I loved this book. It was just the thing to read while sitting outdoors in the warm Spring sunshine, sipping on lemonade.

Taking historical fact, the French Revolution, with anyone remotely connected to the French King and Queen becoming targets of the people, families sending their children and others out of France for their safety, and pairing it with historical fiction, specific children being sent to England to wait out the revolution, Ms. Michaels weaves a tale that's worthy of a few hours of your time.

This book is about Prince Gabriel d’Orleans and Lady Marianne Daventry, aka Ryan. Their fathers were lifelong friends who betrothed their children when they were not even teens. Now Gabriel is presumed dead and his cousin is sniffing around Ryan, saying he now will inherit the betrothal since his cousin isn't around. Since the property will go to Ryan's husband once they're wed, Ryan sets out to find Gabriel.

Reclusive Gabriel, wants nothing to do with Ryan, but their shared past and the affection that he felt long years before, overrules his need to stay solitary. Ryan has just about given up getting Gabriel to show himself and prove he still lives. Many swoon worthy pages later, with Ryan understanding the need Gabriel has to stay hidden, and Gabriel realizing he must be the man Ryan thinks he is, they work together to reclaim each others hearts and prove Gabriel is alive.

This is book two of the Hidden royals trilogy, but I had no issue reading out of order. Having said that, I have since purchased, read, and loved book one! I can't wait for book three.

I really enjoyed this book- it's a great standalone, and also a fun continuation of this series. Gabriel is a protagonist you can root for, and even though he and Ryan are initially at odds, they become allies very quickly. I liked that rather than keeping them at cross-purposes, they try to find ways to help each other almost right away. Their connection feels very concrete from the beginning, and I like that it begins from Gabriel's perspective so we get a sense of where they are both starting from.

I love Ryan as a heroine, she's empathetic and highly sensitive, while having a strong backbone. She isn't a fearful person, but a realist, and highly competent. I love that she doesn't have standard damsel quirks, she's not just plucky and beautiful. She does cry a lot, but who could be blamed for that in her situation? Gabriel well too, I thought he came across as someone who is operating under the assumption that his experiences in the past will guide his whole life. When he is presented with an alternative, he changes his views and goes after what he wants.

I enjoyed the plot, which I thought moved very smoothly. I like that we started at a gallop and then didn't stagnate- even when the characters were not in motion, plot was still happening. I think lust driving Gabriel and Ryan initially makes sense, as well as their emotional connection from childhood, but I like that Gabriel is a lot more attached to her right away. I loved the ending, I'm a fan of compromise and Gabriel coming to terms with his past and trying to move forward at last felt right.

The only reason that this isn't five stars is that Gabriel's last fifteen years in exile felt very glossed over to me- Ryan's family and backround are a lot less present in the book, but they feel very real and concrete. Gabriel's past just didn't totally pass muster for me, I wanted it to feel less vague. His home felt very real, but I didn't totally buy the way he got from point A to point B. I do love his development though, and how he takes ownership of his life and would do anything for Ryan, so it's a small quibble.

The Prince's Bride by Charis Michaels is a captivating romantic tale of a rugged prince living in exile and his long-lost bride-to-be who seeks him out. This slow-burn historical novel is filled with enough adventure and intrigue to keep readers eagerly turning pages until the satisfying conclusion.

I normally enjoy Charis Michaels’ books, but this one was not for me. The pace in the first 25% of the book was slow, with more attention paid to exposition and sensuality than to the action of the story. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Lady Marianne “Ryan” Daventry was betrothed to Prince Gabriel d’Orleans as a child. With Gabriel missing and presumed dead, his wretched cousin has claimed the title and proclaims that the old betrothal still stands. Ryan sets out to reveal the man as an imposter but, to do so, she needs to locate the lost prince and prove he’s still alive.

This is the second book in the Hidden Royals Series, centering around three French noble siblings who were separated and smuggled out of France during the Revolution. This story can mostly stand alone, but the first couple does play a significant role.

