Little yet mighty and henchman yet cinnamon roll fall (sideways) in love in “Say Yes to the Princes,” book one of the Hidden Royals series by Charis Michaels!!!

Exiled Princess Elise starts asking questions to solve a mystery after a chance sighting on the Road to Land’s End. Royal fixer Killian Crewes’ next assignment requires distracting Her Serene Highness by any means necessary for the benefit of the crown.

I love the banter and chemistry between Elise and Killian! The attraction is definitely simmering and boils over for a bit throughout the book! We learn more about each MC through forced proximity adding to the intimacy of their relationship!

This book has its own type of wholesome created by Michaels’ secondary characters, specifically Killian’s relations, which I love! Also, Killian is someone to be wary of, but he is goal-oriented for those he loves!

Although this book mentions a dire part of the French revolution, this book is fun and a fast read.

I absolutely loved the frantic gesture followed by a barging gesture at the end! It was dramatic yet romantic, and so public!

If you enjoy road trips, sad boys, strong FMCs, or physical touch is your love language, then I highly recommend this swoon-worthy book!!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Royal "fixer" Killian is hired by the king to distract exiled French princess Elise from searching for her long-lost brother. The plan backfires when Killian falls in love. Can a struggling courtier have a future with a princess of the blood?

This novel is magnificent. It's a sweeping romance with clever, authentic characters that made me want to cheer. There are moments of quiet pathos, stunning insight, and delightful humor. The tension is high throughout, and I had no idea what would happen next. The romance is a slow burn, more sensual than steamy, with powerful emotion and a ton of charm. Elise and Killian are perfect for each other and earned their HEA. Regency romance doesn't get better than this.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars for Say Yes to the Princess. You may know that we are OBSESSED with the Awakened by a Kiss series by Charis. Obviously we were stoked to get a complimentary copy of her newest book. ⁠
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It wasn't quite what we expected (OTT whimsy, like a unicorn vomited over some romance tropes and the whole thing came out as a glittery version of historical romance), but we really loved it.⁠
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Elise: she's a princess who's also gone through some major life sh*t. She's a poor little rich girl we couldn't help but feel for. We loved her strength and resilience and unflinching hope in the face of the unknown.⁠
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Killian: he's probably Charis's most psychologically complex hero, and we loved him. (How can you NOT like a hero who's determined not to seduce the heroine NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO?)⁠
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Be prepared for some darker themes than previous Michaels books (Elise was imprisoned along with her family; her father was taken to the guillotine and the rest of them only barely made it out), but with a romance that's just as sweet and just as steamy as you could expect.⁠

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

A charming beginning to a new series. Once again, Charis Michaels has given us a lighthearted, feel-good story with lovable characters and a page-turning pace. Elise was absolutely the star of the book. The exiled princess is burdened with grief and trauma, but she's given herself a mission, and all her royal upbringing goes into it. She breaks down at times. She occasionally makes snap judgments or rash decisions. But she deals with her weaknesses, accepts her mistakes, and continues on undaunted. She's strong and regal and powerful, flaws and all. Her bossiness to Killian is delightful, and I loved how he loved being ordered around by her. He was gone for her from the start, which I always love reading, and while he gets somewhat "woe is me" over everything, I ultimately understood his perspective and thought he was a good counterpoint to Elise. Their natural strengths and weaknesses are very complimentary. The steamy scenes are relatively mild, but the book doesn't lack for sexual tension, as Elise and Killian are super horny for one another. (Elise is all in for it, which I loved.) Only real flaw is a few gender-essentialist sentences, such as the implication that only penetrative sex = "real" sex.
4.5 stars.

Tasked with diverting Princess Elise from her search for her long lost brother, Mr. Killian Crewes- also known as the ”Royal Fixer”-falls head over heels for a woman who is off limits to a commoner such as himself.

This was a heart-warming story about two people from different walks of life finding love and friendship with one another.

