero was not one of those typical Harlequin asshole Heroes that you read so much about. He was really sweet and screwed royally (no pun intended!😏) to realize that his wish for a temporary non-consummated marriage quickly flew out the window.
Safety: No cheating. No OW/OM dramalama and a sweet HEA with baby.
Overall, I am a satisfied reader today folks….
However, once the sleeping beauty who has spent her whole life being bullied & has confidence issues gets a makeover, she is stunning and Hero is smacked upside the head and going gaga over her!
What I liked about this story is the fact that it wasn’t all sex and nothing else as some romances these days tend to be. They took their time and developed their relationship and got to know each other. They built trust & support and then came the rest. Woohoo! 👏👏
And surprising of all, Hero was not one of those typical Harlequin asshole Heroes that you read so much about. He was really sweet and screwed royally (no pun intended!😏) to realize that his wish for a temporary non-consummated marriage quickly flew out the window.
Safety: No cheating. No OW/OM dramalama and a sweet HEA with baby.
Overall, I am a satisfied reader today folks….
December 21, 2021
"Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight" is the story of Hester and Alek.
Hero is a playboy prince in need of a convenient bride, which he finds in his own palace. Heroine is an orphan, who works for his sister and considers herself a plain Jane. A witty banter leads to a proposal of marriage in name only. Ofcourse, feelings get involved, there is some pushing away drama, but all ends in a HEA.
It was.. very nice but too nice if you know what I mean?
An OK read for me!
Safe
2.5/5
Hero is a playboy prince in need of a convenient bride, which he finds in his own palace. Heroine is an orphan, who works for his sister and considers herself a plain Jane. A witty banter leads to a proposal of marriage in name only. Ofcourse, feelings get involved, there is some pushing away drama, but all ends in a HEA.
It was.. very nice but too nice if you know what I mean?
An OK read for me!
Safe
2.5/5
June 5, 2020
Natalie Anderson is a relatively new writer to me but I am rather liking her stuff!
I really enjoyed this one. Ivy H has written a brilliant review so I'm just going to refer you to that and restrict myself to a couple of comments.
Hester's is a perfect Ugly Duckling story and I absolutely loved her emergence as the beautiful (inside and out) person that she truly was.
Alek is a delightful and delicious hero - one of my favourites for a while. I totally loved how they got to know each other as well as having marvellous sex.
However, and it's a serious complaint - I wanted the 3 awful cousins to get much more of a comeuppance than they did. I wanted public ridicule, shaming, and possibly torture for the way they had behaved and still continued to behave towards poor Hester.
That's why I have taken off one star. If we're reading fairy tales (and this is a brilliant one), then I want fairy tale revenge as well! But otherwise, this is just lovely.
I really enjoyed this one. Ivy H has written a brilliant review so I'm just going to refer you to that and restrict myself to a couple of comments.
Hester's is a perfect Ugly Duckling story and I absolutely loved her emergence as the beautiful (inside and out) person that she truly was.
Alek is a delightful and delicious hero - one of my favourites for a while. I totally loved how they got to know each other as well as having marvellous sex.
However, and it's a serious complaint - I wanted the 3 awful cousins to get much more of a comeuppance than they did. I wanted public ridicule, shaming, and possibly torture for the way they had behaved and still continued to behave towards poor Hester.
That's why I have taken off one star. If we're reading fairy tales (and this is a brilliant one), then I want fairy tale revenge as well! But otherwise, this is just lovely.
May 4, 2020
Source: NetGalley
Thoughts to come
Thoughts to come
June 4, 2020
Yet another retelling from the month of June in the Presents line with this one particular story retelling the fairy tale of The Ugly Duckling . While with this particular retelling was subtler with the elements than the The Red Riding Hood Harlequin Presents retelling I read yesterday, but it didn’t bother me because I so adored this story and character so much. I just fell in love with this story so hard.
I did have a little misconception going to the book from reading the back blurb where I thought that Hester was Alek’s royal assistant not his sister’s so I thought there were going to be a lot of unresolved feelings and angst and such, but that wasn’t the case, and I didn’t care because it was so much better that she was his sister’s assistant than his. I was totally into it as soon as they butted heads as he came storming through the sister’s apartment, and then had their first interaction with one another since becoming his sister’s assistant.
