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Castaldini Crown #1
The Once And Future Prince
At Her Royal Ex-Lover's Command
He would have been king of Castaldini...until scandal sent Prince Leandro D'Agostino into exile. Now Phoebe Alexander, his secret lover who'd refused to leave with him, had come to convince him to accept his rightful crown. But the pain of betrayal still coursed through Leandro's veins. He would rule only if Phoebe bowed to his wishes.
Scorched from the decisions of her past, Phoebe was willing to do Leandro's royal bidding. She knew she could never be his queen, but she would freely become the prince's lover. Then an unexpected pregnancy changed everything.
He would have been king of Castaldini...until scandal sent Prince Leandro D'Agostino into exile. Now Phoebe Alexander, his secret lover who'd refused to leave with him, had come to convince him to accept his rightful crown. But the pain of betrayal still coursed through Leandro's veins. He would rule only if Phoebe bowed to his wishes.
Scorched from the decisions of her past, Phoebe was willing to do Leandro's royal bidding. She knew she could never be his queen, but she would freely become the prince's lover. Then an unexpected pregnancy changed everything.
179 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Olivia Gates
508 books495 followersI am a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of 45 books in different genres including Contemporary Romance, Medical Romance, Medical Action Thrillers and Paranormal Romance. My upcoming works will also veer into fantasy.
But one thing is for sure…there will always be central romances in my books. The all-consuming kind that leaves readers breathless and begging for more.
I love to hear fron my readers, so come say hello, here on Goodreads and make sure to sign up to my VIP Mailing List on my website so I can keep you updated on all my news and special content and offerings!
My latest series is Dr. Angelica Mortmain novels, a heart-pounding medical action thriller with a white-hot central romance, and it starts with LETHAL TREATMENT, out NOW!
Happy reading everyone!
But one thing is for sure…there will always be central romances in my books. The all-consuming kind that leaves readers breathless and begging for more.
I love to hear fron my readers, so come say hello, here on Goodreads and make sure to sign up to my VIP Mailing List on my website so I can keep you updated on all my news and special content and offerings!
My latest series is Dr. Angelica Mortmain novels, a heart-pounding medical action thriller with a white-hot central romance, and it starts with LETHAL TREATMENT, out NOW!
Happy reading everyone!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 16, 2020
I thought I had reviewed this, but turns out I hadn’t even finished it. So 3 stars for not being as memorable as it could have been but still providing a wallop of angsty drama.
Your typical blood rushing stürm and drang from Olivia Gates, and mucho mejor than the second one, The Prodigal Prince's Seduction.
What stood out for me besides the hero’s incessant leaping to conclusions and, of course, being wrong every single time was the heroine morphing…
Raven-haired when she’d been caramel blond before, creamy pale when she’d been deeply tanned, curvaceous when she’d been willowy.
It must have been nice for the Prince to have a variety pack all in one fiery heroine.
FYI: An eight year L-O-N-G separation with celibacy all around.
Your typical blood rushing stürm and drang from Olivia Gates, and mucho mejor than the second one, The Prodigal Prince's Seduction.
What stood out for me besides the hero’s incessant leaping to conclusions and, of course, being wrong every single time was the heroine morphing…
Raven-haired when she’d been caramel blond before, creamy pale when she’d been deeply tanned, curvaceous when she’d been willowy.
It must have been nice for the Prince to have a variety pack all in one fiery heroine.
FYI: An eight year L-O-N-G separation with celibacy all around.
June 28, 2010
The Once and Future King by Olivia Gates
(Leandro D’Agostino & Phoebe Alexander)
This was the first book in the trilogy. Leandro & Phoebe are two people hurting from the anguish and deception of the past. Leandro comes across in the beginning of the book as an unforgiving man who doesn’t need anyone in his life. Phoebe is the one person that can help Leandro if he’ll let her. Phoebe is his past, a past that he wants to forget. The real star of this series will not be uncovered until you read the epilogue of The Illegitimate King.
Read this series in the correct order, each marvelous story will tear your heart. Each couple will make you cry and rejoice.
This book is a five star read. A MUST read.
