What do you think?
Rate this book
The Christmas Princess Swap #2
The Queen's Impossible Boss
Instant passion makes spending Christmas with the boss all the more tempting…in this forbidden royal romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson.
She was bound by duty. But oh so tempted by desire…
Switching places with her twin was supposed to give Queen Jade a couple of weeks’ escape from duty in New York. Now she has to handle a professional scandal and her sister’s impossible billionaire boss!
Alvaro Byrne knows something about his employee is different—especially the instant heat between them! Discovering her true identity only increases temptation…because as Jade’s bound to her throne, Alvaro’s committed to his business empire. Perhaps, just for Christmas, they can explore their unrivaled connection with no paparazzi, no royal protocols—and no promises…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Read both books in The Christmas Princess Swap
Book 1: The Royal Pregnancy Test by Heidi Rice
Book 2: The Queen’s Impossible Boss by Natalie Anderson
She was bound by duty. But oh so tempted by desire…
Switching places with her twin was supposed to give Queen Jade a couple of weeks’ escape from duty in New York. Now she has to handle a professional scandal and her sister’s impossible billionaire boss!
Alvaro Byrne knows something about his employee is different—especially the instant heat between them! Discovering her true identity only increases temptation…because as Jade’s bound to her throne, Alvaro’s committed to his business empire. Perhaps, just for Christmas, they can explore their unrivaled connection with no paparazzi, no royal protocols—and no promises…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Read both books in The Christmas Princess Swap
Book 1: The Royal Pregnancy Test by Heidi Rice
Book 2: The Queen’s Impossible Boss by Natalie Anderson
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published December 1, 2020
68 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Anderson
615 books545 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 2, 2020
3.5 stars.
‘Do you know what you are?’ Her whisper was so faint he had to concentrate hard to hear her. ‘All my birthdays and Christmases, rolled into one perfect present.’
A beautiful, sheltered, dutiful young queen finds love unexpectedly , when she swaps places for a fortnight, with her identical twin sister, Juno. This novel is the second in the duology that started with The Royal Pregnancy Test.
This novel reminded me, in some ways, of that sweet Disney cartoon classic, Lady & the Tramp.
Maybe it's because I always have dogs on my brain 😅...
But the similarity occurred to me because the heroine is refined and pedigreed ( like Lady ) while the H is an orphan ( like Tramp ) who endured horrendous hardship and was literally close to living on the streets as a child, until a kind lady took him under her wing.
Jade, the queen of Monrovia is at the crossroads of her life. She's being pressured, by her courtiers and advisors, to accept a neighbouring king's marriage proposal when all she wants is some freedom to live a little before buckling to duty. King Leo is handsome and sexy, but Jade feels nothing for him. They've never even kissed. In fact, she's never been kissed.
But soon, her destiny manifests itself, in New York, in the form of our hunkarrific H, Alvaro.
This is the H, Alvaro:
Alvaro Byrne.
Tall, dark and wild.
He's her sister's new boss and their first meeting is a disaster, because he fires *her* when she arrives at the office. Her sister had inadvertently ruined a marketing campaign for one of his social media apps. Jade offered to try and fix it, but the H has zero time for an airhead rebel princess' excuses:
‘I’m going to shower and dress,’ he interrupted, apparently bored already. ‘You’ll be gone when I return.’
The normally serene and composed heroine refuses to accept defeat, battles with the H and decides to salvage her twin's job, by smoothing out all the problems with every disgruntled client.
Meanwhile the H, who's never mixed business with pleasure, and never been attracted to her sister, starts lusting after the heroine while he's getting dressed...
Jade saves her sister's job, after she fixes the problem and promises to be nothing but efficient, from this point onwards.
There's quite a bit of interior monologuing, that gets tedious at times, especially in this early part where most of the focus is on work. But the pace picks up a lot after she reveals her true identity to him, because this is when the romance starts. Before this revelation ( @ around the 25% marker ), the MC's mutual sexual chemistry had just simmered beneath the surface, unexplored because:
🍒 She couldn't compromise her sister's employment status and reputation.
🍒 He refused to sleep with an employee.
But they're literally all over each other, after she blurts out that she's Jade and eventually agree to have a no strings attached one night stand.
‘If you’re not Juno,’ he said harshly, ‘then I’m not your boss.’
He suddenly stepped forward and that desolation was swept away by a tsunami of something so much hotter. So much more that she couldn’t think to answer.
‘I’m not your boss,’ he repeated angrily, almost to himself.
And she realised that he’d just let something within himself go.
His hand hit her waist in a firm, heavy hold that made her heart thud. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his—couldn’t move, or speak.
This is the heroine, Jade:
The only thing going round in his head was Jade.
Jade the tempting. Jade the innocent. Jade the literal freaking queen.