Princess Elise has been exiled from France and separated from her siblings. Determined to be reunited with her brother and sister, Elise is restless in her pursuit. Yet, England is at war with France and politics play a part in keeping Elise distracted from her cause. I found her story to be heart-breaking and was happy to witness her finding a partner in Killian after feeling so alone at court.

Mr. Killian Crewes is a very unique hero. He is kind, loving, selfless, and cautious. Unable to hold onto his dreams, he finds purpose in working to raise money to care for his extended family. It is during his job as the “Royal Fixer” that he meets Princess Elise and his sole focus is that he is merely there to divert her attentions and nothing more-his incantations on this fact were very endearing. I admired that the term fixer applied to Killian beyond his royal employment; he is a man who is driven to fix all that troubles Elise and see that she gains happiness after all that she has been through.

Overall, this was a lovely story with little in the way of drama or tension. I am a reader who likes more tension in their stories, so this affected my rating a bit, but I think this is the perfect fit for someone looking for a read devoid of angst.

I read and reviewed an advanced eARC of this book thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ✨’s

Say Yes to the Princess by Charis Michaels is a book you don’t want to miss! A unique and entertaining plot mixed with characters you can’t help but love - the story grabs your attention and doesn’t let go! This story is book one in Michaels new series, Hidden Royals, and I am already eager for the next story of the series.

The main characters are Princess Regine Elise Adelaide d’Orleans, she is a French royal who has been living in exile with the English Court; We also have Mr. Killian Crewes, he serves the English Court as the “Royal Fixer” and he has been directed to “fix the Princess’s curiosity” with the goal of diverting her attention away from matters The Court would rather she not poke around in, he is to redirect her with any means necessary. 😉 How hard could it be for Killian to succeed in gaining Elise’s attention, succeeding at seducing and thus distracting Elise from matters others want left alone?! I totally loved these characters - both of them have unique histories and although they come from different backgrounds - they are perfect for each other! I love watching the male MC fall totally in love and this is made even better if that character has an outer persona of being “manly” and someone who doesn’t want to necessarily be in a relationship. Killian totally fits this character type and watching him be utterly charmed by Elise was perfect!

Overall I highly recommend this story!
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥 | 🏆🏆 Contender for top 10 of 2023


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🦄

Say Yes to the Princess by Charis Michaels

Say Yes to it all! Charis Michaels delivers a powerful love between an ex-princess and the "Royal Fixer", scandals, love, trust, and sexy steamy moments! All Swoon-worthy and definitely a must-pick-up book! 10/10

Say Yes to the Princess by Charis Michaels

Setting:
London 1803

Characters:
Killian Crewes
Her Serene Highness Princsss Regine Elise Adelaide d'Orleans
Prince Gabriel
Princess Danielle
Hodges
Juliette
Kirby
Marie

Tropes:
Princess
Fake seduction
Class Difference

Goodreads:
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Spice:
🌶 🌶

Review:
I absolutely loved this book. It was my first time with a princess heroine. I am so excited to continue on with this series. Really enjoy Ms. Michaels' characters and their banter. A fun spicy romantic read.

Content Warnings:
Death of parents
Grey area hero

I had totally forgotten that I had requested this book and it popped up in my inbox less than a week before its publication date. I didn't have much time to read it and I had to move it to the top of my list. For such a rushed timeline, it certainly wasn't worth the frenzy. I was so dreadfully bored and the plot moved at a glacial pace. I found myself constantly skimming through the pages just waiting for something exciting to happen. This featured an interesting premise with an exiled princess and a jack of all trades bodyguard, but there was a severe lack of chemistry. The book moved so slowly and I couldn't care less if they even ended up together.

My favorite element and honestly the only thing I'll remember about this book were the decoy handmaidens. The princess was surrounded by 3 women in identical clothing in order to protect her identity. They all wore black veils and it was difficult to tell them apart. I thought that was a neat feature and it gave off major Queen Amidala vibes. This was the coolest part of the book and it's the premier reason why this book isn't getting two stars. The book was a dud and not even decoy handmaidens could fully save this book from itself.

