Claiming The Royal Innocent by Jennifer Hayward - Book 2 Kingdoms & Crowns

Review by TashNz

I’m in love with Aristos and Alexandria because I am in love with the writing style of the author Jennifer Hayward.  Not a word is wasted and each sentence is a lyrical masterpiece, a magical way with words which had me in the heart of the story which roamed from the beautiful Akathinian royal palace ballroom to a stunning island and back again.

The second book in the Kingdoms and Crowns series tells the story of Princess Aleksandra and Aristos who meet in the most unconventional circumstances.  Alex has fraudulently gained entry into the ball and Aristos knows she’s a fraud.  Having intimate knowledge of the lady Alex is impersonating makes for a most interesting dance together.  Alex has no choice but to disclose the King is her half brother.

Aristos’s  security team is being used for the ball so he has a vested interest in making sure Alex isn’t a threat.  He doesn’t even want to be at the ball but needs to keep favor with the King who has finally granted Aristos permission to build his penultimate casino on Akathinia.  Alex is warmly welcomed into the Royal family but when the kingdom is under threat of war the King orders Aristos to take Alex away and keep her safe and UNTOUCHED on Aristos’s island.  I loved it when the King phones later in the story and tells Aristos he has three seconds to convince him not to fly over and kill him – for breaking the no touching rule!

Aristos is the most handsomely arrogant man who is a fearless lone wolf.  He’s got an empire to build, the last thing he wants to be is in charge of the princess protection program.  Not only because he doesn’t want to be chief babysitter but because he knows the strict instructions to keep his hands off princess Alex is going to be a tough promise to keep.  It doesn’t help that Alex has been given a boost of courage facing her new life and after a world shattering kiss with Aristos, she’s all for exploring things further.

The plot of the story is exciting and builds the characters as it develops. That mixed with the magical way of words Jennifer Hayward has, I landed smack bang in the middle of a beautiful world filled with interestingly complex characters who you hope get their happy ever after once they have smashed through all their issues and figured out that just maybe allowing themselves to love and be loved will be the most worthwhile win they will ever have.  I was dying to turn each page, fill of anticipation of what would happen next, not wanting to reach the end.

Very much looking forward to the third installment  Thank you Jennifer Hayward for writing a story that if I had any talent would love to write myself.  Love the story and love the cover - the dress is amaze!!! Perfect to me!

Reviewed by Helen - 5 Stars

MS Hayward never disappoints me with her stories the characters are so real and energized with emotions that will have you falling into her stories and this one was a beauty the second book in the Kingdoms and Crown Series the setting fabulous and the hero and heroine so strong and vulnerable at the same time sit back and enjoy with you choice of beverage.

Aleksandra Dimitriou has just found out from her mother that she is a princess the secret daughter of a former Akathinia's King and as her father is ill Alex wants to meet him and arrives under a false name at the palace for a ball to celebrate Princess Stella's birthday, Alex is looking forward to meeting her siblings and her father but before she gets to this point she is met by the handsome Aristos Nicolades and the spark between them could light up the palace will this spark get stronger and change her life.

Aristos Nicolades has built his life up from nothing he has hotels and casinos all over the world he is a loner and that is they way he plans to stay there is a lot in his past that he needs to overcome but with plans for a new casino on Akathinia in motion and with the threat of military problems with a neighbouring Island security is tight and when he spots this beautiful young woman coming into the ball under a false name he is determined to get to the bottom of the story but the pull towards her is something that he has never felt before.

When Alex is acknowledged as Princess and with Aristos's talk Alex takes on the task but with war threatening she is sent to Aristos's Island to kept safe but she is off limits to him will they manage to keep their hands off each other I think not. This is a very moving and sensual sizzling story that will have you turning the pages as Aristos and Alex push each other to open up and then burn up the sheets with a beautiful romance and HEA I highly recommend this one and I am really looking forward to Stella's story in the next instalment.

5/5 stars for a fabulous story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nas

CLAIMING THE ROYAL INNOCENT by author Jennifer Hayward is Book 2 in The Kingdoms and Crown series. It is a May 2016 release by Harlequin Presents series.