The romance itself is sweet and tender. He woos her like a true gentleman and makes her first time special, especially after he learns that she's never even been on a date before. He even cooks for her and confides in her, revealing all the details of his tormented childhood and teenaged years. One of the most poignant revelations is the fact that he never wastes food, because he can't forget the many times he'd gone without, as a child.
It was just supposed to be a one night stand, but he's unable to stop thinking about her...
But no matter how many hours he spent with her in his arms it deepened still. Even when, beyond exhaustion, he still wanted her close.
They end up having the most special Christmas that they'd ever had.
He even introduces her to his foster mom, Ellen - something he's never done with another woman before. It's so obvious that they're both in love at this point, but she's the only one willing to acknowledge it, to herself:
The problem—and it was her problem—was that she’d fallen in love with him. Deeply, completely in love with him.
He, who's been rejected in the most cruel way, by his unmarried teen mother, his rich grandparents and his drug addicted first foster parents, is filled with inner turmoil because he wants her desperately but is scared of rejection:
He should end it now. But he couldn’t. He shouldn’t have let any of this happen and yet he still couldn’t resist, still couldn’t refuse himself these moments.
And, just like in Lady and the Tramp, they separate temporarily because the heroine ( like Lady ) has her duty to fulfil and can't play games with a guy who's not 💯 ready for total commitment. Alvaro, just like the doggo Tramp, has to become the archetypal romantic H and prove his chivalry and love, in order to get back his sweetheart:
I’m sorry I let you go. I’m sorry I let you down. I’m sorry you ran so quickly before I could think. But I’ve done nothing except think since.
He knows she's got her duty, as Queen of Monrovia and makes important compromises in order to be with her. The epilogue is set just a year into the future and that's when he finally proposes to her. They'd spent the whole year sorting out royal protocol issues and ways of merging his life and business with hers.
I guess it's a realistic sort of epilogue, in their circumstances but it would've been more romantic if the author had written a second epilogue set further in the future, where they're shown with their children. I hate to keep repeating it, but Natalie Anderson's epilogues need to be improved. They're either too brief and/or don't give enough of a long term look into the MC's future.
The storytelling gets a bit long-winded at times, especially with the dratted internal monologuing but I enjoyed it - even though the H seemed like a a sensitive Beta at times. He was kinda complicated, in this regard, because he seemed like an alpha in his interactions with everyone else and especially with regard to his work. It's only with the heroine that I detected his softer, Beta side.
Safety: No OW, no OM, no cheating and both MC's are celibate during their very short separation. Technically, one might be able to say that there's an OM. He'll be the guy who was supposed to propose to the heroine. But he doesn't count as such, since he's her twin sister's love interest. Plus the heroine had never dated or kissed him.
‘Do you know what you are?’ Her whisper was so faint he had to concentrate hard to hear her. ‘All my birthdays and Christmases, rolled into one perfect present.’
A beautiful, sheltered, dutiful young queen finds love unexpectedly , when she swaps places for a fortnight, with her identical twin sister, Juno. This novel is the second in the duology that started with The Royal Pregnancy Test.
This novel reminded me, in some ways, of that sweet Disney cartoon classic, Lady & the Tramp.
Maybe it's because I always have dogs on my brain 😅...
But the similarity occurred to me because the heroine is refined and pedigreed ( like Lady ) while the H is an orphan ( like Tramp ) who endured horrendous hardship and was literally close to living on the streets as a child, until a kind lady took him under her wing.
Jade, the queen of Monrovia is at the crossroads of her life. She's being pressured, by her courtiers and advisors, to accept a neighbouring king's marriage proposal when all she wants is some freedom to live a little before buckling to duty. King Leo is handsome and sexy, but Jade feels nothing for him. They've never even kissed. In fact, she's never been kissed.
But soon, her destiny manifests itself, in New York, in the form of our hunkarrific H, Alvaro.
This is the H, Alvaro:
Alvaro Byrne.
Tall, dark and wild.
He's her sister's new boss and their first meeting is a disaster, because he fires *her* when she arrives at the office. Her sister had inadvertently ruined a marketing campaign for one of his social media apps. Jade offered to try and fix it, but the H has zero time for an airhead rebel princess' excuses:
‘I’m going to shower and dress,’ he interrupted, apparently bored already. ‘You’ll be gone when I return.’
The normally serene and composed heroine refuses to accept defeat, battles with the H and decides to salvage her twin's job, by smoothing out all the problems with every disgruntled client.
Meanwhile the H, who's never mixed business with pleasure, and never been attracted to her sister, starts lusting after the heroine while he's getting dressed...
Jade saves her sister's job, after she fixes the problem and promises to be nothing but efficient, from this point onwards.
There's quite a bit of interior monologuing, that gets tedious at times, especially in this early part where most of the focus is on work. But the pace picks up a lot after she reveals her true identity to him, because this is when the romance starts. Before this revelation ( @ around the 25% marker ), the MC's mutual sexual chemistry had just simmered beneath the surface, unexplored because:
🍒 She couldn't compromise her sister's employment status and reputation.