To say that sparks flew would be the understatement of the century. They had fireworks between them as they barbed back and forth. It was amazing. I loved how Hester called Alek his crap and his reputation as a playboy. I loved that she didn’t back down from him. I loved how she put him in place despite the fact that he was a prince soon to become king. It was just all good. And I loved that interaction. Really loved all their interactions but this was such awesome start to the story and really got the pace flowing down the line.
These two just had something special between them. They pushed each other buttons. They stood up each other. They brought the best out of each other by requiring and wanting more from the other. They just really worked well together as a couple and confidents. They were just amazing together. I rooted for them all the way.
I loved how their relationship developed over the course of the book. I loved that they became friends before they became more. There was a lot of great intimacy building between the two of them throughout the story. I loved that so much as they dug deeper and deeper beneath both of the surfaces, revealing vulnerabilities to one another in a way they had never before. They had some really deep and meaningful conversations that I just found adorable and filled my heart with joy and pain as what was revealed in both their pasts.
I also adored the more that they got to know each other, the more they wanted of one another. Their attraction just kept on building and building with every moment they spent together and the more they learned about each other. Even Alek commented about it several times that he wanted more of Hester and get beneath those walls. It was beautiful to see him push and prod and get her to open up more to him, therefore earning her trust. The trust just kept building and building, and I loved seeing that growth within their relationship.
When their wedding night came and they finally gave into their passions for each other, it was so sweet, loving and tender and really just upped the intensity and intimacy in their relationship. It may have not been the most explicit love scene that I have read, but I didn’t need it because it was a beautiful scene nonetheless. It was satisfying and very much of them getting closer to each other more than anything else. It was a good scene.
The other love scene was not really explicit either, but again it worked within the context of the story. It was passionate, yet loving and tender as they came together once again. It was really romantic too because it was at the hot springs. It was very much about the closeness between them. I loved that.
Alek I freaking adored. He was a piece of work from the very beginning. He had that role of playboy prince down to a tee. His charm, his wit, and his humor was so fun that he made me laugh quite a few times. And to see his interactions with Hester just made it doubly entertaining. But there was so much more to him than the facade that he presented to the world and was in fact very layered. He felt things very deeply especially concerning his role as king and prince as well as the death of his mother. It was so heartbreaking to hear the pain in voice as he talked about loosing his mother. It made me sympathize with him and hurt for him so much. I loved he wasn’t afraid to show that side of himself to Hester.
Also, the things that he did for Hester was just beyond amazing that it made me fall in love with him even more. He made quite a few romantic gestures throughout the story that I absolutely loved and adored like him fixing her memory box that meant so much to her that just touched me so much. I didn’t see it coming, but it was an aww type of moment. Boy did he know how to grovel. OMG. That had to be one of the greatest and best grovel scenes that I have read from one of this Harlequin Presents alpha heroes. It was beyond amazing and so touching that it made the love that I had in my heart for him grow so much. He made my heart burst with so much joy. He was an amazing hero. He deserved that happily ever after more than anyone, and he deserved everything that he wanted with Hester.
As for Hester, while I can see why some people might like her, I adored her as well because of just how much growth and development she had as a main character. She had dealt with so much pain and bullying in her life that the only way she knew to cope and survive was to take her emotions away and present this controlled front for the world to see. I felt that pain her so much as she regaled tales to Alek of what she went through as a kid and the bullying that she had suffered at school. It was so heartbreaking. I could see why she acted the way the did. But she really opened up to Alek, even in the beginning. He brought to life and set her on fire in so many ways. It might have taken awhile for her to open up and trust him with her secrets, but when she did it was such a beautiful and special moment for them. It really boned them together. She realized that she could count on him for support and that cared about well being regardless. She could reveal her messy self to him, and he would still care no matter what. Without him, I don’t think would have ever open her heart up and really lived. She would have just lived this half life that wouldn’t have been fulfilling for her. It was so spectacular to see from where she was in the beginning of the story to the end when she opened her heart to love and to Alek. It was so good.