Aleksandra Dimitriou enters the Princess Ball which was in honor of her elder sister's birthday. No one knew her as she was the King's love-child and her mother kept her birth a secret from the world. So her brother, the present King and her sister whose birthday party she had crashed didn't know of her existence.

Yet Aristos Nicolades knows she is a fraud and confronts her. After kissing her senseless! I found this story mesmerizing and very sensual. I've loved author Jennifer Hayward's stories from her first book. She is a marvelous story-teller and keeps her readers hooked to the page.

Read CLAIMING THE ROYAL INNOCENT and see where Aristos and Alex's chemistry and scorching hot passion between them take them.

Highly recommended for all readers of romance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review by Amanda

Wow, I was swept away with this story. From beginning to end, Jennifer Hayward captivated me—took me on an exciting journey where the worlds she’d created for her characters felt as real as day. Genuine emotions, flirty banter, engaging dialogue, deeply touching characters whose sizzling chemistry set the pages on fire and true talent on Ms. Hayward’s end makes: Claiming the Royal Innocent—the second book in the Kingdoms & Crowns trilogy—an exceptional story. Fast-paced and entertaining, this story should definitely be on top of your reading list. The moment Aristos Nicolades laid eyes upon the vision in the name of Aleksandra Dimitriou he knew she meant trouble…for him and King Nic of Akathina. But it is only after sharing a steamy kiss with the gorgeous Alex that Aristos is shocked when he discovers her true identity. Now that Alex is forbidden, Aristos knows better than crave to add fuel to the fire burning between them. However, when Alex is thrust under his care the last thing Aristos needs is to protect a woman who might be in danger—but is it from him or the neighboring king? Grab a copy of this delectable book and discover the answer for yourself.

Highly Recommended
5 Stars

Review by Hina - 5 Stars

The excitement of newly discovered relations and passion newly ignited, this story would keep you on the edge of the seat until you're done reading the last word.

Aleksandra recently discovered that she is a Royal, sister to the ruling monarch, and her wish to meet her father who she believed to be a businessman and long dead brings her to a the palace under the guise of another and be caught by none other than Aristos who happens to in charge, or his company rather, of security that night.

Aristos believes her story. Her uncanny resemblance to the current King does not even play a huge part in it as well.

With the lady installed in her right place as the princess of the nation, third in line for throne, the imminent of war with neighbouring island nation is on verge of happening. And thus all heirs could not be in the same geographical area.

Aristos takes Alesksandra to his island to keep her safe but passion flares and neither of them is safe from it or each other. As if that was not enough, paparazzi click an incriminating picture that only leads the way down the aisle to a happily ever after.

Review by Alexia - 5 Stars

"Claiming the Royal Innocent (Kingdoms and Crowns #2)" by Jennifer Hayward is a wonderful, read alone, classic romance book. Aleksandra Dimitriou found out she was the illegitimate daughter of a king so she goes in search of her father and her family. Along her journey in Akathina she meets Aristos Nicolades who turns her world into an upside down fantasy of bodyguard meeting the lost princess. Their chemistry is undeniable and the romance is steamy. Loved it.


Review by Cheryl - 5 STars

This dynamic story is about FOUND, FORBIDDEN & FOREVER? It tells how Aleksandra Dimitriou had always thought her father was dead but her mother had not told her the truth. She had crashed a royal ball and wanted to find out the truth about her real father and family. She wanted to meet her siblings. Aleksandra had been told a lie about her father all her life. What her friend Kira had tossed away the invite but had told her all about it she had to retrieve that invite and crash the ball.

Aristos Nicolades was right behind her as she went through the line, and he did not say anything to her but after through the line he stood where he could see her. Where he could observe and see what she was really up to and take the necessary precautions if needed. Aristos knew she was not Kira since he knew her intimately. 

Alex had mingled with her sister, Princess Stella and brother, King Nikandros and his wife Sophia. 
She became thrust into the royal world under the protection of Aristos. He had orders to not touch the innocent Alex who was now a Princess. However he did not know how to calm those urges that rebellious Alex brought out. 

