His Majesty’s Child by Sharon Kendrick
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (135 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

King Casimiro harbors a secret–no one in the kingdom of Zaffirinthos knows that a devastating accident has left his memory clouded in darkness. And Casimiro himself cannot answer why Melissa Maguire, an enigmatic English rose, stirs such feelings in him…. Questioning his ability to rule, Casimiro decides he will renounce the throne. But Melissa has news she knows will rock the palace to its core: “Casimiro has an heir.” Law dictates Casimiro cannot abdicate, so he must find a way to reacquaint himself with Melissa–his new queen

This clever story takes the plot of a brief throw-away affair that results in a baby to a novel level. The hero, who comes across as cold and unfeeling, is actually covering for a secret and it was easy for him to refuse to believe the heroine because knowledge of her is part of that secret he’s hiding. He’s lost a huge chunk of time and his relationship with Melissa is in that period of lost time. What’s a heroine to do?
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Be stubborn, that’s what. Melissa wants what is best for her child and she thinks that having him know that he even has a dad is all that matters. And, letting the father know he IS a father, that’s a responsibility she doesn’t want to shirk either. All noble intents but the heroine had absolutely no clue the ramifications of what she was trying to do. For a regular guy I guess it would be fine but Casimiro isn’t a normal guy, he’s a king and that’s a whole other kettle of fish. It made for a fascinating and unique dilemma for a romance and I quite liked it.

Casimiro might be a king and used to being in charge and in control but honestly, I found him mean, manipulative and hard to like. Granted he was acting that way on purpose. If he kept everyone at arm’s length, no one could guess his problem. The hero has ginormous trust issues and suspects everyone’s motives. It’s not a wonder he wants to quit being king. But the thing of it is, eventually, the author redeems her hero because I came to understand just how emotionally damaged he was. From the time his mother died his life was harsh and he was unloved. He did not receive any gentleness or understanding from his father and in turn, Casimiro became a block of ice to shut out all the pain. That makes what Melissa accomplishes in the story truly remarkable. And why her having his child is a blessing and his saving grace.

Even though there is a lot to enjoy in this story, I didn’t like the hero for most of it. I didn’t like his arrogance or his cruelty towards Melissa. Nor did I like how she came across as a victim in some scenes. Yes, I did come to like the hero but that was towards the end, when he finally understood how important it was to face feelings and not shut them off or run away from them. Melissa stood up for herself and being intuitive was able to navigate the pitfalls of the hero’s damaged ego. In that, the heroine showed her strength. As far as I’m concerned, the balance of the romance was lopsided and it wasn’t as good as it could have been.

On the upside, their physical relationship was healthy and the writing was spicy. I liked the scenes with Ben because they were so cute. And, the wrap up happy ever after was satisfying and complete.

On the whole, His Majesty’s Child was a good read. A reader will find a solid romance within its pages and there are many scenes that make this story pleasant and entertaining. It’s a quick read and it flowed well so I’d recommend it for fans of Harlequin romances because Casimiro is their typical alpha hero that needs saving. It’s worth a look.

A Secret Until Now by Kim Lawrence
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (143 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

One scorching night, one secret never to be told…

Angel Urquart didn’t sign up for this. A photo shoot on an island paradise? Yes. Working alongside Alex Arlov? Definitely not! Six years ago he showed her passion she’d only ever dreamed of, but after his behavior the following morning, she resolved to put him out of her head forever.

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This is a cute little story that explores another version of the one night stand with consequences scenario. What makes it enjoyable is the heroine, Angel. My favorite scene early in the book was Alex’s recounting of how he first met her. It was so romantic. What follows is his trying to win Angel over and her confounding him and resisting him, sometimes not so successfully, through the rest of the story. It was fun.

The one thing that stands out about the heroine is her refusal to accept any help from Alex. She’s independent and proud to be supporting her daughter. She’s a mom first and that’s something to respect.

As for how she’s depicted in the novel, Angel is likeable and chatty with a sharp and funny wit. It’s the head-hopping from her to Alex that slowed the pace of the story. The heroine talks to herself a lot and is very conflicted. Inasmuch as I liked hearing from both her and Alex’s point of view, the delivery was enough to throw me or slow my reading pace down dramatically.

Alex was a typical HQ hero – manly, confident, competent, sensual, commanding, and one prone to assumptions, critique and an issuer of orders. Such is the alpha male that everyone kowtows to, except the heroine. She is exactly what he needs, and why he fights so hard against the truth. The truth is – that one night’s connection all those years ago left an indelible mark on his heart but Alex is too stubborn and afraid to acknowledge it or pursue it. It’s his body’s memory of her that propels him like a moth to a flame and it’s easy for him to categorize it as only a physical attraction and deny the rest. Yet, as certain situations arise, a reader sees little by little how Angel, by just being herself, works the rest of her way into his heart and helps him navigate the guilt from the past so he can emotionally move forward in his life. It’s a powerful component of the plot and it works.

One of the scenes described was about Angel’s friend Clara. I have no idea why that gave me the giggles; I think it was how the author wrote the scene. Certainly I snickered quite a bit afterwards. The most profound scene occurred when Angel and Alex finally talk, finally put all the cards on the table, and I could not have asked for a better response from a hero than what Alex told her after the big reveal. That is what romance stories are all about.

A Secret Until Now is a classic styled HQ romance that entertains and engages a reader. There are the requisite personal struggles and conflicts they have to overcome and together, the heroine and hero come out stronger and more whole through the healing power of love. It’s worth reading and I enjoyed it.