🍒 He refused to sleep with an employee.
But they're literally all over each other, after she blurts out that she's Jade and eventually agree to have a no strings attached one night stand.
‘If you’re not Juno,’ he said harshly, ‘then I’m not your boss.’
He suddenly stepped forward and that desolation was swept away by a tsunami of something so much hotter. So much more that she couldn’t think to answer.
‘I’m not your boss,’ he repeated angrily, almost to himself.
And she realised that he’d just let something within himself go.
His hand hit her waist in a firm, heavy hold that made her heart thud. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his—couldn’t move, or speak.
This is the heroine, Jade:
The only thing going round in his head was Jade.
Jade the tempting. Jade the innocent. Jade the literal freaking queen.
The romance itself is sweet and tender. He woos her like a true gentleman and makes her first time special, especially after he learns that she's never even been on a date before. He even cooks for her and confides in her, revealing all the details of his tormented childhood and teenaged years. One of the most poignant revelations is the fact that he never wastes food, because he can't forget the many times he'd gone without, as a child.
It was just supposed to be a one night stand, but he's unable to stop thinking about her...
But no matter how many hours he spent with her in his arms it deepened still. Even when, beyond exhaustion, he still wanted her close.
They end up having the most special Christmas that they'd ever had.
He even introduces her to his foster mom, Ellen - something he's never done with another woman before. It's so obvious that they're both in love at this point, but she's the only one willing to acknowledge it, to herself:
The problem—and it was her problem—was that she’d fallen in love with him. Deeply, completely in love with him.
He, who's been rejected in the most cruel way, by his unmarried teen mother, his rich grandparents and his drug addicted first foster parents, is filled with inner turmoil because he wants her desperately but is scared of rejection:
He should end it now. But he couldn’t. He shouldn’t have let any of this happen and yet he still couldn’t resist, still couldn’t refuse himself these moments.
And, just like in Lady and the Tramp, they separate temporarily because the heroine ( like Lady ) has her duty to fulfil and can't play games with a guy who's not 💯 ready for total commitment. Alvaro, just like the doggo Tramp, has to become the archetypal romantic H and prove his chivalry and love, in order to get back his sweetheart:
I’m sorry I let you go. I’m sorry I let you down. I’m sorry you ran so quickly before I could think. But I’ve done nothing except think since.
He knows she's got her duty, as Queen of Monrovia and makes important compromises in order to be with her. The epilogue is set just a year into the future and that's when he finally proposes to her. They'd spent the whole year sorting out royal protocol issues and ways of merging his life and business with hers.
I guess it's a realistic sort of epilogue, in their circumstances but it would've been more romantic if the author had written a second epilogue set further in the future, where they're shown with their children. I hate to keep repeating it, but Natalie Anderson's epilogues need to be improved. They're either too brief and/or don't give enough of a long term look into the MC's future.
The storytelling gets a bit long-winded at times, especially with the dratted internal monologuing but I enjoyed it - even though the H seemed like a a sensitive Beta at times. He was kinda complicated, in this regard, because he seemed like an alpha in his interactions with everyone else and especially with regard to his work. It's only with the heroine that I detected his softer, Beta side.
Safety: No OW, no OM, no cheating and both MC's are celibate during their very short separation. Technically, one might be able to say that there's an OM. He'll be the guy who was supposed to propose to the heroine. But he doesn't count as such, since he's her twin sister's love interest. Plus the heroine had never dated or kissed him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2023
Reread 2023
Down graded from 5 star to 4.
Rating 4.25
What an adorable couple. I really liked these two characters and their development.
Alvaro, a billionaire hero with a sad childhood that endured hardship and made something of himself.
Jade, a heroine that is dignified, dedicated and a sweet queen who just wanted a couple weeks of "fun".
Trading places with her twin she takes on her role for two weeks. But immediately arriving in New York she has to clean up a mess at work and runs into her sisters boss, Alvaro.
Alvaro and Jade have instant chemistry and sparks fly. There relationship was so well written and so enjoyable to read.
I'm going to give a shoutout to my friend Carmen's review. It's detailed and spot on.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Down graded from 5 star to 4.
Rating 4.25
What an adorable couple. I really liked these two characters and their development.
Alvaro, a billionaire hero with a sad childhood that endured hardship and made something of himself.
Jade, a heroine that is dignified, dedicated and a sweet queen who just wanted a couple weeks of "fun".
Trading places with her twin she takes on her role for two weeks. But immediately arriving in New York she has to clean up a mess at work and runs into her sisters boss, Alvaro.
Alvaro and Jade have instant chemistry and sparks fly. There relationship was so well written and so enjoyable to read.
I'm going to give a shoutout to my friend Carmen's review. It's detailed and spot on.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 11, 2020
Sweet H!