I absolutely adored this book! It felt really fresh and special. Rather than submit to a cruel man, Lady Ryan takes matters into her own hands and sets out on an unlikely quest to find the missing prince. While Gabriel is still living, he’s purposefully difficult to find. He lives under a different name in near-seclusion, deep in a forest, working as a highly coveted horse trainer for wealthy clients. Gabriel never planned to be discovered - hiding even from his own sister - and really struggles with his desire to help Ryan and his need to protect himself. The storyline was great, the chemistry was wonderful, and I can't wait to see what happens in book three!

Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Royalty, Presumed Dead, Forced Proximity

Steam: 3

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Genre: historical romance
England, 1811

Lady Marianne “Ryan” Daventry was betrothed to minor French royalty, cousin to the king, Prince Gabriel d’Orleans, as a child. During the French revolution, Gabriel and his family fled France, and while his oldest sister resided in the English Court for years, Gabriel hasn’t been seen and is presumed dead. Ryan finds him almost accidentally while searching for him: Gabriel’s cousin has come to claim the title, and Ryan as his bride, so Ryan wants to locate her betrothed to try to get the situation resolved. She finds him living in a camp, in a cottage hewn into a cave, with a reputation under another name as a horsebreaker. Hardly prince material, especially because he doesn’t even want to socialize with others or live indoors, much less claim a title he no longer has use for. But for Ryan, Gabriel may be willing to step out of the relative comfort of the forest to help her rescue the life she loves on Guernsey.

A new Charis Michaels book is always a joyous occasion - her books are brimming with sweetness and, in this series, a little bit of extra heat compared with her Awakened by a Kiss series. The second book in a trilogy, The Prince’s Bride uses historical elements based on real people with some changes for clarity. (If you read her authors’ note, you’ll learn that there were five siblings instead of three, and 4/5 were named Louis or Louise, because of their relationship to the king. Charis felt some changes were needed for storytelling purposes.) The realistic elements tie to the overall tone of the story, making it more serious than her previous books.

The pacing was a little awkward for me overall, but I appreciated that the way both Ryan and Gabriel navigate feelings for one another feels realistic for someone who has been sheltered and someone who has lived their life nearly alone for many years. Gabriel went into hiding as a child, and is understandably not willing to drop everything immediately when Ryan walks back into his life. While there is some misunderstanding between characters, it’s not miscommunication. Neither Ryan nor Gabriel is being honest with themselves, so they struggle with being honest with one another. This may have contributed to some of my pacing issues, but I ultimately appreciated the choice that Charis Michaels makes with her narrative.

We get a lot of on page time for the characters of the previous book, too, but in a way that boosts rather than intrudes on the developing romance. It’s always fun to see previous characters reappearing for actual plot roles. That said, I do recommend reading this series in order.

Charis Michaels is a master of the "fun" romance. She has chosen to write historical romance deliberately and knows how to lean in on the bonkers side. In The Prince's Bride, she continues her series on French royalty in hiding... but she also goes all-in on the "what would happen IF..." side of things. So yeah, we have a French prince in hiding, but also a vignette of that part in The Lion King when Nala arrives to convince Simba to come home and claim the throne, a smidgeon of "raised by wolves" (he lives in a CAVE), plus a ton of dry humping. (You know we love a good dry hump, and apparently so does French royalty. Who knew?) The pacing feels a bit odd, but honestly? If you like a feral MMC who doesn't want to admit he's feral (see: "raised by wolves") then you probably want to check this out.

Also, this book has a really great use of previous characters from the first entry in the series. Look, when your BIL is a royal fixer and you have a royal problem, it just makes sense to ask for help.

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

This is the first book I've read by this author, and given that literally every person I talk to loves her writing style, I'm chalking this up to a mismatch of reader and author. I just could not find this story believable at all. While there is usually some level of belief suspension when reading romance, this went beyond my abilities.

The heroine manages to find a recluse that no one else, including his own sister, has been able to locate for over a decade. He is extremely isolated with very little social graces and lives in a home built into a cave. They get frisky very fast, and it was...weird. I was not comfortable reading it, just came off very odd to me. He just seemed awkwardly horny, and she was very naive. At the same time, she had been apparently physically abused by a man who wanted to marry her, but it's brushed off a bit in the telling of it. What should have been quite dark felt a bit too light for the situation. And then the "hero" basically is mad about what she endured, partially due to his being in hiding, but also...is like...not my problem, my privacy is more important than your safety? In a nutshell? And the heroine is just like...cool beans, I'm going to go off and figure something else out with the help of your sister, whom you have little contact with. It's just bonkers.