(Leandro D’Agostino & Phoebe Alexander)
This was the first book in the trilogy. Leandro & Phoebe are two people hurting from the anguish and deception of the past. Leandro comes across in the beginning of the book as an unforgiving man who doesn’t need anyone in his life. Phoebe is the one person that can help Leandro if he’ll let her. Phoebe is his past, a past that he wants to forget. The real star of this series will not be uncovered until you read the epilogue of The Illegitimate King.
Read this series in the correct order, each marvelous story will tear your heart. Each couple will make you cry and rejoice.
This book is a five star read. A MUST read.
November 18, 2011
Read another book in this series first, then this one. Didn't really effect my enjoyment of the story though. A little far fetched, he breaks her heart twice, and she still takes him back, but I was still rooting for him in the end. The book makes me want to visit this make believe place, to see how beautiful it really is in person.
January 7, 2010
I just finished reading The Once and Future Prince. I only hope that this review expresses my appreciation and admiration for Olivia Gates' writing and story telling talent and how beautifully she uses words to paint pictures and to bring to the mind's eye so many wonderful metaphors that at times it seemed poetic. I found thee imagery that she's created, and has woven through the entire book, to be captivating and sensual. Let me elaborate.
We'll start with Leandro and Phoebe's relationship at the beginning of the story (a flashback, eight years prior). She created a young relationship that began with an all consuming desire. They were both so insecure: he for the crown, and she for her standing in his world, that they allowed those insecurities to tear them apart. Their growth could have ended there, and they could have remained static characters, but then this book wouldn't have been nearly as fantastic as it is.
I might seem sappy, but the part that made me cry the most was when they were flying over Castaldini after eight years of exile. It was so apparent that he loved his country, and coming back was emotional for him. Phoebe had the correct instinct to give him space, and to allow him to experience that while staying close enough if he wanted to borrow some of her strength. The depth of his pain was so subtly written that it took by by surprise and I wept while visualizing him looking out of the plane window. Brilliantly done, especially since I never expected that scene to touch me the most.
Ms. Gates' exercised patience and restraint in getting them back together in a fully physical way. This book is rare in the sense that she allowed us to live in their world while they nurtured and grew their relationship. So often in romance, the real relationship doesn't begin until the book is almost over. In this book, you allowed us to savor the build up of their love for a great portion. I love that!
Another thing I noticed and really enjoyed about this relationship was the laughter, and the light hearted banter that was present and incorporated into their dynamic. Often times, especially in 'Royal' literature, the interactions are so formal, almost stuffy. In this case the author has infused a breath of fresh air into their otherwise ancient world. This made it much easier to believe their love, and gave us a reprieve from the intensity of their passion.
When they finally did consummate their relationship, this is where my vocabulary eludes me and I sound like an embarrassed teenager. In a word, wow! That was hot! That was deep (uh, pun only partially intended) and that was naughty! Uh, I'm impressed! I had no idea Desire could get so hot! Leandro certainly is an alpha, in every sense of the word.
This was beautifully written. Once again, Olivia Gates has taken us into an imaginary world that takes our breath away. Read it!
We'll start with Leandro and Phoebe's relationship at the beginning of the story (a flashback, eight years prior). She created a young relationship that began with an all consuming desire. They were both so insecure: he for the crown, and she for her standing in his world, that they allowed those insecurities to tear them apart. Their growth could have ended there, and they could have remained static characters, but then this book wouldn't have been nearly as fantastic as it is.
I might seem sappy, but the part that made me cry the most was when they were flying over Castaldini after eight years of exile. It was so apparent that he loved his country, and coming back was emotional for him. Phoebe had the correct instinct to give him space, and to allow him to experience that while staying close enough if he wanted to borrow some of her strength. The depth of his pain was so subtly written that it took by by surprise and I wept while visualizing him looking out of the plane window. Brilliantly done, especially since I never expected that scene to touch me the most.
Ms. Gates' exercised patience and restraint in getting them back together in a fully physical way. This book is rare in the sense that she allowed us to live in their world while they nurtured and grew their relationship. So often in romance, the real relationship doesn't begin until the book is almost over. In this book, you allowed us to savor the build up of their love for a great portion. I love that!
