This is book 1 of a new series, Crown by Christmas from Harlequin. Prince Luca is in Canada searching for his sister, the rightful heir to the throne. He becomes snowbound with the manager of a small ski resort, Imogene. This is a typical Harlequin love story and it's predictable that there is a happy ending. Cara Coulter has numerous romances and has likable characters in fun settings. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a sweet and clean modern fairytale where the prince meets a “normal” girl under extraordinary circumstances and they fall in love. I know it’s a plot that has been used many times before, but it totally works in this book. I enjoyed reading this story. I thought Imogene and Luca made a great couple. The settings were beautiful and it was fun watching them find their happily-ever-after. I will be looking for the other books in this series to find out the rest of the story of some of the other characters in this book. This is just the book for when you want something lighter to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Crown Prince Luca is looking for a long-lost sister while also having a bit of an escape for himself knowing things are about to go down once new of his cancelled wedding comes out. He never expected to be snow bound at the place Imogen is housekeeper at. Until hes able to get out from the situation he's in he gets to enjoy the quiet time he has with Imogen as a normal person.

This was a short and sweet book. It was interesting seeing what Lucas was going though, there was so much going on in his life that he just needed the break from it all. I loved how this book also remained a clean little romance, there was a clear attraction between the two and it was sweet seeing them spend time together doing normal things that he couldn't get to do while at the palace where things where grand and done by someone else. Overall this was a cute romance and easy to fall into I recommend you lovely readers who are look for a cute and clean little holiday romance to check this book out.

Imogen runs a lodge in Canada. She receives word that royalty is coming to the lodge. But, it's not who she expects. It is the future king of Casavalle, Luca. Imogen and Luca meet under some crazy circumstances but their hearts knew from the beginning. Most of the story occur over 2 days. Now, I believe in love at first sight, but 2 days... if it were an intense two days, I would have understood. But it was sweet. I love lonely hearts stories.
Thank you, Netgalley.

Imogen has lived in her small Canadian town all her life, most of it at the Crystal Lake Lodge. First, her parents managed it; now, that job belongs to her. Though accustomed to dealing with famous people, she's a bit nervous about the upcoming visit of royalty. Those nerves jump to double-time as Prince Luca arrives a day ahead of schedule, and just as a winter storm also arrives. Through unexpected circumstances, Imogen and Luca end up snowed in alone together at the Lodge.

Luca's life is being turned upside down. His fiancée broke off their engagement the day before their wedding, in love with another man and pregnant with his child. To add insult to injury, it turns out his father's first wife had a child no one knew about, making him no longer the heir to the throne. He came to the small Canadian town to find his long-lost sister before the news gets out and causes a scandal.

Though Luca starts out all stiff and proper, it's quickly evident that there is a heart under that stiff exterior. I liked how he stepped in to make sure Rachel got to the hospital, even though it left him stranded alone with Imogen. There was a connection between Luca and Imogen from the moment they met. Both of them saw past the surface of the other and sensed the pain that each dealt with. I enjoyed seeing Luca put his royalness aside and allow his softer side to show. He won my heart with his understanding of Imogen's pain and his heartfelt view of her future. At the same time, Imogen saw the loneliness that was so much a part of Luca's life that he barely saw it himself. Her determination to show him what a "normal" Christmas is like was sweet. As Luca experienced everything from building snowmen to roasting hotdogs over the fire, the sparks between him and Imogen grew stronger. Imogen knew she was falling for Luca and that there was no future in it, but she resolved to embrace the time they had together.

Their brief idyll came to an end when the roads opened and Luca could proceed on his mission. Sparks of another kind flew when Imogen found out his reason for being there. I loved seeing her stand up to Luca and his pronouncements, especially since he's not used to people telling him no. It was interesting to see how his outlook on some things changed after a few days with Imogen, and the effect it had on his subsequent actions. I liked the scenes with his family and his ex's family after his return home. I enjoyed the way that he convinced Imogen to visit his home, even though it also involved a bit of deception. The scenes at the castle were great, and I particularly enjoyed Luca's statement to the press. I ached a little for both he and Imogen. Her love for him was undeniable but caught in the belief that there was nothing possible for them. Luca wanted her in his life but was afraid that she wouldn't want to be part of his. I loved the ending and the scene in his garden.

This is the first of the trilogy and I am looking forward to the other books.

Heat Factor: They kiss a little bit
Character Chemistry: When there are only two characters for most of the book, it’s hard to have bad chemistry
Plot: Christmas special
Overall: Yeah, this was pretty fun

Ah, Christmas romance. The literary equivalent of a holiday Hallmark special. The film equivalent of comfort food. This book fits the bill.

Imogen Albright is managing a lodge in the Canadian Rockies. She grew up there, skiing, cooking hot dogs (there’s a lot about hot dogs). Her heart was broken when her engagement ended and she’s living in her small town doing her small town thing, chasing bears out of kitchens and whatnot. Oh, and this lodge is not just any lodge. It’s where rich and famous people have their winter and summer retreats, so Imogen has been hobnobbing her whole life, too.

That’s why she’s very busy one afternoon prepping for the arrival of a prince! He swooped in and booked the entire lodge for a week. He’s bringing his own chef, so she’s got a bunch of food tucked away. The maid is cleaning up rooms. Everything’s going great. They’ll be ready for the prince’s arrival tomorrow, no problem. That’s why it’s pretty shocking when the prince shows up a day early...in a helicopter...on the front lawn. And it’s the wrong prince.

Crown Prince Luca Valenti of the Island Kingdom of Casavalle, which as far as I could figure is European (although I was leaning South American until a reference to the Adriatic stone used to build the palace). He’s itching for a fight because he just found out that he might not actually be heir to the throne. His mother received a letter from one Gabriella Ross asking about her mother...who just so happened to be married to the King until she ran off because of something unhashed. Luca’s been preparing to rule a kingdom for his whole life, but yeah, it’s fine that an upstart Canadian is trying to grab his birthright.

Thing is, the maid goes into labor early, and because everyone is family in a small town, Luca’s bodyguard/pilot takes her to the hospital (a 2-hour drive away), leaving Imogen and Luca alone at the lodge. OH! And there’s a freak snowstorm in October (which honestly isn’t that bananas for the Canadian Rockies), so they’re stuck alone together...without power...with lots of hotdogs...in a magical, wintry lodge. At least until things melt enough to get the whole heir-to-the-kingdom situation rolling, which takes us to the Island Kingdom for part deux.

Because we are dealing with a Christmas special, even though the book is set in October, there’s all the Christmas magic. Luca obviously has a sad, formal life with all the pomp surrounding royalty, so Imogen gifts him with a proper Christmas. You know, the kind that is always so heartwarmingly homemade, standard issue Christmas special. And that kind of Christmas special leads to luuuuuuuurve. I kid, but if we get serious for a moment, this book was engagingly written and drew me into the Christmas special. When things get good between Imogen and Luca, it’s good.

Until the snow melts and they have to get back to real life. Luca still needs to figure out the whole heir thing. And Gabriella just so happens to Imogen’s best friend. So how does the Christmas special transform into a happily ever after for everyone involved? I guess you’ll just have to jump on the Christmas special bandwagon. And this is going to be one of a trilogy, so WOOT!

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

This review is also available at The Smut Report.