I ended up DNF'ing around 60%. I didn't believe this couple, their chemistry was not good, the story just felt silly to me. Not my cup of tea.

I was saving this book until I needed it and I'm so glad I did. I've been in a little bit of a historical romance reading slump, mainly gravitating towards paranormal and fantasy reads; however, I knew that I wanted something light and fun that didn't necessarily remind me of a typical historical romance. Chris Michaels is an amazing writer. I just always enjoy anything I pick up by her, and this book was no exception. This was exactly what I needed to get me out of my historical romance reading slump and I knew it would. I loved these two characters. I loved that we got to see a lot of the characters from the first book in this series, and I am excited to see where the next book in the series goes. Ryan and Gabriel's romance was just so fun to read. I loved that they had a betrothal/arranged marriage from when they were kids that was set up by their families. Gabriel was a price who was in exile and living as a recluse. I loved how strong of a character Ryan was and she went after and stood up for what she believed in. These two not only had chemistry, but they had these deep conversations that I needed to read for this insta-love, forced proximity romance. My only real complaint about this book is that it didn't have an epilogue; however, all will be forgiven if the next book shows these two happy. Overall, I defiantly recommend this one! Even if you don't typically read historical romances and want to read a royal romance, you might enjoy this one because, as I mentioned above, it doesn't really read like a typical historical romance because Chris Michaels just has this magical way of writing that transports you to a different world.

Charmed! This story was a can’t put down kind of read. Gabriel was so yummy in every way. Ryan was everything you want your heroine to be and together perfection. Lady Ryan was not afraid to do difficult things and Gabriel did not want to be a hero, savior or involved in any way but just couldn’t help himself. And the story unfolds with such depth of character you can feel Ryan’s heartbreak and Gabriel’s confusion. I especially enjoyed the chemistry between the characters almost from the very beginning. This is book two in a series but you won’t notice if you didn’t read the first book. This was my first book by Charis Michaels but I’ll be reading book one of this trilogy soon.

This book hit a lot of my key needs from a regency romance, specifically the fun hidden romance. I loved the male lead and his character development across the board. The female lead I found a little too understanding and rational given the situation, but I love that she got her happy ending. All in all the book was a fast, cute read, but some of the wording got a little wonky/weird for me.

From the opening scene with the possible danger in the woods, a scream, a thunderstorm, and fighting his inner thoughts, I was instantly hooked to The Prince's Bride. Charis Michaels's setting for the outset of the novel especially the hidden camp & the cottage-cave weaved this almost magical spell. I could picture it so vividly in my mind. There was so many amazing sensory aspects to this novel and Michaels did such an amazing job of making the setting come to life.

I loved Lady Ryan from the moment she finds herself in imminent danger in her search for her lost prince betrothed and is literally rescued to be carried on Gabriel's shoulders and whisked off into the woods. Her inner thoughts playing out as all it happened made my cheeks hurt from smiling. I enjoyed how her character was both strong and yet there were actions she believed made her weak and how both slightly warred against the other. Who wouldn't be endeared by a woman who goes on a hunt to find her lost (believed dead) betrothed when his pretender cousin comes calling.

I found myself very attached to Gabriel from the outset. The way his thought process and the fear for those who he cared for led him to such a secluded life. How even with his sister in such close proximity he could not bring himself to possible endanger her by leaving the woods that is until he fears for Ryan's safety from a pack of well meaning albeit unruly dogs. And I loved that Gabriel leaving the place he felt safe was not in one big swift move, but in gradual with being the stables of his sister's home, until further actions force him to take another big step.

Charis Michaels is an autobuy author of mine and as always there is just something magical about her novels in how they reach me as a reader. I always feel such a connection to her characters and I cannot forget to mention how much I loved the side characters in this one. From Elise & Killian's children (I don't always love kids in HR but I adore these ones!) to Bart and then the nonexistent nanny. OH and I cannot forget how much I loved getting Killian's POV in this novel. The brief snippet just made me fall even more head over heels in fictional love with him!