March 30, 2021
This is book two in the 'The Christmas Princess Swap' duology. It's best to read them in order.
I have to comment on the Single Queen who is the heroine of this story. She was weak...so frustratingly weak that it was hard to believe she was a ruler of her country. But she didn't actually rule, per se. She just did what her awful daddy had brainwashed her to do since her birth until he died...and none to soon!! I was disappointed greatly in her, but yet, I liked her to some degree as a person. It was her incredible weakness and inability to think for herself or make choices for her country that was a HUGE turn-off.
I have read a dozen books this past week and they all had the cookie cutter Harlequin male. A man who would not/could not allow himself to love...anyone...but especially a woman because of his past, because his parents weren't capable of love...yada! yada! yada!. Years ago this was not always the case in every single book I read but now it seems all the rage. I know going into each book that the hero won't love the heroine and won't want a family or children because of his parents. It will take until the final chapter or epilogue for him to figure it out while the heroine suffers greatly because she loves him so much while he makes her feel like a useless, unwanted, unattractive woman. He is responsible for untold heartache and a major drop in self-esteem in his bride until she feels horrible about herself.
I did really like this couple but became frustrated with both of them because they couldn't figure out how to be together because of her queenship as they continued to deny their love.
I liked it enough to recommend it and will read it again.
I have to comment on the Single Queen who is the heroine of this story. She was weak...so frustratingly weak that it was hard to believe she was a ruler of her country. But she didn't actually rule, per se. She just did what her awful daddy had brainwashed her to do since her birth until he died...and none to soon!! I was disappointed greatly in her, but yet, I liked her to some degree as a person. It was her incredible weakness and inability to think for herself or make choices for her country that was a HUGE turn-off.
I have read a dozen books this past week and they all had the cookie cutter Harlequin male. A man who would not/could not allow himself to love...anyone...but especially a woman because of his past, because his parents weren't capable of love...yada! yada! yada!. Years ago this was not always the case in every single book I read but now it seems all the rage. I know going into each book that the hero won't love the heroine and won't want a family or children because of his parents. It will take until the final chapter or epilogue for him to figure it out while the heroine suffers greatly because she loves him so much while he makes her feel like a useless, unwanted, unattractive woman. He is responsible for untold heartache and a major drop in self-esteem in his bride until she feels horrible about herself.
I did really like this couple but became frustrated with both of them because they couldn't figure out how to be together because of her queenship as they continued to deny their love.
I liked it enough to recommend it and will read it again.
November 18, 2020
Both Mc's were nice , a nice story .
February 12, 2021
3.5 stars
One of the few HP With H/h that although being as usual “rich, famous and successful” are most of all (almost) real persons, with scars, emotions and conflicting feelings.
She is a pampered but not spoilt princess: shy, inexperienced but with a fiery temper..... involved in a case of twins swap.
He’s her twin’s boss: billionaire, career driven but not a caricature.
They bump into each other while she’s in disguise and attraction happens, then a fling, then passion, then separation and in the end a “believable” HEA.
The story is really sweet, sometimes too much, but refreshing.... a good couple of hours of dreaming.
One of the few HP With H/h that although being as usual “rich, famous and successful” are most of all (almost) real persons, with scars, emotions and conflicting feelings.
She is a pampered but not spoilt princess: shy, inexperienced but with a fiery temper..... involved in a case of twins swap.
He’s her twin’s boss: billionaire, career driven but not a caricature.
They bump into each other while she’s in disguise and attraction happens, then a fling, then passion, then separation and in the end a “believable” HEA.
The story is really sweet, sometimes too much, but refreshing.... a good couple of hours of dreaming.
December 3, 2020
Major plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
Not gonna lie it took me quite a bit of time before I got into this story featuring Jade and Alvaro, which featured part two in the twin royal swap story. A big problem for me was that I was comparing this story and part one’s story that featured Leo and Juno. I got into Leo and Juno’s story a lot more quickly. I felt the chemistry sparking right away. The banter between Leo and Juno was so entertaining and fun that just immersed me right away. Plus Leo and Juno had a history so that just added another layer to the story that I really enjoyed. While with this one, I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Jade and Alvaro. I wasn’t feeling the sparks. I wasn’t feeling the electricity like I did with Leo and Juno. There were moments that Jade and Alvaro had head butting moments, but it wasn’t quite enough for me. In fact it kind felt boring to me as they were navigating around each other while battling the so called attraction between them. It wasn’t interesting to me. It just lacked something. I had to really push through with this one and had to really stick with it.
But I’m so glad that I did stick to it because once I got through the initial third of it, the story got so much better. I think the turning point was when Jade revealed to Alvaro who she really was, and how she switched places with her sister. That made Alvaro realize that he was dealing with a queen not just a “normal” person. That changed the whole direction of the story in a totally good way because then there became more understanding between them as well as intimacy building that I really enjoyed seeing developed and grow over the course of the story. It just became more honest between them after that as well while embracing the growing attraction between them.
