Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: "Her Summer Prince" by Freda Ann

Congratulations to author Freda Ann on the release of "Her Summer Prince," the second novella in the Bliss Cay series.

 

I usually love romances that feature royalty, but I've had bad luck with them lately because I haven't enjoyed the last several I've picked up. As much as I wish it weren't the case, "Her Summer Prince" is one of the ones on that list. On the positive side, it was a very sweet story, totally clean (a few mentions of kissing only), and had a fluffy Hallmark movie vibe. On the negative side, I found the plot to be incredibly unrealistic and was left with a lot of unanswered questions at the end. I understand that it's sometimes necessary to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy fiction, but this story asked a bit too much of me in that regard.  

My biggest problem with the story was the complete lack of relationship development between main characters Charlotte and Prince Harry. This plot was probably as close to the definition of insta-love as I've ever come across; Harry sees Charlotte "strut" down a dock and instantly decides that she's his dream girl. This impression is confirmed for him through about five minutes of inane conversation in which he asks her if Charlotte is a family name, and she reciprocates by asking about his full name, Harold, which they decide is old-fashioned and stuffy.

It didn't help matters that the story was so disjointed and jumped forward in time with no explanation or transition. In the middle of a chapter, literally from one paragraph to the next, it skipped from the day after Charlotte and Harry first met to the end of their trip six weeks later. At that point, they were already "in love" and planning a future together as soon as she finished college, so their entire courtship took place off the page. Without seeing them spend a significant amount of time together, how was I supposed to believe in the strength of their feelings? I didn't even know what they liked about each other! (Sidenote: In six weeks together, they never managed to exchange phone numbers? Really? Why would they leave something so important until the last possible second of their time together?)

There were a lot of other things about the story that bothered me. For example, it made no sense for the crown to pass from Harry's father to his mother upon his father's death. It should have gone directly to Harry, who was of legal age and already a college graduate at the time. This bizarre, archaic form of elective monarchy was apparently contrived as one more barrier to keep Harry and Charlotte apart so that Harry's mother could invoke the law stating that the heir to the throne must have the reigning monarch's permission to marry. As to that, how could Harry and his brother possibly have grown up not knowing about that law? Basically every royal family in the world has such a rule; it's even in the news every time a member of the British royal family gets engaged!
 

I had a lot of questions about Charlotte and her background, too, but the biggest one related to her ex-husband. Where was he in all of this? Did her son have any kind of relationship with his father (visitation, etc.) since the divorce? If so, wouldn't he object to the possibility of Charlotte moving their son to another country to be with Harry?

 

Overall, I wanted to like this story so much more than I actually did. Unfortunately, there were just too many things about it that bothered me, and I can't recommend it. However, it may well appeal to fans of sweet/clean romance who are less detail-oriented (read: nitpicky) than me. I invite you to check out the book trailer and excerpt below and judge for yourself whether or not this story is for you.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Her Summer Prince"

This sweet/clean Hallmark style love story will make you laugh, cry, and give you goosebumps all the way to a happy ending!

Prince of Shorewick and next in line to the throne, Harry has more than enough on his plate, between his royal duties and overbearing Queen mother. During one fateful summer in Bliss Cay, his life changes forever when he meets the girl of his dreams.

Celebrating her graduation on the island, Charlotte Warren is swept off her feet by her knight in shining armor, falling hard and fast for this dashing stranger.

When a horrible tragedy comes calling, Harry is forced to pack up and leave Bliss without a moment’s notice for the Kingdom of Shorewick. In the mad dash to get home, Harry realizes too late that he left without saying goodbye.

Ten years pass of lost contact, and only now has Charlotte’s heart begun to mend after the heartache Harry inflicted. Now a successful businesswoman and mother to her beautiful son Noah and furry companion Chloe, Charlotte finally takes the jump and decides to return to Bliss Cay for the first time since that fateful summer.

Returning to the island is a step towards conquering her past, but instead she finds herself face to face with the man who shattered her heart into a million pieces.

The last decade has changed them both. Harry has the responsibility of the monarchy looming over him, yet all he wants is to live his life with the woman he loves…a commoner in the eyes of the monarchy. 

 

Check out the book trailer for "Her Summer Prince" here!

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Her Summer Prince"

“Hey—you! The lady said to leave her alone. I suggest you do it. Now!”

I scan the direction where the contemptuous voice came from, and a tall dark figure steps from the shadows full of grace and virility.

Good Lord, where did the Adonis come from? I swear my heart skips a beat. A sigh of relief escapes me as my eyes, acting of their own volition, are drawn to what I can see of his face.

Not stopping there, they examine his firm features and confident shoulders. Please tell me I’m not dreaming. This guy is a photographer’s dream. Whew!

My involuntary perusal of the individual in front of us seems to be amusing as a corner of his mouth curls up. He pulls his gaze away, eyeing the idiot who has me pinned against the railing of the dock, an arm on each side of me.

When I strutted to the end of the dock moments ago, my focus was on a sliver of the moon peeking out from the horizon, and while I was snapping photos I suppose I should’ve been more aware of my surroundings.

Barely able to stand, the man restricting my movement glares at the Adonis with glassy eyes, as if he was from another planet. “I saw—“

He hangs his head low, looking pale before finishing, “I—saw her f—first.”

“Huh. So you saw her last year…before I proposed to her on this beach?” I raise my brows as Adonis fans his hand through the air while easing closer.

The guy, reeking of alcohol, glances in the direction Mr. Perfect motioned to. His legs wobble when he attempts to turn back around.

While the guy struggles to stay upright, Adonis flicks his head at me for my attention. Duh…does he not realize he’s had it from the minute he showed up? I tip my chin up, watching to see what he’s going to do.

He uses dummy proof sign language, pointing to the inebriated man and motioning for me to move out of the way when he grabs him.

Bobbing my head, he wastes no time going into action and I take off running halfway down the dock to watch for the fallout.

As luck would have it, not a hair was harmed on his head or anywhere else on that hunky body. The weakened man didn’t even attempt to put up a fight.

Holding tightly onto him, they pass by me with a strong odor of alcohol in their wake. I trail behind flailing my hand in front of my face trying to breathe fresh air.

At the end of the dock, he mumbles something to the guy before pointing him to the left. He gives him a push off for good measure. I’m surprised he didn’t fall over.

He watches intently until the lanky frame fades into the night. As Mr. Perfect turns to face me, the light reveals his compelling blue eyes with a faint hint of humor bubbling beneath the surface.

Feeling more nervous than I was while being held against my will, I exhale and lock eyes with my savior. “Thank you, um…for that.” I point to the dead air feeling like a dumb blonde. “I was afraid I might have to resort to unladylike measures before you came along.” I snicker.

He grins looking devilishly handsome. The shadow of his well-groomed, closely shaven beard gives him an even manlier aura, if that’s even possible. Bearded men aren’t typically my type, but the guy totally rocks facial hair.

“I was happy to be of assistance.” He gives me a sideways nod. Well, that was different. Who nods like that?

The man has a very appealing British accent which compliments his tall, dark and handsome physique. Could Adonis get any more perfect?