I will note that I felt like the book ended a little too quickly with the wrapping up of the 'danger' aspect. But I do get that the issue was not as big as Gabriel had feared it to be, but as always I never want a Charis Michael novel to end.

I’ve been really intrigued about what happened to Elise’s brother, the crowned Prince, since the first book. I love that he was found in this book and we got to experience what he went through after escaping France.
Lady Ryan has been promised to Gabriel (Elise brother and prince) since she was a child. It was a marriage contract their fathers put together. Ryan would become a princess and Gabriel would receive the family land and home. Years have gone by, all assume Gabriel is dead and so his cousin is now claiming to be the next king of France and wants Ryan to marry him.
She’s not going to do that so she goes out to find for Gabriel.
I do wish there was an epilogue but maybe they will be in the next book.

This is such a unique story and a great addition to the Hidden Royals series. I loved Say Yes to the Princess, the first book in the series, when I read it last year and couldn't wait to read Gabriel's story. Gabriel is a prince and the sister to the FMC in Say Yes to the Princess. Like his sister, his story is heartbreaking, and their struggles after they fled France are vastly different.

Gabriel and Ryan were betrothed as children, but they haven't seen each other in years since Gabriel and his siblings fled during the French Revolution, and other members of his family were executed. Gabriel has lived his life in hiding, safe from the dangers that surrounded his younger years, and is presumed dead. He lives alone in a cave-turned-home with only the animals for company, and he rarely ventures from the wilderness in which he lives. His is a solitary existence.

It's been fifteen years since Gabriel left France, and his vile cousin wants to claim Gabriel's betrothal (and everything else that belongs to Gabriel) as his own, but Ryan goes on a journey to find Gabriel so the unwanted marriage won't happen. When she and Gabriel meet, the sparks fly. They have such a chemistry-filled romance and a story that kind of reminded me of Tarzan meets Beauty and the Beast.

Ryan is so understanding and sympathetic toward Gabriel, and it's clear they care for each other deeply. But Gabriel has lived in isolation for a long time, and his old fears remain. He's justifiably afraid of reentering society and facing all that comes with it. Gabriel must find the courage to leave the safety of his anonymous life if he wants to help Ryan, but it's a struggle for him. I like that Ryan doesn't pressure Gabriel even though her situation is dire. She never forces him to do anything out of his comfort zone, and she accepts and likes him the way he is.

I also like that the main characters from the first book in the series are in this book as well. I was so hoping to see Elise reunite with Gabriel. These siblings have been apart for fifteen years, and Elise was desperate to find out what happened to him, so to see this reunion, and to catch up with some favorite characters, was fantastic!

I really enjoyed this story, as I enjoy all of Michaels's romances. It has a unique story, well-developed characters, and a wonderfully swoon-worthy love story. I can't wait to read the next book!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Michael’s’ delivers another great historical romance. I was so excited to read this because the concept/plot sounded so unique. Somewhat like a gender reversed Anastasia if you will.

The romance here is so soft and romantic. I loved how attentive he was to her needs. The caretaking and the massages?!? Where can I find such a man? lol

But seriously this book has some great stuff. A recluse, scarred prince in hiding and a determined heroine, caves/waterfalls and lovely side characters. All of this made for a super entertaining & quick read.

Is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Definitely give this a try.

📣 my feelings about this historical are a bit complicated but I’m a CM stan!

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s your favorite spring flower? I’m a tulip fan & I have a special place in my heart for daffodils!

I so enjoy Charis Michaels’ take on romance novels: if you haven’t read any of them yet, I would liken them to Lisa Kleypas’, but often with a healthy dose of Tessa Dare thrown in.

The Prince’s Bride feels a bit heavier from her than I’m used to, & with good reason, I think, given the hero’s backstory. Gabriel’s a French prince who has lived in hiding for years after his father was killed during the French Revolution & his family was torn apart.

So obviously Gabriel’s backstory, & his lingering feelings regarding freedom, captivity, & social expectation, are pretty dark.

Though his backstory offers an interesting variation on historical romance for me, I sometimes find it too short-sighted, particularly when it comes to considering the Revolution itself.

Moreover, the lives of Gabriel & heroine Lady Ryan are so different, & Gabriel’s needs & wants feel so strong, that I didn’t feel 💯 about their compatibility, even though I totally bought their attraction & their love.