I had previously read a book by Charis Michaels and after Say Yes to the Princess, I don't believe I'll be returning to this author. I have a lot of books on my plate and I am constantly preparing for the next read. This book was super slow and wasn't worth my time. I'm always grateful for advanced copies, but I wish I could have gotten back the time I lost. This may have been titled Say Yes to the Princess, but regrettably it's gonna be a no from me, dog.

Elise is an exiled French princess living at St. James Palace. Killian is the royal fixer tasked with distracting her from searching for her long-lost brother – even if it means seducing her. So why, in the midst of their arguing and bantering, does he feel like he’s the one being seduced? The basic premise of the book is simple but it works so well. She doesn’t trust him at first, and watching the walls between them melt away is half the fun.

There’s a little bit of insta-love going on here, so buying into the depth of feeling between Elise and Killian means being willing to buy into that. I liked them together, especially loved that he loved how she always pushed back when she thought he was being bossy or presumptuous. So I was pretty willing to accept that they fell in love in a couple days. But I think that will vary from reader to reader.

I’m a huge fan of supporting characters. I think they can really bring a book to the next level, and aside from Elise’s friend Marie and Killian’s nephew Bart, I don’t think the supporting cast here was very strong. Bart almost makes up for that on his own though. Kids can be written so poorly in novels, but he’s the most accurate eight-year-old I’ve read in ages. Painfully curious, his dialogue is one run-on sentence of questions, and I loved it. He’s hilarious and charming and weird and everything a kid character should be.

Overall, a fun read that I think fans of historical romance will really enjoy.

Killian Crewes, the second son of the late Earl Dunlock, is a bit of an entrepreneur, he acquires rundown properties in the hopes of renovating them and leasing them out. But to do this, he needs funds, so to support his dream of becoming a real estate mogul, he does decreet work for the royal family. He has become known as the “Royal Fixer”, fixing things: gambling debts, recovering runaway lovers, bribing judges, covering up escapades in public fountains, and has disposed of more than one dead body. So it came as no surprise when one of the Royal Dukes, called him to take care of the problem being caused by an exiled French princess; to distract her, enchant her and if necessary seduce her. Killian isn’t privy to the problem she is causing, and doesn’t really care, doing this job will win him first dibs on some warehouses in Limehouse he has been wanting to buy. So he will do whatever is needed to “fix” the problem of Her Serene Highness, Princess Regine Elise Adelaide d’Orleans, or he will, once he figures out who she is.

Princess Elise has lived with the Royal family for the last ten years, ever since she and her siblings escaped France after her father, the brother of the King, was executed. But the siblings were separated and Elise has lived a lonely, isolated existence since then, she has not seen or heard from her brother, Prince Gabriel, and her sister, Princess Danielle in all the time she has been in England. Her mother is in Spain with her family, but rarely communicates with her and ignores her queries about her younger siblings, as does the rest of her limited family. But all that changed when traveling back from Weymouth with the Queen, she saw a young man who she is sure is her brother. The problem is she doesn’t know where they were and no one seems willing to help her, in fact, everyone seems to be discouraging her from finding him! So when the “Royal Fixer” is sent to deal with her, she is happy to let him “distract” her, as it enables her to leave the palace and search for Gabriel. She just didn’t expect to enjoy getting to know him or kissing him or falling in love with him, nor did she expect him to fight their obvious connection so much. Killian is a puzzle and Elise loves a puzzle, but will figuring him out lead to HEA or will it end in heartbreak?