This is a story about Alex going from a common person to a Princess. Aristos is sent to an island to protect Alex when there is a threat to her homeland. Alex proves to be feisty and Aristos finds that he can no longer stay away from her. Their one intimate escapade is captured in a paper that calls the two of them canoodling. Nik calls and states to Aristos that he has 60 seconds to explain to him what has gone on and why he should not come and kill him.

Jennifer Hayward is an excellent author who you feel as if you are one of the characters and can vision it all happening in front of you. 

Review by Dottie - 5 stars

Jennifer Hayward has added book 2 of 3 with " Claiming the Royal Innocent " and its amazing. Finding out that you have been lied to all your life and you are a princess and part of a Royal family is so difficult for Aleksandra Dimitriou to comprehend. So to see what her father and family look like she sneaks into a party given by the King and doesn't realize that the man staring at her from across the room is aware she is not who she says. That starts this incredible story with Aristos Nicolades , security and friend to the King confronting the intruder. Ms. Hayward has consistently written fantastic books and this is another example of her incredible writing. Its HOT, when Aristos has Aleksandra are sent to his island by the King to protect her as things are happening on her homeland. Things heat up on the island and even with Aristos warning to Aleksandra that sex with him will blow off the bedroom door, it isn't long before Aristos and Alex are found canoodling in the words of the press. Her brother the King calls Aristos and says "you have 60 seconds to explain why I shouldn't fly there right now and kill you". You will find that in all of Jennifer Haywards book she will put in some amazing lines that will stay with you for days and make you smile. Jennifer Hayward is such an amazing author that I find it so hard to write a review because I feel I have actually lived in her book and enjoyed it so much I cannot even find words other than AWESOME to describe the story. If you haven't read any of her books you are missing out on an incredibly talented author so read this book and go back and get all of her books as yours will go on the keeper shelf just as all hers are on mine. I feel that my future reviews for her books should just say " guaranteed fantastic book by Jennifer Hayward" enough said.

Fifth Avenue Series Book 2 : Scandalize Me by Caitlin Crews Fifth Avenue Series Book Two

Reviewed by Desere

Hunter Talbot Grant III is rich, beyond good looking and also sports figure du jour! But he's not your average rich boy wanting to ruffle the feathers of his disapproving family by pursuing a career in sports instead of the family business. Nope this guy has so many levels of deep, dark and dangerous it's downright scary!

Then years ago he lost someone very dear to him and it set him back on so many emotional levels that the man is beyond the repair by even the best of psychologists. So he hides out in the shadows and makes sure his lief is as miserable as possible , all in the name of punishment for not standing up for the one he loved.

But then the chance to take revenge against Jason Treffen, the man responsible for destroying the life of the woman he loved arises and it's game on. Only there is one tiny hiccup, and it comes in the form of the woman sent to tame him.

Zoe Brooks , PR agent extraordinaire never fails to transform the most tarnished of stars and pretty boy Hunter is no different, except this time around there's a catch. Zoe has a secret , she's also been on the receiving end of Jason 's wrong side and she wants revenge just as bad as Hunter does.  But will their out of control attraction stand in the way of getting the job done?

I have always enjoyed the books by this author, particularly because her hero's always start out being very dark , sometimes so dark it truly would scare me if I had to encounter one of them in real life, but the magic lies in the author taking a very dark hero and slowly but surely letting the man evolve into the type that any woman would fall for.

In this read she did it once again, only this time the hero was far darker than any other I have read before. Hunter was so aggressive I could feel his anger pulsing through his veins. Very intense reading !

The character of Zoe was super cool yet very sad. She has such a terrible past it just makes you want to cry your eyes out for this poor woman. But she faces up to each and every single challenge and downfall of life and  I totally loved it !

