Surprise Heir for the Princess by Kate Hardy: Princess Vittoria has lived her life in a fishbowl while being 
groomed to become a queen of San Rocello one day. Her family wants her to marry someone who is also royal who will know what the role requires. Her one serious boyfriend from the past, who was not a royal, walked away when he realized he was not up to being a prince consort.
Liam has raised his younger sister Saoirse after their parents died.He swore off deep relationships after girlfriends couldn’t understand his sister and then his travel for photography came first. He has built up a reputation as being an expert photographer, especially with portraits. His sister and the sister of Princess Vittoria are close friends in school in England, where Liam lives when not on a job. Because of this and his expertise, Liam is chosen to do official portraits of the Princess in San Rocello. He is enthralled by Vittoria’s beauty, so it easy for him to get perfect shots. When he catches her reading in the library, he asks to take more casual photos. They bid each other farewell, thinking they will never see each other again.
When Liam and Vittoria meet each other at a party, Liam and the two sisters convince Vittoria that she needs to have a “Roman Holiday” type time away before coronation and marriage. Liam and Vittoria escape to a Liam’s cottage. To be certain no one recognizes her, Vittoria uses a disguise.
The time away becomes more romantic than planned with unexpected consequences. Will the two of them be able to stay with their original life plans?
In most traditional fairytales the prince rescues damsel, but Vittoria is already a princess. Of course, I could appreciate how stifling her life must have been with so much expected of her. It is interesting she is a good sister, but her own sister says she can become all “Winter Queen”. I think the author wants to show this is a defense mechanism to protect her sister and herself. It is nice that there is some passion under that icy exterior.
Liam is a very caring man. He has given up a lot to keep his sister loved and cared for. She certainly doesn’t take that love for granted. I loved that the author shared a good amount of fascinating detail about the best way to pose someone for a perfect portrait shot. I could use some of the pointers he told Vittoria. My family almost never lets me take pictures on an iPhone camera. I also learned to pronounce the name Saoirse. (Read the book to find out)
The story has love scenes that are subtle. Surprise Heir for the Princess shows how compromise and acceptance are so important in lasting relationships. All fairytales, both traditional and modern, need happily ever afters, and this novel certainly provides that.
QOTD: Have you watched the movie “Roman Holiday”?
Book Info:
Publication: April 13, 2021 | Harlequin Romance |
A secret royal escape
An unexpected consequence!
Princess Vittoria yearns to escape the pressures of her royal life. So when she’s reunited with enigmatic photographer Liam MacCarthy at a party, she agrees to a secret beachside getaway. Vittoria knows she can never have a future with Liam, but under the stars, she gives in to their undeniable chemistry for one perfect night… Until Vittoria returns home to discover she’ll have more than memories to remember Liam by!
