This was a sweet love story which takes place on the fictional island of Marazur. Crown Prince Raoul is heartbroken from the tragic death of his wife, and fears to ever fall in love again. At the wedding of his younger brother, whom we met in book one of this series, Raoul lets his heart take over, or maybe it was too much alcohol, when he steals a kiss from his assistant Stephani. To complicate matters, Stephani is the cousin of Raoul’s deceased wife. Both are very taken by each other, but don’t know how to handle this situation. Can Raoul ever open his heart to another love? Can Stephani be patient to wait until he finally figures out his feelings? What about his children from his first marriage? Will they accept another woman as their mother? Donna Alward handles these complications with a lovely outcome which made me shed a tear or two. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review. I’m looking forward to more from this author.

Cute story. Worth a read. Not my favorite but thats a personal preference more than anything the author did wrong. I did love the story.

The Crown Prince's Bride (Royal Duology #2)
by Donna Alward
Definitely a buy book to me! I must say this was a quick read that I ended up absolutely adoring. From a down to earth royal to a heroine that made sense. All through the book this author gives romance, sweetness, reality, love and loyalty on each page. I was totally captivated by her way of writing. I have now reread the book again to make sure before reviewing that it was indeed so nice. It is not my normal like type of book but in this case, I made an exception! So if you want a light read that is engrossing and well written by a talented author buy this book. It makes me want to go and find all of her work and read them. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

I received an ARC from Netgalley. This was a nice, light and easy romantic read. I enjoyed the story between Raoul and Stephani. Love after loss is hard and this book represents all the thoughts, struggles and feelings of finding true love again.

The Crown Prince's Bride by Donna Alward is a fascinating tale. Spun with romance, action, and humor, this was a great plot. I was addicted. My favorite character was the assistant to the crown prince mentioned in this book. Stephani is a strong, smart, and beautiful woman. She has always loved the prince. Only he never really noticed her until she dressed up for a special event that he invited her to...from there things get complicated, messy, and fun.

Donna Alward's books are stunning. Her writing lures me deeply into her worlds. In this one, I get the Cinderella story. A regular woman working for a prince, finds her happily ever after. Just like Cinderella, the obstacles are there creating a game of tug and pull. Hotter, sweeter, and better than any fairy tale I've read. The characters, like Stephani, create a heartfelt connection that happens instantly. Overall, I recommend this contemporary romance to all.

Raoul is grieving his wife’s death and closed his heart off to love and thrown himself into his duties and raising his children.
Stephani is Raoul’s assistant and been in love with him since forever, not that she’s ever let her feelings known to anyone.
But after a drunken kiss shared, Raoul starts seeing Stephani with new eyes. But will this cautious Prince be able to open his heart to love once again ?
The Crown Princes bride is a beautiful read that is heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking . Stephani’s patience was commendable and Raoul’s pain and fears felt real. I enjoyed reading the Crown Princes bride and look forward to reading more from the author.

This book was pretty sweet and easy to read. A good book to read on a dreary weather weekend.

Another lovely story by Donna Alward, with a very human and down to earth Crown prince, who makes a wonderful hero, both strong and vulnerable. Alward manages to transform what could be just one more worn out story about a prince and an assistant falling in love into a beautiful tale about two friends developing romantic feelings for each other.
Raoul’s craving for intimacy and love crashes with his fears and caution and, sometimes, some selfishness; and there’s also the fact that he’s not a regular man, he is the future king.
A very entertaining read with characters with depth and substance.

Stephani has been in love with Raoul Navarro, Crown Prince of Marazur a long time, but as he was a royal and the husband of her much loved and deceased cousin Ceci, it was an impossible love. So she lived day-to-day working hard for the royal family as his executive assistant.
Raoul still loves Ceci, but Steph is a very important part of his life..and after one kiss, he becomes very conflicted.
The pair decide to see if a private relationship can work out, but after a short intimate vacation, he pulls back leaving her pregnant and dismayed.....so she decides to make a new life elsewhere.
Straight talk from his newly married brother, Diego makes him realize what he's avoiding....he needs and loves Steph.
Sweet royals romance.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC.

The Crown Prince's Bride is another entertaining read by Donna Alward. Ms. Alward has delivered a well-written book. The characters are outstanding and my favorite part of the book. Raoul lost his wife in an accident. Stephani was his wife's cousin and is his personal assistant. She's also been in love with Raoul for years. Their story is loaded with enough drama, humor and spice to keep readers glued to this book. I enjoyed reading The Crown Prince's Bride and look forward to reading more from Donna Alward in the future. The Crown Prince's Bride is book 2 of the Royal Duology Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from NetGalley.