Overall this book just blew me away. It was so much more amazing than I thought it was going to be. It really surprised me in the best way possible. I can do nothing but gush about it. It had a lot of the great elements that I love from romance. It was such a friends to lovers story that I absolutely adore. I loved that basis for their relationship. I loved the amount of intimacy building. I loved the growth between them as a couple and as individuals. I loved that they support each other as they revealed their true selves to one another. I loved how they sparked off of each other in the beginning. I loved that Hester wouldn’t allow Alek to get away things by using his charm. I loved that she called him out. I adored them together. They were just amazing and fit so perfectly together. Hester I loved. Alek was I love with and loved all that he did for Hester along the with gestures he made. I just freaking adored him. I could go on and on about this story and probably gush ten times more, but I absolutely love this one. I will be rereading this story again and again.
Highly recommend for Presents readers, friends to lovers trope lovers, lovers of great intimacy building moments throughout the book, and a very yummy alpha male that you will surely fall in love with like I did. It was just an amazing ride that I don’t think you will regret going on.
I did have a little misconception going to the book from reading the back blurb where I thought that Hester was Alek’s royal assistant not his sister’s so I thought there were going to be a lot of unresolved feelings and angst and such, but that wasn’t the case, and I didn’t care because it was so much better that she was his sister’s assistant than his. I was totally into it as soon as they butted heads as he came storming through the sister’s apartment, and then had their first interaction with one another since becoming his sister’s assistant.
To say that sparks flew would be the understatement of the century. They had fireworks between them as they barbed back and forth. It was amazing. I loved how Hester called Alek his crap and his reputation as a playboy. I loved that she didn’t back down from him. I loved how she put him in place despite the fact that he was a prince soon to become king. It was just all good. And I loved that interaction. Really loved all their interactions but this was such awesome start to the story and really got the pace flowing down the line.
These two just had something special between them. They pushed each other buttons. They stood up each other. They brought the best out of each other by requiring and wanting more from the other. They just really worked well together as a couple and confidents. They were just amazing together. I rooted for them all the way.
I loved how their relationship developed over the course of the book. I loved that they became friends before they became more. There was a lot of great intimacy building between the two of them throughout the story. I loved that so much as they dug deeper and deeper beneath both of the surfaces, revealing vulnerabilities to one another in a way they had never before. They had some really deep and meaningful conversations that I just found adorable and filled my heart with joy and pain as what was revealed in both their pasts.
I also adored the more that they got to know each other, the more they wanted of one another. Their attraction just kept on building and building with every moment they spent together and the more they learned about each other. Even Alek commented about it several times that he wanted more of Hester and get beneath those walls. It was beautiful to see him push and prod and get her to open up more to him, therefore earning her trust. The trust just kept building and building, and I loved seeing that growth within their relationship.
When their wedding night came and they finally gave into their passions for each other, it was so sweet, loving and tender and really just upped the intensity and intimacy in their relationship. It may have not been the most explicit love scene that I have read, but I didn’t need it because it was a beautiful scene nonetheless. It was satisfying and very much of them getting closer to each other more than anything else. It was a good scene.
The other love scene was not really explicit either, but again it worked within the context of the story. It was passionate, yet loving and tender as they came together once again. It was really romantic too because it was at the hot springs. It was very much about the closeness between them. I loved that.
Alek I freaking adored. He was a piece of work from the very beginning. He had that role of playboy prince down to a tee. His charm, his wit, and his humor was so fun that he made me laugh quite a few times. And to see his interactions with Hester just made it doubly entertaining. But there was so much more to him than the facade that he presented to the world and was in fact very layered. He felt things very deeply especially concerning his role as king and prince as well as the death of his mother. It was so heartbreaking to hear the pain in voice as he talked about loosing his mother. It made me sympathize with him and hurt for him so much. I loved he wasn’t afraid to show that side of himself to Hester.
Also, the things that he did for Hester was just beyond amazing that it made me fall in love with him even more. He made quite a few romantic gestures throughout the story that I absolutely loved and adored like him fixing her memory box that meant so much to her that just touched me so much. I didn’t see it coming, but it was an aww type of moment. Boy did he know how to grovel. OMG. That had to be one of the greatest and best grovel scenes that I have read from one of this Harlequin Presents alpha heroes. It was beyond amazing and so touching that it made the love that I had in my heart for him grow so much. He made my heart burst with so much joy. He was an amazing hero. He deserved that happily ever after more than anyone, and he deserved everything that he wanted with Hester.