Another thing I noticed and really enjoyed about this relationship was the laughter, and the light hearted banter that was present and incorporated into their dynamic. Often times, especially in 'Royal' literature, the interactions are so formal, almost stuffy. In this case the author has infused a breath of fresh air into their otherwise ancient world. This made it much easier to believe their love, and gave us a reprieve from the intensity of their passion.
When they finally did consummate their relationship, this is where my vocabulary eludes me and I sound like an embarrassed teenager. In a word, wow! That was hot! That was deep (uh, pun only partially intended) and that was naughty! Uh, I'm impressed! I had no idea Desire could get so hot! Leandro certainly is an alpha, in every sense of the word.
This was beautifully written. Once again, Olivia Gates has taken us into an imaginary world that takes our breath away. Read it!
December 15, 2021
"The Once And Future Prince" is the story of Phoebe and Leandro.
Frustrating!
Misunderstandings galore. Heroine and hero, both related to royalty are in a secret relationship. Hero leaves everything and asks heroine to go with him, she misconstrues his intentions and refuses. Eight years pass with them being hung up on each other. Now the crown needs the hero again, and the heroine is sent to retrieve him. He has moved on 0%, she has tried and failed. The chemistry is still there, which then explodes after an almost disaster. Instead of a confession, we have more misunderstanding, another separation and finally a HEA.
Honestly it was very well written. The hero was very smitten and honest about his love for the heroine, it almost seemed she hurt him more than he hurt her because of her assumptions. I however do not understand how he then decides to do what he did in the climax- which he does instantly regret kinda. This could have been so much better but was just frustrating. LIKE YOU LOVE EACH OTHER CAN YOU JUST TALK?!
Safe
3.5/5
Frustrating!
Misunderstandings galore. Heroine and hero, both related to royalty are in a secret relationship. Hero leaves everything and asks heroine to go with him, she misconstrues his intentions and refuses. Eight years pass with them being hung up on each other. Now the crown needs the hero again, and the heroine is sent to retrieve him. He has moved on 0%, she has tried and failed. The chemistry is still there, which then explodes after an almost disaster. Instead of a confession, we have more misunderstanding, another separation and finally a HEA.
Honestly it was very well written. The hero was very smitten and honest about his love for the heroine, it almost seemed she hurt him more than he hurt her because of her assumptions. I however do not understand how he then decides to do what he did in the climax- which he does instantly regret kinda. This could have been so much better but was just frustrating. LIKE YOU LOVE EACH OTHER CAN YOU JUST TALK?!
Safe
3.5/5
November 7, 2012
The Once & Future Prince is a story set in a fictional kingdom in the midst of upheaval. Castaldini needs a new king and Leandro is the best choice. That's the background.
The real story is about two people rebuilding a relationship that once fractured and tore both of them apart. Coming together again to save the kingdom, these two people Leandro and Phoebe, learn to trust both each other and themselves and learn how to live with openness and maturity.
The secondary characters in this story are great, especially Ernesto, the man who has looked after Leandro since he was orphaned.
An extremely intense and tender read as always with Olivia Gates.
The real story is about two people rebuilding a relationship that once fractured and tore both of them apart. Coming together again to save the kingdom, these two people Leandro and Phoebe, learn to trust both each other and themselves and learn how to live with openness and maturity.
The secondary characters in this story are great, especially Ernesto, the man who has looked after Leandro since he was orphaned.
An extremely intense and tender read as always with Olivia Gates.
April 16, 2012
I really love the emotional depths this author went in this book. It was great to read and feel everything the hero and heroine were. Also the fact that the hero owned up to his mistakes and actually begged, that was totally epic! The hero was a good quality hero all around once he shaped up and the heroine was a complete and utter goddess to put up with everything she went through, including the emotional tear down from the hero. Totally worth the read!
March 2, 2012
The CAstaldini Crown is very different from Throne of Judar, the first series I read for Olivia Gates, but it's just as fantastic. This first book in the series is so lush and heart-wrenching I adored it. I still prefer Throne of Judar but this is head and shoulders above most books I read anyway.