The Crown Prince’s Bride is the perfect ending of this series. Part of it occurs concurrently with The Playboy Prince and the Nanny, first in the series, The Prince Duology. Although it can be read as a stand alone, I enjoyed reading them in order. The Crown Prince Raoul’s wife and their children’s nanny died due to a car accident. Their two children and the chauffeur lived but were in the car. The Princess’s cousin, Stefani, is Raoul’s secretary/assistant and has been in love with him for years, but due to his marriage to her cousin, never acted on it, during or after her cousin’s death.

At Raoul’s birthday celebration, about a year after the accident, Raoul has a bit too much to drink and ends up kissing Stephani. She is definitely an active participant. Months pass without them really discussing the kiss. Raoul is afraid to love again. He lost his mother while young, his children have lost their mother while young, he is determined not to open his heart again. Yet, eventually Raoul and Stephani decide to see where their feelings for each other lead. With them being together daily, things get a little complicated. Thus, a business/relaxation trip following the wedding of his brother and the nanny, of previously mentioned book. More complications to follow.

Let me just say this is a fairy tale come true. Yes, there is a lot of anguish, a lot of soul searching and a lot of love. Both Stephani and Raoul have to search their hearts and feelings of loss for his wife and her cousin. As time passes, things become even more complicated with his father’s heart condition and Stephani’s issue. But, is it a great romance to a sweet HEA. Quick read you will enjoy! (What is the deal with Rose’s sister?)

With Raoul it's the thought that counts, "he stepped inside and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I was going to bring you flowers, but I didn’t want anyone to ask any questions.” Raoul knows when he's been a tad bit too slow, "he shook his head, his dark eyes glittering. “I think I’ve wasted enough time being a fool, don’t you?” I liked this book, I just loved this story.

Another sweet love story from Donna Alward that I gobbled up in one sitting.

Stephani is the personal assistant to the Crown Prince of Marazur. Her cousin was married to him until she was killed in a car wreck. Stephani has been with Raoul for years and has been in love with him for just as long. She never showed her feelings while her cousin was alive because she loved her so much.
Raoul loved his wife dearly and doesn’t want to fall in love again. For fear of losing someone again. He sees Stephani as more than just his assistant but doesn’t want it to become more but can’t help wanting her.
Stephani wants her happily ever after even if she has to leave the man she loves. Can Raoul come to his senses or will he lose her forever?
Great love story between a Prince and his assistant. I really enjoyed it,

The Crown Prince's Bride by Donna Alward .. This book follows THE PLAYBOY PRICE AND THE NANNY...but it can be read as a standalone .... this is Raoul and Stephani's story. His wife has died and he doesn't want to risk his heart again...Stephani is his assistant and his dead wife's cousin...Will he ever see her as more than a friend and assistant...Okay...they get to their HEA but they must go through a lot of feels to get there. I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review .. I enjoyed this book...

3.5 stars
Cute novella about a prince who finds love a second time. This time it's his assistant, who also happens to be his deceased wife's cousin. Cute without the ick factor of dating another family member. They both fought the attraction, building the suspense. I always enjoy a Donna Alward novel. This one definitely sparked interest in the other books in the series.

**I received a copy of The Crown Prince's Bride from St. Martin's Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

The Crown Prince's Bride is the second book of Donna Alward's Prince of Marazur series. I read this as a stand alone and was able to do so without any issues. My only wish was for a bit more heat and to not skip the romantic scenes however this was a solid 4 stars book.

Crown Prince Raoul is still grieving for his late wife and is concentrating on raising his two children. With his brother's wedding soon approaching he relies on his secretary Stephani to plan everything. Little does he know that she has been in love with him since her cousin Cece (his late wife) fell in love with him. At his birthday party a kiss with Prince Raoul and Stephani will make them both realize that they could have more than a working relationship together.

Stephani Savalas loves her job as the executive assistant to the Crown Prince of Marazur but after seven years perhaps it's time to move on. What she really wants is for Prince Raoul to notice her a woman because she's been in love with him for a long time. Since the death of his wife, Cecilia, and the upcoming wedding of Diego and Rose her life is very hectic now. When Raoul asks her to visit the Rivera so that he can meet possible investors for his resort will he finally see Stephani as more than an employee? When Stephani has to sub as the maid of honor and when she finds out there could be a surprise in the future it will finally open Raoul's eyes and be really to love again.

The Crown Prince's Bride is the second sweet romance in this series written by author Donna Alward. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy.

3.5 Stars!

This was a quick and sweet read. I enjoyed the strength of Stephani as a hard worker with a long crush on her boss the prince. His Highness has had an emotional upheaval after the tragic loss of his wife and is practically giong through the emotions of his life. When he and Stephani have an encounter and realize the feelings hidden between them he is too caught up in his loss to devote the attention to Stephani. Raoul and Stephani had chemistry and were sweet together but I found their relationship lacking for my taste in romance books.

I think what I would have preferred was more angst between the two, especially towards the resolution. As oddly as it sounds for a romance reader, I have never really cared for the fairy tale romance, "Disney" vibe, in stories and this hit to close to that genre for me.