This was a cute story. I liked both main characters. I read through it quickly and enjoyed it. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

The Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight by Natalie Anderson is a cute story about Hester, a shy woman and a dashing rascal of a prince named Alek who is in need of a bride to gain the thrown.

I love marriage of convenience stories and this one certainly did not disappoint. Definitely a book you can sink down in a cozy chair and imagine the modern day fairy tale taking place between the pages of this book.

Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight by Natalie Anderson was a sweet and charming story. Hester is quiet, smart and competent. So, when Prince Alek needs to find a woman to marry who he can later divorce to take his crown, Hester seemed to fit the bill. But what happens when their chemistry sizzles and cannot be denied? I loved watching Hester coming out of her shell. She was truly beautiful inside and out, she just needed to see it. Alek was sexy and charming.

Happy reading!

Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight Natalie Anderson is book Three in the Once Upon a Temptation Series. This is the story of Prince Alek and Hester. I did feel this could be a standalone book. Alek has to marry if he wants to be able to be the King, so he thinks a marriage of convenience would be the key to his path to being King. Alek then chooses to have Hester as his wife. Hester is his sister's assistant and is not his type at all...so it a safe route to go for him. Hester is talked into this marriage with a promise of money to help the women that she is a champion for. Hester normally is a shy women who tries to settle into the background. But for this new position she gets a makeover which leads her to start being more outgoing. Alek of course is taken back by the beauty that is Hester no longer is she beautiful on this inside but she is a temptress on the outside. Enjoyed this book.

Unfortunately, I didn't like this one at all. I had to force myself to read it.

The description sounded good so I was so very disappointed

Hero is a player who is not ready to settle down, but alas he must if he wants to be King - which he does as he doesn’t have any other choice. He decides he wants a fake temporary marriage and feels that his sister’s assistant, Hester, will do just fine since she is not his type so no worries about making it real.

However, once the sleeping beauty who has spent her whole life being bullied & has confidence issues gets a makeover, she is stunning and Hero is smacked upside the head and going gaga over her!

What I liked about this story is the fact that it wasn’t all sex and nothing else as some romances these days tend to be. They took their time and developed their relationship and got to know each other. They built trust & support and then came the rest. Woohoo! 👏👏

And surprising of all, Hero was not one of those typical Harlequin asshole Heroes that you read so much about. He was really sweet and screwed royally (no pun intended!😏) to realize that his wish for a temporary non-consummated marriage quickly flew out the window.

Safety: No cheating. No OW/OM dramalama and a sweet HEA with baby.

Overall, I am a satisfied reader today folks….

4.5 Stars

This is a book in the Once Upon a Temptation Series by Natalie Anderson.

Basic premise: A prince asks his sister’s assistant to be his fake wife in order to appease the royal rules of his rein. It is a deal for one year. But will they be able to pull off such a scam or is this really a love match they don’t see coming?

This is one of those books where you just can’t look away. Hester is the shy assistant who is made an offer she can’t refuse. You know that something wonderful is going to happen as soon as Alek has to refrain from seeing other women. And truthfully, that is what he probably needed all along. If he would have given more attention to his relationships and not just went straight to bed, he might have found love earlier.

Great story. I was mesmerized.

If you are looking for a good romance book, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Presents for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Hester believes herself to be an ugly duckling, but she has already been better since she works for the princess. Interesting book, fun to read. Loved the straight forwardness of Crown Prince Alek. Found this to be a fast fun read! 3.5 stars

This is a fun romance with the whole marry me for a year trope between a would be king, Alec and his sisters roomate/friend/tutor, Hester.

They meet and Alec feels she will make a lovely bride and so he proposes a marriage for a year so he can become king but as he gets to know Hester he falls for real for her. But Hester has to decide if its the life she wants.

This was a very fun and romatic story and I really enjoyed it. I liked that both characters are happy indivuiduals and there is no angyst or jealousy involved. It is just them and they form a friendship and then fall for each other.

What a heart-rending and great come-back romance story! I love Natalie Anderson's talent for giving her characters emotional depth and she does a phenomenal job here. Hester is a young woman who due to her emotionally abusive family and her experience in foster care keeps all of her colleagues and people in general at both a physical and emotional distance. When Alek, the prince asks her to agree to a marriage of convenience neither of them realizes the unexpected true feelings that end up developing.

Whenever I read a Harlequin there's always a part of me that expects the characters to be shallow and underdeveloped but in exchange, you get a lot of passion and spicy scenes. That isn't the case here, both Hester and Alek have emotional scars that are addressed and overcome and it was very nice to be able to see how Hester grew into her own strength. There were a few themes that were repetitive or developed too quickly to quite work for me but overall surprisingly good! 4 out of 5 stars. I was given an early copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hester is a shy one, ‘you can’t swim naked,’ she said, scandalised.' Alek is always willing to tribute himself for his lady, ‘you know you can practise your riding skills on me any time,’ he said huskily.' I liked this book, I liked Alek.

This is a marriage of convenience story. Alek needs a bride in order to be crowned king of his country. Hester is his sister’s shy secretary. He offers her a contract for a one year marriage. She is a very guarded person. When they get to know each other. The sparks fligh. This marriage of convenience turns into so much more. I loved the story. I couldn’t put the book down.