March 3, 2012
I want to go to Castaldini, even live there. Olivia Gates brings this fictional Mediterranean kingdom to such vivid life, I felt I was there, breathing its air and having its sun on my skin. Leandro and Phoebe have a tormented past together, and they'd both been exiled, one from his kingdom and everything he's loved, starting by her, while she was exiled from her very heart and any hope of happiness when she lost him. Finding their way back to each other was wonderful and when it all goes wrong again, terribly painful. A fantastic start to the Castaldini Crown series and worthy of many rereads!
February 11, 2012
I can't recommend "The Once And Future Prince" (Castaldini Crown #1) by Olivia Gates highly enough.
I mean the intense, passionate way Olivia Gates writes is just freakin' awesome!! I don't know of anyone else who writes like that! I know it sounds corny but her unique style of writing just touches your heart and soul.
Please treat yourself to a rare reading experience that you can relate to, whoever you are. Seriously, aren't we all just trying to find that special someone "who was born to love us"?
:)
I mean the intense, passionate way Olivia Gates writes is just freakin' awesome!! I don't know of anyone else who writes like that! I know it sounds corny but her unique style of writing just touches your heart and soul.
Please treat yourself to a rare reading experience that you can relate to, whoever you are. Seriously, aren't we all just trying to find that special someone "who was born to love us"?
:)
June 2, 2013
This is a must read book. This is the story of lust, betrayal, unrequited love, renewed love, and learning of trust. Leondro and Phoebe is a passionate couple because of a misunderstanding spent 8 years apart only to come back together and find out that the fire still burns between them but both are very cautious to let go again.
March 5, 2012
The Once and Future Prince was a wonderful start to the Castaldini Crown trilogy. Leandro and Phoebe burned the pages with their passion and broke my heart with their insecurities and heartaches. Loved it!!
April 19, 2012
Passionate, erotic, heart-wrenching and more. A wonderfully lush tale that engages all your senses and emotions from the first line to the last and a wonderful beginning to the Castaldini Crown trilogy!
February 22, 2013
Awesome!!! I'm never disappointed when I'm reading an Olivia Gates book...well done .. Thanks your gift is magnificent...
July 21, 2014
I've never read a book with so much passion... It really was an awesome couple of hours...really loved it
April 23, 2013
Review posted @ http://tsukibooks.blogspot.com
This was another book I got as part of a library bundle for my kindle. I started out reading the bundle just for the one Maya Banks book in the Anetakis series but I read a few of the other ones too. This was my favorite of the bundle and I've been playing with just buying the kindle edition so I can reread it at my leisure.
This one had all the elements I love in a Harlequin book.
1. Take an alpha male.
2. Take a female with backbone
3. Mix in some complicated royal family decree
4. Add some angst and self-doubt.
5. Bake in a desert nation and allow to rise.
**Allergy notice: Contains angst, misunderstandings, and personal servant who explains everything to the dumbass hero.
I love a good dumbass hero. Leandro is an idiot for most of the book. He thinks only of himself in the beginning and cannot seem to understand why Phoebe is not more accommodating. Once Phoebe and Leandro meet up again after nearly a decade, he begins to realize he never should have let her go.
The basic premise revolves around a small kingdom whose king is dying. He needs one of three men to take the throne but unfortunately all three were deemed unable to rule due to illegitimacy, liberal politics, etc. Leandro was deemed the least offensive and Phoebe, a negotiator, was dispatched to convince him to return. Of course both are still in love with the other and sparks fly immediately.
I loved the way Leandro and Phoebe danced around each other. The point-of-view switched constantly allowing me to enjoy the scene from Leandro's POV and then it switched to Phoebe's. What was fascinating was the differences between them. Leandro saw Phoebe as cool and detached while Phoebe thought she was being reckless, foolish, and was too affected.
Phoebe was willing to sell herself for the good of the country but she made it clear she was well aware it was to be a short-lived affair. Honestly she never had to give herself to Leandro. The kingdom had options and she knew it. It was more a matter of wanting to be with Leandro again.
