This is the story of the Prince, Luca Prince, and the Pauper, Ella Kendall. Luca and Ella went to high school together and Ella developed a huge crush on Luca after he spontaneously kissed her at a dance. Thereafter he was known as Prince Luca to Ella and her friends, Stacy and Mariah. Luca Prince is the youngest son of one of the oldest and richest families in Texas. He grew up in the lap of luxury, wanting for nothing and charming his way through life while harboring a secret about himself that has prevented him from having a lasting relationship with a woman. He's a smart guy who's skating through life with no real purpose. He hopes to be able to fund an environmental conservation program with the help of his best friend, Brandon Hurst. Brandon and Luca are trying to set up a foundation to fund their conservation efforts and decide to host a huge fundraiser at Three Rivers Ranch.

Ella grew up in foster homes after her mother was sent to prison. She never knew her father and lived briefly with her grandmother as a young child. At the age of six she was put into the foster care system and didn't escape until she turned 18 and was basically thrown out on her own. It was either sink or swim and Ella chose to swim. She worked two jobs to put herself through college and she's hoping to set up her own accounting/bookkeeping business. Ella moved back to Three Rivers Texas, which coincidentally was named after the Prince family ranch, after she inherited a ramshackle, run down house from her grandmother. She also inherited three wild horses, a pig, a dog and a pregnant cat that shows up and takes residence under her front porch. Ella struggles to get by and the fact that her house and car are slowly draining her meager savings account along with the feed for the animals she now feels responsible for, she's barely getting by.

Luca and Ella have a chance encounter when Ella's car breaks down on the way to town and Luca comes riding across a field on horseback and offers her his assistance. Ella immediately recognizes her Prince charming and is totally embarrassed that she's dressed like a bag lady. Luca on the other had does not recognize Ella which has her seething. Ella tries to appear indifferent to Luca and puts on a calm, cool, collected front while she's boiling inside. She can't wait to get away from Prince Luca. Unfortunately, Ella and Luca continue to run into each other in Three Rivers, after all it's not the biggest of towns. Eventually they become friends and Luca shares his secret with Ella who in turn explains to him her reluctance to have a relationship with anyone because of her fear of being left. They become closer and Luca realizes that he wants a more permanent relationship with Ella but can he convince her that he's not going to leave? Can they overcome the perceived obstacles in their way and have a happily ever after or are they destined to part?

Super fun read!! I was so excited to see Julia London with a new contemporary series. She creates such likeable characters (and some very NOT likeable at all!) and in this book, I’m so in love with all of the adorable critters! I am excited for this series to continue. There are so many people that I’m excited to see where their stories go.

The first book in The Princes of Texas series is a winner. Luca Prince is the youngest son of the famed Prince family who seemingly has it all, charm, good looks and money. Ella Kendall is a foster home kid who has nothing except an old, rundown house to her name. They could not be more opposite. She had a massive crush on him all through high school and he doesn't even remember her. Sparks fly and Luca wants to prove to Ella that she can trust him with her heart.

Oh boy! Julia London has surprised and delighted me with her latest story, The Charmer in Chaps, a contemporary small town romance and the first in a new series.
This book is set in Three Rivers, Texas and stars Ella Kendall, a survivor of the foster care system, and the stunningly handsome and utterly charming Luka Prince. With her mother in prison and having endured some unspeakably awful foster situations, Ella has always tried to do the right thing, including studying finance and accounting at college. Having inherited her grandmother’s run-down farmhouse, Ella is forever struggling to repair one thing or another, or to feed the various itinerant animals that seem to live there. She has also been in love with Luka Prince since she first met him in high school.
Luka has led an outwardly charmed life as son of the ostentatiously wealthy Charlie Prince. The family ranch is a sprawling and opulent affair, and he has his own loft in San Antonio as well as his stunning good looks and money to burn. He’s renowned for changing his women as often as he changes his socks, but he’s hiding an embarrassing secret. At the age of 30, he still can’t read.
This story grew on me very early on. Packed with Julia London’s trademark wit, it is utterly entertaining. There is so much going on, both on the surface where we are able to witness and enjoy two people falling in love in spite of their social differences and at a deeper level, where so much more is taking place.
The Charmer In Chaps highlights social issues that many of us either ignore or of which we are unaware. What is it like being the child of a prisoner? How does that affect the way you behave? How does it feel to bounce from one foster home to another and perhaps to either witness or suffer things no child should be exposed to? And what about being born dyslexic? How does that affect you? And how does society treat you? All of those questions ran through my head as I absorbed this story, making it a more thought provoking read and delivering a greater level of satisfaction when I reached the end.
As I mentioned, this is the first in a new series and I was lucky to find the first chapter of the next story tacked on at the end. That one too looks like an utterly entertaining read. From what I’ve seen so far I can’t recommend this series highly enough.