However once they agreed to explore their attraction together, it wasn’t like they hopped right into bed with each other. No they had a moment together where they connected on an emotional level while coming to understand more about each other and their situations in life. Alvaro realized that this was going to be her first time, and he couldn’t just jump into that. He had to take his time and that meant treating like a person not an object and not even a queen. He really wanted that connection before progressing forward in their relationship.
Their love scene was really good. It was filled with tenderness, caring, and respect that was really lovely to see. There was also plenty of passion, need, and want between them. It was a nice balance between the physical and the emotional. It was really sweet seeing them come together and embrace one another as they became intimate. The beautiful thing was that even when it was over they still wanted that closeness and intimacy between them. They really didn’t want to let go, and they embraced that for the entire evening together. It was a sweet and beautiful moment.
Even though they only agreed to one night to avoid complications, they couldn’t stay away from one another. They needed to have that closeness between them. But what was more beautiful was the lengths that Alvaro was willing to go for her in order for her to enjoy her first Christmas of freedom away from royal duties. He understand that she needed, wanted, and craved that. That even though she was royalty she was very much in prison because she was so rigid in what she could and couldn’t do as a queen, which was very stifling for her and the reason she decided to go through this swap with her sister. It was so beautiful and so romantic as they strolled along together in for the Christmas festival with all the holiday trappings. It was very much a date, even if they didn’t a acknowledge that it was. I was ready for either one of them to grab each other’s hand as they walked along. It was so sweet and lovely. The descriptions of that market made me feel like I was right there with them. This had the quintessential vibes of a holiday romance. I adored that so much.
There were a lot romantic elements that I really enjoyed as well that really brought them closer together. The amount of emotional intimacy built between them was incredible. They had some great sharing moments. They great vulnerable moments. They had moments where they were there for each other as they explained painful moments to one another. I loved when they held each other during those times. There were moments that they really pushed each other emotionally that got them to the places that they needed to be and be the best they could be. They made each other stronger. I could tell that with the more that learned about each other the more they were falling love with each other and wanted to be with each other. I thought that was done really well. It made me really invested in their love story by having those types of moments between them. Plus I appreciated the balance between the emotional and physical side of their love story.
I loved them spending Christmas at the lighthouse. It was such a poignant and pivotal moment in their relationship. It was interesting to see Jade point out that the lighthouse was really a representation of Alvaro and how he loved to take care of those he cared about while keeping a distance from everyone. But lighthouse also represented their own little getaway where they could be just be man and woman with nothing else getting in their way. They embraced that. They soaked up the romance between them with more intimacy of both the physical and emotional variety. It was very sweet and tender yet really raw and emotional as well as they exposed more and more to each other. It was just beautiful. It was very easy to see the love that they had for each other. It was amazing. I loved those moments.
I loved the ending so much when the big declaration scene came. It felt like something out of modern fairytale. It was such monumental moment that such a really big impact on me. It just felt like everything was coming together for them, full circle. I loved that. It was so good because it was just the right amount of a grand gesture that was needed to get that happily ever after. I loved and adored that so much. It was a great ending.
After that beginning portion of the book, I really came to adore it. I loved the intimacy that was built between Jade and Alvaro throughout the story. It wasn’t just the physical intimacy either, but it was the emotional intimacy too, which was the best part. I loved seeing them grow closer and closer as the story progressed. They had some really sweet and lovely moments between them throughout the entire story. The romance between them was just spot on. I loved all the Christmassy vibes that went on that really brought out and enhanced the romance that was building between them. It just added such warm and fuzzy feels as they celebrated together when in reality neither of them really celebrated Christmas before so this was not only their first Christmas but their first Christmas together. That made the story even more romantic I think. It was really to see how they were falling in love with each other. It was fast, but I still felt it as they got closer and closer to one another. They needed other because they brought out the best of each other. They really had a great sensual and loving connection. It was beautiful. I was so glad that I stuck it out because it was so satisfying in the end. I was so a fan of Alvaro and Jade by book’s end. This was a great holiday romance that I really came to adore.
Not gonna lie it took me quite a bit of time before I got into this story featuring Jade and Alvaro, which featured part two in the twin royal swap story. A big problem for me was that I was comparing this story and part one’s story that featured Leo and Juno. I got into Leo and Juno’s story a lot more quickly. I felt the chemistry sparking right away. The banter between Leo and Juno was so entertaining and fun that just immersed me right away. Plus Leo and Juno had a history so that just added another layer to the story that I really enjoyed. While with this one, I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Jade and Alvaro. I wasn’t feeling the sparks. I wasn’t feeling the electricity like I did with Leo and Juno. There were moments that Jade and Alvaro had head butting moments, but it wasn’t quite enough for me. In fact it kind felt boring to me as they were navigating around each other while battling the so called attraction between them. It wasn’t interesting to me. It just lacked something. I had to really push through with this one and had to really stick with it.