As for Hester, while I can see why some people might like her, I adored her as well because of just how much growth and development she had as a main character. She had dealt with so much pain and bullying in her life that the only way she knew to cope and survive was to take her emotions away and present this controlled front for the world to see. I felt that pain her so much as she regaled tales to Alek of what she went through as a kid and the bullying that she had suffered at school. It was so heartbreaking. I could see why she acted the way the did. But she really opened up to Alek, even in the beginning. He brought to life and set her on fire in so many ways. It might have taken awhile for her to open up and trust him with her secrets, but when she did it was such a beautiful and special moment for them. It really boned them together. She realized that she could count on him for support and that cared about well being regardless. She could reveal her messy self to him, and he would still care no matter what. Without him, I don’t think would have ever open her heart up and really lived. She would have just lived this half life that wouldn’t have been fulfilling for her. It was so spectacular to see from where she was in the beginning of the story to the end when she opened her heart to love and to Alek. It was so good.
Overall this book just blew me away. It was so much more amazing than I thought it was going to be. It really surprised me in the best way possible. I can do nothing but gush about it. It had a lot of the great elements that I love from romance. It was such a friends to lovers story that I absolutely adore. I loved that basis for their relationship. I loved the amount of intimacy building. I loved the growth between them as a couple and as individuals. I loved that they support each other as they revealed their true selves to one another. I loved how they sparked off of each other in the beginning. I loved that Hester wouldn’t allow Alek to get away things by using his charm. I loved that she called him out. I adored them together. They were just amazing and fit so perfectly together. Hester I loved. Alek was I love with and loved all that he did for Hester along the with gestures he made. I just freaking adored him. I could go on and on about this story and probably gush ten times more, but I absolutely love this one. I will be rereading this story again and again.
Highly recommend for Presents readers, friends to lovers trope lovers, lovers of great intimacy building moments throughout the book, and a very yummy alpha male that you will surely fall in love with like I did. It was just an amazing ride that I don’t think you will regret going on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2020
I had high hopes for this retelling of "The Ugly Duckling". I really ought to stop it, because while sweet, some of the characterisations were confusing.
Hester alone, swung between "fighting against her deepest desires for Prince Alek", and "denying her attraction to him because of her low self-esteem". I acknowledge that it is tricky to balance - goodness knows that I've often felt it personally, but it lacked a little special something that really showed that internal struggle.
Goodness knows that I loved his shock once she had her makeover, but I kinda wished that he had spotted her inherent grace and goodness before falling for her physical beauty.
Ah well... maybe I'll hit jackpot with my next M&B / Harlequin read. :)
Hester alone, swung between "fighting against her deepest desires for Prince Alek", and "denying her attraction to him because of her low self-esteem". I acknowledge that it is tricky to balance - goodness knows that I've often felt it personally, but it lacked a little special something that really showed that internal struggle.
Goodness knows that I loved his shock once she had her makeover, but I kinda wished that he had spotted her inherent grace and goodness before falling for her physical beauty.
Ah well... maybe I'll hit jackpot with my next M&B / Harlequin read. :)
March 28, 2020
Hester is a shy one, ‘you can’t swim naked,’ she said, scandalised.' Alek is always willing to tribute himself for his lady, ‘you know you can practise your riding skills on me any time,’ he said huskily.' I liked this book, I liked Alek.
hq-to-read
May 1, 2020She didn’t see her own beauty…
Then he unmasked it!
Royal assistant Hester knows playboy Prince Alek is totally out of her league. Shockingly, out of the blue, he proposes a marriage of convenience! In return, she’ll have millions to help disadvantaged women. Warily, Hester agrees…
To retain the throne he’s sacrificed everything for, Alek must choose a bride. It’s Hester’s quiet discretion that catches his attention…until their unstoppable chemistry reveals her startling beauty and inner fire. Alek sees the queen that Hester could truly become—but the real question is, can she?
Then he unmasked it!
Royal assistant Hester knows playboy Prince Alek is totally out of her league. Shockingly, out of the blue, he proposes a marriage of convenience! In return, she’ll have millions to help disadvantaged women. Warily, Hester agrees…
To retain the throne he’s sacrificed everything for, Alek must choose a bride. It’s Hester’s quiet discretion that catches his attention…until their unstoppable chemistry reveals her startling beauty and inner fire. Alek sees the queen that Hester could truly become—but the real question is, can she?