The sex was explosive. I really want a copy of this for my kindle just so I can reread the sex scenes. The scenes in the harem were so spicy-hot I enjoyed them a few times before returning them. I love amazing sex scenes. Most romance readers say the epitome of the courtship is the sex. With the advent of erotic romance in the mainstream romances, I think the amazing sex scene or the flawless quality of one is really an amazing thing. So much is repetitive and boring but this one was spectacular.
I would highly, highly, highly recommend this book.
Published by Harlequin
192 Pages
May 12, 2009
Provided by--The Library May 2009 Silhouette Desire Bundle
This was another book I got as part of a library bundle for my kindle. I started out reading the bundle just for the one Maya Banks book in the Anetakis series but I read a few of the other ones too. This was my favorite of the bundle and I've been playing with just buying the kindle edition so I can reread it at my leisure.
This one had all the elements I love in a Harlequin book.
1. Take an alpha male.
2. Take a female with backbone
3. Mix in some complicated royal family decree
4. Add some angst and self-doubt.
5. Bake in a desert nation and allow to rise.
**Allergy notice: Contains angst, misunderstandings, and personal servant who explains everything to the dumbass hero.
I love a good dumbass hero. Leandro is an idiot for most of the book. He thinks only of himself in the beginning and cannot seem to understand why Phoebe is not more accommodating. Once Phoebe and Leandro meet up again after nearly a decade, he begins to realize he never should have let her go.
The basic premise revolves around a small kingdom whose king is dying. He needs one of three men to take the throne but unfortunately all three were deemed unable to rule due to illegitimacy, liberal politics, etc. Leandro was deemed the least offensive and Phoebe, a negotiator, was dispatched to convince him to return. Of course both are still in love with the other and sparks fly immediately.
I loved the way Leandro and Phoebe danced around each other. The point-of-view switched constantly allowing me to enjoy the scene from Leandro's POV and then it switched to Phoebe's. What was fascinating was the differences between them. Leandro saw Phoebe as cool and detached while Phoebe thought she was being reckless, foolish, and was too affected.
Phoebe was willing to sell herself for the good of the country but she made it clear she was well aware it was to be a short-lived affair. Honestly she never had to give herself to Leandro. The kingdom had options and she knew it. It was more a matter of wanting to be with Leandro again.
The sex was explosive. I really want a copy of this for my kindle just so I can reread the sex scenes. The scenes in the harem were so spicy-hot I enjoyed them a few times before returning them. I love amazing sex scenes. Most romance readers say the epitome of the courtship is the sex. With the advent of erotic romance in the mainstream romances, I think the amazing sex scene or the flawless quality of one is really an amazing thing. So much is repetitive and boring but this one was spectacular.
I would highly, highly, highly recommend this book.
Published by Harlequin
192 Pages
May 12, 2009
Provided by--The Library May 2009 Silhouette Desire Bundle
June 7, 2012
This is another winner from Ms Gates. There are very few of her books that I don't like and this certainly isn't one of them!
Full review to follow
Full review to follow
February 15, 2015
Loved!!!
November 15, 2023
I debated whether to give this 3*'s or 4. The beginning was good, but the middle part really sagged. The final part was really emotionally intense and
May 11, 2015
8 years later.
Exiled Prince Leandro D'Agostino.
...being unable to call himself of the royal house of D’Agostino, ceased to be a Castaldinian, hadn’t been the worst injury he’d sustained. That had been her betrayal. Her desertion.
And she was on her way here. To negotiate on his former King’s behalf. Or was it her own?
It could be the latter, disguised as the first.
As if he’d fall for her again.
Whatever she was coming for, he wasn’t letting her have it, or any influence on him again. Not in this life. Or the next.
Si, let her come. He was in the mood to be provoked. Her memory had been the source of heartache for far too long. Let her flesh-and-blood presence inflict something less pathetic. Something hot and harsh. Something he could sink his teeth into. And rip.
Olivia Gate’s gets you feeling for the hero, the hurt, the anger, the bitterness, the denial. Oh yeah. You do. And with talk like that how can you help but wonder the caliber of woman the author will pit against him to make him eat those words. Not a doormat that’s for sure. Although admittedly the younger Phoebe gave me some concerns but then she grew up. Halleluhah!