But I’m so glad that I did stick to it because once I got through the initial third of it, the story got so much better. I think the turning point was when Jade revealed to Alvaro who she really was, and how she switched places with her sister. That made Alvaro realize that he was dealing with a queen not just a “normal” person. That changed the whole direction of the story in a totally good way because then there became more understanding between them as well as intimacy building that I really enjoyed seeing developed and grow over the course of the story. It just became more honest between them after that as well while embracing the growing attraction between them.
However once they agreed to explore their attraction together, it wasn’t like they hopped right into bed with each other. No they had a moment together where they connected on an emotional level while coming to understand more about each other and their situations in life. Alvaro realized that this was going to be her first time, and he couldn’t just jump into that. He had to take his time and that meant treating like a person not an object and not even a queen. He really wanted that connection before progressing forward in their relationship.
Their love scene was really good. It was filled with tenderness, caring, and respect that was really lovely to see. There was also plenty of passion, need, and want between them. It was a nice balance between the physical and the emotional. It was really sweet seeing them come together and embrace one another as they became intimate. The beautiful thing was that even when it was over they still wanted that closeness and intimacy between them. They really didn’t want to let go, and they embraced that for the entire evening together. It was a sweet and beautiful moment.
Even though they only agreed to one night to avoid complications, they couldn’t stay away from one another. They needed to have that closeness between them. But what was more beautiful was the lengths that Alvaro was willing to go for her in order for her to enjoy her first Christmas of freedom away from royal duties. He understand that she needed, wanted, and craved that. That even though she was royalty she was very much in prison because she was so rigid in what she could and couldn’t do as a queen, which was very stifling for her and the reason she decided to go through this swap with her sister. It was so beautiful and so romantic as they strolled along together in for the Christmas festival with all the holiday trappings. It was very much a date, even if they didn’t a acknowledge that it was. I was ready for either one of them to grab each other’s hand as they walked along. It was so sweet and lovely. The descriptions of that market made me feel like I was right there with them. This had the quintessential vibes of a holiday romance. I adored that so much.
There were a lot romantic elements that I really enjoyed as well that really brought them closer together. The amount of emotional intimacy built between them was incredible. They had some great sharing moments. They great vulnerable moments. They had moments where they were there for each other as they explained painful moments to one another. I loved when they held each other during those times. There were moments that they really pushed each other emotionally that got them to the places that they needed to be and be the best they could be. They made each other stronger. I could tell that with the more that learned about each other the more they were falling love with each other and wanted to be with each other. I thought that was done really well. It made me really invested in their love story by having those types of moments between them. Plus I appreciated the balance between the emotional and physical side of their love story.
I loved them spending Christmas at the lighthouse. It was such a poignant and pivotal moment in their relationship. It was interesting to see Jade point out that the lighthouse was really a representation of Alvaro and how he loved to take care of those he cared about while keeping a distance from everyone. But lighthouse also represented their own little getaway where they could be just be man and woman with nothing else getting in their way. They embraced that. They soaked up the romance between them with more intimacy of both the physical and emotional variety. It was very sweet and tender yet really raw and emotional as well as they exposed more and more to each other. It was just beautiful. It was very easy to see the love that they had for each other. It was amazing. I loved those moments.
I loved the ending so much when the big declaration scene came. It felt like something out of modern fairytale. It was such monumental moment that such a really big impact on me. It just felt like everything was coming together for them, full circle. I loved that. It was so good because it was just the right amount of a grand gesture that was needed to get that happily ever after. I loved and adored that so much. It was a great ending.
After that beginning portion of the book, I really came to adore it. I loved the intimacy that was built between Jade and Alvaro throughout the story. It wasn’t just the physical intimacy either, but it was the emotional intimacy too, which was the best part. I loved seeing them grow closer and closer as the story progressed. They had some really sweet and lovely moments between them throughout the entire story. The romance between them was just spot on. I loved all the Christmassy vibes that went on that really brought out and enhanced the romance that was building between them. It just added such warm and fuzzy feels as they celebrated together when in reality neither of them really celebrated Christmas before so this was not only their first Christmas but their first Christmas together. That made the story even more romantic I think. It was really to see how they were falling in love with each other. It was fast, but I still felt it as they got closer and closer to one another. They needed other because they brought out the best of each other. They really had a great sensual and loving connection. It was beautiful. I was so glad that I stuck it out because it was so satisfying in the end. I was so a fan of Alvaro and Jade by book’s end. This was a great holiday romance that I really came to adore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2020
Temptation at it's best! With the conclusion of The Christmas Princess Swap duet, Natalie Anderson delights her reader with Queen Jade's side of the twin switch. The storyline is fresh and satisfying.