This is the second book in the Fifth Avenue Series and picks up very nicely with the first book Avenge me by Maisey Yates. Scandalize me takes us deeper into the mystery, and Caitlin Crews of course reveals more secrets but does it in such a manner it only makes you want to beg for more and there is simply no way you can resist wanting to read the final part of the series Expose Me by Kate Hewitt, which is another of my favorite authors so I know I will be in for a heck of a ride.

I will also add that the heat level in this book is super hot, but if you're not into the erotic side of romance this read is not for you. If you however like your hero's as dark in bed as they are in outside the bedroom, this is a sure fire winner of a read!

I highly recommend Scandalize me for anyone and everyone who loves a dark hero gone bad and then brought back out into the light by the woman sent to tame him, what could be more fun! The bonus is that Caitlin Crews wrote it and she knows her stuff !

5/5 star review
" Scandalizing is about to take on a whole new meaning" 

The Chatsfield Book Two : Playboy's Lesson by Melanie Milburne

Reviewed by Desere

This read was as delightful as it was sinfully naughty! We have the seriously buttoned up princess Charlotte who prefers to hide behind glasses and old maiden clothes and the super sexy playboy, Lucca that brings out the wild side of her with one kiss.

But to Lucca this is just another notch on his bedpost. The fact that Charlotte is the one and only woman he has ever spent more than one night with is no big deal nor,  is the fact that he let's her see what the world will never see, the true him.

He prefers to stay the ruthless give them the best sex ever and move on to the next one playboy image he has always been. And come the end of the month Charlotte will be last month's flavor and forgotten, it's as simple as that.

The character of Lucca was super, super hot but such an ass at times I wanted to fling a hot frying pan his way! The man infuriated me like no other character has ever done before.

I very much enjoyed his jokes and playful sayings but I found myself growing very annoyed with him hiding behind a image that simply is not him,  I wanted to challenge him and draw him out. So of course Charlotte being the key to doing just this was perfect and I very much liked seeing him knocked from his high horse every now and then.

The character of Charlotte was a very interesting one. She pretty much the same as Lucca hides from the world but Lucca sets her loose with a wilder than wild kiss she becomes this amazing knock your socks off heroine that made me jump up and shout " Finally !!! " Her hiding behind a dreadfully old look did not make me as angry as Lucca doing pretty much the same, for her reasoning behind it seemed much more valid. But am not going to give it all away, you will just have to read!

The most fun in this read was without a doubt seeing the tables turn on the characters, we have sexier than sin Lucca going from playful playboy to deep, dark and retreated soul, and always hidden Charlotte changing into this ray of sunshine that cannot be missed.

The level of passion and naughtiness in this read was scorching hot, hotter and naughtier than I have seen this author do before, I honestly found myself more than once thinking I was reading a Blaze book and not a HP.

The twist and turns of the plot with the mixture of the author's brilliant writing and super new spicy naughtiness made this read a true gem! Everything blended together so extremely well that had I not been a fan before this book would have sucked me in for life.

I am taking a message of hiding behind a personally you are not, will never get you anywhere. Let the world see the real you, they might not like it but they will learn to live with it and best of all you will be happy to know you got out there and let them see who you really are.

I highly recommend this read for all romance addicts out there. It had hotter than hot passion , exquisite emotion and an amazing story that will remain with you for all eternity.

5/5 star review
" The Princess of Ice teaches the playboy a lesson in playing with fire " 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nas

PLAYBOY’S LESSON by USA Bestselling author Melanie Milburne is a Harlequin Presents release for June 2014.

Lucca Chatsfield went a step too far for his family, when he was photographed naked with his hands cuffed to the bed. And they threatened to cut him off from the trust fund. Unless he went and helped prim and proper Princess Charlotte plan her sister’s wedding.

Princess Charlotte didn’t want him anywhere near her as his reputation preceded him. But she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt for him. Could they have a fling and move on from it? Could this playboy learn a lesson at last from the princess?

PLAYBOY’S LESSON is shimmering with sensuality and sensitivity. It is a royal romance about the spare heir-the ugly duckling. How she is not appreciated but gets her heart’s desire when she falls in love with the most gorgeous man ever. Author Melanie Milburne’s proves yet again that she is a master story teller with this royal romance. The twists and turns in the plot is a pleasure to read.