Did not finish
January 6, 2022Lost interest. I guess.
I started reading this book in 2020. It was okay. Not dull. It was going good while I was in the flow. But when I kept it on hold. It remained on hold for more than a year. I just never went back to it. And it’s 2022 now.
One thing I remember that the banter was good in the beginning. It was cute and sweet love story. But I’m not in a mood to go back and continue. Some other day maybe. For now it’s DNF.
I started reading this book in 2020. It was okay. Not dull. It was going good while I was in the flow. But when I kept it on hold. It remained on hold for more than a year. I just never went back to it. And it’s 2022 now.
One thing I remember that the banter was good in the beginning. It was cute and sweet love story. But I’m not in a mood to go back and continue. Some other day maybe. For now it’s DNF.
April 22, 2020
4.5 Stars
This is a book in the Once Upon a Temptation Series by Natalie Anderson.
Basic premise: A prince asks his sister’s assistant to be his fake wife in order to appease the royal rules of his rein. It is a deal for one year. But will they be able to pull off such a scam or is this really a love match they don’t see coming?
This is one of those books where you just can’t look away. Hester is the shy assistant who is made an offer she can’t refuse. You know that something wonderful is going to happen as soon as Alek has to refrain from seeing other women. And truthfully, that is what he probably needed all along. If he would have given more attention to his relationships and not just went straight to bed, he might have found love earlier.
Great story. I was mesmerized.
If you are looking for a good romance book, definitely check this one out.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is a book in the Once Upon a Temptation Series by Natalie Anderson.
Basic premise: A prince asks his sister’s assistant to be his fake wife in order to appease the royal rules of his rein. It is a deal for one year. But will they be able to pull off such a scam or is this really a love match they don’t see coming?
This is one of those books where you just can’t look away. Hester is the shy assistant who is made an offer she can’t refuse. You know that something wonderful is going to happen as soon as Alek has to refrain from seeing other women. And truthfully, that is what he probably needed all along. If he would have given more attention to his relationships and not just went straight to bed, he might have found love earlier.
Great story. I was mesmerized.
If you are looking for a good romance book, definitely check this one out.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
June 25, 2020
Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight by Natalie Anderson was a sweet and charming story. Hester is quiet, smart and competent. So, when Prince Alek needs to find a woman to marry who he can later divorce to take his crown, Hester seemed to fit the bill. But what happens when their chemistry sizzles and cannot be denied? I loved watching Hester coming out of her shell. She was truly beautiful inside and out, she just needed to see it. Alek was sexy and charming.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
May 12, 2021
Charming retelling of The Ugly Duckling
August 10, 2020
This was one of her very best books. They completely matched and belonged together. He may have started as a hoe off-page, but it was completely believable to see him transform to a happy family man.
Wouldn’t have minded another scene later with the sister also...
The only flaw is too much time before they truly got together when a bit more of them together would’ve enhanced it... but excellent nonetheless.
Highly recommend.
Wouldn’t have minded another scene later with the sister also...
The only flaw is too much time before they truly got together when a bit more of them together would’ve enhanced it... but excellent nonetheless.
Highly recommend.
June 3, 2020
All the stars for this fabulous story!
I loved this tale - Alek being the most gorgeous hero, and Hester is a truly wondrous heroine. Alek is being railroaded into marriage as it's a condition of his coronation, and in a moment of rebellion he decides to persuade Hester into a year long contract that they can end once he is established as King of Triscari. Hester has perfected the art of being invisible, mainly due to a childhood riddled with neglect and bullying. No one seems to have really noticed Hester until Alek, and with his humour, his commitment to doing the right thing (which now includes looking out for Hester) and of course his dimples, Hester is toast. But proud toast. Alek convinces Hester she is worth more, should expect more, and then is shocked when she does - of him! One of the best stories I've read in a long time because the characters are so real, Hester is adorable and Alek is so hot the pages sizzle, but he's also a sweetie. Five plus stars!
