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Stolen to Wear His Crown

Marcella Bell

3.50 · Rating details · 66 ratings · 31 reviews

From unworldly scientist…

…to his fearless queen!Mina has finally achieved her dream of becoming chief scientific advisor of Cyrano, when she’s stolen from the interview room! She’s taken directly to the palace chapel, where the terms of a secret betrothal mean she must marry the king—immediately.

Powerful King Zayn knows all too well monarchs can’t afford dangerous distr ...more

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ebook, 224 pages

Published December 1st 2020 by Harlequin Presents

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Average rating 3.50 ·

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· 66 ratings · 31 reviews

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Nov 08, 2020 Bibi rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

*Spoilers*
*Offensive Language*

Hold up.

So, Zayn, our hero, kidnaps (view spoiler) the heroine (Mina) then forces her to marry him because of some decades-old asinine betrothal agreement that'd been engineered by their respectiv

...more

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Nov 11, 2020 Aou rated it liked it

Shelves: virgin-h

So much potential but unfortunately not enough.
I don't expect a believable plot, I know I'm reading an HP but I need more consistency, so 2,5 stars. ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Bethany rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: black-authors

Fun, quick, and a bit melodramatic, Stolen to Wear His Crown follows Mina, an accomplished scientist who has finally achieved her dream of becoming the scientific advisor to the king. Only to be dragged off in the middle of her confirmation, and forced to marry the king she has never met because of a secret betrothal contract between their parents.

Mina has focused on her career to the exclusion of any relationships and King Zayne is convinced that falling in love would compromise commitment to ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 iamrite rated it really liked it

A solid start from a new author and a fellow Oregonian!

Mina is the stereotypical geeky academic. In focusing on her PhD and her goal of being a part of the King's counsel, she has neglected all other areas of her life. Zayn is a king who rose to his position because his father was assassinated years before. When Zayn decided to marry, he took a list of prospective brides for approval, only to find that he was already betrothed - a surprise to Zayn and a shock to Mina.

Mina is my favorite kind of ...more

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Nov 14, 2020 Susan in Perthshire rated it liked it · review of another edition

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I know we're supposed to suspend disbelief when reading category romances but personally, I do need the story to be grounded in a reality that I can accept and understand. Is it too much to expect that writers create believable worlds and do research to ensure their story is supported by factual underpinning? Mina's surname is found almost exclusively in the Americas, specifically Mexico. and yet her ancestors go I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I know we're supposed to suspend disbelief when reading category romances but personally, I do need the story to be grounded in a reality that I can accept and understand. Is it too much to expect that writers create believable worlds and do research to ensure their story is supported by factual underpinning? Mina's surname is found almost exclusively in the Americas, specifically Mexico. and yet her ancestors go back generations on Cyrano.

Cyrano is meant to be a forward-looking, modern monarchy, yet the 36-year-old, experienced, statesmanlike King sends the equivalent of a SWAT team to drag Mina out of the chamber? what? they push her to her knees and bind her wrists? I mean- seriously?

Where on earth was Cyrano meant to be? we're told it's a Mediterranean kingdom. The suggestion that Mina's father has Moorish ancestors suggests a close link to the ottoman empire, so definitely a southern Mediterranean location - close to Morocco or Tunisia perhaps. King, Zayn has an Arabic name, but he is not Muslim because the marriage is conducted by an Archbishop. These things kept preoccupying my mind and throwing me out of the story. Also, considering Mills and Boon has a strong European market, I was surprised at the xenophobia displayed in the writing. The British Ambassador is a pretentious letch and the son of the Felden representative a sexually predatory man who doesn't know how to behave in diplomatic circles? (German-speaking,? Chancellor? - are we starting to see a pattern?)

Zayn was simply unbelievable. Truly, his behaviour in the first part of the book stretched my credulity to its absolute limits. He wasn't just a jerk, he was an abusive, bad-mannered bully of the worst kind.