This was not your typical historical romance, it was an interesting story with lots of likable characters and tons of witty banter, but honestly, it didn’t feel as smooth and cohesive as this author’s previous works. Don’t misunderstand, I enjoyed the book, but I feel like I was given a lot of information that didn’t move the story along, information that actually seemed to slow the story down. The story is filled with secrets, intrigue, witty banter, court politics, great secondary characters, a slow-burning, low-steam romance, betrayal, and finally, a surprising ending that leads to their HEA. This is the first book in a new series and I am already looking forward to the next book!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Charis Michaels has the most creative brain. The themes of her stories are so creative and smart and I am going to gobble them up every single time. This start of a new series is based on royals who are hidden. Elise is a French princess in exile after the French Revolution. Killian is the palace fixer. Basically he Olivia Pope's everything at court and his current assignment is do distract Elise. Proximity is close and adventures are had and this road trip is one that kept me turning pages and crossing my fingers for more from this world.

CW: Death of parent; panic attack/anxiety; grief; bullying; fire; animal cruelty

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Rounded up for Netgalley star rating)

This is one of those books that is hard to rate because it was a solidly fine read. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. It fell perfectly in the middle. There is nothing wrong with it, but it just didn’t hit that spot that makes me obsessed with a book. Say Yes to the Princess is a quick, relatively light-hearted romance dealing with a royal fixer and the exiled princess he’s tasked with keeping occupied, no matter what.

Princess Regine Elise Adelaide d’Orleans is a member of the French royal family, exiled to England in the aftermath of the revolution. She is not so much a princess but more of a glorified houseguest of the British Royal family. When she thinks she spots her long-lost brother in a crowded market, she’s determined to find him. But her search puts the palace in an uncomfortable position, so they hire Killian Crewes, the Royal Fixer, to seduce her to distract her from meddling. Except Killian doesn’t want to seduce her or think of her as a job. Instead, he finds himself drawn to her and wishing he could be so much more to her than just a friend.

First off, I love that Charis Michaels didn’t make up a royal family but instead pulled from history as inspiration. I think this gave the story more weight than if Elise was a royal from some made-up country. Knowing what Elise witnessed and lived through during the French Revolution made me sympathize with her and connect with her easily. And the fact that even though she’s safe in England, being separated from her siblings, not knowing what has become of them over the last 10 years really packed an emotional punch.

Elise was not what I was expecting from a princess. She’s no damsel in distress, that’s for sure. While she is a tad haughty, straightforward, and very determined, I admire that about her. This book is really focused on her finding her voice and taking her future into her own hands, so seeing her go after what she wants was liberating. After nearly a decade of living in a bit of a fugue state, she now has a purpose, drive, and hope after thinking she saw her brother in a country town. I loved the journey she went on as she found her strength again.

Killian was such a charming man. He’s the royal fixer, but he does come from the nobility, which I wasn’t expecting. His mother was a dancer, so she was never fully accepted by society, and his half-brother made his life a living hell. He definitely seems to have some issues with impostor syndrome, as he doesn’t feel worthy of the things he has and the love of his family. He’s a bit pigheaded about the class differences between him and Elise, but I understand why given his family’s history with that. Considering his job as the royal fixer, he does have an incredibly strong sense of honor and puts others’ needs before his own, which I really appreciate.

I also truly adored Killian’s interactions with his family. He would be justified in hating the new Earl of Dunlock, but instead, he does everything he can to help provide and support those who live at Paxton Dale. He refuses to take any credit for his actions, even though it is clear he cares deeply for those who reside at his family’s estate and wants the best for them. I adored Killian and Elise’s little sojourn to Paxton Dale as it helped give a peak behind the curtains to the man that is Killian Crewes, softening him up.

Now, the romance in this is predicated on love at first sight and relies heavily on the strong chemistry between Elise and Killian. I don’t think this will work for everyone as they know each other a grand total of three days before they say I love you and want to get married. You really need to suspend your disbelief and just go where the story takes you. In terms of love at first sight, I thought it worked okay, but this is never going to be my favorite trope. Despite the very short time frame, the pacing of the relationship felt solid – nothing felt too rushed, all things considered. The chemistry was strong between them, and I definitely felt like they had a connection, so I bought their romance. Their personalities also seemed to complement each other well, so I think that helped a lot. This isn’t the spiciest book, but I’m fine with that. I’ve come to expect lower steam from Charis Michaels’s books as she definitely seems to focus on the emotions and the romantic build-up more, which I appreciate!