I loved this tale - Alek being the most gorgeous hero, and Hester is a truly wondrous heroine. Alek is being railroaded into marriage as it's a condition of his coronation, and in a moment of rebellion he decides to persuade Hester into a year long contract that they can end once he is established as King of Triscari. Hester has perfected the art of being invisible, mainly due to a childhood riddled with neglect and bullying. No one seems to have really noticed Hester until Alek, and with his humour, his commitment to doing the right thing (which now includes looking out for Hester) and of course his dimples, Hester is toast. But proud toast. Alek convinces Hester she is worth more, should expect more, and then is shocked when she does - of him! One of the best stories I've read in a long time because the characters are so real, Hester is adorable and Alek is so hot the pages sizzle, but he's also a sweetie. Five plus stars!
April 11, 2020
Amazing! This fairy tale story of an "Ugly Duckling" kept me up well into the night. I loved the depth of the characters, from the all the nuances of the reserved Hester saying "I'm fine," to the outrageous boldness of the prince. The two of them are a perfect fit and it was deeply satisfying to sink into their emotional journey.
You don't want to miss this one! It's a big story with big moments. I'd have to say it's the best story I've read in years, and I need more than five stars for this rating!
You don't want to miss this one! It's a big story with big moments. I'd have to say it's the best story I've read in years, and I need more than five stars for this rating!
November 7, 2021
Alek is the Prince of Tuscari .According to an ancient law, he must be married before his coronation and his bride is expected to bow to him during the ceremony.His younger sister Fiorella is in college in the States and shares a room with Hester (also her secretary).
Alek wanted to be a doctor after his mother died of cancer. But as a prince, he wasn't allowed that. Insted, he served in the army.Later he became known as "playboy prince", who loves horses,polo, good life.
Hester was born to teenage parents, who were disowned by their families. Upon the death of her parents, her aunt and uncle dutifully took her in.Her cousins mocked, harassed and bullied her. Hester even ran away several times.She has no contact with her family now.
Alek proposes to Hester ,suggesting they stay married for an year .Fiorella is surprised, as the two have just met.
Alek takes Hester to Tuscari .She has a make-over , has to get used to being in the spotlight all the time .She invites her 3 cousins to the wedding, but they still are hurtful and Alek orders them to leave before the coronation.Hester stands up to them.
This is "Cinderella" kind of story ,with the problem of fitting in the new life and finding the right place there.Also, it's about old traditions versus modern world-can they be changed? Can a king be also a businessman (Alek has a horse stud farm) ? Can he see beyound safety and security ?
Alek wanted to be a doctor after his mother died of cancer. But as a prince, he wasn't allowed that. Insted, he served in the army.Later he became known as "playboy prince", who loves horses,polo, good life.
Hester was born to teenage parents, who were disowned by their families. Upon the death of her parents, her aunt and uncle dutifully took her in.Her cousins mocked, harassed and bullied her. Hester even ran away several times.She has no contact with her family now.
Alek proposes to Hester ,suggesting they stay married for an year .Fiorella is surprised, as the two have just met.
Alek takes Hester to Tuscari .She has a make-over , has to get used to being in the spotlight all the time .She invites her 3 cousins to the wedding, but they still are hurtful and Alek orders them to leave before the coronation.Hester stands up to them.
This is "Cinderella" kind of story ,with the problem of fitting in the new life and finding the right place there.Also, it's about old traditions versus modern world-can they be changed? Can a king be also a businessman (Alek has a horse stud farm) ? Can he see beyound safety and security ?
July 15, 2025
4 stars for this delightful retelling of The Ugly Duckling.
Hester is working for the H's princess sister when the prince visits. For the usual HPlandia succession reasons, he needs a wife for a year, and decides that Hester will be perfect. She is hardworking, unassuming, intelligent and needs the money. Hester is also, the reader discovers, an orphan, not very confident and grew up with cruel and nasty relatives.
But - surprise - after a makeover and a few days in her new kingdom - she is transformed into a beautiful and kind royal consort and the prince is obviously just besotted with her. There is hardly any angst, no OW or OM, and even the nasty cousins don't get as much of a shaming as they deserve before they are banished. But this was just lovely. I especially loved the dry witty banter between Hester and Alek. Hester is quick to stand up to him and speak truth to power - despite her innate insecurities she holds her own with him, and he isn't the typical arrogant H, he often pokes fun at himself and his position. It was fun watching them fall in love.