Having been so critical, I must then add that the author has a nice touch and I really liked her writing. The dialogue was sparky and witty and intelligent. The developing relationship and character development were well done and very engaging. I enjoyed the latter two-thirds of the book much better than the first third and I thought the journey to their happy ending was beautifully done. The author also writes great sex scenes!

I think this is an author to keep an eye on and I look forward to her next book.

...more

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Dec 31, 2020 Kazen rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, poc-author, m-f, trope-royalty, trope-marriage-convenience, category-romance

I picked up Stolen to Wear His Crown because I'm here for debut authors of color, and the premise intrigued me. Is it possible to do a "hero steals his bride" storyline while still respecting the heroine's agency?

In short, yes. I was delighted to see how Bell adds depth to the premise - there's more going on than it seems. The twists and turns of these subversions brought on giggles and made me invested in the story. Inclusive language put me at ease, and I'm excited to see Mina's guards (both w ...more

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Nov 22, 2020 Katherine Hayward Pérez rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, my-blog-tours

Mina is chief scientific advisor of Cyrano and I was interested in that part. Then, things go crazy and she is kidnapped by what I think is a kind of SWAT team (although I was shocked at the abruptness of the kidnapping and I thought that was good tension). Then, the King wants to marry her.

She seems strong but gives in. The book is atmospheric but not enough. I was wondering where Cyrano actually was, and the castle or surroundings were not that visual.

I found the original plot hard to believe ...more

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Dec 07, 2020 Cassidy rated it really liked it

Stolen to Wear His Crown was a fun, quick read. It was a nice something a little different than the norm. I enjoyed it.

I voluntarily read an early copy.

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Nov 12, 2020 Victoria rated it it was amazing

Zayn is your typical arrogant king while Mina is your typical serious scientist. I just loved how different these two characters are but the author did a good job on how these differences later on paved the way for them to fall in love. I finished this in three hours, I really loved it!😍

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Dec 05, 2020 Teresa Woodard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am an unabashed HP reader. Grew up on them, loved them as a treat in undergrad and graduate school. This little gem was just what I needed. A biologist heroine in a forced relationship and you know what happens next. These characters felt real, modern. Loved the cultural nods including language. I bought it for the cover but will definitely re-read.

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Nov 17, 2020 Smut Report rated it liked it · review of another edition

Heat Factor: 🍆🍆 ← that’s two sexy rumpuses
Character Chemistry: It gets better
Plot: She gets forcibly married to the king and then makes the best of it. It’s good to be queen!
Overall: The opening is extremely YIKES but the second half is excellent

Stolen to Wear His Crown is part of the Harlequin Presents line, which meant that I knew to expect certain things. A tight focus on the romantic relationship. A plot that requires a certain suspension of disbelief. And an extremely innocent, emotionally Heat Factor: 🍆🍆 ← that’s two sexy rumpuses
Character Chemistry: It gets better
Plot: She gets forcibly married to the king and then makes the best of it. It’s good to be queen!
Overall: The opening is extremely YIKES but the second half is excellent

Stolen to Wear His Crown is part of the Harlequin Presents line, which meant that I knew to expect certain things. A tight focus on the romantic relationship. A plot that requires a certain suspension of disbelief. And an extremely innocent, emotionally open heroine who brings a strong, powerful, rich, emotionally constipated man to his knees with the strength of her inner (and outer) beauty.

We have all of that. And honestly, the relationship between Mina and Zayn is pretty compelling, especially once they start spending some quality time together. They bring out the best in each other, as Zayn pushes Mina to be more confident and Mina provides space for Zayn to be just a man. Bell writes smooth dialogue and sex scenes with just a hint of spice to keep things interesting and is great at writing clothes, all of which help.

But the opening! Here’s the set up. Mina has worked her entire life to distinguish herself in her field so that she will earn a place as a science advisor on the royal council. She has put her work before everything else in her life. She hides her hot body, because she wants to be taken seriously as an academic. She has never gone on a date, because she spent every free moment working. And all her sacrifice has paid off! She is being interviewed by Parliament in the final step in the vetting process.

Right after the vote goes through approving her, however, a SWAT team appears, tackles her, handcuffs her, and drags her through the palace to a chapel where the King awaits. And then they get married in the weirdest non-consensual (Christian-ish?) ceremony I have ever read. The whole thing was really upsetting to read, and I was a bit annoyed that Mina was so...accepting of the whole thing. Yes, she protests - but she protests the marriage, not the fact that she was utterly humiliated by a bunch of thugs in front of Parliament on the orders of her future husband.

I almost stopped reading. I’m glad I didn’t, but I could also see this sequence being a major deal-breaker for many readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report. ...more

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Dec 08, 2020 Stephanie rated it liked it

Stolen to Wear His Crown was a weird rollercoaster of a read. It went from zero to one hundred within the first ten percent of the book. From that ten percent, the rest was a bit more of a slow burn read.

Mina, a geeky academic scientist, has worked her life to focus on her PHD and be appointed as one of the King’s advisors. Once appointed, Mina is kidnapped in a very unsettling way, brought to the king who she is now forced to marry. A deal made by her father so many years ago, Mina is now faced ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 TashNz rated it really liked it

Shelves: marcella-bell

Stolen to wear his Crown by Marcella Bell is a December 2020 debut Harlequin release and I loved it!

If I didn’t know Stolen to Wear His Crown was a debut book, I would have thought it was written by a seasoned professional. The drama, humor, adventure, plot and entertainment value were top quality and I enjoyed every word!

The dramatic entry of Mina into King Zayn’s world was gripping and held my attention. The descriptiveness of turning Mina into a Queen at her ball was stunning. The adventure ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Lynn rated it really liked it

Mina has a doctorate in biological science and is interviewing for a position on the Kings council when she is literally taken hostage, dragged down the aisle and is told she is marrying the King of Cyrano. What? How could this happen? Why would the King want to marry her?

King Zayn has found out he must marry a woman whom he does not even know much less love because a betrothal his father made with a village commoner. This is the last thing he needs or wants, yet he finds himself at the altar ma ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Sarah Anguish rated it really liked it

Mina has been studying and preparing her whole life to become a member of the Royal Council. Finally she is invited to attend a reviewed for her chance at the role. Moments after finding out that she was successful a SWAT team arrives and she is taken away
Kidnapped and taken to another part of the Palace. Meeting the king for the first time along with the archbishop ready for them to be married.

Zayn has had a turbulent few years, with his father being assassinatrd, him becoming king, discoverin ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Audrey Adamson Stars in Her Eye rated it it was ok

I don't read a lot of Harlequin romances. Every once in a while, a plot is interesting enough to pull me in. This antiquated idea in a modern world caught my attention.

Mina is arrested on the day she has achieved her greatest dream: Chief Scientific advisor of Cyrano. She’s taken to as chapel in the royal palace where she is forced into a secret marriage with the king. King Zyan knows nothing but they are betrothed and with his father dead. He will have to unravel this mystery himself. Can the t ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Kindwyn Hoge rated it it was amazing

I just finished reading this book last night and I loved it. This was the perfect book to read as a romantic escape and I just loved it. This book really is a fun read and was the perfect escape. I loved how once Zayne and Mina got to know each other that they found love and both got a new perspective. I love how they both changed and fell in love and that Mina was able to realize that she can be intelligent and sexy too. I like how Zayn also changed for the better as well. This was just a nice, ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Marcie Robinson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“Stolen to Wear His Crown” is Marcella Bell’s debut with Harlequin Presents.

The opening scenes of this book are dark as we are introduced to Mina and Zayn.
Mina is an academic, naïve in human nature. Zayn is cold and overbearing.
The middle is lighter as both Mina and Zayn begin to change, getting to each other and themselves.
By the end, Mina remembers her strength and Zayn realizes love makes one stronger instead of weaker.

While there were a few points of the story I wasn’t fond of (the abrupt s ...more

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Nov 25, 2020 iamGamz rated it liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction, aplhaa-hole, contemporary-romance, harlequin-mills-boon, read-in-2020

My first time reading this author and it was okay. The plot is a bit of a stretch to believe. The characters were likewise. What i did enjoy was the diversity in her characters. A brown skinned girl who has a PHD in her scientific field and was granted approval as council to the king. The same king that she marries, but still. She excelled in her field and was honored with that post.

Sadly, like most intelligent, intellectual women in HPs, she loses all common sense, and rational thought mind as ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Jane Hunt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-reviewed

A fictional kingdom, an unusual heroine, and a determined king make this an interesting romance. The world created is pure fantasy but with some realistic elements. Mina is an intelligent but unworldly woman, fixated on her career and just about to achieve her objective. Zayn knows his duty and will never let his personal feelings get in the way of it.

There are elements in this story that defy belief, but if you accept them and Zayn's often autocratic behaviour, this is a good romance with stron ...more

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Dec 03, 2020 Christine Galletly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pending-blog-reviews, review-books-read, review-to-be-completed

I thought that this was a good, fast paced story and very enjoyable!

The story was easy to read and it had a great flow to it.

The characters on the story were strong and well developed as were the feelings that they shared.

This was a lovely romance as I always expect from a Mills & Boon book!

It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!

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Jan 11, 2021 Sue Wallace rated it really liked it

Stolen to wear his crown by Marcella Bell.
Mina has finally achieved her dream of becoming chief scientific advisor of Cyrano when she’s stolen from the interview room! She’s taken directly to the palace chapel where the terms of a secret betrothal mean she must marry the King – immediately.
Very good read. Good story and characters. Read this in one sitting. 4*.

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Nov 28, 2020 Bridgette C. rated it really liked it

Could have easily given it a 5 except for the beginning. However this author clearly is an academic herself and I respect that plus the rest of the book redeemed itself. She clearly has a flawless talent with words. I am Eager to see what else she produces.

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Nov 17, 2020 Zeba rated it liked it

This story had a lot of potential but I wasn't hooked. I really enjoy reading a story about royalty and especially with the 'marriage of convenience' angle but this one didn't do the trick.
While there were some great parts which were really well written and I quite liked the different settings within the book, I didn't really fall in love with the characters. ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Rebecca Stump rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Love it

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Nov 15, 2020 Harlequin Books added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, december, harlequin_presents

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance Collections & Anthologies
Miniseries
The Queen's Guard (Book #1) ...more

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Dec 13, 2020 Julie Henke rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reading-challenge

Part of The Queen’s Guard Trilogy
Zayn and Mina
First time author for Harlequin Presents

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Nov 15, 2020 Harlequin Books added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, december, largeprint

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance Collections & Anthologies
Miniseries
The Queen's Guard (Book #1) ...more

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Dec 02, 2020 Becky Baldridge rated it liked it · review of another edition

The title pretty much says it all when it comes to the trope of this one, which can be a bit of a hit or miss for me. Stolen to Wear His Crown lands somewhere in the middle, which is probably more me than the story. While I certainly would've preferred a better way for Mina to be stolen (literally, she's snatched right up), it does work to get things moving and propel the story along. The romance is... well, it's romance, and the couple does have chemistry. But what I enjoyed more was the way th ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Page Passion rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, african-american, harlequin, marriage-of-convenience, romance

Meh

I was looking forward to this one but ultimately disappointed.

Now, I'm not usually a fan of HP royal stories. I find that they waste so much time on tedious royal things and I usually don't care. I wanted to give this book a chance and it became a chore to finish.

Besides the royal aspect boring me to death, there wasn't nearly as much conflict as I expected. The Black moment is kind of stranger to me. For people who never really wanted to marry each other, there's not nearly as much angst an ...more

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