Gates knows how to deliver the perfect heroine: feisty, strong, sympathetic, vulnerable yet with an inner strength to walk away when it’s no longer tenable to stay.
Gates too, writes the perfect hero, alpha tortured yet with an inner core that is honorable even while the inner dialogue at least initially suggests the complete opposite.
Did I mention that Gates knows how to make her heroes grovel? I love me a good grovel although here it was more a case of Leandro expecting Phoebe to see into his head and ‘know’ his intentions and Pheobe for not asking outright.
I read romance looking for that all-encompassing enduring and passionate love that stays true emotionally and physically even when the mc’s are apart, for years as is the case here.
And the love. The sensuality. The heat. The passion. Oh my, oh my.
Enter the exceptionally beautiful kingdom of Castaldini. If such a place existed I’d want to go there.
Go on read it.
March 31, 2012
I vacillated between thinking these people were just slightly a little too overblow and melodramatic to being thoroughly entranced with the story, the back story, and the future of this kingdom. I will admit to just not getting it until Ernesto explained the reasons for their initial break-up. I kinda felt like Leandro (appropriate name, btw) after reading his version of the story. Duh!
What I really liked about this story...aside from the finger scorching pages long foreplay and ultimate, mind-blowing consummation of their beings...they both remained faithful to their love despite an eight year long separation and admitted to intense bouts of self-gratification. Ummm…wow! Not the interesting visual that most assuredly paints, but that they really, truly loved each other. Eight years seems a bit long to me, but one never knows do they?
What I really liked about this story...aside from the finger scorching pages long foreplay and ultimate, mind-blowing consummation of their beings...they both remained faithful to their love despite an eight year long separation and admitted to intense bouts of self-gratification. Ummm…wow! Not the interesting visual that most assuredly paints, but that they really, truly loved each other. Eight years seems a bit long to me, but one never knows do they?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It had enough going on to keep me interested and some parts were page-turning. There were some really steamy scenes, great characters, exciting conflicts, and a variety of emotions. The ending was great, couldn't put the book down at all at the end. Yay Ernesto, great job. I would read this again. Enjoy
November 27, 2020
I just couldn’t warm up to the h & almost half of what she says ends in “huh?”, which I was quite sick of.
This story was v similar to the previous one I read of OG, about a Castaldini prince who was an environmentalist n was separated from the h for 6 yrs-can’t even remember their names & I read it 2 days ago (it’s not my memory that is bad).
The MCs are not normal people who fall in love, they are the super intelligent, super sensitive, super good looking types who have all-consuming feelings for each other, who jump to conclusions & torture themselves and others and deal only in extremes, extreme love/hatred/heartbreak...
The grovel scene was ott drama! For a woman whose heart was ground to dust by the H, she jumped back into his arms in 5 mins flat.
I know you need to leave logic behind when you read such romances but this was one of those books with totally unbelievable characters & events. Like other OG books this was more of a soppy movie & makes me wish to take a break from reading romances for a while.
This story was v similar to the previous one I read of OG, about a Castaldini prince who was an environmentalist n was separated from the h for 6 yrs-can’t even remember their names & I read it 2 days ago (it’s not my memory that is bad).
The MCs are not normal people who fall in love, they are the super intelligent, super sensitive, super good looking types who have all-consuming feelings for each other, who jump to conclusions & torture themselves and others and deal only in extremes, extreme love/hatred/heartbreak...
The grovel scene was ott drama! For a woman whose heart was ground to dust by the H, she jumped back into his arms in 5 mins flat.
I know you need to leave logic behind when you read such romances but this was one of those books with totally unbelievable characters & events. Like other OG books this was more of a soppy movie & makes me wish to take a break from reading romances for a while.
August 6, 2020
I used to love Silhouette Desire books. They were full of sexual tension - and this one is no exception to that rule but there was also a pretty tight story line and that's where this book fell apart. This book assumed that you knew the story already and because Leandro and Phoebe had been secretly lovers eight years earlier. But when he was denied the crown, he left the country and Phoebe had elected to stay with her disabled sister since Leandro never said the words love and marriage. Neither had forgotten the other. When the Crown wanted Leandro back to hopefully accept what had once been denied him, Phoebe, a trained negotiator, was asked to handle the proceedings. It was more like handling a conflagration. Herein lies my problem. While I appreciated the emotional level of the story, I never saw the more serious political arena. It was a very one sided story and that made it dull. I liked the characters but I wanted a more rounded story where love was balanced with life.