Julia London has done it again! She keeps your interest in this story - The Charmers in Chaps.
The story took place in Texas, where the characters (Luca Prince and Ella Kendall ) have insecurities in their lives they have to overcome. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait read the others in this series.

A beautiful story about overcoming your challenges and seeing others through theirs. We all struggle. I enjoyed this very much and recommend it to anyone who likes a well told tale.

I wanted to love this one but I didn’t. The heroine kind of ruined it for me mainly because I didn’t like the fact that she held Luca on such a pedestal. Even all these years later and she still thinks of him as God. Then in the beginning with all their encounters, she somehow expects him to recognize her. And he doesn’t. Once the initial awkwardness ends, the book was okay. I never felt the connection between the two even though I tried.

3.5 stars, but really just for Luca. I just couldn't get into Ella, I understand growing up they way she did she'd have issues but she was just didn't seem the type that would allow herself a HEA, especially without some sort of therapy or talking to someone. It seems hard to believe that they would actually make it.

I really enjoyed reading this book - the pacing was good and the story was fresh. I particularly enjoyed the timeline in the book: unlike other romance novels, Ella and Luca don't fall in love in a day and get married instantly. Luca and Ella spend time together and apart working on their issues before finally getting their happy ending; the reader is along for the ride and gets an interesting look at how foster care and dyslexia can impact every aspect of life an individual's life while they're growing up and as an adult. I'm excited to find out more in future books.

I’m a public librarian always looking for new authors. I have patrons who enjoy Diana Palmer and Linda Lael Miller and this novel definitely had aspects which would appeal to those readers. This is the first piece by Julia London I’ve tried but I will definitely go looking for more titles.

Oh my goodness, I have a soft spot for Luca Prince a mile wide. Just when you think you know who somebody is, they prove that you cannot judge a book by its cover. He was the epitome of a rich, carefree playboy without a care in the world. Little did anyone know the depth of his passion for his cause, the yearning he had for a soulmate, and the struggles he faced all his life with his disability.
I had a little bit of trouble falling in love with Ella. She was fun and funky and I love that she just wanted to make a home in her dilapidated farmhouse with her menagerie of animals. Her hot and cold routine with Luca got a little old though. I understand because of her growing up she had a rough time trusting, but Luca did all he could to prove he was worthy of her lowering her walls. As a whole I adored them and I adored this book.

Wickedly smart, fast paced dialog...entertaining, witty, oftentimes wry banter, and colorful characters. There is a unique perspective that flows throughout the story...a heartfelt and prevalent message of adult literacy, as well as the need for better stewardship of land use and conservation. These messages are done in such a manner that they are meaningful and impactful, as well as eye openers.

The author has introduced a wonderfully dysfunctional family, who are sure to steal your heart. As both Luca and Ella learned to overcome their insecurities, I found that an emotional attachment had been formed to where I couldn’t put the book down as the couple fought to overcome the barriers blocking the self imposed paths to their HEA. I am looking forward to reading more stories about the Princes of Texas.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This is a fun romance and is first in a new series. It is a cinderella story if the prince was a cowboy.

Ella is our Cinderella. She is a sweetheart and an accountant in her home town. She had a really hard life growing up in foster care and her grandmother left her a rundown house she lives in. Luca Prince has had everything handed to him, except he has a very painful and shameful secret.

He sees Ella as they are neighbors and he pretty much chases her. She thinks thatno way is she good enough for the prince, but he tries to convince her that she is perfect for him. This was a fun, well written and enjoyable story and I loved the Cinderella story.

Luca can always count on his sister to keep him grounded, “I mean, she doesn’t like me,” he said, and gestured to himself. Hallie laughed. Actually, she howled. “Okay, it’s not that funny,” Luca said, and when Hallie didn’t stop laughing, he demanded, “What is the matter with you?” Luca sometimes has to clarify himself, “Ella, it’s nine thirty. I meant are you up, am I bothering you,” he said, and took her hand in his. “And as much as I would love it, I didn’t come here to get you into bed.” I liked this book, I fell in love witb Luca.