Highly recommended for all lovers of romance. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Emerald Springs Legacy Series Book Two : Coleen's Choice by Holley Trent

Reviewed by Desere

We have all done a little something simply because we feel we have no other choice. We tell ourselves this is for the best, there is no other way, this can work no, this will work.

Whatever motivation you use to talk yourself into it, does not matter. The point that does matter is if you will be ready to face it when it plays a turn around on you and slaps you so far off your original plan, you can't begin to remember why you ever thought there was no other choice.

In this read from author Holley Trent she tells of Coleen. Coleen has been watching her father fritter away the family farm for years, but it is her turn now to take it from slum to glam, however as we all now to do this it takes money and lots of it.

Now any normal woman would go and get a loan, or even just work much longer and harder than they thought they ever would, but the character from this book does the opposite, she marries a stranger!

The man of the hour or savior of the farm is Alan. He is all for helping Coleen but he holds hidden the real reason he is there, and when the bomb drops Coleen realizes she might just have made the worst choice of her entire life.

I loved this book from start to end, the characters were vibrant and full of life. The author told a stunning story of people making the choices they think are best and then the sometimes shocking results that stem from those choices.

Through the characters I learned that most of the time we think there truly is no other choice or excuse for our choices, however if we are brave enough to make the choices we need to remember we have to be man enough to handle the consequences.

I recommend this read for all fans of romance reads that show the heartache and beauty that can come from when the right and wrong choices are made.

5/5 star review
" They made their choices now to learn to live with them?"

The Flaw in His Diamond by Susan Stephens ~~Book Two :The Skavanga Diamonds Series

Reviewed by Desere

Somewhere along the line all woman have come across the type of men that think they are God's gift to woman, every single delicious inch a badboy.

They strut around thinking they own the world, and of course all they need to do is look at any female they want and she will immediately see how quick she can strip and jump in bed with him.

The hero, Roman Quisvada , from the new Susan Stephens read is exactly like this, however as we all know it takes the love of the right woman to tame a badboy. The woman to seduce his mind and claim his soul is hell cat and all spitting fire Eva Skavanga.

On a mission to prove a point and safe her town's number one source of income she sets out to take him on face to face, after all he has been avoiding her calls for months so she does not have any other option left.

But arriving on his island and stepping into a head to head battle with the one man that makes her body burn hotter than the desert sun , is not as easy as she thought. For once in her life she wants to be the wanted, desired, treasured woman she has always craved but never dared, because to beat the men you need to be one of them, but to beat this man she needs to let her mask drop and that will never do.

The character of Eva was a truly phenomenal character. She had so much fire and guts I just wanted to hug her and congratulate her on being one heck of an amazing woman! She stood up for what she believed in, she fought when you would expect other woman to not fight. And she gave as good as she got each and every time Roman takes her on. Yes, she does have a few hangup's but which woman doesn't ! Through this character the author showed that when you are truly passionate about something there is nothing that will stand in your way.

The character of in-my-arms-you-will-find-pleasure-but-only-when-you-are-ready Roman was of course all kinds of tempting deliciousness, but as mentioned so sure of himself when it comes to bedding Eva that yes most woman would think him a true bastard and rather walk away. However as I read on I discovered the reason for his 'what I see I get' attitude. Through this character the author showed just how influential our background and earlier years in life can be, and just how much you can discover when chipping away at someone's defenses.

The backdrop settings and dialogue was pure sexy! From the very romantic city of Rome to the words of fire and ice, it all blended to perfection. I am taking away a message of we all hide our secrets for fear of being walked over and left to try and survive. But whilst hiding behind our masks of insecurities, hurt, anger and pain we miss out on the true person we are meant to be, never hide always be just you for no matter what someone out there is going to want you for you and not for who you pretend to be.

I highly recommend this read for all Susan Stephens fans! The author always delivers fun, feisty, out there sexy romances reads and this time was no different. I am eagerly awaiting book three from this series to read just how hot and sexy Leila and Raffa 's journey will be!