The romance was also relatively low angst, though there was some potential for drama at the end. However, they both stood by each other, even in the face of the British royal family, so it ended up not causing a big issue. I also appreciate that these two talked to each other, especially when confronted about things they could easily lie about. That felt very refreshing!

I continue to enjoy Michaels’ writing style. She weaves in humor seamlessly, and she always seems to come up with some delightful characters – including some great side characters. In many ways, her style feels similar to a Tessa Dare or Julie Anne Long, and I think fans of their books will enjoy this one.

While this book isn’t my all-time favorite, it’s a solid read that I still enjoyed in the end. I’m intrigued enough by the series that I’m looking forward to future books! The ending provides just enough new information on Elise’s brother and sister to keep you wanting more. I’m excited to see what happens next and am looking forward to a heartfelt family reunion at some point!

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I couldn't help but be intrigued by the premise of this book, I had to read it.

I found it interesting that a little bit of the plot is inspired by historical events. It adds something extra special to the story in my opinion. I did enjoy the time period this book is set in too. I think it was written well and I could easily immerse myself into the story and setting.

The characters here are a lot of fun, plus the romance is adorable. Elise may be a princess but she's so much more than her title. I grew really fond of her character and could sympathise with her too. I was a little wary about Killian based on the book's description, but gladly I had nothing to fear. He's a sweetheart through and through. There romance is love at first sight but they had such wonderful chemistry that it didn't come off as cliche. This is not very steamy but we get a lot of them being adorably in love that I didn't miss the lack of steam.

Would recommend if you are in the mood for: royal romance, class difference romance, road trip, cinnamon hero, and Princess Bride vibes.

What a good story! Elise and Killian were great together. I loved how Elise grew and stood up for what she wanted. And despite Killian feeling like he didn't deserve her, he stood up for what he wanted.

Elise is a French princess exiled in London. She believes she's spotted her long-lost brother, and is on a mission to find him. But the palace is not happy about this development, so they employ their royal "fixer" to distract her. Killian Crewes is said fixer, and he's been tasked with...seduction! Killan is supposed to keep Elise from snooping around by playing with her heart. What he never expected was that he'd lose HIS heart in the process!

Charis Michaels borrows from history to spin this romantic tale of an exiled princess hoping to reunite what's left of her family after the French Revolution. This is the first book of the Hidden Royals Trilogy. It was fascinating to see Queen Charlotte and learn more about her after having read Julia Quinn and Shonda Rimes' "Queen Charlotte" last month! Not only does this novel contain history, but also hilarity! I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times. There were also gorgeously written scenes, both beautiful and dangerous, such as a thunder storm in the forest, or a library on fire! Elise is a strong heroine and Killian a pining hero. Together, there was magic.

I meant every word I said in the above paragraph. At times, this book really shines. However, much of it fell flat for me. I had difficulty accepting their early professions of love. Speaking of love, the love scenes left me cold. There were bizarre starts and stops, strange metaphors, and it didn't even really take off until almost 90% into the book. I didn't find the ending particularly satisfying, though I'm glad they at least ended up together. I was disappointed that one of the HUGE plot points wasn't even resolved, but it's due to the fact that the author is purposely staging the second two books in the trilogy.

I'd like to thank Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am a sucker for any kind of royal romance, is that a trope? If not, I’m going to pretend it is. Say Yes to the Princess was so lovely and I’m so grateful that I got to read it in advance! Charis Michaels is one of my favorite authors and I’ve been waiting a year for this book.
Elise is a French Princess who fled to England during the French Revolution. She has been through hell and back but she is determined to be reunited with her long lost brother and sister. Enter Killian, the “royal fixer”.
Killian is tasked with distracting the princess by any means possible, and we do mean any means 😏😏😉 He agrees to help Elise look for her brother but what starts out as a one day carriage ride from town to town turns into an all out adventure!