Hester is working for the H's princess sister when the prince visits. For the usual HPlandia succession reasons, he needs a wife for a year, and decides that Hester will be perfect. She is hardworking, unassuming, intelligent and needs the money. Hester is also, the reader discovers, an orphan, not very confident and grew up with cruel and nasty relatives.
But - surprise - after a makeover and a few days in her new kingdom - she is transformed into a beautiful and kind royal consort and the prince is obviously just besotted with her. There is hardly any angst, no OW or OM, and even the nasty cousins don't get as much of a shaming as they deserve before they are banished. But this was just lovely. I especially loved the dry witty banter between Hester and Alek. Hester is quick to stand up to him and speak truth to power - despite her innate insecurities she holds her own with him, and he isn't the typical arrogant H, he often pokes fun at himself and his position. It was fun watching them fall in love.
June 1, 2020
Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight Natalie Anderson is book Three in the Once Upon a Temptation Series. This is the story of Prince Alek and Hester. I did feel this could be a standalone book. Alek has to marry if he wants to be able to be the King, so he thinks a marriage of convenience would be the key to his path to being King. Alek then chooses to have Hester as his wife. Hester is his sister's assistant and is not his type at all...so it a safe route to go for him. Hester is talked into this marriage with a promise of money to help the women that she is a champion for. Hester normally is a shy women who tries to settle into the background. But for this new position she gets a makeover which leads her to start being more outgoing. Alek of course is taken back by the beauty that is Hester no longer is she beautiful on this inside but she is a temptress on the outside. Enjoyed this book.
March 28, 2020
What a heart-rending and great come-back romance story! I love Natalie Anderson's talent for giving her characters emotional depth and she does a phenomenal job here. Hester is a young woman who due to her emotionally abusive family and her experience in foster care keeps all of her colleagues and people in general at both a physical and emotional distance. When Alek, the prince asks her to agree to a marriage of convenience neither of them realizes the unexpected true feelings that end up developing.
Whenever I read a Harlequin there's always a part of me that expects the characters to be shallow and underdeveloped but in exchange, you get a lot of passion and spicy scenes. That isn't the case here, both Hester and Alek have emotional scars that are addressed and overcome and it was very nice to be able to see how Hester grew into her own strength. There were a few themes that were repetitive or developed too quickly to quite work for me but overall surprisingly good! 4 out of 5 stars. I was given an early copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Whenever I read a Harlequin there's always a part of me that expects the characters to be shallow and underdeveloped but in exchange, you get a lot of passion and spicy scenes. That isn't the case here, both Hester and Alek have emotional scars that are addressed and overcome and it was very nice to be able to see how Hester grew into her own strength. There were a few themes that were repetitive or developed too quickly to quite work for me but overall surprisingly good! 4 out of 5 stars. I was given an early copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2020
A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Presents for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Hester believes herself to be an ugly duckling, but she has already been better since she works for the princess. Interesting book, fun to read. Loved the straight forwardness of Crown Prince Alek. Found this to be a fast fun read! 3.5 stars
January 12, 2024
Amazing perception!
The story of Hester and Alek is so well written. Hester has endured an abusive life after her parents death. She enters a temporary relationship with Alek as he cements his leadership role.
It is the dialogue that kept me enchanted in this story. There were no demeaning of either Hester or Alek as events or emotions were explored.
The story of Hester and Alek is so well written. Hester has endured an abusive life after her parents death. She enters a temporary relationship with Alek as he cements his leadership role.
It is the dialogue that kept me enchanted in this story. There were no demeaning of either Hester or Alek as events or emotions were explored.
February 24, 2025
It was ok, but I wouldn't want to re-read. The characters were ok, they were nice and had a good connection. However it was a little bit boring and I wasn't a fan of how many times they each discussed/brought up his playboy past (including for an entire month before meeting heroine, he was photographed with a new woman every other day). P.
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June 1, 2020Categories
Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Once Upon a Temptation (Book #3)
Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Once Upon a Temptation (Book #3)
Read
June 1, 2020Categories
Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Once Upon a Temptation (Book #3)
Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Once Upon a Temptation (Book #3)
September 14, 2020
Was this bad? No. Was it good? Meh...
This did met the criteria for a harlequin, so in that regard, Yes.
This did met the criteria for a harlequin, so in that regard, Yes.
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October 2, 2020Reina De Conveniencia (Versión)
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