5/5 Star Review
" Even diamonds are as cold as ice, until their beauty is unleashed "

Montana Homecoming by Soraya Lane

 

Reviewed by Desere 

Losing a parent is never easy, so when Amanda returns home for her father's funeral the last thing she needs is to fall head over heals for the town's bad-boy.

Yet this is exactly what she does, but with a twist. She wants to be the bad,wild reckless woman for just once and who better to have as her once in a lifetime good girl gone wild 'object' than the town's bad-boy Scott.

Only Scott is no longer the bad-boy he use to be, gone are the long hot passionate nights of meaningless sex with strange woman and in it's place is a kind , caring once in a lifetime kind of guy.

He has always wanted Amanda but instead heeded the warning from his best friend, who just happens to be Amanda's brother.

But which man in his right mind is going to be able to resist the woman of his dreams when she is all over you asking you to take her to bed for a few nights?  But when the hot, sexy nights are done will Scott be able to convince Amanda he is no longer one night stand material but the stay with me forever kind?

I loved this story to bits! Yes the "Don't go near my sister!" has been done before but what I liked is that the author looked at it from a different angle by incorporating the heroine's feelings of pain and loss. We all know that when we are in pain over the loss of a loved one we are more likely to do something out of character and this is exactly what Amanda does, this link back to real life was really great and I loved reading it play out.

Both main characters were well written and the author did a fantastic job at giving me an in depth look into their lives and how they become linked as one.

Backdrop settings and dialogue was well incorporated and had a great home-made touch to it. I am taking away the message of, it hurt's like crazy when we lose someone close to us, and no one will blame you for acting out of sorts, you are after all only human.

But when you are all done acting out of character you need to take a moment to take a look at what it is you have done to those around you whilst you were living out the new you. If you don't then you might miss the most valuable life lesson of your life.

And most importantly never judge someone based on their past, everyone deserves a second chance and anyone can change.

I recommend this read for all readers who love Soraya 's books. She always manages to deliver sweet, sensual and heart-stopping romance, and this read was no exception.

4.5 star review
" She wants him to her bad-boy, but he needs to be her everything good" 

**Copy provided by the author in exchange for a honest review 

******************************************************************************


Reviewed By Shirley Buchanan

Having to bury a loved one has a way of making you look at what you really want to do in your own life. Do you want to change the way things are? Are you happy to keep everything the same? For Amanda, the question she most wanted to answer was did she want to be a bad girl for once, instead of the good girl she had always been. And she definitely knew the one she wanted to be bad with...the hot, sexy, bad guy on the motorcycle picking her up from the airport. In her teens, she had a massive crush on Mr. “Bad Guy”Scott and now that she is a fully grown woman, she was finally going to act on it, regardless of what anybody said. Maybe a hot little affair before she went back to New York would give her back her creativity for the upcoming exhibition. She only had two questions to ask herself. Having wanted him for so long,would she be able to survive a casual no-strings fling? And could she leave at the end of her stay with her heart intact or would she leave a giant part behind?

Years ago, Scott had been warned off his best friend's sister and other than a stolen kiss, he had listened. Leaving the ranch after an ultimatum from his father, he had settled half the world away. While making his fortune, he had known various women and keep his same philosophy until the last few years. More mature now, he was no longer the bad boy who “loved them and left them”. These days he was looking for a relationship, but only the one woman he had never been able to forget would do. The one he had always wanted...Amanda. Could he change her mind to see him as the staying kind or was a “no strings”affair all she would take? If he did put his heart on the line, would she love him back? Or when she left would she tear a big chunk out of it and take it with her?

Soraya Lane has written a wonderful story in Montana Homecoming, the second book in her Montana series, about love surviving years apart. Excellent characters developed a well thought out plot. All the members from both families who appeared in the first book were revisited. It was fun to catch up with all the changes that have gone on. I really enjoy books that follow a family as their family dynamics change.

I would recommend this book to all romance readers.

I received a copy from the author for an honest review.

4/5 stars              Could love succeed the second time around?