Title: In Lieu of a Princess
Author: Meredith Bond
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Book Blurb:
“This isn’t her Royal Highness,” the headmistress told the man and the woman who were staring at Lucinda with their mouths hanging open.
“But it could be.”
These words turn the life of Lucinda North upside down. Within hours, she agrees—against her better judgement—to impersonate the missing Princess Louisa of Aachen-Düren. Within a week, she meets the queen and the handsome and charming Lord Melfield. Within the month, she is living at Buckingham Palace, lying about her true identity not only to Queen Charlotte, but to all of Regency society, while someone is trying to kill her. Within her lifetime, she will never regret a moment of it.
Anthony Melfield would rather not waste his time helping a spoiled princess learn how to conduct herself. He would certainly rather not have to return to society after a heartbreak. And he most definitely would rather not have feelings for the princess, no matter how sweet, funny, and beautiful she is. To top it all, he would much rather not have to use his skills to save her life and figure out who wants her dead.
Hidden identities, a princess on the run, and three lives at stake… despite this, these royals and rebels must learn to trust and open themselves to a lifetime of love.
My Review:
A missing princess puts Lou in a precarious position…can she pull it off without losing her heart? She was at the school for an interview but got corralled into something far more dangerous. They say Lucinda (Lou) looks just like the missing princess and they need her help. Lou is sure it’s some kind of joke but for the sake of herself, her sister, and saving the missing princess’ father immense grief, she agrees. Before she realizes it, Lou is pretending to be the princess and meeting the queen while living in Buckingham Palace. With the help of handsome Anthony, an earl, Lou is portraying the princess quite well. The more time she spends with Anthony, the harder it is to keep lying to him. She must tell him the truth if she has any hope of a future with him. But there are people trying to kill her, err, the princess. Can she come clean and confess all to Anthony or will he rebuff her as nothing more than a liar and below his station?
In Lieu of a Princess is an unforgettable historical romance I couldn’t put down. From the very first page, I connected with Lou. She’s a smart, brave heroine with a big heart. She is also a lover of books. Anthony is a kind earl who’s unsure of falling in love and getting his heart broken, again. The circumstances brought about by this story make for an entertaining read. The descriptive narration is immersive and plunges the reader into the story. The characters are memorable and leap from the pages. The plot moves at a good pace with plenty of romantic tension. The romance covers a few tropes and takes a bit to get going. I kept rooting for this couple to risk it all for love. The ending is soul-satisfying, even though there’s a bit of a cliffhanger. Brilliantly written from start to finish, In Lieu of a Princess is an unputdownable historical romance. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
Giveaway:
Take your chance and win a paperback set of the Royals & Rebels series!
Runs November 10 - December 7.
Author Biography:
Meredith Bond's books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. An award-winning author, she writes fun traditional Regency romances, medieval Arthurian romances, and Regency romances with a touch of magic. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith loves to take her readers on a journey they won't soon forget.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://meredithbond.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/merrybond/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredith_bond/
Newsletter: http://meredithbond.com/subscribe/
Reviewed by: Mrs. N