July 3, 2021
This wasn't good. It was overly dramatic. He was arrogant and prone to temper tantrums when he didn't get his own way. He expected people to think and believe what he thought or believed, without conveying any of those thoughts out loud, and then he wonders why people leave him and walk away. He is insulting, and close to the end, (it's a romance, you know how it's going to end) he never says sorry, but she loves him anyway. :S
October 8, 2021
Didn't like it, I didn't like either hero or heroine all that much. I didn't really understand the draw of heroine and why hero was so obsessed with her. While it was good hero was celibate during the 8 year separation, there's so many other heroes in other books I would have rathered been celibate than this one. P.
August 9, 2018
The last chapters are too emotional written...
December 5, 2018
Never finished. It just could not keep my interested.
October 4, 2010
The King of Castaldini is very sick and has to select his successor soon. But there are strict rules of this small Island, the new king must be chosen freely, not just by bloodline. There are three men who could take over this position, but they all have made one major downfall in the past which makes them ineligible according to the law.
Leandro D’Agostino is the former prince and ambassador of Castaldini, and probably the best choice to be the next successor, but he was banished from his homeland. So the king asks Phoebe Alexander to visit Leandro and convince him to come back and try to convince the council to become the next king. Phoebe and Leandro have a history together and she isn’t that happy to take this job, but her beloved friend and king need her to succeed.
Leandro D’Agostino was forced to leave his Island many years ago, but it all turned out great for him because he became a very successful businessman. Leandro never could forget Phoebe, the woman he was having a secret affair with and the one he left behind. Phoebe broke off their relationship after declining Leandro’s offer and the never spoke to each other again, until the day she appear on his doorstep with a proposition he needs to listen to.
The once and future prince by Olivia Gates is the first book in the Castaldini Crown Trilogy and I have to say it was a nice entertaining book. I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance and the urban fantasy, but this Silhouette book was a pleasant change between those other books.
I really liked Phoebe Alexander. She fell in love with Leandro years ago and kept their relationship hidden because Leandro couldn’t afford a scandal and she always thought they would end up together in the future. But when Leandro was forced to leave the Island and made the offer to continue their relationship in secrecy, she declined his offer and left him. But when she meets him again after all these years, the huge attraction is still there.
Leandro is a gorgeous successful businessman, but I have to admit that sometimes I didn’t like him very much, especially when he blackmailed Phoebe. If she wanted him to return to the Island and maybe becoming the next king, she had to agree to his terms in their new relationship. For awhile all goes well between them, until he accuses her of something she didn’t do. I just wanted to smack him against the head and tell him to listen to her explanations. It was fun to see that Phoebe let him crawl thru dust at the end when he apologizes to her.
I’m definitely going to check out the other two books in this series and see if the other two candidates for the thrown and their heroines are as great as Phoebe and Leandro.
Leandro D’Agostino is the former prince and ambassador of Castaldini, and probably the best choice to be the next successor, but he was banished from his homeland. So the king asks Phoebe Alexander to visit Leandro and convince him to come back and try to convince the council to become the next king. Phoebe and Leandro have a history together and she isn’t that happy to take this job, but her beloved friend and king need her to succeed.
Leandro D’Agostino was forced to leave his Island many years ago, but it all turned out great for him because he became a very successful businessman. Leandro never could forget Phoebe, the woman he was having a secret affair with and the one he left behind. Phoebe broke off their relationship after declining Leandro’s offer and the never spoke to each other again, until the day she appear on his doorstep with a proposition he needs to listen to.
The once and future prince by Olivia Gates is the first book in the Castaldini Crown Trilogy and I have to say it was a nice entertaining book. I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance and the urban fantasy, but this Silhouette book was a pleasant change between those other books.