Say Yes to the Princess felt like a slight departure from Charis Michaels' previous books, but as per usual with her writing, I was undeniably drawn to the story and her characters. Can Killian Crewes be my panic blanket and drape himself over my body, please and thank you! I can completely see why Elise licked him in the moment. I wouldn't be able to stop myself from doing such a thing in such a position. I shall write these down as new techniques to deal with my panic attacks. All I need is a hot royal fixer to assist...

One of the things I love about historical fiction, is when elements of the story reflect situations that really happened and then are embellished/fictionalized to create a love story; essentially retold in a way. Charis is a master at this. From her fairy tale inspired series to this new hidden royal series, she has an ability to create magic from the tiniest of elements. And she builds this all upon characters who we cannot help but fall in fictional love with.

I loved how Elise discovered herself throughout the story. How she explained it was if she had been hibernating until she had believed she had seen her brother and from that point on could not stop herself from doing whatever it took to possible find answers. Also I loved how Killian who was seen as being in such control as a 'royal fixer' was in so many ways not in control. And their moments together in the wake of the carriage accident to when Elise runs into the forest and how they see one another, it was just written with excellence. I cannot wait to continue with the series and see what Charis has in store for her readers!

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Hidden Royals series. Elise is an exiled French princess being housed by the royal family and being redirected and managed after asking too many questions about a possible sighting of her lost younger brother. The royal family has hired Killian, the second son of an earl and all-around fixer, to distract Elise from her goals and to keep her from being nosy. While Elise and Killian start off at odds, they are instantly attracted to each other and want to know more about the other person’s background. Elise has her own issues of loneliness and despair, while Killian has also suffered from ostracism due to his mother’s background. It was so interesting to find out more about Killian’s backstory, especially in meeting his family at the estate where he grew up. And just like Elise, we start to fall in love with Killian in seeing his kindness towards his nephew. With all the mysteries to unravel, this book will keep the pages turning. The structure reminds me a lot of Michaels’ other work, A Duchess a Day, with a noblewoman falling in love a fixer/huntsman type of fellow who she recruits to assist with her own goals, which is also a wonderful book.

The first in the Hidden Royals series, Say Yes to the Princess follows Princess Regine Elise Adelaide d’Orleans, a member of French royalty exiled in England, and Killian Crewes, an English royal fixer charged with seducing and distracting the Princess. Elise has been living in England since the revolution in France when her father was killed ten years ago. She and her siblings escaped before they were killed too. But the siblings were split up, and Elise hasn’t seen them since they fled France. That is until she is sure she sees her brother and convinces Killian to help her find him.

Killian is the royal fixer, and though it is against his better judgment, he agrees to help Elise find her brother. He is so taken by the lonely and beautiful princess, and the more he gets to know Elise, the harder and deeper he falls for her. Elise also quickly falls for Killian, though their romance is slow building since both hide their feelings.

I loved Elise and Killian! They both have interesting backstories, and their individual journeys are as great as their love story. Elise fascinated me. She’s had such tragedy in her life, but she is strong and smart and a survivor. Killian is a survivor too, and though he’s done a lot of unsavory things, he’s a good man with honorable goals. Elise and Killian have a lot in common, though they have led very different lives. I think they connect on such a deep level, and they understand each other in ways that others don’t. I love how Killian is so tough and in control but is totally undone by Elise. He is so honorable and soft-hearted beneath his tough exterior, and he’s such a softie for his princess. Elise shares his feelings and finds a comfort and safety with Killian that she’s never felt before. I loved their chemistry and their unconventional love story.

I also really liked the political intrigue involving the French and British thrones. It was suspenseful and entertaining, and it was interesting to see how all of the deceit, lies, manipulation, and underhanded dealings affected the main characters. The side characters were great too, especially Killian and Elise’s closest confidantes. Love them! Hopefully, we’ll see more of them in future books!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me a copy of the novel. All thoughts are my own.