I realize that this review is basically just a discussion of things that didn’t work for me so far, so let me say again that I really enjoy CM’s writing style, & the attraction between reclusive Gabriel & his serene Lady Ryan is very clear, believe you me.

If you’re a fan of angst, you will probably really like this one, bc it takes you for an angsty ride. While they are aspects of this book I really liked, & I’m a CM stan for sure, overall this romance didn’t leave me with that feeling of total satisfaction that I wanted.

3.5 ⭐️. Out 05/21.

CWs: Violent man trying to compel Lady Ryan to marry him. Previous dog attack. References made to killed father & the French Revolution in general.

[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing a blue sweater, holds the ebook in front of a small bouquet of flowers (orange, purple, & pink) & a tree trunk.]

Book 2 in the hidden royals series did not disappoint. Even though it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. However, its so good you will find yourself going through the authors back list for your next read. It had everything I love in my romance including wit, charm, romance, longing, mystery. So so good. Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for approving me to read and review this ARC. I cant wait to read more from this author.

I think this could be one of my very favorite Charis Michaels books yet. Michaels writes such unexpected and delightfully fun love stories. Her plots are just a little different from other historical romances and I can't help but sink into them.

This series is about hidden royals. Royals from the French court who were forced into hiding and then discovered by a potential suitor. Gabriel is a recluse living in hiding in a forest when Ryan finds him. She is in need of help from an imposter prince who has decided to terrorize her family and force her into an abusive marriage. He is VERY reluctant to be found and even more reluctant to emerge from hiding. But she is the reason he will push is own personal boundaries. It's sweet and fun and light, but also swoony with just the perfect amount of steam.

Lady Maryanne, aka Lady Ryan, and Prince Gabriel Du Orleans were destined from childhood.
Although Gabriel was a French prince, and Ryan, the daughter of an English earl, these two were betrothed by their fathers as children.
The French Revolution came to be, his father was guillotined, his mother fled the country, and he and 2 siblings were separated and placed into hiding from violent revolutionaries.
After fifteen years, an evil cousin wants to take over the betrothal for the property rights in Ryan's dowry. Ryan needs Gabriel's help to stop it, so she journeys to his hiding place to find him.
He is beyond reluctant, lives in a cave modeled into a home, has maintained a false identity, and is an expert horse trainer and healer. He wants no part of leaving his life as it is. Going public may mean his death or danger to those he has loved.
But his attraction to Lady Ryan and hers to him is undeniable, which leads him to give in to her request.
The story is told from the internal angst of both characters as well as the
dialogue and plot. It is an interesting tale and has a healthy amount of heat between the two with the happy ending I expected. The story moved a bit slowly at first, and in the end, the anticipation of the final conflict was greater than the actual meet between Gabriel and the antagonist.
I enjoyed the book and would read more from this author.

This was a fantastically written historical novel. A first for me to have read by this author. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I had come to discover that it is part of a series. I have not read book 1 but will definitely be adding it to my TBR list!

A love story of a forgotten arranged marriage turned into a marriage of convenience. I loved the journey of Gabriel and Lady Marianne (Ryan) and their journey of love. Their chemistry and passion was off the charts!! The passionate scenes were tastefully written, not overly graphic, but well done to allow the reader to see the growth in their relationship. I was not an insta-lust but one much deeper and respectful. Gabriel was rough and grumpy but you can't help but feel compassion for him and the trauma he experienced as a young boy. The story highlights the rediscovering of who Gabriel was and how life had shaped him and reconciling the life he was born in to and obligated and needed to have closure over. I loved Ryan.....her love and devotion to her family and going to great lengths to ensure safety and freedom. Her graciousness and understanding to Gabriel as childhood memories and fears that were blocked out, surfaced rather quickly and swiftly. There were many times it would appear he was selfish with what he did not want to do or face BUT deep down you knew it was out of hurt and once he connected with Ryan, his walls begin to fall and was willing to put himself on the line for her and her family.

In all honesty, I was not ready for this story to end and my only complaint is not getting an epilogue to know that they have begun a family but since I know another book will be in the works, I will patiently wait for the next installment for little updates on the happy couple.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this ARC in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own.