I really liked Phoebe Alexander. She fell in love with Leandro years ago and kept their relationship hidden because Leandro couldn’t afford a scandal and she always thought they would end up together in the future. But when Leandro was forced to leave the Island and made the offer to continue their relationship in secrecy, she declined his offer and left him. But when she meets him again after all these years, the huge attraction is still there.
Leandro is a gorgeous successful businessman, but I have to admit that sometimes I didn’t like him very much, especially when he blackmailed Phoebe. If she wanted him to return to the Island and maybe becoming the next king, she had to agree to his terms in their new relationship. For awhile all goes well between them, until he accuses her of something she didn’t do. I just wanted to smack him against the head and tell him to listen to her explanations. It was fun to see that Phoebe let him crawl thru dust at the end when he apologizes to her.
I’m definitely going to check out the other two books in this series and see if the other two candidates for the thrown and their heroines are as great as Phoebe and Leandro.
September 26, 2010
Almost all of the conflicts were in the minds of the characters and based on inaccurate assumptions, which I did not enjoy.
STORY BRIEF:
In the Mediterranean Moorish country of Castaldini the royal council selects the king from descendants of the royal family, based on merit. Leandro is one of the candidates and has spent his life planning and proving himself capable. He fell in love with an American, Phoebe, but kept their relationship a secret, because it might have hurt his chances for being selected as crown prince. Due to differing philosophies, King Benedetto declares Leandro unfit and has him exiled from the country. Leandro and Phoebe have a fight. Each one assumes incorrect things about the other, and they break up and stay apart for eight years. Eight years later, the King realized he made a mistake and wants Leandro to return home and become crown prince. Leandro refuses, so the King sends Phoebe to convince him. She had become a diplomatic negotiator for the government. She goes to Leandro, to try to convince him to return home.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Almost all of the conflicts in the story were in the minds of the characters. Phoebe is assuming and strategizing and thinking all the wrong things and then acting accordingly which causes Leandro to believe the wrong things. Leandro does the same thing back. Too much of the book is pondering in the mind, poor communication and inaccurate assumptions. When they start realizing they love each other, they still deny the attraction. For example Phoebe “feared that if she changed their status quo, all would be consumed in the conflagration. She couldn’t go back, couldn’t risk it.” In other words this was “don’t follow your heart because you might get hurt.” I do not enjoy this type of storyline. I need plot and conflict that I can believe, not this imaginary stuff. I was frustrated.
DATA:
Story length: 173 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 9. Setting: current day Castaldini and New York City. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary royalty romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other book by Olivia Gates. My 2 star review of “The Desert Lord’s Baby” Copyright 2008 was posted 6/20/09.
STORY BRIEF:
In the Mediterranean Moorish country of Castaldini the royal council selects the king from descendants of the royal family, based on merit. Leandro is one of the candidates and has spent his life planning and proving himself capable. He fell in love with an American, Phoebe, but kept their relationship a secret, because it might have hurt his chances for being selected as crown prince. Due to differing philosophies, King Benedetto declares Leandro unfit and has him exiled from the country. Leandro and Phoebe have a fight. Each one assumes incorrect things about the other, and they break up and stay apart for eight years. Eight years later, the King realized he made a mistake and wants Leandro to return home and become crown prince. Leandro refuses, so the King sends Phoebe to convince him. She had become a diplomatic negotiator for the government. She goes to Leandro, to try to convince him to return home.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Almost all of the conflicts in the story were in the minds of the characters. Phoebe is assuming and strategizing and thinking all the wrong things and then acting accordingly which causes Leandro to believe the wrong things. Leandro does the same thing back. Too much of the book is pondering in the mind, poor communication and inaccurate assumptions. When they start realizing they love each other, they still deny the attraction. For example Phoebe “feared that if she changed their status quo, all would be consumed in the conflagration. She couldn’t go back, couldn’t risk it.” In other words this was “don’t follow your heart because you might get hurt.” I do not enjoy this type of storyline. I need plot and conflict that I can believe, not this imaginary stuff. I was frustrated.
DATA:
Story length: 173 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 9. Setting: current day Castaldini and New York City. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary royalty romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other book by Olivia Gates. My 2 star review of “The Desert Lord’s Baby” Copyright 2008 was posted 6/20/09.
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