Jade catches the reader's heart quickly because she's a stressed Queen who wants nothing more than to please her country and fulfill her duty, but life is hard when you're being pulled in different directions and forsaking yourself with no one by your side so a secret getaway sounds ideal.
Alvaro is easy to like. He starts out being a stuffy boss who's putting his foot down over a mistake that Juno made, but it doesn't take him long in Jade's presence to know that something is different in the way she makes him feel.
I recommend this book and the duet as a whole to anyone who enjoys a royal romance with a twist. Lots of heart in the back story of these princesses!
Jade catches the reader's heart quickly because she's a stressed Queen who wants nothing more than to please her country and fulfill her duty, but life is hard when you're being pulled in different directions and forsaking yourself with no one by your side so a secret getaway sounds ideal.
Alvaro is easy to like. He starts out being a stuffy boss who's putting his foot down over a mistake that Juno made, but it doesn't take him long in Jade's presence to know that something is different in the way she makes him feel.
I recommend this book and the duet as a whole to anyone who enjoys a royal romance with a twist. Lots of heart in the back story of these princesses!
December 31, 2020
The Queen’s Impossible Boss by Natalie Anderson is an exciting adventure for Queen Jade. After swapping places with her sister (refer to Book 1 by Heidi Rice) she escapes to New York, looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful places New York has to offer, eat at amazing eateries and just be a normal person for two weeks.
A magical night with her sister’s boss, Alvaro, wasn’t in the plan but throwing caution to the wind Jade experiences a night like no other. Complications and difficult pasts help shape a wonderful conclusion to The Princess Swap.
Queen Jade is a beautiful person, inside and out and her humour shows in her dialogues with Alvaro. I loved the little things like how she had no money and couldn’t get her sister’s money card to work. I loved how she was brave and totally threw caution to wind, after all she was never going to experience New York again as an unknown with no royal duty holding her back. I loved how she was herself and mostly wore her heart on her sleeve.
Alvaro was very likeable match and it was easy to see his point of view and what drove him. He struggled with his internal promise of only one night and it was enjoyable reading how that was resolved. Commitment-phobe Alvaro is really being tested and Queen Jade was the wake up he needed.
I loved the Christmas angle in this book, I almost felt like I was in New York at Christmas. I liked the fast pace and I really enjoyed the dialogue between the two characters. Read in one setting I really enjoyed The Queen’s Impossible Boss and I think it was a perfect complement to book 1 and a lovely way to wrap up the duet.
A magical night with her sister’s boss, Alvaro, wasn’t in the plan but throwing caution to the wind Jade experiences a night like no other. Complications and difficult pasts help shape a wonderful conclusion to The Princess Swap.
Queen Jade is a beautiful person, inside and out and her humour shows in her dialogues with Alvaro. I loved the little things like how she had no money and couldn’t get her sister’s money card to work. I loved how she was brave and totally threw caution to wind, after all she was never going to experience New York again as an unknown with no royal duty holding her back. I loved how she was herself and mostly wore her heart on her sleeve.
Alvaro was very likeable match and it was easy to see his point of view and what drove him. He struggled with his internal promise of only one night and it was enjoyable reading how that was resolved. Commitment-phobe Alvaro is really being tested and Queen Jade was the wake up he needed.
I loved the Christmas angle in this book, I almost felt like I was in New York at Christmas. I liked the fast pace and I really enjoyed the dialogue between the two characters. Read in one setting I really enjoyed The Queen’s Impossible Boss and I think it was a perfect complement to book 1 and a lovely way to wrap up the duet.
hq-to-read
November 4, 2020Switching places with her twin was supposed to give Queen Jade a couple of weeks’ escape from duty in New York. Now she has to handle a professional scandal and her sister’s impossible billionaire boss!
Alvaro Byrne knows something about his employee is different—especially the instant heat between them! Discovering her true identity only increases temptation…because as Jade’s bound to her throne, Alvaro’s committed to his business empire. Perhaps, just for Christmas, they can explore their unrivaled connection with no paparazzi, no royal protocols—and no promises…
Alvaro Byrne knows something about his employee is different—especially the instant heat between them! Discovering her true identity only increases temptation…because as Jade’s bound to her throne, Alvaro’s committed to his business empire. Perhaps, just for Christmas, they can explore their unrivaled connection with no paparazzi, no royal protocols—and no promises…
November 29, 2020
This is the story of Jade, queen of a fictional European country, and Alvaro, successful businessman. Both are damaged by events in their youth. The action takes place mainly in New York city and upstate and, to a much lesser extent, in the fictional European country.
The book is part of a duo but can be read easily as a standalone.
There’s a LOT going on in this book. The luxury and the glamour are there; there are complicated family backgrounds for each character to come to terms with; an implausible twin swap plot to narrate through and clunky obstacles to a HEA which somehow just get resolved. I love this author, but I am not fond of books built around glamour and wild plots and in the end the latter factor over-rid the former for me. There was too much going on to leave room for me to engage with the characters or see the authenticity of their romantic journey.
