Cinderella takes the throne…
…and the hand of her Prince Charming?
Since discovering she's heir to the throne of Casavalle,
ordinary girl Gabriella is adjusting to her new royal life. On an impulsive
nighttime horse ride she meets a handsome stranger and has no idea he's Prince
Cesar of Aguilarez. A convenient marriage would unite their countries, but
their attraction is anything but convenient! Can duty and desire unite for a
fairy-tale happy-ever-after?
Terrific Cinderella story. Gabi first made her appearance
in the first book of the series, Cinderella's Prince Under the Mistletoe, as
the heroine's best friend. At that time, Gabi was struggling, but no one knew
why. When Gabi's aunt and uncle died, she discovered that her mother had been
married to a king, making Gabi the heir to the throne of Casavalle. At the
beginning of this book, Gabi is still adjusting to her new role and feeling
woefully out of her depth. Seeking comfort in the stables, she runs into a
handsome and kind stranger who stirs something in her.
Cesar, Prince of Aguilarez, is the third son of his
family and the diplomat in the family "business." Even as a child he
knew that there was no love or passion between his parents; that duty ruled
over everything they did. He believes that love has no place in his life, and
is content with brief affairs. He has no plans to marry until his parents call
him home from his latest ambassador post and inform him that he is to woo and
wed Princess Gabriella. Cesar isn't happy but knows his duty. He arrives at the
palace with plans to meet her unofficially but doesn't expect to find her in
the stables in the middle of the night. When she mistakes him for staff, he
uses the error to spend some anonymous time with her.
I liked the first meeting between Gabi and Cesar. The
sparks are immediate, and neither one knows quite how to handle them. Gabi is aware
of her position but enjoys talking to someone who seems so understanding. Cesar
is taken aback by the fire she stirs in him, and by the protectiveness he feels
toward her. I liked the way that he showed such confidence in her abilities. I
appreciated that he felt guilty over the deception and tried to make it right
before their official meeting the next night. Gabi's hurt and anger were
understandable, but she also took Cesar's advice to heart.
I enjoyed the development of Gabi and Cesar's relationship.
Both are aware of their duty, though Gabi has a harder time with it. I liked
Cesar's honesty as he told her that marriage between them would be beneficial
for their countries, that he would be a good and faithful husband, but that
love was not in the cards. I ached for Gabi, who still had the hope of love
living in a corner of her heart. I liked seeing the two of them get to know
each other. There were some emotional scenes as they shared events of their
pasts that had influenced who they were now. There were also some delightful
scenes as Cesar found activities that would make Gabi happy. It was fun to see
Gabi work her way into his heart without him realizing it. Though neither one
spoke of love, it was easy to see the caring that was between them, so when
Cesar proposed, she said yes. Things looked so promising until their wedding
reception when part of Cesar's past came calling. I hurt for Gabi because what
she heard reinforced all of her fears. Cesar's big moment at the end was sweet
and powerful as he opened himself up to all the emotions he had denied for so
long. The epilogue was great. I especially loved seeing the gifts they picked
out for their family members.
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