I was unmoved by the central characters and uninvested in their journey. Just not my thing.
If you like plot-heavy glamorous tales and are looking for one of these set at Christmas and roaming across international borders, this may well be the ride you are looking for.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest review.
The book is part of a duo but can be read easily as a standalone.
There’s a LOT going on in this book. The luxury and the glamour are there; there are complicated family backgrounds for each character to come to terms with; an implausible twin swap plot to narrate through and clunky obstacles to a HEA which somehow just get resolved. I love this author, but I am not fond of books built around glamour and wild plots and in the end the latter factor over-rid the former for me. There was too much going on to leave room for me to engage with the characters or see the authenticity of their romantic journey.
I was unmoved by the central characters and uninvested in their journey. Just not my thing.
If you like plot-heavy glamorous tales and are looking for one of these set at Christmas and roaming across international borders, this may well be the ride you are looking for.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest review.
December 3, 2020
Twins separated at birth by their parents, a King, and a movie star, each taking one daughter. Years later Queen Jade is switching lives with her twin sister Juno and gets involved in her sister's day to day life. What she wasn't anticipating was having feelings for her sister's boss, Alvaro Byrne.
There are two books in this series "The Christmas Princess Swap." Book 1 is Juno's story "The Royal Pregnancy Test," and Book 2 is Jade's story "The Queen's Impossible Boss." I highly recommend the series. Each book takes place at the same time where we read about what is happening with each sister.
There are two books in this series "The Christmas Princess Swap." Book 1 is Juno's story "The Royal Pregnancy Test," and Book 2 is Jade's story "The Queen's Impossible Boss." I highly recommend the series. Each book takes place at the same time where we read about what is happening with each sister.
June 30, 2022
"The Queen's Impossible Boss" is the story of Jade and Alvaro.
A princess swap tale, where while exchanging places with her twin sister, our queen ends up working for a company. She is at loggerheads with her sexy boss, and there is sexual attraction. However, instead of taking the typical "heroine hides her identity until the hero discovers and throws a hissy fit", this book has a refreshing change.
Sweet romance between honest characters. Also good setup for the sister's book.
Safe
3/5
A princess swap tale, where while exchanging places with her twin sister, our queen ends up working for a company. She is at loggerheads with her sexy boss, and there is sexual attraction. However, instead of taking the typical "heroine hides her identity until the hero discovers and throws a hissy fit", this book has a refreshing change.
Sweet romance between honest characters. Also good setup for the sister's book.
Safe
3/5
January 24, 2021
This book is so good, the chemistry between them is so explosive, the hero is one of the nicest hero i read in a book, but i did think that that the way she told the hero her real identity kind of disappointing
November 9, 2020
the story is fine but it's boring. i don't find this fascinating in any way.
Read
November 15, 2020Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
The Christmas Princess Swap (Book #2)
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
The Christmas Princess Swap (Book #2)
Read
November 15, 2020Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
The Christmas Princess Swap (Book #2)
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
The Christmas Princess Swap (Book #2)
November 19, 2020
Love it
November 30, 2020
Enjoyable quick read. Kinda interested in the first one now.
July 7, 2021
2.5 stars
The first half was good but the second half was bad. Dragged a loootttt to the point where I skimmed. Unsatisfying ending too
The first half was good but the second half was bad. Dragged a loootttt to the point where I skimmed. Unsatisfying ending too
February 28, 2023
I didn't like it. Both hero and heroine were extremely boring people as well as their conversations. I did not care at all if they ended up together or not. Np.
Read
March 23, 2023Good book now I have to check out the sisters book.
January 3, 2025
Oh, I totally loved this one. Often in a duo, one book is stronger than the other, but I'm pleased to report that this is every bit as emotionally satisfying as the first one. No surprise since two of my favourite authors, Natalie Anderson and Heidi Rice, wrote them.
I thought the hero in this was really wonderful and the heroine's inexperience of 'real life' was handled so well that I sympathised totally with Juno rather than finding her laughable. Alvaro treats Juno so sensitively and their relationship is delightful. Alvaro's back story made it totally understandable why he found it difficult to commit.
One of those stories that you're sorry to finish because it has been so fabulous to be subsumed in it.
Only complaint is that I wanted an epilogue set further in the future! This was a little unsatisfactory.
I thought the hero in this was really wonderful and the heroine's inexperience of 'real life' was handled so well that I sympathised totally with Juno rather than finding her laughable. Alvaro treats Juno so sensitively and their relationship is delightful. Alvaro's back story made it totally understandable why he found it difficult to commit.
One of those stories that you're sorry to finish because it has been so fabulous to be subsumed in it.
Only complaint is that I wanted an epilogue set further in the future! This was a little unsatisfactory.
November 7, 2020
**Actually 3.5=3.75-rating**
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews